Save money & time with these multipurpose balms, all-in-one palettes & hair heroes
When it comes to our beauty routine, one thing’s for certain: we want more bang for our buck. With the cost of living rising and our day-to-day lives becoming more and more hectic, we’re demanding fuss-free, cost- and time-effective beauty products that don’t compromise on quality.
With this in mind, we’re shining a spotlight on multipurpose beauty products. Consider them easy solutions to help streamline a convoluted routine, and a good way to save on time and money.
From the convenient cult cheek flush that doubles up as a lip tint to the bargain eye palette that doubles up as a brilliant bronzer, scroll on for the lowdown on 11 of our favourite multipurpose products that allow you to shop smart and reduce your beauty spending.
Looking for more top picks? Explore more budget-friendly buys in our guide to stretching your beauty budget.
Byoma Body Hydrating Body Lotion
Try: BYBI Babe Balm
• Size: 400ml
• Vegan* & cruelty-free
After silky-smooth, touchably soft skin? Add this luxurious body lotion to your daily bodycare routine. The buttery formula sinks instantly into skin, leaving you feeling supple and nourished all over. It’s packed with skin-loving goodies, including Byoma’s unique Tri-Ceramide Complex, which helps to strengthen your skin’s natural barrier, and shea butter to lock in moisture for long-lasting hydration. It’s dermatologist-tested, non-comedogenic and alcohol-free, ticking all the boxes to become your skin’s favourite hydration hero.
The all-in-one palette
Try: Milani All-Inclusive Eye, Cheek & Face Palette
• Size: 10.82g
• Cruelty-free
This hardworking palette contains all you need to achieve a beautiful, glowing radiance while on the go. There’s two blush shades, three eyeshadows, a bronzer and a highlighter to create a range of looks, plus the formulas are incredibly rich, making for a pretty dazzling pigment pay off. What’s more, it’s available in light to medium and medium to deep versions – we couldn’t love it more.
The strengthening super (hair) hero
Try: Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food Aloe Vera 3-in-1 Normal Hair Mask Treatment
• Size: 400ml
• Suitable for dehydrated hair
Great hair days, here we come. With this marvellous multi-tasker, you can achieve your healthiest hair yet. Packed with vitamins C, E and F, this super quenching formula nourishes, hydrates and boosts shine with every application. With 97% natural origin ingredients and no silicones, it leaves hair looking stronger and feeling silky smooth. You can apply it three ways: as a conditioner, mask, or a leave-in treatment to show dry lengths and tips some love.
The contour, glow & go
Try: NYX Professional Makeup Wonder Stick Highlight & Contour Stick
• Size: 8ml
• Vegan* & cruelty-free
Shape, sculpt and glow on-the-go with this multi-purpose duo from NYX Professional Makeup. This dual-ended contour stick features a deeper shade to define and a lighter shade to brighten, delivering a precise, dimension-boosting application in just a few swipes. All you need to do is build and blend the creamy formula for a seamless, snatched finish. With eight new ultra-pigmented shade combos, you’re sure to find your perfect match.
The cult cheek & lip stain
Try: No7 Lip & Cheek Tint
• Size: 10ml
Achieving an effortless, healthy glow has never been easier thanks to this handbag-friendly multi-use cheek and lip tint. The lightweight, buildable formula blends seamlessly into the skin, giving you a flattering flush of colour with a beautiful soft-matte finish. Choose from three stunning shades to add a natural, no make-up glow to your everyday look. Dab gently onto cheeks for a radiant glow, or swipe across lips for a polished, glamorous pop of pigment.
The highlighting base
Try: Rimmel Multi-Tasker Better Than Filters
• Size: 30ml
Who needs social media filters when you have this hardworking beauty hero? The 3-in-1 formula works as a primer, glow booster and highlighter, leaving you with a flawless, radiant finish that’s definitely Instagram-worthy. Whether you wear it alone for a natural-looking glow, layer it under make-up as a skin-perfecting primer, or apply it over your finished look as a highlighter, it’s sure to become one of the most-loved items in your beauty bag.
The lash & brow booster
Try: The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Lash & Brow Serum
• Size: 5ml
• Suitable for vegans*
• Cruelty-free
• Oil-free
• Patch testing advised
If you’re searching for a make-up free way to improve the appearance of thin brows or sparse lashes, this multipurpose serum by The Ordinary – containing a whopping 11 active ingredients – could be worth adding to your kit. Just apply a thin layer to dry brows and lashes after cleansing morning and evening, bearing in mind that a little goes a long way – one tube will last a really long time. Extra shout out for that.
The brightening SPF and skin tint
Try: Garnier Vitamin C Daily UV Fluid SPF50+ Glow
• Size: 40ml
Protect and glow every day with this multi-tasking SPF. The formula covers all your skincare bases, offering very high protection against sun damage while boosting brightness and improving your complexion. Infused with mineral pigments for instant radiance, this lightweight fluid illuminates skin with a sheer, glowing finish. Perfect as your daily go-to SPF and skin tint, it can be worn alone or layered over your day cream or serum. Simply apply to face and neck in the morning for sun-protected, radiant skin all day long.
The glow-to formula for luminous skin
Try: L’Oréal Paris Lumi Glotion
• Size: 40ml
• Available in 4 shades
Glow on, glow up! This magical multi-tasking lotion gives a gorgeous, lit-from-within look to any complexion. Wear it solo for a fresh, luminous finish, or layer it under foundation to illuminate your look. Packed with glycerin and shea butter for 24-hour hydration, it’s a must-have for radiant, dewy skin all day long.
The body, face & hair elixir
Try: Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream All-Over Miracle Oil
• Size: 100ml
Packed full of skin-loving nutrients, this all-over oil is formulated to help transform skin from dull and dehydrated to nourished and glowing. Whether you’re applying a spritz to dry cuticles, adding shine to dull, dry hair or using it as a post-shave hit of hydration, you’ll get impressive bang for your buck with this miracle worker. Plus, it earns bonus points for its light, floral fragrance that provides a much-needed pocket of peace.
The bronzing hybrid
Try: Pixi On-The-Glow Cream Bronzer Warm Glow
• Size: 19g
• Suitable for all skin types
• Not tested on animals
A sunkissed glow, all year round? Sign us up. This easy-to-use stick delivers a hint of tint for your cheeks and lips, blending effortlessly for a natural, bronzed look in just one swipe. Infused with antioxidant-rich fruit extracts, revitalising ginseng and soothing aloe vera, it not only gives you a radiant finish but also nourishes your skin. Ideal for all skin tones, this vitamin-packed bronzer is perfect for those busy days when you need to glow on the go.
Here’s to minimising unnecessary beauty expenditure in favour of multipurpose magic.
