This post was trickier to write than I imagined. With a good number of cosmetics under $100, I knew I really didn't want to showcase only drugstore brands yet I found it hard to show a $55 makeup palette because I didn't think a lot of people would consider that "budget." I ended up with a mix of both drugstore and prestige items that I thought delivered the most bang for your buck:
Top row//
The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes // One of the things I miss about working in the airline industry is being able to visit cities that had better shopping. I used to make day trips to Charlotte to shop in their SouthPark Mall; fly into CLT in the early AM, catch the last flight out of the day. One of the stores I miss being able to shop in the most is The Body Store. Their items are great quality, unfussy, and easy to work with. This eyeshadow quad is gorgeous with great pigment and is one of my most-used eye shadows.
Avon Glimmersticks eyeliner // I have used these since high school. I've tried every eyeliner from Wet 'n Wild to Bobbi Brown but I always come crawling back to Avon's 3/$10 Glimmerstick promotions.
Eco Tools Brushes // Hands down amongst the best makeup brushes I've ever used. They're very affordable (usually under $15), hold up well, and the synthetic bristles are super soft. I have some that are going on five years and are still in great shape. I don't know any other $10 blush brush that can say that.
Bottom row//
Cover Girl Lip Perfection lipstick // I had read several reviews that considered these lipsticks to be on par with MAC so I was intrigued to try them. Are they MAC quality? Not really but for the $5-6 price tag they work very nicely. The quality is good and the color selection is also usually pretty good, depending on the store you're in. I highly recommend the Spellbound (hot pink), Delight (strawberry pink), and Siren (pinkish-purple) shades.
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara // Another thing I've been using since high school. I like the BIG lash version just a hint better than the original because I think it gives more volume which is what I need. Also, the iconic bottle is based on Lilly Pulitzer's designs so that gives it extra points in my book.
OPI nail polish // OPI has the best quality nail polish on the market and it's also under $10 a bottle. I'd rather have one OPI than 4-5 cheap polishes. The only thing I'm not impressed with about OPI is the color selection. I like a bit more unusual polish colors and to me OPI is filled with mostly reds and pinks.
Laura Mercier Flawless Face Kit // I actually bought this kit for the two full size brushes it comes with. One is a tiny laser-point concealer brush for hiding pimples and the other one is for covering under eye circles. Both are incredible, as well as the concealer that comes in the kit. The brushes and concealer are my #1 picks for the best cosmetics that I own. The powder, tinted moisturizer, and primer that come with the kit are okay (you may like them better than I do) but seriously, get the brushes and concealer. This $65 kit is worth it when you realize that the brushes are $28 each and the concealer & powder pot is $34 (and is wonderful to keep in your bag for emergencies).
Shop budget beauty here:
Top row//
The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes // One of the things I miss about working in the airline industry is being able to visit cities that had better shopping. I used to make day trips to Charlotte to shop in their SouthPark Mall; fly into CLT in the early AM, catch the last flight out of the day. One of the stores I miss being able to shop in the most is The Body Store. Their items are great quality, unfussy, and easy to work with. This eyeshadow quad is gorgeous with great pigment and is one of my most-used eye shadows.
Avon Glimmersticks eyeliner // I have used these since high school. I've tried every eyeliner from Wet 'n Wild to Bobbi Brown but I always come crawling back to Avon's 3/$10 Glimmerstick promotions.
Eco Tools Brushes // Hands down amongst the best makeup brushes I've ever used. They're very affordable (usually under $15), hold up well, and the synthetic bristles are super soft. I have some that are going on five years and are still in great shape. I don't know any other $10 blush brush that can say that.
Bottom row//
Cover Girl Lip Perfection lipstick // I had read several reviews that considered these lipsticks to be on par with MAC so I was intrigued to try them. Are they MAC quality? Not really but for the $5-6 price tag they work very nicely. The quality is good and the color selection is also usually pretty good, depending on the store you're in. I highly recommend the Spellbound (hot pink), Delight (strawberry pink), and Siren (pinkish-purple) shades.
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara // Another thing I've been using since high school. I like the BIG lash version just a hint better than the original because I think it gives more volume which is what I need. Also, the iconic bottle is based on Lilly Pulitzer's designs so that gives it extra points in my book.
OPI nail polish // OPI has the best quality nail polish on the market and it's also under $10 a bottle. I'd rather have one OPI than 4-5 cheap polishes. The only thing I'm not impressed with about OPI is the color selection. I like a bit more unusual polish colors and to me OPI is filled with mostly reds and pinks.
Laura Mercier Flawless Face Kit // I actually bought this kit for the two full size brushes it comes with. One is a tiny laser-point concealer brush for hiding pimples and the other one is for covering under eye circles. Both are incredible, as well as the concealer that comes in the kit. The brushes and concealer are my #1 picks for the best cosmetics that I own. The powder, tinted moisturizer, and primer that come with the kit are okay (you may like them better than I do) but seriously, get the brushes and concealer. This $65 kit is worth it when you realize that the brushes are $28 each and the concealer & powder pot is $34 (and is wonderful to keep in your bag for emergencies).
Shop budget beauty here:
Great roundup! Thanks for sharing :) I was wondering if you could also review Vain Pursuits? I'd love to hear your thoughts on their products!
ReplyDeleteI actually haven't heard of Vain Pursuits but it sounds really interesting. I signed up for an invitation and hopefully I'll get it soon!
ReplyDelete