While millennials scroll through the Sephora beauty board and an inordinate number of cosmetic blogs yearning to mimic the flawless looks, beauty brands like Chanel, Benefit and Anastasia Beverly Hills tend to be financially out of reach for the masses.
Years ago, consumers would be forced to choose between expensive brands that produced quality cosmetics and cheaper drugstore companies that require multiple re-applications throughout the day. As technology advances, companies have found ways to use quality ingredients at a lower price point. In today’s world, beauty enthusiasts no longer have to settle.
One brand that has exploded due to their savvy use of social media, cheap prices and trendy makeup is ColourPop. From their $6 ultra-matte liquid lipsticks that last all day to their incredible color range of eyeshadows in every finish imaginable, it’s a perfect one-stop shop. They also do collaborations with a wide range of celebs. Recently, collaborations with beauty vlogger Kathleen Lights, “Hunger Games” actress Isabelle Fuhrman and model and actress Karrueche Tran have helped to burst this burgeoning beauty brand into a phenomenal success.
For the skeptical shoppers who’ve been burned in the past by cheap cosmetics promising Sephora-level results, Skindinavia is the perfect option. This company, which focuses on long-lasting makeup primer and setting sprays, also creates Urban Decay’s incredibly popular all-nighter setting spray. Although at first glance, Skindinavia’s products appear only marginally cheaper, they include two free .68 oz sprays, one primer and one for setting, with every purchase. Combining the two, you get an extra 1.35 oz of product for free. For comparison purposes, a one oz. bottle of Urban Decay’s version will set you back $14. Skindinavia is also very generous with their discount codes, frequently offering 20% off your purchase in addition to the free products.
Even if you shop these sites to get your makeup cheaply, any serious beauty enthusiast worth their salt knows that in order to get a flawless application, quality makeup brushes are key. This is where the beauty industry seems to get its shoppers. In order to wear the makeup, you need the brushes. However, with makeup brush prices frequently in the $30 range for just one, they can go all the way up into the triple digits. That’s where Morphe Brushes comes in. Although the company does sell makeup, their wide range of brushes, starting as low as $2, are raved about from professional makeup artists all the way to Yelp, which has an average five-star rating from over 2,500 satisfied customers. Morphe Brushes has 10 different brush lines, including a vegan range.
If you’re interested in other quality makeup brands that won’t break the bank, check out Makeup Geek, NYX Cosmetics and Essence.
