MENU

Beauty

10 Brilliant Supermarket Beauty Buys To Snap Up On Your Weekly Shop

Time to go wild in the aisles.

by Rebecca Fearn

Updated: Feb. 20, 2024

Originally Published: July 23, 2020

We may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.

I'll be honest: as someone who's super into sciencey skincare and boujee brands, I'd not thought about buying my beauty products in the same places as my groceries in previous years. But I'm here to admit my mistake and overcome my reservations, because there are actually some really amazing buys to pick up that will save you serious cash. These nine supermarket beauty buys are all great examples.

In recent years, supermarket retailers have really been upping their game when it comes to makeup and skincare in particular. Whether it’s Marks & Spencer’s Formula Absolute Ultimate Sleep Cream, or the Hot Cloth Cleanser at Waitrose, a number of these products have even reached cult status in the beauty ‘biz, and it’s easy to see why.

As well as M&S and Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Aldi all have their own name-brand beauty products, some of which are available online, and others which you need to pick up in store.

Take a look at my top nine buys.

We only include products that have been independently selected by Bustle UK's editorial team. However, we may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.

The Illuminating Drops

Boutique Illuminating Drops Champagne

Illuminating drops are SO incredibly versatile, as they can be used direct on the skin as a highlighter, or can be mixed in with a moisturiser or foundation. The fact these are under £5 just makes them a total must-have.

The Hot Cloth Cleanser

Pure Hydration Hot Cloth

Those who love a hot cloth cleanser will most likely be fans of the Liz Earle one, which is a huge bestseller. But if you're after something cheaper, this is a great alternative. It comes with a muslin cloth, and contains Shea butter, Almond oil and Vitamin E, so is suitable for even sensitive skin.

The Budget Retinol

nspa Expert Nightly Revitalising Retinol Capsules

Retinol is the must-have skincare ingredient of the 21st century, but it can come at a cost. Fear not: nspa is here. Their retinol capsules will do the job, and are cheaper than many alternatives.

The Neutral Palette

Lacura Intense Naturals Eyeshadow Palette

Aldi's Lacura range dupes some of the most iconic, bestselling beauty heroes in the 'biz, and if you're after a cheaper version of a certain brand's Naked palette, this might just be your guy.

The Trusty Night Cream

Formula Absolute Ultimate Sleep Cream

Marks & Spencer

More expensive but worth it in my opinion — Marks and Spencer's night cream is a bestseller for the retailer. It has tons of five star reviews, and rivals some of its pricier counterparts.

The Subtle Nail Colour

Boutique Nail Polish in Natural Nude

Sainsbury's has just released some stunning new shades of their cheap-as-chips nail polish, which are available in store. The neutral shades in particular are calling to me.

The Waterproof Mascara

Too Legit Mascara Waterproof

Another affordable dupe from Aldi, this promises to add dramatic curl and length, as well as being waterproof, making it the perfect supermarket holiday mascara.

The Glow-Inducing Acid Toner

Formula Swipe To Glow Exfoliating Tonic

Marks & Spencer

These days, it's all about chemical exfoliation rather than manual scrubs. There are plenty on the market, but if you want one that does the job for less, Formula's will step up. It contains 5% glycolic acid to exfoliate and boost glow.

The £1 Hand Cream

Tesco Beauty Hand And Nail Cream

Everyone needs a trusty hand cream in their collection, and this one does what it says on the tin, keeping hands and nails smooth, nourished, and healthy. Oh, and it's ONE POUND.

The Elizabeth Arden dupe

Lacura Miracle Oil Spray

This fine spray, which promises to rival Elizabeth Arden's Miracle Hydrating Mist, is available to buy in store at Aldi shops, and will save you a huge amount of cash if you can't buy the 'real thing.'

This article was originally published on July 23, 2020