Over the last year, I’ve made it a point to familiarize myself with non-department store makeup brands. And sometimes you find winners and sometimes you don’t. But while I love my luxury brand products (Hello Dior Airflash!), not everyone can or wants to spend $65 on foundation. Plus, while we all have brands we prefer, it’s never a good enough reason to use something just because of the name! I love using a variety of brands, and ultimately choose things based on what works for my face (or my client’s faces!).

Today I challenged myself and decided to replicate my daily beauty ritual with more affordable drugstore options…Here is the result:

I was happy with how it turned out! I keep things fairly basic on a daily basis. I focus on my complexion and skip eyeshadow, liner and mascara. I usually wear a bold lip, and lashes though.

 

For my complexion I used:

1. Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation in #200 Soft Beige: $7.50

2. Maybelline FitMe powder in #310 to set my foundation with: $6

3. Jordana Forever Flawless pressed powder in #106 Light Honey as a bronzer: $1.25

4. Jordana Undercover Cream Concealer in #03 Soft Beinge for under my eyes and around my nose, et cetera: $1.25

 

For color I used:

1. Jordana blush in #17 Rouge: $1.25

2. Jordana blush in #2 Bronze for a little dimension: $1.25

3. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable in #030 Smitten Eprise: $8

 

And here is what my face looked like 8 hours later. Everything held up great! No touch ups at all, except one lip touch up! Not too shabby for less than $30 right?

 

Cheers to Beauty, Budgets, and Being Frugal,

Still needing more pick me ups for your summer look? Here’s what’s on my list for the warmer weather…

  

1. Kate Moss for Rimmel London: these lippys feel amazing, wear like a dream, and are under $5. My favorite is shade 12

2. Maybelline FitMe foundation: a long time favorite of mine. With a lightweight, luminous finish, you can consider this tinted moisturizer’s big sister. Perfect for those days when you don’t want to feel too “made up.” Around $6

3. Kiss Nail Decals: lasts up to ten days, tons of fun patterns and less than $6 a box! Good for nails and toes…or be daring and do the “accent nail” trend. I love this floral pattern!

4. Jergens Natural Glow: Skip the damaging sun and use this daily for a believable tan! LOVE this stuff! Definitely in my top 5 self tanning products! Under $8

5. ELF cream liner: $3 and lasts ALL day! Summer-proof liner to be sure.

6. Forever21 Hair Clips: Aren’t these yellow roses cute? $2.50

7. Clean and Clear Antibacterial Face Wash: one of my favorite face washes, this $4 miracle will take care of any extra yuck (ie: sweat & bacteria) that comes along with the heat.

8. Color Club in Jackie Oh!: less than $3, and free from all of the poisons in typical polishes! Love this electric shade!

 

So many beauty treats, so little time! Pretty nice though for only $35 right?!

Cheers to Sunshine, Summer-Proof Makeup, and Beauty Pick-me-Ups,