4 beauty hero products for under £10

Sarah Young rounds up some of the beauty industry's not-so well kept secrets which will also give you change back from £10

Better for less: High-end beauty buys shouldn’t always be your go-to (Getty)

While most beauty buffs love a bit of luxury, high quality goods don’t have to cost the earth. After all, what could be more satisfying than discovering a hero product for less than a tenner?

Saving you money without any sacrifices, there are plenty of bank balance friendly brands out there that often outperform products five times as expensive – you just need to know where to look.

The Ordinary, Advanced Retinoid 2%, £8, Cult Beauty

A clinical skincare brand that offers a range of 10 straightforward serums for as little as £4, The Ordinary is taking the beauty world by storm, and rightly so. Our favourite pick is the Advanced Retinoid 2% which is the perfect antidote to common signs of ageing.

Hardworking yet surprisingly gentle, it’s a lightweight milky-textured serum that helps restore elasticity and target fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation. Simply apply a few drops to your face in the evening as part of your skin care regimen.

Real Techniques, Miracle Complexion Sponges 2 pack, £9.99, Boots

In case you missed the fanfare Real Techniques are the go-to brand for professional quality make-up tools that don’t cost a fortune. As the Miracle Complexion Sponge quickly became a cult-favourite among beauty buffs, it's a tool that has been designed using revolutionary foam technology to help evenly blend make-up for a smooth finish, and now you can pick up two for less than £10.

Cetaphil, Gentle Skin Cleanser, £8.99, Superdrug

Your quest for flawless skin doesn’t have to cost you a fortune, just ask Charlize Theron. Yes that’s right, the A-list celebrity is a fan of Cetaphil – a mild, non-irritating formulation that soothes skin and removes make-up for a fraction of the price.

Gentle yet effective, it’s great for all skin types but especially those with common conditions like rosacea. It’s also soap and fragrance free and can be used on wet or dry skin.

Maybelline, Colossal Go Extreme Mascara, £4.89, Look Fantastic

​Finding a great mascara can seem like a never-ending quest but what if the perfect one has been sitting there, in the beauty aisle of your local drugstore this whole time?

With an expert collagen, clump-free formula, Maybelline’s Colossal Go Extreme Mascara helps to create bigger and bolder lashes with maximum definition. For best results, sweep from root to tip until the desired volume is achieved.