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Makeup Worth Your Money: Drugstore, Budget & a Few Splurges
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items A realistic makeup list for people who want products that actually work without turning every Sephora/Ulta run into a financial crisis. These are my everyday staples, budget finds, and a few higher-end picks that earn their place because they last, b...
Sections
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Budget Friendly Options
Higher End Options
Budget Friendly Options
This has been, by far, the best setting spray I've tried. It's held up against rain, humidity, sweat, the ocean, and tears. If I had to just pick one spray, it's this one.
L'Oreal Infaillible Setting Spray Setting Mist
These are such easy everyday lip liners. Affordable, creamy enough, and the shades are actually wearable. Great when you want options without spending too much.
LA Girl Lip Liners
I’ve been using the e.l.f. color correctors for years, especially the peach one. As a brown-skin girlie, I’m already prone to hyperpigmentation, and PCOS-related acne just adds another layer to the situation. This is a great everyday color corrector ...
e.l.f. Camo Color Corrector, Hydrating & Long-Lasting
I’ve used this concealer as a spot corrector, foundation, and under eye concealer for 10+ years. It's one of those products that just does the job. I use it for under-eyes, spots, or quick touch-ups when I do not feel like doing a full face.
Fit Me® Oil-Free Concealer Face Makeup
Perhaps the best, non irritating, mascara I have ever tried. This gives my lashes a little drama without needing falsies. Good for everyday makeup when you still want your eyes to look awake and the volume is to die for.
Isadora Big Bold Mascara
For days when my skin looks dull and I need a little glow. I use it under foundation, mixed in, or just on its own when I’m keeping things simple.
Halo Glow Liquid Filter Complexion Booster
This is one of those budget foundations that surprised me. It gives decent coverage and looks nice without feeling like I spent too much on a basic base product. A solid choice for a velvet like finish on skin. This is a very light weight formula, gr...
Foundation
Best color corrector for hyperpigmentation girlies. It’s super light weight and a little goes a long way
Color Correction Makeup | e.l.f. Cosmetics
This is the kind of lip product I actually keep in my bag because it’s easy. It’s creamy, super affordable, and good for everyday use. Very low-maintenance, which I appreciate.
Essence| The Slim Stick
I use this when I want my makeup to actually stay where I put it. Its great on the days where my skin feels a tad dry, so this hydrates and has that slightly sticky feel at first, to help the makeup stick-on.
Power Grip Primer | Sticky Gel + Hyaluronic Acid | e.l.f. Cosmetics
I always need some kind of powder because my T-zone loves to announce itself halfway through the day. This is the type of product I use to tone things down, set concealer, and make my makeup last all day.
Photo Focus Loose Setting Powder | Translucent - Wet n Wild
This is a “my skin but better” type of concealer. It's really ligh-weight but gives a decent amount of coverage and it feels more forgiving, especially when my skin texture is not behaving. Super easy to blend, and layer.
Bare With Me Concealer Serum | NYX Professional Makeup
A teeny tiny bit goes a long way, so don’t attack your face with it. I like it because it gives that healthy blush look without needing to spend rare-beauty-level money.
Camo Liquid Blush - e.l.f. Cosmetics
A one stroke, easy to wear, easy to apply eyeshadow stick that is perfect for those days where you don't want to put a lot of effort into your look but wanna look like a bronzed and shiny babe.
Clean Eye Color Eyeshadow Sticks | COVERGIRL®
These are fun because they give you that pigmented blush look without immediately feeling high-maintenance. I like blushes that show up, especially on brown skin, but I also need them to blend before they betray me. These are good when I want my face...
Highly Pigmented Buttermelt Blush in 12 Shades - NYX Cosmetics
Higher End Options
Best setting powder on the market
Translucent Loose Setting Powder
I like pressed powder because it’s just easier to carry around than loose powder. This is good for touch-ups, especially if you’re out all day and your face starts doing its own thing. It’s one of those practical products that makes more sense once y...
Pressed Face Powder
This is absolutely worth the hype. I won't consider this a “setting” spray, its more of a finishing spray. I put this on when I've completed the look, to help melt the products together and get that flawless air-brushed look.
Charlotte Tilbury AirBrush Flawless Setting Spray
I like this for days when I want my skin to look better but I don’t want a full foundation face. It gives that softer, more casual base where your skin still looks like skin. Good for everyday makeup, especially when you want to look polished but not...
Eaze Drop Lightweight Blurring Skin Tint — Fenty Beauty
This is one of those shades I understand more as I get older. It gives a soft peachy-pink glow without looking too harsh, and the liquid formula makes it feel a bit fresher than a powder blush. I’d use this more for days when I want my makeup to look...
The Orgasm Collection - Blush, Lip Gloss, Illuminator | NARS
I’d put this in the “special effort base” category. Not something I’d waste on a random day, but when I want my foundation to sit smoother and last longer, this makes sense. Especially if I’m doing proper makeup for an event, dinner, or a long day wh...
Primer - Huda Beauty
This is the powder I’d add for people who actually set their makeup properly, especially under the eyes or around areas that crease. I like that it feels more intentional than just dusting powder everywhere and hoping for the best. For brown skin, I’...
HUDA BEAUTY Easy Bake Blurring Loose Baking & Setting Powder
This is not an everyday lightweight foundation for me. This is the “I need my face to stay on” foundation. I’d reach for it for weddings, events, long days, or anytime I need coverage that can handle heat, oil, and life happening. It’s definitely a s...
Double Wear Stay-in-Place Longwear Matte Foundation
After my favorite Marc Jacobs contour stick was discontinued for their rebrand, I had to find an equally blendable and easy to use formula to contour with. I struggled for a while to find something in the right shade and texture, and then Makeup by M...
SoftSculpt® Cream Contour & Bronzer Shaping Stick - Sephora
A little goes a long way. I love their peach color corrector and its super easy to layer additional products on top of this.
HUDA BEAUTY #FauxFilter Brightening Under Eye Color Corrector
I absolutely love these blushes. The color payoff is super worth the price and the size of the product. I even use this on my lips to add a gradient with my favorite brown lip liners.
HUDA BEAUTY Blush Filter Soft Glow Liquid Blush - Sephora
This is a great base before makeup application.
Charlotte's Magic Cream 30ml: Luxury Moisturiser With Anti-ageing ...