On a college budget and can’t spend hundreds of dollars on high-end beauty products that everyone is raving about? Look no further! Here are my top 5 favorite beauty products that don’t make a dent in the wallet while still being able to look amazing.
5. NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream $6.49
The NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams are my favorite everyday lip colors. The formula is soft and with a mousse-like consistency but still dries down matte after about five minutes. Be aware that this is not a liquid lipstick formula, so they are not incredibly pigmented or long-lasting. I like the natural look it gives the lips, so it doesn’t stand out if you are going for a subtle everyday look. What makes this one of my favorites is how comfortable the formula is on the lips.
4. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer $9.99
I have insane dark circles under my eyes. I am extremely picky with my concealers and fell in love with the high-end Tarte Shape Tape concealer. Since that is a bit pricey, I went on a hunt for the next best concealer, which led me to the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer. The formula is thin and not cakey like many other concealers. The pigmented formula blends really well under the eyes and gives a slight, but flattering luminosity. This has been and still is my favorite drugstore concealer, despite my dislike for the sponge applicator.
3. Wet n Wild MegaGlo Highlight Powder $4.99
I love having some glow with most of my makeup looks. For me, how much glow I want depends on the day. Some days I want to have a pretty luminosity and other days I want my highlight to blind the gods. The Wet n Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder gives me both of those options in a single product. I can build this highlight to the intensity I want it to be without it immediately going on too harsh. This also doesn’t give me a grey look in some lighting and angles.
2. Maybelline Fit Me! Foundation $7.99
(Matte and Poreless or Dewy and Smooth)
I am just as picky with foundation as I am with concealer. I typically go for high-end foundations because I have a hard time finding a medium to the full-coverage foundation with a satin/natural finish that will blend into my skin without becoming cakey. My skin is dry some seasons and oily in others. This is the only drugstore foundation that works for me. I use the matte and poreless formula just because I lean a tiny bit more oily than dry. The dewy and smooth formula is more thin and sheer, resulting in a natural look. While many foundations usually apply better using one specific method, the Maybelline Fit Me foundation applies well using most methods. I personally prefer using a brush or a sponge to get the look I like.
1. L’oreal Lash Paradise $9.99
The L’oreal Lash Paradise mascara is my top drugstore product because lashes will make or break any makeup look for me and this makes my lashes longer and more voluminous than any other mascara I have ever tried. The applicator is soft and evenly coats all of my lashes without making them excessively clumpy. Not to mention, the packaging is totally cute for it being a drugstore product.
See something you like? Go and get it! Trust me, it will worth your time and money, even on a college budget.
(All prices are from ulta.com as of November 6 2018)