While I’ve never had any qualms about purchasing quality beauty products, on occasion I find myself cringing at the price of certain trendy items. As a self-proclaimed product junkie, I’ve tested out many products over the years and learned early on that price doesn’t always guarantee quality. Just because it has a higher price tag doesn’t necessarily mean it will be worth it. Just because it’s inexpensive doesn’t mean you’ll trash it after one use, either. After my latest cringe session, I decided to share a round-up of some of my tried and true budget friendly beauty products-nothing listed is over $15! L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Makeup, $9.99 With its extensive shade range, buildable coverage and blendability, I keep a bottle of this in my personal kit. If you have a hard time finding your perfect shade, it’s perfectly fine to mix 2. Use a beauty blender or a stipling brush for an airbrushed finished, and if you don’t want full coverage, just sheer it out with a drop of moisturizer. E.L.F. Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder/Cream, $3 each The powder formula has more color options (3), but this contouring kit in St. Lucia is known as a fantastic dupe for NARS’ Orgasm/Laguna Duo. The E.L.F. bronzer is darker pigmented so have a light touch with application. The same with the creams. If I’m going out and know I’ll have my picture taken, I’ll layer the cream duo under my powder for staying power. Maybelline Expert Wear Brow & Eyeliner, $3 This pencil easily defines brows without being too heavy. Go a shade lighter than your natural brows so that the color won’t be too harsh. Nobody wants clown brows. Revlon Super Lustrous™ Lipstick, $7.99 This collection comes in 3 different formulas (matte, creme, and frost), and offers a multitude of shades. For Summer, Ravish Me Red is a favorite because it lands in the middle of red and orange: it’s not quite coral but not a true red, so it’s easy to wear and flattering on many skintones. Wet n Wild Color Icon Collection Eyeshadow Palettes, $4.99 People sleep on these palettes but they are seriously some of the most pigmented shadows I have ever used. I mean they’re shockingly pigmented, so you have to use a light touch when applying. Comfort Zone (738) is an elevated neutral palette, so there are browns + creams for day, but the metallic gray and black can be used for a smoky eye at night. If you want to test out a few at a time, grab one of the trios for $2.99. Milani Baked Blush, $7.99 If you already have a favorite bronzer but just need a good blush, Milani’s baked blushes are some of the most pigmented out there. There are up to 11 shades (depends on which store you go to), but my personal fave is Luminoso, because you can wear it alone as a pretty peach flush, or top it over a darker, richer color to make cheeks really glow. NYC Liquid Eyeliner, $2.99 This is an oldie but a goodie. I’ve tried so many liquid eyeliners but this one nears Holy Grail status because it’s glossy, opaque, and doesn’t budge once it’s on. The application brush is thin, so you can get really close to your lash line (especially the inner corner) and build up your cateye. Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, $10.99 Gentle enough for all skin-types, this cleanser is still powerful enough to remove all traces of dirt without drying you out. Use it with a Clarisonic or a beauty puff (you can buy a pack for like, $2) for a deeper clean. This is just a small roundup of some of my faves-there are totes more products and brands to choose from (tell me if you want more). I always say test out a trend with drugstore products first because you’ll know if you like the look before investing tons of money. And stores like CVS + Rite Aid have beauty programs, so if it doesn’t work, you can return it with your receipt and try again! What are some of your favorite drugstore beauty products? Friday Faves | Linen Skirts + Dresses Sweet Treats | Muddy's Bake Shop