With the last instalment (maybe ever!) of the student loan in our bank accounts, and a summer of hopefully very fun things in store, it is certainly the time of year where many of us seem to be tightening our proverbial purse strings. Be it holidays, events, festivals or a healthy mix of everything to save up for, splurging on expensive beauty products is not always top of the priorities list, even if we want it to be!
With that in mind, I have put together a list of 10 lovely products I use at on a fairly regular basis, which price at £10 or under per item. I know a great beauty product when I see one, and these are all good value, good quality and perfect for summer.
1) Batiste Dry Shampoo in Tropical -£2.99
Dry shampoo is absolutely essential if you have a fringe or flat hair. I have both. I am also obsessed with anything coconut-y so this ticks a lot of boxes for me. Imagine my joy when I discovered they do a tiny version for your handbag too.
2) Superdrug 4 Way Nail Buffer - £1.99
I am really into buffing my nails. In between polishes, I like to have 3-5 days with no varnish where I buff my nails and use Rococo Essential Nail Oil (£12.50, sorry, but it really is very good) everyday to strengthen and nourish. This removes lumps and bumps to make your nails look more groomed, shiny and healthy.
3) Rimmel London Rita Ora 60 Second Nail Varnishes in Lose Your Lingerie and Breakfast in Bed - £3.69 each
Excellent colour payoff and with a good top coat (see below) I got a good 5 days out of the colour. I only really like pastels for nails, hence my choices, and these are pretty, summery shades. There are however many brighter shades available if that's more your thaaang.
4) Rimmel London 5 in 1 Nail Base and Top Coat - £4.49
If you buy one thing from this list buy this. It is SO GOOD and it really preserves your colour without damaging your nails. As I said before, I do find I get a good 5 days out of my nail varnish using this above and below. I use it without fail every single time I paint my nails.
5) L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara - £10.99
I really like L'Oreal's eye makeup products; as they own YSL Beauty, I feel like a lot of the technology filters down and makes their high street/drugstore range well formulated and good value for money. This is lovely, it never clumps, it never transfers onto your upper eyelid when applying (this is my pet hate, anyone else?) and it really lengthens and defines your lashes. The brush is extremely precise so it's good for the bottom lashes as well. I have never really found it to smudge either, so top marks for this one. It's a bit cheeky to include it at £10.99 but who really cares about 99p.
6) Model's Own Shimmer Eyeliner Pencil in Peacock Green - £4.00
This is such a fun colour for summer, a multidimensional emerald shade that looks amazing in the light. I do a black liquid liner then layer this over the top for an quirky feline flick. Although it looks more intense over black, it's good on its own as well, the colour payoff is pretty impressive.
7) L'Oreal Super Liner in Blue Black - £6.49
Super Liner liquid eyeliner is one of my all time favourite beauty products so I was thrilled when it was released in blue black and violet just before Christmas! Blue is more on-trend and summery but I do own them both and can confirm that they are both fabulous. To intensify the blue I layer By Terry Kohl Terribly in Blue Vision over the top.
8) Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Deep Nourishing Intensive Mask - £4.39
This is a tricky one for me. On one hand I am usually stringent about the fact that the best haircare has lots of high quality natural ingredients in. This does not, not really, just lots of extracts. But it does make your hair feel hydrated and shiny. And it's cheap. And it smells of coconut. So that sold it to me really. It's a good quick fix, but for longer lasting results that treat and aren't just aesthetic, invest in a better quality mask.
9) Dr Organic (stocked at Holland and Barrett) Tea Tree Blemish Stick - £3.89
I love a good blemish stick, especially since moving to London, as I have become well acquainted with London-grime induced blemishes. Gross but true. The organic tea tree oil in this kills the bacteria in spots and acts as an antiseptic on the area if you have been naughty and squeezed it.
10) L'Oreal Infallible Waterproof Stylo Eyeliner in Black - £5.19
I feel that a pattern may be emerging. I lost my beloved YSL waterproof eyeliner on a night out, and I needed a cheaper replacement which also had a great black pigment, ultimate staying power and left my contacts smudge-free. Because of my contacts I am incredibly picky with eyeliners and this one meets the standard.
