Growing-up, I always loved to experiment with makeup and that passion has turned me into a beauty-obsessed college student — on a budget, of course. I’m all for good quality makeup products, but I hate the price tag that often comes with luxury beauty items. With that being said, here are my picks for beauty products that don’t break the bank.
L’Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream Anti-Redness
I found this product on Tik Tok and it took me three weeks to find it because it went “viral”. I was scared it was overhyped and that it wasn’t going to be worth it but it is a great lightweight replacement for foundation. A little goes a long way so you will have the bottle for months. This is one Tik Tok trend I can get behind.
Shop: L’Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream Anti-Redness, $10.99
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
This one has been my “go-to” for a while now and I continue to use it to this day. It is buildable and I love the way it’s easy to blend. I usually get this one in a lighter shade to use it for my highlighting points and under eyes to cover dark circles. Recently, however, I have gotten it in my actual skin tone as I am reducing my makeup and usually only wearing concealer if anything.
Shop: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer, $5.34-$8.88
Wet n Wild MegaGlo Contouring Palette
I rarely ever contour and I never learned how to properly do it without making my face look dirty, but about a year ago, I was going to a wedding and wanted to try something new. I was in search of a cheap, easy contouring palette for a below beginner level makeup artist and came across this one. I mainly use the darker shade only for contour and don’t use the highlighting side but this is a great option if you don’t know how to contour just yet and want to start somewhere.
Shop: Wet N Wild MegaGlo Contouring Palette, $3.98
Elf HD Powder
I convinced another girl on my squad to do my makeup before one of our games and she used this product. I left the game and bought it at Walgreens that night. I use it under my eyes to “bake” and on my forehead and around my lips to mask any lines. I’ve made the mistake before so make sure you wipe all of the residue off so you don’t have white under eyes when you use flash during photos.
Shop: Elf HD Powder, $6.00
L’Oreal True Match Super Blendable Powder
This is a middle school OG product for me. I love using this as a finisher and always have one handy with me in my purse or backpack to touch up if I get dewy or greasy looking. It has been great to use for touch-ups once I take my mask off. This powder really helps you keep a matte face and set your whole face.
Shop: L’Oreal True Match Super Blendable Powder, $11.49
L’Oreal Infallible Pro Spray and Set
My go-to setting spray in high school was Urban Decay’s “All Nighter” but as I got to college and couldn’t afford that anymore, I found this amazing dupe! It is lightweight and holds my makeup in place all day. I have found that it does a great job at keeping my makeup intact even when wearing a mask!
Shop: L’Oreal Infallible Pro Spray and Set, $11.29
L’Oreal Voluminous Base White Mascara
Although I’m not completely sold that mascara needs a primer sometimes, this is my go-to one when I know I’m going to be wearing mascara for a long time. I find it’s best to use a smaller amount so that there isn’t any white sneaking through your black mascara.
Shop: L’Oreal Voluminous Base White Mascara, $8.69
Maybelline Superstay Ink Crayon
I use this as both a lip liner and actual lipstick. It also works great under lip gloss or your favorite lipstick. I am not a huge fan of lipstick so this is a great option for those who want a little color without a thick layer of lipstick.
Shop: Maybelline Superstay Ink Crayon, $13.63
Maybelline Lifter Gloss
My brother’s girlfriend introduced me to this product and I fell in love instantly. Growing up, I hated glosses because they were sticky and you always had to reapply every two seconds. This gloss comes in amazing colors and is not sticky at all. I promise you, I tried sticking my hair to it and nothing. It also lasts longer than other glosses I’ve tried. I use the shade “Ice” nearly everyday but also have “Silk” to add some color if needed.
Shop: Maybelline Lifter Gloss, $7.99
What are the makeup products that you swear by? Let us know in the comments below!
