We’re excited to bring you the second instalment of our Beauty Icons series — this time celebrating 25 standout beauty essentials all under £25. Whether you’re building your everyday routine or seeking affordable gifts, this curated edit from our beauty team showcases products that deliver big results without the hefty price tag.
From cooling face masks that feel like a mini spa moment to mascaras that stay put through long days, and from cult‑favourite lip liners to nourishing skincare finds, this list is your go‑to guide to budget‑friendly beauty that doesn’t compromise on performance. Perfect for every wallet and every beauty bag, consider this your definitive collection of must‑try picks that make beauty accessible, fun and fabulous.
Caudalie VinoHydra Deep Hydration Moisturiser – £20
This rich and comforting moisturiser is a go-to for dry or sensitive skin that’s craving moisture with a bit of skincare nourishment. Packed with hyaluronic acid and shea butter, it helps draw in and lock hydration while soothing discomfort and dryness, leaving skin looking soft and supple throughout the day. It also includes grape water, known for its calming and hydrating effect, so it feels like a little daily treat for your complexion.
Gentle enough for morning and night, this moisturiser sits beautifully under SPF or makeup and adds a nurturing layer that helps skin feel calmer and more comfortable — perfect for anyone looking to boost hydration without heaviness.
HydraTint Moisturising Tinted Serum – £24
This lightweight, skin-perfecting tinted serum blends the best of skincare and makeup into one effortlessly chic product. It’s ideal if you love a natural, “your skin but better” look — offering sheer, buildable coverage that gently evens out tone without feeling heavy or cakey. Enriched with hyaluronic acid, ceramides and botanical extracts, it hydrates throughout the day while strengthening your skin’s barrier and leaving a soft, dewy finish. With SPF protection and a wide range of flexibly flattering shades, HydraTint feels like a modern essential in your beauty bag — whether you’re running errands, heading to work, or meeting friends for iftar.
Skin Trainer Hyaluron Lip Mask
Overnight Lip Mask with Hyaluronic Acid — £12.99
Treat your lips to a touch of overnight luxury with this hyaluronic-infused lip mask. Designed to be applied before bed and left on while you sleep, it helps deeply hydrate and nourish dry, chapped lips, so you wake up to softer, smoother, more comfortable lips by morning.
What sets this lip mask apart is its light, silky texture that melts into the lips quickly rather than feeling heavy or sticky. Infused with hyaluronic acid — a moisture-boosting powerhouse that draws water into skin — plus soothing orange blossom water and resveratrol, it gives lips a quick drink of hydration and a plumper, healthier appearance.
Whether you’re coping with winter dryness, don’t want to reapply balm throughout the day, or simply want a hydrating step in your nighttime routine, this affordable overnight mask is a simple way to boost lip moisture and comfort while you sleep
CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser – approx £14.20 (Boots)
This gentle gel-to-foam cleanser is a go-to if you’re struggling with dry, rough or bumpy skin. Developed with dermatologists, it uses salicylic acid — a mild chemical exfoliant — alongside three essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid to help lift away dirt, oil and dead skin while maintaining your skin’s natural moisture barrier.
Unlike harsher scrubs, this formula doesn’t rely on physical exfoliants, meaning it’s fragrance-free, non-comedogenic and suitable for everyday use for most skin types. Whether you’re dealing with texture from dryness, keratosis pilaris or just want a smoother complexion, this cleanser can be a calming first step in your skincare routine.
Used morning and night before moisturiser, it helps refine skin’s feel and appearance without leaving it tight or stripped — perfect if you prioritise effectiveskincare that’s kind to sensitive skin.
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh Rice + B5 SPF50+ 50ml — £15.50
Meet your new everyday sun shield that feels more like skincare than sunscreen. This lightweight, fast-absorbing SPF blends broad-spectrum UV protection with skin-loving ingredients like rice seed water and panthenol (vitamin B5) to hydrate, soothe and strengthen your skin’s barrier while you’re out and about in the day-to-day sunshine.
The texture is silky and non-greasy — it melts into skin without leaving a white cast, so it layers beautifully under makeup or sits comfortably on bare skin. The addition of rice seed water brings gentle nourishment and minerals, and vitamin B5 helps calm sensitive or easily irritated skin, making it a great pick if you want sun protection that feels calming and comfortable all day.
Whether you’re heading to work, running errands, or out with friends, this SPF slips into your morning routine seamlessly — protecting and hydrating without fuss.
Aveeno Skin Relief Body Oil Spray 200ml — approx £9.49
If your skin feels dry, tight or sensitive — especially as the seasons change — this body oil spray is a gentle, comforting pick that helps keep moisture locked in without feeling greasy.
Spritz it on after a shower or bath and the lightweight formula, enriched with oat oil and jojoba oil, absorbs quickly to nourish and soothe very dry skin while supporting your natural moisture barrier. It leaves behind a silky, smooth finish and can even be used for a relaxing body massage. It’s also dermatologist-tested and hypoallergenic, making it a good choice for those who want effective care without irritation.
Perfect for everyday hydration or as a post-wash treat, this budget-friendly body oil fits effortlessly into your routine — from morning care to evening self-care rituals.
Revolution Wrap Lash Tubing Mascara — £10.99
This is no ordinary mascara — it’s a tubing formula that wraps every lash in lightweight pigment for intense length, lift and volume that stays put all day. Unlike traditional mascaras that can smudge or flake under long routines, this one uses tiny tubes to encapsulate each lash, so your look stays fresh from morning coffee to evening plans.
The 3-in-1 Maxi-V brush helps separate and define lashes while adding drama, and the nourishing blend of shea butter, carnauba wax and castor oil helps keep them conditioned as you wear it. What’s extra handy? At the end of the day you can remove it easily with just warm water, no heavy makeup remover needed — perfect if you like a fuss-free routine after a busy day.
Whether you’re heading to work, meeting friends for coffee after Jummah, or just want lashes that stay beautiful without smudging, this affordable find is a game-changer for everyday wear.
BYOMA Hydrating Serum — £13.00
A lightweight everyday serum that feels like a drink of water for your skin, this cult-favourite hydrating formula helps strengthen your skin’s moisture barrier while keeping dryness and tightness at bay. It’s powered by a tri-ceramide complex along with squalane and glycerin, which work together to draw in and lock moisture deep into the skin, helping to keep it smooth, soft and comfortably hydrated.
Gentle yet effective, it’s oil-free, fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, so it sits comfortably under moisturiser or makeup without causing congestion — ideal for anyone looking to boost their glow without irritation. Designed to be used morning and night, just a few drops pressed into damp skin is all you need to help skin feel plumper and more supple.
