Brilliant beauty for £1 or less

As Boots launches a new ultra-low cost skincare range, Elizabeth Archer asks the experts for their money-saving tips and tricks

2022-10-10 - Edited by MERNIE GILMORE

We’re all feeling the pinch at the moment, and the cost-of-living crisis means it’s never been more important for us to get value for money.

And the beauty industry has been quick to respond – for example, Boots has just launched a new Everyday range with many products costing less than £1.

Here, our experts reveal their top tips and tricks for brilliant beauty bargains and easy ways to get the most out of your favourite products.

Revive your mascara

“Add a few drops of saline solution or eyedrops to a dried-up mascara to revive it. This will cost only a few pence and save you from buying a new product,” says make-up artist Pauline Briscoe.

Quit bad hair habits

There are plenty of free ways to keep your hair in good condition, avoiding a visit to the salon.

“Breakage can be caused by daily bad habits such as rough brushing, particularly when your hair is wet. When brushing, avoid dragging the hair. Start towards the ends of your hair (where most of your tangles will be), then work upwards to brush through the mid-sections and finally the roots,” advises Nick Willis, stylist at Charles Worthington.

DIY dry shampoo

“For a quick fix for greasy hair, try mixing one part cornflour with one part baking soda. Add a little cocoa for darker hair,” says hair expert Adele Clarke.

“Apply with an old blusher brush, leave in for a few minutes, then brush out. It will freshen your roots in between washes.”

Try a super sponge

“Skip trendy silicone make-up sponges and opt for a standard sponge. This will be easier to use and blend your make-up well for less,” says make-up artist Saffron Hughes ( falseeyelashes.co.uk).

Try Superdrug Blending Sponge, £1 (superdrug.com).

Shop around

“While some products like foundation are more difficult to scrimp on, some can easily be replaced with cheaper alternatives,” says Gemma Bird, author of Money Mum Official: Save Yourself Happy.

“Try swapping your usual blusher for a Poundland or Primark one – with a good foundation underneath, it will last all day.”

Long-lasting lippy

“Increase the longevity of your lip colour by using a quality lip liner the same shade underneath your lipstick,” says Saffron.

Try Essence Soft and Precise Lip Pencil, £1 (justmylook.com).

Double-duty beauty

Think outside the box when it comes to your existing make-up bag.

“Using lipstick as a blusher is a great way to warm your cheeks without buying new products. You only need to use a small amount – start off subtle and build up to your preferred shade,” Pauline says.

Boost your shine

Instead of using expensive hair products that promise to boost shine, why not take a cold shower?

“Rinsing hair in cold water helps close the hair cuticle, meaning the hair reflects more light and appears to shine more,” says stylist Ghanima Abdullah (therighthairstyles.com).

Say no to sheet masks

“A lot of shops sell sheet masks for £1 or less, but avoid these and buy a pot of face mask instead,” says Gemma.

“That way, you will get multiple uses out of it. Most pots of supermarket brand face masks will cost less than £1 per use.”

Neutralise brassy tones

“Use a purple shampoo at home to keep your colour looking fresh,” says Nick. “This neutralises yellow tones, making blonde last longer. Use sparingly to avoid an ashy colour developing.” Try Creightons Sunshine Blonde Silver Tone Correcting Shampoo, £1 (lloydspharmacy.com).

Buy budget

Boots new Everyday range includes hair care for less than £1. Look for the Mango & Papaya Shampoo and Coconut & Almond Conditioner, both 75p each.

Skin saviour

“I swear by Derma V10 Rescue Oil, which costs £1 at Poundshop,” says Gemma. “It’s similar to skin oils with a much higher price point. It’s brilliant for healing scars and stretchmarks, and can be added to facial moisturiser when skin is dry.”

Make your own mask

“Many homemade hair masks can be made for less than £1,” says hair expert Simone Thomas (simone thomaswellness.com).

“Mix 1tbsp cinnamon with 1tbsp coconut oil. Leave on for 45 minutes to boost hair growth.”

Supermarket skin care

“Supermarkets often have great own-brand beauty products for less than £1,” says Gemma.

Try Aldi’s Lacura range – the Smoothing Face Scrub and Moisturising Face Wash cost 99p each.

Kitchen beauty

“Take half an avocado, 1tsp honey and 2tsp cocoa powder. Mix in a bowl, apply to the face, leave for 20 minutes, and gently wash off with warm water,” says skincare expert Amish Patel of Intrigue Cosmetic Clinics.

“Avocado and cocoa stimulate collagen production, while honey softens and moisturises the skin.”

Take your vitamins

“Vitamin E helps nourish and moisturise the skin and hair, and capsules cost only a few pence each,” says Adele.

“Snip the top off a capsule and squeeze it into cheap body creams and conditioners for extra care.”

Make it a mini

“While nail polish on fingers chips quite easily, it often lasts much longer when used on toes. To give yourself a pedicure, look for mini bottles of nail polish which are available in Primark for £1,” says Gemma.

“Cheaper polish will still last well on toes, and although the bottles are smaller, they’ll still last a long time.”

Create new colours

“Instead of buying a new shade of eyeshadow or lipstick, try blending old shades to create new colours. Or add a drop of foundation to lighten it and create a new hue,” says Gemma.

Stay hydrated

“The cheapest skincare hack is to drink more water,” says Amish.

“I tell all my clients to drink plenty of water to keep their skin hydrated and plump.”

Wax your brows

“Try using wax strips (available in Poundland) and cutting them into thin strips to shape your brows. You can get about 30 strips per sheet of wax, meaning it only costs a few pence to shape your brows each time,” says Gemma.

Repurpose old make-up

“If you have any broken powder blushers, don’t throw them away. Instead, mix them with a bit of petroleum jelly to make a lip gloss and make your lips pop,” says Pauline.