Whether you’re a mom or not, there’s something exciting about getting a good bargain when it comes to beauty products. I know for myself, I can be a bit of a beauty snob at times–I’ll admit it! I am not one of those people who wakes up with flawless skin and pretty tresses. No sirree! (In fact, I typically wake up a hot mess!)
I have three kids, well, four if you include my husband, and a full-time career. Needless to say, I’m typically sleep-deprived, fueled by coffee, and there are days when I wonder if I remembered to shower. Can you relate, busy lady?
If you’re a lady on a beauty budget like me, then you love a good find. I may not be an expert, but I can tell you from personal experience that these products rock, and I have a feeling they’ll work their oh-la-la magic on you, too!
Actual photo of me:
Take a look at our list of 7 budget beauty finds under $7!
1. Maybelline Baby Lips
I LOVE this stuff. Seriously, it’s the best! I discovered it immediately after I finally caved into the lip filler temptations that I had, and my lips were stretched and sore. The thought of rubbing lipstick on them didn’t sound fun, and since I’d already shelled out a pretty penny on the injections, I was like, “what is a girl to do now?”
I took to Google to find a quick–and inexpensive solution–for my cracked and dry lips when I landed on this awesome budget beauty find. It comes in a variety of shades (I prefer the red and pink) and you can pick it up at any grocery store or drugstore that sells Maybelline products. (And word to the wise, skip the lip injections. Because for me, they didn’t last anywhere near as long as they said they should have–and they certainly aren’t cheap!)
2. Alba Botanica Anti-Pollution Volcanic Clay Hawaiian Detox Towelettes
This budget beauty find I actually picked up on a whim because they were on sale at my local grocery store. I usually despise cleansing wipes like these because I have super sensitive–not to mention, extremely pale and easily reddened–skin that doesn’t like gimmicky wipes that promise to refresh your skin or remove makeup.
Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer to wash my face in the sink. It’s not like I’m in a Neutrogena commercial splashing water all over my bathroom, but I prefer to use an exfoliating washcloth to clean my skin (that’s actually great if you like to exfoliate your skin, and you really want to get that makeup and dirt off your face and clean those pores nice and good!)
So, hesitantly, I picked these up and hoped for the worst–only to be pleasantly surprised! Not only do they smell great and feel great, but they leave your skin soft, clean and refreshed. Although their Alba moisturizer runs closer to $10, I’ve tried that too and also loved it.
3. Neutrogena Clear Pore Facial Cleanser / Face Mask
I love that this beauty find has options! You can either use this as a simple cleanser, or if you want to kick things up a notch, then you can use it as an oil-absorbing mask as well. If you’re prone to breakouts like I am, then you’ll really like this budget beauty find. I do both with it, and combine it with St. Ives Apricot Scrub that my mother swore by, and so do I!
4. Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water
I learned my lesson after the whole “BB Cream” phase to stay the heck away from anything even remotely trendy in grocery store beauty budget aisles. A friend once told me she swore by this “magic water,” and I figured, “okay, what could it hurt?” And I’m glad I trusted her! Ever since I started using this product, I’ve noticed that my skin looks fresher, clearer and my skin tone is much more even (I deal with rosacea-like redness often). And if you need to remove eye makeup and don’t want to deal with the stinging irritation of traditional eye makeup remover pads, you can simply apply some of this “magic water” to a cotton pad and gently wipe clean.
5. Bee & Flower Soap
If you are strolling the aisles of your local supermarket and happen to find yourself in the speciality or natural foods/goods section, you can find these little smell-good gems for about two bucks! Each of the scents above smell amazing, and they leave your skin feeling soft and smooth should you use them for handwashing at the sink, or if you lather up in the shower.
6. Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation Makeup
I recently splurged and spent $40 for the new Tarte Face Tape Foundation, but this cheap beauty find works great and doesn’t make my skin freak out–double win! It comes in over 40 shades, so you really can find your perfect “Fit Me” shade with ease.
7. Garnier Whole Blends Repairing Mask Honey Treasures
Being blonde, my hair is naturally on the drier side–especially when I damage or overprocess it with harsh chemicals and heat styling. This nourishing honey hair mask will leave your hair feeling silky smooth, and it smells wonderful, too!
The items listed above are all great if you’re on a tight budget, but I wanted to share with you my favorite beauty product from the past few years. Want a splurge that will give you a solid bang for your buck and have your skin looking fab? Try this BAE Body moisturizer with Retinol cream. It will leave your skin with a healthy glow and for just under $20, a little REALLY goes a long way!
Got any more cool beauty budget finds to share with us? Leave us a comment and let us know!
Nadia Karpov is a personal stylist, image consultant, capsule wardrobe enthusiast, and founder of 
