How To: Look Beaut on a Budget

(I apologize in advance for poor pic quality. There was a snowstorm outside my door because CANADA and my house has windows everywhere you turn).

We are so quick to pick up makeup for a very STEEP price point and disregard gems in the drugstore because, like, it wasn’t worn by a Kardashian or something? But like the wavy eyebrow trend, we REALLY need to leave that in 2017. Because I’ve found some serious treasures in my local Pharmaprix and elsewhere for under 20$ a pop.

Basically, I am attempting to do the impossible and am giving you products you can create a full face look with for under $100. MADNESS, I know.

For foundation, I couldn’t narrow it down to just one bad boy so you get three. You’re welcome!

L’Oreal Infallible Foundation

My absolute favorite one though, would have to be the L’oreal Infallible Foundation (glow not matte because matte skin we are ALSO leaving in 2017 fyi). I found this foundation when cruising the aisles of a Jean Coutu up north with an ex-boyfriend. By the end of the mini shopping-spree I did there, I got to the checkout counter; I had this foundation, a coloured eyebrow gel from Nyx, I think a mascara and a concealer from Maybeline. My total was roughly around $70. I’m just remembering all this because my ex was appalled that I’d spend that on makeup and I told him this was relatively “good” for 4 products. His mom chimed in saying, “Yeah, brand named products cost a fortune. This IS good,” and she went on to lecture him about how the only difference between drugstore and Sephora makeup is you’re just paying for the name (as if he cared even a little) but her point was 100% valid. All that to say, this foundation may even beat out some of my favorite high end ones.

What I love about this foundation is it has a very dewy finish (hence, the name) and feels like WATER on the skin which means my dehydrated skin has nothing but respect for it. It’s medium coverage but I’ve found you can build it towards full on the spectrum and with the combined concealer on top, no blemishes, birthmarks, or redness shine through. I haven’t used this in a MINUTE but talking about it now I will DEFINITELY pull it back into my foundation rotation. I would say the only negative to this is that I haven’t had it in my foundation rotation in awhile BECAUSE it expired and I need to get a new one. There are certain makeup products (especially mascaras and liquid foundations) that “go bad” after 6 months which is why you HAVE to clean out your makeup closet every spring or so. When I tried to apply this last, it bubbled up on my skin (i.e: bunches of the product form together to look like your skin is flaking. My skin is dry but not THAT dry). Not a good look. Plus I had to start all over from washing my face after that—big time waster (first world problems). So, always remember to turn your products over every few months. This is something people never talk about but we all need to be in on!

L’oreal True Match

Basically what this foundation sounds like... is exactly what it is. I’m convinced that L’Oréal has newfound technology that melts your skin colour in with their formula because it really is a perfect shade match. I also love this for its crazy range of shades. They have it all and in between. At my palest, (aka my true skin tone) I am the palest shade depicted well by the name: Porcelain (don’t act surprised—one time I had to mix white face paint in with my foundation because the palest colour available to me still wasn’t the RIGHT pale for me). When I use chemicals all over my body in the hopes of looking more attractive to the world, I am usually the shade natural buff; unless I’ve had previous sun exposure then sometimes I’m a bit darker. I love this foundation because it’s very liquidy yet you can spot it all over face looking like a cheetah without it dripping galore right away! It’s also buildable coverage and makes for a flawless finish. I have ALWAYS gotten compliments on my skin when wearing this foundation. This is roughly between $18-21 depending on if there are sales. This may come off as expensive to you for low-end in which case I’d go with the Fit Me liquid foundation by Maybeline because it fits like a glove. It acts as the same coverage and everything as True Match does. I’d say it’s a dupe and on a good day (on sale) I’ve found this steal for as low as 5$! I’m one shade over at my palest in this: Natural Ivory, so if your pigmentation is anything like mine you’ll be snatching this one off the shelves as well. This is also a big fave. I have been using this on a day to day basis for months (on account of being out of the True Match).

Another star product is the Maybeline Cushion foundation. I love this foundation which I usually use on a constant when self tanned, mainly because it’s the perfect tone for my self tanned a$$ but also, for the cushion itself. I am a big fan of cushion foundations for their utter simplicity added to my life.

Firstly, they come with the cushion to apply to your face so you don’t even need to find another tool. Yes, yes, and yes! Sounds like something I’d sign up for without even trying it (#lazygirlbeauty101).

Secondly, the cushion never picks up too much product so you don’t waste any.

Thirdly, I love this because you can build up on coverage again. But, with minimal application it looks flawless too. At this point, however; it just looks like your skin, but better. There’s something so lightweight about this formula that even if you apply full coverage it doesn’t look or feel like it. It, of course, covers and blurs imperfections but it NEVER looks cakey even with powders on top! It’s basically the L’Oréal Lumi cushion but again I found this at a much less steep price point.

It’s the same though. Packaging and all. Don’t fall for the hype. This does take a bit longer to get a full face in the morning so if you’re somebody that ain’t got time for that, it’s not for you.

Contour/Bronzer

The contour and bronzer that is interchangeable and I actually use everyday of my LIFE is the mini hoola bronzer by Benefit. Technically, this is high end but it’s just as cheap if not CHEAPER than drugstore bronzers such as the butter bronzer by Physician’s Formula. And trust me when I say a little goes a long way. Like, I bought the MINI two years ago and I still haven’t hit pan on it. The miniature version is $15 but it’s honestly much more worth it than the regular one since it’s lasted me this long and does the same thing. Companies will have you thinking that you need the full size but it’s a waste of money and makeup storage space. Unless you put so much bronzer you look like an Orangutang or the U.S. President, you can also see through that. The color itself is so versatile and can work on so many complexions. I wear it when tanned or pale and either way it compliments it well. How I usually like to wear it is after I’ve put my Kat Von D shade and light contour kit all on the high and low points of my face and after I’ll bake it (interestingly, I’ll use cream products to “help out my dry skin” and thereafter, I’ll wait 10 minutes for POWDER to sink into my fine lines...) and only THEN I’ll reiterate the contoured places with this bronzer. It’s the most perfect bronzed golden tone that also works year round!

Setting Powder

My go-to for setting powder that is low-end, low price point is ALSO something I use for every makeup look. It’s the Gosh setting powder and it’s pretty mattifying, but let’s be honest, what setting powder ISN’T? It gives a flawless finish and is highly comparable to setting powders I’ve had in the past like the MAC cosmetics transculent powder and the Laura Mercier one. The one thing I’ll say for this is if I use it to bake then try to Tinder swipe to the right because SOMETHING finally looks good enough, it leaves a white cast (similarly to when they look good but then you realize he wasn’t the one you wanted in the group photo or you get to their bio and they have a strange foot fetish). So anyway, point being, you have to really make sure you wipe that all off or else you’ll be leaving the house looking like Casper.

Blush

For blush, (especially in the summer time) I like to use the Nyx ombré blush. All the shades are gorgeous and vibrant so that’s why it’s highly suggestible for the summer and spring seasons. I have the shade Feel the Heat, which is a very bold orange-pink color. Like coral, but more intense; like coral ON FIRE. I love that it’s ombre because it has that duo effect. If you want the ombré look itself your cheeks can start off light rose petal pink and intensify into that bold coral. If you want you can use the colors individually. It’s like having two full sized blushes in one. Because that’s essentially what it is.

Eyeshadow

Probably my favorite makeup product in general is eyeshadow: individuals and palettes. So, this really does have to be my FAVORITE low-end palette because I wouldn’t do eyeshadow dirty like that. So a staple I’ve been using since legitimately LAST YEAR here and there has been *drumroll please* the Maybeline Blushed Nudes collection. I have used this on many skin pigmentations including oriental and it looks beautiful on all. And I’ve used it to recreate many looks but the one that it works best for is bridal because it’s filled with light pinks and violet tones. It’s super pigmented and has a few metallic colors such as a rose gold tone in it that if you use with fix + you can really accentuate any eye look to its maximum potential. A must have staple for any collection. I will say that some of these colors aren’t as pigmented as certain high end ones and you might have to pick up more product or use fix + on them. Other than that, it’s an EXACT Naked 2 Dupe. The color scheme is even duplicated here.

Brows

Good brows is something that sets every woman on the right path in life. So, naturally, I had to find that Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz but for MUCH less. And that is the Nyx Microbrow pencil. It is literally the same packaging and all. The spoolee is the same; the size of the pencil tip, the iconic thin-ness of the pencil, EVERYTHING is the same. The only thing is it’s not as creamy so you may have to color in between the lines of your brows for longer. But really, a couple extra seconds in the mirror is NOT the end of the world when it costed you 12$ instead of 30$ and your brows look THIS good.

I have been a blonde and used taupe and I use brunette for my coloring right now. I was unable to snag the right color match for my hair right now but the lighter brown shade still worked. Moral is, get em before they go because everyone is finding out about this dream product.

Mascara

I actually gasped when I got to the mascara portion of this novel right now. I GASPED. Because mascara is my life. I can leave the house in no makeup; hair a mess, but if I have ANY kind of mascara on my lashes I feel like I’m ruling the world. At least I think that. And my favorite one on the market for less has and always will be: Covergirl’s Super Sizer Fibres Mascara (I think they make the names like this on purpose—like, try saying that 5 times fast). I swear to Moses, that I’ve worn this one and received more compliments on my lash length than with my high end favorites like Grandiose Lancôme, Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir, or Lancôme Monsieur Big. It gives a very spidery legs on your eyes kind of look: which means, VERY thick and long. That may not be for everyone, but it is for me. The sole reason that I don’t wear this every damn day is because it does take longer than most to take off with your average makeup remover. And ya girl’s tired at the end of the day.

Lips

I MAY have a slight favoritism to Nyx, I’m now realizing. Because this list seems like I’m promoting them. I mean, if they wanted to, I’d be more than happy to oblige. My favorite lipstick low end would HAVE to be Nyx’s liquid lingerie collection. My two favorites are Corset which is a brown Taupey colour (which a friend once said made me look dead... it’s not called CORPSET OK) but I like that look. I like to keep people guessing if I’m alive or not you know. The second which is more wearable and something I reach for more is Babydoll. This is a pinky-peach colour. Because of my pale complexion with pink undertones, I usually can’t wear too many pink nudes, but this one, even if you have skin similar to mine, will do wonders for you too.

My favorite lip liner is shockingly enough the Nyx Creamy lip liner in Nude Suede Shoes. This was not intentional I swear to God I wear this with every makeup look to overline my lips JUST a bit and then go over it with any given liquid lip. It has worked better for me than any Mac one out there and glides on like a dream. It also has a satin finish which I love that blends in well with any top coat.

Eyebrow Gel

I like to set my eyebrows as the next to last step. I would like to say because I don’t want them to move at all. But that’s what you’d say if you actually did it right away. But realistically, it’s because I forget until I’m almost done everything. The BEST eyebrow setting gel I’ve ever tried low end was the L’Oréal brow plumping one in clear. It’s cheap, and very much the same as the Benefit one with fibres in it to plump up the eyebrow game. I mean, it’s literally the same. AGAIN. It stays all day and you could get coloured ones but this one ALSO has the fibres in it and I just prefer clear in any eyebrow gel. It gives a lot of volume to those furry beasts.

The setting spray of choice here is the Mist and Fix Dewy finish by ...Nyx. DON’T HATE OK. THEY HAVE SUPER AMAZEBALLS PRODUCTS. This is pretty standard: keeps your face from falling off; feels refreshing, keeps your skin glowy af and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. I’ve had my bottle a year and used it often enough and I’m just getting my last spritzes in now, if that tells you anything, too.

Shoutout to you if you made it to the end of this article. You the real MVP.

Everyone’s going to come for me because I don’t have a LOW end HIGH light (see what I did there) I particularly love.

Hit me up if it’s from Nyx; if not, I won’t believe you (KIDDING).