Finding the best makeup is like a great hunt. Or what I imagine a great hunt is like. Rewarding but... exhausting. And one of the toughest parts is figuring out where to even go to get your products. Do you go to Walgreens or Sephora? What products can you get from the drugstore without sacrificing your look? That's the question Sara and I set out to answer, and with a little advice from family and friends, this is what we came up with. And we even included recommendations for specific products that led us to our conclusions.

Brushes – Splurge… if you’re careful about it

Spending a little more on your brushes will definitely get you better quality. However, you have to be careful about two things: one, make sure you’re paying for quality and not just a pretty handle, and two, make sure you will treat expensive brushes like your own children! Clean them properly and regularly or else you’ll end up needing to buy a new one in a month.

Tessa's recommendation: EcoTools is a balance between nice and cheap that's perfect for me

Sara's recommendations: bareMinerals, EcoTools and Mary Kay (Pro tip: Try using natural hair and not synthetics.)

Foundation Primer – Depends

I’ve used some expensive foundation primer, and I've never found much difference between those and the drugstore. Some people swear by their brand's ability to keep their makeup fresh, though.

Tessa's recommendation to save: Maybelline FaceStudio Master Prime Blur + Illuminate Primer

Sara's recommendation to splurge: Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Concealer – Depends

Okay, I have had my whole life changed by really good concealer. Then, I ran out and had to do some thinking before throwing money at more. Do I really need crazy nice concealer? The answer ended up being no, but it may be a yes for you.

Tessa's recommendation to save: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer (that's a mouthful) for undereye circles

Sara's recommendation to save: Maybelline FaceStudio Master Conceal

Tessa's recommendation to splurge: trèStique Concealer Crayon

Foundation – Save

Just like concealer, you can have your life changed with some really good foundation. However, let’s be real. Your bank account is hurting, your skin color is probably changing three shades every time you get some sun, and you can go through a bottle in a month if you’re being liberal with it. I’d go for a drugstore foundation unless you’ve got some major dough.

Tessa's recommendations: Revlon Colorstay Makeup (I use the one for combination/oily skin, but use what's appropriate for you) or Maybelline Dream Cushion Fresh Face Liquid Foundation for less coverage

Sara's recommendation: NYX Total Control Drop Foundation

Setting Powder – Depends

Okay, this is a lot like concealer, too. You’re gonna get better results if you grab a nice, expensive brand setting powder. Do you need it, though? It depends on your face.

Tessa's recommendation to save: Maybelline Facestudio Master Fix Setting + Perfecting Loose Powder

Sara's recommendation to save: RCMA No-Color Powder

Tessa's recommendation to splurge: bareMinerals Mineral Veil

Bronzer – Depends

In my opinion, there are great, blendable drugstore bronzers in a million shades. Inevitably though, some nicer brands will offer better quality in just the right color. Just try to get the best bang for your buck.

Tessa's recommendation to save: Physicians Formula has about 10,000 great options

Sara's recommendation to splurge: benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer (Pro tip: If you wait until Black Friday, you can get it on sale for $15)

Blush – Save

I'm gonna be real with you here. Do a little bit of research on the kind and color of blush that's best for you, but it is really hard to make a terrible blush.

Tessa's recommendation: I use pretty much whatever comes my way

Sara's recommendation: NYX has great blushes

If you really want to splurge anyway: BECCA Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection Face Palette comes with highlight and blush (recommended by Sara's friend)

Highlighter – Splurge

Okay, drugstores have not really caught on to the highlight trend as well as I would have hoped. There are some decent products, but you’ll find a lot more quality and variety in the expensive brands. (Although I've been meaning to try ColourPop's.)

Tessa's recommendation: BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter

Sara's recommendations: BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in Champagne Pop, Jeffree Star Skin Frost, and Anastasia Glow Kits

Brow Powder/Pencil – Save

Unless you’re trying to create an insanely detailed brow just to post a pic on Insta later, drugstore brands will do the job just fine.

Tessa's recommendation: Maybelline Eyestudio Brow Define + Fill Duo is great if you're like me and want some decent definition with minimal effort

Sara's recommendation: NYX Eyebrow Powder Pencil

Eye Primer – Splurge

A really good eye primer will change your whole look, and expensive brands have a lockdown on the best formulas. Do some research and go for a nice one (but use an “a little goes a long way” mentality to keep it around for a while).

Tessa's recommendations: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion or Smashbox 24 Hour Shadow Primer

Sara's recommendation: MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot (Pro tip: Return 6 empty containers to MAC and you get a free lipstick)

Eyeshadow – Splurge

Once you use a nice, pigmented, blendable eyeshadow, you’ll never want to go back. Not even many expensive brands can achieve that kind of quality, so make sure to do your research.

Tessa's recommendation: Too Faced and Urban Decay eyeshadows own my soul

Sara's recommendations: Morphe x Jaclyn Hill Eyeshadow Palette, Anastasia Modern Renaissance Palette, Kylie Cosmetics Royal Peach Palette, and BH Cosmetics Carli Byble Palette

Pencil Eyeliner - Save

There's a surprising amount of variation in pencil eyeliner — mostly in the texture of its core. Unless you're looking for a really soft core (that will be pigmented but won't achieve as precise of a line) or some other really particular texture, drugstore eyeliners will suit your needs just fine.

Sara's recommendation: Revlon Colorstay Eye Liner

Tessa's recommendation: Funny story. I looked at one of my cheap eyeliner pencils to check the brand, and suspiciously enough, the brand was written off to the side in small letters under the copyright. Looked it up and it's a children's makeup company. For little girls. So yeah.

Liquid Eyeliner – Depends

I buy cheap liquid eyeliner that smudges easily when first applied (which I do purposefully under my bottom lashes) and comes off with water, but I know not everyone lives my glamorous lifestyle, so if you really need industrial strength liquid eyeliner, live your life.

Tessa's recommendation to save: e.l.f. Expert Liquid Liner

Sara's recommendation to splurge: Kat Von D Beauty Tattoo Liner

Mascara – Save

The formulas of mascara can vary in quality, but I'm saving high-quality mascara for my wedding day. Until then, what really matters is the brush. Find a brush you like in an expensive brand, and I promise there's a convincing dupe.

Tessa's recommendations: CoverGirl Flamed Out Mascara is a great option if you're "Better Than Sex"-obsessed, but I also really like L'Oréal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara

Sara's recommendation: Maybelline Volum' Express The Rocket Washable Mascara (Pro tip: Apply multiple mascaras for an all-out eye look— just make sure to not get those pesky clumps)

Lip Pencil - Save

I'm going to be honest: Sara and I know very little about lip liner, and I think it's because it doesn't really matter. Go with your heart.

Lipstick - Save

These days, regular lipstick is losing its popularity, but it can still have some great uses. And, fortunately, drugstores have had a long time to perfect their formulas. (Pro tip: Try throwing some setting powder on top to make it last even longer.)

Tessa's recommendations: CoverGirl Continuous Color Lipstick and Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick

Sara's recommendation: Anything by Maybelline

Liquid Lipstick – Depends

I would say cheaper brands are catching on to great liquid lipstick formulas. The only problem? Colors. Often, if you find a great color in an expensive brand, it can be hard to find a dupe that matches. Splurge if you find your color soulmate.

Tessa's recommendation to save: NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick (especially in Soft-Spoken)

Sara's recommendations to save: ColourPop Ultra Matte Lip, NYX, and Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme

Tessa's recommendation to splurge: Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick

Sara's recommendations to splurge: Anastasia Liquid Lipstick

Setting Spray - Depends

Whether you need a really high quality and high powered setting spray depends on your skin. Mine is an oil machine.

Sara's recommendation to save: NYX Makeup Setting Spray - Matte

Tessa's recommendation to splurge: Urban Decay All Nighter or De-Slick

And that's all the expertise I can offer! I hope you find what you were looking for, and feel free to share or comment with your own recommendations!