It's no lie that I'm a big fan of makeup. #sorrynotsorry. I've always had a good size collection of cosmetics since my pre-teen years. It started with a bunch of products my mom didn't wear anymore... we weren't allowed to wear them out of the house at the age of 10 (and rightly so because we looked ridiculous), but my sis and I LOVED playing "make-over" any chance we got!

As much as I have always loved trying new products, my makeup routine stays pretty consistent from day to day. I wear basically the same look every day, maybe with a different lippie or eyeliner. It's partly due to the fact that mornings and I do not get along very well, and the less thinking I have to do, the better! But it's also because I've found so many great products that I just keep re-buying them when I run out!

People have different perspectives when it comes to makeup... how much you should wear, how you should apply it, how much you should spend... My "everyday" face is a pretty full face of makeup which means I use a lot of different products. That can get pretty dang expensive really fast! My motto is always to get the best product you can for the lowest price possible... so you can get even more great products! ;) I'm always looking for cosmetics that are the perfect mix of affordable yet quality. It can take trial and error, but over time I've found lots of drugstore makeup that more than get the job done, while still keeping a few extra bucks in your pocket!

Today I'm giving you a peek into my makeup bag and sharing 12 products that I love and use on the daily! And good news - all but one of them are under $15!


I am crazy about this long-wear, drugstore foundation! I feel like I have been telling everyone about it lately! I have already repurchased three times - so you know it's good! Before trying the Revlon Colorstay, I was using Kat Von D's Lock-It Foundation. I loved the finish and coverage but was not crazy about paying over $30 for foundation... My budget needed something a little cheaper and I read somewhere that this Revlon foundation was considered a "dupe". I've been hooked ever since! (P.S. it's under $10 on Amazon! It's more like $13 at Target or Ulta which is still better than $35!)

It comes in two different formulas based on skin type - the combo/oily formula comes in 22 shades, which is a ton of selection for a drugstore foundation, and the normal/dry formula has an impressive 13 shades. I've only tried the combination/oily formula, but I love that it has a very small amount of salicylic acid in it to keep breakouts under control! The normal/dry formula is said to have hyaluronic acid in it which helps skin hold moisture. It has a demi-matte finish, medium to full, and is definitely long-wearing, although I've found it depends a lot on the powder you set it with! When I used a crappy powder, I only got about 4 hours before it starts slipping off my face. But with a good one, I easily get 10 hours of perfect wear! And talking about a good powder brings me to the next product on my list...


Revlon ColorStay Pressed Powder - $8

I have only tried this powder with the Revlon ColorStay foundation, but let me tell you... it is good! I don't usually care about sticking with one brand for both foundation and powder, but it's like these two were made for each other or something ;) Like I mentioned above, when I switched over to this powder, I was shocked at how much longer my foundation was staying put! This powder gave a really nice matte finish without looking too pasty or powdery. I felt like it had a smoothing effect and helped minimize fine lines and large pores. Plus, it keeps oil under control!

If you find this product in the picture at the beginning of my post, you probably noticed it's completely empty! I actually ran out of this powder a few weeks ago and decided to try something a few bucks cheaper, one that happens to be about the cheapest drugstore powder out there and one that TONS of beauty bloggers claim to love... but holy cow that was a huge mistake! My foundation is looking cakey, separating around oily spots on my face, and looks like it's literally sliding down my nose after like 3 hours :( I'm going back to the Revlon powder ASAP!


Tarteist Pro Glow Highlight and Contour Palette - $42

This palette... I am majorly obsessed! It has two bronzers (one powder and one cream) and four shades of highlighter. The pigmentation is amazing and they are super blendable and buildable. I do a small bit of contouring most days, and lately, I've been using this as eyeshadow as well! It gives a really natural look to have the same shades of highlight and bronzer all over your face. Just makes you look so glowy and gorgeous! You all know I love drugstore brands, but so far none of the cheaper contouring products I've tried have even come close to this amazing set when it comes to blendability and lasting power!

If you aren't ready to make a $42 investment yet, they also have a smaller Pro Glow Pallete with one bronzer and two shades of highlight! The shades are a little different but I'm sure they are just as amazing!


e.l.f. Makeup Brushes -$30

I have had tons of e.l.f. brushes in the past but I got this 11-piece e.l.f. brush set for Christmas, which has only deepened my love for them! Their professional line, which the black handles, are the perfect mix of affordable yet high-quality. The bristles don't break off all over your face, they hold up well to cleaning, and they distribute product evenly. This set in particular has just about every brush you could need, but if you want to start with just a couple, a few of my faves are the complexion brush which I use for my setting powder, the angled blush brush which is great for contouring and blending, the blush brush which is great for sweeping just a touch of color on your cheeks, and the contour eye brush which is boss at getting in your crease!


e.l.f. HD Undereye Setting Powder - $3

EYES

Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner - $6

I have been using this eyeliner since high school, and every time I try something else, I end up coming right back. This eyeliner is waterproof, so you're definitely gonna need some eye-makeup remover at the end of the night, but that also means it stays put like nobody's business! So many other eyeliners either start smudging all the way down my face, or just wear off and start disappearing... does that happen to anyone else? I love that when I put this one on in the morning I know it's still going to be there by the time I'm going to bed. And a favorite aspect is the multi-tool on the bottom - one side is a smudger and if you pull it out, it's a sharpener! So whether you want a dark and smokey, smudged look, or a thin, barely-there line, this bad boy's got you covered and it's not leaving until you say so!

I didn't realize until putting together this post just how many of my current faves came from the Revlon ColorStay line! I'm kinda thinking I need to try ALL their products now if these three are all so awesome!


Rimmel Scandaleyes Micro Eyeliner - $5

I said in my intro that I rarely shake up my makeup routine from day to day, but if I do, it's usually to go for a liquid liner instead of my standard pencil. I had tried liquid liner a few times in the past but never been very successful at applying it... it was so much work and always ended up way heavier than I intended. I got this liquid liner pen in a promo box from Influenster and it's so much easier than any liquid liner I've tried before! It's basically a big marker, which gives you a great grip, and it has a flexible, tapered felt tip. They aren't lying when they call it "micro" - the tip is tiny which makes it so much harder to accidentally end up looking like a raccoon! It doesn't smudge or move during the day, but isn't hard to remove either. And how can you beat less than $5 bucks!


Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara - $6

This mascara is the newest addition to my current makeup routine but I am a huge fan so far! When it comes to mascara, I want length and volume, but I do NOT want all my lashes to stick together! This one claims to give you a "full fan effect" and the brush is made up of 10 rows of bristles. I love the brush because it does a great job at evenly coating each lash and combing them out! I found that during the first week or two, WAY too much product was getting on the brush. But as I used more and it started to dry out just the slightest bit, it has gotten easier and easier to apply! It does a decent job of curling your lashes, but my stick-straight babies need a lot of help... next time I think I'll try the Lash Sensational Curvitude!



Ulta Matte Eye Primer - $12

This eye primer is SO similar to the Urban Decay Primer Potion. Thick and creamy, matte, and BOMB at keeping your eyeshadow in place. But the Ulta Primer is only $12 instead of $22! I love this stuff because it keeps your eyeshadow from settling into creases on your eyelid, which keeps things looking natural. And it helps your shadows show up more pigmented, which means you need less product! I tend to only use this guy when I know I'm gonna have a long day and need my makeup to stay locked in place. And this stuff definitely does the job!

LIPS

Sephora Cream Lip Stain - $14

I can't talk about favorite beauty products and not bring up this matte lipstick. I've talked about it before over on my Instagram (here and here) and done a little wear test. This stuff is my all time fave! It's super easy to apply, comes in 40 shades, and literally lasts ALL. DAY. LONG. Like well over than 12 hours! A few of the shades are "satin matte", like Infinite Rose which has an amazing shimmer finish, but most of them are a flat matte. I wore the shade Marvelous Mauve on my wedding day (see it here on my Insta) and didn't have to touch up once! Seriously amazing stuff and for $14 you can't find anything better!

Rimmel Oh My Gloss! Oil Tint - $6

SHOP MY FAVES