33 budget-friendly beauty & self-care finds that work just as well as the pricey ones
You work hard for your money, so it’s only fitting that you make it work for you — especially when you’re shopping for self-care essentials.
On this list, you’ll find our top picks for budget-friendly beauty products, like frizz-reducing shampoos, soothing shave bars, body deodorants, super-hydrating face creams, and lots of other options to help you look (and feel) like your best self without breaking the bank.
Gold Bond Overnight Deep Moisturizing Body Lotion
Victoria Kuglin/Daily Hive
Adding this to your nighttime routine will feel like a game-changer. It feels ah-mazing on the skin: rich and creamy while absorbing in seconds, so you won’t have to stress about leaving a greasy smear on the bedsheets. It’s scented with lavender and a touch of vanilla, and the fact that it basically eliminates dry skin overnight is really just a bonus.
Olay Cleansing Melts
Amazon Canada
Don’t get weirded out by these strange little pods — with just a splash of water, they’ll transform into a silky cleansing gel that reviewers say makes their skin look AMAZING. These get seriously sudsy, which means you could even cut them in half and still give your face a major deep cleaning. They would also make a great addition to your travel toiletry kit — no spills or liquid restrictions here!
Dove Crushed Almonds & Mango Butter Exfoliating Body Scrub
Amazon Canada
This body exfoliant is blended with a moisturizer to prevent dry and tight skin after scrubbing. Reviewers say it not only smells heavenly but also doubles as a great pre-shave treatment to help prevent ingrown hairs.
E.l.f Squeeze Me Lip Balm
e.l.f.
Thousands of reviewers have replaced their other, pricier balms with this squeezable tube. You won’t need to dip your fingers into a pot or fork over serious cash to get all the moisturizing benefits you’d expect, and your smoocher will be treated to both hydration and a hint of colour and shine with every swipe.
Nexxus Clean & Pure Shampoo
@nexxushaircare/Instagram
This stuff will give your mane a nice, deep clean while leaving it soft, smooth, and silky (not to mention frizz-free). It’s great for whisking away dry shampoo or styling products but won’t strip your hair of moisture — excellent news for anyone with chemically treated or dyed locks.
Grace & Stella Eye Masks
@graceandstella/Instagram
Stars like Jessica Alba (not to mention tons of #beautytok influencers) are obsessed with these hydrogel masks that promise to tackle things like puffiness, dark circles, fine lines, and dryness — and tackle them they do. Unlike other brands’ eye masks, these are extra juicy, delivering tons of hydration in just a few minutes. Reviewers find them soothing and say they make their peepers look more awake in a flash.
Verb Volume Dry Texture Spray
@verbproducts/Instagram
When you want to fluff up your mane, give your roots a blast with this spray that delivers the right combo of hold, grit, and texture. It also happens to be very nourishing, thanks to ingredients like aloe, vitamin B5, and glycerin for softness. Reviewers report zero stickiness or residue, too.
Kitsch Smooth Shave Butter
Amazon Canada
Kiss post-shave irritation and ingrown hairs an enthusiastic goodbye by swiping this solid bar onto your skin before going in with your razor. The clear formula will let you see what you’re shaving while skin-conditioning ingredients (like sunflower and coconut oils, white tea, and shea butter) leave things soft, smooth, and moisturized. Reviewers have ditched all other foams and creams entirely, saying this travel-friendly bar gives them the closest shave they’ve had in years.
Saturday Skin Yuzu Vitamin C Sleep Mask
@saturday_skin/Instagram
This overnight face mask will treat you to a bouncier, brighter complexion by morning. It has a smidge of retinol for extra smoothing powers, but reviewers say it’s surprisingly gentle and even helps quell redness and irritation.
Kitsch Big Banana Hair Clips
Kitsch
When you need extra gripping power for your gorgeous locks, this is the clip you should reach for. Its extra-strong hinges will prevent it from snapping at the worst possible moment, while the unique curved shape is ideal for grabbing every last wisp. Reviewers with thick or long hair swear by these, saying they offer plenty of hold while outperforming classic claw clips.
Cliganic Organic Jojoba Oil
Amazon Canada
Tackle dryness wherever you find it with a few drops of this intensely-conditioning oil. No need to decode complicated ingredient lists, either, because this stuff has only one: certified organic jojoba oil. You can safely use it to hydrate dry hair, as a pre-shampoo treatment, help soothe psoriasis and eczema, or just beef up your other products’ moisturizing powers.
OPI Nail Envy Strengthening Treatment
Amazon Canada
Professional nail techs have consistently pointed to this stuff when nails are weak, brittle, or just plain icky. The formula’s full of nail-boosting ingredients, like biotin, calcium, and vitamins A, E, and C, which translates to talons that are reinforced and strengthened (reviewers say they saw less peeling and breakage after just a few uses). It also helps rehabilitate nails damaged from biting, too.
Physicians Formula Rosé All Day Set & Glow Powder
Amazon Canada
There are tons of highlighting powders and blushes on the market, but this one stands out for its inclusion of murumuru butter and rose extract, which makes it borderline skincare 💪. It has ultra-fine light-reflecting particles that never look chunky or glittery, and it’s hypoallergenic, so breakouts or skin freakouts won’t rear their ugly heads.
Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponges
Amazon Canada
Save your cash on the pricey options because reviewers say these sponges are the best in the biz. They’re soft and not too absorbent, so you can actually put the product on your face (instead of it getting sucked into the fibres). Their blending power is unparalleled, too, leaving you with a smooth canvas for your makeup creations — even on textured skin.
Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel & Cucumber Face Toner
@thayers/Instagram
It’s about time you took this cult-fave toner for a spin. This edition is free of irritants (like alcohol), making it a dream for anyone looking to add moisture, reduce pore visibility, and balance your skin’s pH. Reviewers say that with regular use, they noticed fewer breakouts, smoother texture, and less frequent flare-ups of eczema and rosacea.
Loops Weekly Reset Hydrogel Face Mask
@loopsbeauty/Amazon Canada
Seen on famous faces (like those of Emily Ratajkowski and Camila Mendes), this juicy face mask is intensely hydrating — the perfect antidote to winter’s drying winds. Comprising two pieces for a *perfect* fit, it’ll bathe your skin in moisture, stimulate collagen production, and leave it glowing to the gods. Reviewers say it even soothes breakouts while being super gentle on reactive skin.
Sally Hansen Cuticle Rehab Oil Balm
Sally Hansen
There’s a pretty good chance you’re not taking good enough care of your cuticles. A quick swipe of this solid stick will treat your nailbeds to a trio of skin-conditioning ingredients (aloe, safflower oil, and vitamin E oil) that’ll make them look healthier almost immediately. And unlike a traditional oil, it won’t get everywhere the next time you try to hydrate your fingertips.
Nyx Fat Oil Slick Click
@nyxcosmetics/Instagram
Lip oils are clearly not going anywhere, but if you’re just dipping your toe in, this is the one to start with. All the hydration and glossiness of an oil gets paired with the convenience of a balm, meaning a glassy pout is just a *click* away (sorry, we had to). Reviewers say it’s not gimmicky, delivering moisture and colour payoff in spades.
Finishing Touch Flawless Ice Roller
Amazon Canada
Unlike a classic jade roller, this thing holds temperature for a *lot* longer, meaning you can take advantage of its cooling, de-puffing, and soothing powers for more than just a few seconds. The wide head is fabulous for tackling large swathes of skin in a snap, making it great for taking care of bruising and swelling on other parts of the body. Reviewers add that it’s also surprisingly effective against sinus pressure and headaches.
Garnier Micellar Water Cleanser
Garnier
Cleanse, tone, remove makeup, and condition all in one go! Reviewers say they’re able to even skip a double cleanse when using this stuff and are especially fond of the fact that it never makes them break out.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Face Moisturizer
Neutrogena
After giving this stuff a try, reviewers say they were shocked by how great it made their skin feel (even compared to their more expensive moisturizers). It absorbs quickly, softens and soothes dry skin, and even leaves eczema flare-ups noticeably calmed. Because it’s also oil-free and non-comedogenic, those of us prone to breakouts won’t have to stress about any pesky pimples appearing out of nowhere.
Kitsch Satin Sleep Mask
Amazon Canada
No need to invest in full-on blackout curtains when you can just slip on this buttery eye mask. The ruched backing won’t get caught or tangled in your locks, while the plush padded front won’t press on your eyeballs (or damage your lashes). Reviewers are fond of the thicker strap, which they say actually muffles sound, too.
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion
Amazon Canada
If you despise the feeling of any product residue on your skin, this sunscreen option is for you. Reviewers love its ultra-light texture that never feels greasy, sticky, tacky, or heavy. Thankfully, it’s also non-comedogenic, so you can safely slather it onto your face (and head) without stressing about any adverse reactions. It offers broad-spectrum protection and is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.
Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask
Amazon Canada
While it sucks dirt and debris out of your pores, it’ll feel nice and cool on your skin and help balance out oil production. It also happens to be lightly exfoliating, so you can make sure your face is getting a proper deep clean every time you use it. Reviewers were surprised by how well it worked on poison ivy or insect bites, helping to draw out irritation and leaving their skin soft and soothed.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Gel B5
@larocheposayusa/Instagram
This stuff is *intensely* repairing — like, help-your-skin-heal-after-surgery kind of repairing. It’s designed to minimize scarring, protect against bacterial infections, reduce itching and dryness, and protect fragile skin, with some reviewers even saying they noticed a visible improvement in their skin’s condition after just one week.
e.l.f Halo Glow Liquid Filter
e.l.f.
It’s the dupe to end all dupes, boasting incredible skin-smoothing powers that reviewers say leave their faces looking smooth, glowy, and hydrated to high heaven. What’s cool is that you can choose how to use it: as a radiant primer base for your makeup, as a highlighter, or as a skin-enriching serum on no-makeup days. And because we’re riding that skincare/makeup hybrid train, you’ll be glad to know this stuff’s got squalane and hyaluronic acid for extra moisturizing power.
The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Stick
@theinkeylist/Instagram
This solid formula will make it easy to bust skin issues like breakouts, bumps, and ingrown hairs wherever you find them, using a combo of salicylic and glycolic acids to unclog pores and shea butter to hydrate.
L3Vel3 Styling Powder
Amazon Canada
Expect serious volume and texture with every dusting. It’s ideal for short hair, giving it lift and body without making it look greasy or feel sticky (so you can go longer between wash days). Reviewers say a little goes a long way, too.
Jaciu Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Amazon Canada
Reviewers report being pleasantly surprised by how buttery-soft this pillowcase is, which is exactly what you’re looking for in silk options. It has a hidden zipper closure, so your hair won’t get tangled or caught while you’re catching up on beauty sleep.
Nuxe Prodigieux Shower Oil
Nuxe
Swap out your standard body wash for this oil-based formula that’ll whisk away sunscreen, sweat, and daily grime while treating your body to major moisture. Reviewers say it’s one of the few products they’ve tried that actually alleviated chronic dryness!
Happy Nuts Comfort Cream Deodorant For Men
Amazon Canada
Reviewers are raving about this cream, saying it’s a total must-have for anyone who’s looking for a solution to downstairs sweatiness. It smells fresh, absorbs quickly, and keeps both sweat and odour at bay when you’re running around town. Unlike other similar products on the market, this one’s all-natural and free of any potential irritants or problematic ingredients (great news since you’re spreading it on a ~sensitive area~). If you’re not a fan of overly-scented products, grab the fragrance-free version instead.
Botanic Hearth 100% Pure Rosemary Oil
@botanichearth.official/Instagram
Your scalp deserves care, too, and this pure rosemary oil is just the ticket. Reviewers say that in addition to noticeably softer locks, they’ve noticed more regrowth in less than a month. Plus, the bottle comes with a convenient comb attachment for easier application.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5
La Roche-Posay
No matter where you’ve got irritation (hands, face, or body), this is the stuff to help soothe it. It’s even safe to use on diaper rash! Reviewers say it works wonders on sunburns or to calm down angry bug bites, with some even using it as a daily moisturizer (apparently, it gives their skin a *serious* glow). Its thick texture will also keep your skin protected during the colder months to keep windburn or rapidly dropping temperatures from wreaking havoc.