It’s officially that time of the year for seniors to glam up and commemorate our last year of college by taking tons and tons of pictures. Since these pictures are going to last a lifetime, we have to look our best, but that doesn’t mean we have to break our wallets. For our normal to oily skin girls (and guys), here’s a full face of affordable beauty products to get you ready for grad photo season.
1. Primer – Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser
I’ve been using this primer since my freshman year of high school, and it hasn’t let me down once. I love this primer because it smoothes out my skin in a way that no amount of moisturizer can do, and we all know a smooth canvas means an effortless application for everything else that follows.
2. Concealer – FLOWER Beauty Light Illusion Full Coverage Concealer
I’ve raved about this concealer in the past before, and I still swear by it. Even though it’s a full coverage concealer, it doesn’t look or feel heavy on the eye, and it’s pretty hydrating. I also find that the coverage is super buildable, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally applying too much.
3. Foundation – Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless
As someone with oily skin, this foundation has worked wonders for me. Not only does it not get shiny quickly, but it also doesn’t break me out. I love how buildable the coverage is, allowing you to achieve either a natural or flawless makeup look with this one foundation.
4. Powder – NYX HD Finishing Powder
No particular powder has really stuck out to me, but this is the one that I have been using for a few months now and it does its job of mattifying my face.
5. Bronzer – Physician Formula’s Butter Bronzer
I think everyone has heard of this bronzer before, and it definitely lives up to the rave. I find that it doesn’t look patchy on my face, and it blends really easily. One downside, which isn’t really that horrible, is that the color payoff is amazing, so start off with a light hand and build from there!
6. Blush – e.l.f. Primer Infused Blush in Always Punchy
No particular blush has really stuck out to me recently either, but I have been trying this one out, and I quite like it. When it comes to blushes, I tend to like anything that’s super light and natural.
7. Highlighter – Wet n Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Power in Golden Flower Grown
This is the highlighter both my sister and I use, and we love it. We gravitated towards this because we heard it’s a dupe for the Smashbox x Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Highlighter in Champagne Pop. It definitely does not feel as finely milled as the higher end highlighter or give off a “glowing-from-within” look, but it’s a very close match that you can’t go wrong with for a $6 product!
8. Eyeshadow – Morphe 35O Palette
Even though Morphe isn’t exactly considered a drugstore brand, it’s definitely known for its affordable prices. I love their 35O palette because it has 35 colors total to choose from, which means it has basically everything someone needs to achieve either a natural or full-glam look. Not only does the palette include a ton of neutrals, but it also has a few pops of colors, like orange, red, and glitters, to create a beautiful eyelook with. This is the perfect palette to achieve a soft glam or a brown smokey eye, which you can’t go wrong with.
9. Eyeliner – L.A. Girl Fineline
This is another product that I have used since high school, and I love everything about it. It’s super easy to use, especially since the brush is pointy and stiff. Other liners can be too flimsy or inky, making it difficult to control, but not this one by L.A. Girl.
10. Mascara – Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect
This is another great mascara from Essence, and what I love about it is that it really holds your lashes in place after you curl them. I have super stubborn lashes that get dragged down easily, and this is one of my favorite mascaras that really work. The only downside is that it does get clumpy relatively quickly, so be careful how much you apply!
11. False Lashes – Kiss Lash Couture Faux Mink, Little Black Dress
This is my go-to lash for any dramatic, full-glam makeup look, and it’s super affordable. They last for quite a few wears so long as you take care of it, and it does a great job adding volume to your lashes. This might not go well for folks who have monolids because it can be quite overwhelming, so be careful about that!