As any makeup addict knows, makeup can be extremely expensive. The high end, popular brands in Sephora and Ulta charge ridiculous prices for even the most basic products. This has led many of us to search for products with lower price tags that don't sacrifice the good quality we desire. Here are a few brands I have found that offer high-quality, beautiful products at a reasonable price for college students on a budget.
1. Morphe
Eyeshadow palettes and brushes are usually some of the most expensive products in the world of cosmetics, and it can be very difficult to find cheaper options. Morphe has solved this problem. They offer palettes with 35 shades for $23, and most of their brushes are under $15. Many YouTube makeup gurus, such as Jaclyn Hill, offer discount codes to help you save even more on these awesome products.
2. NYX
NYX is another wonderful and affordable makeup brand I have come to love. Their lip products are some of the best I have used, including high-end lipsticks. I highly recommend the Soft Matte Lip Cream and Lip Lingerie lipsticks. They are long lasting, pigmented, and cost $6 and $7, respectively.
3. ColourPop
ColourPop is a great place to buy lipsticks and individual eyeshadows. Almost every product on their site is $5, and the rest are under $10. Another benefit they offer is free shipping on orders over $30 placed in the United States. Their Lippie Stix, liquid lipsticks, and pressed shadows are to die for.
4. Elf
Elf is an affordable and extremely accessible brand; most drugstores, Wal-Marts, and Targets carry their products. Though it may seem too good to be true, some of their eyeshadow brushes are as cheap as $3. I actually replaced a $20 Sephora brush with a $3 Elf one because it performed better. They also have a line of primers to suit any skin type or concern you may have.
5. Makeup Geek
Makeup Geek is famous for their single eyeshadows. The pigmentation blows the competition away, and each one costs only $6. This price is especially good considering the size of the pans; they are much larger than what you typically see. They also carry a range of beautiful highlighters for $20 each, as compared to the Becca highlighters that ring up at $38.
College is a time of self-expression, exploration, and fun, and many of us choose to use makeup as a tool to accomplish these endeavors. However, college is also a time of financial instability in which you have to pay $300 for a single "required" textbook. These brands give you the products you want, and they won't drain your bank account.
