Simone Gannon: The best beauty buys you can get for under €20

From long-lasting lipstick and skin-loving foundation to one of the best concealers ever created. Here are my top makeup picks that won't break the bank. 

Thu, 12 Oct, 2023 - 02:00

Simone Gannon

NYX Professional Makeup Jumbo Eye Pencils

Around for quite some time, NYX Professional Makeup Jumbo Eye Pencils are a brilliant, versatile addition to any makeup bag.

The creamy formula glides on quickly and efficiently, and the colour payoff is impressive, considering the price point.

Use them alone all over the lid, as a base under other eyeshadow (they play nicely with cream and powder products), or as eyeliner.

There’s one shade in particular that also excels as an inner corner highlight: Milk.

Available in sixteen shades. €7 each from Boots.

Sculpted by Aimee Satin Silk Concealer

Price point aside, Sculpted by Aimee Satin Silk Concealer is one of the best full-coverage concealers I’ve ever used.

This provides a whopping level of coverage without looking or feeling heavy on the skin.

It applies like a dream and melts into the skin evenly, no matter how you apply it, and it has excellent staying power.

If it’s ever discontinued, I will be devastated. Available in 16 shades.

€18 from sculptedbyaimee.com.

L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara

Whenever I recommend this mascara, I always say, ‘Try it once, and you’ll never look back’.

Such is my deep, unswerving loyalty to its excellent formula.

I have tried hundreds of other mascaras (probably) since L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara launched seven years ago, and nothing has come close to the results it delivers: dramatically dark, dense, long, fluttery lashes that don’t clump or flake.

It’s affordable, too, at €16.99 (and often on offer if you do some research before buying).

€16.99 from Boots.

SOSU Cosmetics Liquid Blush

Worthy of a spot on this list not only because of the price point, SOSU Cosmetics Liquid Blush is a beautifully formulated cream blush with a bright gold undertone.

Available in two shades, a bright, rosy pink and a soft coral, it lights up the complexion and adds a gorgeous pop of colour and a radiant sheen.

€14.95 from sosucosmetics.com

E.L.F Brow Lift Clear

There isn’t enough space in this column to rave about how excellent E.L.F Brow Lift is.

If you love strong, clearly defined brows that will not move an inch, then Brow Lift is for you.

A thick, gel-wax formula, it applies easily to the brows and gives you enough time to lift and shape the hair before turning rock solid.

Expect extreme hold with no mess or fuss and a completely natural finish, as the gel is clear. And did I mention it’s €7? Award-winning on every front.

€7 from Boots.

L’Oreal True Match Liquid Foundation with Hyaluronic Acid

Skincare meets makeup, L’Oreal True Match Foundation has gone viral repeatedly, for good reason.

This affordable foundation evens and smooths while delivering a nice dose of hydration thanks to its Hyaluronic acid-infused formula.

Quick and easy to apply, it’s a lightweight, fluid formula that melts into the skin in seconds and leaves behind a beautiful light-medium coverage finish.

At just under €15 what’s not to love?

Available in 47 shades. €14.99 from Boots.

Mrs Glam Flawless Beauty Blender

Everyone needs a great quality sponge to blend makeup, concealer and other cream products, and that sponge shouldn’t cost a fortune.

Step up, Mrs Glam Flawless Beauty Blender. Exceptionally affordable without compromising on quality, this cute, peach-hued blender applies and blends products like a dream, whether you choose to use it wet or dry.

€8.95 from meagherspharmacy.

Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick

Possibly one of the longest-lasting lip formulas I’ve tried in a while, Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick is the one you need for statement lip days, long workdays, big nights out, or any occasion.

Why? Because it lasts without drying out, cracking, or feeling uncomfortable on the lips, and the colour payoff is nothing short of sensational.