Makeup can be surprisingly expensive. It can be difficult trying to buy everything needed to accomplish a full face. High end makeup is all over social media and one can feel the pressure to purchase from any number of luxury brands.

One way to do beauty on a budget is by purchasing drugstore brands. Drugstore brands such as Revlon, Covergirl, and L’Oréal have improved many of their classic formulas. Newer brands such as E.L.F, Flower beauty, and Pixi have also added to the ever-growing variety of options at the drugstore. If pinching pennies, try some of these brands to find cosmetics comparable to high end makeup.

Another way to save money on everyday beauty staples, is by realizing that makeup can multitask. Foundations a shade or two darker can make for a natural looking contour. Foundations a shade or two lighter can be used to highlight. A pigmented eyeshadow pallet can be used to contour, bronze, highlight, or as blush. Eyeliner pencils can be used to fill in brows to add definition.

Purchasing palettes can also save money. Instead of purchasing multiple single shadows, invest in an eyeshadow palette that comes with multiple shadows. Do make sure to research which shadows are pigmented enough to avoid wasting money. Lip palettes can also go a long way towards saving. The colors can not only be used individually, but can be mixed to create custom colors as well. There are blush, bronzer, highlighting, and contouring palettes as well. Palettes serve to save money as well as provide options.

While it can be beneficial to save money on beauty products, sometimes it is okay to splurge on higher end makeup. This can be accomplished by purchasing during sales. A lot of brands have excellent sales during the holiday seasons, as well as plenty of sales throughout the year. Some companies such as Karity, and Colorpop offer a few dollars off after signing up for their newsletters. These newsletters also alert customers to sales and new products that may be coming out. Promo codes can be found online by searching for them, or from many YouTube beauty influencers. Ulta allows for customers to earn points through purchases that can be used to purchase even more makeup.

Lastly, those looking to build their beauty collection can subscribe to a variety of beauty box subscriptions. Some boxes are as low as ten dollars a month for deluxe sample sizes. This can work for those wanting to test products before they commit to a fuller size, which in the long run saves money, or for those that don’t wear much makeup and want to avoid wasting money on full size items. Other beauty boxes are more expensive, but they have full size products that sometimes include popular brands.

Makeup addicts that are trying to save money can still enjoy new products on both the drugstore and high end scale. A few conscious shopping decisions means still looking good without breaking the bank.