I Have Champagne Taste But Won’t Spend More Than $26 on These 6 Beauty Items

One of my toxic traits in life is that I have a tendency to like nice things. Like, really nice things—the kind of “nice” that immediately sends my bank account into a downward spiral the second I even consider clicking “add to cart.” (I’m a Taurus, what can I say?!)

But there are certain categories of beauty items I can’t be bothered to spend a lot of money on. And even though I do appreciate luxurious things, I’ve tried enough beauty products from all sides of the price spectrum to know it’s completely unnecessary to splurge on every part of your routine. Are there $75 lip balms out there? Yes. Are they nice? Sure. Would I continue to buy/use them if I wasn’t a beauty editor and occasionally gifted them for free? Hell no.

Of course, there will always be specific products and certain brands I will 100% invest in and splurge for, but below, I’m sharing six particular categories I thoroughly believe you don’t need to spend a lot of money on (aka where the cheaper options are just as good or better than the more expensive). I know everyone has different preferences and priorities when it comes to their product M.O., but below, I’m sharing my personal money-saving prerogative. Keep scrolling!

I’m extremely passionate about mascara, and, boy, have I kissed a lot of frogs in my life in an effort to find the very best ones. Not surprisingly, there are a handful of fabulously expensive wands out there, but no joke—some of my favorite mascaras of all time can be found at the drugstore or under the $30 mark at retailers like Sephora.

This mascara separates, lifts, and lengthens like crazy. Bambi vibes.

The best, most innovative mascara launch of 2022—it has technology that memorizes the natural wave of your lashes!

Regularly talking to dermatologists and facialists is part of my job, and whenever I ask a skin pro what part of my routine I should save my money on, cleanser is always the number one response. It’s spending the least amount of time on your face (unlike, say, your serums and moisturizers) so you’re quite literally draining your money away by forking over a large sum on an expensive formula. Plus, some of the best formulas on the market clock in at a totally reasonable price point.

Don’t tell anyone, but my skin feels so comfy and hydrated after I use this hyaluronic acid–packed cleanser from Neutrogena, that sometimes I forgo the rest of my skincare routine.

I recommend this French pharmacy classic to everyone—it has nearly 24,000 reviews on Amazon and maintains a 4.6 out of 5-star rating. (Clearly, I’m not the only one who loves it!)

InnBeauty Project has become my obsession, but this cleanser is a definite standout—dermatologists love it and it’s great if you’re looking for a clean-ingredient face wash formula.

This one is kind of in the same vein as face wash for me—I just refuse to spend a ton of money on a product that’s in contact with my skin for a few seconds before taking a tour down my shower drain. Also, I’m sorry, but I can rarely tell any difference between bodywashes I use apart from their smell. I’m also just not a huge body-product person, in general, so that could be part of it as well. I just want something that cleanses my skin and leaves me hydrated, soft, and silky from head to toe.

A classic! This is a staple I will probably have in my shower through the end of time, and fun fact—I’ve chatted with so many celebrities who are also lifelong fans.

Kosas can do no wrong for me, so, obviously, I’m a huge fan of this gentle exfoliating bodywash which smells like a dream to boot.

If you ask any beauty editor anywhere to name the best bodywash of all time, I’d wager a gross sum of money that every last one would shout “Nécessaire!” There’s an array of spa-like scents to choose from—eucalyptus, sandalwood, and bergamot—but I prefer the fragrance-free.

I know there are so many people out there who are about to fight me on this, (body care lovers, feel free to keep scrolling), but I can barely bring myself to apply body lotion (I’m lazy, plus I also hate feeling sticky or slippery), let alone fork over a ton of money for it. I don’t know about you, but whenever I slather lotion all over my body I feel like I end up using a full third of whatever is in the container. Therefore, I prefer to spend my beauty budget elsewhere. Not to mention, some of my least favorite body lotions of all time are the most expensive I’ve tried and vice versa!

I love everything about this sprayable lotion from Flamingo—the sheer niftiness of the spritz-able design, the smell, and how glowy and glossy it makes my skin look without actually feeling like I have anything on.

Mark my words: If you try this $13 body lotion from Swiss brand Weleda, you’ll never feel the need to buy or try another body lotion again. It’s just that good.

I love Versed because the brand is always ahead of the curb when it comes to innovation. This retinol body lotion is genius, and it helps hydrate, firm, smooth, brighten, and treat the skin all in one, very affordable go.

Like I said in my intro, insanely expensive lip balms do, indeed, exist and while they might seem luxurious or tempting, I don’t recommend them—especially if you’re trying to be savvy about where you’re putting your money within your regimen. I don’t usually go the cheapest of the cheap route, but I like a nice middle ground for keeping my lips soft, supple, and supremely nourished all year round.

No lie—I’ve used this strawberry lip balm since high school, and I don’t think I’ve made a friend since who hasn’t also become totally hooked on it. (I always have it on me, and I’ll only let someone try something so many times before I make them buy their own!)

A 2022 obsession that hydrates, glosses, and plumps the heck out of your lips. I’m thoroughly addicted.

This is my GOAT lip balm whenever my lips reach 911-level chap factor. I swear I can apply it once and the effects last a full 24 hours so I don’t have to reapply over and over again.

I don’t think I realized expensive micellar waters were a thing (just because there are so many famous drugstore options) until I received one in the mail with a retail worth that quite literally made my jaw drop. Like, shocking. Similar to a cleanser, this is a pretty basic product—whether you’re using it to cleanse your face, remove your makeup, or whatever floats your boat. In my eyes, there’s no need to spend any significant amount of money on this step in your routine. Save it for the good stuff like a serum or SPF.