One of the hardest parts about loving makeup is that makeup is expensive. It's hard to try a wide range of products when the one's you tend to hear about are upwards of $20 each but there are definitely options out there for people who are looking to start their makeup collection or to experiment with new products or looks. Here are my top seven affordable makeup brands:

1. Wet n' Wild

A lot of times Wet n Wild gets a bad rap because it's the makeup brand most of us started on in middle school when we had no idea what we were doing which is exactly why it's a great starting place. The quality of the products definitely fluctuates and is often hit or miss with this brand but the prices are just about as low it gets. Honestly, some of my favorite makeup products are from this brand. I'm obsessed with their Fergie collaboration highlighters, their pencil liners are super cheap, super pigmented and stay on and their brushes are some of my all time favorites.

2. NYC

Again this brand tends to have a bad rap because it takes us back to middle school but it definitely has some gems as well. If you're looking to try a bunch of different mascaras this brand is perfect. They have a large selection of mascaras that range in price from $2 to $5. I'm also a big fan of their lipsticks, while not all of the colors are as opaque as I'd like with prices from $1.99 to $3.99 it's a great way to experiment with different colors and find what works best for you and your skin tone before spending money on a higher quality lipstick.

3. Essence

This brand is a little bit harder to come by (I've only ever found it at Ulta) but it has some amazing products for a super low price. I'm a huge fan of their stick concealers, lip liners, and tinted brow gel. If you're having a hard time finding them in stores you can always go to their website where they have free shipping on orders over $15.

4. Elf

Elf is an amazing brand for beginners (it's what I started on). They have amazing products for prices starting at $1. They also have a lot of good deals on their website so I'd recommend signing up for their email list. I use their green tone adjusting primer and their makeup setting sprays every day. They also have some amazing brushes and eyeshadow palettes. A good time to get their products is during the holidays when they have kitted out every year.

5. NYX

NYX has a wider range of prices than the other brands but it has some very good products for very low prices. My favorite type of product from any brand is a tie for highlighters and lipsticks and NYX has amazing products in both categories. I'm a huge fan of their liquid lingerie lipstick line as well as the liquid suede line. The great thing about this brand is that they are always releasing new products and new colors.

6. Milani

Milani also has a wider price range and can be a little bit harder to find but it also has some of my staple products. Milani has a good reputation for its highlighters and blushes. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find their highlighters in stores but I do use their blush every day. Milani also tends to have the feel of a much more expensive brand because of how they package their products.

7. Colourpop

Colourpop is probably my all time favorite makeup brand. I've honestly never tried a product from this brand that I didn't love. While it is somewhat inconvenient that this brand is online only, it keeps their prices low (which I love). Their lipsticks are absolutely amazing and they have a huge range of colors. I'm also a huge fan of their eyebrow products, both the pomade and the pencils, their highlight and contour sticks and their eyeshadows. For someone that's looking to start up a bigger collection of good quality products with a wide range of colors, this is definitely the place to go. They have amazing quality products for super low prices.