Doing your makeup should be fun, relaxing, and easy. Want to look and feel amazing on a budget? Why worry about the prices of your cosmetics when you can find quality products for less at stores like CVS, Walmart, and the 99 Cent store? You can find some of your favorite affordable brands like Wet & Wild, NYX, and E.L.F at these stores. All products listed are extremely easy to use and preferable for beginners.
1. Primer
My go-to primer on a daily basis is the e.l.f. Power Grip Primer ($10). It is an extremely affordable primer. This primer is sticky, so it’s perfect for anyone who wants their foundation and makeup to stay on all day. In my experience, it also feels refreshing when I put it on in the morning.
If a sticky primer just doesn’t work for you, I fell head over heels for the Wet n Wild Glass Correct Primers ($6). This primer comes in two different colors: green and yellow. The green primer is used to reduce redness on the skin, and the yellow primer is used to brighten the skin.
2. Foundation
There are countless selections of affordable foundation products. One of my all-time favorites is the e.l.f. Flawless Satin Foundation ($6). This product has 40 different shades to pick from. This is a medium-coverage foundation and feels light on the skin. This foundation gives you a subtle glow as well.
If you want a matte finish for your foundation, try Wet n Wild’s Photo Focus Foundation ($6). This foundation will give you a flawless base and start to bring your look together. It was designed to reduce photo flashbacks which makes you feel even more confident. Although this foundation only has half the shades as E.L.F.’s collection, it is a great affordable product.
3. Concealer
Much like our selection for foundations, there are tons of affordable concealers that are just as good as the high-end cosmetic brands. A good choice is the NYX HD Photogenic Liquid Concealer ($5). NYX has this concealer in 23 shades. It’s great for color correcting and covering blemishes. A few of the shades in this line include green, yellow, and purple to color-correct the skin.
If you would like a less dewy concealer, the e.l.f. 16-Hour Camo Concealer ($7) is a great option. It has a matte finish and the line has about 25 different shades. It’s great for all skin types and perfect for any look.
4. Eyeliner
There are tons of inexpensive eyeliners you can find at the drugstore; the cheapest pencil eyeliner you can find at CVS or Walmart is the Wet n Wild Icon Khol Eyeliner ($1). The downside is that it only comes in 2 colors, so if you’re looking for a variety, this line isn’t for you.
If you’re looking for a liquid eyeliner, my favorite is the Wet n Wild Megalast Breakup-proof Liquid Eyeliner ($6). It can be found at Target, Walmart, CVS, and Ulta. This eyeliner is waterproof and glides on so easily. It’s a staple piece to any eye look!
5. Mascara and False Eyelashes
While you can find cheaper products than this next one, the lift and volume this mascara gives you is amazing. I personally have straight and short lashes, but the L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara ($9) works wonders for me. It’s also waterproof! It’s such a steal.
My forever favorite false lashes are the Ioni Lashes ($1) which can be found at Dollar Tree. There is a huge variety of pairs for such a good price! They are the cutest lashes ever and surprisingly great quality.
6. Blush and Highlight
My go-to blush right now is the L.A. Colors Blush Up Cheek & Lip Cream ($6). It gives the perfect amount of pigment and dew to my look. Depending on where you get this product, it can cost anywhere from $1 to $6. I found mine at the 99-cent store with limited colors but you can also find this product in Walmart and Target!
For highlighter, I like the Essence The Highlighter ($4). It gives a natural glow to your look and brightens up your face!
7. Setting Powder
Last but not least, we have the Airspun Talc-Free Loose Setting Powder ($7). This powder will have your makeup staying in place all night!
If you like your cosmetics to be scent-free, the E.L.F Halo Glow Setting Powder ($8) works amazing too! It makes my makeup feel lightweight and it is not cakey at all. This powder is a super easy find.