Affordable Beauty Products

So I have been on a mission lately. Let me start over…I have been on a mission lately to find affordable beauty products. I will confess that in the past I was the girl that paid a high price tag for her makeup and beauty products. But lately, I am on a budget and challenging myself to see what else is out there. Do you really have to spend a lot to get a good product? I’m sure this is a question that everyone has asked themselves and some may have already discovered some affordable beauty products. Maybe I’m late to the game…

But better late than never.

My Latest Affordable Beauty Product Finds

• Neutrogena Shine Control Primer
• Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water
• Maybelline Lip Crayon
• The Ordinary – Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

The Ordinary – Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Lately, I’ve been hearing some buzz about The Ordinary beauty products. I wasn’t sure which product to try first. I am the Queen of being mesmerized by the promises a beauty product makes or the person selling it to you only later to realize that it doesn’t live up to the hype.

So this time I was going to take a different approach. My plan was to select one…do my research and test this one product before I committed to a new beauty line. So this Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% sounded like a great place to start. Here I am 37 and I feel like I’ve taken a ride in the DeLorean back to my high school days with my oily skin. Lately, it’s been…please hand me the oil blotting sheets.

So when this one said it would reduce pores and oiliness I knew I had to give it a try. I will be honest with you and say that at first, I was like…this isn’t making a difference…I’ve been tricked yet again, but for some reason, I decided to stick with it. Man am I glad that I didn’t give up on this stuff. It works! It is making a difference. Now, my problem isn’t completely solved but it is making a difference and I’m hoping that the more I use it the more progress I’ll see. I will add that I used to wake up in the morning with a semi oily face but not when I apply this product before bed. You can apply in am & pm if you’d like.

Odds & Ends…

Let me warn you that when you apply this it might feel a little sticky. No need to worry…it does dry.

Less is more with this one…I’ve just been using about half a dime’s worth. It gives great coverage. And you can still easily add your serums and/or moisturizers on top of it and apply your makeup as usual.

I’m also excited to report that I’ve ordered a few more The Ordinary products to try so I’ll be able to report back on a few more of their products. So stay tuned.

Maybelline SuperStay Ink Crayon Lipstick

If you follow me on Instagram, then it should come at no surprise that I’m going to bring up this lip crayon again. But here’s the thing that you need to understand. I used to hate, I mean HATE wearing lipstick. I did dance as a child and I remember hating it when my mom wanted to apply lipstick. Even though formulas have changed, I was still against it until about a year and a half ago. I started testing different ones and found a few that I’d wear occasionally.

But I felt like I was on the hunt for that lipstick that felt as good as chapstick. I hate the lipstick that you can just feel on your lips and feel like everything they touch will be covered in whatever color you are sporting that day. Sometimes I felt like I couldn’t move my lips because of the texture of the lipstick on my lips. I’ve tried the expensive brands and the affordable brands and I’ll be honest and say that I have found a few that I like and that I’d say nice things about.

But this lipstick is a game-changer for me. I love the way that it feels on my lips. It glides on beautifully and it’s easy to apply. The applicator makes it easy to stay in the lines and you don’t feel like you need a lip liner.

Oh, and did I mention that the transfer of this stuff is practically non-existent which is a major plus for me.

It comes in over 15 colors and is less than $10 so why not just give it a try. I’ve been wearing Lead the Way #15 which is a great neutral shade for my coloring.

Neutrogena Shine Control Primer

This is a new affordable beauty product that I’m trying. I’ve only been using it for about a week but so far, so good. I would imagine that it will only get better with time. I’ve used primers before and sometimes I feel like they help and make a difference but other times I not really sure. So far I’d say that this one does reduce shine control which is what I need right now since I took a trip back to 1999 with my oily skin.

I would like to add that I don’t want dry skin and the issues that come with that I just want to get my oily skin under control and reduce the shine. Oh and not feel like I need to carry face blotting sheets with me.

Garnier Micellar water

When a product is good, you just have to mention it over and over again. I just want to make sure there is no uncertainty of how great I think this stuff is. Every time is like the first time of using this stuff. I’m mesmerized at how easily and effortlessly this stuff removes your makeup. It just feels so fresh. It’s like better than water. I don’t even know how to describe it.

About it & a few benefits:

• You don’t have to actually rinse after use. (but I do)
• It requires an accessory: you do want to use cotton pads to remove your makeup. Apply water to a cotton pad and swipe across your face.
• You can use this to clean your make-up brushes.
• Removes your makeup
• It’s not harsh to the skin
• Hydrates and nourishes your skin
• Helps keep skin clear – the cleansing agents in all micellar waters naturally clear skin of sebum and wax-based substances, which cause breakouts

Another product that’s less than $10 so for that price why not give it a try. Hey, if you don’t like it you can always use it to clean your makeup brushes.

Thanks for stopping by! I’d love to hear about your latest beauty discoveries and if you end up trying any of these affordable beauty products!

Check out a few of my other beauty finds here, here and here.

P.S. At Target if you spend $25 and you get a $5 gift card on select skin care items.

This post contains affiliate links for which I may receive compensation. Purchasing through an affiliate link does not cost you any extra. I only recommend products that I like and the services I trust.