The Beauty Diary: Best supermarket beauty buys

A new product released early due to huge demand is now “selling fast” in Big W stores, with dedicated fans declaring: “I’m obsessed.”

Nothing thrills quite like finding a fantastic beauty product that doesn’t come with a jaw-dropping price tag.

While this column is a safe space for anyone who loves to splurge on skincare and make-up products (sometimes only the most expensive will do), we also love a budget supermarket buy that actually works.

Thanks to a group of “loyal, eagle-eyed” beauty lovers, a new sunscreen designed to benefit your skin as well as protect it hit supermarket shelves earlier than planned, and shoppers are already raving about it.

MCoBeauty recently expanded its affordable offerings to include two new SPFs, a product the brand’s owner Shelley Sullivan said was highly requested.

“Whenever we asked our customers what product they wanted us to dream up next, we received hundreds of messages begging us to make sunscreens,” she told news.com.au’s The Beauty Diary.

The new MCoBeauty SPF is being sold at Big W and Woolworths. Picture: Supplied

“It was a no-brainer for us. SPF is the single most important step in any skincare routine, so it made total sense for us to create affordable, luxe-for-less sunscreens that still delivered on the high quality luxury formulas we’ve become famous for.”

Shelley went on to explain MCoBeauty had to release the two products — one of which is a physical, mineral sunscreen while the other is a chemical-based formula — early because dedicated fans uncovered the products before the launch.

“We quietly uploaded them to our website a couple of weeks before we intended to officially launch, but some of our most loyal, eagle-eyed customers spotted them in the back end of the website and started posting about them online,” she said.

I've been testing the product for a few weeks. Picture: Supplied

How it looks under make-up. Picture: Supplied

“With the cat out of the bag, we just decided to pull forward the launch. I couldn’t believe how excited people were.”

Since hitting shelves last month, Shelley said the SPF was “selling so fast”, so of course, I had to try it out for myself.

Find out my thoughts on the new supermarket find, as well as two other beauty products I regularly pick up when doing my grocery shop.

MCOBEAUTY INVISIBLE SUNSCREEN SPF 50+

This looks beautiful in skin with or without make-up. Picture: Supplied

Available at Woolworths, Big W and mcobeauty.com

Price: $35

If you’re looking for a sunscreen that looks great under your make-up, makes your skin glow and gives factor 50+ protection, you’re going to love this. It’s lightweight, doesn’t leave skin feeling sticky and congested, and is also super hydrating. Sometimes SPFs can pill under make-up, but when I applied foundation or a skin tint on top, it gave my skin an even and smooth base. I love that it is fragrance free and doesn’t give that pesky white cast many facial sunscreens with this level of protection do. While $35 is on the higher end of a budget beauty buy, it is currently on offer in Big W for $21, and I’m sure it’ll be part of Woolworths’ regular beauty sales at some point too. I’ve used it every day since I got my mitts on it – I’m obsessed.

GARNIER BB CREAM ALL-IN-ONE PERFECTOR

This is an easy to use every day make-up item that makes life so much simpler. Picture: Supplied

Available at Woolworths, Coles Priceline and Chemist Warehouse

Price: $17 (but regularly on sale for less than $10)

When you want to give your skin a pick-me-up but don’t have time to apply foundation, this is a brilliant item to turn to. I squeeze a small amount in my hands and rub it in with my fingers and instantly my skin just looks better. It gives a decent amount of coverage, brightens and gives a dewy finish. It’s so easy to use and has such great results, I can’t believe I’ve not recommended it sooner. There are two shades, light and medium, and you can also choose a skin type that suits yours. I go for oily to combination. It’s such a great option and the packaging makes it easy to carry in a bag if you’re on the go, too.

SWISSE BIO RETINOL VITAMIN B3 RENEWING BOOSTER SERUM

This leaves my skin fresh and hydrated. Picture: Supplied

Available at Woolworths, Chemist Warehouse and

Price: $12.50

Serum is the one product I recommend beauty newbies to add to their routine because they make the biggest difference to your skin – and this one is a delight to use. It contains bakuchiol, nature’s alternative to vitamin A, which has similar skin benefits to retinol without the harsh effects. It also has B3 which helps improve your skin’s protective barrier. After using it, my skin always feels fresh and hydrated, without any redness often associated with vitamin A. It also has a cooling effect on the skin that I particularly enjoy in these warmer months.

This column is not advertorial content. Every review is independent, honest and ad free. If you have a question about a beauty product or an item you’d like to see road-tested in The Beauty Diary, jump into our official Facebook group where you can join like-minded beauty junkies. You can also catch me on Instagram – don’t forget to hashtag #TheBeautyDiary.

Originally published as The Beauty Diary: Best supermarket beauty buys