How to save your makeup money without compromising on quality…
Every time we scroll down on social media there seems to be another amazingly beautiful makeup post, a look that was created by a Makeup Artist Influencer. These amazing looks are usually achieved by the Influencer using very expensive makeup products, so I don’t blame you for asking yourself how will you achieve that same look without breaking your makeup budget? Foundations for $70, eyeshadow palettes for $100, and even $50 for mascara! Surely there is a more affordable way without compromising the quality of makeup.
I am going to disclose what makeup products you should invest more money in and which makeup products you can afford to buy more cheaply… without compromising on quality! I’m talking $12 on a quality mascara, instead of spending $50! I am also going to list some of our favourite brands we use as professionals and what we recommend our makeup students to purchase for their professional kits…both luxury and affordable options.
My professional kit is full of luxurious brands, I don’t say this to brag, normally there is no way I could afford to buy a $70 foundation, let alone 15 of them in various colours! It’s only because I worked for so many wonderful brands like MAC, CHANEL, YSL, Mecca Cosmetica, that I am privileged enough to afford high-end products, (it has been a collection in the making). Now that I don’t work for these brands anymore, it has forced me to discover more affordable options that don’t compromise on quality, as the quality of products I use will define me as an Artist.
I remember once when I was flying from Dubai back to my home, Melbourne Australia, I had to buy another ticket just for my makeup kit to travel, as I was over the baggage weight limit. My kit weighed about 50Kgs. I remember the check-in guys face when asked me if I was sure I wanted to travel with my professional makeup kit, he suggested that perhaps I wanted to leave some of it behind? My reply was “How much for another ticket?”
The expensive stuff, what you should invest in, our recommendations.
In my opinion, there are some ridiculously expensive products out there, lashes for $50 or face powders for $100 plus! For the everyday woman, it can get really pricey. Foundations, concealers and some eyeshadow colours are the only products that you should consider purchasing at a higher price, invest a little more in these because getting the cheaper alternatives just won’t cut it.
Foundations and concealers are one of the most important on the list if these don’t sit right or give you the coverage you want then the rest of the makeup won’t look so good either. Foundation and concealer are your canvas, so it’s important it is perfect!
When you decide to purchase foundations and concealers it is important that you try these on before you purchase them. Ask the lady at the counter to try it on your entire face. Testing a little on your jawline just won’t give you the full effect. Foundations and concealers oxidise on your skin, and the level of oxidation depends on the PH level of your skin. Basically meaning that the colour of your foundation and concealer will change over the first 30 mins or so. I always recommend my clients to not only try it on, all over the entire face and neck but to also walk around for at least 60 mins and have a look in different lighting and mirrors, as in-store lighting can be deceiving. Observe how it sits on your skin after an hour or so. Does it disappear into your skin? Does it seep into your fine lines? Has it made your pores more prominent? Has the colour changed? My picks for foundations vary depending on your skin’s needs and concerns.
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Concealer is perhaps the second most important item of makeup I would suggest that you invest a little more in. If your foundation doesn’t cover everything then it is up to your concealer to finish off the job. My two go-to concealers which I am happy to invest in a little more with is Tarte Shape Tape Concealer and MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Concealer.
Your concealer is used to not only cover up those stubborn breakouts and pigments your foundation can not cover, but it is also used in really delicate areas like under the eyes or on the eyelids, so you need something that is creamy enough it won’t make your fine lines visible and thick enough to provide coverage that lasts.
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Tarte Shape Tape Concealer $40
Prolongwear Concealer $46
Eyeshadow is the next product that you should invest a little more in. More specifically I am refer to the highly pigmented, bold colour eyeshadows, the colours you want to set off as a contrast or as the main event in any application. I always get asked why my eyeshadows stand out so much compared to when my clients attempt to do it themselves at home. It generally boils down to 1 of 3 things that the client is missing:1. A proper base/primer that creates a layer between the eyelid and the eye shadow.
2. Quality pigmented eye shadows.
3. Using more product and layering the colour by pressing instead of blending it too much (but that’s for another blog entirely)
There are so many good ones out there but I generally stick to what I know best for my clients and for myself. You can get away with the more natural eyeshadow colours at a cheaper price point, but prominent colours like black, auburn, deep browns, whites, and brighter colours should always be top quality, as you will notice their patchy colour payoff very easily, and they will also make blending eye shadow well very difficult.My top picks: MAC, Urban Decay, Makeup Geek, Stilla, Too Faced, Gorgeous Cosmetics, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Kryolan, Morphe and others.
Gorgeous Cosmetics Eye Shadow Palette |
Morphe Eye Shadow Palette |
Makeup Geek Eye Shadow Palette |
Urban Decay Eye Shadow Palette |
The Cheapies.
Maybelline Great Lash |
Max Factor 200 Calorie |
 Maybelline NY Volume Express |
Maxfactor 2000 Cal $15 – For a medium look to volume and length
Maybelline NY Volume ‘Express Pumped Up!’ $14 – For a mega volume and length look.
What you are looking for is a mascara that doesn’t clump and doesn’t flake over time. Sometimes it is a matter of trial and error.I have used the ones mentioned here and personally, I think they do a great job on my day-to-day makeup!
Lipstick: Anything that has a good amount of moisture and is highly pigmented. The thing about lipstick is that it is bound to wear off during the day, no matter how good the quality is, it will always need touching up. Also, depending on your skin, your age, if you smoke, drink, eat and what you do during the day, lipstick can bleed a little. In most cases the bleeding is not determined by the lipstick quality, it is determined by the following:
2. The type of lipstick > The more glossy or dewy the lipstick is the less likely it will last all day, it’s just a known fact no matter what brand you use. Stick to Matt or Satin finish for long-lasting results. I recommend the following affordable brands:
Innoxa |
Revlon |
Max Factor |
David Jones |
NYC |
NYX |
Australis |
elf |
Rimmel |
LA Girl |
Brows: If you are opting for the soft crayon type brow pencil, then most brands are a good option. However, if you are prone to sweating or have oily skin then I recommend sticking to powder instead. Many times I have used a matt brown eyeshadow that matches my brows on myself. It’s a good way to get the most out of any old brown eyeshadow. However, be cautious of the colour you select. Choose a colour that is as close to your natural brow colour as possible, except if your natural colour is so light, its barely there, in this case, opt for a shade that is a little darker.
I hope this post has helped you on your way to a more affordable personal makeup range, or if you are starting out as a Professional Makeup Artist, then I hope this post will help guide you in building your professional kit at an affordable price.
One of the great things about our 12-week Makeup Artistry course is that we always prefer to guide our students when they are building their kit, rather than have them buy a standard kit they may never use. At the end of the day, it’s all about personal choice and what fits your budget.
For more information on our 12-week Professional Makeup Artistry Course or for information about our 1-day workshops for the everyday woman, please get in contact here: Contact Us
Alondra Gataé
Director of the Academy of Hair & Makeup
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