With Sephora and Ulta in basically every mall, we have it ingrained in us that good makeup is expensive. And although I indulge in the expensive makeup every now and then, my everyday makeup products can all be found at the drugstore and under $10. Check out these amazingly affordable must-haves!
This has been my go-to makeup must-have since I started wearing makeup. This is my all-time favorite mascara. I have tried mascaras upwards of $20 and nothing has ever given me the look I want like this one does. This mascara lengthens and volumizes, while others just do one or the other. I used to wear two different mascaras together, one for length and one for volume. After I tried this, I never went back. It works so well that I’ve been asked if I have fake eyelashes all the time, which is the single highest compliment you could ever receive in my book.
This, along with my Covergirl mascara, are what I wear every single day. I am not hugely into a full face of makeup for an everyday look, so having cheaper products that you use every day is really helpful, as long as you really like it. I just put a little eyeliner on my lower lashline to blend in better with the mascara on the bottom. I’m a blonde but I love the look of black mascara and eyeliner, and I love that these can be for a subtle look or for a more dramatic look.
One of the problems with cheaper makeup is it can make your face breakout and this has been another must-have for me for almost ten years. Anytime I get a breakout, I put this on and it clears up almost within a day. It’s also good for wearing under makeup, it’s a white formula that dries clear and really dries up your blemishes. Your makeup look can only be as good as your skin so keeping it clear and healthy is a must for everyday look. This is a must-have in anyone’s makeup bag.
At just under $10 this barely made the cut, but for anyone with under-eye bags or dark circles, this is a must. I have such bad under-eye bags that in college people would ask me if I had been punched and got a black eye. When, in fact, I just had the worst dark circles and under-eye bags. This was one of the few products that I actually saw a difference with. When my eyes were especially puffy I would roll this on and after a few minutes, I could see them already looking less puffy. It was so much easier putting on concealer after using this.
I love everything from the “Yes To” brand: they are really affordable, good quality skincare products and this one does not disappoint. While you’re getting this check out all their other products, their face masks and face wipes are also some of my favorite products.
I used to have the worst chapped lips, I would obsessively put on chapstick and the few days my lips weren’t chapped, I’d wear a lip stain that dried them out and then have to fight with dry lips again. I started using normal vaseline every night on my lips before I went to bed, but wanted other really hydrating option other than traditional chapstick. I started using this and I will never go back. These come in clear as well as tinted in different colors, and all of them are just as hydrating as the original. They are perfect for pairing with a lip color if you want, it doesn’t clump it up like other lip products do. These seriously work so much better than EOS or Burt’s Bees. Although I still have some of those, I always use Vaseline if I can and I never have had cracked bleeding lips since.
This is the perfect solution for someone who wants to do their eyebrows every now and then but not every day. Most eyebrow products from high-end makeup companies are beyond expensive. If you want to style your eyebrows for a few formal occasions without having to drop over $20, this is a great option. You can buy either the shade that matches you best or get a shade darker for a more dramatic look. Either way, this is a staple for everyone to have.
Remember when I said I had the absolute worst eye bags and dark circles? Well, this was one of the concealers that I found actually worked and actually covered my bags and dark circles. These come in so many colors that it’s impossible to find one that doesn’t work. This formula is also really good at blending in so it’s not super obvious that you have copious amounts of makeup on. I never really wear a whole lot of makeup day-to-day, so I loved how lightweight this felt and that I didn’t also have to wear a foundation if I didn’t want to. That’s something I had to with so many other concealers.
When I do have to wear a foundation, I always opt for a powder foundation. I love how lightweight it feels and the sheer coverage it gives. It hides blemishes and evens out my skin tone without covering my freckles. This has the best powder foundation I’ve found for under $10. It doesn’t look streaky and doesn’t break you out. It also comes in a huge variety of shades so you’ll never have to worry about your face and neck being a different color than the rest of your body.
E.L.F cosmetics are by far some of the most affordable and dependable makeup companies out there. Although their products are way cheaper than most, I have never had an issue with quality. These are great cheap lip colors when you want your lip product to stay on and if you aren’t a fan of glosses. This is a liquid lipstick that applies evenly so you don’t have to coat on several layers. If you’re someone who wants a good variety of lip colors, stocking up on several cheap lipsticks is your best option. And if you find one you really love, you can opt for a more high end one in a similar color.
Eyeshadow to me should always be subtle for day-to-day use and these are perfect for a quick color on your eyelid. Even for someone like me who is terrible at applying makeup, this is super simple to use. I prefer these to the eyeshadow palettes, although you have fewer color options, I like the simplicity of this. Just use it as an eyeliner but all over your eyelid. And at that price, you’ll have enough to stock up on several colors.
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