We do the beauty maths, so you don’t have to. Trust us, these are worth every penny
Here at Health & Beauty, we love a bargain beauty buy, but some things are worth investing in, such as a gorgeous, pigmented-packed eyeshadow or a foundation full of super skin-loving ingredients. But worried about splashing out? We’ve done the sums on our can’t-live-withouts to show that some beauty pieces are better value than you think.
Below, we break down how much these beauty buys end up costing each day, after taking into account how long the product lasts each user, proving that – sometimes – spending a little bit more can be worth it.
Fiona Lakin
Boots Marketing Manager, Content
No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Night Cream, £27.95
- Size: 50ml
- Contains Matrixyl 3000+ and vitamins A, C and E
A few years ago, I switched to No7 Lift & Luminate, and as soon as I applied the night cream I was hooked. The formula is super rich, and I feel it working straight away, helping firm and moisturise my face and neck. Even though I quench my skin with it every night, the cream tends to last me around three months. I’m 47 with only a few fine lines (and the odd laughter line!), so the ingredients seem tobe doing their job.
Cost per wear
31p a day over three months
Andrea Leebody
Health & Beauty Associate Editor
Aroma Active Laboratories Soothing Universal Repair Cream Light, £10
- Size: 100ml
- Suitable for vegans
While this Aroma Active hand cream might not be as expensive as other products on this page, £10 is more than what I tend to spend on a hand cream, as I’m usually happy to grab something cheap and cheerful.
But as I’ve got older, I’ve come to realise I need to invest in harder-working products for my hands. This not only smells spa-luxe, but it’s packed with actives, such as probiotics and oat kernel oil, to moisturise and help support the skin barrier. I use Light, which is great for oilier skin, but go for Rich if yours tends to be drier.
Cost per wear
11p a day over three months
Puika Chung
Health & Beauty Digital Designer
YSL Mon Paris Eau de Parfum, £59
- Size: 30ml
- Fragrance family: floral
This YSL scent is great for anyone who loves to give off feminine energy – it’s a classic chypre base, with fruity, floral top and middle notes. I tend to use it as a daily perfume. Not only does it look nice on my dressing table, but just a few spritzes on my wrists and neck seem to last up to eight hours (including surviving a night of dancing!), meaning I don’t need to carry a small perfume around in my bag either.
Cost per wear
20p a day over 10 months
Grace Vernon
Boots Global Head of Cultural Insight and Trends
M.A.C Cremesheen Lipstick in Peach Blossom, £20
- Available in 11 shades
- Semi-glossy finish
- Medium buildable coverage
I discovered this M.A.C lipstick when I was having my make-up done by a make-up artist for a wedding. She finished my look and I had to ask her what the lipstick shade was, because it was such a gorgeous, natural, peachy tone. It’s got a lovely satin sheen, too. This is definitely my ‘go-to’ lipstick for any occasion and lasts a good few months, even using it daily. And let’s face it, you know it’s a good one when it’s a pro’s go-to!
Cost per wear
22p a day over three months
Kelly Holgate
Health & Beauty Content Specialist
Ole Henriksen Truth Juice Daily Cleanser, £25
- Size: 150ml
- Gel crème texture
This Ole Henriksen cleanser has been my go-to for mornings for more than two years – I’m obsessed with how it leaves my skin looking and feeling. I always need something extra to wake me up and this has a zesty scent that does the trick, no matter how many times I press snooze. I simply wet my face, take a pea-sized amount and lather all over, then rinse away. It also doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight, which is a win for me.
Cost per wear
40p a day over two months
Ayesha Muttucumaru
Health & Beauty Associate Digital Editor
Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter in Trophy Wife, £28
- Cream-powder hybrid formula
- Available in two shades
This Fenty Beauty highlighter glides on the skin with a veil of glistening gold. I apply it on my cheekbones and collarbone, using a highlighter brush for a subtle flicker, or my fingers for a statement shimmer. It has wide-ranging appeal, but particularly pops on skin with warmer undertones. A little goes a long way, and it doesn’t require touching up in my experience because of how pigmented the formula is, so it’s still going strong eight months on.
Cost per wear
12p a day over eight months
Iqra Hussain
Boots Beauty Specialist
Huda Beauty Tantour Contour & Bronzer, £28
- Cream-to-powder formula
- Water and sweat resistant
- Available in five shades
This Huda Beauty bronzer is my favourite for a bronze glow year-round (ideal as one palette tends to last me a year). It looks great on my Asian skin tone and comes in five shades (the shades run darker, so I use Light). Every day I apply with a dense kabuki brush and use tapping motions back and forth across my forehead and cheekbones. It’s so versatile, I can achieve a subtle glow when I don’t feel like wearing much make-up or a full-face chiselled contour.
Cost per wear
8p a day over 12 months
Allison Kersey
Boots Beauty Specialist
YSL Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara, £29
- Size: 8ml
- Fragrance-free
- Innovative oil-in-water wax formula
While this is a lot to spend on a mascara, I think it’s worth every penny as I love how this YSL one takes me from daytime to after-work drinks, without smudging or having to reapply.
In fact, it can last up to 24 hours, making it great value per use, especially as each tube lasts around three months. Don’t be too alarmed by the chunky conical applicator, because this is key to those fabulous, instantly oversized lashes.
Cost per wear
32p a day over three months
Emma Chadwick
Health & Beauty Art Editor
Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Foundation SPF40 in Light, £51
- Size: 30ml
- Available in 18 shades
This foundation is my most expensive beauty purchase ever! I normally buy my foundation from Bobbi Brown, but decided I wanted something with a lighter coverage, so I treated myself to this, as it smelled great, gave coverage with a small amount of product and promised to help prevent collagen damage and fight visible signs of ageing... yes please. It also lasts ages, as just one pump covers my whole face and neck.
Cost per wear
25p a day over seven months
All prices correct on date of publication
Credits: Compiled by: Andrea Leebody and India Garrett. Main photography: Pixeleyes
