I hope you’ve been enjoying my Budget Friendly series so far! Today is part 2 of the makeup post, where I’ll be focusing on eye and lip products. You can check out my first two posts below!
Budget Friendly Bodycare
Budget Friendly Makeup Part 1 – Face
I know that lip products aren’t a priority right now, what with the compulsory use of face masks, but trust me these are great products to keep in mind for later on. The eye products though – we’re all about playing up the eyes now that it’s the only part of our faces that the general public sees.
Don’t forget to tune in next week for the final installment in this series – affordable skincare.
BUDGET FRIENDLY LIP & EYE MAKEUP
LIP LINER
Catrice Lip Foundation R51.95
Catrice really has some super makeup products all round, but this lip liner is sensational. This shade (030 Addicted to Cafe au Lait) is actually almost exactly the same colour as my MAC Velvet Teddy lipstick! It’s super soft and creamy on application, but it dries down to a waterproof (yet comfortable) matte finish. I’ve used it as a lip liner, under lip gloss, or all over the lid as a lipstick (fab to throw in a small purse for touch ups when you’re out).
Pierre Rene Lip Matic liners R89
Another insanely smooth and buttery formula that dries down matte and waterproof are these lip liners from Pierre Rene (available on Glamore Cosmetics). I have a load of colours, so I can mix and match with my different lipsticks, but I love to also wear these as a lipstick all over the lips. They last so well, feel like nothing on the lips and are just so pigmented! My favourite shade is 08, a cooler toned nude that I’m actually almost finished!
GUYS – these 2 brands of lip liners are WAY better than the high end ones I’ve used. Honestly you don’t need to buy high end, pricey lip liners.
LIP STICK
ALL of the Maybelline lipsticks from R99
I’ve used (and loved) every Maybelline lipstick I’ve ever owned. They have so many formulations and colours that you’re bound to find exactly what you’re looking for. Their matte finish lipsticks are also incredibly comfortable and have great staying power.
NYX Suede Matte Lipstick R139.95
I received this NYX lippie in my Christmas Beauty Box from Clicks, in the shade Kitten Heels (a bright shade of red). The formula of these lipsticks are a powdery kind of matte – but so comfortable that I want to get my hands on a few more shades, especially an everyday ‘my lips but better’ nude. Then again – all NYX lip products are sensational – as you’ll see below, I have more from the brand that I love!
HONOURABLE MENTION goes to lipsticks from Catrice and Essence – I don’t currently own any of their lippies as I did a declutter earlier this year, and gave away some that I had similar shades of/that I wasn’t reaching for. These brands are SO affordable and they both have lipsticks in a great variety of shades and formulas.
LIQUID LIPSTICK
Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink R169.95
I LOVE the formula of these. They dry down matte and don’t transfer, but they don’t feel dried out on the lips. I have this shade (Loyalist) but don’t really use it on it’s own as it’s a bit light for me – instead it’s a fabulous way to add dimension to the lips and I add it in the centre of my bottom lip when using a darker nude, the smack my lips together and blend it out with my finger. The shade Heroine is also one of the most vibrant coral/reds I own.
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream R139.95
Putting this post together, I realised that the shade I own of this (Stockholm, a gorgeous nude) has grown legs and disappeared. This makes me very sad. The formula is more a matte ‘gloss’ if that makes sense, in that it doesn’t dry down completely so it will transfer ever so slightly. But it gives a definite soft matte finish (great description right there in the name) and feels insanely comfy on the lips. Gorgeous shade range too.
LIP GLOSS
Revlon Kiss Plumping Lip Crème R92.95
Absolutely obsessed with this gloss, so much so that it has a permanent place in my handbag. I own the shade 525 Barely Blush, and it is the most perfect pinky nude. The formula is like a liquified lipstick – not gloopy or sticky, more like a cream, and with a gentle minty tingle. It provides a gorgeous sheen and opaque colour, and feels so buttery and hydrating.
Pierre Rene Cover Gloss R145
Wow but these glosses are beautiful. They offer super pigmented colour and intense shine! I own the shade 07 that came in THE 01 HERA LIP KIT on the Glamore website. It’s a beautiful pink shade that makes for the most perfect glossy lip for spring/summer. They sadly don’t have this shade for sale individually, HOWEVER you can purchase a selection of other beautiful shades, or 2 other lip kits (that come complete with liner, lipstick and gloss all in corresponding shades). The formula also contains argan oil, so it’s very nourishing!
Another of my favourite NYX products that ALSO seems to have grown legs. I don’t know where it’s disappeared to! The formula of these is as the name suggests – buttery and non-sticky. Honestly one of the best gloss formulas I’ve used. They also come in a gorgeous array of shades, but I owned the shade Tiramisu (as seen above). In fact, it makes the most beautiful lip colour for bridesmaids, maybe it’s in my pro kit?
BROWS
Maybelline Brow Precise Fiber Filler
I cannot find this for purchase online ANYWHERE! Has it been discontinued? I know my local Dischem and Clicks still have stock of it (at Watercrest Mall, in case you’re interested). This is one of the most amazing one-stop-shop brow products ever. It contains a tint to give your brows some colour, fibers to fill them out and the gel sets them in place all day long. It can be a bit fiddly as the wand holds a lot of product, but I have a tutorial on how I use it for the most fluffy, full brows as an Instagram Highlight.
L.A. Girl Shady Slim Brow Pencil
Another one I can’t find online. The brand is exclusive to Dischem, and I saw this in store last week and plenty of them. Super thin brow pencil that lasts all day without smudging, has a spooly to brush product through your brows, and comes in a lovely variety of shades. Also affordable, it’s definitely under R100
NYX Micro Brow R152.95
Another super fine brow pencil that also comes in a lovely selection of shades and also with a spooly. I’ve gone through at least 3 of these and I adore them! They don’t smudge or budge during the day.
Essence Make Me Brow R54.95
The first brow product to get me hooked EVER. I have been through countless tubes of this brow gel, it’s a dupe for the Benefit Gimme Brow, and is legitimately amazing. Tint, fibers and gel work to fill, colour and keep your brows looking fluffy and beautiful all day long.
EYESHADOW PRIMER
Wet n Wild Photofocus Eyeshadow Primer R99.95
This primer really makes your eyeshadow last longer without creasing and the colours stand out a little more vibrantly. I do find I have to set it with a translucent powder before I go in and blend, as colours can skip – but other than that it works like a bomb!
EYESHADOW
Revolution Reloaded Palettes R134.95
The Revolution Reloaded palettes are amazing – you get 15 eyeshadows in one palette, for that price!? I own the Velvet Rose one (I had the Iconic Division but I just wasn’t reaching for it, so I passed it on to my mom, who loves greens) and the shadows are smooth, pigmented and easy to blend.
This is honestly one of my most used palettes, and I know that when I’m in a rush and need to put together a decent eye look for a night out, I can reach for this and whip up a smokey brown eye. It never lets me down!
Revolution Roxsaurus Colour Burst Palette R250
18 shades of all the colours you could imagine! How beautiful is this palette? This is an ideal gift for someone who is wanting to play more with colours (I’m usually a neutrals gal, but have been loving incorporating this into looks).
You can easily go dark, glamorous and smokey, rock a sunset-eye or something more neutral. A really nice, versatile palette that’s fun to play with.
Pierre Rene Pure Pigment Powders R135
These are one of my favourite eye products to play with! You can use them dry for a sheer wash of colour, a pop of sparkle, and build them up for a single shade eye look. BUT you can also use them wet (I use them with the Pierre Rene Liquid Primer Fixative) and create a liquid eyeshadow that is super metallic and pigmented. In fact, you can use them as eye liners (when dampened) or even as a face highlight if you have the right shade!
Here you can see the shadow wet (on the left) and dry (on the right). I love how versatile they are, and how much product comes in the little jars.
EYE LINER
NYX Slide On Eye Pencil R129.95
Creamy formula, super pigmented colour and WATERPROOF! This is as good as an eyeliner gets! What I really love about these is how soft the formula is, as it doesn’t drag on the lash line at all. They come in a huge array of colours, but this shade is my favourite – it’s called Jewel, and is a beautiful metallic plum (mine is TINY now, like the size of my pinky). I also owned Golden Olive, a pretty greeny-toned gold.
L.A. Girl Glide Eyeliner R45
This liner is SO SO soft and smooth, and one of the darkest, most pigmented black liners I’ve used. It also comes in a variety of colours! Sadly I can’t use this on my waterline as it does smudge then, but it’s amazing to roughly draw along my top and bottom lash line and smudge out for a smokey eye.
Essence Liquid Ink Waterproof Eyeliner R57.95
I’m not the biggest user of liquid eyeliners as my eyes tend to water a bit (I suffer terribly with dry eyes, which ironically makes them water all the more). This is the only waterproof eyeliner I’ve tried that is genuinely waterproof, plus the little applicator brush is easy to use, and the liner is darkly pigmented.
MASCARA
Miyo Envy My Eyes Mascara R125
This is honestly one of my favourite mascaras ever. I don’t have many mascaras in my collection right now, as I’ve had lash extensions for the better part of the last 18 months, but what with lockdown happening, I’ve had to reach for mascara more often now, and not just for my lower lash line. This is pitch black, gives my lashes volume and length, and it doesn’t smudge of flake. It’s also cruelty free.
L’Oreal Lash Paradise Extatic Mascara R199.95
I don’t have this in my collection anymore, as I obviously have had the lash extensions, but this Lash Paradise mascara is INSANELY GOOD! Extreme volume (but no clumping), length, curl, dark pigment. It’s basically a dream to use, and even Tati Westbrook aka Glam Life Guru, the beauty goddess herself gave it her stamp of approval.
Essence Volume Stylist 18h Curl & Hold mascara R62.95
This mascara doesn’t get enough good reviews in my opinion. It’s actually my favourite of the Essence mascaras, one I’ve bought a couple of times. The formula is quite thick, so you do have to be mindful of that when applying, or it could clump – but if you get past this, it really holds a curl in your lash like nothing else! I used a wet wipe to wipe off excess product on the wand the first handful of times (if you wipe it off on the tube it can cause a build up that will let air into the tube, drying out your mascara). After a few times of this, the brush stopped picking up so much product, and it was a dream to use. In fact – I was asked a few times when wearing this, if I had false lashes or extensions!
Maybelline Lash Sensational R158.95
This mascara is fab at giving volume – but very defined volume. It really helps to separate the lashes like no other mascara I’ve used, yet you can still see them volumised. Really beautiful product!
