The difference between cheap and expensive beauty products has never been smaller than it is now, in 2026. Budget beauty used to be seen as lower quality, but now it competes with high-end brands in terms of performance, feel, and finish.
Thanks to new ways of making products and getting ingredients, you can now find skincare that works as promised and makeup with great pigment, long-lasting wear, and texture that is as good as anything you can find in the luxury aisles. In this economy, getting more for your money has never been more appealing.
Best things you can buy for less than £10 at a glance
- Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream is the best cheap moisturiser. It costs £9.99 at Boots.
- Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water is the best cheap makeup remover. It costs £8.99 at Boots.
- The Kiko Milano Colour Kajal Eye Pencil is the best cheap eyeliner. It costs £7.49.
- The Revolution Skin Silk Glow Tint Sheer Foundation Stick is the best cheap foundation. It costs £9.99 at Superdrug.
- The Ordinary Glycollic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner for £8 is the best cheap exfoliator.
- The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum from Boots is the best cheap serum at £9.
- Nivea Sun UV Face Specialist Triple Protect SPF50+ is the best cheap SPF. It costs £10 at Boots.
- Byoma Creamy Jelly Cleanser is the best cheap cleanser. It costs £9.99 at Boots.
- NYX Professional Makeup Buttermelt Blush is the best cheap blush. It costs £9.99 at Superdrug.
- The Biodance Bio Collagen Real Deep Mask is the best cheap face mask. It costs £4.90 at Pure Seoul.
- e.l.f. Lash ‘N Roll Mascara is the best cheap mascara. It costs £7 at Boots.
- Maybelline New York Maybe It’s…Serum Lipstick is the best cheap lipstick. It costs £8.99 at Boots.
- Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer is the best cheap concealer. It costs £4.49 at Boots.
- L’Oréal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist is the best cheap setting spray. It costs £9.99 at Boots.
Yes, affordable beauty brands have really stepped up their game, and the idea that “cheap means compromise” is no longer true. There are now a lot of products that show you can get high-end results for a lot less money.
We’ve put together a list of the best beauty products to buy, all of which cost less than £10, to save you time on the screen. So, whether you’re looking for a foundation that will make your skin look better or a face mask that will nourish your skin, keep reading to find out what’s worth buying.
How I tried
I have been a beauty journalist for a long time, so I have already used and rated many of these products. For this article, I went back to each one and tested them over a few weeks, comparing them to more expensive options. I also added a variety of new-to-me products, and for each one, I thought about how well it worked, how it felt, and how well it held up throughout the day. I focused on products that really work without costing a lot.
