If you're anything like me, you love makeup but are too broke to be throwing money away on new products you're not even sure you will like or use enough to make it worth the swipe of your card. Being a fair skinned girl with a pink undertone, acne, and combination skin, I've spent all my hard earned cash so you don't have to. Here's a list of products I've tried and have been loving!

1. Skin Care

If you want your makeup to stay looking flawless all day long, you need to take care of the base. Be sure you're washing your face with a skin care regimen that works best for your skin type. I love Biore's Deep Charcoal Cleanser when my face will not stop breaking out. $5.99 at Target.

After cleansing your face, you should apply a toner. This tightens up and reduces the appearance of pores, locking in that deep clean and keeping germs and acne-causing bacteria out. I recommend witch hazel, an all natural astringent derived from a shrub. Any store with a medicinal section/pharmacy will carry it and it's one of the cheapest options I've found at the drug store. Some stores will also carry fancier versions with added vitamins or extracts, but I've found going with the most basic version is best for my skin. $3.99 at Walgreens.

As a last step in caring for your skin, you need to moisturize. Cleansing with soap and using any type of toner may dry your skin out, and if you don't have a barrier to stop it, your skin will recognize it's getting dry and produce even more oil. More oil = more clogged pores, and in turn, more acne. I'm on my second jar of (and still in love with) Garnier's SkinActive Moisture Rescue Gel. I use the 'normal/combo skin' version, but I know they have a version for dry skin as well. This formula contains vitamin E and fruit water, and best of all, contains NO OIL. $6.69 at Target.

2. Primer

OK, so you've taken care of your skin and you're ready to start on makeup, but if you aren't priming your skin, you may find your foundation bunches in fine lines or pores. This is one area I personally choose to NOT skimp on, so I use Benefit's POREfessional on the areas of my face where my pores are enlarged - but not all over my face. This saves a great deal of product and also makes it so my dry patches aren't even drier! I then spray my face down with a setting spray, just to give my foundation a more stable base to stick to, as I have both oily and dry patches. The great thing about this product from Benefit is that they have something for every budget or skeptic, including a 'mini' tester size of the product, which lasted me for about 2 months. A little goes a long way! $12 at Ulta.

3. Foundation

This is where it starts to get extremely tricky. I am a fair skinned girl with rosacea-like redness in my skin, so my skin is pale but constantly a reddish tone. I have tried many foundations, both drug-store and high end, but I am still looking for a "tried-and-true-" match. So far, I am liking the L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte and Pro-Glow OK, and I am looking forward to trying the Total Cover formula as well. The claim that it lasts for 24 hours is a little far fetched, but it will definitely get you through the day without too many issues. They also offer an amazing color range, which you don't see too often with drug store foundations. $8.99 at Target.

4. Concealer

While I'm wishy-washy with foundations, my concealer is here to stay. I use Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind to conceal my under-eyes, and it has never done me wrong! It contains goji berry extract and haloxyl, which is an ingredient said to diminish the appearance of dark circles. $6.79 at Target.

5. Setting Powder

Thanks to the beauty community on video sharing platform YouTube, I discovered Coty Airspun's Loose Face Powder, AKA magic in a (cheap!) jar. When I first purchased this product, I was very confused. I set my concealer and everything was looking great, but it began to oxidize terribly, and with my complexion, that is just not a color I can pull off. So, I began to do some research, and found it was my own silly mistake that costed me. I had purchased the "extra full coverage" formula, which just is not as quality of a product I'd hoped it would be. The translucent version on the other hand, is amazing! $8.58 at Walmart.

6. Bronzer

Bronzer is another tricky item to find at the drugstore. If done too cheaply, many turn out with a red tone which is very unflattering to lighter skin tones, but also is an item that isn't worth spending $40 on if you don't really have the money (I'm looking at you, NARS). A great long-lasting bronzer with a nice cool undertone is Physicians Formula Light Butter Bronzer. They also offer the original Butter Bronzer, but it's too dark for my skin. The creamy texture glides on flawlessly and blends out beautifully. $14.99 at Ulta.

7. Highlighter

In recent years, highlighting has been a beauty must have for everyone, even if you don't want a "full face" of makeup. The beautiful glow really pulls the whole look together, so I'm shocked not more drugstore brands carry them. Luckily, Wet N Wild released quite a few shades of a highlighting bar, called MegaGlo, with enough shades for every skin tone! $4.99 at Ulta.

8. Blush

I'm a firm believer in NARS Orgasm, as is 90% of the beauty community, but mine was gifted to me, and I promise you I will not be repurchasing! I could never justify paying $30 for a blush when Sleek MakeUP makes the EXACT same shade. If you wanted NARS Orgasm/Laguna blush/bronzer duo, E.L.F.'s St. Lucia is very similar, and can be purchased from Walmart for $4! If you were looking for just the blush, pick up Sleek MakeUP's Rose Gold Blush. $6.90 at sleekmakeup.com.

9. Eyeshadow

With each new launch from the drugstore, high-end shadow is becoming more and more irrelevant. The ever-so-popular Naked palettes from Urban Decay are definitely lovely for everyday basics, but why pay $54 when you can have the best of the basics in Covergirls' TrueNAKED Nudes Palette? The texture is nearly identical and looks flawless on the lid. $9.99 at Target.

10. Liquid Eyeliner

Surprisingly, liquid liner is one of the harder items to perfect. If you're comfortable enough to use it, you want a pen or brush with a pointed enough tip to perfect that flick, a dark ink to actually have great coverage, and an easy-to-hold applicator. So far, the best I've found is NYX' Super Fat Eye Marker in Carbon Black. The pigment is extremely inky and stays put, and the pen it comes in is big enough to get a good grip. What more could you ask for? $9.99 at CVS.

11. Mascara

If you've been dying to try Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, I've got a drugstore dupe for you! L'oreal Paris recently launched their Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara, and even the tube screams "better than sex"! The best part? It's less than half the price! $8.97 at Walmart.

12. Setting Spray

MAC's Fix+ is a classic, but the price tag isn't worth it with all of the drugstore versions that have been coming out recently! I've been loving Wet N Wild's PhotoFocus Setting Spray because it's got a cute name (Seal the Deal) and because the small container makes it easy to throw in a bag or your car and refresh your makeup all day (or night) long! Wet N Wild is also a cruelty free brand! $4.68 at Walmart.

Skin Care: $16.97*

Makeup: $96.87*

*Not including your state's tax.