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Friday 30 January 2015

Top 10 under $20// Drugstore Starter Kit



I wish that beauty items weren't so overpriced in Australia so this post could have a more catchy title, but alas here are some rad products that are super affordable AND of amazing quality. If you are just starting out with makeup or want to build a small makeup collection on a budget these are my picks for the perfect 'starter kit'.

1// Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation [$19.95]

This is a really fantastic full coverage, matte foundation that you can rely on for a truly flawless finish. My go-to for a night-out. Unfortunately in Australia the shade range is quite limited so it's unlikely you'll find a shade at either ends of the skin-tone spectrum.

2// Maybelline Fit-Me Concealer [$14.95]

A well loved drugstore concealer and it's definitely worth the hype. Great to use under the eyes, on blemishes and over redness as well as being super creamy and easy to blend. An awesome choice for beginners, but again it can be difficult to find the correct shade so make sure you swatch in store or ask for help.

3// Face of Australia Translucent Loose Powder [$11.95]

Definitely one of the best translucent setting powders I have tried and it comes with HEAPS of product. Keeps you matte, great at setting foundation and doesn't look cakey at all, this is definitely one to try if you can find it in stock!
Also available at Big W and K-Mart.

4// Sleek Face Form Palette [$14.99]

The perfect palette for a starter kit as it houses all the face products you need - a matte bronzer which can be used for bronzing or contouring, a shimmery highlight as well as a blush! They also come in different shades for different skin tones so you're definitely going to find a palette with products that work for you.

5// Wet n' Wild Eyeshadow Trios 

For the price, you cannot go wrong with Wet n' Wild shadows. They are soft, creamy, easy to blend and these trios literally give you an eye look in 3 steps. I cannot recommend these enough and would make a great addition to any makeup collection. They also have some bright colours to experiment with. These shadows aren't available in Australian stores but you can purchase them from crushcosmetics.com.au [AUD$8.00] or if you don't mind waiting for shipping, from beautyjoint.com [USD$3.99].

6// Rimmel London Scandal Eyes Khol Kajal [$9.95]

My favourite affordable eyeliners, these Rimmel Khol Kajals are pigmented, creamy and glide on the eyelid and in the waterline so easily! You can also smudge them out a bit to create a smokey look but once they set - they ain't going anywhere. Definitely a great choice if you're looking for a long wearing eyeliner. For beginners I recommend the shades 'Black' and 'Bronze'.

7// Maybelline The Falsies Mascara [$19.95]

Everything you need in a mascara - volume, length and amazing definition. The natural fibre brush makes it easy to use and the formula is also easy to work with - not too wet or dry. Oh and never buy this full price! Maybelline is always on sale somewhere and you can easily find this at half price by shopping around.

8// Essence Eyebrow Designer [$3.05]

My no.1 regret as a makeup newbie was ignoring my brows. My go-to brow product from the drugstore, I love this pencil for its surprising versatility and hard, waxy texture. A simple to use, one step brow product will add extra colour as well as holding those stray brows in place.

9// Revlon ColourBurst Balms [$17.95]

Practically all my favourite lip products are from the drugstore and come in under $20 so it was pretty hard to choose my no.1 pick perfect for a beginner's starter kit. I chose the Revlon ColourBurst Balms because they come in three different formulas which are all equally amazing. The Just Bitten Kissable Stains are perfect for a sheer wash of colour in a really moisturising formula - try 'Honey' for a 'my lips but better' shade. The Matte Balms are super pigmented and leave a gorgeous matte finish whilst still being really comfortable to wear - try 'Sultry' for a versatile, deep rosey shade. Finally, the Lacquer Balms offer a high gloss finish - try 'Coquette' for a fun vibrant pink. As well as this, the fact that they are a jumbo lip pencil makes application foolproof!

10// Real Techniques Brushes 

If you've been reading my blog for a while you may now my absolute love of the Real Techniques brushes. They are incredible quality for the price and so versatile as well. They are also great for beginners as they have synthetic bristles which are really easy to maintain. As always I suggest buying Real Techniques from iHerb where you can get their Core Collection and Enhanced Starter Set for $18.00! You can now shop in AUD$ on iHerb and they ship with Australia Post at an affordable rate. I've done a review of some Real Techniques brushes here.



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