Constant changes over the past year have produced many beauty revelations. All of a sudden, we've all made it a lot more convenient for ourselves to do manicures at home, tackle our own hair color, and even do spa-level facials that are packed with top-notch treatments and the latest in skin care tools. One important lesson, however, is that many of us have spent way too much money on beauty products by this point. As a beauty editor, this is a difficult pill as I get so much pleasure out of trying the most expensive products. On the other hand, this very activity taught me that the price of a product doesn't always determine its effectiveness, and that there are tons of products out there that cost pennies on the dollar and work just as well.
The Who What Wear team is full of beauty lovers, including on the fashion side. I thought it would be fun to examine my coworkers to see what cheap beauty swaps they have done recently. And if you didn't know, they had a lot to say. Check out 21 beauty products under $ 25 that we fell in love with that have officially replaced our more expensive favorites. You don't have to feel bad about filling your shopping cart with these affordable picks!
This was my ride-or-die face product last year. It applies like skin care and has a buildable cover. It honestly feels luxurious on the skin and gives me a healthy and glowing look.
This is the best powder red, and I won't stop talking about it, especially since it's under $ 10! I've got so many of my friends excited about this product, and it beats many more expensive ones. The pigment is buildable so it works when I want a slight blush or other days when I want a stronger punch. It looks so nice on the skin and I love playing around with the different colors in the palette.
I forgot my moisturizer when I was staying with my boyfriend for the weekend, but luckily, as a good friend, I'd made him buy this CeraVe moisturizer a few weeks earlier. I decided to use something for myself and I want to tell you that this stuff was good. I now secretly "forget" mine when I go over so I can steal his.
I'm pretty sure I'll have this spot treatment by the day I die. I've tried so many Zit stickers and fancy creams, but this one only gets me. Whenever I have hormonal acne, I dab on a bit at night and it's much less noticeable in the morning. And if I'm ever on vacation and forget to pack it, I can find it anywhere.
Vanicream is always on my vanity. I use it religiously on my face and body because the very simple formula hydrates my skin and soothes any irritation. Every winter my face looks red and dry, and when that happens I'll stay with Vanicream for a week and get started.
I am officially excited about this serum and use it continuously. I never thought I'd like facial oils, but this one is just so light and moisturizing. It only takes a few drops to leave my skin soft and nourished. Plus, it leaves me with a nice, healthy glow that is perfect for my dull skin days.
Since it's winter my skin could use up all of the moisture it can get, and this hyaluronic acid serum saved it. I reach for it day and night and layer it between other skin care products without giving up. My ethos is that there isn't too little of this stuff – it's that good.
Obsessing is an understatement about how I feel about this lip mask. I tried it when my brother, who is arguably more of a skincare fan than I am, brought it home for Christmas, and I've loved it ever since. Not only does it have a nice shiny finish that is easy to wear during the day, but if I put it on before bed I wake up to find that it's still on and still working its magic eight hours later.
You can officially count me as a member of the Micellar Water Fan Club because when I started taking my makeup off (before I started using any other cleanser, of course) I was hooked. There are many micellar waters out there, but I like these because the all-in-one formula is ultra-cleansing to the touch and is gentle on my sensitive skin. Plus, a replenishment costs me less than $ 10
My skin has a very special talent for freaking out the effect, even if a product promises that it will not trigger this reaction. Enter: micellar water. Harmless right? For some reason, I try so many formulas to clog my pores and make my skin bumpy until I hit this darling from the Sephora collection. Not only does it effortlessly soak up the yucks that have accumulated over the course of the day, but it is even fortified with special ingredients like zinc that make my face clear and glow. Don't be mad at it! I'm already on my third bottle. I use it the first time I wake up before my regular detergent and at the end of the day before my evening cleanse.
My mother is a bit of a beauty specialist. When she told me I had to try these super cheap blush drops from Flower, I didn't hesitate. Sure enough, this $ 10 drug store find has quickly become one of my all-time favorite blushes. The colors are satisfactorily punchy and unlike any other liquid I've wiped on, it doesn't evaporate in air two seconds after it's applied.
I feel like everyone is very picky about the foundation, but as someone who's had the same four or so since high school, I feel like I have "pickiness" on a new, semi-agonizing one Bring level. Catrice honestly makes affordable products that feel, use, and look ten times the price, and I have no idea how this skin-moisturizing formula is only $ 11. Like what ?! It's light, vegan, and offers a seamlessly buildable cover. It also contains ingredients like watermelon seed oil and hyaluronic acid, so your skin will love you for it. It can definitely hold its own against some of my other favorites that are six times the investment.
I rarely, if ever, find a new mascara that I like. (I've subscribed to two particular formulas since I was in high school and have only incorporated two other religiously into my routine since then. Yeah, really.) So you know how big the deal is that I'm writing over this brand new one from Maybelline. The lift! The length! The curl! The separation! Ugh, where do I start? I love pliable rubber mascara brushes compared to oversized, fluffy brushes, so the design and comb-like style are just right for me. While it's a super-light consistency, it still delivers plenty of volume without sacrificing curl, length, or definition. You can literally get every last whip. It's a fiber mascara so you get that long and luscious falsy effect and it's even saturated with conditioning ingredients like bamboo extract to help protect the integrity of your lashes in the long run. I just can not get enough
The older I get, the further I move away from the typical mud masks that suck life and every bit of oil out of my skin. I find that over time they make my skin even more oily as it is desperately trying to even out the debris from my masking. But this mint number from Kinship is one of the few mud masks that I still absolutely love. First, it's not crazy-harsh and doesn't make my skin uncomfortable when it dries. It contains lactic acid for gentle exfoliation, moringa oil for softening, and a proprietary prebiotic-infused complex to support the skin's microbiome. And if you don't have time to sit around drying it, you can simply use the paste as a face wash for the same detoxifying and exfoliating benefits in less than a minute.
Full disclosure, The Inkey List has taken over my skin care routine lately. I've been using this eye cream a couple of times a week for three months and I really like it. I only took the plunge into retinol eye creams last year and was a bit surprised that some of them are just as expensive as the all-over retinol face creams I use. This is wild for me! This one is cheap and does an equally good job of keeping the delicate skin around my eyes nice and smooth.
When my combination skin feels drier than I'd like, a peptide moisturizer like this one is so helpful in keeping my skin plump and plump. Last month, when I ran out of my beloved drunk elephant moisturizer, I decided to open the one from The Inkey List that I had tucked away. The experience is shockingly similar. Just like my go-to-DE version, this one is rich but not overwhelming, and I love how well it moisturizes my skin without creating an overly slippery base for makeup to cling to . At $ 15 a jar, I can't say enough good things about this stuff!
This eye cream feels great. It inflates instantly and is super moisturizing, but not so strong that you can't wear makeup over it. (I know this because I wore it under makeup every day.) It also brightens up pesky dark circles, and what do I think is an eye cream if it doesn't?
I'm actually new to liquid cuticle removers so I picked an inexpensive one to see how I like it. I can confirm that this miracle gel dissolves the cuticle in 15 seconds. I know I was shocked and amazed too.
I've been using this eyeliner for years and love it more than any expensive kajal eyeliner I've tried. While most are pretty intense, this one looks natural and it stops. My only wish is that they bring it back in dark brown. If you are listening, Loreal, please consider this my formal request.
I'm not a big lip gloss person. So when I find one – especially one that is very affordable – I hold on. This is one of my all time favorites and eclair is the perfect shade of pink if you ask me. It's easy to apply, isn't sticky, and makes my lips look juicy. What more do you want
I am picky when it comes to mascara because my eyes are so sensitive! But somehow this Maybelline under $ 10 never appealed to me and gives me big eyelashes. I really love the big brush and the way it covers every last lash, that the formula is infused with collagen and really brings the volume in just one layer. If you want to add multiple coats make sure you do so before the mascara dries. Next, these cheap moisturizers are just as good as their expensive counterparts
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