There are so many cosmetic products already on the market, with countless brands and prices to choose from, and more being added every day. As a result, navigating the world of makeup shopping can be overwhelming, especially if you are on a budget. Read on to find out which products you need to invest in and which ones you can get away with paying less for.
Foundation is something you absolutely should invest in. Our skin, especially around the face and neck, is the very first thing that gives away our age, so any product we use on it should be carefully selected. Cheap foundations can clog your pores, causing more bad than good in the long-run. In addition, pricier versions tend to do a much better job of masking imperfections and providing even coverage.
Don't forget to prep your skin with a good moisturizer before applying foundation. Moisturizer is another product that you shouldn't try to save on--your skin will thank you for it later. In addition, having a quality moisturizer and foundation can help you kill two birds with one stone. You can use the two products as a base for eye shadow, removing the need to spend money on an eye shadow primer.
Eye shadow is another splurge-worthy item. Cheaper shadows tend to fade and crease after a full day of wear, requiring frequent reapplication. At the end of the day, your lids are covered with layers and layers of shadow that are hard to properly blend. A versatile product that can dramatically enhance your eyes and also doubles as eyeliner is worth paying extra for.
We've all seen 'spider' lashes, which are covered in countless coats of mascara that hang off of the lashes in clumps. This is why you should invest in a quality mascara of which a quick application of just one or two coats creates long, sweeping lashes. Cheap mascaras--even the waterproof ones--tend to smudge and run at the slightest sign of moisture. Spend a little more so that you can avoid the "raccoon eyes" look even if you get caught in a rainstorm.
An eyeliner pencil is a product for which an inexpensive version will suffice. Because we are constantly blinking and rubbing our eyes, it is hard to keep eyeliner looking neat for long periods of time--even if using the most expensive brands, as my experience has shown. A reapplication here and there will be necessary, but you can help extend wear by fortifying the eyeliner with a layer of eye shadow. The great thing about not paying a lot for eyeliner is that you can buy several pencils in different colors, which will suit any mood and makeup look.
Eyebrow pencils and grooming tools area another area in which you can definitely save a few bucks. I own both a drugstore brand eyebrow grooming brush and one that came with an eyeliner pencil that cost about $30. Both brushes produce identical results, so I see no need to splurge on one of these. As for eyebrow pencils, what really matters is picking a shade that provides a good color match. Because you use the pencil to fill in the spaces between eyebrow hairs, the quality of individual strokes of color is hardly visible. As a result, the best quality pencil is not necessary for creating neat eyebrows.
Lip gloss is something that most women own many types of. Different colors, levels of opacity, textures--the choices are endless. Most drugstore have succeeded at creating affordable lip glosses that don't sacrifice lasting power. Like eyeliner, I can't imagine owning just one, so I recommend getting several inexpensive lip glosses that you can mix and match with your other makeup to create different looks. If you get tired of any one, you will be able to toss it without having to feel guilty over how much you paid for it.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
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