Shopping on a Budget? Here Are 5 Affordable Makeup Brands to Try Out!
Makeup can be expensive. Even a bottle of mascara is starting to cost around $30. These prices aren’t practical for everyone, especially when it’s products people wear daily and must consistently buy. Drug store makeup brands offer an affordable option, but not all of them are good quality. I’ve worn many drug store brands in the past that have made my skin burn, break out, and that have lacked pigmentation. So, if you’re looking for affordable makeup that’s good quality, check out these 5 brands!
Photo by Nadia Pentolino
colourpop
Colourpop is a makeup brand based in California that was formed by Seed Beauty in 2014. The brand has won countless awards, such as the Glamour Beauty Award in 2020 and the Allure Best of Beauty Award in 2019. The brand makes affordable makeup, skincare, and body care products. They also partner with Disney often to make Disney movie-inspired collections, such as one for Beauty and the Beast and one for Alice in Wonderland.
Best-sellers include the Fade into Hue eyeshadow palette—a 30-pan palette featuring all the colors of the rainbow with a mix of shimmers, mattes, and glitters at $35—the BFF Mascara in the shade Blue Ya Mind at only $9, and a lip stain in the shade Ice Pop at $9. Colourpop’s eyeshadows are pigmented, their lip products don’t require many touch-ups, and their eyeliners glide on smoothly!
The brand also features free domestic shipping on orders over $30, and often holds sales, such as 50% off eyeshadow palettes. Those interested in purchasing can buy from the Colourpop website or in Ulta Beauty stores.
Photo by Nadia Pentolino
bh cosmetics
BH Cosmetics is a cruelty-free makeup brand based in Los Angeles, California. Their products are clean, vegan, and planet friendly. The brand has many colorful eyeshadow palettes and palettes that mix neutrals with color.
Trending products include the Sunset Glow Highlight Palette Island Fling—a palette featuring four high-pigment highlighters of warm shades with peach hues for $12—the Lip Glaze High Shine Lip Gloss—lip gloss that comes in various shades of pink, red, and neutral tones for $5—and the Bold Ego Dip Liner that comes in black, blue, pink, white, and purple at $5.
BH Cosmetics has a wide variety of products, from eyeshadow palettes to brushes and tools, and from face products such as bronzers, blushes, and highlighters to lip products. The brand offers free shipping on orders over $35 and often holds sales, such as a Spring buy two get one free sale. Those who sign up with their email also get 20% off their next order. BH Cosmetics can be found on their website and in Ulta Beauty stores.
Photo by Nadia Pentolino
morphe
Morphe was founded in 2008 by artists and influencers in Los Angeles. The brand started out as an affordable makeup brush brand, but eventually expanded by creating eyeshadow palettes, lip products, and more. Morphe’s brand is for creators and those who love color!
Best-sellers include the Morphe X Meredith Duxbury Artistry Palette—a 35-pan eyeshadow palette featuring both mattes and shimmers of neutral, cool, and warm shades at $34—the Jumbo Continuous Setting Mist at $25, and the translucent eyelid primer at just $10. But the highlight of the Morphe brand is definitely their wide selection of brushes. Brushes can be purchased separately or in sets, with set prices ranging from as low as $12 for four brushes to as high as $98 for a 12-piece luxury set.
The brand offers free shipping on orders over $35 and often holds sales and promotions. One that they’d held in the past is a free Meredith face and lip gloss on orders over $45. Morphe is the perfect brand for those who are start-up influencers or want to pursue a career in makeup, since that is the target audience for the brand. You get high-quality makeup at a fair price!
Photo by Nadia Pentolino
maybelline
Maybelline New York is a makeup brand based in New York City that is sold in drug stores, Ulta Beauty stores, and in Target and Walmart stores. The brand’s goal is to make makeup that can fit any style and skin tone, fit any trend, and that is fast and easy to apply on-the-go. The brand also partners with organizations for causes such as mental health awareness and sustainability.
Maybelline has eye, face, and lip products. Products include the popular Total Temptation and Lash Sensational mascaras ranging in price from $11.99 to $13.99, The City Kits all-in-one eye and cheek palette that is made up of neutral and blush-toned shimmers and mattes for $11.99, and The City Mini eyeshadow palette which comes in various color combinations for $9.99.
Although Maybelline is a drugstore brand, their products are pigmented, and their mascaras give volume! And since it’s sold in multiple stores and online, it’s very accessible to those who are interested in purchasing.
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pacifica
Pacifica is a brand that was founded in 1996 that creates high-quality, vegan, and cruelty-free products. They use climate-conscious packaging and offer products at affordable prices. Their mission is to create products that make your skin, conscience, and mind feel good! Pacifica is sold in Target, Ulta Beauty stores, and at Whole Foods. In addition to makeup, the brand also makes body, hair, and skincare, as well as fragrances.
Notable products include the Animal Magic eyeshadow palette—a $24 palette featuring 28 pans of neutral shimmers and mattes with one bright blue shimmer for a pop of color—the $28 Endless Summer skin duo—featuring Sunny Glow bronzing drops and the Glow Baby Booster Serum that will leave your skin looking radiant and sun-kissed—and the $14 Vegan Collagen Lip Plumping Gloss that adds shine and dimension to lips with vegan collagen, peptides, and coconut in it.
If you want to buy makeup that will make you feel good, this is the brand for you!
conclusion
These 5 makeup brands offer high quality products at great prices. You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get product pigmentation, mascara volume, and long-lasting lipstick! These brands have something for everyone—those who love color and those who love neutrals. And with a wide selection of products to choose from, you’ll never have to spend a fortune on makeup again! So, what are you waiting for? Check out one of these affordable makeup brands!
