Cheap Thrills

Let's be honest with each other, woman to woman. We all shave our legs. Even Miranda Kerr shaves her legs. We all have great intentions of booking those laser treatments through Winter so we're all shiny and hairless for Summer, but it almost never happens. Then we find ourselves staring at the disposal razors in Coles wondering where it all went so horribly wrong. Well, let us be the first to say, it isn't wrong at all. There's some great razor options under $25, as well as some other very effective at-home hair removal products, and they all do a great job of keeping our pins smooth and nourished, rather than prickly and itchy. The trick with at-home hair removal is exfoliate before, and try to leave it as long as you can before reaching for the blades, wax or cream again — as this will promote slow hair growth. And remember to moisturise after, a lot!

Where would we be without concealer? We use it to hide angry blemishes, dark circles under our eyes, pigmentation, and sometimes — when we're feeling really daring — as a matte, nude-look lipstick. The little pots imperfection-hiding goodness can be costly, though, so we thought it was high time some love went the budget concealer stars. We've tried and loved all of these, and we know you will too.

We've been having a very intimate love affair with body oils of late — there's something so luxe about them. Using a rich oil after a bath or shower has that relaxing day spa vibe, not to mention the hydration qualities packed into each bottle. But the best reason to try one on for size? Financial. Body oil is so dense and thick that just a tiny bit goes a very long way, so you won't need to buy it as often as a body moisturiser. But be warned, body oil is best used at night or when your skin is mostly covered by clothes — we don't want you burning in the sun! Here's five budget body oils we've tried and loved, and we think you will, too. 

It's Spring. You know what that means? The races are here! It's time again for everyone to get dolled up, pop on their fascinators and trot out to watch the horses. Of course, a large portion of the fun happens before the actual event — if you're anything like us, you could spend hours playing with new makeup looks and different hairstyles. And the finishing touches? They're the best part! From pretty tints and glosses to makeup finishing sprays and blotting papers, there are all sorts of cute and convenient goodies that you need to cap off your hard beauty work. Here, we've rounded up the 10 best products we could find — best of all, they're all under $20! Click through and check out the best races-ready budget buys this week.

So, how are you going on the Spring cleaning front? Started yet? If not, that changes today! Your makeup brushes, product bottles and styling tools all need to be cleaned regularly, but Spring is a great time to really give them a once over. After everything is looking shiny and new, you might like to consider housing your everyday products in a new makeup bag. Not quite that Mimco clutch you've been eyeing but just as fun and even more useful. We've got 10 for you to pick from, each coming in at under $20.

Our fashion editor Ali has spent her week preparing for a friend's wedding. And when we say prepare, we mean facials, lash and brow tinting, a spray tan — you name the beauty treatment, she's had it! But when it comes to a big event, the most important beauty stuff happens the night before. We're talking skin prep, hydrating and relaxing the body so it can look its best. Now, what better way to end the week than with a budget buys gallery dedicated to the night before the big day? So whether you've got a wedding — perhaps your own?! — a special birthday party or you just want to look amazing for no reason at all (you go gurl), click through to find out your beauty to-do list and the corresponding products.

We're taking our beauty cues from the runways in New York this week. Some of our favourite designers have put on breathtaking shows, and subsequently, the beauty looks have been diverse, innovative and surprisingly, easy to recreate at home. Some of our favourites include Marc Jacobs, Rodarte, Jason Wu and Victoria Beckham, but that's not to say the others weren't equally inspiring. If we were going to sum up the key trend, it would have to be minimalist, and skin? Well, it's shiny and dewy — very Spring, very now. We've rounded-up 10 products under $20 that will help you recreate the runway trends at home, because high fashion doesn't have to cost a fortune.

This week has been all about high voltage glamour. From the Venice Film Festival to the MTV Video Music Awards, we've been oogling everything from up 'dos and beachy waves to edgy rock looks and punchy lips; so we're dedicating this week's budget beauty buys to products that'll have you red carpet ready in a flash. Whether you've got a friend's wedding coming up or you're preparing for a big birthday bash, click through to see our round-up of makeup, tools and self tan — each one amazing and all under $20.

We pick up so many tips and tricks backstage at fashion shows, so this week was particularly educational because we had both the David Jones and Myer Spring Summer fashion launches. Both shows proved the power of a simple, bold lip, and channelled all things warm with radiant skin and powerful hair. So for this week's new and improved budget beauty buy gallery, we thought we'd show you how to get the look at home with products a little cheaper but just as effective as those used on the runway. Time to click, see you at the other end with change from a 20.

Well, well, well, look what day it is — budget buy Friday! With only three weeks till Spring, we're ready to feel the sunshine on our faces and let our legs see some light! In honour of that, we're featuring some cheap but very cheerful bronzers and self tanners to get you ready for The Big Reveal. In keeping with our sunny theme, we've got bright lipsticks, even brighter nail polish and some mascara that isn't black... click through to see our top 10 budget beauty buys for this week. Let there be light.