More Budget Skincare Picks
17 February
Last month I shared some of my favourite budget skincare picks (see here), a post which seemed to go down really well with those of you hunting down the perfect effective skincare products on a budget. I thought I'd share some more of my favourite budget skincare finds, covering cleansing, toning and exfoliating. Here's some more of my go-to budget skincare picks!

Although I have quite a few high-end cleansers in my skincare stash, cleansers are one area of skincare I think the high-street does really well, with some great options out there covering a huge variety of formula's and needs.
If you're looking for an alternative to the coveted Bioderma Sebium H20 Micelle Solution, which is a great cleansing water but unless you live in London, pretty darn hard to find on the high-street, then the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, 400ml £4.99, is a great alternative. Currently on offer for just £3.33, it's an effective and gentle cleansing water which is fantastic as the first step in your cleansing routine to remove makeup. It has a soothing formula which doesn't irritate skin, and a 400ml bottle lasts forever! You can check out my full review here.
Cleansing balms and oils are one of my favourite ways to remove makeup, as they easily melt away every last trace leaving skin clean and clear. If you want to try a cleansing balm but don't like the idea of firmer balms which take a bit more effort to massage in, then the Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm, 100ml £15.50. is the answer to your cleansing balm prayers! With a silky consistency that melts once massaged into your skin, it has a gorgeous formula including Sweet Almond Oil, Echium Seed Oil and Mangosteen Extract alongside Merumaya's Signature Essence Blend, creating a magical balm with a beautiful scent. This stuff melts away makeup in an instant! Featured in my Skincare Favourites of 2014, you can check out my full review of the Melting Cleansing Balm here.
A slightly firmer balm in consistency but one which melts into the skin just as well as Merumaya's offering comes from 100% natural skincare brand Lyonsleaf, whose products are specifically designed to be perfect for nourishing and repairing skin. The Lyonsleaf Natural Beauty Balm, 55ml £12.95, is one of my favourite cleansing balms ever. With a hard-working formula that includes natural oils of Shea Butter, Babassu Oil, Macadamia Nut, Jojoba and Calendula, it's a water-free balm which cleanses skin with ease, whilst working to soften and repair. Beautiful. You can check out my full review, alongside reviews of the Lyonsleaf Natural Body Butter and Lyonsleaf Healing Blend Calendula Cream here.
I find good cleansing oils hard to find on the high-street, as most are full of ingredients I try to avoid (and ingredients which my skin hates!), but The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil, 200ml £10, gives my high-end favourites a run for their money. From the same range as my beloved Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter featured in my first Budget Skincare Picks post, it's a beautiful oil that I turn to both day and night. A silky-soft oil which removes makeup, dirt and grime with ease, leaving skin looking and feeling clean, clear and refreshed.
A favourite of mine for many years now, whenever I feel like my skin needs a little TLC to keep spots and blemishes at bay, there's nothing I rely on more than the incredibly effective Nelsons Pure & Clear Anti Blemish Facial Wash
, 125ml £7.15. Perfect for use both morning and night, it has a natural Seaweed base and works to clear impurities as well as soothing and repairing skin. There is literally nothing which works as well for me at getting rid pesky blemishes, than this facial wash! Plus, it leaves my skin looking incredibly clear and healthy. All round winner!
In my first Budget Skincare Picks post I shared my love for Lush toners - particularly the Breath of Fresh Air Toner which I have been using since my mid-teens. Another toner I adore from Lush, and one which is currently part of both my morning and evening skincare routine, is the Lush Eau Roma Water Toner Water, 100g £4.25 - 250g £7.95. A light and refreshing toner that's perfect for even the most sensitive of skin types, it utilises Rose Water which works to calm and reduce redness, whilst Lavender Water balances and softens skin. Soothing, hydrating and super-kind to skin, it's a definite must-have for me in the winter months.
A product which gets a lot more use in the warmer months of spring and summer, is the Vichy Eau Thermale Spa Water Spray, 150ml £5.95. A water spray with a super fine mist that can be used morning or night as a toner, or as I like to use it - throughout the day as a refreshing facial mist, it has a formula rich in 15 rare Mineral Salts and Oligo-Elements, working together to de-congest, relieve redness, soothe sensitive skin and reinforce the important natural protection of our skin. Pop it in the fridge overnight and it's a complete life-saver on a hot summers day!
Last but not least another toner - but one which works to exfoliate the skin as well as tone - I am besotted with the Bravura Purifying Calendula Toner 13% AHA, 100ml £8.39. Just one of many budget-friendly toners available from Bravura, it's become one of my favourite exfoliating toners ever, which instantaneously makes my skin look and feel so much better; clear, brighter, softer to the touch. An acid toner, it has a soothing and calming scent of Calendula - the main star ingredient in this toner which is an effective facial astringent that works to normalise our skins PH level whilst simultaneously fighting bacteria, tackling breakouts and repairing oily skin. The best acid toner for it's price, by far! You can check out my full review here.
What are your favourite budget skincare picks?
26 comments
I think I saw the Garnier micellar water on offer in Tesco, so I may have to pick it up as I've been melanin to try it for a good while! I recently picked up the Camomille Cleansing Butter from TBS which is lovely.
ReplyDeletealice x | beautybyalicee | Bloglovin' | YouTube
It's a fab cleansing water, just as good as Bioderma! Let me know if you decide to give it a try :) I adore The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter, it's so, so good! xo
DeleteI've been looking for a new cleansing balm for ages, so I'm going to have to give these a go! Thank you for the recommendations :)
ReplyDeletebeth | babbleswithbeth.blogspot.co.uk
More than welcome Bethany - Let me know what you think to them, if you give any of these a try! xo
DeleteThese all sound like lovely skincare picks and they all sound intriguing and really good.
ReplyDeleteJackie | fashionxfairytale | bloglovin' |
Thanks Jackie. They're all fab products and super effective! xo
DeleteLush is a definite favorite of mine and usually always does the job for me! xx
ReplyDeletehttp://lilliemysel.blogspot.com
They have a fab skincare range, don't they? xo
DeleteI really like the Una Brennan, Superfaciallist VitC + Cleansing oil. Beautiful citrus smells and removes make up easily, although there is no pump it doesn't just pour out, you have to gently squeeze the bottle. It's 10.99 for a good sized bottle in Boots. I also really like Superdrugs Vit E creamy hot cloth cleanser, though I use a proper flannel for a good warm removal tool.
ReplyDeleteI used to use the Superdrug Vitamin E cleanser, it's lovely! xo
DeleteI love the garnier Micellar water! I've just cracked my skincare but I feel like my skin is getting a little bit oily as the day goes on ( I blame the weather and the fact I'm getting older) should I change the serum I am using or should I try a setting spray ect on my makeup?
ReplyDeleteIf I should change my skincare what is suitable for sensitive skin to help minimise redness x
http://www.allthingskerri.blogspot.co.uk/
Personally I don't use setting sprays as I find they very rarely work, and can often make my skin feel irritated. My skin type is predominately oily and I've implemented a lot of products into my routine over the years to help, such as exfoliating cleansers, acid/exfoliating toners, facial oils etc. I wouldn't want to make any solid suggestions, as I don't know your skin etc! You might want to check out Caroline Hirons blog, which covers every skin type and product type you could imagine! I'd also recommend having a good powder to hand - I always find my skin looking a little oily later in the day, whether I wear makeup or not, but if I'm wearing makeup I find a quick touch up with a good setting powder does the job well enough! xo
DeleteThanks so much :) I need to switch up my cleanser as it just isn't right for me. I've started to get an oily t zone but the rest of my skin is fairly normal
DeleteMuch the same as my skin - pretty normal and easy to manage, with an oily t-zone (and chin!). You're welcome lovely. I'll be sharing some posts soon on oils and serums for oily skin, so keep an eye out! xo
DeleteI really love the Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil and Butter :) Vichy is also a brand I love but I haven't tried that product. The Thermale range is so hydrating - love it! xx
ReplyDeleteMagpie Jasmine
Vichy is such a lovely brand. I've only tried a couple of Vichy products so far, but everything I've tried I've really loved! The Body Shop Camomile range is just heavenly xo
DeleteThe Body Shop is always my go to place when I need a skincare pick me up!
ReplyDeleteAnnabel ♥
Mascara & Maltesers
They have such a lovely skincare range, don't they? xo
Deletei absolutely love the eau roma water, it's my favourite toner and i've gone through three bottles.
ReplyDeletebrooke | brooke elise beauty
It's lovely isn't it? I love how long the Lush toners last, too :) xo
Deletethe camomile cleansing oil sounds amazing! http://thenamelessbl0g.blogspot.co.uk/
ReplyDeleteIt's a really lovely oil :) xo
DeleteI love the Garner Micellar Water! I need to try more Lush skincare products - I've only tried the face masks. Want to try one of the toners and the Angels on Bare Skin cleanser xx
ReplyDeleteRamblings of a Beauty Bird | Beauty Blog
I love the Fresh Face Mask range from Lush! Haven''t had any in a long time mind you, kinda tempted to put an order in now.... I've used Angels on Bare Skin before but personally I'm not a fan; it leaves a slightly oily residue on my skin that I find a pain to remove xo
DeleteI currently have the cleansing butter by Body Shop but am worried with my combination skin, will give it a bash as sounds beautiful xxx
ReplyDeleteI have oily/combination skin and it works really well for me! Let me know how you get on with it lovely xo
Delete