The Makeup Products Under $50 Adore Beauty Staffers Are Obsessed With Right Now

One of the most euphoric feelings is finding an affordable beauty product.

I mean, is there truly anything better than a great beauty find that won’t put you in debt or force you to eat beans on toast for the next week? I think not.

As a Beauty Editor, that’s one of the things I love most about beauty; some of the best skincare and makeup products aren’t the most expensive.

And due to a current financial climate issue that we shall not discuss, some of us are looking for cheap (ish) products that we can add to our routines with little guilt while we’re trying to save some extra dollars.

Side note: When I say ‘affordable’, that’s going to look different for everyone, which is  totally Ok.

You should always spend within your personal budget and what you’re comfortable with friends!

To help us on our ‘affordable makeup’ hunt, I asked some of my AB colleagues what their favourite or best makeup products under $50 are.

From one of the best serum foundations to the best cheap mascaras (including the one that Sofia Richie wore on her wedding day), it would be remiss of us not to share them all with you.

So keep scrolling for our (current) fave and best makeup products under $50.

Since its launch on Adore Beauty late last year, the Huda Beauty blush stick in shade ‘Rebel Red’ has had me in a cream blush chokehold.

I have been wearing it non-stop. It imparts the most gorgeous, warm, rusty shade of red and sits so beautifully on the skin.

I love how malleable it is and how seamlessly it blends into my base without leaving that horrid blush line.

My complexion is left looking more luminous, too.

If I just want a ‘healthy flush’ I'll apply one layer, and if I’m going out in the evening and want to amp up the intensity, I’ll apply two layers.

The easy-to-use packaging is also a winner. Travel-friendly, no-fuss and looks sleek - all the things you want.

After road-testing it for this best serum foundations story, the L'Oreal tinted serum was a standout.

By way of magic, it enhances my complexion naturally while still delivering the medium to full coverage I need.

If you’re looking for a ‘your-skin-but-better’ daily foundation - this is it.

This is one of Joanna Fleming’s picks too, so if two people at Adore Beauty love it - you know it’s good.

We dare you to try it and not love it.

I’m sure Sofia Richie's wedding makeup has influenced many of your recent beauty purchases, and it turns out, that her makeup artist Pati Dubroff and I are fans of the same cheapie mascara!

Pati and I know what’s up when it comes to Maybelline lash sensational which has been my trusty/reliable, everyday mascara for the last 6 years.

In fact, lash sensational was one of the first products I wrote about for Adore Beauty back in 2020! (You can see how it looks on and read about here).

I wear it every day because it gives my straight lashes the perfect, natural, fanned-out curl. It doesn't flake or smudge and it costs less than my dinner.

I'm also going to give L'Oreal Paris Paradise Mascara - Black an honourable mention. I've only just discovered this $25 treasure that gives me length, volume and drama. It's so good!

M.A.C Cosmetics Matte Lipstick

Shade: Matte Taupe.

"This beauty landed in my hands through a friend (just between us, I borrowed it and never gave it back) and I must have repurchased it four or five times since! It’s my go-to lippie for almost every occasion. When I’m wanting a bolder lip I’ll layer a richer colour underneath or the M.A.C Cosmetics Lip Pencil in ‘Stripdown’ for a classic everyday look. Timeless, versatile, stunning."

"Benetint is what I reach for on no-makeup makeup days or when I’m in need of a little pick-me-up. A dab or two on my cheeks, nose and eyelids creates the perfect sun-kissed look and adds dimension to my otherwise pale skin. Plus, its mini size makes it the handbag hero I didn’t know I needed… until now."

"Every time I wear this foundation, someone compliments my skin. I think because it gives such a natural finish, it almost looks like you're wearing nothing at all. It's dewy, it's buttery, it's a dream to apply and pairs so well with cream complexion products for luminous, bouncy-looking skin."

"I haven't tried the #mascaragate version of this mascara yet, but I don't know how the original could get any better. This is more of a lengthening than a thickening mascara, so if length and lash definition is what you're after, look no further. This formula also layers well with other mascaras if you want to add more thickness"

"I was influenced to buy this blush by celeb makeup artist Chantelle Baker after I saw her use it in a masterclass a couple of years ago. It gives such a beautiful flush of pink to my fair skin, and can be built up or used sparingly depending on your blush preferences."

"Okay so firstly, this foundation is $23. Now that I've got that key piece of information out of the way, I'd say it has light-to-medium buildable, radiant coverage. It's formulated with hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and vitamins, and just feels so nice and light on my skin. Because it's so affordable I actually use this as my mixer foundation – I have a few shades lighter and a few shades deeper than my usual, so I can customise my perfect shade all year round, mix it in with other foundations that aren't quite right, or even use it for family members when they decide I'm playing makeup artist."

"One side of this brow pencil is a super thin pencil that's the perfect thickness to draw hair-like strokes. They've nailed the formula – it can create both bold strokes and softer strokes that easily blend out, and it doesn't scratch at my skin like some fine-tipped pencils have in the past. The other side is a creamy highlighter that I use to create a sculpting illusion in the dreaded time between brow appointments."

"I'm calling it: this concealer is SO underrated. They call it full coverage, but I actually dab the tinniest bit under my eyes, as I'm known to (probably only by me) to have desert eyes. I need something that's thick enough to stay put when I smile with my whole face, but also light enough to not look cakey when I feel dry. This does exactly that. Plus it's SO luminous."

"Don't like face powder? Stop right here. Me neither! I'm all about that glowy-dewy-shimmering-dumpling skin that says a hard pass to powder. But, ya'll know that's not always possible when it comes to events. This powder may technically (but actually definitely) be a powder, but it's super breathable, light, non-cakey, buildable and absolutely stunning on the skin. I've converted... but only for this. I'm never going to let anyone pry it from my hands."

"This gorgeous lippy is super hydrating and has a tint of colour which I like to layer with some lip liner."

"My go to eyeliner, I swear by this for creating the perfect wing, plus, the brush tip gives you easy precision with every application."

"One coat is all you need to achieve a beautiful fluffy eyelash effect, I love swiping this on to complete any makeup look!"

"Loved by makeup artists around the world, the M.A.C Paint Pots are such a versatile product that can quickly create an effective makeup look in zero time. These non-creasing pigmented eye shadow paints can be worn alone or as a shadow base. They come in a wide range of shades and textures and are easy to apply with your finger tips or a brush."

"This Quick 'N Easy Precision Liquid Liner from Huda Beauty is one of my makeup favourites. Its opaque deposit of colour makes it easy to use and the precision you get from the firm but flexible fine tip is out of this world. The extremely pigmented black formula dries quickly to a matte finish that doesn't smudge or flake. It actually makes liquid liner application less scary! (I'm holding the mini size one in my pic)."