I'll have to admit, I'm a makeup addict, but being on a budget while trying to buy makeup can be SO HARD. I compiled a list of my ride or die makeup products that I cannot live without, that won't break the bank.
1. Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Chamomile, and Lavender
I LOVE this stuff! I have dry skin, and this stuff adds just the right amount of moisturization, without feeling sticky or not drying down. I like to use this right after I wash my face morning and night, and then I will put a moisturizer on after it drys down. It is $12 for 8 ounces or $7 for 4 ounces.
2. e.l.f Lip Exfoliator in Clear
This product has the right amount of sugar granules to exfoliate your lips, but not enough to be painful. It smells like vanilla and brown sugar, and this tube will last you forever! They have other flavors, but I would recommend this one over the rest, due to the fact that this one has more sugar granules in it than the other ones. It is $3 for 0.11 ounces at Target.
3. Benefit POREfessioal Primer 0.25 OZ
Okay, I know what you are thinking. "Benefit is not a cheap brand!" but hear me out! If you buy the 0.25-ounce bottle, it's only $12. This stuff is great because a little goes a LONG way. What I like to do is use this specifically in my problem areas, then use another cheaper primer on the rest of my face ( I have not found another primer that I like though, so I'll keep you posted).
4. Wet n Wild Photo Focus Foundation
I recently bought a bottle after hearing nothing but good things about this foundation, and I love it! It's medium to full coverage, but you can build it up to full coverage if you would like. It blends very nice, and you can blend it with a brush or a beauty sponge, so it is really up to you how you want to blend it. This foundation is great for all skin types. It is $6 for 1 ounce at Ulta.
5. Catrice Liquid Camouflage High Coverage Concealer.
I am not lying when I say that this is the best concealer I have ever tried. I love it even more than my Tarte Shape Tape, and that is saying something. It is super creamy and it blends like a dream! It is full coverage, but I would recommend setting it with a powder if you are prone to creasing. This is $6 for 0.17 ounces at Ulta.
6. Coty Airspun Powder.
I bought this powder a few months ago after hearing one of my favorite beauty guru's say that it was the best setting powder that she has ever tried, so I knew that I had to get it. It is finely milled and it works great for setting the under eyes and all over the face. I like to use to bake my under eyes and my smile lines with a damp beauty sponge, then take it on a large, fluffy brush to set the rest of my face with. This is $6 at Walmart or Target.
7. Nyx Micro Brow Pencil
I'm not really big into doing my brows, but I do fill them in. This pencil is a dupe for the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz. It has a nice, precise point to it, so you can get the hair-like strokes when you use this product. It comes in a retractable pencil and it comes with a spoolie on the end! This product is $10 for 0.003 ounces at Ulta.
8. Essence Make Me Brow Gel Mascara
Like I said before, I'm not really big into doing my brows, but I do like a nice brow gel that will hold everything in place. I just recently started using this brow gel and I love it! This product had tiny fibers in it that will act like brow hairs, to give the brow a natural look. This produce is $3 for 0.13 ounces at Ulta.
9. Wet n Wild MegaGlo Powder Highlighters
I love highlighters, and these are the best drugstore highlighters I have ever used (don't get them confused with the Wet n Wild MegaGlo Liquid Highlighters). They are VERY creamy, and they are so pigmented and blinding! They are very blendable and, if used with a light hand, can be used for an everyday look. It is $5 for 0.19 ounces at Ulta.
10. Physician Formula Butter Bronzer
I am not really a big contour person, so I typically stick to bronzing, and I really think that this one of the best drugstore bronzers on the market! It is super creamy and blendable (and it smells like a tropical vacation!).This bronzer can be a bit pricey, at $15 for 0.38 ounces at Ulta, so I would wait until a drug store or Ulta has Physicians Formula on sale!
11. Basically, any Morphe Palette
I LOVE Morphe. I have the Jaclyn Hill x Morphe Palette ($38 for 35 shadows) and it is the best eyeshadow palette that I have EVER used. If you don't want to spend $38 for an eyeshadow palette, they also have other options that are cheaper. There is the 35O Nature Glow Palette that is $23 for 35 shades. This palette is a great palette for everyday makeup looks, and it has a lot of natural shades. If you want something less expensive, you can try the 25B Bronzed Mocha Palette that is $18 for 25 shades, or the 9C Jewel Crew eyeshadow palette for $12. All of their eyeshadows are so creamy and pigmented. They also blend so well!
12. L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise
This is one of my favorite mascaras. It is not clumpy, and it does not transfer to the eyelids. It layers well, so if you are a person who likes to apply two layers or more of mascara, you can with this one. This really adds a lot of volume to the lashes, and it comes in waterproof also. It is $10 for 0.28 ounces at Ulta.
13. Essence Volume Stylist Lash Extension Mascara
This is another one of my favorite mascaras. Like the one above, it is not clumpy at all and it does not transfer to the eyelids. It also has fibers in them to help lengthen your lashes, and unlike most mascaras with fibers in them, they will not fall in your eyes. This also layers well, so you can apply two coats. This really lengthens your lashes and it will add tons of volume to them. It is $5 for 0.4 ounces at Ulta.
14. NYX Liquid Suede Lipsticks
These are some of the best liquid lipsticks that I own. They are very opaque, and stay on the lips nicely and do not move around. They are somewhat transfer-proof, but you may have to touch up once or twice throughout the day. They are not drying or sticky, and they are my go-to liquid lipstick. It is $7 for 0.13 ounces at Ulta.
15. Wet n Wild MegaLast Matte Liquid Lipstick
These are so pretty on the lips! They have a wide variety of shades and they are transfer proof! The can be a bit drying, so I would use a lip exfoliator and I would put a bit of chapstick on before applying this product. You might have to touch them up once or twice during the day. It is $5 for 0.21 ounces at Ulta.
16. NYX Dewy Finish Makeup Setting Spray
This is one of the best setting sprays that I have used. It has a very nice mist to it, and it disperses nicely on the face. This product locks your makeup into place and it will not budge. They also make a matte version for people with more oily skin (it works just as well as this one, too). It is $8 for 2.02 ounces at Ulta.