The level of raw materials often determines the price of cosmetics, alongside production methods.
The difference between a crumbly eye shadow and a smooth one for example, is usually down to manufacturing. Premium beauty brands really are premium for a reason, but packaging and marketing costs can sometimes weigh in on beauty’s price tags.
Don’t let them trick you. We’ve rounded up the best products, with the most cost-effective formulas (“effective” being the key word here), each one yours for less than $20.
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$18.00 Buy now with Skinstore US Caudalie Beauty Elixir
Buy now with free deliveryCaudalie’s iconic beauty elixir has been refreshing complexions for 20 years this year. Inspired by the Queen Isabelle of Hungary’s ‘elixir of youth’, it doubles up as a toner and make-up setting spray.
Promising to deliver a burst of radiance to the complexion, this elixir has a long list of A-list devotes, from Karlie Kloss and Liv Tyler to Margot Robbie and Roxane Mesquida. Tyler has even called it her “favourite product in the entire universe”.
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$18.00 Buy now with Skinstore US Anastasia Pro Pencil - Base 2
Buy now with free deliveryEvery make-up bag needs Anastasia’s Pro Pencil, because this multi-tasking product has the power of 5.
Not only does it hide blemishes, conceal dark circles and cover flaws, but it highlights the brow, the face and the eyes, blends brow hairs as they grow back in, lines your lips and even primes your lids for eye shadow.
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$18.00 Buy now with Skinstore US Erno Laszlo Detoxifying Hydrogel Mask (Single)
Buy now with free deliveryGet the Laszlo glow with the Erno Laszlo Detoxifying Hydrogel Mask, suitable for all skin types including acne prone and combination.
Illuminate lustreless complexions with this innovative gel-like mask, which moulds to your facial shape and soaks your skin with a medley of botanical extracts rich in vitamins and essential oils.
Potent charcoal draws impurities and dirt from the pores, whilst an AHA fruit blend breaks down dead skin cells, leaving your skin refreshed and radiant. Kiwi extract then encourages natural collagen production, which helps repair damaged cells and restore optimum hydration levels.
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$12.80 Buy now with Skinstore US Paula's Choice Self-Tanning Foam
Buy now with free deliveryAchieve a week-long Bahamas stay tan with the Self-tanning Foam from Paula’s Choice.
Offering serious staying power, this easy-to-apply, ultra-quick-drying foam is lightly tinted to ensure flawless application. The end results is a natural-looking tan to compliment your skin tone. This is a sun-kissed look without the UV damage.
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$14.00 Buy now with Skinstore US First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Gentle Cleansing Bar
Buy now with free deliveryThis moisture-rich bar soap leaves you squeaky clean from head to toe, nourishing your  skin instead of leaving it dry and irritated as so many soaps can.
This one is safe for the whole family, even babies. It’s formulated with skin loving ingredients, including colloidal oatmeal and allantoin to calm and soothe as well as shea butter and squalene to protect and preserve the skin’s natural moisture barrier. The creamy cleansing lather rinses easily and leaves skin residue-free.
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$5.63 Buy now with Skinstore US Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25
Buy now with free deliveryJack Black’s Intense Therapy Lip Balm is genderless, sellout lip therapy. This unisex formula protects and moisturizes the lip come shine or snow.
Enriched with natural mint, lanolin, avocado oil, shea butter and green tea, this lip balm is a handbag must-have.
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$9.75 Buy now with Skinstore US Philip Kingsley Exfoliating Scalp Mask
Buy now with free deliveryRevitalize your follicles and reawaken your hair with Philip Kingsley’s Exfoliating Scalp Mask.
Jam-packed with organic scalp-soothing aloe vera and a powerful combo of exfoliants, this pre-shampoo treatment prevents dry, flaking skin and conditions the scalp and hair.
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$23.00 Buy now with Skinstore US theBalm What's Your Type? Tall Dark and Handsome Mascara
Buy now with free deliveryGive each individual lash the attention it deserves with theBalm’s What’s Your Type? Tall Dark and Handsome.
Amp it up with this volumizing black mascara that conditions and separates each lash for a flirty, feminine finish.
Infused with all the good things, including olive and rice wax, this gentle formula conditions lashes from the root.
The savvy wand works like a fine-toothed comb, ensuring that no lash is ever left behind.
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$21.00 Buy now with Skinstore US laidbare POLICE THE CREASE! Wrinkle Corrector
Buy now with free deliveryTroubleshoot the visible signs of aging with laidbare’s natural wrinkle corrector. Bursting with hibiscus extract (botanical botox) and seaweed extracts, this is skincare’s best kept anti-aging secret.
Bye bye wrinkles, hello radiance!
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$15.00 Buy now with Skinstore US Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub
Buy now with free deliveryThis sumptuous scrub reveals soft, radiant skin. Freshly squeezed lime and sparkling lemons bring brightening properties to the mix, while sweet vanilla musk, smashed brown sugar, glycerin, macadamia oils and almond oil with sea salt work hard and fast to buff away dryness, leaving behind a scrumptious, nostalgic scent.
