It’s the age-old debate that’s been rumbling on for as long as we’ve been allowed to put on mascara: is expensive skincare actually any better than its budget alternatives? Plenty of us are happy to spend out in some areas – super-charged serums and night creams for example – and strip back in others such as cleansers and SPF. It’s safe to say the jury remains out, but even those who love nothing more than to fill their Christmas list with eye-watering requests would have a hard time denying the allure of a pocket-friendly product that doesn’t cost half your rent. And it’s those products we intend to dangle in front of you today.
Whether you’re looking for skincare that you’d like for yourself or you’re planning on buying a make-up treat for the beauty lover in your life, we’ve collated our edit of the best affordable beauty gifts out there. Of course, the term affordable can mean different things to different people – something we’re particularly conscious of in the current climate where every penny counts. Not to mention the fact that there may only be one more payday for some of us before Christmas (welp). That’s why we’ve capped our curation at a modest - but still treat-worthy £40 - with some gifts starting from as little as £12.