Makeup has been part of my daily routine for as long as I can remember. Whether it's getting ready for school or going out with friends on the weekends, I usually have a least a little bit of makeup on. Women wear makeup for many different reasons. Some wear it to feel less insecure about their skin, others like the creativity that goes along with eye shadow palettes and new lip colors. Whatever the reason, makeup is part of many women's routines and schedules. More recently, I've been seeing girls obsess over really expensive products, like MAC or Smashbox. Girls are contouring their faces flawlessly while others are left wondering how they can get that kind of look. I have news for you: You don't need expensive makeup to look good.
As a college student on a tight budget, I see the prices of some makeup products and wonder how most people can afford them. It's crazy that a small bottle of foundation can cost more than an article of clothing. I see girls with perfect makeup and think I could never get that with the products I buy. However, I've more recently found that you can make any kind of makeup work if you really want it to.
One brand that I absolutely love is e.l.f. Cosmetics. I started using some of their products a couple years ago and fell in love. I haven't bought anything from them that was more than 10 dollars, which is amazing. But how can something so cheap be of good quality? I wondered the same thing. I've had bad experiences with makeup in the past because I have extremely sensitive skin. Some really high-end products have left my skin dry and itchy. But with e.l.f, I know I won't ever have a problem. It's a brand that is super cheap, but has that high-end kind of quality that looks really good.
Another option I've seen friends of mine utilize is a monthly makeup delivery service like Ipsy or Birchbox. If you sign up with these companies, you get a monthly box of assorted products based on your makeup preferences. I like this idea a lot because in most cases it's around 10 dollars a month to get a lot of really good products. It allows you to experiment more with new products and get a feel for what kinds of makeup suit your face and skin type.
I'm not trying to bash girls who do buy more expensive products or say that those products are worse than less expensive options. If that is what you want to buy, then go for it—you do you! It all depends on individual preference, and I think that's part of the reason the makeup industry is so large today. For me and for other girls who like to buy their makeup on a budget, there are options out there for you. You don't need expensive products to look like a celebrity who has their own professional makeup artist. We are all beautiful in our own way, and our own makeup preferences let us show our individuality.
