Affordable eye makeup comes with all sorts of challenges. Smudging, flaking, creasing is enough to drive any girl (or guy) to spend some extra bucks on high-end eye makeup. But I have found a few products to rival those fancy palettes must-haves and mascaras with edgy names. I’m sharing with you my top 5 picks for affordable eye makeup, from the primer to the final wing.
If you are looking for more affordable makeup products, check out my posts sharing my top picks for affordable face makeup and affordable lip products, too.
Eyeshadow Palette: Coastal Scents Revealed Palettes
Price: $13-20
These Coastal Scents Revealed Palettes are only available online as far as I know, but I keep coming back to them. They actually make four different palettes in this set—Revealed, Revealed 2, Revealed 3, and Revealed Smoky. Revealed is a more nude palette while Revealed 2 has pink and purple hues. Revealed 3 is sort of a mix of both and Revealed Smoky has more gray and blue tones. I received all four of them when I subscribed to Boxycharm, a monthly subscription box for beauty products. For the most part, all of the 20 shades in each palette are pigmented and easy to blend with a variety of matte, satin, and shimmery eyeshadows.
Cream Eyeshadow: Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Shadow
Price: $5-6
Another affordable eye makeup pick is the Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Shadows. While they don’t quite last the claimed 24 hours, they do last well through contact with water, oil, and sweat. There’s a bit of discrepancy in formulas, though; only the metallic ones seem to last all day on me without creasing. They also apply much more evenly than some of the matte shades that they offer. I also find it hard to blend multiple shades of these, so I’d say they are best used for a single shadow look.
Eyeshadow Primer: Pixie Epoxy
Price: $6-7
I do not apply eyeshadow without this. It’s a very affordable indie eyeshadow primer made by Fyrinnae called Pixie Epoxy. Even though it was made to keep glittery eyeshadows on, I use it for any type of eyeshadow. It’s very sticky, so you just need to apply the tiniest bit, spread it, and let it dry for about a minute. Then, you can press your eyeshadows directly on top. I’ve had eye looks stay on for over 24 hours with this stuff.
Tip: For matte eyeshadows, apply a nude or white eyeshadow on top of the primer first before trying to blend other shades.
Eyeliner: Wet N Wild MegaLiner Liquid Eyeliner
Price: $3
One of the hardest drugstore products for me to find is eyeliner. I usually splurge on high-end eyeliner, but my favorite drugstore brand is Wet N Wild MegaLiner Liquid Eyeliner. I can usually find it for just a few dollars at my local drugstore. It’s not waterproof (and the waterproof version of it is not great), but it has a great brush applicator and is still surprisingly smudge proof throughout the day. It’s also nice that it comes in four shades (black, brown, blue, and purple).
Mascara: Maybelline The Rocket Waterproof
Price: $7
Living in a rainy city means I look for a mascara that is waterproof and flake-proof but also adds volume and length without clumping. I’ve gone through many mascaras but so far Maybelline’s The Rocket Waterproof mascara has held out to be the best I’ve tried. Not only can this last through a day of rain or sweat, but I can see a noticeable difference in the length and volume of my lashes after applying.
Tip: Quickly move the wand perpendicular to your eyelashes as you apply the mascara to add more volume and avoid clumping.
Let me know what you think of these affordable eye makeup picks or if you have your own hidden cheap makeup secrets. Here’s also a resource for beginner eyeshadow looks that might give you some inspiration for your new products! I’d love to know your opinions in the comments, or what you would like me to talk more about!
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