My Top 5 Beauty Products for Broke Ass Bitches (Like Me!)
I've always been a fan of beauty products, and have been drawn to brands both expensive and affordable alike (though, obviously, always a little more drawn to the dope ass packaging that luxury brands afford you.) Though it's only been, like, two months since I've been able to feasibly afford brands like NARS, I find satisfaction in seeking out really, really cheap products that also happen to be great. Bonus points if they don't look as cheap as they are, but (insert cliche here.) I have an obsession with finding products in sale on general; I've borderline/completely developed a superiority complex around this. Here are 5 cheap products I would continue to buy even if I could afford a pricier competitor:
E.L.F. Acne-Fighting Foundation ($6) - I live in Canada, and don't have a great selection of E.L.F. products nearby (they occasionally sell some at Winners, but not the full line.) Even with shipping, though, ordering from E.L.F. is well worth the cost. I recently ordered an enormous haul from the site, a total of $40 for almost every type of product, including a full brush set, but the real stand-out from my order has been this foundation. I thought I'd found my HG full coverage foundation with the pricey Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation ($35,) which I bought with points, but have found that this foundation does as well in terms of coverage, and has the added bonus of including acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid and witch hazel. Also, it's about 1/7 of the cost (what is math) so that is a thing. Word to the wise: don't order the stipple brush from E.L.F. (it's too long to work with foundation.)
TRESemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner ($10, but usually on sale) - I originally bought this in my venture into the world of co-washing. Though my co-washing phase was short-lived (I have very thin, fine blonde hair that seems to love a regular dose of shampoo and occasional dose of sulfates) I've continued to use this and even re-purchased. TRESemme is completely hit or miss as a brand for me, and their dry shampoo is literally the worst on the market, but I prefer this conditioner to even the most praised Pantene conditioner (which breaks me out, ugh.) Silicone-free but also supremely moisturizing, this affordable conditioner will probably be my go-to forever, provided my commitment issues chill for a bit. My beef with this product, which is probably unjustified, is that this is one of those ~natural~ branded products that you would THINK wouldn't be tested on animals (kind of like Aveeno.) I always consider this a bonus, and not a deal-breaker, but something to look out for, I guess.
Essence Volumizing Lash Powder ($3~$5) - This is so my jam, but only when going out. I LOVE products that go above and beyond the basics, but often find that the most innovative products come at a price (like Sephora's lash applicator tool.) This, however, goes for under $5, and works incredibly well on my lashes. It's basically a powder that you apply before putting on mascara. It comes with a brush, which is great, but fair warning: putting this on is pretty awkward. Also, you'll probably end up with a little bit of it in your eyes. Push through though, because the results are immediate and gratifying.
Essence Lip Liner ($1.99) - I'm a recent lip-liner convert, especially when it comes to using darker colors (in which case I'll use the liner on my entire lip.) This cheap cheap cheap liner, however, has made the transition all the easier. I love it because it's creamy enough to blend, and lasts impressively long. So far, I've only tried the Soft Berry (a deep burgundy) and Red Blush.
Salux Japanese Bath Towel ($6) - I originally discovered this thanks to Hannah from xoVain. I bought it at a nearby Japanese store, but they can also be ordered online. This very long, rough cloth, and the best part is that it's an effective way to actually exfoliate your back. Since going off the pill, I've been dealing with ~issues~ on my back and chest, but this has been a huge help. If I could still be bothered to self-tan, this would be an awesome way to exfoliate beforehand. I use this nearly every day, and it's even helped my eczema stay at bay (sexy.)
This is only a few standouts from a huge collection of affordable products I love, but I hope this is helpful! If I'm missing out on any similar products that won't contribute to my financial anxiety, let me know.
