How to Look Good for Less: Blue-Ribbon Skincare Under $80

A simple skincare regimen of soap, water and supermarket moisturiser is sufficient for some. But for many of us, the quest for a clearer complexion and healthier skin sees us filling bathroom cupboards with serums, masks, peels, mists and much, much more. And that doesn’t include the money spent on facials.

While the goal is simple, the options to get there are myriad, and the costs can be exorbitant. We asked Lucy Shaw, skincare manager at beauty and skincare retailer Mecca Cosmetica, to help us cut through the noise and highlight some more affordable options. Here are some of Shaw's personal favourites under $80.

Under $10

Mecca Cosmetica Bright Eyed Eye Mask, $8

They say you can fake a good night’s sleep with this one. It’s $8 a pop (or a pack of five for $36) for an eye treatment infused with liquorice-root extract, which Shaw says helps reduce dark circles, puffiness and general under-eye dullness.

“I like to pop them on for the drive to work, on top of my makeup,” says Shaw. “Once I arrive I peel them off and reveal a far better version of myself. You can also use them under your eyes when you’re applying a smoky eye to catch eyeshadow fallout and treat the skin at the same time.”

Go-To Transformazing, $9
Sheet masks are having a moment, especially on social media. Go-To (founded by Zoë Foster Blake) has a sheet mask packed with kakadu plum, finger lime and Tasmanian pepper leaf. “This mask is a quick-fix for average, dehydrated and dull skin,” Shaw says. “In just 10 minutes, it drenches the skin with niacinamide (water-soluble vitamin B3) and hyadisine (a safe, hydrating anti-wrinkle agent that contains organic glucuronic acid), which plumps and brightens.”

Under $30

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, $27
Shaw believes every skincare cabinet must have a product to help combat a sudden acne flare-ups. US brand Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion is her favourite. “It’s for those pimples that pop up out of nowhere,” she says. “Overnight, this will dry out your pimple, reduce the redness and speed up the healing time.” This award-winning pink mixture of calming calamine lotion and drying salicylic acid is Mecca’s number-one-selling spot treatment. Apply it by dipping a cotton swab into the pink sediment at the bottom of the bottle. Important: salicylic acid, which helps to unclog pores, is considered to be a safe product, but regular use can dry out your skin. For those with skin sensitivity, it’s best avoided. Also important: don’t shake the bottle.

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel, $27
The waitlist at Dennis Gross’s New York dermatology clinic is the stuff of beauty legend. For something closer to home, the brand’s Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel is one of Mecca’s most popular products. “[This is] the most effective, efficient, two-step peel,” Shaw says. Made with a combination of chemical exfoliators and treatment ingredients, “these nifty pads target ageing, breakouts and everyday skin concerns. And you can do this one in the comfort of your own home, no waitlist required”.

Under $50

Drunk Elephant Rise + Glow, $35

Shaw looks to Drunk Elephant’s Rise + Glow duo for lightweight hydration, antioxidants and a hit of skin-friendly vitamins, including vitamin C (which bumps up your skin’s own collagen production). “The duo provides everything you need [on a daily basis] to maintain healthy skin,” she says. “Plus the travel-size bottle is both convenient and contains just enough [product] to get you hooked.” On days when skincare rituals need be done on the run, Shaw’s hack is to mix a pump of each together and apply at once.

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Mecca To Save Face Superscreen SPF 50+, $40
Sun exposure ages the skin and causes skin cancer, and in Australia we’re aware of the costs of not wearing sun protection with a high enough SPF. Often, less expensive high-SPF sunscreens can be greasy or produce a white cast. But Mecca’s To Save Face “offers the ultimate SPF protection, without feeling like a sunscreen”, says Shaw. “It feels like a lightweight, nourishing moisturiser that gives make-up a beautiful, hydrated base to layer onto.” Facebook’s director of fashion, Eva Chen, recently shared her love for the sunscreen on Instagram, saying she was jealous of Australians’ access to the product. Sold.

Under $80

Ren Clean Skincare Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic, $56
“I’ve always felt like toners have been a slightly unnecessary step. But the Ren Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic is a different story,” says Shaw. Toners help close your pores after cleansing, and some may also help balance your skin’s pH levels (which can help to achieve an even complexion). “It works hard to instantly buff and dissolve all of the dead skin cells that sit on the surface of your skin creating texture, flakiness and congestion,” Shaw says. “It’s one of my go-tos for [for prepping the skin ahead of applying make-up], particularly during winter when our skin gets a little more on the flaky side. ”

Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask, $73
The idea of waking up with fresh and glowing skin might sound like a fairytale, but Shaw insists this mask, out of all the masks that Mecca stocks, is top of the pile. “I’m always being asked for a product that can do a bit of everything: brightening, hydrating, resurfacing and calming. All you have to do is apply an even layer to cleansed skin before bed,” she says.

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This article first appeared on Broadsheet on May 28, 2019. Some prices and details may have changed since publication.