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Mercedes Constantine

Travel, style and adventures abroad from an expat in Amsterdam

Beauty, Lifestyle · August 4, 2020

The best luxe beauty finds on Amazon under $20

Amazon can be overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re looking for. But it’s a treasure trove of inexpensive products that rival the best luxury brands. Regardless of your tastes, everyone loves a good deal – and luxury can cost less than $20 if you know where to look!

If you’re looking for more great Amazon deals, I’ve also included some in my favorite travel essentials. Happy shopping!

xx
Mercedes

The best luxe beauty finds on Amazon under $20

Brown sugar body scrub ($15)

You may already know & love the Fresh brown sugar body scrub.  Well this one from Brooklyn Botany is exactly the same, but a third of the price. The Fresh version also has preservatives, and this one is all natural with no alcohol, parabens, or sulfates. They also have a coffee scrub (reduces the appearance of cellulite) and a matcha scrub, all under $15 USD.

Amazon skincare finds - Fresh brown sugar body scrub dupe from Brooklyn Botany, preservative and paraben free
Brooklyn Botany body scrub

Dry brush ($10)

Dry brushing is one of those things that claims a million benefits, but I know for certain that it exfoliates dry skin and helps with circulation. It doesn’t take long in the mornings, so it’s been a part of my beauty routine for a couple of years now. There are a lot of these brushes for sale at huge mark-ups (Sephora has one from Barbara Sturm at an exorbitant $35), but the one I purchased from Amazon for $10 looks and feels exactly the same!

cheap inexpensive dry brush
Dry brush

Silicone face mask brushes ($8)

This is one of my favorite inexpensive Amazon beauty products. Using your fingers for masks and creams can spread bacteria (even if you wash your hands), so it’s better to use a washable brush instead. These aren’t technically brushes – more like spatulas, which makes them super easy to clean. I love this all black set because it looks more high-end than some of the pastel versions I’ve seen.

cheap luxe beauty & skincare finds black silicone face mask brushes
silicone face mask brushes

Dual voltage curling wand ($19)

I love this wand so much.  It’s so inexpensive for what it delivers. You can adjust the heat using the digital display, and the best part is it’s DUAL VOLTAGE. That means you can bring it anywhere in the world and not worry about frying your hair.  I’ve had mine for years and have used it everywhere from Japan & Singapore, to the UK & Europe. Amazon has a $5 off coupon as well right now, so snap it up quick!

cheap Amazon beauty & haircare finds best inexpensive dual voltage curling wand
Dual voltage curling wand

Multi-purpose remedy oil ($15)

This is another one of my favorite cheap Amazon beauty products. I promise I’m not recommending this oil just because my husband is Greek… although I have to admit that was the first reason I tried it. 🙂  Have you seen how long Greek people live?! They must be doing something right, and I think it’s a combination of the mediterranean diet (I’m down with any excuse to eat feta) and healthy skincare. This multi-purpose oil is a blend of olive, almond, grapeseed, vitamin E, and lavender. It’s 100% pure, organic, and cold pressed (preserves the antioxidants & nutrients), with no additives or preservatives. I prefer it for body & hair, but you can also use it on your face if your skin is used to oils. I also love that it’s in a spray bottle, which makes application so much easier.

Amazon beauty & skincare finds the best all purpose body hair and face oil
Ancient Greek remedy oil

Microfiber makeup remover cloths ($14)

My adorable niece actually bought me these for a Secret Santa gift last year. They’re much more sustainable than using disposable cotton pads, and you don’t need a remover – just water. I like these grey ones – they’re great for saving space when you travel as well.

beauty & skincare finds best inexpensive microfiber makeup remover cloths
Microfiber makeup remover cloths

Roll-on perfume ($18)

This Amber perfume was recommended by another blogger I follow, and the scent is lovely and very light. Plus it’s alcohol-free, and the size is perfect to throw in your purse. The packaging also reminds me a bit of the luxury Italian brand Santa Maria Novella, but for a fraction of the price.

Amazon beauty & skincare finds best Amber roll-on perfume
Amber roll-on perfume

Quartz face roller ($9)

My sister-in-law recommended one of these to me, and she looks about 15 years younger than her age so it’s absolutely a good buy.  There are a lot of rollers sold by beauty retailers that are much more expensive, but the ones from Amazon work just as well. It’s really just the massaging motion and coolness of the stone that helps, so try to store it in the fridge. It’s great after applying a serum or moisturizer to help with product absorption.  I have a jade roller, but I love this quartz version which looks really chic.

Clear quartz face roller

Nail & cuticle oil ($9)

This CND cuticle oil is a cult classic that a lot of beauty bloggers adore. It’s from the first company to come out with gel nail polish. I love to use it after removing a gel manicure to give my nails a break, and it’s even more useful when winter comes. I recommend applying it before bed on your entire nail + cuticle, and make sure to massage it in.

beauty & skincare finds best nail and cuticle oil to fix nails after a gel manicure
Nail & cuticle oil

Hand soap ($17)

This is THE best hand soap. I strangely used to get a lot of compliments on it when we would have guests over.  I actually discovered it at my favorite restaurant in LA, Chi Spacca. It’s pricey compared to what you find at a drugstore, but the scent is light and similar to luxury retailers like Jo Malone, Aesop or Byredo. They have a hand lotion & a candle too!

Amazon household finds best inexpensive luxury hand soap
Further hand soap

Himalayan sea salt toothpaste ($13)

Okay. I know this one is weird, but bear with me. Himalayan pink salt naturally kills bacteria inside your mouth. But I promise it’s minty, and doesn’t taste salty! This himalayan sea salt toothpaste is fluoride-free so it’s perfect if you have sensitive teeth. Plus it comes in this epic soap-pump style dispenser which means you never have to struggle with squeezing out the last of the toothpaste! The bottle also has really cute packaging that reminds me of Glossier.

Amazon health finds Rael himalayan sea salt toothpaste in a pump dispenser
Himalayan sea salt toothpaste

Anti-aging face cream ($20)

This face cream was recommended by one of my good friends who swears by it. She has amazing skin, and it’s been on my list to try for a long time. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to order it in NL (shipping is a pretty steep 20E), but it’s available on Prime in the US! 

Amazon beauty & skincare finds best all natural anti-aging face cream
Anti-aging face cream

Red lipstick ($13)

These matte red lipsticks from Catkin have a really creamy, easy to apply formula – really similar to my favorite YSL lipstick.  Plus the packaging is absolutely gorgeous, which makes these feel much more expensive than they actually are. I like CO131 for summer and CO135 for fall.

Amazon beauty & makeup finds best inexpensive red lipstick
Red lipstick

Organic nail polish remove wipes ($12)

I absolutely love these organic nail polish remover wipes – not only are they non-toxic, but they’re lavender scented (I have a lavender obsession). They’re really gentle and good for your nails – and one wipe will cover 10 of your nails (all of your fingers/toes if you’re wearing light polish). Plus the individual packages makes them perfect for traveling.

Best Amazon beauty finds - organic lavender nail polish remover wipes
Organic nail polish remover wipes

Purifying clay face mask ($13)

This bentonite clay mask is another product that has a huge cult following.  It’s a good deep cleanse that is perfect for minimizing pimples and blackheads, but can be really intense for sensitive skin. I recommend patch tests and mixing it with water instead of apple cider vinegar, unless you know for sure that your skin can handle it. It’s definitely a product worth trying – especially since it’s a quarter of the price of most high-end clay masks. If you’re looking for one that ships to the EU, try this one!

Amazon beauty & skincare finds best inexpensive purifying clay mask
Purifying clay face mask

If you try any of the products in this post let me know in a comment below – and if you love this post, please make sure to share it on social media!

This post includes affiliate links! More info here.

Posted In: Beauty, Lifestyle · Tagged: beauty, finds, shopping, skincare

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Comments

  1. Carista says

    August 4, 2020 at 8:56 pm

    I LOVE all of these products! I will definitely keep this on hand in case I want to get a new Amazon buy!

    Reply
    • mercedes.a.constantine says

      August 6, 2020 at 1:57 pm

      Definitely – they’re all SO worth it!

      Reply
  2. Robyn Jones says

    August 4, 2020 at 10:17 pm

    This is an amazing list of products that I did not even know existed, so I definitely would not have found them on Amazon without this article. Thank you so much for sharing! I can’t wait to start trying some of these. 🙂

    Reply
    • mercedes.a.constantine says

      August 6, 2020 at 1:58 pm

      So glad you liked it!

      Reply

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I'm Mercedes.
California native turned ex-pat, currently based in Amsterdam. Stay in touch for tips on travel, European style, and my latest adventures abroad.

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