Best in Budget Beauty

There’s nothing quite like the joy of stumbling upon a selection of beauty products that a) are brilliant and b) are cheap. And by cheap we’re referring to the price, not the quality. This is especially helpful in January when your wallet is looking a little on the slender side and your complexion a little too lacklustre.

First up, we’re more than impressed with Boots’ own brand Botanics and their new Radiance Balm All Bright. This revitalising, highlighting balm is the perfect antidote to dull winter skin, providing your face with an instant pick-me-up and a gorgeous (but not too obvious) glow. Not only does it give you a visibly brighter complexion, thanks in large part to the natural hibiscus, it reduces the signs of fatigue and stress. Plant-powered skincare that actually works? What more could you want? Oh, a price tag of €7.99, that’s what.

Next on our budget beauty radar is the spring range from Catrice. We got our eager paws on some of their brand new goodies and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of pigment in each product. Strong, lasting pigment isn’t usually something you can bank on when it comes to the less expensive beauty brands, but lucky for the broke gals among us, Catrice doesn’t skimp on quality. Top of the list for us is the Absolute Nude Eyeshadow Palette, ‘In the mood for nude’, that comes with six natural nude shades, allowing for the perfect daytime smokey eye. Go a little heavier and you’re sorted for night-time too. The shades glide on effortlessly and genuinely last all day. Two thumbs up from us! ?5.49

Also from Catrice, we can’t speak highly enough of the Liquid Metal Gel Eye Pencil.?A soft, gel-like texture that doesn’t fade with the added bonus of a metallic effect. As with the eyeshadows, the strength of pigmentation here doesn’t disappoint. ?2.79

For those after flawless foundation, Maybelline‘s new Dream Flawless Nude gets our vote. It’s really quite hard to find a foundation that feels light on your skin without compromising on coverage; more often than not, you’ve got to choose one over the other. Not with this bad boy. Described as their dreamiest foundation yet, Flawless Nude comes in seven silky shades, sure to suit our Irish complexions. Having tried it ourselves, it gives your skin a warm, flawless base without that nasty feeling of having dipped your head in cake batter (yep, we’ve been there). For ?12.99, consider your foundation dilemmas solved.

Lastly on our budget beauty round-up, we’ve recently sampled Australian Bodycare who offer a fantastic range of skincare solutions that harness the highest quality Tea Tree Oil and?Melaleuca Alternifolia, which are particularly beneficial (and natural) ingredients for those with blemished skin.?Each product within the range boasts antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic properties, and for those with sensitive skin, we’re told it’s nice and gentle. What really piqued our interest within the range, however, is the Any Time Balm, which can be used for almost anything (hence the name, duh) – dry lips or particularly dry areas of skin etc. Having endured dry, chapped smackers for as long as we can remember, we were impressed with its rejuvenating and smoothing qualities. With prices starting as low as €4, check it out online at?www.australianbodycare.co.uk. You won’t regret it.

What budget beauty goodies have you been impressed with lately? Share your thoughts below.

@CarolineForan