Fragrance

Affordable Beauty in the UK: The Rise of Cheap Makeup

Beauty isn’t reserved for those with big budgets. In the UK, the demand for affordable, high-quality makeup has grown significantly over the last decade...

Why Cheap Doesn’t Mean Low Quality

There’s a common misconception that low-cost cosmetics must sacrifice quality. But in today’s beauty industry, that couldn’t be further from the truth...

• Shared manufacturers: Many budget brands are produced in the same factories as luxury ones.
• Focused formulations: Affordable products skip “trendy” ingredients and focus on what works.
• Mass production = lower cost: Economies of scale help drive down pricing.
• Less celebrity marketing: Budget brands invest in product quality over endorsements.

Best Budget Makeup Brands in the UK

• Revolution Beauty: Trendy palettes and great concealers
• NYX: Affordable artistry — lips, eyes, face
• Technic: Ultra-cheap, colourful palettes
• W7: High-end dupes for less
• Collection: Drugstore essentials
• Essence: Vegan, trendy, budget-friendly
• e.l.f.: Clean, effective formulas for less

Glow Empire’s Top Picks by Price Range

🪞 Makeup Under £5

• Technic Colour Fix Blush Palette
• W7 Banana Dreams Loose Powder
• Essence Lash Princess Mascara

💄 Makeup Under £10

• NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream
• Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer
• W7 In The Nude Eyeshadow Palette
• e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer

✨ Makeup Under £20

• Technic Ultimate Beauty Gift Set
• NYX Bare With Me Tinted Skin Veil
• Revolution XX Contour & Glow Kit

💡 Want to treat someone? Explore our Gift Sets Collection for beauty bundles under £20.

Building a reliable, everyday makeup kit doesn’t need to break the bank. At Glow Empire, we believe that with just £30 you can create a full-face collection of essentials that perform brilliantly and suit every occasion—from workdays to date nights.

The key is to focus on multi-tasking products, high-performing drugstore heroes, and smart layering. Here's how to do it on a budget:

• Primer: e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer
• Foundation: NYX Bare With Me Tinted Skin Veil
• Concealer: Revolution Conceal & Define
• Mascara: Essence Lash Princess or W7 Flirty Eyes
• Blush/Bronzer: Technic Colour Fix Blush Palette
• Lip Product: NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream

💡 Tip: Prioritise multitasking products—like a tinted SPF base or a bronzer that doubles as eyeshadow.

Affordable doesn’t mean compromising on skin health. Many budget products are packed with nourishing ingredients. Here’s what to embrace—and what to limit—when shopping cheap makeup:

🌿 Ingredients to Love:

• Hyaluronic Acid: hydration in primers and foundations.
• Niacinamide: for oil control and smoothing skin.
• Glycerin: hydrating setting sprays and concealers.
• Vitamin E: nourishing lip balms and glosses.

⚠️ Ingredients to Watch:

• Fragrance: may irritate sensitive skin.
• Alcohol Denat: drying over time.
• Parabens & Sulphates: safe in small amounts, but avoided by many.

🌟 At Glow Empire, we label ingredients clearly so you can shop confidently.

You don’t need a full glam drawer to look polished every day. Here’s a 5-step routine using just a few affordable heroes:

1. Prime: Try e.l.f. Poreless Putty
2. Base: Apply tinted veil + concealer
3. Brows/Eyes: Use W7 Twist and Shape + bronzer as eyeshadow
4. Mascara: One coat of Essence Lash Princess
5. Lips & Cheeks: Use a multi-stick or cream blush/lip in one

🌼 Simple, glowing, and budget-friendly — every time.

You're not always paying for better quality when you splurge. Here's where drugstore delivers — and when it’s okay to invest:

🏆 When Drugstore Wins

• Concealers: Revolution, NYX
• Mascara: Essence, W7
• Primers & Setting Sprays: e.l.f., Technic

💄 When Luxury Might Be Worth It

• Designer lipsticks for gifting
• Skincare-infused foundations
• Ultra-pigmented shadow palettes

🧠 Verdict: Use affordable brands for your core routine. Save luxury for the occasional splurge!