Makeup is fun, but it can also be irrationally expensive. Last week, I dragged my boyfriend to Ulta to grab a new tinted moisturizer and concealer, and it totaled $85 for the two. We both mumbled “what the f*ck”, I paid, he cringed, and life went on.
While I was playing myself by getting products recommended by my favorite MUA on Instagram, it dawned on me that I should do some research and find the best drugstore dupes for my favorite products. Why pay $45 for foundation when I can pay $13.99? Am I paying more for better ingredients? No, turns out most luxury brand ingredients have the same sh*t in them as the drugstore stuff, you’re just paying for the name. Cringe.
So if your New Year’s Resolution is to save money, here are the best drugstore dupes for your favorite luxury products.
Primer
It’s been said more times than once that primer is pointless, yet we still continue to use it. There’s heavy buzz around Tatcha’s Silk Canvas Protecting Primer, which retails for a whopping $52. I’m not knocking you if you’ve purchased this in the past, but I am here to introduce you to e.l.f.’s Poreless Putty Primer, which retails for a whopping… $8! At one-sixth of the price, with great reviews, and the seal of approval from Allure, I’m gonna go ahead and deem this the dream dupe.
Foundation
When it comes to foundation options, the limit does not exist. We’ve got matte finish, silky, luminous, full-coverage, tinted moisturizer, you name it. Following the “glowy” trend, made popular by Instagram-famous MUAs such as @nikki_makeup, I decided to find a dupe for the ever popular ARMANI BEAUTY Luminous Silk Foundation ($64). My choice drugstore dupe is L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup ($12.99), which still gives the hydrating, luminous glow effect at an affordable price.
Setting Powder
Liquid foundation needs to be set with a powder (don’t ask me why, I don’t make the rules here) and any makeup lover will tell you that Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder is THE holy grail. It’s $45 of pure greatness, but, it’s $45. So, who can match up to this flawless powder? None other than Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder Makeup ($7.79). This has been praised by beauty YouTubers and regular people alike, at a price I am deeming unbeatable.
Concealer
When it comes to concealer, there are a few staples in the beauty world, one being NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. My friends have RAVED about this product for some time now, and I was always a Tarte Shape Tape cult user, but I finally tried NARS and have not been the same since. It has a more natural finish, but still covers my “I haven’t slept in years” under-eye dark circles. This bad boy retails for $30, and its dupe, NYX Professional Makeup HD Concealer retails for $3.99. Yes, you read that correctly, $3.99. The reviews are as good as the price, so this may be the most valuable dupe yet.
Blush
My first non-drugstore blush purchase was none other than NARS Orgasm, much to my parents’ dismay. It is the perfect blend of peach and pink, and gives your cheeks a flawless glow. The blush retails for $30 and has become a staple in the beauty world. So much so that there are multiple dupes in the drugstore world for this iconic shade. After some personal investigating and using my own skin as a test subject, I can say with confidence that Milani Baked Powder Blush in shade Luminoso 05 is the closest to the real (expensive) thing. It retails for $9.49 and is praised by all those who use it.
Bronzer
If you’re like me, meaning you’re so pale it scares people, it can often be difficult to find the perfect bronzer without looking Oopma Loompa orange (this should be a crayon name). The Marc Jacobs Beauty O!Mega Bronzer Coconut Perfect Tan is kind of amazing because they somehow managed to make only two shades that work with a wide range of skin tones. The bronzer retails for $49, which is a bit of a splurge in my book, so I often go with my favorite drugstore dupe, NYX Professional Makeup Matte Body Bronzer. This one retails for $9.59, has three shades, and gives a natural/healthy bronze. Given that you can buy five of these for the price of one Marc Jacobs, I would say this is a steal.
Highlighter
If you’re extra like me, you know that no two highlighters are the same, and you must always proceed with caution prior to purchasing one. I think I have over 100 highlighters (literally, why?) and use maybe two of them religiously, one being BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector® Pressed Highlighter. It retails for $38 and makes my skin look like glass. Worth it? Yes. Is there a dupe for it? Yes. Wet N Wild MegaGlo™ Highlighting Powder made waves this year and was on the radar of major beauty influencers, including Jeffree Star. At only $5.29 (!!!!!) this highlighter is everything and more. 
Brows
Brows were arguably one of the biggest/most important trends of 2019, and I hope they remain so in 2020. Thin brows are dead and gone (please never return) and fluffy, healthy brows are in. Due to the fact that I have five blonde hairs sticking out of my face claiming to be my “eyebrows”, I’m always in search of the perfect brow products to give the illusion that I have them. My Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz pencil has always been a go-to, and at $23 it’s definitely worth the price. Still, in the words of… me, there’s a dupe for that! At less than half the price ($10.49) I give you L’Oreal Paris Brow Stylist Definer. It looks and operates the same way as Brow Wiz and has over 800 five-star reviews, confirming I am not the only one who thinks it’s great.
Eyeshadow
Eyeshadow trends have come and gone, but the classic nudes and browns have always stayed in style. One of the most sought-after palettes in the industry is Natasha Denona’s Biba All Neutral Eyeshadow Palette, but it retails for… $129. Yikes. TBH, I don’t think any eyeshadow palette on this earth that could possibly be worth spending so much. Who buys this? World’s youngest billionaire, Kylie Jenner? Idk. Anyway, there are a million and one dupes that are at a much better value, but I specifically enjoy Milani Most Loved Mattes Eye Shadow. This retails for $19.99, a mere $109 less than ND, and is just as pretty IMO.
Mascara
I have fake lashes because I happened to find the most amazing lash extension place in New York (Iconic Lash Lounge if you live in Westchester), BUT, I am still all too familiar with the quest to find the perfect mascara. Prior to my lash extensions, I was hooked on YSL Beauty’s Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils – The Curler, but $29 for mascara adds up quickly. If you are a living, breathing human, you’ve seen over one million Maybelline mascara commercials, and for good reason. Maybelline Lash Sensational Washable Mascara is an amazing dupe for almost any luxury mascara, and it seriously is volumizing. Again, as a pale blonde, I looked like a naked mole rat prior to mascara application, but this one always held me down.
Lipstick
Last but not least, lipstick. Lipstick can make or break your look, and I am all too familiar with a bad lipstick ruining my night (dramatic, but relatable). My favorite lipstick at the moment is none other than Pat McGrath Labs MatteTrance™. It comes in over thirty shades, my personal favorite being ‘Christy’. The formula is hard to explain because it feels a bit dry when going on, but it looks SO GOOD on the lips and literally does not budge. I’m talking multiple-vodka-sodas-in-drunk-still-looking-flawless level good. So, if you have $40 to spare on a lip, this is your moment. However, its dupe is $6.99 with the same matte no-budge finish. I present you with yet another Milani product, Milani Bold Color Statement Matte Lipstick (Milani, sponsor me?). The 16 shades are all matches for Pat McGrath, and are also vodka soda proof.
If you’ve made it to this point, congratulations, and thank you for listening to my TED talk. Enjoy your beauty on a budget, and feel free to drop all dupe recommendations in the comments below!
Images: Unsplash
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Careless Morgan is a beauty influencer who shot to fame with her viral ‘bullshit makeup tutorial.’ Her content embraces carefree expression, a love for all things makeup, and the exploration of inner beauty and confidence. Follow her on Instagram at @carelessmorgan.
Makeup is f*cking expensive. There, I said it. Not all of us have $130 to spend on a single highlighter this month…or this year. Looking at you, La Mer. So, for all of you baddies on a budget, here are my beauty guru-approved makeup items that won’t break the bank. I know that when money is tight, every little bit counts. I’ve been there, and I make sure my money does not go to waste. With your makeup, you always want to make it last as long as possible, so here are a couple of my favorite tips for using highlighter.
One of my all-time favorite beauty hacks require one simple thing, and you can get it right from your sink. WATER! Normally, when we are finished with empty spray bottles, we throw them away. NO MA’AM! Not I. Save those bottles, clean them well, and fill them up with good old H2O. Whether I’m dealing with a name brand beauty blender, a favorite highlighter brush, or en e.l.f. beauty sponge, what I love to do is spray water on my brush/sponge, dip it into my highlighter, and immediately start applying product on the parts of my face that I want to enhance with that banging glow. The water makes the product brighter, and gives it more of a glimmering, metallic appearance.
If you’re looking to make your highlighting products last longer, do what I do! STRRRRRETCH those products out. Here’s another hack I do to make my highlighter last that much longer: I use my beauty sponge to take some of the product, and pat it into my skin, rather than rubbing or brushing it on. By doing that, you’re pushing it in there and blending it out to make it look as glowy as possible! By applying it with the patting method, it evenly buffs it into my skin, basically forcing it to collide with my foundation. Often times, a highlighting brush sheds off most of your product just by moving it back and forth. I tried this beauty hack about three years ago, and trust me, IT WAS A MIRACLE. I not only noticed I was saving product, but I also noticed how beautifully my skin soaked up the highlighter, leaving it with a smooth finish.
Now that you’ve got the best secrets on using highlighter, here are some of my favorite inexpensive options to make your face glowy AF. Take notes.
e.l.f. Cosmetics Baked Highlighter
e.l.f. Baked Highlighter in Moonlight Pearls, $4.00
For $4, this Champagne Pop dupe is a highlighter must-have! I enjoy this highlighter the most when I’m going for a really deep makeup look. I’m talking intense contour paired with a huge pop of shine, all thanks to this less than $5 highlighter. Its golden undertone makes it a lot easier to blend with my bronzer, making everything seem flawless, even if I’m in a rush.
I also love using this highlighter as an eyeshadow—two-in-one! Applying a little bit to my inner corner leaves me looking like I got a full 8 hours of sleep, which literally never happens. That simple pop of brightness can bring together your entire look, and take things to the next level.
Physicians Formula Butter Highlighter
Physicians Formula Butter Highlighter in Champagne, $11.49
I cannot stand patchy makeup products. You can spend forever on a look, and then it’s ruined instantly. Highlighter is normally meant to make your strongest points stand out from the rest of your face, but this highlighter also blends so nicely with the rest of my makeup. It really is like butter. It applies on my cheekbones in the smoothest and creamiest way. The price is a little bit higher than the rest on the list, but it’s definitely worth every cent. Prepare to have a new favorite, so you can thank me later.
Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter
Maybelline FaceStudio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in Molten Gold, $9.99
3 words: PIG-MEN-TATION! (Okay, so those are not exactly distinct words, but you get what I mean.) This metallic highlighter gives a glow like none other. The formula of this product is amazing and the pigmentation is phenomenal—especially for something under $10. You no longer have to dip back into the product 100 times to get the look you want. If you’ve ever had to do that with a crappy highlighter, not anymore!
NYX Land Of Lollies Highlighter
NYX Land of Lollies Highlighter in Powdered Sugar, $5.60
I absolutely LOVE NYX! When I found about this product, I was in love. It’s inexpensive and irreplaceable! This highlighter is not only beautiful in the package, but gorgeous on your actual skin. I love putting this specific highlight color on my nose. I draw an exclamation point, starting from the top of my bridge to the tip at the bottom, and it makes my nose appear Kardashian-level snatched. It leaves my face looking more structured and put together with whatever makeup look I’m going for.
Wet n Wild MegaGlo Highlighter
Wet n Wild MegaGlo Highlighter in Precious Petals, $4.69
This $5 Wet ‘n Wild beauty is so amazing that it fits right in with the high-end highlighters. I love this highlighter for a natural, dewy look! It gives me a nice glow without making me look like a complete ball of grease. For an everyday highlighter, this bad boy is the one. Believe me when I say that you would never be able to tell that it was less than $5. Out of all 5 of these beauties, this is my all-time favorite drugstore highlighter.
Unless you know wtf you’re doing (which is a rarity), buying new lipstick online sucks. You can’t draw a fucking rainbow on your arm and you can’t like, give it a week to see if your Bumble boy notices the different shade of pink you’re wearing. Makeup can be fucking expensive, and as much as we’d like to feel as though we are C-list celebs/Insta influencers, there are times when we have to choose Svedka over Tito’s to save a few bucks. Tbh, any alcohol will get the job done, just like some drugstore lipsticks are better than the expensive shit. Although drugstore lipsticks are the same price as a bottle of wine from Target, they’re still high-quality and way more accessible than Sephora or MAC. I mean, the closest Walgreen’s/CVS/Duane Reade/wherever you’ve placed your trust is probs less than 5 minutes away. ‘Tis the season for new lipstick shades, so knowing times are hard while Trump is still president, you can shop new faves on a budget and avoid a passive-aggressive text from your dad about the credit card bill. On your next run to buy chasers and tampons, here are the best drugstore lipsticks to buy for poppin’ lips without fillers. Cue grateful, blessed, happy tears.
1. Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick in Daringly Nude
For the best nude (other than a dick pic or that one nude you felt proud of in college), Maybelline is the one to hit up. Even though it’s matte, it’s still creamy af and feels absolutely life-changing when it’s on. The collection has like, a million nude shades you never knew existed, and each has bomb pigment for ultra long-lasting color.
2. NYX Cosmetics Pin-Up Pout Lipstick in Revolution
NYX is my go-to for everything. If you want the same shit you can find at Sephora for half the price and the same level of quality, NYX needs to be in your vocab. Pin-Up Pouts in particular are the reason NYX is still here, tbh. The full-coverage best-selling line is full of classic reds, bright pinks, and most importantly, vampy shades like the one below above to literally die for. They’re long-lasting and totally addictive. This deep reddish plum is perfect for fall, but for $8, you *have* to shop all the shades.
3. L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lipcolour in Miss Magenta
Not only do you get bright colors that actually look like the same color as advertised, L’Oréal lipsticks are also known for intense hydration. They’re non-drying and won’t crack your lips, since they’re made with healthy stuff like Argan oil, vitamins, and other things I’m too lazy to type out. Since you’ll fall in love with these, you can get one in every color known to man, from hot pink to gray to something dark like our souls.
4. COVERGIRL Queen Collection Stay Luscious Lipstick in Pink Reign
What Tyra says, goes—no questions about it. So when she says COVERGIRL, we stock up on COVERGIRL. The childhood brand that has recently gone on my shit list for switching up their slogan is semi redeeming itself with their latest collection. The Queen collection is v moisturizing (a necessity), full of natural-looking shine, and created with a special waterproof formula that allows color to stay on regardless of how many shots we take. Fucking miracle.
5. Rimmel London Provocalips 16HR Kiss Proof Lip Colour in Kiss Me You Fool
Well, that was aggressive ^. This fab lipstick is a 2-in-1 that comes with a gorg shade and lock-in top coat to ensure your lipstick stays where it belongs. Guaranteed to stay on for up to 16 hours without drying out or fading, the formula is also kiss-proof and transfer-proof, so no worries about making your next hookup look like a murder scene or wasting newly applied lipstick on your Starbucks straw. With this game-changer, you’re free to indulge in drunk pizza without needing to reapply, which is obviously the only thing I can ever ask for in this life of sin.
Any betch who’s into makeup will tell you that finding a good lipstick can be a fucking ordeal. Like, first you have to find the right color. Then you have to find a liner that matches, lest you end up looking like Gwen Stefani during her No Doubt days. Then you have to worry about it drying out your lips and will it actually stay on this weekend while you down vodka shots/make out with the first guy in your line of vision/drunk eat a whole pizza? Okay so maybe if you’re doing pizza to the face at 3am your last concern is your lipstick, but the point still stands. You need your shit to stick to you like that creepy bro at the bar who bought you a drink. These are the best long-lasting lipsticks—and before you ask, you will not see a certain Jenner’s products on this because while they last forever, that shit makes your lips dryer than the Sahara desert.
1. MAC Liptensity
This lipstick is enhanced with extra pigment for a more intense color that’s designed to last for up to eight hours. Honestly, when food and alcohol is involved, you really only need about half that time before you’re going to be falling asleep or too drunk to care, so this lipstick is perfect.
2. Tarte Cosmetics Drench Lip Splash Lipstick
It’s usually a pain in the peach emoji when a vegan person constantly reminds you that they’re vegan, but Tarte Cosmetics is like, the one exception. This satin matte lipstick is created with a hydrating vegan formula that keeps your lips moisturized. Plus, the tip is narrower than a typical lipstick, so when you’re trying to reapply after a few glasses of vodka wine, there’s less room for error.
3. NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick
This cream lipstick dries into a matte finish, but it’s waterproof, which is basically another way to say it can hold its own through a night of eating and drinking better than a betch who just turned 21.
If you have a favorite lip product that you’re not willing to give up on, try lining your lips with the NYX Wonder Pencil. It helps to prevent lip colors from bleeding all over your face so that even if you happen to drink too much and embarrass yourself, you’ll look a little less messy in the Instas.
This colorless lip base moisturizes your lips and helps prevent lipstick from feathering and cracking if your heart is really set on rocking Koko K (which claims to be long-wearing and promises not to dry your lips out, but is lying).
