Some of the best budget beauty buys are now available to pick up along with your weekly grocery shop. Here are the trolley-dash products that outperform their more expensive high-street counterparts.
Beauty Pro Foot & Callus Peel Booties
Unwrap, wear on clean feet for 90 minutes while watching TV, then rinse and wait. For the first two days you will think that nothing is happening, but within three days hard skin will start to exfoliate away and a week later your feet will be transformed. No more hard heels or calluses. £6; sainsburys.co.uk
Monotheme Classic Agrumi di Sicilia
You know that quintessential holiday smell — the scent of orange blossom, tangerine and bitter orange that fills the air of the Italian Riviera and Sicily? This is it in a bottle. Monotheme is a classic Italian fragrance house and its scents are now available at M&S in vintage flacons that look more expensive than they are. £19; marksandspencer.com
3. The foolproof face cloths
Stylpro Organic Bamboo Face Cloths
These bamboo-cotton cloths perform like microfibre but are better for the environment, and the white colour allows you to experience the satisfaction of seeing your make-up come off at the end of a long summer day. Guaranteed to supercharge any everyday cleanser, they are supersoft so great for sensitive skin. £8 for three; waitrose.com
4. The A-rated ampoules
Cien Bio Antioxidante Facial Treatment
If you’re travelling and still dreading the outdated 100ml airport restrictions, these ampoules work like some super high-end and much more expensive serums. They blend aloe vera and hyaluronic acid so are perfect inflight for dehydrated skin, after a day at the beach or sightseeing, or to remedy the effects of a big night out. £18.99; Lidl and amazon.co.uk
5. The budget balm
Lacura Miracle Cream
We know it’s naughty, but copycat products can really help when you’re on a budget and this salve is a great multipurpose holiday SOS balm for the whole family. It works on dry skin, cuts, grazes, stings and insect bites — you name it. Just pop it into your bag before a day out or summer holiday. £4.49; aldi.co.uk
6. The caring cleanser
Tesco Kind & Pure Cleansing Face Wash
I love this inhouse brand from Tesco: back-to-basics, fragrance-free skincare at its best. This is the right size for travel, can be used in the shower in the morning and with a face cloth at night to remove make-up gently but effectively. Suits all ages and skin types. £1.50; tesco.com
7. The failsafe face wipes
Asda Kind & Gentle Plastic Free Skincare Wipes
I know, I know — face wipes are not ideal, but if you’re going camping, packing a teenager off to a festival or just heading to the beach for the day, they are worth their weight in gold. These are super-gentle and compostable, and work just as well on sticky little fingers as they do on SPF-sticky faces and, this summer, rain-smeared make-up. 49p; asda.com
8. The brilliant brushes
Boutique make-up brush set
Boutique cosmetics no longer appear to exist, but instead Sainsbury’s has put its energy into a fantastic range of budgetbrushes and make-up accessories. All individual products are under £3.75, and in this set you get a large face powder brush and dual-ended eyeshadow and brow-grooming brushes. £7.50; sainsburys.co.uk
9. The face hydrator
Biovène Hyaluronic Day Glow
If you want an amazing budget day cream, this is it. It has a soothing gel-cream texture that feels bouncy to touch and contains glycerin and hyaluronic acid to lock water into the skin, and aloe vera and vitamin B3 niacinamide to soothe summer-stressed complexions. £2.50; poundland.co.uk
10. The mini manicure set
M&S Collection nail kit
This clever little kit is perfectly portable so great for holidays. It contains nail clippers, scissors, a crystal nail file and a cuticle pusher and trimmer. £7.50; marksandspencer.com
11. The wonder wash
Apothecary Calm Hand Wash
The Apothecary range is perfect for guest bathrooms and kitchens, and this handwash is gorgeous. What’s more, there are various refills in different fragrances to save you money in the long term. Plus it looks and smells so much more expensive than an own-brand. £10; marksandspencer.com
12. The SPF50 spray
Lacura Refreshing Dry Mist SPF50+
I know what you’re thinking: can I really trust this to deliver a good level of protection? Well, yes, you can because it’s made to the same regulatory guidelines as products that cost ten or twenty times as much. But, as with all sprays, use liberally and apply to each area three to four times to achieve a good level of protection. That said, this is super-light and great for reaching backs if you don’t have a friend or partner to lend a helping hand. £3.29; groceries.aldi.co.uk
13. The summer sandal saviour
Morrisons Cracked Heel Balm
Before you dismiss this, take note that it contains 25 per cent urea, the magic active ingredient that not only hydrates sandal heels but over the course of a few days and nights will exfoliate away that dead, hard skin. Simply apply thickly and pop on a pair of trainer socks to waken to softer feet. £3; groceries.morrisons.com
14. The must-have mascara
Collection Mile High Mascara
I have tested a lot of mascaras recently and this is hands down the best. It adds volume without clogging and length without clumping and has a flexible rubber brush that is also fine enough to coat inner and outer lashes with ease. Perfection. £7; sainsburys.co.uk
15. The cooling eye roller
Skin Saints Brightening Eye Treatment
This contains a blend of a new-generation stable vitamin C, vitamin B3, glycerin and a bioferment, all to soothe and cool under-eye puffiness. It comes in a roll-on, with a stay-cool tip to refresh after a muggy night. £4; tesco.com
16. The gentle summer shampoo
Pure Fine Hair Shampoo
Another inhouse brand that knocks it out of the park. Pure is a no-nonsense range of skin and haircare by Waitrose, and this shampoo (there is a conditioner to match, £3) is ideal for the whole family. It is gentle enough for children and adult coloured hair yet effective for oilier-scalped teens and men. £3; waitrose.com