“Makeup magnifies the beauty that already exists”
Are you ready to start wearing makeup but don’t know where to start? Even though it might seem overwhelming, there are many affordable, high-quality drugstore products for beginners. Being new to makeup shouldn’t be expensive especially when you’re testing your foot in the waters.
When shopping for makeup, it’s about selecting the right products. Select the products you will use and are attracted to. If you like bright colours, go for it! Not a fan of smokey greys? skip it! With so many makeup products on the market, you’ll definitely find the perfect ones to enhance your beautiful features.
Small disclaimer
You don’t need to wear makeup to be beautiful. Makeup is worn to enhance your beauty. You are beautiful without makeup, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Wear makeup for yourself and nobody else.
So at one point, we’ve all been makeup newbies, not knowing where to start or what products to use. Before wearing makeup, know what type of skin you have. You can take this quiz here to find out. I have combination skin but just slightly more on the dry side. This my list of affordable makeup that I personally use and/or recommend. All of these products are affordable and can be bought online or in-store. Prices listed are in Canadian dollars.
So let’s start!
1. Primer
To begin, we all need a good, lasting primer. Besides moisturizer, primer this is the first thing you’ll be applying before foundation and/or concealer. Primer allows for smooth application of foundation while mattifying or providing a tint of glow beneath.
My favourite primers are NYX Angel Veil and Wet n Wild’s Dewy Photo focus face primer. The Angel Veil primer is perfect for all skin types! I like using a mixture of both in my makeup routine.
NYX Angel Veil: $18
Wet n Wild Dewy: $12
Wet n Wild Matte: $7
2. Foundation
Finding the perfect foundation can seem difficult with many shades to select from. If you need help on how to find the perfect foundation match online, this article should help. The foundations I have listed below have been my staples since high school. My favourite is definitely the Maybelline foundation.
Maybelline Fit Me Matte Foundation for combination/oily skin: About $9
Rimmel foundations
I also love the L’Oreal Infallibles: $20
3. Concealer
Do you have dark circles or a pimple to cover-up? All of these concealers have great pigmentation with medium to full coverage. My favourite concealer is the Maybelline Master Studio for dark circles and Maybelline Fit Me Concealer for pimples. The Rimmel London and L.A Girl concealers are also full coverage and easy to apply.
Maybelline Master Studio Concealer: $10-$12
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer: $8
Rimmel London Match Perfection Concealer: $10-$12
L.A. Girl Pro Conceal
4. Face Powder
After foundation and concealer, you’ll need a good setting powder to lock it in place. My favourite is the Coty Airspun loose translucent face powder. This powder is super lightweight and perfect for everyday use. The other powders below come in many shades to fit any skin tone and are perfect for touch-ups throughout the day.
Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed powder (for oily/combo skin): $9
Maybelline Fit Me Matte (for oily/combo skin): $9
Maybelline Fit Me Smooth (for dry skin): $8
Coty Airspun (all skin types): $21
5. Blusher
Milani blushes are richly pigmented and easy to blend in with your highlight. There’s so much hype around the Milani’s baked blushes that it’s perfect for anyone into makeup. With a variety of shades, you can pick the perfect blush to compliment your skin tone. Any of Milani’s baked blushes can shape and highlight your beautiful cheeks. The Maybelline Fit Me Blush is a close second.
Milani Baked Blush: $16-$22
Maybelline Fit Me Blush: under $10
6. Bronzer and Contour
In case you were confused, bronzer and contour are not the same products. Bronzer is used to give a light “sun-kissed tan” where the sun would naturally target. Contour is about adding dimension and shape to the face. Some matte bronzers can be used to contour depending on the tone. I love using the NYC and Physicians formula bronzers to give me a natural fake tan. As a beginner, I would avoid using any cream-based blushes, contours and highlighters. The NYX highlight and contour palette are perfect for beginners interesting in structuring their face.
Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer: $19
NYC Bronzer: $10-$12
NYX Highlight + Contour Kit: $26
7. Highlighter
“May your day be as bright as your highlight”
When I was in high school I was obsessed with finding super glowy highlighters that you can see from across the room. Now that I wear makeup every day to work, I’m more interested in subtle highlighters. My favourite drugstore highlighter for super glam and subtle days is the E.L.F. baked highlighters. When you get this product, you do need to scrape off a little bit because the top layer lacks pigment. I love this highlighter because it can be subtle or buildable for a shining highlight across the room. The Maybelline Metallic highlighter is perfect for those wanting a blinding glow.
E.L.F. Baked highlighter in shade moonlight pearl for medium to light skin tones
E.L.F.Baked highlighter in shade Apricot Glow for medium to dark skin tones
Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter: $13
8. Eyebrows
Eyebrows are my favourite part of any makeup routine. I believe that eyebrows truly perfect the face/make up look. I’ve been using the same eyebrow product for years and it’s the Anastasia Beverly Hills (ABH) eyebrow pomade. This pomade isn’t exactly beginner-friendly but with lots of practice, it will work out. I’ve also linked a dupe for the ABH brow pomade. However, when it comes to brows, it’s about experimenting whether you like using a pencil, a tinted gel, or a pomade.
ABH brow pomade gel: $23
L’Oreal Mechanical Brow Pencil: $10-$12
Maybelline Brow Pomade Gel (brush and spoolie included): $12, this is a dupe for the ABH brow pomade.
9. Mascara
Mascaras are the best to make your eyes stand out without a lot of effort. Maybelline and L’Oreal have really popular mascaras that are super affordable. There are dozens of mascaras to select from in-store but these are a few of my favourites that don’t flake or smudge:
L’Oreal Original Voluminous: $6
Maybelline Lash Sensational: $7
Maybelline Volume Express Rocket: $7-$9
10. Eyeshadow Palettes
Drugstore eyeshadow palettes are perfect for those just starting with makeup and want to experiment with their skills. With many shades and tones available, you can play around with different looks and figure out what suits you the best. Looking for something easy and simple to begin with? Neutral colours are the best and most versatile for anyone.
Maybelline Nude Eyeshadow Palette: $15-$18
Rimmel London – Magnif’eyes Nude Palette: $10-$13
My personal favourite palette is from Morphe, the James Charles Palette for $50. Use code James for 10% off! It may seem like a lot of money but $50/40 shades= $1.25 for each shade which is totally worth it! Morphe also sells other eyeshadow palettes for under $50.
11. Eyeliner
“May the wings of your eyeliner always be even”
I’m obsessed with the matte liquid liner by NYX. This liner is super pigmented and glides on so easily.
NYX Matte Black Liquid Liner: $10
12. Lipstick, Lip Liner, Lip Gloss
“Give a woman the right lipstick and she can conquer the world”
With a variety of lipsticks and different formulas in the market, even I get overwhelmed picking the perfect one. I tend to stick to my favourite ones that glide on smoothly and last hours:
L’Oreal Paris Color riche ultra matte lipstick: $10
NYX Butter Gloss: $8
13. Makeup Spray
The main purpose of using a makeup setting spray is to help prevent your makeup from smudging, creasing, or fading midday. My favourite makeup spray is the Morphe Continuous Setting Mist! It’s $21 and they also have a mattify and luminous spray. Sephora also sells them for the same price. Cheaper setting sprays I would also recommend:
NYX Matte Finish setting spray: $10
L’Oreal Paris Infallible pro spray ($15).
And that concludes my list of affordable drugstore makeup products to add to your kit. Thank you for reading! I hope you find your new holy grail makeup products or found new products to try 🙂
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read full disclosure here. Regardless, I only recommend products or services that I use personally and/or believe will add value to my readers.