LEIGH CAMPBELL: The 5 most underrated beauty brands (which I buy from all the time).

Some brands get all the glory.

Which is warranted if their products are awesome, but sometimes it means there’s just not enough airtime for all the fantastic products or brands that exist in the epic, overwhelming beauty world.

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So this post is dedicated to those guys. The quiet achievers. The unsung heroes. My fave brands that just don't get enough recognition when they really do deserve it.

So without further ado…

Flower Beauty

Okay, this brand does get a bit of recognition, but not enough as far as I am concerned. 

It’s Drew Barrymore’s makeup baby and she rocks, so it was love for me from the start. The formulas are EPIC, with the foundation being one of the best I have ever tried, and not just in the budget category. The prices are so, so affordable (most things are under $20) and the quality is outstanding. 

Okay, I’ll stop gushing now.

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Dermal Therapy

Anytime someone asks for a lip balm recommendation in the You Beauty group, Dermal Therapy is suggested approximately four billion times. 

What the brand lacks in pretty packaging it makes up for in results. I can personally attest to all the heel products that have helped turn my feet from crusty old lumps to smooth, soft and sandal-worthy lumps.

Ardell

Think Ardell and I reckon you only think of false lashes, which is fair because that’s mostly what the brand is known for (and the Demi Wispies are what I use if I am doing a faux lash look). But did you know the brand does other great products, too? 

I recently switched from another brand to their brow tint and it’s fabulous. And because I don’t get professional manicures, sometimes I reach for a stick on nail if I need neat hands, fast. My fave set is the Latte ones - no one has ever guessed they're not real!

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Elucent

Because it's human nature to judge a book by its cover, this brand and its amazing formulas often get overlooked. There’s a bunch of pigmentation and anti-ageing products in the range, my favourite being the Anti Ageing Day Moisturiser SPF 30.

Yes, it’s $54, but it’s worth every cent - and if it was in fancy packaging I can assure you people would be paying hundreds for it.

Nimue

This salon-only skincare brand is pricey, there’s no denying it. It has been around for a couple of decades and all formulas are highly active and pretty darn powerful. I first started to dabble in the brand about a year ago and I have to say, every product I have tried has been exceptional (and they'd want to be for the price). 

I love the very unique Hyaluronic Oil (it’s rare to see it in oil form!) and the Conditioner Lite, which is a hydrating and radiance-boosting mild exfoliant. I’d be keen to see this brand in a lot more salons so it gets the recognition it deserves.

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But don't just take my word for it. I surveyed the Mamamia office and some of the team also spilled their favourite underrated brands.

Charlie said Maybelline. “Their products rival almost any other exxy beauty brand.”

Olivia is a fan of Palmer's. “I simply cannot live without their cocoa butter.”

Emma votes #1 for CeraVe. “It’s the only skincare brand that doesn't make my dry skin want to cry and burn off but it's also not super medical and boring.”

Michelle also agrees with CeraVe. “Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, developed by derms, available at the chemist and well priced.”

Hannah loves MooGoo. “Seriously. For adults with sensitive skin it's a lifesaver and the only thing I can use some weeks.”

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Another Emma voted for Revolution. “This makeup brand never lets me down. It’s so cheap, so reliable, and their conceal and define foundation is iconic.”

Caitlin voted for Neutrogena. “Specifically the Beach Defence Sunscreen - it's the greatest body sunscreen ever made.”

Katie got greedy and picked two. “Clarins - feel like it gets the nana edit sometimes, but the products are genius and everything smells SO GOOD. I'm also a sucker for Dove. It's the only body wash I buy now as I haven't been able to find a product I like more.”

Okay, your turn! I am dying to know your favourite beauty brand that deserves more recognition. Let us know all about it in the comments below.

Feature Image: Instagram @leighacampbell.

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