'This $6 BB cream is just as good as the expensive stuff.'

We've all been there: standing in the beauty aisle, contemplating whether to splurge on that fancy BB cream with the elegant packaging or save our dollars for something more practical (like dinner).

But what if I told you that sometimes the budget option isn't just 'good enough', it's actually… brilliant?

That's exactly what beauty expert Leigh Campbell discovered when she got her hands on OXX Cosmetics Sun Daze Tinted BB Gel — a $6 (yes, really!) Kmart find that she's using in ways that might surprise you.

"I got the medium," Leigh said of her shade pick on Mamamia's You Beauty podcast, adding, "I would use this product in a non-conventional way."

This immediately piqued my interest — because when a beauty editor with decades of experience starts using a product in a unique way, I'm all ears.

Watch: You Beauty foundation whisking. Post continues after video.

The unexpected hack.

Unlike most BB creams that we slather all over our faces, Leigh found this product's superpower extends beyond the complexion.

"It is very much a tinted gel; it doesn't really have opaqueness to it," she explained.

"But you know what I did? I mixed a bit of it with my body lotion when I needed to warm up either my chest or my legs when I was wearing clothes."

Let's pause and appreciate this revelation. While many of us are spending $25 or more on dedicated 'body glow' products, Leigh's creating a similar effect with something that costs less than an iced latte.

That's the kind of beauty hack my bank account appreciates.

What does BB gel do?

Traditionally, BB creams (AKA beauty balms) provide light coverage with skincare benefits baked in. They're the perfect middle ground between skincare and makeup; lighter than foundation but more corrective than tinted moisturiser.

The gel formulation of OXX's version makes it even lighter and more versatile, which might explain why Leigh found creative uses for it.

"It's super sheer," Leigh said, highlighting why this product makes a surprisingly effective multitasker.

"You could put a bit on the back of your hand and then use a brush and kind of use it as your contour, if you wanted a very sheer cream contour instead of something that's quite opaque."

But the real revelation?

"I just really liked it on my legs. There are obviously other colours. I would use that on my body, or as a 'tap tap tap' for that sun-kissed look. I wouldn't use it all over my face."

So, rather than forcing it to be something it's not (a full-coverage face product), Leigh identified what it does brilliantly: adding subtle warmth and dimension in unexpected places.

Want more? Listen to the full episode below.

Breaking the beauty rules.

What's refreshing about Leigh's approach is how it highlights the "you do you" nature of the beauty world. Who says a BB gel can only go on your face? Why follow the instructions when experimenting might yield unexpectedly fab results?

While OXX Cosmetics markets their Sun Daze Tinted BB Gel as a product that can "balance your skin tone for a flawless and luminous finish", Leigh's creative applications show there's more than one way to use almost any product in our beauty arsenal.

The beauty bottom line.

OXX Cosmetics Sun Daze Tinted BB Gel might not revolutionise your entire beauty routine, but at $6, it doesn't need to.

Instead, it offers something perhaps more valuable: the chance to play, experiment, and find unexpected joy in a very wallet-friendly package.

And isn't that what makes beauty fun in the first place?

Feature Image: Instagram/@leighacampbell