With so many affordable makeup options, it’s possible for anyone on a budget to built an entire routine. Certain brands are known for stand-out products. Finding the right products is easy when it doesn’t cost a lot to try out different formulations and colors. To start to building a budget-friendly makeup routine, try these highly rated products from popular affordable brands. Read on for our picks for the best affordable makeup from each brand.
Catrice
An often overlooked brand, Catrice has some affordable gems for makeup lovers. They are particularly strong when it comes to brighteners, concealers and powders.
Catrice | Under Eye Brightener | Conceal & Brighten Dark Circles
The Catrice Under Eye Brightener contains shea butter and hyaluronic acid for added hydration. The pink color balances out bluish toned dark circles. At less than $10*, it’s a must-have for anyone with undereye darkness. Pair with the undereye brighting powder for best results.
True Skin High Cover Concealer
Catrice’s true skin high cover concealer is lightweight, waterproof and lasts up to 18 hours. It contains hyaluronic acid for hydration – perfect for normal to dry skin.
Colourpop
Colourpop has everything a makeup lover needs – colorful and neutral palettes, plumping lip glosses and foundations. They frequenlty release new products and collections, so you’ll never be bored.
ColourPop So Juicy Plumping Lip Liner with Peptides
The So Juicy Plumping liners are great for a natural looking fuller lip. It comes in several neutral tones – perfect for filling in the lips for all-day color.
The Colourpop Super Shock Shadow creates a great one and done eye makeup look. The shadows are highly pigmented, easy to blend and come in a wide range of colors. For less than $10, you can pick up enough to create your own palette of colors for less than a high end eyeshadow palette.
Essence
Essence is a super affordable brand with several stand-out prodcuts. From mascaras to highlighers, Essence offers a wide range of products so you can build an entire routine without emptying your bank account.
essence | Lash Princess False Lash Waterproof Mascara
Essence’s Lash Princess has become a holy grail product for many beauty lovers. It lengthens, volumizes and separates without clumps. The waterproof version stays put rain or shine. For around $5, there’s no reason to splurge on pricey mascaras.
essence | Pure NUDE Highlighter
For those who think highlighters are too shimmery, essence’s Pure Nude Highlighter offers a subtle, natural glow that won’t blind others. It’s easy to blend, highlighting your features effortlessly.
Maybelline
As a long-standing affordable and accessible brand, Maybelline has had a lot of hits over the years. It’s hard to choose just a couple of their best, but their concealers in particular seem to stand out from the rest.
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Multi-Use Concealer
Undereye circles stressing you out? Maybelline’s Dark Circle eraser concealer has you covered. The sponge tip applicator allows for easy application, the peachy color counters dark circles. It comes in different shades and can be used for redness, highlighting and contour.
Maybelline New York Fit Me Liquid Concealer
Maybelline’s fit me concealer works for any concern – blemishes, discoloration, undereye circles. It’s also good for highlighting. It’s a light-weight concealer that won’t clog pores or settle into lines.
Milani
Milani offers high end quality at budget friendly prices. They boast a range of highly rated products, from blush and lipgloss to concealers and foundations. Their baked blushes and lip oils are particularly popular.
Milani Conceal + Perfect Undereye Brightener
With a convenient sponge applicator and hyaluronic acid plus niacinimide, Milani’s Conceal + Perfect underey brightener is must-try undereye concealer. It’s the perfect consistency for the delicate undereye area and it’s hydrating formula keeps it from settling into lines.
Milani’s lip oils contain vitamin E and shea butter for extra hydration. They are lighlty flavored and provide suble color. The lip oils are the perfect consistency – not to oily and not too thick.
Nyx
NYX has a variety of fun and quality products. Their buttermelt blushes, bronzers and highlighters are particularly popular.
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Buttermelt Powder Blush
The Buttermelt blushes are highly pigmented, soft and leave a gorgeous color. They come in a range of shades from light pink to coral. These blushes apply like a dream, so you never have to splurge on blush.
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP The Brow Glue
Have brows that need serious taming? NYX brow glue offers 16 hour extreme hold. It’s non sticky and comes in clear plus four other shades. At around $10, it’s a great product for quick and easy brows.
Rimmel
Rimmel has been an affordable and fun brand that’s known for their large pan natural bronzers and mascaras. Sometimes Rimmel is overlooked for flashier brand, but it has quality staple products and very affordable price points.
Rimmel London Natural Bronzer, Matte Finish
Rimmel’s natural bronzer is perfect for a matte, natural looking glow that’s waterproof and lasts up to 10 hours. The large pan and low cost (less than $6) means your getting value and quality.
Rimmel London Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer Eyeliner
There’s no need to splurge on a good waterproof eyeliner when Rimmel makes one for less than $5. The Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer Eyeliner has thousands of five star reviews and offers up to 10 hours of wear. It also has a built-in smudger and sharpener – everything anyone would need in an eyeliner.
Wet n’ Wild
Wet n’ Wild is one of the best super affordable makeup brands. It offers everything – from foundations to setting mists. It also puts out fun collections often, including Disney Villians and Hello Kitty.
wet n wild Photo Focus Dewy Liquid Foundation Makeup
Wet n’ Wild’s Photo Focus Dewy foundation is comparable to much pricier medium to full coverage foundations. At less than $5, it’s a steal and perfect for those on a tight budget. It offers a matte finish that won’t leave a white cast in photos.
wet n wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Makeup 5 Pan Palette – Walking on Eggshells
Many makeup enthusiasts remember when palettes were new to regular consumers. Wet n Wild’s Walking on Eggshells palette was one of the first affordable shadow palettes. It has stood the test of time and makes the perfect everyday eye palette. In addition, the pallete will set you back only around $5.
Many products on this list are less than a cup of coffee at your favorite shop. And with powder products lasting months, they can be a great investment. Another upside of budget makeup is that it allows you to try more products to find what works best for you.
- prices referenced are those listed on Amazon at time of publication
