Your makeup routine doesn’t have to break the bank!
While there are some weeks where, sure, the total worth of cosmetics on my face seeps well into the hundreds, there are also weeks when finances may be a little tighter than usual, and I’m not able to restock on my usual high-end products. But this doesn’t mean that the quality of my makeup application completely diminishes!
My experience working in beauty PR and as a certified makeup artist has led me to confirm that a lot of what you pay for when purchasing cosmetics is the branding! The price of a product doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality of the product or tool, and many drugstore products are made by the same manufacturers of high-end beauty products.
I’m going to walk you through a few of the holy grail high-end cosmetics products that I splurge on and the drugstore products that have proven to be a true match!
The Splurge: Fenty Pro Filt’r Foundation, $43
The Dupe: Maybelline SuperStay Full Coverage Foundation, $12.96 via Amazon
Fenty broke the internet when Rihanna released 40-shades range of foundation. I couldn’t wait to support her mission to diversify the beauty game, but I have to tip my hat off to Maybelline. Out of all the drugstore brands, I can say they’ve always had one of the widest range of shades in the drugstore market.
I’m extremely picky with my foundation, and when I’m trying to save, the Maybelline SuperStay Full Coverage Foundation is the only drugstore foundation that I feel comfortable running in and out of Shoppers to grab in a hurry. This is a fantastic dupe in terms of coverage, colour, and longevity. And it’ll save you a whole lot of cash, too!
The Splurge: MAC Prolong Wear Concealer, $28
The Dupe: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer, $7.96 via Amazon
If you’re a fan of the seasoned MAC Prolong Wear Concealer, then you’ll love the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer while saving 20 bucks! The liquid-to-creamy concealer provides great buildable coverage and a luminous finish. I like using this to brighten my under eye area. Like the Prolong Wear, it lasts for hours without creasing!
The Splurge: BECCA Cosmetics Perfect Skin Mineral Powder
The Dupe: Maybelline SuperStay Full Coverage Powder Foundation, $12.96 via Amazon
This isn’t the last time you’ll see Maybelline on this list! I told you, it’s definitely one of my favourite drugstore brands. I’m absolutely in love with one of their newest products: SuperStay Full Coverage Powder Foundation.
For years, I was willing to splurge the $60 on BECCA’s Perfect Skin Mineral Powder because of how difficult it was to find a shade deep enough to use as a contour for myself. It was a little costly considering I was using such minimal product on my face to fake some defined cheekbones. Then all of a sudden — poof! BECCA pulled my beloved product from its roster. Maybelline’s new launch of SuperStay Full Coverage Powder comes just as I needed to re-up, and it’s available in an extensive range of shades. The full coverage foundation has an awesome powder-to-creamy formula that is super blendable with a matte finish. Thanks, Maybelline!
The Splurge: BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter, $46
The Dupe: Wet ‘N Wild Highlighting Powder, $6.97 via Walmart
When it comes to finishing touches, highlight is almost a necessity to any makeup obsessed doll! Sometimes its use is as minimal as using it for the teardrops of your eyes or the tip of your nose — why not save $39 on this step if you can?! I found the Wet ‘N Wild Highlighting Powder to be an exceptional dupe to the BECCA highlighter. You can easily get that blinding shine that BECCA’s offers by wetting or spritzing your brush before dabbing the powder, and VOILA —shine bright, girl.
The Splurge: MAC Extreme Dimension 3D Black Lash, $30
The Dupe: Maybelline Great Lash $4.96 via Walmart
I’ll be honest… Typically, you’ll find me with false lashes on — either lash strips or extensions. So, mascara is one product where I opt for a cheaper alternative quite regularly. I’ve been using the iconic Maybelline Great Lash since my high school days, and it’s yet to disappoint! In fact, it only seems to upgrade with new additions to its collection. I find that when I reach for the Blackest Black Maybelline Great Lash, I can’t even tell the difference between using a high-end mascara like MAC’s In Extreme Dimension 3D Black Lash. If you’re a lash addict like myself, save the additional $25 for your next refill!
The Splurge: MAC Ruby Woo Matte Lipstick, $23
The Dupe: Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick, $9.96 via Walmart
A classic red lip is a staple beauty accessory, and I’ve sworn by MAC Ruby Woo for nearly a decade — it’s definitely my most recommended red lipstick! There’s something about a bold, matte, blue-toned, red lip that just gives me life. Maybe it’s the fact that the blue-base makes my smile extra pearly white, or that a red lip compliments nearly any outfit.
I rarely stray away from MAC Ruby Woo but I was actually pleasantly surprised with another of Maybelline products: SuperStay Matte Ink liquid lipstick. This dupe blesses you with a flawless matte and intense colour at half the cost! I rarely need to reapply with this lippie as it inks your lip for up to 16 hours.
Featured Image: Instagram/@fentybeauty
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