The affordable skincare edit

Tried, tested and beauty-team approved, meet the new wave of savvy skincare staples that deliver on results without breaking the bank

LAST YEAR SAW A huge shift in our beauty priorities. While make-up took a backseat for some, skincare sales spiked – with many of us investing more time and, in turn, money in the pursuit of the healthiest complexion possible. Indeed, 53% of Grazia readers are spending more time on a skincare routine compared to pre-pandemic* – and it’s hardworking ingredients like vitamin A (think retinol) and C that retailer John Lewis is expecting to see take off this year**. So far, so great. But what does that mean for our purse strings? The psychology of pricing might lead us to believe that the more you pay for a product, the better its results, but the reality is that there are plenty of affordable skincare brands out there, offering the best active ingredients in effective formulations that don’t cost a bomb. In fact, many of these reasonably priced options are made in the very same factories as their luxury counterparts. Intrigued? Read on to discover the latest purse-friendly skincare products that our beauty team can’t get enough of. We think you’re going to get on very well indeed…

1. SPOT ON

Targeting the mark left behind by an angry spot, Zitsticka’s new Hyperfade patches, £29 for 12, contain 24 self-dissolving micro-darts that deliver brightening ingredients (including niacinamide and ascorbic acid) straight to the source.

2. FACE TIME

BOG Skincare gets its name from the star ingredient – organic peat (the surface layer of waterlogged earth found in bogland). Sounds gross, but this unlikely skincare hero is packed full of antioxidants, essential oils and fatty acids to boost collagen production. We’re hooked on the Hydrate & Revitalise Mask, £12.

3. PLUMP IT UP

Collagen acts like a cushion under our skin (making it plump and firm) but, with age, begins to decline. To boost your natural collagen supplies, try L’oréal Paris Age Perfect 7 Day Cure Retightening Ampoules, £19.99, a luxe oil-serum.

4. BRIGHT EYES

Treat tired, overworked eyes to a daily dose of Wo Skincare’s Power TONIQ Eye Contour Perfecting Essence, £19 for 14 vials, which is jam-packed with potent peptides to boost circulation and do away with dark circles.

5. GENTLY DOES IT

Take off the day with e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm, £10, a nourishing balm-to-oil cleanser that leaves skin silky-soft thanks to ceramides, peptides and hyaluronic acid.

6. CLEAR WIN

OK, not brand new, but this Charcoal & Tea Tree Oil Facial Cleansing Bar, £6, is the reason why Carbon Theory became the UK’S best-selling acne brand. It restores balance, keeps blemishes at bay and is great for maskne (mask-induced breakouts).

7. FRESH-FACED

The perfect follow-on from your cleanser, Caudalie’s Vinoclean Moisturising Toner, £15, refreshes and hydrates with natural rose extract and moisturising vinolevure. Kind to the planet as well as your skin, the bottle is made from recycled plastic and is 100% recyclable. Double tick.

8. THE BIG C

New in from No7 (and already a huge hit), Radiance+ 15% Vitamin C Serum, £20, speedily sinks into skin to boost radiance from the get-go, while protecting skin against free radical damage from the likes of pollution and UV rays.

9. KEEP CALM

Red, irritated skin? Lather on a thick layer of Pixi’s Milky Remedy Mask, £20, and let the oat, coconut and camomile concoction get to work for 10 minutes before rinsing off for a notably calmer complexion.

10. SOFT TOUCH

After months and months trapped in knitwear, our skin is crying out for some serious moisture. Enter Typology Nourishing Body Scrub, £19.80. The gel-to-milk exfoliator dissolves dry skin, while sweet almond oil leaves limbs suitably soft and hydrated.