Beauty Lifesavers for the Budget Fashionista

Posted 271 days ago by Amanda Raye

As girls, makeup is typically just as important as brushing our teeth. Here are a few budget-friendly beauty products that will become your new lifesavers for both those midday beauty fix-me-ups and those lazy days.

1. Tinted-Moisturizer

In the past, I was never sold on this stuff. I was the full face girl everyday: lotion, foundation, concealer, powder, blush, eyeshadow primer, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara and bronzer…phew! Now, my life has become much more hectic since I made the move to Manhattan, and so I found spending an hour getting ready in the morning to be unpractical. The truth is, many of us don’t really need to go through all these steps anyways.

I was visiting my parents and found tinted moisturizer in my mom’s bathroom, it was in my color so I gave it a try…my morning routine has never been the same since. I find myself wearing it on those days when I’m in a hurry or when I’m not in the mood to wear makeup.

If you want to try this product out, make sure you purchase one with an SPF. All it does is lightly even out your skin tone so you can either wear it alone or set it with powder for a matte look. Add some mascara, and perhaps a lip stain for those days when you’re in a hurry, but still want to look like you tried. This stuff is also great for trips to the gym!

I happen to be a huge fan of the eyes. lips. face tinted moisturizer which you can find online and at Target for only $3.

2. BB Cream

This is for the girl who wants more coverage than what a tinted moisturizer can offer her, but still doesn’t want to do all the work that goes with foundation.

Beauty balms are sometimes called BB creams and they originated in Asia. In the eastern part of the world, generally speaking, the main morning concern is perfect skin. When it comes to lipstick and blush, they could take it or leave it. What makes BB creams different than tinted moisturizer? They typically have anti-aging serums, antioxidants, brighteners and high level sun protection. They also add a tad more coverage than a tinted-moisturizer. Think of it this way: BB Creams are the tinted moisturizer’s prettier and taller best friend.

I was first introduced to a BB cream a few months back when a sample of the Dr. Jart+ was in my Birchbox. I fell in love with it immediately, however it’s $40 a tube. I went searching and found three BB creams under $15 that I liked: Granier BB Cream which costs about $12 a tube, L’Oreal Studio Secrets Magic BB Cream which is about $8 a tube and the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream which is also about $8 a tube. If you’ve recently tried a BB cream, please share your experience with us in the comments!

3. Smudgees

These are by far my favorite beauty lifesavers. They are basically individually packaged Q-tips that have makeup remover on the tips. Don’t you know when you head to the bathroom mid-day and notice your eyeliner ran, leaving an unattractive smudge right under your water line? SMUDGEES!

These guys are sold out on their official website at the moment, however you can find them at Ricky’s NYC if you live in or near New York. Hopefully they make it big so we can get them everywhere! Each box contains 20 pre-moistened individually wrapped Q-tips and costs about $8.

4. Tinted Lip Balm

I hate lipgloss more than anything. I find it to always be sticky and when you have long hair, that just doesn’t work out. Still, lipstick can sometimes be too much. I always like to have a bit of color on my lips and chapstick typically doesn’t have enough tint and lip stain is amazing, but isn’t the best to wear when your lips are dry. What to do?

I was first introduced to the Chubby Stick from Clinique ($16) by Alyssa Hertzig, the beauty director at Shape Magazine a few weeks ago. It was the cosmetic I’ve been dreaming about for years, but never found in real life. It softens your lips while adding subtle color that’s still kissable and isn’t sticky. I found a cheaper one from no other then Express for $10. If you’d like to go even cheaper, check out the Moisturizing Lip Tint from eyes. lips. face for only $3.

What’s your beauty lifesaver for those days when you’re not in the mood for going all out, or when you don’t have time to re-do your makeup after work or school? Also, what’s one cosmetic that’s always in your purse? Please share with us in the comments below!