11 of the best multitasking beauty products to help you shop smart
Rachael Martin
Beauty & Skincare
Reading time: 5 minutes
Save money & time with these multipurpose balms, all-in-one palettes & hair heroes
When it comes to our beauty routine, one thing’s for certain: we want more bang for our buck. With the cost of living rising and our day-to-day lives becoming more and more hectic, we’re demanding fuss-free, cost- and time-effective beauty products that don’t compromise on quality.
With this in mind, we’re shining a spotlight on multipurpose beauty products. Consider them easy solutions to help streamline a convoluted routine, and a good way to save on time and money.
From the convenient cult cheek flush that doubles up as a lip tint to the bargain eye palette that doubles up as a brilliant bronzer, scroll on for the lowdown on 11 of our favourite multipurpose products that allow you to shop smart and reduce your beauty spending.
Looking for more top picks? Explore more glowing reviews in our full range.
The top-to-toe skin saviour
Try: BYBI Babe Balm
• Size: 30ml
• Biodegradable tube made of sugarcane
• Fragrance-free
If you’re not yet a fan of BYBI Babe Balm, then we’re here to convert you. Not only is it fragrance-free, but it’s packed with all sorts of goodness, such as shea butter and calendula. You can apply it from top to toe, on hands, cuticles, knees, feet and lips as a rich, hydrating cream, or over the top of make-up on cheeks, lips and brows as a glimmering highlighter. Enjoy now and thank us later.
The all-in-one palette
Try: Milani All-Inclusive Eye, Cheek & Face Palette
• Size: 10.82g
• Cruelty-free
This hardworking palette contains all you need to achieve a beautiful, glowing radiance while on the go. There’s two blush shades, three eyeshadows, a bronzer and a highlighter to create a range of looks, plus the formulas are incredibly rich, making for a pretty dazzling pigment pay off. What’s more, it’s available in light to medium and medium to deep versions – we couldn’t love it more.
The strengthening super (hair) hero
Try: Philip Kingsley Elasti-Styler: 5 in 1 Treatment
• Size: 150ml
Good hair day here we come, thanks to Phillip Kinglsey’s 5-in-1 treatment. It helps condition, smooth, strengthen, reduce frizz and add shine for healthier-looking strands. We like to apply a pea-sized amount of this nourishing serum through towel-dried hair before blow-drying, but you can also use it on dry hair to control flyaways. The ideal product to use pre- or post-hair wash, this styler adds elasticity and bounce to lengths in need of a pick-me-up. Consider it a beauty favourite.
The contour, glow & go
Try: UOMA Beauty Double Take Sculpt & Strobe Stick
• Size: 11g
• Silicone free
Nothing turns heads quite like UOMA beauty products and, if you’re in need of some evidence, then look no further than the brand’s Double Take Contour Stick. With just a single product you can flawlessly shade, highlight, define and contour your way to perfection thanks to the delicious, melt-on-contact formula that delivers eye-catching pigment. Achieve a candlelit glow by applying the highlight to the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, edge of the top lip, inner corner of the eye and over the brow bones. With the contour end, glide it across the hollows of the cheeks, across the hairline and underneath the bottom lip. Finish by blending out with a fluffy brush for a diffused, airbrushed finish.
The cult cheek & lip stain
Try: Benefit Benetint Rose-Tinted Lip And Cheek Stain
• Size: 6ml
• Sheer and buildable
• Natural finish
• Longwear
Benefit’s iconic lip and cheek stain has long been heralded as something of a cult beauty product, so it’s only right we give it some love. The sheer, smudge-proof formula can be dabbed onto lips and across the apples of the cheeks for a beautiful rose-toned glow that’s sure to be met with compliments galore (and a great way to get on board with TikTok’s trend of matching your cheeks with your lip colour). An insider tip? Apply pre-lipstick to maintain a perfected pout that will last from coffee to cocktails.
The highlighting base
Try: e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter
• Size: 31.5ml
• Available in eight shades
• Can be worn under or over make-up
Infused with squalane and hyaluronic acid, this glow booster is beloved by TikTok creators and beauty editors alike thanks to its ability to create a beautiful, natural-looking base. Apply with a damp sponge for a skin-enhancing, soft-focus radiance that’s perfect for those more natural-looking make-up days. But that’s not all. You can apply to targeted areas on top of make-up to create a gorgeously glossy highlight. A total winner.
The lash & brow booster
Try: The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Lash & Brow Serum
• Size: 5ml
• Suitable for vegans
• Cruelty-free
• Oil-free
• Patch testing advised
If you’re searching for a make-up free way to improve the appearance of thin brows or sparse lashes, this multipurpose serum by The Ordinary – containing a whopping 11 active ingredients – could be worth adding to your kit. Just apply a thin layer to dry brows and lashes after cleansing morning and evening, bearing in mind that a little goes a long way – one tube will last a really long time. Extra shout out for that.
The healthy flush in a rush
Try: Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks
• Available in three shades
A little pot of perfection, anyone? We love a multipurpose lip and cheek product, and this lovely compact from Bobbi Brown doesn’t disappoint. Simply blend into the apples of your cheeks and across your hairline and press into your pout for a subtle (but oh so beautiful) flush. Our favourite shade? It’s got to be Fresh Melon, which adds a peachy warmth to a wide range of skin tones. On-the-spot application couldn’t be easier – or more gorgeous.
The one-stop-shop for skin
Try: Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Nourishing Moisturiser
• Size: 75ml
• Suitable for all skin types
While you might associate TikTok trends with newly launched products, it turns out that this viral moisturiser has been around for years – since the 1950s in fact! Since then, it’s been a favourite among make-up artists and beauty buffs alike, continuing to make a name for itself to this day. But why the hype? Let us fill you in. The six-in-one multitasking moisturiser can be used as a primer, moisturiser, make-up remover, mask, aftershave cream and baby-care product, thanks to its conditioning cocktail of ingredients that are rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins that leaves skin super soft, supple and with a satin-like glow. It has a cult following for a reason.
The body, face & hair elixir
Try: Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream All-Over Miracle Oil
• Size: 100ml
Packed full of skin-loving nutrients, this all-over oil is formulated to help transform skin from dull and dehydrated to nourished and glowing. Whether you’re applying a spritz to dry cuticles, adding shine to dull, dry hair or using it as a post-shave hit of hydration, you’ll get impressive bang for your buck with this miracle worker. Plus, it earns bonus points for its light, floral fragrance that provides a much-needed pocket of peace.
The bronzing hybrid
Try: 17. Eye Shadow Palette 030 Browns
• Size: 7.2g
• Contains nine shades
• Suitable for vegans
An eyeshadow palette that doubles as a bronzer? Count us in. Ideal for creating a multitude of party eye looks, we adore the expert mix of metallics and mattes that offer a highly pigmented wash of colour. And when it comes to bronzing? Simply swirl a fluffy brush through the lighter or darker shades (depending on your skin tone) and apply to the high points of the face for a natural, sun-kissed finish. A true multitasking hero that we come back to time and time again.
Here’s to minimising unnecessary beauty expenditure in favour of multipurpose magic.
