Makeup somehow always helps me feel better. Whether it’s a full face of makeup, lipstick, or mascara, makeup is like a security blanket to me. Wearing mascara and lipstick makes me feel like I have my life together. If I am having a hard day, then I really like to do full-coverage makeup.
I realize not all of us can afford our favorite makeup items all the time because, let’s be honest, they can be pricey. But let me show you some of my top choices for must-have makeup items depending on my budget.
I love makeup but I am not a makeup professional. Most of the time, I like to keep my looks natural or skin friendly. I am bad at contour so I don’t do contour, but I do cover most of the bases for a makeup look.
Moisturizer/Primer
Applying a daily moisturizer or primer is a new step in my routine. Here are a few great options.
Willing Beauty Daydream Illuminating Day Moisturizer: $24. This moisturizer has been my favorite moisturizer because it doesn’t make my face greasy, and it serves as a primer before applying my makeup.
Colour Pop Natural Matte Primer: $12. This primer has helped me moisturize my skin with no fear of breaking out or it feeling too heavy. While it’s not fully a moisturizer, I do still enjoy wearing it during those days when I skip my foundation or tinted moisturizer.
Foundation/Tinted Moisturizer
I enjoy a foundation that can provide good coverage without feeling like my face is 10 pounds heavier. In this category, I’ve found not only two perfect items but four! At various price ranges, they just know how to do a good job.
Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Oil Free Liquid Foundation: $6.99. This foundation has been my go-to for years. It is not oily. It does last and just does wonders for my skin.
Willing Beauty Get Set SPF30 Tinted Primer: $24. This is the best of all worlds for me. It’s a tinted moisturized primer, and it has SPF 30. This becomes my go-to during my son’s football season since we have to be out in the sun for hours. The consistency of it is great, and it doesn’t make my face sweaty after being out in the sun.
L’Oréal Tue Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum: $19.99. I came across this beauty while trying to find something to match my next choice in tinted moisturizers. This foundation is great. It feels as light as a tinted moisturizer but covers as great as a foundation.
SeneGence Color Correcting Tinted Moisturizer: $45. This amazing product is expensive, but worth it. It’s definitely a splurge for me once in a while. While it is a bit over my budget, it does last for quite a while. I only buy it every 5 to 6 months. The coverage is perfect for my taste. And the best part is that it lasts hours with no grease and no stains on your clothes or masks.
Blush/Highlighter
Blush and highlighters can be scary to use, but definitely help us not to look too pale. These are two options I’m obsessed with.
Morphe 8F Fair Play Complexion Pro Face Palette: $25. This perfect palette gives you the options of various blushes, highlighters, and even bronzer if you like. I only find it at Ulta. While it’s not cheap, it is long-lasting!
Lust Beauty Cosmetics Honey, DEW ME!: $12.99. This is a great palette. It is both blush and highlighter. It has been my daily go-to for the past couple of months.
Mascara
Oh, our dear mascara! Mascara helps me so much. With mascara, my eyes automatically look bigger. But I have the worst eyelashes! They are so straight! I have found a love for waterproof mascara, as it helps me keep the curl better.
L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara: $9.99. This mascara has worked wonders. I saw it on TikTok like many of us that come across those quick videos by influencers. Being on a budget gave me the chance to try it and it’s been a good decision so far!
Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara: $28. This is my top favorite of all time! I am obsessed with this mascara. It’s not cheap but so worth it! When I can splurge, this is my must-have. My lashes get full, they hold their curl, and they don’t get short or heavy.
Eyebrows
Cristal Cosmetics Most Wanted Brow Pencil: $18. This pencil is great for the eyebrows. It helps you cover and shape your eyebrows just right. I am not a big fan of heavy eyebrows since mine are already thick, so this pencil helps me just fill the right spots.
Ulta Wet n Wild Ultimate Brow Kit: $4.79. I’ve used this kit for YEARS! It has been great. When I haven’t gone to my eyebrow appointment, this little powder set helps me sort of hide those extra hairs. Not to mention that the price is AMAZING! It does last a long time too.
Eyeshadows
Eyeshadows are tricky. We can go full-blown and try to use the most attractive colors to showcase our mood and style. Or you can also use neutrals and basics to just compliment your makeup. I am in between, and I’m still exploring being more adventurous in the eyeshadow area.
Lust Beauty Cosmetics Oh No! My Nudes Leaked!: $15. This cute and fun eyeshadow palette is great! Perfect colors to keep for neutrals, day, or evening looks. The price can’t beat, and the color lasts all day.
Wet n Wild Color Icon 10-Pan Eyeshadow Palette: $4.99. This palette is good when you are on a very low budget or if you are going on a trip and don’t want to take your expensive items. At my office, I keep a low-budget emergency makeup bag, and this palette is one of my go-to items. On days that I may run late and not put on makeup, this one comes to the rescue.
CMYK Next Level Eye Palette: $30. This little palette is my lifesaver. It has the perfect colors for me for those days I am really going for a natural look. They work great, and you can even multi use the colors, such as the darker one for your eyebrows or the shimmery one for a highlighter. The best part of this palette is that it contains support for blue light, so you can be in style and protected from blue light at all times.
Lipsticks
Lipstick is my second favorite makeup item. As long as I have mascara and lipstick, I consider the day a winner! These brands have helped me keep it together, even during mask times.
SeneGence LipSence and Lipgloss: $25 & $20. These products are the real deal! The LipSense is the color of your choice and preference, and you add as many coats as you like. Once you have your color set, you seal it with a lip gloss of your choice such as gloss or matte or even any other glittery color. These last for HOURS! Even if you wear a mask, the color won’t come off. They have been my favorite for a while (around 4 to 6 months, depending on wear). During our mandatory mask times, these helped me feel pretty even if I had a mask on top.
NYX Professional Makeup Soft Matte Lip Cream Lightweight Liquid Lipstick: $6.49. This product is great. I love that it’s not heavy at all, and it’s just so soft to wear. There are many color options, and the price is great!
Always beYOUtiful!
I think it’s great to always look our best and feel our best. These are just some of the items I’ve grown to love and have used for a while. I am always thinking about being positive, being me, and avoiding guilt. The majority of the sites or stores for these products offer After Pay, Sezzle, ZIP, Shop Pay, or even PayPal 4 for 4 which are great ways to spoil yourself a little bit knowing that you can stay on budget and splurge a bit. We all deserve to look glamorous any day!
For my look in this picture, I used the following products: Willing Beauty Daydream, SeneGense Tinted Moisturizer, Lust Beauty Cosmetics Honey, DEW ME!, LipSence/LipGloss, Cristal Cosmetics Eyebrow Pencil, L’Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise, CMYK Next Level Eye Palette
Originally published August 2022.
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of El Paso Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.
