Archive copy by Jenni Baden Howard

Ask any time-pressed mum-on-the-run what she looks for in her beauty products and the chances are you’ll get the same answer: minimum effort, and maximum value for money. Super-luxe products and treatments – with price tags to match – tend to take a back seat when you’re juggling a family budget and precious ‘me time’ is at a premium (getting the bathroom to yourself for 15 minutes would be a start, let alone stealing away to soak in a spa-style bath for an hour, surrounded by an array of flickering scented candles).
The days when splurging on the latest, blow-the-budget wonder cream/shampoo/lipstick may be long gone, but that doesn’t mean you need to compromise on brilliantly effective beauty treats. The great news is that many of the most fantastic, must-have products – loved by beauty insiders and celebrities alike - are also the least expensive. It’s just a question of knowing what to look for. Here is our savvy shopper’s guide to the very best of budget-friendly beauty, to leave you feeling perfectly pampered and expertly polished, from top-to-toe.

The best-tressed list

For gorgeously glossy, head-turning tresses, choose a great, hair type-targeted shampoo and conditioner. Many high performance, catwalk and red carpet-tested formulations can be found on the supermarket shelf, such as the superb John Frieda Frizz-Ease Curl Around Shampoo (£4.49), part of the hugely popular Frizz-Ease range loved by curly-haired celebs including Sarah Jessica Parker and Nicole Kidman. This specialist, moisture-rich cleanser gently cleanses locks, enhancing natural waves and curls and leaving them frizz-free.
Weekly deeply conditioning treatments can make a big difference in keeping hair soft and healthy-looking. Hairdresser-to-the-stars Charles Worthington created his Charles Worthington’s Results Moisture Seal Maximum Moisture Conditioning Treatment (£4.99) especially for his Hollywood actress clients, including Jennifer Love Hewitt and Mena Suvari, to help them get their locks red carpet-ready. Ideal for busy mums who want silky-feeling, fabulous-looking tresses with minimal fuss, this deeply hydrating formula can be used as an ‘express’ treatment or left on overnight for a more intensive effect. Celebrity hair stylist (and bottomless budget) not required …

Saving face

At the top of every woman’s beauty wish list, a clear, glowing complexion starts with scrupulous yet gentle cleansing. The fastest, most effective option is a rinse-off cleanser that can be massaged onto wet skin at the sink or in the shower and splashed away in seconds. Sainsbury’s Active Naturals Deep Cleansing Facial Wash (£2.49) fits the bill perfectly. Enriched with aloe vera and fig extracts, it leaves skin feeling soft and refreshed, rather than uncomfortably tight.
Even if time is tight, take a few moments to apply a daily skin-nourishing moisturiser. Choose one with a sunscreen of at least SPF 15, to provide everyday protection against UV damage. This needn’t break the bank - L’ Oréal Paris’ Dermo-Expertise Visible Results Daily Skin Protecting Moisturiser SPF 15 (£9.49), of which Natalie Imbruglia is the famous “face”, is formulated to help shield the skin against sun damage, achieve a softer, more radiant look and reduce the visible signs of aging that start to appear from around the age of 30.

Must-have make-up

Check out the contents of any professional make-up artist’s bag of tricks and you’ll find many a budget buy that they wouldn’t be without. A case in point, Vaseline’s Lip Therapy (99p) is one of beauty’s most famous multi-taskers. Great for softening and giving a great gleam to bare lips, it can also be used with any lipstick to give it a more moisturising, glossier finish (or to tone-down a more vibrant shade). Keep the perfectly portable tin handy for grooming brows, too, and massaging into dry nails and cuticles. Famous fans include Sadie Frost and Nadine Coyle of Girls Aloud, while Jennifer Lopez wears the SPF version.
Still as popular today as when it first appeared in 1966, Rimmel’s Hide The Blemish (£3.69) concealer is another beauty industry favourite. Tess Daly, for one, uses this creamy, effective formula to help her look flawless for her close-ups and one is sold every 30 seconds in the UK. Choose from seven, natural-looking shades, ranging from Sand to Rich Mocha.
A lash-lengthening and defining legend, Maybelline’s Great Lash Mascara (£4.99) is loved by models, actresses and make-up artists alike (Patsy Kensit, Christy Turlington, Jamilia and Laura Bailey are all fans). The famous bubblegum pink and bright green packaging hasn’t changed since it launched in 1971, neither has the much-loved, conditioning formula which gives a clean, clump-free finish. Take your pick from Black, Blackest Black, Brownish Black and a Waterproof version.
Bypass the nail bar and maintain a beautifully manicured look – even when you’re running around after the children – with a strong, chip-resistant nail polish. Don’t miss the new Rimmel Wear Maxx Nail Polish (£4.49), launching in March in a choice of 24 shades, which provides glossy, great-looking colour for up to 10 days.

Body beautiful

The key to keeping skin silky-smooth and supple all over is regular exfoliation and lashings of moisturiser. Perfect for whisking over skin in the shower, Champneys’ Skin Smoothing Rose Body Scrub (£6) is a wonderfully affordable treat. Used by the spa therapists at Champneys resorts, which attract a celebrity crowd, this soft pink, beautifully scented formula leaves skin soft, glowing and lightly perfumed with roses. Use it to keep skin radiant all year round.
Not all body lotions are created equal. Another budget beauty favourite, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Lotion (£3.59) is richly hydrating and really gets skin glowing. Perfect for getting pins ready-to-bare for spring, fans of this yummy-smelling, classic lotion include Beyoncé, Cheryl Tweedy, Fern Cotton and Naomi Campbell.