BEAUTY ON A BUDGET | SUMMER EDITION

- Advertisement information: this post discusses items gifted to me with no obligation to share them (marked *). In addition I have / have had a brand relationship with Beauty Bay, Sol de Janeiro, Feel Unique and EX1 (gifting) and Superdrug and Boots (paid advertorial content). My blog has Skimlinks and RewardStyle installed to automatically monetise purchases of products I link on my blog, therefore this post may contain affiliate links. All opinions remain my own and please refer to my Disclosure Page  for further detail -

Today I wanted to do a little round-up of my best beauty finds of the summer if you're on a budget, from hair to makeup to skincare to body. Let's take a look at my top affordable picks...

- SKINCARE - 

When it comes to skincare, it's all about light, hydrating products. After cleansing, I've really liked using the Oh K! Chok Chok Hydrating Serum Mist | £10. This is a refreshing, non-sticky mist that really hydrates my skin, making it look plumper and feel softer. It's formulated with hyaluronic acid to draw water into the skin and niacinamide to calm irritation and balance the skin. Around my eyes, I've been enjoying the Super Facialist Hyaluronic Acid Firming Lift & Smooth Eye Cream SPF 15* | £14.99. I really rate Super Facialist as a high-quality drugstore brand and this product is formulated with hyaluronic acid and SPF 15 (though you should definitely still use a separate sunscreen with a higher protection level than this on sunny days). I love how this cream melts into the skin without feeling rich or heavy, providing lightweight hydration throughout the day. 

Another great hydrator is the Skin Proud Sorbet Burst Hyaluronic Acid Jelly Moisturiser* | £13.99. This moisture-jelly melts into the skin, giving it a plump, healthy, dewy look. It's perfect for when you want something lightweight but not too heavy in the heat. Of course, you have to lock it all in with sunscreen and a great affordable find from this summer has been the Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Sunscreen Lotion* | £6.99. I was pleasantly surprised by this fragrance-free formula; it feels moisturising on the skin but has a light texture. It is a white cream but it melts into my skin with no white cast, though I can't guarantee it would work as well on every skin tone. it isn't heavy or greasy and sits nicely under my makeup. This is definitely the best formula I've tried under £10!

- MAKEUP -

Recently I've been in love with the EX1 Cosmetics Invisiwear Liquid Foundation* (Shade 6) | £12. This can be sheered out to be lighter or built up into something more medium-coverage. I really love how it meshes with my skin and looks so natural and gives my complexion this gorgeous, natural glow without looking shiny. It's really long-wearing too, so it will last you all day if you're going to a BBQ or to meet with family and want to wear a bit of complexion makeup. I used this years ago and recently repurchased it. I actually love it even more now than I did back then!

Cream products are gorgeous for summer and a new discovery I've been really enjoying is the Flower Beauty Blush Bomb in Cinnamon | £11.99. This reminds me a lot of the Glossier Cloud Paint formula in that it's a liquid you can just tap on the cheeks and blend out with your fingers for a natural, even, long-lasting flush of colour. It's not massively cheaper than the Glossier formula, but you can use your Superdrug points or even a student discount, if you're studying, both of which make it more affordable. I really love this warm reddish-tan nude colour for my skin tone. A product I recently dug out and remembered how good it is, is the Physician's Formula Butter Bronzer in Deep | £12.99. It's kind of dumb that this is called 'deep' because it's really not and they need to release a lot more shades in this! This is a lovely formula, however; it blends like a dream and it's difficult to over-apply. It strikes a really nice balance between being a little sculpting and still warming up the skin nicely to give you that 'caught the sun' look. 

- HAIR & BODY -

The sun can leave my hair feeling dry and lacking lustre, so a nourishing hair product is essential. I recently discovered the Shrub Botanical Wonder Oil* | £14.99 | and it's really impressed me. Just a couple of drops is enough to soften, smooth and nourish dry ends (just be careful not to over apply it, because it is on the richer side). Plus, it smells amazing!

I was recently lucky enough to be sent the new perfume by this brand, but a little tip if you're on a budget is to buy one of the body sprays because they smell the same and are a fraction of the price. Obviously, it's a premium brand but I still think the Sol de Janeiro Coco Cabana Fragrance Mist | £18 | is great value. I absolutely love this scent; it contains notes of coconut cream, orchid and toasted praline. It's kind of a warmer, deeper take on a pina colada scent, which might be too sweet for some, but I love it! Obviously sunscreen on the body is also essential, and I have to admit I'm not as diligent as I should be with it, or as I am with my facial sunscreen. Recently I've been using the Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Body Sunscreen Lotion* | £7.99. Just like with the facial sunscreen, I really like the moisturising texture and the way it melts into my skin, despite being a high-protection sunscreen. It's also designed to be water-resistant, though I always re-apply after going in the water, it's still useful and will be really great for if we manage to get on holiday this year!

What have been your top affordable beauty finds this summer?

Don't forget to follow me on:

Twitter | Bloglovin | Instagram

Read more posts from this series here!