When it comes to beauty products, celebrities love a bargain just as much as the rest of us. The likes of Victoria Beckham, Cat Deeley, and Hailey Bieber all love affordable products like moisturisers, cleansers and shampoos - even though they're definitely not short on cash.
But why is that? And does the fact a product is cheaper mean you're sacrificing quality? We spoke to Zoe Trigwell, Award-winning MUA and Founder of Trigwell Cosmetics to get the low down.
Zoe says: "Realistically, we all know when you find ‘THE’ product you love, it is one you will always buy and use! The market is now full of really impressive mid/low range priced products - and just because celebs have accessibility to really expensive products, it doesn’t mean they haven’t got those go-to products they use all the time which are a bit more budget-friendly!
"I believe that regardless of the price tag, celebrities are loyal to their go-to products and often want to support indie brands along the way - as an indie brand, we have celebrities and celebrity MUAs recommend us and it is really beneficial to get their seal of approval."
- Cat Deeley: Kérastase Nutritive, High Nutrition Rich Shampoo
- Hayley Bieber: Weleda Skin Food
- Holly Willoughby: NYX Professional Makeup Worth the Hype Waterproof Mascara
- Mrs Hinch: Garnier Natural Bronzer tanning drops
- Kim Kardashian: Bio-Oil Skincare Oil
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Does the fact a beauty product costs less mean quality will be sacrificed?
"Absolutely not, brands are becoming increasingly mindful of balancing great ingredients with a competitive price," says Zoe. "As a beauty brand owner, I know if you spend your time in product development and understanding ingredients you can help create a brilliant product at a great cost for the customer."
Why do so many celebrities like cheap beauty products?
- Price: While it’s fair to say that most celebrities are not held back by the price tag on something, there’s no reason why they don’t love a bargain just as much as the rest of us! It allows them to allocate their resources to other areas.
- Personal preference: Just because something is expensive doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best. Do you have a cheap lippy that’s your absolute fave? Stars are often the same. They swear by a cheap moisturiser or mascara, and they love to share these tips with their fans.
- Experimentation: Since they’re constantly going to events and launches, celebrities like to experiment with their makeup looks using a wide range of different products - affordable makeup included!
- Promoting beauty inclusivity: Frankie Bridge put it perfectly: “Beauty shouldn’t be limited to those who can afford expensive products,” she told Glamour. “There are so many amazing options out there that are so affordable and work just as well.” There are many stars who want to promote accessibility and inclusivity in the industry
- Paid for content: It’s worth remembering that some celebrities promote or use cheap beauty products because they’ve been paid to do so, and mentioning the particular product or brand is a contractual obligation. To the best of our knowledge, the products in our list do not fall under this category.
Holly Willoughby: NYX Professional Makeup Worth the Hype Waterproof Mascara
© Holly Willoughby / Instagram / NYXHolly's makeup artist Patsy O'Neil says: "It’s an ideal mascara for short lashes in need of added length and volume. The brush coats even the smallest lash hairs without feeling heavy or clumping together. This mascara is easy to remove, and at this price, it’s definitely worth a try."
Holly Willoughby's luscious lashes are all down to a budget product - NYX Professional Makeup Worth the Hype Waterproof Mascara - as revealed by her makeup artist Patsy O’Neil. who dubs it “reliable and effective”, while recommending it on Holly’s lifestyle blog Wylde Moon.
The formula includes Jojoba oil, which means it won't irritate the eyes and keeps eyelashes soft and healthy in the long term. It's also heat, sweat and water-resistant.
Nigella Lawson: Victoria Health’s Fulvic Shampoo by Ful.Vic.Health
Nigella says: "It makes my hair soft and moisturised without weighing it down, but the real miracle is that it seems to make it thicker and bouncier... And the conditioner is just as good."
Nigella credits this "life-changing" hair-loss shampoo for giving the impression that she’s spent an absolute fortune on her hair, when in actual fact it costs just £25!
It’s actually a treatment shampoo which nourishes and strengthens hair as it cleans it, helping to support hair growth as well as calming down itchy scalps. It’s safe for colour-treated hair (and in fact all hair types) is sulphate-free and suitable for vegans.
Hailey Bieber: Weleda Skin Food moisturiser
Hailey says: “The goal for me is always really hydrated, nourished, dewy, glowy, yummy, glazed skin, and the way I get that is by layering products. I like to get a richer heavier cream and put that in some spots where I get more dry and I want a little more sheen and highlight under the makeup. I’ve had a lot of makeup artists use it on me and I love it.”
Other celeb fans:
- Victoria Beckham: "It keeps your skin so hydrated and moisturised. It's really, really thick and I love how it feels all over the body. It's a really great product."
- Julia Roberts: "I put it on my hands after I wash the dishes, and wind up putting it on my elbows and feet. Before you know it, I've squeezed this poor little green tube into a twist."
- Model Erin 'O Connor: “My absolute MUST is Weleda Skin Food which I apply all over my body! It smells so fresh and uplifting too and I never leave the house without it.”
- Adele
- Brooke Shields
- Winona Ryder
- Scarlett Johansson
Weleda Skin Food is a great product for dry skin thanks to its blend of gentle viola tricolour, calendula and chamomile, in a rich base of pure plant oils. It’s certified natural and organic, and one sells every 11 seconds and has over 20,000 five-star ratings on Amazon.
Cat Deeley: Kérastase Nutritive Bain Satin Riche High Nutrition Rich Shampoo
© Getty Images / KerastaseCat says: "At home, I try not to wash my hair too often because I don’t think that does it any good (well, not my hair anyway). When I do wash it, I need products that are super-duper because my hair is really thick and big and crazy! I’m a Kérastase girl and I love its Nutritive Bain Satin Riche Shampoo."
Other celeb fans of Kérastase:
- David Beckham
- Jennifer Aniston
- Beyonce Knowles
- Priyanka Chopra
- Chris Hemsworth
- Jennifer Lopez
- George Clooney
- Emma Stone
Cat joins a legion of big stars who love Kérastase products, and she turns to the brand’s nutrient-rich Bain Satin Nutrition Shampoo to give her mane a boost. It’s rich and nourishing, and it hydrates hair as it cleanses. It features the brand’s signature Irisome Complex, which diminishes the appearance of damage and protects against dryness. It leaves hair feeling silky soft and looking refreshed.
Mrs Hinch: Garnier Natural Bronzer tanning drops
Mrs Hinch (Garnier ambassador) says: "These are a ten out of ten." The cleanfluencer also used a makeup wipe over her skin to reveal her makeup-free radiant glow after using them.
Other celeb fans of Garnier:
- Drew Barrymore
- Michelle Keegan
- Kourtney Kardashian
- Tina Fey
The Garnier drops can be used alone or mixed in with a moisturiser to create a natural but bronzed glow. The formula is buildable for creating a gradual tan, and is enriched with hyaluronic acid and coconut water to keep skin feeling fresh while giving a streak-free glow.
Jennifer Aniston (Aveeno ambassador): Aveeno moisturiser
Jennifer says: "I think it's because my mom told me to start moisturising when I turned 15, I've been using Aveeno since I was a teenager."
Other celebrity fans of Aveeno:
- Jessica Alba
- Gwyneth Paltrow
- Zoe Saldana
Jen’s fave daily moisturiser is currently a trending product at Lookfantastic - it’s deeply moisturising and it’s great for sensitive skin since it’s unscented. It’s blended with Prebiotic Colloidal Oatmeal, and harmonises with your skin’s natural microbiome, ensuring that its entire surface is balanced and never stripped of essential goodness.
Frankie Bridge: Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré
Other celebrity fans:
- Natalie Portman
- Lupita Nyong'o
As Frankie got ready for the BAFTAs, eagle-eyed beauty fans spotted a tube of Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré on her dressing table. The moisturiser by French pharmacy brand Embryolisse is so popular one tube is said to sell every 13 seconds.
Enriched with essential fatty acids and vitamins, the clever formula is light in texture but super nourishing on any areas of dryness. Your skin will instantly feel plumped, soothed and hydrated. Plus, it also works to protect your complexion from environmental aggressors.
Maya Jama: Bio-Oil
Maya says: "I’ve been using Bio-Oil for years. In my house, my mum always had it for stretch marks or scars and things like that. Straight after the shower, if you’re a little bit damp and you put it on, in my mind it locks in moisture more. But I don’t know if that’s a fact! So yeah, Bio-Oil, I douse myself in that."
Other celebrity fans:
- Kim Kardashian: ""It just makes my skin glow, and it has so many benefits."
- Priyanka Chopra: "Bio-Oil is a magical product! I can’t believe I am sharing this with the world—it’s great for blemish-free skin if you're also dry."
Bio-Oil was first designed to treat stretch marks and scars and continues to be very popular with pregnant women. But it also works wonders with hydrating dry skin, boosting elasticity and reducing hyperpigmentation.
Kylie Minogue: Pond's Cold Cream
Kylie says: "It's really changed my skin. It's all I really use to look after my skin. It's such an old classic."
Other celebrity fans:
- Dolly Parton: "I love Olay. Max Factor, Pond's Cold Cream — I've got shelves and drawers full of every new makeup going on, even the expensive ones, but I still tend to go back to old faithfuls."
- Johanna Lumley
- Marilyn Monroe
- Audrey Hepburn
Pond’s Cold Cream is not just a moisturiser - it’s a great makeup remover too. It’s a unique blend of mineral oil and water, which creates a rich and creamy texture that’s effective at removing makeup, dirt, and impurities from the skin. It’s particularly good for those with sensitive skin.
Holly Willoughby: Plantur 21 longhair caffeine shampoo set
Holly’s trusted hair stylist Ciler Peksah writes on Holly’s website Wilde Moon: "This set contains a shampoo, conditioner and scalp serum to boost scalp health and hair growth. Just like we need a coffee to get us going in the morning, these caffeine hair products give your hair that much-needed oomph!"
The Plantur collection includes caffeine as its active ingredient, supplying your hair roots with new energy to boost hair growth. The hardworking formula also includes essential micronutrients like biotin, magnesium, calcium and zinc to ensure healthy and strong hair roots.
Meet the Expert
Zoe is an award-winning MUA and owner of a viral TikTok beauty brand Trigwell Cosmetics. The brand has gone viral on TikTok and has brand fans including Molly Mae and J-Huds! Zoe started the brand during lockdown after noticing a need for affordable yet luxury false lashes, and has since (although an independent Welsh brand) found stocked nationwide online and viral on TikTok numerous times!
