Although there are plenty of new beauty products flooding into the Who What Wear UK office every day, from fancy perfumes to luxurious skincare, there are a few staples that you’ll find us editors buying on repeat. They’re not the flashy or expensive kind, however. Whilst we love an investment beauty purchase, the products that excite us most often come at a surprisingly affordable price point—think a deodorant that does the job really well or exfoliating foot socks that rival a salon pedicure. And whilst they might not be the “sexy” kind of products you’ll see us proudly displaying shelfie-style in our bathrooms or on our dressing tables, they’re the backbones of our beauty routines that you’ll find stowed away in a drawer or hidden at the back of our bathroom cupboards.
After seeing creators share the “unsexy” beauty products they swear by on TikTok, we felt compelled to share the Who What Wear UK team’s all-time favourite mundane beauty products that are effective yet affordable—but not glam. And when I posed the question on our work Slack channel, the recommendations came flooding in. From the £4 body wash that smells like Aesop to the deodorant we all swear by, we have some great picks to share that come in at £15 and under.
Scroll ahead for our genuine editor recommendations that you’ll always find us repeat-purchasing and shouting about.
Affordable Beauty Products That Actually Work
(Image credit: Who What Wear UK)
Footner
Exfoliating Foot Mask Socks
Regular pedicures can be costly, but these exfoliating socks are just as good—trust me. Simply pop them on for an hour, and over the next 7 to 10 days, all your dead skin will shed. I won’t lie: it’s a gross process, but hugely satisfying when you’re left with silky-soft feet. It takes a couple of days to take effect with shedding beginning after two to three days, so plan accordingly if you’re going to have your feet on show.
2. Vaseline
Vaseline
Vaseline Lip Therapy – Pack of 2
Out of all of the bougie lip balms we’ve tested, so many of the team still count this as their ride or die. “She’s not sexy, but Vaseline is the onnnnly lip balm that works for me,” says acting affiliates editor Florrie Alexander. “I have one by my bed, one on my desk and one in my handbag at all times!” Sometimes you can’t beat a reliable classic.
3. Nivea Firming Body Lotion Q10
Nivea
Nivea Firming Body Lotion Q10 + Argan Oil
Assistant social media editor Annie Wheatland-Clinch has sold me on this super-affordable body moisturiser. It’s marketed as “firming”, but that’s not why we like it. “Nivea Firming Body Lotion is my forever—also big love for the tinted version,” says Wheatland-Clinch. It leaves skin so soft and moisturised without being sticky, making it great to throw on if you’re rushing out the door. It really rivals body moisturisers ten times the price.
4. Nivea Body Lotion Firming + Radiance Q10 Gradual Tan
Nivea
Body Lotion Firming + Radiance Q10 Gradual Tan
This version has added gradual tanner if you want to give your skin a sun-kissed glow with all the hydration of the OG. Unlike other gradual tanners, this one doesn’t come with an offensive smell, and it can be layered into a believable glow without clinging to dryness, so you’re always left with a streak-free tan. At under £5, it’s pretty impressive.
Scholl
Velvet Smooth Electronic Foot File
Okay, this one is more than £15, but it’s currently on sale at a really good discount. Foot files are particularly unsexy, but this one really does the job—it even won a Who What Wear Next in Beauty Award for its effectiveness. “It’s a joy to use,” says editor-in-chief Hannah Almassi.
6. Aveeno Body Oil Spray
Aveeno
Skin Relief Body Oil Spray
When I asked the team for their bodycare favourites, almost everyone said Aveeno. “The body oil is super moisturising, non-greasy and smells so good,” says affiliate manager Jerrylyn Saguiped. Aveeno Daily Moisturising Body Wash (£8) is also a team favourite. The brand is amazing for those with skin conditions such as eczema thanks to its skin-soothing formulas that leave your limbs feeling hydrated and comfortable. As an editor with eczema-prone skin, I always return to Aveeno’s formulas during flare-ups.
7. Blistex Intensive Moisturiser Lip Balm
Blistex
Intensive Moisturiser – Pack of 3
Our girlies with dry lips swear by this lip balm above all others. “This lip balm is great for chapped lips and the cream texture hydrates whilst adding a sheen—I sometimes like to wear it with my lip liner,” says senior fashion and beauty editor for branded content Rebecca Rhys-Evans. I’m picking up a pack of three to have on standby in every bag.
8. Batiste Dry Shampoo
Batiste
Dry Shampoo Original
Sometimes, you just can’t beat an OG reliable favourite—case in point with Batiste’s dry shampoo, which we always come back to despite having lots of expensive dry shampoos in our beauty cupboard. This one is pretty impressive for its price point. You’ll need to give it a good brush to remove the residue—especially on dark hair—but it really does disguise grease to tide you over to hair-wash day at a very affordable price.
9. Compeed Blister Plasters
Compeed
Medium Size Blister Plasters
You know what sucks? Blisters. This is why you’ll always find a couple of these plasters in our bags for emergencies when new shoes are giving us trouble. “[These are] an absolute essential—always have 10 on me,” says deputy editor Maxine Eggenberger. The hydrocolloid patches are thick enough to shield the blister and prevent further rubbing whilst helping to absorb moisture for quicker healing. Sexy? No. Effective? You bet.
10. Ultrasun Lip Protection SPF50
Ultrasun
Lip Protection SPF50
If you’re in the market for an SPF lip balm now that spring has arrived, our team highly recommends this one. “This is so nourishing but also SPF for an often overlooked area,” says Eggenberger. We’ll be stocking up in time for our holidays.
11. Estrid Razor
Hair removal can be a total chore, but the right razor can be a game changer. The whole Who What Wear UK team is hooked on this chic razor brand, which not only looks good in our bathrooms but delivers a silky slip via the moisturising head for a clean shave each time. It’s more expensive than the cheaper multipacks of disposable razors you can get, but trust us: this will change your life. It’s also a much more environmentally-friendly way to shave, as the handle is made from steel so will last for ages, and the brand only uses super-minimal cardboard packaging. This starter kit includes the handle (which comes in nice colours) two razor heads and a wall holder.
12. TePe Interdental Brushes
TEPE
Angle Interdental Brush – Pack of 6
If you’re not yet using interdental brushes or can’t get on board with traditional tape floss, take this as your sign to try these. “Interdental brushes are not sexy, but they are necessary,” says e-commerce analyst Sophie Cookson. Flossing is one of the best investments you can make for your oral health, and these affordable interdental brushes make it easy to clean between your teeth and help prevent plaque buildup, which can lead to costly dental work down the line.
13. St. Mortiz Tanning Mousse
St. Moriz
Professional Instant Tanning Mousse in Medium
When it comes to the best self-tans, this one is top of our affordable category and costs less than lunch at Pret. The mousse delivers a streak-free glow that looks realistic and wears well without going patchy. “St. Moritz tanning foam is my ride or die,” says Rhys-Evans, who has long been a fan of this great affordable formula.
14. Kitsch Dermaplane Razors
Kitsch
Eco-Friendly Dermaplaner
As someone who has hair in abundance around their brows, these dermaplaning razors are great for tidying up peach fuzz on the face, leaving skin silky-smooth. I’ve even noticed my makeup going on smoother since making it a monthly habit.
15. Neutrogena T-Gel Shampoo
Neutrogena
T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo Treatment
Itchy scalps, scalp psoriasis and dandruff can be a real pain to treat, but this cheap and cheerful medicated shampoo works wonders. “This is V unsexy but I can’t go without the T Gel dandruff shampoo,” says Saguiped. It contains tar which works surprisingly well at treating scalp concerns and reducing irritation.
16. VO5 Firm Hold Gel
From wet-look styles to slicked-back buns, this is a great hair gel to have in your collection when you require a sleek style with long-lasting hold. At £5, it would be rude not to try it.
CCS
Professional Foot Care Cream
We have zero desire to spend a fortune on foot cream, but with sandal season just around the corner, we want to start getting our feet ready. Thankfully, this one works really well to soften dry skin and cracked heels, and won’t make your bank account cry.
18. Mitchum Women 48HR Protection Roll-On Deodorant & Antiperspirant
Mitchum
Women 48HR Protection Roll-On Deodorant & Antiperspirant
People are very, very loyal to their deodorants. The team’s choice? Mitchum, hands down. It’s the most effective antiperspirant and deodorant they’ve tried, and it doesn’t leave white marks on your clothes. They’ve convinced me to swap to this one.
19. Zeroderm Ointment
Zeroderma
Zeroderm Ointment
Sensitive skin? Listen up. This ointment makes a great hand cream to act as a shielding barrier for irritated skin. It’s a must-have if you’re prone to eczema on your hands, which is often flared up by irritants such as cleaning products. “Zeroderm hand cream is basically one of the only things that doesn’t make my hands go red and patchy,” says Cookson.
20. Bayliss & Harding Shower Gel
Baylis & Harding
Goodness Men’s Bergamot & Clary Sage Natural Shower Gel
The best hack for smelling expensive? “I always buy ‘men’s’ shower gel as it’s the closest thing to Aesop on a budget,” says Eggenberger. In particular, this Bergamot & Clary Sage option smells three times its price. You could even decant it into a fancy bottle and no one would ever know it only cost £4.
21. Sally Hansen Nail Strengthener
Sally Hansen
Advanced Hard as Nails Strengthener
If your nails are weak, peeling or breaking, we implore you to try this nail strengthener to bring them back to good health. It helps to grow your nails healthy and strong and has a glossy finish.
22. Migraine Relief Cap
Gelpacks Direct
Migraine Relief Cap
Those on the team who suffer with migraines swear by this migraine cap which provides much-needed soothing relief. The gel insert in the cap can be frozen or heated depending on your needs and pulled over the eyes to block out light too. I’m sharing this one with all my friends.
