2020 Best Beauty Products Under 20

By: Heidi Suydam

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2020 Beauty Must-Haves for $20 or Less

I don’t know about you but I am currently on a tighter budget than usual! I’m not alone, due to COVID American households have been hit financially in all earning brackets, lower, middle and upper according to Pew Research.

Personally, thanks to COVID (and some other things,  life right !?!) we need to make some adjustments at our house and for me that means a tighter beauty budget.

Giving up beauty products hits me hard mentally and emotionally. 

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That may sound shallow to some - but for me - when I feel good about the way I look I can:

• Be more productive
• Get out of the house more confidently (even if my face is covered in a PPE mask!)
• Continue with my business more confidently (because I am a blogger and on social media...feeling good about the way I look helps me!)
• Feel good inside and out

The psychology behind wearing makeup confirms my own experience.

The Psychology of Wearing Makeup When No One Can See You, Erika Stalder says this:

“The idea that women put on makeup for the consumption of others — particularly men — retired a long time ago. But the notion of wearing makeup for ourselves sharpens when our face is the only one we'll see that day. During a global crisis, it might even feel a bit trivial to pull out your makeup bag and go to town on bronzer. But experts say it can make a huge difference in navigating these unpredictable and overwhelming circumstances.”

Another article about the mental and emotional effects of wearing makeup from Studio 10 Beauty reports:

“Research suggests that women experience huge emotional and psychological benefits when wearing makeup. In fact, of the 48% of women that prefer to wear makeup, the clear majority do so because it makes them feel positive and strong.”

For me, I just like beauty products and wearing makeup every day #noshame! I have had to get creative and find products that serve me well and fit my current budget. I recently when on the hunt for the best beauty products under $20.

Maybe you are like me?  Needing or wanting to save money but you like using beauty products and wearing makeup every day? 

This list of 20 beauty products all for $20 or less is savable and printable! With convenient clickable links your can save it to your phone to shop online later, or print the list to take with you as you shop! 
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You can get the free pdf printable here:

Here we go! Enjoy!

Best Beauty Products for $20 or Less

1. Mascara

My favorite of course is Better Than Sex Mascara by Too Faced Cosmetics, this is a pass when I am on a tight budget. I did some research and found L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara. It's a great stand-in for way under $20!

You can purchase it here.

There are lots of other mascara options for under $20. You can also buy prestige travel sizes for under $20, some of them are linked here along with plenty of $20 or less mascara options.

2. Eye Shadow

My favorite eye shadow right now is by Smashbox and while I am trying to stick with options under $20 right I tried the Ulta Trios. They work well!

You can purchase themhere.

Or check out these other eye shadow options for $20 or less!

3. Body Spray

You have to smell good right !?! I usually opt for body sprays instead of perfumes. I have always liked thisUlta Freshwater Mist Body Spray!

Check out these options for $20 or less!

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4. Lip Gloss

My absolute favorite is Too Faced Cosmetics Lip Injection however on a budget I grab Elf Lip Lacquer.

These two products are on the opposite spectrum with one being a prestige brand and the other a very inexpensive drug store option. Elf does not have the same effect at all but is nice, glossy and only costs about $3 (prices subject to change).

You can buy some here.

There are endless options for lip gloss under $20, I also included some lip stain options.
 
Shoppable links here:

5. Face Moisturizer

Keeping your face moisturized is a must!

I have been using Mario Bandescu Collagen Moisturizer and love it. Trying to stick with my $20 or less budget brought me to CeraVe ! It works and happens to be recommended by some estheticians too! It makes my skin look and feel great.

You can purchase CeraVe here.


Shop some other face moisturizers for under $20 with these shoppable links:

6. Face Masks

If you caught my Best-Loved Summertime Things post you already know my deep love for Nugg Beauty! Seriously, try some of their products, you won’t regret it! All so affordable too!

I thought they were a new beauty company but discovered they launched in 2014. Their website claims "award-winning" face masks. I believe it. These are fabulous! Add them to your skincare routine.

My favorite Nugg Beauty Face Mask is the nügg Detoxifying Face Mask with Charcoal which is included with this set! You can purchase it here.

Shop some other face masks for $20 or less here:

7. Teeth Whitening

I have to do it. With the amount of coffee and wine I consume - teeth whitening is a must!

I have used these Target Teeth Whitening Strips and they work. A great option when shopping on a budget.

Bonus tip - Home DIY - oil pulling!

Never heard of it? Follow #thesosblog by subscribing here. I am working on an Oil Pulling post that includes my experience, all the benefits, and how my eczema is basically non-existent thanks to oil pulling. In addition to a healthy detoxing habit, oil pulling helps whiten your teeth!

You can grab the Target Teeth Whitening strips here.

​Shop more affordable options here:

8. Lip Balm

In addition to glossing, I love lip balm! It adds a sheer shine and softens lips. Did you know lips can become dry year-round? Lip balm is not just for winter.
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One of my favorites isVaseline Lip Therapy you can grab that here.

Or shop tons of lip balm options, even grab a whole collection, under $20 here:

8. Shampoo & Conditioner

I have been stuck on Raw Sugar Shampoo & Conditioner lately. With my dry hair, this option is working!

Choosing a shampoo and conditioner gets tricky as you age. Its true ladies, over 40 hair gets dry and brittle! When shopping on a budget it is kind of a trial and error journey. 

You can grab this bran here:  Raw Sugar Shampoo and Conditioner.

More options to consider, including some dry shampoo options,  for $20 or less:

10. Anti-Humidity Hair Spray

From my Florida days to Virginia summers humidity and my hair do not get along!

A good anit-humidity hair spray is a must-have for me!

My favorite is OGX Smoothing + Shea Sleek Humidity Blocking Hairspray, 8 Ounce for only $6.99 (prices subject to change) you can grab on here.

Or shop these other great options:

11. Loose Powder / Finishing Powder

I put on makeup every day just because I like it! I always use a finishing powder.

My favorite brands all come in way over $20 but I found some good go-to’s for now. Including this Ulta Brand Mineral Finishing Powder (I am a big Ulta fan!).
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Shop more Loose Powder / Finishing Powder options all for $20 or less here:

12. Eyebrow Pencil

Even when my budget isn’t quite as tight this is my go-to eye brown pencil. My friend Abby (cutest young mom, follow her on Insta!) introduced me to this years ago.

It is L'Oreal Brow Stylist Definer Eyebrow Pencil. You can grab one here.
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Or shop these other great options:

13. Good Tweezers

Young or old a good pair of tweezers are needed.

As you age though - it is a MUST have. These eyebrow hairs almost make me laugh sometimes. There is no way I can avoid tweezing some now and then. Not to mention other facial hairs...why do we even have facial hair, right friends? Ugh.

Anyway, at least we can take care of it! I like to have a set like the one pictured here.
You can grab this set: Japonesque Brow Perfecting Tweezer Duo here.

Or shop these other great options:

14. Cracked Heel Treatment

Cracked heels are not pretty and my new budget-friendly life is not allowing me to get a pedicure as often as I want.

Answer - treat my heels!

​Check out these great options to get rid of those cracked heels here:

15. A good razor.

Hair removal is part of our beauty routines right !?!

From a young age, we start shaving our legs and never look back. A good razor is essential.
Like this Gillette Venus for Sensitive Skin.

You can purchase this razor here.

Shop other affordable options here:

16. Concealer

My absolute #1 favorite Shape Tape from Tarte. Since I am shopping on a budget, I did some research to find a stand-in and found Cover Girl True Blend Concealer highly recommended.

You can grab some here:
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 Shop some more $20 or under options here:

17. Facial Hair Removal

Ladies, it is a fact of life, facial hair.

​No one likes to talk about it but you can find tons of info about facial hair removal online. Or see your esthetician which is currently not in my under $20 budget!

Thankfully, there are some tools that can help us with this DIY style at home.

Check these out for $20 or less:

18. Quality Nail Polish

As I mentioned, my budget-friendly life is keeping me from my mani-pedi appointments which means if I want a color I need to do it myself.

I like to keep some nail colors around anyway to take care of chips or freshen up my nails when needed. My favorites are O.P.I. and Essie.

I like all of these options for under $20:

19. Water with Electrolytes

What? Water is free! Yes, it is so that means it is way under $20 unless you are out and about and need to grab water. In that case, I like Core Hydration the added electrolytes and make you feel great.

Staying hydrated is an easy, DIY beauty tip. You can buy Core Hydration here.

Using a refillable water bottle is always the best and most sustainable option. Due to COVID most places will not allow you to use refillable bottles or cups. Hopefully soon that will change but for now these are some great options.

20. Sleep Mask & Ear Plugs

Think Breakfast at Tiffanies. Remember Holly Go Lightly played by the infamous Audrey Hepburn?

Seriously though a sleep mask helps by blocking out any light, even dim light, that may be flooding into our brains causing an interruption in our circadian rhythm. Bottom line, sleep masks block light, the complete darkness lets our brain know it is time to sleep. This also helps us sleep better.

Also, beauty sleep is a real thing, while we sleep human growth hormones are released in our bodies and helping us naturally produce collagen! Beauty sleep is real and most of us don’t get enough of it!

You can grab this sleep mask here.

Or shop these other options and some earplugs here:

There are lots of ways to shop beauty on a budget.

Two of my favorite places to shop are Ulta and Sephora, both have member perks and sales. Also, both of these stores carry prestige brands and drug store/budget-friendly brands! On their websites, you can view products and read reviews!

​What are your budget beauty tips? Share in the comments!

You might also enjoy these posts on #thesosblog.

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