Budget Busting Beauty Buys!

Today sees the day of the Chancellors budget here in the UK, but what about budgeting when it comes to make-up and beauty buys? I noticed that coincidentally, the items I tend to repurchase the most tend to the cheapest, not simply because they are the cheapest, but actually on quality and performance.

I have tried a myriad of £40 moisturisers, hair masks and the like, and I have also tested what is available in Boots and Superdrug. It's so easy to believe that the most expensive product is best, but I believe this is not always the case. What about students, teenagers on limited pocket money and those who have been made redundant? Do any of us really have the money to only use high end products? I have mixed and matched with many brands in my time, both High Street and High End, so let me tell you, never fear if you want to indulge but you don't necessarily have the cash to do so. 

Here is my top 5 products. You could buy all of them and still have change from a tenner. Take than Redken!

1. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Colour Treatment Mask - 99p

If you are looking to give your hair an extra special boost, then Aussie are a great brand for their sachet's which come in a variety of different treatment options. I have long thick hair, and can easily get 2 uses out of 1 sachet, focusing on the mid-lengths to ends. This is a great buy if you have a special event coming up and want your hair to look and feel smooth and sleek, but don't want to fork out for a huge pot of treatment, which even in Superdrug averages at about £6 across all brands. Sachets are also great for weekends away and short breaks as they weigh virtually nothing, and are less likely to leak in your bag than traditional bottles or tubs.

2. Boots Coconut and Almond Conditioner - £1.29

When I was really young I had naturally long, blonde hair. My Mum used to buy me Boots chamomile conditioner, and I remember how smooth it used to leave it. About a year ago (and now Brunette) I decided to try another conditioner from the Boots range, just to see if it was any good or not. It turns out it was, and I now find I can't live without it. Everytime I use it up (a little really goes along way with this so that's not too often), I find I have to go repurchase it. The smell is devine, and it leaves my hair quite smooth. It also washes out easily and works well in conjunction with other hair products I may occassionally use. I honestly think this product is an absolute steal, and when I got my hair cut recently my hairdresser commented on how my hair was in such good condition. Apart from stopping colouring my hair which I did two years ago now, the only conditioning treatment I have been using recently is this product. For a mini tropical holiday in a bottle, you can't go wrong.

3. Dove Soft Peeling Exfoliating Bar - £1-£1.27 for Two bars

Everyone loves soft, exfoliated skin right? However exfoliators can get ridiculously expensive, even in Boots. The beauty about this bar, is that is not a heavy duty loose scrub, meaning it is gentle enough for everyday use. The smell also fills the whole bathroom, and it's a really lovely classic smell that can only mean it's Dove. I used to have little bumps on the tops of my knees which I had for years, and I was never sure why either. After using this soap everyday in the shower, within a week all the bumps had completely gone and the texture of my skin was really smooth, this is something which didn't happen with other scrubs so I was really impressed. This is not a product that you will see a massive change in within the first use, but give it a few uses and honestly you will be amazed. It's not harsh or scratchy either which means you can use it everyday. Each bar tends to last me about 4 weeks, so £1 or so for 8 weeks of use really is brilliant value.

4. MUA Primer - £1

MUA are a great, low on price but not low on quality brand. I have been using this primer almost on a daily basis for well over a year now, and amazingly I'm yet to finish the tube! I have since tried another primer costing £5 and from the first use it wasn't a patch on the MUA primer, so I shall definitely be repurchasing this once the tube is finished. It spreads well over the skin, and you don't need alot to cover the whole face either. Give it a couple of minutes to settle into the skin and apply your base, it holds the make-up all day and doesn't move. I can't ask for more!

5. Boots Cucumber Eye Gel - £1.50

I think the greatest testament I can say about this product, is that I'm on about my 8th or 9th tube of this. Granted, it's not an all singing and dancing wrinkle buster or dark circle corrector, however it is an incredible cooling and soothing eye gel that has a number of uses. It can be used under make-up as a priming base, as well as over the face in areas of dry/irritated skin. It is also great if you get your eyebrows waxed and are left with red, sore patches that need instant soothing (this was my Mum the other week, don't tell her I included this!). The product is clear and sinks in perfectly, it's not sticky or thick and gloopy. It just works, and again a little does go a long way. There are also a range of similar priced items in the Boots Cucumber range, from moisturizers to exfoliators and clay masks, so I would definitely recommend checking the range out. Out of all the products listed, this is definitely the one I can't live without the most.

What are your beauty bargains? Leave a comment and tell me!