If you’ve ever splurged on a $50+ eyeshadow palette just to only use like, two shades and then let the rest of the palette sit in the back of your vanity for years, you’re not alone. Sure, the palette is great quality, has good blendability, pigment, and is smudge-proof, but was it really worth the pretty penny that you spent on all of those eyeshadows, when you don’t even end up using the full range of shades? Not really. That’s why we’ve come up with a list of cheap eye shadow palettes that are just as good as the expensive ones, but like, a fraction of the price.
via Giphy
Read on to find out about the best cheap eyeshadow palettes that are just as good as the pricier ones and still completely in your budget.
Profusion Cosmetics Siennas Eyeshadow Palette, $10
One of the largest palettes on our list also happens to be one of the cheapest. With 21 different shades ranging from mattes, velvets, and shimmers, to nudes, warmer hues, and deep browns, the Profusion Cosmetics’ Siennas palette has it all — without sacrificing quality. Each shade is super blendable, goes on smoothly, and is true to the hue that you see in the palette. And at just 10 bucks, it might just replace a certain set of “unclothed” shades that you have sitting on your vanity right now.
Courtesy of Profusion Cosmetics
Milani Everyday Eyeshadow Palette, $11
Milani’s Everyday Eyeshadow Palette includes two matte and four shimmer eyeshadows to build and blend any look you could possibly want. There are eight different versions of the palette to cater to your go-to look, whether it’s a smoky, nude, or bright, colorful eye. The shadows themselves are richly pigmented so you don’t need to use a lot of it to create a look.
Courtesy of Milani
ColourPop Mar Pressed Powder Eyeshadow, $12
If you’ve never used a ColourPop product, then you’re missing out on makeup that is super pigmented and long-lasting for a cheap price. Not only does this palette contain nine pans of bronzes and rich teals that are perfect for a summer vacay lewk, it also contains a mirror. While that might sound like a minor detail to some, as someone who is chronically late and does her makeup in the back of an Uber more often than not, the convenience of a built-in mirror is life-altering. But if the mirror doesn’t sell you, the rich colors should. The palette contains El Rey, a metallic soft peach with gold pearl; Wild One, a metallic rich orange copper; Detour, a matte cobalt; Boozy, a metallic orange with gold pearl; Gridlock, a bright teal with silver and teal glitter; Sorbet, a matte peachy soft brown; Hwy, a satin sea foam green with a gold sheen; Top Down, a matte dark chocolate; and My Way, a metallic true vibrant bronze.
Courtesy of ColourPop
BH Cosmetics Aurora Lights Eyeshadow Palette, $18
If you’re extra AF and super good at blending your eyeshadows, then this palette is for you. BH Cosmetics, masters of creating affordable and extremely pigmented eyeshadow palettes, recently launched their Aurora Lights Eyeshadow palette as a part of their BH Galaxy Collection. The palette contains 18 different shades and while all of the high shine shimmers and bold shades are obviously anything but neutral, all of the colors in this all-star palette are suitable for everything from defining your crease and blending to lining and smudging. And at $18 for 18 shades, you’re only paying $1 a shade, so even if you don’t use each shade down to the pan, you shouldn’t feel too bad because the entire palette is still super affordable.
Courtesy of BH Cosmetics
NYX Full Throttle Shadow Palette, $10
If you’re looking for a small compact that you can throw in your purse on-the-go but still be able to create a multitude of looks with, NYX’s Full Throttle palette is your best bet. While the palette only contains four shades, the color payoff and blendability allows you to create a multitude of looks from a nude to a super bright, metallic one — all for just 10 bucks.
Courtesy of NYX
e.l.f. Rose Gold Eyeshadow Palette, $10
To round up our list of cheap eyeshadow palettes, we, of course, had to include the notoriously inexpensive drugstore brand e.l.f. The pan contains a mix of shimmers and mattes to create multidimensional looks from nude and subtle, to bright and bold.
Courtesy of e.l.f.
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When we have issues with mascara, we’re having general issues in life. Is your mascara running? Must be crying over too much Taco Bell. Is your mascara flaking? Too many hours spent ignoring work emails. Is your mascara becoming soft, sad rings around your eyes, making you look like a trash panda? Must have spent hours binging documentaries about gluten intolerance on Netflix. Whatever your mascara problem, we have the solution, and it isn’t spending $60 on a small tube full of black eyelash glue. Some of the best mascaras can be found right behind the magical doors of your local drug store, so thank us later when your lashes STILL look flawless.
1. L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Original Mascara
This isn’t SUPER volumizing, but it does make your lashes look significantly longer AND keeps your lashes curled (if you’re taking this extra step during makeup application … bravo).
2. Maybelline Volum’Express The Falsies Mascara
Adds volume (as evidenced by its super creative name), fans out your lashes, and keeps em curled—this shit is great for thin lashes that need a little weight to them.
3. L’Oréal Voluminous Carbon Black Volume Building Mascara
Wanna look like you’re sporting falsies without actually gluing them on? Grab a tube of this, which also will make your lashes look SUPER dark… like, more so than the majority of other mascaras. Black like our souls is a good thing in this case.
4. Jordana Cosmetics Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara
It’s cheap, it doesn’t flake, and it gives your lashes a boost—all things you should be packing in your makeup bag. Plus, at like $4 per tube, it’s INSANELY affordable. Shit, even if you hate it, you didn’t waste $10 on it. That’s like, a cup of coffee.
5. CoverGirl LashBlast Plumpify BlastPro Mascara
Jesus Christ, can you just read the name of this mascara out loud for me? Who sits in these mascara naming meetings and comes up with this shit? Anyway, the thick brush lets you wrap every lash in mascara, leading to a stellar and fake-looking (in a good way) lashes.
6. Almay One Coat Multi-Benefit Mascara
Almay is great for people who are allergic to everything, and this mascara is included. It has a totally normal-sized brush, plus just a good all-around mascara that’s good after two coats AND buildable for more drama.
