Best budget beauty brands: These products will leave you looking anything but cheap

Smart lipstick in 908 True Red, £3.90, kikocosmetics.co.uk

Something swish in gorgeous packaging and chock-full of rare ingredients will no doubt make you feel glamorous, but that's not to say that you have to spend a king's ransom on every item in your make-up bag.

Part of the fun of painting your face is experimenting with new colours, albeit with a bit more finesse than when you were first unleashed in the local Boots, pocket money in hand. And if it costs a fortune you'll inevitably opt for more conservative colours. Instead, look for great low-cost brands which will leave you looking anything but cheap.

Eye make-up remover pads

£3.99, Simple, superdrug.com

Using a cleanser or face wipes to take off eye make-up can be a painful affair, but these strong pads are kind to sensitive peepers and shift even waterproof mascara without the need to scrub.

Nail polish in Magpie

£4.99, Models Own, modelsownit.com

Nail polish is a fun, commitment-free way to change a look, and this speckle-effect version will make you feel like you've got a brand new outfit, without having to shell out for one.

Falsifeye HD

£6.99, Seventeen, boots.com

Even if you don't use it often, mascara, once opened, has quite a short shelf-life – this one from the rebranded 17 by Boots provides definition, volume and length at a reasonable price.

Liquid eyeliner

£4.79, Barry M, superdrug.com

The felt-tip-like nib provides the ultimate in easy application and the opaque colour stays put for hours once it's dry. This brand is always great value for money and has a huge range of shades.

Smart lipstick in 908 True Red

£3.90, kikocosmetics.co.uk

This Italian brand aims to deliver professional-quality make-up at low prices, and this lipstick is a good example of its achievement – long-lasting and moisturising without feeling waxy.