Favorite Beauty Products Under $30 + Maelove Skincare Review

I’ve used a plethora of beauty products over the years, but there are a few I always come back to—not only because I feel like they serve a purpose in my minimal routine—but because they’re inexpensive! I’m still getting used to the idea of paying over $30 for quality skincare, eeep. That said, you can absolutely find quality beauty products on a budget. Here are my favorite beauty products under $30—items I use regularly and reorder often because I love ‘em so much!

And, since I’m on the topic of budget-friendly beauty, I’m thrilled to be partnering with Maelove to review six products I’ve been testing out for the past month-ish. All of the products I have are under $30, making it an easy and accessible brand to those of you just getting started with skincare or that prefer budget beauty in general!

This post is partially sponsored, but as always, all opinions are my own—and I so appreciate your support of the brands that support me and CCCH!

As you know, I’m obviously not a beauty blogger, but I love reading recommendations from regular people like me so I hope that, if you’re the same way, this post is somewhat helpful for you too! (Be sure to check out my new skincare section to find all of my beauty-related posts!)

Along with the fact that I don’t really dabble that much in beauty and skincare, you may have also gathered that I’m very low maintenance when it comes to beauty, makeup, and skincare in general. I don’t have a morning skincare routine and only use product at night. My problem areas tend to be my forehead and chin (T-zone), and my skin is overall fairly normal (sometimes oilier on my forehead and drier on my cheeks). I break out most often around my period—lucky me!

When it comes to my hair, I wash it 2-3 times a week and feel like I’m constantly on the hunt for products to make it look healthier and shinier without weighing it down or making it look greasy.

Favorite Beauty Products Under $30

MAKEUP PRODUCTS UNDER $30

• Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel | $22 (standard size; $9 for mini)
  I’ve used this product for literal years; both this and my mascara were included in my first ever beauty post back in 2015! I have thick, unruly eyebrows and I cannot go a day without at least putting this on to keep them in line.

• Buxom Lash Voluminizing Mascara | $22
  Like I said above, I’ve used this mascara for years…does that make it a holy grail at this point? I love that it’s easy to apply and also buildable if I want something more dramatic. For everyday, a quick swipe works just fine for a more enhanced natural look. Even though I don’t use the waterproof version, it’s still kind of a pain to remove…unless I’m crying LOL.

• Tarte Tarteguard Mineral Powder Sunscreen | $28
  My step mom introduced me to the wonders of powder sunscreen during our Florida trip a few years ago! It’s a cross between skincare and makeup because it’s sunscreen, but it has some tint to the powder and provides a sort of matte finish. I take this with me on hikes or if I’m going to be outside for a while and reapply as needed without ruining the rest of my makeup.

SKINCARE PRODUCTS UNDER $30

• The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% | $8 (standard size)
  I regularly use this product on breakouts to try and minimize them. I’ve tried many spot treatments for acne over the years and I keep coming back to this one! You really can’t beat the prices of The Ordinary products, and I think this does help even if minimally because hormonal breakouts sometimes have a mind of their own. It now also comes in a larger value size!

• Fresh Soy Face Cleanser | $15 (mini size)
  I typically have a travel size of this cleanser and keep it in my travel toiletry bag so it’s always with me on trips. I love this gentle cleanser; it’s not super foamy but my face still feels clean (and not dried out) after using it. It’s great to use after using makeup remover; this cleanser isn’t strong enough to remove my non-waterproof mascara on its own.

• First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub | $28 (standard size; $10 for mini)
  When I first started using this product, I didn’t get the hype. Now, I figured out the trick, and I LOVE it. The trick is to rub it into the back of my arms and also the back of my thighs while I’m in the shower and let it sit there while I do something else, like wash my face. Letting the scrub sit there for a few minutes allows the 10% AHA to penetrate the skin and has really reduced the bumps and redness!

HAIR PRODUCTS UNDER $30

• Moroccanoil Hair Treatment | $15 (mini size)
  This makes my hair so soft and shiny! I’ve mentioned this product countless times before in previous beauty roundups and I constantly have a bottle of it. I use the treatment after showering, primarily on my ends. Using it while my hair is still wet helps to lock in the moisture and shine. I’m a big fan of the scent, too.

• Verb Ghost Oil | $18
  I also included this product in my favorite beauty products post from 2015! I love this for smoothing and shining my hair, especially the ends. A little of this oil goes a long way.

• Bumble and Bumble Styling Creme | $27
  I needed something better/more natural looking than gel to tame my flyaways, and I’m happy I found this styling creme! It’s the best I’ve found so far that works and doesn’t make my hair look super crunchy. I usually comb a small amount through my hair.

• Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector | $28
  I started using No. 3 (along with No. 0) last year after it seemed like everyone and their mom raved about it. My hair feels softer when I use it, but I’m not sure how much it’s actually repairing my hair. I definitely would recommend No. 3 over No. 0 if you had to pick just one.

Maelove Skincare Review

Maelove is a direct-to-consumer beauty brand founded by Jackie Kim, a former lawyer, and her team of scientists and engineers (MIT graduates!). I love that the Maelove product formulations are based on science. They’ve even completed real scientific studies on their ingredients to ensure their effectiveness, and they don’t use any product that is banned in either the US *or* the European Union—and we know the EU is much more strict. My scientist heart is very happy about this!

In addition, all of their products are cruelty-free, vegan, gluten-free, and free of parabens and phthalates. They’re specifically made for sensitive skin in mind. And did I mention it’s all made right here in the US? Also, the Maelove line of products is incredibly affordable. All six of the products I’ve been testing out since mid July are under $30! There are currently only two Maelove products over $30 (not including the bundles).

Any of their products would fit seamlessly into your current routine, or you can create a whole new skincare routine just from Maelove products! I’ve been using these products in a full nighttime routine (since I don’t do anything in the mornings…sorry mom!).

• Refresher Triple AHA Cleanser | $18.95 for 4.7 fl oz | AM and/or PM
  This peppermint- and spearmint-infused cleanser features three alpha hydroxy acids (lactic, malic, and tartaric) to clean your skin gently but effectively. I don’t think I have particularly sensitive skin, but it is supposed to work great for those with sensitive skin. I love, love the minty scent; it’s so refreshing and cooling! My skin feels so clean after using this cleanser but I do experience that sort of tight feeling afterward. Overall, I love this and would definitely repurchase.

• Glow Maker Antioxidant Serum | $27.95 for 1 fl oz | AM and/or PM
  This is their most popular serum and probably most popular product! Glow Maker’s ingredients are Vitamins C and E, Ferulic Acid, and Hyaluronic Acid, making it excellent at hydrating and brightening. This is an excellent serum to use in the morning, but since I don’t do skincare in the morning, I’ve been using it on nights that I don’t use one of the other two serums below. If you want to double up on serums, Maelove recommends using this serum before other serums. My skin has been loving Glow Maker! I see why it’s a fan favorite.

• Super Smooth Resurfacing Serum | $27.95 for 1 fl oz | occasional PM
  This serum is a powerful resurfacer that is made with alpha and beta hydroxy acids that work together to shed dead skin cells and encourage turnover for a more radiant complexion. Even though it’s made for people with sensitive skin, I found this serum to be the most powerful of the three I tried. My skin turned very red and stung after even a small amount of the serum. Luckily, the moisturizer helped, and I recently learned about the technique where you moisturize, then use the serum, then moisturize again (a skincare sandwich of sorts); I haven’t tried this but I plan to! That said, I never woke up with my skin still irritated. I use this typically only once a week.

• Stargaze Enhanced Retinol Serum | $27.95 for 1 fl oz | occasional PM
  This serum features a time-delayed retinol system at 0.25% concentration for powerful results but significantly less irritation than typical retinol. It’s gentle enough for even the most beginner of retinol users. I typically used this after cleansing 2-3 times per week. My skin felt tingly upon application but never got irritated or felt “burnt” like what sometimes happens if I use something more potent. I haven’t noticed any difference in my skin quite yet but I’m definitely going to keep using this! If you’re an experienced retinol user and want something more potent, try the Moonlight Retinal Super Serum.

• One Cream Gentle Face Moisturizer | $27.95 for 2 fl oz | AM and/or PM
  This light moisturizer features a blend of squalane, coconut extracts, and glycerin to provide hydration, and it’s a great final step to a skincare routine to lock in all the goodness from other products. I loved using this moisturizer the past month; it’s a great moisturizer for summer! It feels so nice going on my face but did take slightly more effort to blend into my skin. I didn’t find it to be sticky or tacky. It’s a nice moisturizer if you’re looking for something lightweight.

• Sun Protector Sheer Mineral Sunscreen | $19.95 for 2 fl oz | last step in AM
  This everyday mineral sunscreen is made with non-nano 18% zinc oxide to protect against UVA and UVB rays and is also fortified with Vitamins C and E. It’s a lightweight formula that you can wear alone or as a primer under makeup. I’m not sure I agree that it’s sheer; it goes on white and took effort to blend in and still left a slightly white cast on my face. I also prefer my normal makeup primer; this sunscreen is too tacky for makeup to apply smoothly on top but maybe I needed to wait for it to dry longer? I would personally wear it only on days that I don’t plan on wearing any makeup. There are other mineral sunscreens I like better.

Which Maelove product(s) would you like to try, if you haven’t already? What are your favorite budget beauty products under $30? Let me know in the comments!