Budget-Friendly Beauty: 10 Affordable Beauty Brands to Try

There is a plethora of affordable beauty brands available that promise quality and here we’ve listed 10 of our favorites.

Beauty trends come and go. One season favors bright hues and blazing reds, then pinks and pastels. And just as quickly, the preference changes to a barely-there-au-naturale look.  Whether we seek to highlight our features, camouflage flaws, improve the condition of our skin or simply keep up with fads, undoubtedly, we need to have reliable skin care products as well as choice makeup brands to help us achieve our goals. But with everything being so costly right now, one question needs to be asked: Can beauty be affordable? The answer is a resounding yes. There is, in fact, a plethora of affordable beauty brands to choose from that won’t break the bank. 

Here is our list of favorite affordable beauty brands. Note that most are drugstore and department store finds. Aside from availability, we considered overall benefits, ingredients, packaging, and price in this selection.

10 Affordable Beauty Brands to Try

1. Snail White (Thai)

Recipient of multiple beauty awards, Snail White’s cult following is as strong as ever. At the heart of each product is snail mucin – the hero sticky substance that improves hydration, stimulates collagen production, and aids in skin regeneration. 

We like the Glow series for the 20s to 30s age group. Wash face with the Whipp Soap, tone with Glow Potion, apply the Brightening Day Cream, and over that the Glassy Glow Defense Cream, which provides broad spectrum protection against UVA/UVB rays. This regimen guarantees a soft, moisturized dewy look that will make heads turn. Complete the routine by applying the Glow Body Cream all over the body to gently exfoliate and hydrate the skin.

Meanwhile, perfect for the 35 and up age bracket would be the Gold Series items. Used by Lucy Gomez and Small Laude, the multitasking night advance cream with retinol + bakuchiol smoothens fine lines, fades dark spots, and lifts the skin for a more ephebic look. It’s the most expensive item on the list but its youthful results backs the price.

2. Pretty Secret (Filipino)

At just P95 a stick, there’s no wonder why the Pretty Secret 2-in-1 Lip and Cheek Tint is the number one selling tint in Watsons. Despite its watery consistency, it blends well and stays on for hours. We like the Glow-Up in Rosy Red which is smudge-proof and contains hyaluronic acid as well as The Dreamy Stain in Pretty Pink with Glycerin and Vitamin E. The handy packaging now comes at a bigger bottle – for the same price! Now that’s value for money.

3. Posh Nails (Filipino)

We can’t forget about properly groomed and manicured nails. Proudly Filipino with over two decades of experience in the nail salon industry, this brand has branched out from service to retail. It now offers a whole gamut of nail products: nail polish, cute nail stickers, nail care systems, foot and heel care, nail grooming tools and more.

We love the All Grown Up 6-in-1 Mini Nail Polish Set with polish remover and touch-up brush in a carry-on pouch, which combines neutral and pink shades with a bottle of glitter. This is perfect for singular use or  bring it to your next spa party! Also, the Pretty Basics Nail Wraps in six pastel hues with pusher and nail file set allows busy moms to change polish colors with ease while little girls will love the stick on instant nail art that come in so many prints. The Disney and Sanrio designs are so cute!

4. IN2IT (Malaysian)

It’s a must to put on good foundation before creating a look. We like Malaysian brand IN2IT’s Oil Control 2 Way Foundation in Harvest. You can use it as a buildable dry base or dampen your sponge for a wet application. This no-streak, no-fail foundation is waterproof and provides UVA and UVB  protection. Prefer liquid instead? Opt for the Soft Matte Fluid Foundation which has SPF 30 PA. And to achieve that flawless finish, use the UV Shine Control Sheer Face Powder in Soft Beige. Great for quick touch-ups, too!

5. Hello Glow (Korean)

Relatively a new player in the market, Hello Glow is slowly gaining popularity for its simplified skincare systems. We like the super affordable Acne Defense Set, which is a 3-in-1 mix consisting of a cleansing gel, a pore repairing toner, and an acne spot drying cream. Harnessing the powers of salycilic acid (for exfoliation) and tea tree (for anti-inflammatory and scar-reducing properties), the trio is effective in clearing surface acne. Meanwhile, the Blemish Miracle Set is for those with consistently acne-prone skin. The 4-in-1 set includes a cleanser, toner, acne serum, and acne calming cream. 

6. Esfolio (Korean)

This brand gets top scores for product transparency (the amount of each ingredient is clearly printed on the packaging) and affordable prices. We like its mild yet effective formulations like the Clear Peeling Mist, which has 6,000 ppm of tea tree extract. A few squirts on the desired area to be peeled, lightly massaged, and rinsed with warm water result in the most gentle of exfoliation. The Multigrain Sun Cream has 6 different grain extracts that help skin become clearer while providing sun protection at SPF 50+. And for sensitive skin, you can use Esfolio’s 100% Aloe Vera Moisture Soothing Gel, which helps soothe common skin woes like dryness, irritation, and itchiness.

7. Dr. Sensitive (Filipino)

Focusing on everyday skin essentials, this brand carries a wide selection of both basics and flaw-focused products. We like its Collagen + Vitamin C Serum for the face and Underarm Whitening Serum for armpits, elbows, and knees for their brightening and moisturizing powers. In addition, the All Day No Sebum Blur Powder is a handy compact for daily touch-ups. It masks the appearance of pores while providing maximum oil and shine control.

8. Deoproce (Korean)

Promoted by no less than Korean heartthrob Song Kang and actress Liza Soberano, Deoproce’s best selling skincare products highlight a familiar star ingredient – snail mucin. As mentioned, the substance is revered for its intense hydration properties and ability to improve collagen production. Mixed with natural ingredients like green caviar, green tea, herbal extracts, and yam root, the brand has formulated highly concentrated body serums. Suited to Manila’s humid weather, its texture is much lighter than regular lotions and is easily absorbed by the skin. We like the Snail Recovery Body Serum not only for its deep hydration but also for its anti-aging properties. Initially sticky, give it five minutes to penetrate the skin. We recommend using it on the décolletage area and hands to ward of fine lines and wrinkles. 

It is best to complement Deoproce’s Body Serum with the Snail Recovery Cream, which is essentially a daily damage control and repair balm for the face. It forms a protective film to lock in moisture resulting in a revitalized, radiant look. Beauty editors rave that this is one of the best wound healing options due mainly to its licorice root content that diminishes built up inflammation. Slightly heavier in feel so nightly use is preferable.

9. Bioten (Greek) 

Never ever go to bed with makeup on. Good thing Bioten Miscellar Water Hyaluronic Gold makes it easy to remove cosmetics. Suitable for all skin types, it’s formulated with hyaluronic acid, golden proteins, and prebiotics. The solution removes the most long-lasting (even waterproof) makeup and all other impurities from the face, eyes, and lips without inducing irritation or dehydrating skin.

The Hyaluronic Gold Pearl Serum is another product we like from this Greek eco-conscious skin brand. Aside from HA, this anti-aging solution is enriched with fermented rice extract and Vitamin B3 that provide moisturization, improve skin tone, and reduce lines and dark spots over repeated use. Each bottle contains pearl particles that get crushed and combined with the liquid formulation for easy application. Gently massage onto the face nightly after thorough cleansing.

10. BYS (Australian)

Aussie brand BYS makes all our Disney princess dreams come true with its adorable line up of makeup. You can get the entire We R One collection (5 boxes in 1) for P4,999 or just one (P1,100 each) based on the character you like the most. The collaboration features three full face makeup sets, one eye shadow palette, and a makeup brush set.

We absolutely love the Jasmine (Made Fearless) and Belle (Curious & Kind) full makeup kits! This can very well be a mom and daughter playtime palette. The former includes a blush, highlighter, bronzer in different golden hues and an earthy lipstick (suited to moms) while the latter has pinkish blush tones and an iridescent highlighter with a coral luxe lipstick (perfect for little misses). Technically, Mulan is not a princess, but her box (Courage) contains a set of brushes that is sure to get the royal nod.

Speaking of fun makeup, The Berries eyeshadow palette (20 shades) and scented  Sweet Cheeks face palette (12 shades) get our vote for being economical, practical, and versatile. You can create as many combinations – subtle to daring, and day to evening looks as well.

Affordable and Quality Beauty Brands at Your Fingertips

Whatever you purchase, remember that beauty is more of how you feel inside and less of how perfect you look on the outside. Bare-faced or made up, you decide what is best for you. Happy shopping with these affordable beauty brands you can easily find online and in stores!

Read more stories about affordable beauty brands:

Beauty Basics: A Mom’s Guide to the 5-Minute Makeup Look

The Best Beauty Products Moms Should Have This Season

A Skincare Gift Guide for Beauty-Loving Moms