It’s natural to assume that the more expensive a skincare product is, the better it is, but it’s not always the case. In fact, there are lots of very effective products out there that cost less than £20.
Sure, broadly speaking, skincare brands associated with more luxury price points often deliver a more sensorial experience in terms of scent and texture, but if you are more concerned about results, these affordable formulas will give you serious bang for your buck.
I do love a luxury skincare product for the reasons above, but if I’m being completely honest, my favourite brands are actually all affordable ones. And as a beauty editor who has access to just about every brand out there, that says a lot. No matter whether you have sensitive skin or acne-prone skin, there are under £20 products available that perform brilliantly.
Keep scrolling on to discover my top beauty-editor-approved skincare under £20. You might just discover a new favourite.
Best Under-£20 Skincare Products
1. The Inkey List 20% Niacinamide Serum
The Inkey List
Supersolutions 20% Niacinamide Serum
Niacinamide is my favourite skincare ingredient, as it’s so effective and does so many things. This light, gel serum is perfect for those who want a smoother skin texture and to minimise the appearance of pores, as well as those with oily skin who want a more balanced complexion. It also contains zinc for reduced inflammation and sebum regulation, as well as hydrating squalane.
2. Curél Rejuvenating Day Cream
Curél
Rejuvenating Day Cream
This light-as-a-feather gel cream moisturiser sinks into the skin beautifully, and it’s ideal for even the most sensitive skin. It deeply hydrates with glycerin, fortifies the skin barrier with ceramides and eucalyptus extract and soothes with ginger root extract.
3. Curél Deep Moisture Spray
Curél
Deep Moisture Spray
Another Curél product, but trust me when I say that this is the best facial mist out there, and I’ve tried a lot. It has a really fine mist that covers a large surface area, but it does more than just hydrate your skin. It also has Curel’s signature ceramides to strengthen your skin barrier and keep moisture locked in.
4. L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler Line Plumping Water Cream
L’Oréal Paris
Revitalift Filler Line Plumping Water Cream
If you want instantly plumped skin and less visible fine lines, pop this in your basket. This light cream has micro-epidermic-sized hyaluronic acid molecules to hydrate deep into the skin. There’s also hydrating glycerin, texture-refining niacinamide and barrier-supporting ceramides. Plump, smooth skin, anyone?
5. Torriden Dive-In Serum
Torriden
Dive-In Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum
This ultra-hydrating K-beauty serum contains a host of ingredients that calm and soothe the skin, as well as hydrate it. It even has skin-barrier-strengthening malachite. The serum’s key feature is the brand’s signature 5D hyaluronic complex—low molecular weight hyaluronic acids to carry hydration deep into the skin.
6. The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum
The Ordinary
Multi-Peptide Eye Serum
A watery serum for the under-eye area, to hydrate and plump, and reduce puffiness and dark circles. Not only does it immediately hydrate and plump, but it also has peptides to reduce the appearance of crow’s feet and fine lines over time, too. There’s even niacinamide and franxinus excelsior bark extract to smooth skin texture and brighten.
7. Bioderma Photoderm Xdefense Ultra Fluid SPF50+
Bioderma
Photoderm Xdefense Ultra Fluid SPF50+ Suncare Cream
This is a tinted SPF 50 that offers protection against UV, visible light, infrared and pollution. It also comes clear, without a tint, but the tint is one of the reasons I rate it so highly. Its key feature is its NAOS Ecobiology approach—an approach to skincare that focuses on strengthening your skin’s natural resources and ecosystem for skin health. This SPF strengthens your skin’s own natural detoxification system, to help it fight environmental aggressors naturally.
8. Skin Choice Breakout Patche Classic Darts
Skin Choice
Breakout Patche Classic Darts
These recently released spot patches are the best I’ve ever used, and can greatly reduce (or even get rid of) a spot in just a matter of hours. Their microdart technology works a bit like microneedling, in that the patches’ tiny ingredient-rich ‘spikes’ create little channels in the spot for the ingredients to penetrate into. There’s salicylic acid to shrink the spot, hyaluronic acid to hydrate, tea tree and ectoin to soothe and centella asiatica to reduce redness.
9. Nip+Fab Hyaluronic Fix Extreme4 Hydration Jelly Eye Patches
Nip+Fab
Hyaluronic Fix Extreme4 Hydration Jelly Eye Patches
I love these under-eye patches, and they are always the first step in my makeup routine to prep my under-eye area by hydrating, smoothing and firming. They have two weights of hyaluronic acid to hydrate different layers of the skin, polyglutamic acid to attract and lock in moisture and tremella to minimise the look of fine lines.
10. Nip+Fab Glycolic Daily Pads XXL
Nip+Fab
Glycolic Daily Pads XXL
These exfoliating-toner-soaked pads are designed to be swiped over the skin to exfoliate and refine skin texture, as well as reduce pigmentation. Glycolic acid is the key exfoliating and brightening ingredient, alongside hydrating hyaluronic acid, soothing witch hazel and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant blue daisy.
11. Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum
Anua
PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum
The Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum is a one-way ticket to glass skin. It hydrates and plumps, it firms and it boosts skin elasticity. The key ingredient is PDRN—salmon DNA—which boosts cell repair, boosts collagen production, refines skin texture and supports a healthy skin barrier.
12. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo Cleanser
La Roche Posay
Toleriane Dermo Cleanser
13. Garnier 3.5% Vitamin C Brightening Serum
Garnier
3.5% Vitamin C Brightening Serum
This very effective vitamin C serum brightens the skin and reduces dark spots, as well as refines skin texture and acts as a powerful antioxidant to protect against environmental aggressors. You need to use it daily consistently, but the results will come within a couple of weeks. For brighter, more radiant and more uniform skin, it shouldn’t be overlooked.
14. Byoma Creamy Jelly Cleanser
Byoma
Creamy Jelly Cleanser
Byoma is one of my favourite skincare brands, as it just hits on so many levels. One of my favourite cleansers of all time is their Creamy Jelly Cleanser—a no-frills, fragrance-free gel cleanser that’s light and hydrating. It has a barrier-boosting tri-ceramide complex, antioxidant-rich liquorice root and green tea extract, as well as hydrating glycerin.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products over the years— spanning skincare, makeup, hair and nails — and work closely with trusted experts including dermatologists, makeup artists and leading industry insiders to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
