If you’re a beauty lover like I am, you’re familiar with seeing your bank statement and cringing when you see how much you spend on your beauty products. But that’s okay...good skincare and makeup is an investment, after all! However, you don’t always need to break the bank in order to have good products. So here are some of my favorite beauty finds that cost less than you would spend on 3 cups of coffee!
- Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Papers by Tatcha - Great for all skin types and ages, these soft leaflets made with 100% gold flakes and abaca leaves help to absorb excess oils on your skin without bothering any of the makeup on your face. Strong and absorbent while still feeling light and soft, these sheets remove the shine without stripping the skin of the essential moisture that it needs. Free of any synthetic fragrances, mineral oil and powder, it is all natural, cruelty free, paraben free, sulfate free, and biodegradable. Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Papers $12 is available at www.tatcha.com
- The Original MakeUp Eraser Makeup Remover Cloth by The Makeup Eraser - Now when I first saw the ads for this, I thought it was gimmicky and disregarded it completely. Then I got one as a gift and I realized how wrong I was, and how good it actually works! With a premium, patented, polyester cloth that is made up of tiny hair-like fibers to help grab all the makeup, dirt, and oil in your pores, this cloth is able to remove everything from waterproof mascara to longwear lip colors...and even eyelash glue! It’s machine washable and can be reused for up to 5 years too! I would note that following with a cleanser is something I always recommend. The Original MakeUp Eraser Makeup Remover Cloth $20 is available at www.makeuperaser.com
- Liplux SPF 30 by Coola - With so many sunscreens made for face, body, and even hair, it can be difficult to remember that your lips also need protection from the sun’s harmful rays. This all-in-one lip product both protects with broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection with SPF 30 and hydrates chapped lips with a blend of fruit butters like avocado and raspberry. Free of parabens, sulfates, mineral oils and formaldehyde, this treatment is also gluten free and cruelty free. Liplux SPF 30 $12 is available at www.coola.com
- Artist Color Pencil by Makeup Forever - This product is, perhaps, my favorite in this article. Available in over 35 intensely pigmented shades, you can do absolutely anything with these pencils: brows, lip liner, eyeliner, blush, contour...I’ll even use these to add some color to my tattoos! They stay on really well and are able to come off pretty easily with any cleanser, so you don't have to worry about looking racoon eyed and also don’t have to worry about pulling and tugging to get it off your eyes. I love these pencils so much that I have separate sets for both my kit for clients and for myself! Artist Color Pencil $18 are available at www.makeupforever.com
- Restore & Renew Multi Action Face & Neck Serum Boost Sheet Mask by No7 - Packed with 1 week’s worth of age defying serum ingredients in just one nourishing mask, this baby packs a punch! Anti-wrinkle, firming, brightening, with calcium and amino acids, this mask is designed to adhere to the facial contours seamlessly with it’s built in ear hooks...plus it takes only 2 weeks to notice visible results, with even better results in tone and texture after only 4 weeks! I love the feel of the mask as well as the fact that it’s the only ones I’ve seen that include a flap for your neck too, which is a part that is often neglected...at least for me because I sometimes forget to take care of my neck! Restore & Renew Multi Action Face & Neck Serum Boost Sheet Mask $5.99 is available at www.us.no7beauty.com
- Drop Lashes by Sonia Roselli - These lashes are exactly how they sound: dropped into a case and not glued down! No more splayed lashes that get ruined because you’re trying to disconnect them from the case that they come in! Easy to use and natural looking, these lashes are great for those who don’t want an overdone lash look but still want to add a little bit of oomph to the lashes. These come in 3 sizes: short, medium and long, and are all lighter in weight compared to traditional individual lash sets. Drop Lashes $20 are available at www.soniaroselli.com
- Face Aperitif: Hydrating Facial Mist by Wondergloss - Power packed with hyaluronic acid and aloe vera, this purse sized mist comes in three different versions: Rose, Jasmine, and Orange Blossom. You can use this over makeup or under, or even just to refresh and soothe your skin at any given time! This spritz is vegan, cruelty free, as well as paraben and gluten free, and is an essential for summer humidity as well as the winter dryness...making it great to have in your bag all year round! Face Aperitif: Hydrating Facial Mist $15 is available at www.wondergloss.com
- Colorfix 24-Hour Cream Color by Danessa Myricks - Another multi-purpose product I’m obsessed with, this innovative, high performance, long wearing cream hybrid color can be used on the eyes, lips, and face. You can mix these to create custom colors, as well as manipulate the saturation and transparency. It’s also built to last in both extreme heat and underwater! However, it should be noted that it is a rapid drying formula, so work quickly! And a little bit goes a long way, so less is more! It should also be noted that it comes in many different finishes like matte, metallic, glaze, and foils, so there’s a little something for everyone. Be forewarned though...once you grab one, you’ll want all the colors! I know I did! Colorfix 24-Hour Cream Color $18 is available at www.danessamyricksbeauty.com
- No Color Powder by RCMA - An industry favorite, this setting powder is a staple for any makeup lover and professional working artist alike! Used on set by Hollywood makeup artists for decades, this powder sweeps seamlessly over skin to give you a soft focus finish that lasts all day. Truly colorless and great for all skin tones and types, this product works well with any concealer and foundation you are using under it. No fillers or pigment help ensure that your foundation color will not change or get cakey. I use it on both myself and my clients, and one bottle lasts FOREVER, as a little bit goes a long way! No Color Powder $12 is available at www.rcmamakeup.com
- Keep On Masking Face Mask Holder by Sephora Collection - This product has been the one that had been missing from my life! I am a sheet mask lover, but not all sheet masks are created equal! Some stick to your face better than others, and there’s nothing more disappointing than a face mask that keeps sliding off or drying out too fast. Enter: Keep On Masking Face Mask Holder! This glittery silicone holder has ear loops to secure in place any mask you put under it. Plus, it helps keep masks from drying out, and allows all the benefits of whatever mask you are using to really do it’s magic. It’s reusable, washable and sturdy, and absolute must have if you like to multi-task and move around while sheet masking! Keep On Masking Face Mask Holder is available at www.sephora.com