No need to splurge when these 30 budget-friendly beauty finds work just as well as pricey ones
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When it comes to self-care goodies, the market is absolutely flooded, making it nearly impossible to distinguish between what’s worth your hard-earned money and what decidedly isn’t. We’re often tempted to think that splurging on a new cleanser, face mask, or moisturizer will guarantee results, but that isn’t always the case — so with that in mind, we’ve rounded up the best budget-friendly beauty products to try out. Almost all of them are under $30 (and a large portion are Canadian!).
Teaology Tea Glow Exfoliating Cleansing Foam
Shoppers Drug Mart
We absolutely adore a multi-purpose product, so we’re adding this exfoliating cleansing foam to our repertoire. In addition to whisking away everything from long-wear makeup to SPF, it gently sloughs away dead skin and buildup that could potentially cause breakouts down the line. Hero ingredients include papaya enzymes, green tea infusion, salicylic acid, and niacinamide, giving you a softer, smoother, and healthier complexion after every wash.
Monday Haircare Volume Shampoo
@mondayhaircare/Instagram
Flat, thin, or lifeless hair will love this volumizing shampoo. It doesn’t take much for it to build great lather, and it leaves tresses looking — and feeling — noticeably thicker. If your scalp is on the sensitive side, you’ll be glad to know this formula is SLS- and paraben-free, but there must be some magic in there somewhere because we noticed our hairstyles lasting way longer after using this stuff.
Bubble Over Night Hydrating Sleep Mask
Shoppers Drug Mart
Talk about beauty sleep — literally! A quick slick of this buttery sleep mask boosts your skin barrier, binds moisture, and soothes redness and irritation while you’re snoozing. It’s most effective when applied over your other skincare products before hitting the hay, with reviewers reporting fewer breakouts and less puffiness by morning.
Kitsch Deep Exfoliating Glove
Kitsch
Regular body scrubs may dissolve before you’ve sloughed properly (or leave you gritty and greasy), but you won’t have that issue with this exfoliating mitt. It offers extra control, which means you’ll be able to buff away dead skin in all the awkward corners of your body. Thankfully, there’s also an adjustable wrist strap to keep it from slipping off your hand mid-wash. Reviewers love tucking a bar of soap inside to add some extra lather and say it has the perfect amount of grit.
Maybelline Lifter Liner
Maybelline
If we were to imagine our ideal lip liner, there are a few adjectives we’d use: super pigmented, creamy, and long-lasting — and reviewers say this one hits all those high notes. Even if you’re not a makeup pro, you’ll be able to apply this buttery-smooth pencil easily (and skip touch-ups throughout the day, too). The formula also harnesses the power of hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil for added moisture.
Versed Weekend Glow Brightening Solution
@versed/Instagram
Get ready to erase dark spots and post-acne marks! Swap out your regular toner for this brightening option that’ll gently resurface your face without the tingly or drying effects of other similar products. Four skin-friendly acids — kojic, azelaic, lactic, and glycolic —smooth out any bumps and pimples and tone down an uneven tone, but despite that, reviewers say it’s surprisingly hydrating, too. You may need to give it a minute to dry down before applying your next skincare step, but it’s a small price to pay for smoother skin.
Evio Beauty Hydrogel Eye Therapy Tear Catchers
Evio Beauty
We’re ready to banish our dark under-eye circles back to hell where they belong, and we’re doing it by slapping on one of these hydrogel patches. They’re powered by vitamin C, and reviewers say they work almost shockingly well, reducing puffiness, fine lines, and dark circles after one use. Keep ’em in the fridge to boost their soothing powers.
Klorane Extra-Gentle Dry Shampoo
@kloranecanada/Instagram
Whether you’re looking to extend the time between washes or want to refresh your ‘do without the trouble of a wash-and-blow-dry, spritz on this extra-gentle dry shampoo. Reviewers call it the “best dry shampoo ever” for a few reasons: when used properly, it leaves behind zero white cast, stickiness, and crunchiness while absorbing oil, dirt, and unpleasant smells in a few seconds. Unlike other budget-friendly brands, this one never saps moisture from your scalp, so it won’t end up itchy, flaky, or riddled with breakouts.
CoverGirl Lash Blast Supercloud Mascara
@covergirl/Instagram
This stuff conditions lashes while lengthening them, giving you a fluttery, flirty, and totally smudge-proof finish. The whipped formula reduces clumpiness and flakes, meaning you won’t end up with raccoon eyes before the night is over.
e11ement Hypochlorous Acid Skin Spray
@e11ement_/Instagram
Consider this a one-and-done solution to just about every skin irritation, including sunburns, piercings, eczema, tattoos, and bug bites. It also makes for a fantastic toner, particularly for those with sensitive or reactive skin. Because it’s made of an ingredient our bodies already produce naturally, you won’t have to spend ages deciphering complicated ingredient lists (or worry about adverse reactions).
Nails.INC Topless 1-Step Gel Manicure
Nails.INC
We love a great gel mani, but we don’t love how long it takes to get one (especially at home). Even reviewers with zero experience say they were able to achieve a salon-quality finish, reporting great colour saturation and coverage, speedy drying time, and surprising longevity — zero chips here!
Voir Rhythm of the Rain Hair Masque & Scalp Detox
@voirhaircare/Instagram
This award-winning mask promises to give your hair (and scalp!) a serious detox, which is especially helpful if you, like us, could never part with your dry shampoo. It’s intensely hydrating, so say goodbye to tangles and knots, too. It’s also packed with good-for-hair ingredients like argan oil that’ll smooth down your tresses and even reduce oil production and flakiness.
Rael Miracle Invisible Spot Cover
Victoria Kuglin/Daily Hive | @get_rael/Instagram
No matter how many different pimple patches we’ve tried, we always come back to these ones. They suck up goop like nobody’s business (and better than other brands’ spot covers) without drying out the skin and leaving pimples desiccated and flaky. The package contains two sizes, so you can get more precise with your zit fighting.
Biodance Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask
@biodance_global
There’s a reason this gel sheet mask has achieved a near-cult following. Reviewers say it hydrates like no other, leaving their skin glowing and their pores nearly invisible. Because it’s made of hydrogel (rather than fabric), it’ll stay in place while working its magic, making it a great overnight option — you’ll know it’s time to remove when it turns transparent.
e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil
@elfcosmetics/Instagram
Lip oils are still having a major moment, but if you’re not looking to invest your hard-earned cash into testing every single formula, start with this version. It’s ultra-glossy, with a plush, velvety texture that feels majorly moisturizing (but never sticky). We’re big fans of the lightly minty scent and fluffy applicator that’ll let you coat your smoocher in just one quick swipe.
Grace & Stella Eye Serum Roller
Grace & Stella
Roll on this silky-smooth eye serum to smooth out your skin, reduce puffiness, and just generally give your peepers a glow-up. Despite a smidge of retinol hiding in the formula, reviewers say they noticed only positive results — no irritation! It also absorbs in a flash and doesn’t pill under makeup.
Nexxus Clean & Pure Invigorating Detox Scalp Scrub
Amazon Canada
Let this be the year you take your scalp health seriously. Regular exfoliation will slough away dead skin and product buildup, keep itchiness at bay, and help your locks grow in strong and healthy. Of all the scrubs we’ve tried, we always come back to this one, largely because of its microcrystals that dissolve as you lather up, so you can never accidentally over-scrub. Plus, it smells fantastic, further incentivizing us to use it.
Crave Naturals Glide Thru Detangling Brush
@cravenaturals/Instagram
Not only does it *not* tug at hair, but reviewers say they’ve noticed less fallout since using this brush. It’s designed to glide right through all types of locks (including thick and curly), causes minimal breakage, and can be used wet or dry.
Revolution Superfix Misting Spray
@makeuprevolution/Instagram
“Viral” doesn’t even begin to cover it. Since its launch, reviewers have become obsessed with this setting spray’s holding power, locking in even the most complex and layered makeup looks for hours and hours. It gives a matte, airbrushed finish while feeling lightweight and non-sticky.
Essence The Super Peptide Glossy Lip Treatment
Shoppers Drug Mart
Finding the right balance between thick/moisturizing and non-sticky/glossy isn’t easy, but that’s what you can expect after slicking on this lip treatment. Your lips will feel pillowy-soft, with ingredients like vitamin E, peptides, and shea butter protecting your smoocher from drying out (even during wild weather swings).
Plantifique Foot Peel Mask
@plantique_skincare/Instagram
If your feet could use some serious resurfacing, slip on this mask. Calluses, dry skin, and deep cracks will be no more, with reviewers saying they work their magic even if you don’t leave them on the full requisite hour. You’ll get a pack of two pairs.
Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Serum
@versed/Instagram
We never thought we’d see “gentle” and “retinol” in the same sentence, but here we are. In addition to encapsulated retinol, the formula also contains a pair of botanical retinol alternatives to speed up cell turnover and boost collagen production — and it does all that with zero irritation or any of those annoying sensitizing side effects. Reviewers say it’s a great place to start for anyone new to retinol, though you should always start low and go slow when incorporating actives into your routine.
Kitsch Rice Shampoo Bar
@mykitsch/Instagram
It may look small, but this solid bar can actually replace up to TWO bottles of regular shampoo — while treating your locks to the same level of care, too. Rice water is prized for its ability to strengthen and protect tresses, which means this formula is ideal for anyone with particularly parched, brittle, stressed, or overprocessed hair. The formula is also free of any icky, unpronounceable additives, with reviewers saying they’ve actually quit using their fancy-schmancy brands after using it.
d’Alba Italian White Truffle First Spray Serum
@dalba_global/Instagram
Listen to reviewers when they say this is a “run-don’t-walk” product. Give the bottle a shake to activate the oil-in-serum formula before misting it on your face (it’ll work as an essence, dewy setting spray, serum, or on-the-go hydrator). And if you’re a wee bit stressed about the truffle part, don’t be — it has a faint scent of soil rather than a pungent mushroom smell.
SheaMoisture Strengthening Scalp & Hair Oil
@sheamoisture/Instagram
Whether you put it on your parched ends or on your thirsty scalp, this strengthening oil will transform your locks. Reviewers report less fallout, stronger tresses, and visibly smoother, sleeker strands after just a few uses. As an added bonus, applying it to your scalp helps with length retention, too — great if you’re trying to grow your hair and can’t seem to make it past a certain point.
Aquaphor Healing Balm Stick
@aquaphorus/Instagram
This stuff is uniquely equipped to soothe and hydrate even the most chapped, chafed, irritated, and flaky skin, adding moisture back in while strengthening your skin barrier to prevent future problems. And while it does all that, its usefulness doesn’t end there, with some even using it under their concealer to ensure smoother wear and less creasing. Since it comes in a convenient, travel-friendly format, you can tuck it into your bag for on-the-go use.
Naturium Multi-Peptide Rich Cream
@naturiumskin/Instagram
Peptides have been a majorly buzzworthy skincare ingredient, and for good reason: they are especially effective at plumping skin and making it more resilient to external factors, leaving your face smooth, glowing, and borderline cherubic. This option is ultra-rich, creamy, and specially formulated to soften fine lines (while hydrating your skin to high heaven in the process).
The Honest Company Conditioning Hair Detangler
The Honest Company
We’re knot about tangles and cowlicks, so consider us hooked on this smoothing, softening, and conditioning detangler. Garnering over 30,000 5-star reviews, it’s beloved for making brushing and combing easier than ever without weighing down tresses. That means curls will be bouncy and hair will be silkier, so you won’t accidentally yank out strands after every wash. You can use it wet or dry, and a little goes a long way, too.
Gold Bond Healing Hand Cream
@goldbond/Instagram
If you, like reviewers, have dry, flakey hands, you’ll be glad to know this stuff handles dehydration in a snap. Thanks to the addition of aloe, it soothes itching, all while absorbing quickly so you can slather it on and get on with your day. It also definitely helps that it stays on during handwashing, so you won’t have to reapply after every trip to the bathroom.
Innisfree Super Volcanic AHA Pore Clearing Clay Mask
@innisfreecanada/Instagram
Treating yourself to a facial is all well and good, but let’s be honest — it’s not always in the budget. A layer of this clay mask will exfoliate dead skin, absorb excess oil, and unclog your pores in 10 minutes and it does all that without leaving your face feeling dry and tight. Reviewers say they noticed an immediate cooling effect and seriously improved skin texture after just one use, which is the kind of science we can get behind.