Right now, inflation rates are higher than they’ve been since the early 1980s, causing the price of everything from the food you buy to the gas you put in your car to go through the roof. And it doesn’t look like there’s an end in sight.
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But if you’re worried that you’ll have to choose between lip gloss and a tank of gas, take a deep breath. We’ve got some great inexpensive dupes for some of your favorite high-end makeup products that will save you a little cash and keep your face looking fresh at the same time. Who knows? Once you get used to those extra coins in your pocket, you may say goodbye to those fancy brands for good!
Blush
Splurge - Nars Orgasm Blush - $32
Save - Milani Baked Blush - $10.99
Nars’ blush has been a fan favorite for years, earning a spot on best of beauty lists everywhere. But if you’re looking for ways to save, Milani’s Baked Blush is a great substitute. Their Dolce Pink comes closest to Nars’ Orgasm, but there are nine other shades to choose from that will give your skin the perfect glow. And they are all vegan and cruelty free. One happy customer wrote, “These are honestly the most incredibly buttery, smooth, blendable blushes I’ve found.”
Contour Palette
Splurge - MAC Studio Fix Sculpt and Shape Contour Palette Medium Dark/Dark - $41
Save - Black Radiance True Complexion Contour Palette - $9.99
A contour palette is a makeup bag must-have that will give your face a perfectly chiseled look. The Black Radiance palette is a great lower-priced alternative that comes in three complexion options – light to medium, medium to dark, and dark to deep.
And as an added bonus, the folks at Black Radiance give you easy to follow instructions so you know exactly how to give your face the perfect definition. One happy customer called it the “Holy grail,” writing in part, “I have been using this product for years and was elated when they got the even darker palette “deep-dark;” would recommend all my dark skin girls. I love it so much.”
Eye Shadow Palette
Splurge - Melt - Four Twenty Palette - $58
Save - Juvia’s Place Nomad Palette - $17
Melt’s Four Twenty Palette is a colorful eyeshadow palette with shades of green and yellow that are perfect for summer. The Juvia’s Place palette is a much more affordable option with nine neutral shades that are made with melanated women in mind. One happy customer wrote, “The colors are rich and beautiful! They show up on you well and I get many compliments when I wear the colors.”
Red Liquid Lip
Splurge - Smashbox Always on Matte Liquid Lipstick in Bawse - $26.00
Save - Coloured Raine Matte Lip Paint, Cherry Blossom - $5.00
There aren’t too many things a good red lip can’t fix. And when it comes to red lipsticks and glosses, I’ve practically tried them all. So you can imagine how excited I was to find Coloured Raine’s Matte Lip Paint, an inexpensive liquid lipstick that looks so good that no one will know you got change back from your $20.
Bright, Bold Lip Color
Splurge - MAC Powder Kiss Liquid Lip Colour in Make it Fashun! - $25
Save - BLK/OPL - COLORSPLURGE Liquid Matte Lipstick in Fab Fuchsia - $10.95
Sometimes a bold lip color is all you need to make a statement. But if you’re new to wearing bright colors, you might not want to blow your entire beauty budget. BLK/OPL beauty products are made for women of color. Their liquid matte lipstick comes in fresh, fun colors that look great on a variety of skin tones and they’re all under $20.
Masacra
Splurge - Tarte Lights, Cameras, Lashes - $24
Save - L’Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara - $11.99
The right mascara can make the difference between long, luxurious lashes and a hot clumpy mess. But if you’re looking for an alternative to your pricey mascara brand, you don’t have to sacrifice quality. All it takes is one coat of L’Oréal’s Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara to give you dramatic lashes that go on for days.
Setting Spray
Splurge - Charlotte Tilbury - Mini Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray - $20
Save - Milani Make it Last Setting Spray Prime + Correct Set - $10.99
When your look is complete, a good setting spray will keep your makeup in place as you go about your day. And Milani’s Make it Last gets the seal of approval from makeup influencers everywhere. Not only does it keep your face looking fresh for up to 16 hours, with a 60 ML bottle, you get almost twice the amount of spray as Charlotte Tilbury’s 34 ML mini bottle at nearly half the price.
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