From skin-saving serums & foaming face wash to haircare we just can’t live without, find your winner, whatever the budget
This year, we celebrated the first EVER Boots Beauty Awards, where only the very best products were voted for by you.
So whether you need to stock up on your daily essentials, you can’t resist a make-up treat or two, or you fancy sinking into a self-care slumber after a long week, we’ve handpicked our best budget-friendly beauty buys just for you. Hint: they’re winners for more reasons than one…
Our £5 & under winners
As much fun as we have skimming the aisles and popping everything we can into our baskets, it can soon add up. So, if you want to get more bang for your buck, look no further as we’ve got the best in class. From skincare pick-me-ups to haircare heroes, take a look at our winners for just £5 and under.
Award Winner for Best Beauty on a Budget
Try: Garnier Moisture Bomb Pomegranate Hydrating Tissue Mask
• Size: 32g (1 sheet mask)
• Vegan formula*
• Dermatologically tested
• Biodegradable sheet mask by home compost
• Suitable for sensitive skin
We all love a pamper now and again but with this budget-friendly mask, we’ll be lapping up a self-care session on a regular basis. Infused with the quantity of one full bottle of serum** as well as hyaluronic acid and natural plant extracts, get effortlessly plump skin and revive radiance. Our top tip? Once you’ve removed the mask, gently massage in the excess product to really treat your skin.
**28ml serum.
Award Winner for Best of Boots
Try: Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Foaming Face Wash
• Size: 150ml
• Dermatologically tested
• 100% vegan*·
• Not tested on animals
• Recyclable bottle with cap on but remove pump
Refreshing and energising, this iconic Boots face wash has been a spot-fighting, foaming favourite for as long as we can remember. With antibacterial tea tree oil and skin calming witch hazel, this formula deeply cleanses the skin of dirt, oil and make-up without drying it out, so you’re left with a healthy-looking, clear complexion.
Award Winner for Haircare Hero
Try: Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deeep Moisture
• Size: 225ml
• Vegan*
• Cruelty-free
• Silicone-free
• Bottle made from 40% recycled plastic
Looking for something to work miracles on your hair? Give your hair some next level TLC with this ultra-rich treatment that’s infused with nourishing, divine-smelling jojoba, avocado and Australian macadamia nut oils. Better still, there’s three auss-ome ways to use it – as a daily deep conditioner, a speedy hair repair treatment or a leave-in hair mask. The best things do come in threes after all.
Award Winner for Vitamin C Champ
Try: Boots Vitamin C Brightening Moisturising Cream
• Size: 50ml
• Suitable for all skin types
Here to brighten your day AND the appearance of your skin is this must-have moisturiser that contains skin-loving vitamin C (aka, the ultimate ingredient for a brighter-looking complexion). The deliciously-lightweight texture and added YUZU extract work together to nourish the skin and add a little zest to your routine.
Our £10 & under winners
Want to build your beauty routine without breaking the bank? We feel you. Luckily, we’ve handpicked our favourite products that are worthy of a place on the podium from skin-saving serums to beauty heroes. And for £10 and under, you really can’t go wrong.
Award Winner for Beauty on the Inside
Try: Boots Skin Hair and Nails Capsules
• Size: 30 capsules (one month supply)
• Free from artificial flavours and preservatives
• Lactose-free
• Not suitable for vegetarians
Taking care of yourself from the outside in is super important, which is why these capsules containing evening primrose oil won the Beauty on the Inside award. Vitamin B2 helps maintain healthy skin, while selenium and zinc help maintain healthy nails and biotin helps maintain shiny hair.
Food supplements are intended to supplement the diet and should not be substituted for a varied diet or healthy lifestyle.
Award Winner for Best Beauty Dupe
Try: Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
• One make-up sponge
• Latex-free foam technology
Other beauty blenders don’t stand a chance against this miracle-working sponge. Featuring an antimicrobial infusion that helps keep skin healthy, this miracle three-in-one sponge gives a dream-worthy base. That’s right – the rounded sides can blend and dab large areas for a smooth application, the precision tip is perfect for covering blemishes, while the flat edge conquers the contour.
Award Winner for Clean Beauty Champion
Try: Garnier Micellar Reusable Make-up Remover Eco Pads
• Three micro-fibre pads
• Washable
• Suitable for all skin types
• Cruelty-free
• Made from 100% polyester
If you swear by micellar water but hate the thought of using cotton pads, say hello to the perfect alternative. Enjoy some serious cleansing action and remove all types of make-up using these super-soft eco pads that last up to 1000 washes! Once you’ve removed your make-up, simply wash the pads with soap and water after each use.
Award Winner for Exclusively Boots
Try: Soap & Glory Face Soap & Clarity Wash
• Size: 350ml
• Suitable for all skin types
• Dermatologically tested
• Soap-free and non-drying formula
Wash the day away with the three-in-one formula that lathers into a gorgeous foam to purify and polish the skin. Whether it’s a daily clean and cleanse, a gentle exfoliator or to effortlessly remove make-up, the combination of scrub particles and super-tasking vitamin C leaves skin looking brighter and more energised. In short, it's one killer cleanser!
Award Winner for Hyaluronic Hero
Try: The INKEY List™ Hyaluronic Acid Serum
• Size: 30ml
• Use in the morning and evening
• Suitable for all skin types
Ahh hyaluronic acid, the super ingredient. Known for its heroic hydrating properties and ability to hold 1000x its weight in water, this serum targets multiple layers of your skin to give you an unstoppable glow. This, combined with Matrixyl 3000™, means skin looks plumper while the appearance of fine lines is reduced. Now that’s a skin-win.
Award Winner for Hyperpigmentation Hero
Try: The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA
• Size: 30ml
• Vegan*
• Use in the morning and evening
There’s nothing ordinary about the power and multi-tasking abilities of this serum. Specifically designed to target uneven skin tone, dark spots and hyperpigmentation, this water-based serum combines a purified, 2% concentration of alpha arbutin with hyaluronic acid to effortlessly hydrate and brighten the appearance of the skin.
Award Winner for Niacinamide Essential
Try: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
• Size: 30ml
• Use in the morning and evening
Ingredients are the star of the show with The Ordinary, which is why they’ve taken home more than one award. Blending niacinamide and zinc, this potent serum targets enlarged pores and uneven skin texture, all while regulating sebum production and blemish-causing bacteria to reveal a visibly clearer-looking complexion.
Do not use in conjunction with any products that contain pure vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
Award Winner for Revolutionary Retinol
Try: The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% In Squalane Ester
• Size: 30ml
• Water-free solution
• Use in the evening for best results
Retinol is having a moment in the skincare industry right now and with good reason, too. Not only does it help reduce the appearance of fine lines caused by a loss of collagen and elastin, but it unites with squalene in this serum – a natural moisturising agent found in your skin, to help combat the dryness that’s associated with retinol use.
Award Winner for Self-tan
Try: Garnier Summer Body Hydrating Gradual Tan Moisturiser Dark
• Size: 400ml
• For face and body
• Suitable for sensitive skin
• Wash hands well after application
Can’t stop dreaming about sun-kissed skin? Us too, which is why this irresistible formula from Garnier is a must-have. Come rain or shine, this miracle moisturiser has a hint of tanning active to build-up a golden glow in harmony with your natural skin tone. Plus, with hydrating apricot oil, not only is this super-nourishing, but it smells delicious, too.
Our £15 & under winners
Whether it’s a top up of your favourite moisturiser, a treat for a friend or you want to try a cult-classic, these winners impress with their innovative ingredients and remarkable results. So, if budget-friendly beauty is your go-to, we’ve got the best picks for £15 and under.
Award Winner for No1 Newcomer
Try: CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25
• Size: 52ml
• Non-comedogenic
• Developed with dermatologists
It’s never easy being the newbie but this CeraVe moisturiser has taken the beauty world by storm with its kind-to-skin formula. With three essential ceramides, patented MVE technology to provide long-lasting hydration, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to support your skin's natural barrier and SPF 25 to protect your skin against UVA and UVB rays, it's got it all.
Award Winner for No7 Innovation Award
Try: No7 Instant Results Nourishing Hydration Mask
• Size: 100m
• Suitable for sensitive skin
• Use two-three times weekly
Nothing says luxury skincare like a nourishing face mask from No7, and this one is much more than pretty packaging. In fact, it’s packed with a blend of skin identical lipids that instantly get to work to hydrate and moisturise. Just sweep it generously over clean skin, relax while it soaks in and rinse away to reveal beautifully soft and brighter-looking skin.
Award Winner for I saw it, I bought it! Social Media Sensation
Try: Maybelline Sensational Sky High Mascara
• Size: 7.2ml
• Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers
• Allergy tested
• Ophthalmologist tested
Two words – TikTok sensation. With its ability to transform lashes in one fell swoop, it comes as no surprise that this mascara is a firm favourite. Enriched with bamboo extract and fibres, this mascara delivers long, full lashes with impact from every angle. With the exclusive flex tower brush that bends to volumize from root to tip, your lash game will be reaching new heights.
Our £25 & under winners
Looking for heavy-duty beauty that’s kind to your purse? From make-up must-haves to miracle moisturisers, these award winners deliver high end results without the hefty price tag – we’re all guilty of wanting a little luxury at a great price aren’t we?
Award Winner for Desert Island Must-have
Try: La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMUNE 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50
• Size: 50ml
• Dermatologically tested
• Very high UVA/UVB sun protection
• Without perfume
• For sensitive skin
• Anti-eye stinging
• Allergy tested
Specially formulated with sensitive skin in mind, this moisture-boosting formula provides the ultimate barrier with ultra-long UVA protection. Lightweight and non-greasy in its texture and leaving no white marks behind, this hypoallergenic SPF50 moisturiser is the full package – water-resistant? Check. Sand-resistant? You bet. Sweat-proof? Of course. We could go on…
Award Winner for Best Beauty Tool
Try: Real Techniques Everyday Essentials Set
• Contains four brushes and one sponge
• For face, eyes and cheeks
Whether you’re a beginner or a total pro, level up your make-up game with this set of essentials. From base to lids, ace your look with a range of soft, fluffy and firm bristles, as well as a miracle sponge that’s perfect for blending. This master toolkit includes a foundation brush for a flawless finish, a powder brush to set your base, an angled blush brush to give a natural flush and a deluxe crease eyeshadow brush to deliver showstopping looks.
*Contains no animal derived ingredients or by-products.
