5 Best Affordable Makeup Products Under $35, According to a Beauty Editor
Erin Cook is a beauty and lifestyle journalist who has been slinging words for magazines, such as marie claire, ELLE, Harper’s BAZAAR, Cosmopolitan and Body+Soul, for the better part of a decade. As part of this role, she's had the pleasure of interviewing countless experts, such as dermatologists, trichologists, makeup artists and brand founders, to get their two cents on the latest beauty trends or to answer consumer questions. She loves a good hyaluronic serum, tinted moisturiser or glossy lipstick almost as much as she loves her cats. Almost.
A full face of makeup for under $35 a pop? Right this way.
I’ve been working in the beauty industry for over 10 years, and in that time I’ve had the privilege of accessing and trialling a lot, like a lot, a lot, of makeup products.
If I’m being honest, my bathroom cabinets are home to some pretty bougie beauty buys that I’ve used, loved, and repurchased in the name of work.
But expensive does not automatically mean good.
There are plenty of hard-working products tucked away in the aisles of Adore Beauty’s website and bricks-and-mortar stores that punch well above their weight, and some of these affordable finds are even better than their luxurious counterparts.
So if you have champagne taste on a Coke Zero budget, save your coins and check out these tried-and-tested makeup products under $35 that have earned a permanent place in my high-low beauty routine.
Maybe you’ll love them too.
INNISFREE Dewy Tint Lip Balm.
What: INNISFREE Dewy Tint Lip Balm in shade Rose Brick, $26
Fast facts:
- A tinted lip balm with a sheer colour payoff
- Dewy finish with a subtle sheen
- Contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides for added skincare benefits
- Available in 5 shades
My INNISFREE Dewy Tint Lip Balm review:
Sheer lipsticks and tinted lip balms are on very high rotation in my makeup routine and have been for years. I’d love to be the person that can be bothered to wear lipstick, but I’m too lazy to apply it with precision and can’t be bothered with the upkeep throughout the day/night.
With that in mind, I think this might be my favourite tinted lip balm ever?
It has a noticeable colour payoff but is sheer enough that you can apply it without a mirror.
It’s very similar to the Glossier Ultralip but I’d say it’s even better because a) it’s cheaper and b) the cap doesn’t always pop off in your handbag.
Trust me, try it.
MCoBeauty Brighten & Perfect Cream Concealer.
What: MCoBeauty Brighten & Perfect Cream Concealer, $22
Fast facts:
- Multi-use concealer that brightens, corrects and illuminates
- Use it under your eyes or anywhere you need extra coverage
- Provides a natural, luminous finish
My MCoBeauty Brighten & Perfect Cream Concealer review:
Price tag aside, this is one of my favourite go-to concealers. The fact that it’s only $22? A bonus.
If I’m wearing a full face of makeup, I’ll use this concealer under my eyes to brighten and conceal any under-eye circles. I have a one year old and sleep can sometimes evade me, so trust me, this concealer works hard.
On the weekend, I’ll dab this concealer onto blemishes or other areas I want to blur, just to even things out a bit and create a bit of light coverage.
MCoBeauty Miracle Flawless Skin Foundation.
Fast facts:
- Formulated to hydrate skin for a dewy, your-skin-but-better finish
- Buildable for medium to full coverage
- Long-lasting coverage that stays all day
My MCoBeauty Miracle Flawless Skin Foundation review:
I stumbled across this product one day when I needed a foundation in a pinch and it’s become a mainstay in my routine.
This foundation has a glowy, buildable finish, so you can wear a little or a lot depending on what kind of coverage you’re after.
A lot of dewy foundations don’t last a full day, but that’s not the case with this product. Apply it at 7am and it’ll still be in place at 5pm – promise.
Maybelline New York Sunkisser Liquid Blush.
What: Maybelline New York Sunkisser Liquid Blushin shade City Sizzle, $26.99
Fast facts:
- Liquid blush with a glowy finish
- Buildable colour payoff
- Plush dot applicator for easy, targeted placement
My Maybelline New York Sunkisser Liquid Blush review:
I love a liquid blush and this one by Maybelline is one of the best.
What makes it so special? It has a dewy, radiant finish that brightens your complexion and gives it an immediate healthy glow.
It’s highly pigmented so a little goes a long way. Honestly, even with daily use, I reckon that one tube would last you months, if not years.
My favourite shade is the pinky-rose shade City Sizzle, but I also have my sights on the lighter, more candy-coloured pink shade Sol Search.
Want a second opinion? Sadaf also raves about this blush here.
Disco Stick Brow Sculpt.
What: Disco Stick Brow Sculpt, $19.99
Fast facts:
- Lifts, shapes and holds brows in place
- Clear wax formula that adds fullness for fluffy natural-looking brows
My Disco Stick Brow Sculpt review:
Let’s not forget about the brows!
Finding a good product to set and forget your brows can be tricky because there’s a lot of different types of products to choose from.
For me, I like a waxy formula that will set my brows in place without making them look laminated. Brow gels are fine, but sometimes they can have too strong of a hold and make your brows a bit stiff.
Love a waxier brow formula like me? Great. Here’s one you’re going to love: Disco Stick Brow Sculpt.
You can apply it straight to your brows but it can sometimes take off a few brow hairs in the process. Instead, I prefer to load the product onto a spoolie brush and then brush it through.
This creates fluffy, brushed up brows that stay in place while still looking natural.
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