10 Holy Grail Beauty Products Under $10
I won’t lie - I’m a bougie person. I view underwear that costs less than $20 with suspicion. I am a firm believer that spending a small amount of additional money can often solve a whole host of problems. But even I must acknowledge that when it comes to beauty, many of the best products are sitting on the shelf at your local Walgreens or Target for a song.
It’s a poorly-kept secret in the beauty industry that many brands distribute the exact same products under different names for wildly different prices. While occasionally the more expensive products really are the better option (I’m looking at you, LilyAna Naturals Eye Cream), often you can get a high-quality face with a low-quality budget. After years of impulse purchases and haphazard application, I discovered that these budget-friendly products are as kind to your wallet as they are to your face.
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Aussie Miracle Curls Frizz-Taming Curl Cream - $5.89
Aussie hair products are the underrated workhorses of the industry. Are they the flashiest? The most viral? No. But will they get it done? Every single time. This cream has the hold, lift, and frizz protection of creams 4x the price, with a trademark coconut and jojoba scent. It gives me reliable defined texture in my hair but doesn’t weight down my fine (yet numerous) strands. As a wavy-haired gal, this is one of my favorite daily products.
Duo Lash Adhesive - $5.59
No eyelash glue on the market compares to the power of Duo Lash Adhesive. The squeezable adhesive is a must - the staying power of the tube application is top tier. The brush applicators simply do not hold the same way. Yet, surprisingly, once the glue dries, its flexible formula makes it more comfortable than other brands I’ve tried. Once you get a hang of using this adhesive, you’ll never use anything else (or want to). Pro tip: let it dry for roughly 30 seconds before application, then hold it in place for an additional 30 seconds.
e.l.f. Camo Concealer - $7
Not to sound like a granny, but when I started using this concealer, it was only $4. Its massive popularity has increased the price to $7. Highway robbery, am I right? I could not believe that such an inexpensive product could change my life, but boy howdy it did. I have used fan-favorites like Tarte Shape Tape and L’oréal Infallible, and for the perfect combination of coverage, blendability, wear, and shade matching, e.l.f. beats both of them every single time. Plus, the stiff angled wand applicator makes for the most precise placement.
e.l.f. Putty Blush - $7
For that natural glow, nothing beats a putty blush. The e.l.f. putty blush is a swipeable, creamy blush with a quick application and the perfect amount of pigmentation. It only comes in a few shades, which actually makes blush selection quick and easy - just pick one based on your skin’s undertones. The formula is really buildable, but it’s not so saturated that it’s difficult to get the perfect balance of color. While more expensive cream blushes have fancy scents and applicators, the e.l.f. blush does the same at a small fraction of the price.
Note for my fellow long nail girlies: as the product diminishes it can be difficult to get more out of the pot.
L’Oréal Lash Paradise Mascara - $9.99
Personally, I think mascara is very much a matter of personal preference. Do you want length? Volume? How natural do you want your lashes to look? If you’re looking for a voluminous mascara with incredibly long wear and minimal flaking, few things beat Lash Paradise. The wear is so strong that even the non-waterproof variety can be difficult to remove. The formula can be a little wet and messy when applied, but it has an amazing volumizing effect for an extremely reasonable price.
Maybelline Fit Me Foundation - $7.99
Foundation can be one of the most costly items in your makeup bag. Many people shell out $40, $50, or $60 in search of the perfect amount of coverage with shade match. Little do they know one of the best foundations on the market is available just about everywhere, in a huge range of shades, for under $8. I have oily skin with lots of redness and sensitivity, and this foundation covers all of my imperfections without feeling caked on or over-the-top. Plus, the shade match is some of the best I’ve seen.
Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick - $10.99
As someone with somewhat fidgety lips, I long ago resigned myself to a life of constant reapplications. Until I randomly purchased this lipstick and realized new possibilities. The consistency is a bit tacky, which actually means I’m slightly more aware of the lipstick and less likely to rub it off. The wear is ridiculously long. I have applied it, spent a day at the lake, gone to bed, and taken a shower, and there’s still lipstick on my lips. The price is slightly over my guidelines, but trust me - it’s worth it.
L’oréal’s similar matte lipstick is also great, but the shade is not as accurate as the Maybelline in my experience.
NYX Epic Ink Liner - $9.99
The only eyeliner I’ve ever used better than NYX Epic Ink at any price is the now-discontinued Marc Jacobs gel liner (RIP). The applicator is stiff enough for the most winged-liner-illiterate, the formula stays wet long enough to correct mistakes easily, and it has the best wear of any drugstore eyeliner, bar none (including waterproof formulas). Not to start a flame war, but Wet ‘n Wild breakup proof liner has NOTHING on this. My application of eye primer is inconsistent at best, and this bad boy stays no matter what. I always have 2-3 in my makeup bag just in case.
NYX The Brow Glue - $8.99
As a dark-browed individual, sometimes I fill in my brows, sometimes I simply want to shape them, and sometimes I need both. NYX brow glue has excellent hold, a simple-to-use applicator, and comfortable wear in an inexpensive package. Perfect for the ultimate feathered brow. Even if I’m not feathering my brows and just want a sleek simple look, the formula in clear keeps me feeling put together every day. Plus, it’s squeezable, which means I can get more product for my money.
The Ordinary Hylauronic Acid - $8.90
Without any hyperbole, this product is perhaps the best skincare product under $10 I have ever used. I have sensitive, acne-prone skin and I live at high altitude in a very dry area. (Why yes I have had a breakdown in the skincare aisle, why do you ask?!) Hydrating products are often too rich for my skin, causing breakouts or rough texture. However, the hydrating and smoothing effect of this serum on the skin is immediate and incredible. I’ve even noticed that my makeup goes on more smoothly with it on! I will be buying this serum until my bones crumble into dust.
