As most college students know (or will eventually learn), money gets tight when at university.
Budgeting in college becomes essential. You need to manage your extra dollars to buy food, clothes, go to the movies, go out to bars, and buy things that make you happy! For a lot of us, cosmetics make us happy.
For many, makeup is a fun way to express themselves and can make you feel more confident. But with only $20 in the bank, how is it possible to get makeup that is actually good and worth the money?
Believe it or not, there are plenty of makeup products that are under $15 and totally worth your money! Here are some recommendations of makeup under $15 to help you get through your college years!
The key to any good makeup day is the base. Having flawless skin might seem like a struggle between those late nights of studying and going out, but it is possible!
For a face that will last all day, primer is a must! Although many people might think primer is a hoax, some primers can fill in pores, provide hydration, or help balance out discoloration.
Two of the best primers on the market right now are the Maybelline Baby Skin primer and the E.L.F. Putty primer that is an exact dupe for the Tatcha Silk Canvas primer, but for way less!
These two primers will fill in your pores and make your skin look silky smooth, making this an excellent substitute for a foundation on those days you just don’t feel like wearing any makeup.
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Sometimes we want a little extra coverage and foundation is a great way to boost your confidence for those days!
Drugstore foundation has come a long way, and there are plenty that gives luxury foundations a run for their money. Drugstore brands such as L’Oreal are run by the same company as Lancome and YSL, so it’s a safe bet that their foundation is just as good without the luxury ingredients found in Lancome foundations.
With that being said, L’Oreal has two of the best foundations on the market right now, and both are under $15!
For lighter coverage, try out L’Oreal True Match. This particular foundation is fantastic because it has 43 shades and 3 undertones available, has buildable coverage, and has an SPF of 17 for extra protection!
L’Oreal recently released another great foundation called Infallible Fresh Wear that claims to last as long as 24 hours. This foundation has a beautiful finish that looks like your skin but better! Unlike the True Match foundation, this one has medium-to-full coverage and is perfect for those days where your skin isn’t at its best or when you’re just looking a little extra coverage. This foundation comes in 30 shades and is available at your local drugstore!
Lastly, the Flower Beauty brand, created by Drew Barrymore, has a fantastic foundation that no one really talks about, but should! The Flower Beauty Light Illusion foundation is perfect for dry skin because of the dewy finish it provides. Unfortunately, the shade range is pretty limited with only 12 shades, but if you can find your shade, give it a try!
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For those days where you just didn’t get enough sleep the night before, concealer is your best friend. And for those pesky spots that seem to appear out of nowhere, concealer is a total lifesaver.
One of the best and most affordable concealers on the market right now is the Catrice Camouflage Concealer because it does just that: it camouflages. This concealer dries down to an almost exact match to your skin and is super long lasting, making it ideal for those problem areas that foundation can’t cover up all the way.
As an added bonus, this concealer is waterproof so it will last you all year round from those rainy days to days spent at the beach and pool!
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A cult classic in the beauty world is the Maybelline Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder, and for a good reason! This powder comes in eight shades from fair to dark, giving the skin a light wash of coverage. The Maybelline finishing powder makes your skin look smooth and flawless and has no flash-back, meaning it will look great in all photos, including flash photography!
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Blush has become very popular within the past couple months, and we love it! Blush gives a beautiful glow to the face and can add dimension to an otherwise blank canvas.
However, blush can be scary to use as a heavy hand can turn you from goddess to clown really fast. With that being said, two of the best blushes that won’t make you run away from a little color are the L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Blush and the Flower Beauty Blush Bomb Color Drops.
Both of these blushes are super blendable and buildable, so you don’t have to worry about ruining your makeup or looking sunburnt!
The L’Oreal True Match blush is unique in the best way because there are colors for every skin tone and have corresponding colors with the True Match foundation so you can find the perfect blush for you!
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A favorite step for many in their makeup routine is highlighter. It’s impossible not to feel beautiful when you are wearing a highlight, so this is a definite staple!
When you think about it, most highlighters look the same once they’re on the face. It is super easy to spend tons of money on highlighter because it looks so pretty, but when it comes down to it, can you really tell the difference between them? Probably not.
Instead of spending $40 on a single makeup product, consider buying a drugstore highlighter that is just as good for half the price!
Some of the best highlighters are sold at the drugstore or are sold at drugstore price but don’t get the spotlight (pun intended) that other luxury highlights do! Some of the most popular drugstore options are the Maybelline Master Chrome highlighter, the Wet n Wild MegaGlo highlighter, and the Colourpop Super Shock highlighters.
All of these highlighters are just as good if not better than competing luxury highlighters, but are a fraction of the cost!
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One of the most exciting products in any makeup collection is the eyeshadow palettes! That being said, it’s hard to find a palette that is good and performs well for under $15… but they do exist!
Makeup Revolution is a brand that originated in the U.K. and is finally becoming more popular in the United States. Recently, the brand has started collaborating with online beauty influencers and has come out with a lot of fun palettes that are incredibly inexpensive but are also quality products.
Two of these best Makeup Revolution eyeshadow palettes are ones that were in collaboration with a British, Soph. She has collaborated with the brand twice and has two gorgeous palettes that are colorful yet neutral, making it very versatile! Both of these palettes sell for just $15 each and are a total steal!
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If palettes aren’t your thing and you can’t see yourself using all the colors in a palette, then eyeshadow singles are for you!
Colourpop sells a very unique eyeshadow formula called the Super Shock Shadows that really pack a punch and are a blast to play around with. The brand has also recently come out with a liquid eyeshadow that is an excellent alternative to the Stila Glitter and Glow liquid eyeshadows or the KYLIE Cosmetics Glitter Eyes.
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Mascara is another product that has been improving in drugstores over the years. And much like highlighter, there isn’t much difference between different mascaras when it comes down to it.
Two of the best drugstore mascaras that compete with luxury mascaras are the Maybelline Falsies mascara and the L’Oreal Lash Paradise mascara. Both these mascaras create incredible volume and perform like luxury products, giving you those lashes that could once only be achieved through expensive mascaras.
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Lipstick has always been a fun and easy way to add a little something extra to a makeup look and can make a look go from day to night really fast. It’s insane, though, how much lipstick can go for these days!
Instead of spending every penny you have on a single lipstick, consider a drugstore alternative! For a long-lasting matte finish, try out the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink liquid lipstick. This formula is incredible and will last you all day with little to no touch-ups required. This lipstick is life proof and is a product you won’t regret!
If you’re looking for something a little lighter, try the L’Oreal Rouge Signature Lightweight Matte Colored Ink. This is also a lipstick that will last all day but will feel like nothing on the lips. It is very comparable to the YSL Tatouage Couture liquid lipstick but for a fraction of the cost.
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