As all of us makeup-loving individuals know that affording a full face of makeup is not easy, especially if you are looking for good quality and long-lasting wear. However, it’s not impossible to perfect your makeup routine with affordability in mind. As a makeup enthusiast, I have tried so many different brands and products, and I’m here to give the inside scoop on what works and is worth the money.
Starting your makeup routine with primer is an essential step to ensuring your makeup has a long-lasting hold. As someone who is still workshopping her skin care routine, I need a moisturizing base that doesn’t break me out, while still making sure my makeup lasts. Here are my current two favorites:
- e.l.f. Power Grip Primer: For $11, this primer hydrates your skin and creates a truly grippy base, ensuring your makeup lasts all day. For me, a little goes a long way, making this purchase even more worth it.
- NYX The Face Glue: Much like the e.l.f. Power Grip primer, this primer creates a sticky, glue-like base while still being lightweight, priced at only $8.99. This is a great, cheaper alternative that will still make sure your base looks and feels good, all while having the cutest packaging!
We all know that finding a high-quality, affordable foundation can be extremely difficult, especially if you are trying to avoid a cakey-looking coverage. As someone who has many skin blemishes and acne scars, I know the struggle of finding something that has enough coverage but still keeps a natural-looking finish. With this in mind, these are my go-tos:
- e.l.f. Halo Glow Skin Tint: For $18, this skin tint is initially medium coverage, but still buildable. The glowy, light-weight finish looks and feels natural. Additionally, it has mineral SPF 50 in it, and water resistance for 80 minutes. I find myself always reaching for this on hot days, as it protects me from both the sun and rain, while still keeping my base looking flawless.
- NYX Bare With Me Blur Foundation: This foundation makes your skin look like a TikTok beauty filter, giving medium coverage that can be built up for only $14. This foundation is my favorite on cooler days, as it is a bit heavier than a skin tint, but is perfect for my full glam looks.
Concealer is almost always hit or miss, as creasing and cakey texture are common in affordable brands. On top of that, some can be extremely hard to blend, leading to patchy coverage that puts your blemishes on display. But there’s no need to worry, as one concealer solves all these problems. Here’s my holy grail concealer:
- NYX Bare With Me Concealer Serum: This concealer serum offers buildable coverage that melts into the skin, with no creasing throughout the day. The serum-like texture makes it easy to apply with your finger or a beauty blender, all for the price tag of $12.
If a flawless, filter-blurred look is what you are looking for, finding a good powder is an absolute necessity. However, lightweight, yet full coverage powders are hard to come by, unless you are willing to spend a pretty penny. However, these two products perfectly blend affordability with high quality:
- NYX Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Pressed Powder: For only $9.50, this powder offers a matte finish, blurring out any imperfections on the skin. I use this powder to set my foundation, hide shine in unwanted places, and build coverage over blemishes.
However, I recommend getting a powder puff for better application of this product. - Airspun Loose Face Powder: This loose powder not only brightens, but leaves the skin with a beautiful matte finish for only $6.99. I love using this product under my eyes to bring more attention to them and ensure my dark circles are covered up. In addition, this powder hides fine lines and small wrinkles for an even more flawless finish.
“…The best makeup is
Katie Cymanski
what makes you feel confident and unstoppable, while making sure you look great too!”
Personally, blush is my favorite part of my makeup routine, as it brings much-needed color back to my face. However, I have struggled to find truly pigmented blushes that don’t disappear into the rest of my base. As a girly with blush blindness, here are 2 pigmented blushes that I can’t live without:
- e.l.f Putty Blush: For $8, this blush is highly pigmented, meaning only small amounts need to be used to achieve cute, glowy pink cheeks. Because of this, the pot seems never to run out, and could likely turn into a family heirloom!
- NYX Buttermelt Blush: This powder blush offers buildable coverage to achieve the perfect blushed cutie look. Being easy to apply and blend, this blush is definitely worth the $9.99 price tag. This blush is also glowy, meaning that it acts as a highlighter as well. If you know me, you know I can’t pass up a 2-in-1 deal!
Now, we all know how frustrating finding a good mascara is, as many end up being clumpy, lumpy, and hard to apply. On top of this, mascara fallout can be annoying and hard to prevent throughout the day. Yet, these high-end alternatives offer each of these desires while still being affordable:
- e.l.f. Lash It Loud Mascara: This volumizing mascara offers a stunning matte black finish that keeps your lashes looking full, all for the price of $7. I’ve experienced minimal fallout with this mascara, and I just love how smooth it goes on the lashes.
- Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara: For $9.79, this mascara lengthens your lashes and keeps them up, without a clumpy finish. Paired with an eyelash curler, this mascara will make your lashes picture-ready all day long. You can even layer the two together to get both length and volume.
A good lippie is always an exciting find, especially when it has a natural feel. Many glosses can feel heavy and sticky, and many lipsticks don’t last for very long, making constant reapplication feel like a chore. Yet, I always find myself reaching for these two lippies:
- e.l.f. Pout Clout Lip Plumping Pen: For $9, this lippie leaves your lips looking visibly plumped, without the all too familiar lip plumping pain. In addition, it leaves your lips looking glossy with gorgeous pigmentation, and isn’t sticky at all.
- Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick: Coming in a wide variety of colors, this $6.89 lipstick glides on so smoothly, offering a kissable, glossy finish. Pair it with your favorite lip liner, and this lipstick will become your go-to!
Much like the first step of the makeup routine, the last step holds extreme importance to ensuring that your makeup lasts all day. As someone who has tested so many setting sprays, from luxury to drug store, there is one clear winner. There is no need to introduce this viral setting spray that outshines even its most expensive competitors:
- L’Oréal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist: For only $10.98, this setting spray offers up to 36 hours of transfer-proof wear that is water-proof, sweat-resistant, and smudge-resistant. Pair this with one of the recommended primers, and your makeup will stay in place and flawless all day long.
Makeup doesn’t need to be expensive to ensure that you look and feel good. These affordable, yet luxury-feeling products have obviously earned a permanent spot in my makeup bag, and I hope they will earn their place in yours, too. After all, the best makeup is what makes you feel confident and unstoppable, while making sure you look great too!