9 beauty products under $15 that every girl needs

I mean it guys! I set out to find the best budget-friendly beauty products. It has been at least 2 months that I have been using these products and I can see results from each one. And the best part? None of them are over $15! There were also some misses, so I’m sharing those too so you can put your $10 towards something better, like maybe a box of wine 😉

the best (budget-friendly) beauty products

one – tea tree oil

I have been using this tea tree oil for years on my skin! If I feel a breakout coming on I use just a dab (like a DAB…not even a drop!) and it stops the pimple in its track. As a bonus – it doesn’t dry your skin out, you can apply your makeup and lotion as normal over it, and you aren’t loading your skin with a bunch of chemicals! It works because tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. So, not only does it calm the redness, irritation, & swelling during a breakout, but it also gets to the root of it – the bacteria – and kills it. I swear this is like a secret weapon for clear skin that every man, woman, and teen needs in their life!

two – razors

Specifically THESE or THESE razors. Yes, I shave my face, and you should too!!! Preferably weekly or bi-weekly if you really want glowing skin. This is possibly the best budget beauty product tip. And, no, your hair will not grow back thicker, faster, or darker. Dermaplaning removes the fine peach fuzz along with dead skin cells, trapped dirt, and other gunk in your pores.

Here’s why you you need to be dermaplaning:

Your makeup will sit better and more evenly on your skin since those tiny hairs and dead skin cells won’t be grabbing at your foundation / blush /bronzer / …. you get it.

No more dead skin cells blocking your serums & moisturizers so you get more bang outta each buck since they absorb better.

Also, the exfoliation jump-starts your skin to produce collagen and elastin which are the backbone of youthful glowing skin.

Instant results – your skin will look noticeably different after just one treatment!

There are a few techniques to doing it, and while I am no expert, I have had a ton of practice and positive results. The most important part – make sure your skin is super clean first (otherwise you can cause a breakout – which isn’t a huge deal if you have that tea tree oil *wink, wink* ). I prefer to dermaplane with my skin dry but you can use oil. Starting on your cheek, hold your skin taught and make tiny upward strokes with the blade about 45 degrees to your skin as you work your way all over your face. Some swear by only making downward strokes or upward strokes, but I find it’s best to use a combo of them.

A few tips: don’t do your nose, don’t press down hard, avoid any harsh products after, definitely wear sunscreen, don’t cut yourself, & please do not accidentally remove an eyebrow.

three – facial oil

Oils are the key to glowing skin, I swear to it! If you have been afraid to use oil on your skin because you are afraid it will make you break out, you need to rethink that. In fact, some are very close to your skin’s natural pH! They are hydrating, balancing, and support your skin through all of the environmental stressors it’s constantly battling.

I have been using The Ordinary’s “b” oil for the past few months and love it! This is a combo of some amazing oils like marula, rosehip, and argan. These are known to improve hydration, skin tone & texture, and give a boost of fatty acids and vit C – all super important for your skin to keep that youthful glow! Some reviewers talked about the smell – and there is an earthy kinda smell to it that hits you initially, but I promise you it does not last. Also, a little bit goes a long way! I use it daily and still have well over a half bottle.

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four – caffine eye serum

You guys, this under $7 eye serum is good enough to trick people into thinking this sleep-deprived mama is getting a full night’s rest. It depuffs and gets rid of my dark circles. I had Matt use it and he was blown away by how good it worked! It comes in a small dropper bottle and I use just a dab every day so it is lasting forever. Talk about value! This will forever be in my beauty bag.

five – vitamin c

Literally everyone should be using vitamin C on their skin. It is such a powerful antioxidant, which basically means it helps prevent & slow damage to your skin from different stressors like the sun. It can help lighten dark spots & even skin tone. The tricky thing is so many formulations are not absorbable by your skin! This one by The Ordinary is a powder that is meant to be mixed in with your other skincare products for the application. It takes 10-20 seconds to absorb and is highly potent. It comes with a tiny scoop and I use about a third at a time. I did not have any irritation when using it but you can always start small and work your way up to an amount you like!

six – amino acids + b5

Can you tell I have a thing for The Ordinary? haha. They consistently deliver a great product! This is a lightweight serum that I apply every morning under my oil (since it’s water-based – always under oil). This product helps maintain hydration, elasticity, and balance in your skin. I notice a bit of a sticky feeling when I first apply it, but it absorbs and then my skin just looks glowy. I usually mix my vit C powder in with this too.

seven – clay face mask

I have been using this Aztec Secret face mask for yeeeeears now and still love it as much as the day I first found it. This bentonite clay powder draws up impurities and helps dissolve all that gunk in your pores that shouldn’t be there. I love to mix it with apple cider vinegar instead of water for an extra boost (and the best tingle!). And as a true multi-tasker, you can also use it for a hair mask, DIY deodorant, bath soak, sugar scrub…plus I’m sure Pinterest can find you a few more!

eight – peeling mask

Back to The Ordinary (told you they have great products!!), they have an AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution that gives me instant results every time! I know it sounds like a science experiment, but this product is very similar to Drunk Elephant’s Babyfacial. It’s a beet-red colored mask that sits for 10 minutes and then rinses off to glowing skin. I use it weekly and love the results I’m getting from it! It frequently sells out but I found it here as well.

nine – mascara

I may be overly picky but it can be so hard to find a good mascara – let alone one at a reasonable price. I’ve talked about this one before on Instagram and this blog post but had to share it again. It makes my lashes so full and long! In full disclosure, when I first opened this up there was a ton of mascara on the brush, so I had to swipe it off. But then it coated my lashes perfectly! If the worst thing about it is too much product, I don’t think it’s a bad thing at all! It rings in at $14 and is very comparable to Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara. Def recommend trying it if you like that one!

So those are my top nine budget-friendly beauty picks.

I felt like it would be helpful for you guys if I also shared a few products that were total misses for me. I loved the product description for these next two, but they just didn’t work for me.

The first is this face wash from The Inkey List. I really wanted to like this since it’s clean, and oil cleansing has worked really well for me in the past. It just missed the mark for me. I felt like there was a layer of petroleum jelly on my face no matter how hard I tried.

The other budget beauty product that I didn’t love, I am including with a disclaimer. This retinol serum was not as strong as I would have liked it to be, but that is more of personal preference. If you are new to using retinol then this actually may be a good product for you, since it’s very gentle. Since I have used retinol for a while, I am at the point where it can be a bit stronger. I love the price point and will finish the container but I think this one from Sunday Riley or this one from Drunk Elephant are better options and worth the splurge.

So, what about you?

Any budget beauty products you swear by? Any of these that you are already die-hard fans of? I’d love to hear! If you found this helpful, please share this post and save it to your Pinterest page for future reference!

In other news, my new favorite lounge shorts are from my hubby’s closet! They are so comfy and I love the oversized look paired with this slim fit tank. I have found this tank to be one of the most versatile pieces. You might be thinking – ok it’s just a tank. But little details like the sleeveless cut and neckline make it work with everything from my hubs shorts to my favorite midi skirt. It’s under $20 and organic cotton. Definitely check it out!

THANK YOU – for visiting, for reading, and for supporting this tiny space.

xo, rae