I’ve tested skincare for a decade and these are the 10 budget buys I always come back to

Bag a bargain on your beauty routine. (Picture: Metro/Boots/Sephora/Getty) Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more Over the past ten years, the budget beauty scene has exploded, and while previously, few brands had a stellar reputation for affordability and efficacy, now there are too many to count. I’ve spent the last decade testing, reviewing and writing about skincare, from new launches ot cult buys that have been around for years, and in that time, I tried hundreds of products that not only work but won’t break the bank. It’s a testament to a changing beauty industry that’s proved expensive doesn’t mean better. With that in mind, I’ve curated a shopping list of my all-time favourite skincare buys for under a tenner. From cleansers and lip balms to SPF and foot creams, I’ve narrowed it down to my top 10, from brands like E45, Nivea, Simple, Byoma and The Ordinary. Prices start from just £4.59, which also means if you love them as much as I do, replacing them once you’ve finished them won’t make your bank account wince. You’ll find something here for every step of a routine and most skin types, whether you struggle with eczema, are acne-prone, dehydrated or dry, all of which outperform products costing twice as much. If you’re in need of a skin glow-up and shopping on a budget, here’s my top ten picks. 10 best skincare products under £10 Bioré 3-in-1 Spot Control Patches 24s If you’re breakout-prone like me, spot patches can be the quickest way to heal them. They stop you from picking at them, which ultimately makes them worse, and they also contain hydrocolloid to draw out fluid from whiteheads, reduce swelling, and clear your skin faster. These Biore ones are my favourite because they stay on without budging, even overnight, don’t draw attention to my spots and come in a pack of 24, so they last me months. Buy Now for £9.99 E45 Lips & Dry Skin Balm This isn’t just a great lip balm; it’s a multi-purpose product you can use all over your body. I like to apply it to my elbows and patches of eczema flare-ups on my hands, and when acne products have left my skin dry and flaky. A little goes a long way too, and it’s safe for eczema-prone skin. Buy Now for £8.99 NIVEA 2-in-1 Face Cleanser & Toner This is my go-to cleanser when I’m away from home and don't have anything else with me. It’s a lightweight milky cleanser that removes makeup and SPF, and leaves my combination, acne-prone skin feeling fresh and smooth. It’s one of the best budget cleansers on the market and proof that you don’t need to splash out to find effective skincare. Buy Now for £4.59 Starface Star Balm This smells exactly like mint chocolate chip, so applying it is a delicious delight. It’s the cutest packaging, and a very effective formula for keeping chapped skin at bay using a mix of coconut butter and coconut oil. It’s so good I could eat it. Buy Now for £6 Simple Micellar Cleansing Water Hydrate+ Micellar water is always useful to have on hand when you want to fix makeup mistakes or quickly remove it. Simple’s version is my favourite, not just because of the price, but because it doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight and uncomfortable after, like some much pricier micellar waters do. With just a couple of cotton pads, I can remove a full face of makeup. Buy Now for £7.65 BYOMA Blemish Clearing Paste This is another spot treatment that I love, especially when I want to wear makeup and cover up breakouts. It’s a creamy formula that contains salicylic acid, which unclogs pores, kaolin clay absorbs excess oil and sebum, and camphor and kojic acid prevent dryness and post-blemish marks. Don’t worry about the peachy grey colour when you first apply it; it disappears once blended and immediately reduces visible redness, leaving a smooth matte finish so you can easily apply concealer on top. Buy Now for £10 B. Melting Cleansing Balm You can spend upwards of £40 on luxury cleansing balms, but Superdrug’s own-brand one is just as good, and saves you a fortune. It’s an unfussy formula that’s subtly scented and contains a mix of shea butter and jojoba seed oil that swiftly melts down makeup and never makes my eyes sting. Buy Now for £7 Bondi Sands Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+ This suncream is everything you want: hydrating, fast-absorbing, no white cast, and works well under makeup. Honestly, it should be more expensive, but the bargain price is very welcome for a product that I wear every day. It doesn’t exacerbate my acne-prone, rosacea-ridden skin, nor make my oily T-zone worse, which is more than I can say for pricier sunscreens. Buy Now for £9.99 CCS Foot Care Cream This is one of the most transformative products I’ve ever tried. It’s not sexy, but it works so well. Within just two days of use, my gross, cracked heels are smoother, hydrated, and baby-soft. Within a week, they look like brand-new feet. It contains 10% urea, an excellent ingredient for retaining moisture, softening, and strengthening your skin barrier. It’s also blended with eucalyptus oil, which helps neutralise odour and keep your feet smelling fresh, along with glycerin and lactic acid. Apply it liberally and pop on a pair of socks. Buy Now for £9.50 The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser Yes, this may be the third cleanser on our list, but it’s a good one. It’s a moisturising cleansing balm that leaves skin makeup-free in seconds, without greasy residue, and suits all skin types. It’s rich in squalane, which is a lightweight oil that balances oil production and is anti-inflammatory. When massaged lightly onto dry skin, it emulsifies into an oil and can be easily removed with a lukewarm flannel. It’s silky and fuss-free, so I always go back to it. 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