We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
15 basic but brilliant beauty products under £20 for glossier summer skin and hair
Including a luscious skin sorbet and an SPF spray that can be applied over makeup
Spring is springing, which means we’re thinking about warmer days, and getting our skin and hair looking its glossy best. But those rising temperatures and glorious beach days also come with damaging UV rays, drying chlorine and melting makeup.
So, we’ve created a list of the must-have, most affordable summer beauty buys under £20 to keep your skin gleaming and hair shiny, all available at Noli, aka a one-stop-shop for all your affordable beauty needs (it's home to a wide range of buzzy brands, from Aesop and Garnier to CeraVe and Lancome). Because we’d much rather have a bit more coin to spend on the odd daiquiri or ice cream. But if you’re planning a splurge, the brand is also offering a free tote bag for all orders over £40.
Here’s what our beauty experts are shopping now for a feelgood summer.
Best Deal
Garnier Ambre Solaire Over Make-Up Mist SPF50+
To ensure your skin is protected from the sun all day long, it’s important to keep your SPF topped up at least every two hours, according to the NHS. Which can be tricky when you’ve got a face full of makeup. But Garnier’s clever, lightweight SPF50 mist is the answer – it can be spritzed all over, without smudging the makeup underneath.
Not only does it add a layer of high UV protection, but it also feels extremely refreshing and doesn't irritate your eyes. With an invisible finish, it will leave your skin looking glowy.
Cleansing is crucial all year round, but particularly in summer when sweat and makeup can sink in to your pores. You want a formula that removes impurities and debris without stripping your skin of its natural oils, and this Kiehl’s cleanser delivers.
On application, it transforms from an indulgent cream into a foamy texture, delivering a dose of humectants, squalene and glycerine that help to hydrate and moisturise, as well as strengthen the skin barrier to lock all that goodness in. It doesn’t contain any fragrances or soap either, so it’s suitable for sensitive skin.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Oil Control Fluid SPF50+
A non-greasy SPF that doesn’t leave a white cast is hard to find but La Roche-Posay's gold-standard sunscreen does it all.
Offering SPF50 protection (we won't accept anything less for our face), it’s formulated with oil-control technology that won’t leave you shiny, instead absorbing instantly into your skin. It even has a mattifying effect, much needed during summer holiday season.
CeraVe Moisturising Cream For Dry to Very Dry Skin
CeraVe Moisturising Cream For Dry to Very Dry Skin
We’re all slathering creams onto our face, but what about everywhere else? All skin needs TLC after a long winter, and this body moisturiser from CeraVe has been developed to nourish and treat dry patches.
The formula contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides to strengthen your skin barrier and reduce moisture loss. And the generous 453g tub and pump dispenser make this a long-lasting option to keep on your dressing table for fresh-from-the-shower applications.
L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler Replumping Cream SPF50
When we tested this product as part of the GHI's best day creams review, it wowed our testers with how radiant, bright and dewy it left their complexions.
This will be down to the star ingredient, hyaluronic acid, which draws moisture in like a magnet, and binds it into the skin. It can hold up to 1000x its weight in water, and our testers loved its plumping and rejuvenating effect.
It was also praised for its rich texture that didn’t leave behind any greasy residue. And it sinks in quickly so you don't have to wait around to apply your makeup in the morning.
Garnier Vitamin C Hydrating Sorbet Cream
Like a pot of refreshing mango sorbet on a hot day, this hydrating ‘sorbet’ cream quenches dry skin and brightens the complexion.
It contains vitamin C to help protect skin against damaging environmental aggressors, such as air pollution and UV rays, and guard against excess production of melanin, which can cause hyperpigmentation. It also includes niacinamide, which can help minimise the appearance of enlarged pores.
It’s affordable and extremely lightweight, which means it will layer perfectly with your SPF, moisturiser and makeup on top. It also smells good enough to eat (but don’t, obviously).
This product needs no introduction – both gentle and effective, it’s an everyday essential in many people’s bathroom cabinets.
With a skin barrier-friendly, hypoallergenic formulation, used with the brand’s soft eco pads it’s our beauty editors’ go-to for removing makeup quickly and conveniently. Our senior beauty writer, Florence Reeves-White takes a mini bottle with her every time she travels. It’s particularly effective for melting off mascara without any harsh rubbing or skin pulling.
A sheet mask is an easy, fast track to hydrated, soft skin, and this one is infused with plenty of skin-nourishing ingredients for the ultimate pamper session.
Simply pop it on after cleansing for a dose of hydrating hyaluronic acid that draws moisture into the skin, leaving it looking plumper and fresher. Added vitamin C helps to reduce the appearance of dark circles and sun spots, leading to brighter, revitalised skin with minimum faff.
Cucumbers on the eyes also encouraged.
As well as providing instant hydration to dry, cracked lips, this lip balm works to rebuild and strengthen the skin to prevent further breakage. It adds a layer of protection, as well as a glossy (but not greasy) finish – ideal for those ‘no makeup makeup’ days.
L'Oréal Paris Elvive Glycolic Gloss Conditioner
L'Oréal Paris Elvive Glycolic Gloss Conditioner
This Elvive shampoo and conditioner duo is at the heart of the brand’s glycolic acid range, which has been developed to deliver glossier hair. Glycolic acid penetrates the hair fibres to help smooth damaged cuticles, strengthening your strands from the inside out. Those smoother hairs then reflect the light more effectively, for a shinier, healthier look.
This duo is perfect for the summer months, when hair is susceptible to dryness and damage caused by UV rays and salty sea water. Our editors love the softening effects that rival those from considerably more expensive products.
L'Oréal Paris Elvive Glycolic Gloss Leave-In Serum
L'Oréal Paris Elvive Glycolic Gloss Leave-In Serum
If you’re serious about achieving glossier locks, this leave in-serum (part of the same bestselling glycolic acid range as the shampoo and conditioner above) is a must for summer.
It’s the easy route to smoother hair and mirror-like shine. Run it through freshly washed, damp hair before blow-drying for added heat protection, smoothing powers, and a seriously glossy finish.
Redken Acidic Color Gloss Heat protection
Admittedly, this one is just over our £20 threshold, but at its current reduced price of £21, this Redken spray was too good not to include.
It's designed to help colour-treated hair prone to damage and dullness. It provides heat protection of up to 230ºc, which is key if you’re blow drying and styling with heat. And it’s particularly useful in the summer for protecting your hair from those UV rays and drying pool and sea water.
The pH-balanced formula restores and maintains locks to their healthiest pH level of 4.5-5.5, which keeps them looking hydrated, strong and frizz free. It also seals the cuticle for added smoothness and vibrant colour. A healthy hair must-have.
Matrix A Curl Can Dream Scrunch N Go Defining Spray
Curly and wavy-haired girls assemble. This scrunch spray is your perfect antidote to humid days and beachy frizz, as it works to keep your curls hydrated throughout the day. And it’s infused with manuka honey and rose water for added nourishment.
A few sprays and scrunches results in a more defined curl that doesn’t feel dry or crunchy, and it offers heat protection up to 110ºC – great if you use a diffuser to style your waves.
When you have your feet on show in summer, a moisturising foot cream is as essential as hand cream. Like most CeraVe products, this one contains ceramides, which help to strengthen the skin barrier, alongside salicylic acid, a gentle exfoliator that removes excess dead skin for softer soles and toes. The squeezy tube makes it easy pop in your beach bag, too.
A couple of applications will leave your feet feeling soft and ready for open-toed sandals (and a fresh summer pedicure).
Curly hair is susceptible to both dryness and dullness (as it’s harder for the scalp’s natural oils to reach the strands), but it doesn’t have to be this way.
This lightweight oil ultra-light absorbs quickly into the hair shaft, without leaving behind any stickiness or weighing your strands down. Instead, it leaves hair looking visibly shinier and your curls softer in seconds.
Madeleine is our Lifestyle Writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and round-ups on the latest beauty Beauty and Health & Wellness products. From skincare to protein powders, Maddie is committed to providing honest and helpful reviews to help guide readers to the best product for them. Maddie has a BA in English Literature and Language, which stemmed from her lifelong interest in reading and writing. She started her post graduate life at Hearst UK within a marketing capacity, which quickly turned into a desire to fulfil a writing career.
When she is not writing about the latest expert reviewed products, you can find her rifling through vintage shops or car boots, reading a print magazine, or capturing portraits on her film camera.
