Whether you consider a brand or a product to be “budget” or “affordable” is entirely relative. It depends on a multitude of factors, from your income to how much you are willing to invest in beauty vs. other things. For me, budget skincare products tend to be below $25, sometimes well below that depending on the product category and how big the product is. For instance, I might consider a $20 serum that comes in a large bottle to be a budget option. However, a $20 cleanser in a small to medium size bottle is not particularly budget-friendly my opinion. Serums usually contain higher concentrations of active ingredients, and thus I’m willing to pay more for them. I wouldn’t pay as much for a cleanser because it doesn’t stay on my face for that long and they are generally cheaper anyway!
In this post I will be discussing two brands — Elf and Versed– that I personally find to be affordable and that fit within my budget. I have purchased all of the products I’m discussing here myself. Both of these brands happen to be available at Target, although you won’t find all of their products there. Both brands are also vegan and cruelty-free.
Elf Cosmetics
Elf (which stands for “eyes, lips, face”) has a pretty wide range of products that includes both makeup and skincare. For the purposes of this post, I will be focusing just on their skincare. In my opinion, Elf has some really good, really budget friendly products! Their formulas aren’t anything too special, but they work and they actually work well. I actually think that Elf’s skincare products are underrated in the skincare community. So far, I have tried three of their skincare products, and I have enjoyed all of them. I would definitely like to try more from them in the future! Here are some mini reviews of all the Elf products I’ve tried so far:
Elf Bounce Back Jelly Cleanser
Review: I initially bought this because I heard that it was a more affordable dupe for Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser (which I really love). While I do slightly prefer the Glossier, I will say that the elf cleanser is quite similar! It is a non-foaming gel cleanser that has a somewhat “grippy” feeling when applied to the skin, similar to the Glossier. The ingredient also has some similarities to the Glossier — they both use the same cleansing agent — although there are a number of difference. The elf cleanser does contain fragrance, but it’s not too strong and I don’t mind it at all. Overall, this is a really nice gentle cleanser, which is exactly what I wanted. I don’t think that this would remove much makeup, but it works really well as a second cleanser if you double cleanse.
Rating: 4/5
Where to Buy: Elf ($6), Target ($6)
Elf Antioxidant Booster Drops
Review: I picked these up in order to make the free shipping minimum on an Ulta order. They also happened to be 20% at the time so I only paid $4 for these! Thus, I wasn’t expecting very much, but I have been quite impressed so far. The product itself is clear and has a relatively thick serum texture. It’s hydrating but surprisingly not tacky and does not pill (ball up on the skin). The ingredients list is also pretty impressive considering the price. This contains Vitamin E, Niacinamide, Vitamin C (derivative), and Snow Mushroom extract, which is supposed to be an even better humectant than Hyaluronic Acid. The bottle that these come in is quite small, but I think that is fair considering the price. I do wish they would make a larger version though!
Rating: 4.5/5
Where to Buy: Ulta ($5), Elf ($10)
Elf Supermask with Soothing Centella Asiatica
Review: I picked this up on sale at TJMaxx, I think it was about $6 at the time. But even if I had paid full price, I think this wash-off mask is worth it. It has a really lovely texture, like a really thick cream, that feels lovely on the skin. I like to apply a generous layer of this when my skin is feeling irritated and dry. This does contain fragrance, lavender essential oil, which smells nice and calming. But I would prefer if this didn’t have fragrance, because this mask is really meant for sensitive/irritated skin, which might not do well with fragrance. Otherwise, the ingredients list is really nice. This contains centella asiatica and ceramides (2 of my favorite ingredients for irritated skin), it also contains cocoa seed butter which leaves the skin feeling moisturized even after it’s washed off. This mask is lovely and soothing and overall I think it’s a great product for the price!
Rating: 4/5
Where to Buy: Elf ($12), Target ($12), Kohl’s, TJMaxx
Versed Skincare
Versed, which was founded by the co-founder of Who What Wear, is another brand that I find to be quite affordable. Their prices are generally higher than Elf’s, however I do find their products to be a bit better and a bit more well-rounded. Their packaging is also really cute, which I’ll admit is a draw for me. I currently have three products from them, but I have only used two so far, so I will updated this review when I try the third product (their cleansing balm). Keep reading for mini reviews of the products I’ve tried!
Versed Keep It Supple Body Oil
Review: This is my favorite body oil that I’ve tried and it’s one of my favorite body moisturizers! First of all, it smells really nice and floral, I believe it’s from the Ylang Ylang essential oil and the Calendula flower extract. The oils in this are Sunflower Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Coconut Oil, Macadamia Seed Oil, and Soybean Oil. I really love that this product comes in a spray bottle, it makes it really easy and convenient to apply, and it ensure that you don’t get too much product on your skin! My body skin is pretty normal (it’s not particularly dry, unlike my face) and I find that this provides the perfect level of moisture for me. It feels a tiny bit greasy at first, but my skin absorbs it pretty quickly. My only complaint with this is that it can be a bit messy. It’s hard to make sure you spray it just on your body and not all over the place, so I recommend applying this in the shower, right after you turn it off and dry yourself with a towel.
Rating: 4.5/5
Where to Buy: Versed ($15), Cult Beauty (£13.50)
Versed The Shortcut Overnight Facial Peel
Review: I’ve only used this a handful of times (my skin can’t handle exfoliation too often right now), but so far I have enjoyed it! I bought the mini size for $10 instead of the full size, and I would definitely recommend doing that if you’re not sure if you will like this. In regards to active ingredients, this contains AHAs (Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid) as well as Vitamin A in the form of Retinyl Palmitate (a gentle retinoid). Unfortunately, the percentage of these ingredients is not disclosed, but I don’t think that they are present in very high amounts. Still, you should make sure to approach this peel with caution because it’s still possible to over-exfoliate with this. And make sure to wear SPF during the day if you’re using this, because both AHAs and Vitamin A increase sun sensitivity. When I use this at night, I personally didn’t experience any irritation, just a slight tingling the first time I used it. And my skin did feel extra soft and smooth the next morning. Overall, I like this and would recommend this over The Ordinary’s famous facial peel. It’s a gentler and more beginner-friendly alternative!
Rating: 4/5
Where to Buy: Versed ($20), Target ($20), Cult Beauty (£18)
Have you tried either of these brands? Let me know in the comments below! Check out this post on my skincare empties for more budget skincare products. And if you found this post helpful, don’t forget to subscribe to stay updated on my latest posts!
Disclaimer: This Site contains both non-affiliate and affiliate links, and I may receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. Some products marked by (*) were gifted to me for review purposes, but all thoughts are my own honest opinions. I am not an expert, these are just my personal experiences, and what works for me might not work for you.
