Sometimes it’s nice to treat yourself to a little beauty splurge but for some of us that may not always be an option or sometimes you might want to do one even better: Pick up a fabulous product that performs just as well for a much more reasonable price.

- Essence Gel Eyeliner

Essence Gel Eyeliner is my ultimate go to gel eyeliner, I’ve tried several high end brands but this one still beats them out. It’s got staying power, the perfect texture & formula, is super smooth, super pigmented and well it’s just amazing! If you like you can read all my thoughts on the Essence Gel Eyeliner!

- Essence Stay All Day Shadows

I can say with full confidence that these are the best cream eye shadows I’ve tried. Everyone’s been loosing there mind over cream shadows lately and these are the ones I’m going crazy over! I have super oily eyelids that even with Urban Decay’s Cult Primer Potion doesn’t make shadows last on me, but these cream shadows last for over 10 hours on me (through a busy day!!) even without a primer they also blend super easily with other cream shadow formulations and are so so so so so pigmented! I just wish there were more shades!

- ELF Eye Lid Primer

ELF’s eye lid primer is my go to. It performs better then some cult favourites and makes even the most crease prone shadows last for at least 8 hours! Super similar to Urban Decay’s Primer potion (although in my opinion a little better) I own them in all the different variations! Not only do they prevent creasing but they make shows appear much more vibrant and go on much more smoothly!

- ELF Studio HD Powder

This powder is one of my all time favourites for setting makeup! It may look pure white and very intimidating but don’t let that fool you; it goes on translucent and stops concealer and foundation from budging one bit! Also works well to set lip stick and give it a matte finish (take a sheet of tissue and then using a blending eye shadow brush to dust it over) or to set cream blush without altering the colour! I love a dewy finish on my skin and hate the full blown matte look and I find this powder sets everything without making me look dull. I just wouldn’t advise getting pictures taken with it or you’ll look super duper white!

- ELF Wet Look Brow & Lash Gel

This was one of my very first introductions to makeup, I used to wear this ever minute, every day, every week if you’d caught me without it you would of been god smacked! (Of course not knowing anything about makeup I used to accidentally use the brow side on my lashes and then question why it didn’t work…) It’s great for giving you that glossy “yes my lashes are naturally this long” look and taming unruly brows into place!

- * Face Of Australia Face Base Primer

This Face Primer is such a budget friendly option and is my go to primer for lazy days when my skins not looking or feeling it’s best. It’s so hydrating (if you have oily skin you probably could skip moisturiser with this one!) smooths out the entire skin, feels super smoothing but most importantly it makes makeup last! Very similar to the much loved Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Primer!

- Face Of Australia Sheer Gloss Lip Crayons

They’re not a lip gloss, they’re not a balm, they’re not a lipstick they’re all of them! For the last three weeks I haven’t been able to put these down, they are moisturising, smell great, taste great, feel nice and smooth on the lips (not all sticky!) and have a good amount of pigmentation! Super similar to the chubby sticks offered by Clinique and similar to the newly loved Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stains these are a little more glossy but I love them to bits! Just wish there were more then the three shades Cupcake, Sundae and Macaroon!

- Wet N Wild Colour Icon Eye Shadows

As far as drugstore powder eye shadows go you can’t get much better than this. These are super pigmented, have an almost “butter” like texture and these last for quite a decent time without a primer; and without one? These aren’t going anywhere. There is some fall out with can be slightly irritating but it’s nothing that can’t be fixed if you do your eye shadow first, dust a heap of translucent powder underneath your eyes, wet the brush, or use some clear balm on a cotton tip to clean it up!

- NYX Eye Shadow (For Brows)

You’re probably thinking: another eye shadow? These came in pretty damn close to be the best budget eye shadow but I like to use them for a different reason!; Brows! I’ve always had a struggle with finding a brow powder that’s the perfect shade; not to warm, not to cool, not to pigmented and not to soft and I’ve found it, NYX single eye shadow in dark brown! It’s great for those days when I want a softer look that brow pencils just can’t quite give.

- Hard Candy Fox In A box Blushing Quad

These blushes are super similar to Benefit’s Much Loved Box O Powder Blushes! They have good pigmentation (the pinks are surprisingly really bright!), decent staying power and a good selection of colours! Aren’t to shimmery or to matte and aren’t chalky like many blushes I have tried in the past; just be sure not to use the little brush included that just calls for a bad application!

*This post contains a product/sample which was sent to me for consideration in accordance with our disclosure policy, however this does not alter the honesty of this review or the blog, all opinions stated are honest and my own.