The budget skincare must-buys that deliver great results at excellent price points
At Health & Beauty (H&B), we’re always championing the fact that great skincare needn’t (and shouldn’t) cost the earth. And, with the cost of living rising, budget-friendly beauty is at the front of many of our minds.
Low price should never mean low quality, and with a huge range of affordable skincare brands at Boots to choose from, we’re here to prove that getting your skincare fix needn’t break the bank.
Whether it’s cult favourites, such as CeraVe or beauty newbies like Byoma, we’ve created your go-to round-up of uh-mazing skincare buys under £15. Scroll on for all the affordable beauty goodness…
10 of the best affordable skincare products at Boots
From cleansers to serums, eye creams and more, here are 10 of our favourite budget must-buys. Looking for more great products? Explore more top picks in the full range of affordable facial skincare to take your skincare routine to the next level.
Best affordable cleanser under £15
Try: The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser, £13.90
• Size: 150ml
• Oil-free
• Alcohol-free
• Silicone-free
Formulated with squalane (an emollient that works much like skin’s own oil), this hydrating cleanser is a hero for parched complexions. Rub clean palms together to warm the product, allowing it to melt into a luxurious oil, then massage onto a dry face and rinse with warm water. Your complexion will feel calmer and look more balanced. What more could we ask for?
Best affordable face scrub under £15
Try: Ole Henriksen Lemonade Smoothing ScrubTM, £13
• Size: 30ml
• Avoid eye area
We’re big fans of Ole Henriksen – consider it the go-to brand for glow-getters. Our ultimate fave? The brand’s Lemonade Smoothing Scrub, which works to chemically and physically exfoliate dull-looking complexions. The high-potency infusion of AHAs, lemon peel and sugar helps minimise the look of pores, lifting dead skin cells and sweeping away rough skin in the process. And if you’re someone who’s prone to post-exfoliation sensitivity, then holy basil and camomile work to help take the edge off. Use a couple of times a week for the best, most radiant results.
Best affordable face toner under £15
Try: No7 Radiance+ Vitamin C Glow Toner, £12.95
• Size: 200ml
• 2% vitamin C
Vitamin C is known for its skin-brightening properties, so it makes sense that this toner from No7 helps leave your looking positively radiant. Powered with 2% vitamin C, it helps dull, tired, and lacklustre skin transform into an energised glow. Use in the morning by applying to a cotton wool pad and sweeping over the face, neck and chest area. Follow with an SPF.
Best affordable face serum under £15
Try: Simple Booster Serum 3% Hyaluronic Acid & B5, £7.99
• Size: 30ml
• Non-comedogenic
• Free from alcohol, artificial colours and perfumes
We love a multitasker, so it comes as no surprise that we’ve voted this as the best face serum under £15. Brimming with ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5, it can help hydrate and improve the appearance of skin texture to reveal a bright and beautiful glow. Simply use alone or mix with your favourite moisturiser. It’s also free from alcohol, artificial colours and perfumes, making it ideal for those of us with more sensitive skin. Us, obsessed? Absolutely.
Best affordable eye cream under £15
Try: Olay Total Effects 7in1 Transforming Eye Cream, £14.99
• Size: 15ml
• Fast-absorbing
As the skin around our eyes is so delicate, finding a suitable eye cream that isn’t too rich or too light can be tricky. Luckily, we’ve found this daily all-in-one treatment by Olay, which is full of skin-loving goodies. Simply tap around the eye contour to reveal a brighter, more wide awake look. It also helps improve the appearance of fine lines and leaves skin with a subtle but gorgeous sun-kissed radiance. Perfect peepers, anyone?
Best affordable face moisturiser under £15
Try: CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF25, £15
• Size: 52ml
• Non-comedogenic
CeraVe has long been a favourite among beauty editors and for good reason. Developed with dermatologists, you know the products are driven by results and this facial moisturiser is no exception. It’s infused with nourishing ceramides and hyaluronic acid, and has an SPF of 25, serving up a wide range of benefits. Better yet? It’s super lightweight and non-comedogenic, meaning it’s less likely to block pores.
Best affordable face mist under £15
Try: Byoma Balancing Face Mist, £11.99
• Size: 100ml
• Oil-free
• Non-comedogenic
• Alcohol-free
• Fragrance-free
• Cruelty-free
We love a face mist for a hit of hydration when we’re on the go. This refreshing option can be worn both under and over make-up and its skin-boosting trio of ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids help revive tired-looking skin for the ultimate quick fix. Our top tip? Pop it in the fridge on a hot day. Just a spritz will help cool and rehydrate, while keeping your make-up sitting pretty.
Best affordable face SPF under £15
Try: Bondi Sands Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ for Face, £6.99
• Size: 75ml
• Fragrance-free
• SPF50
Finding a facial SPF can be tricky. Whether it’s so greasy it slides off or so thick it leaves an unflattering white cast behind, it can take a lot of trial and error to get it right. But this one? Per-fection. Formulated with soothing aloe vera, this SPF provides high UVA and UVB protection, while remaining non-greasy and fragrance-free. Plus, it sits just perfectly under-make-up, meaning you can call off the search for your next SPF now.
Best affordable face mask under £15
Try: Dr.Jart+ Cryo Rubber Face Mask with Moisturising Hyaluronic Acid, £11
• Contains 1 x mask and 1 x ampoule
After trying this face mask ourselves, we can confirm you’ll feel like you’ve been for a high-end facial after using this. An intensely hydrating two-step moisturising treatment that’s a dream for dry skin, the mask works by combining the ampoule serum (containing concentrated hyaluronic acid) with the moisture-locking rubber mask to help boost the absorption of the gel-like serum. The results? Radiant, hydrated, healthy-looking skin after just 20 minutes. We’re saving this one as prep before a special event – it’s that good.
Best affordable treatment under £15
Try: The Inkey List C-50 Blemish Night Treatment, £14.49
• Size: 30ml
• Avoid immediate eye area
Kris Jenner might be known for working hard, but this overnight mask works harder. We like to apply a thin layer over cleansed skin in the evening and, come morning, we notice a reduction in sebum (a dream if you’ve got oily skin) and an improvement in the look of our complexion thanks to ingredients that include salicylic acid. We’re stocking up.
Shop more affordable skincare must-tries in our full range.
All prices correct on date of publication
