I was really impressed by Alexandra’s look for her $20 Makeup Challenge which prompted me to put my own bargain hunting skills to the test! I have to say I’m pretty good at finding quality makeup at a fraction of the price. Most of my favourite makeup are drugstore brands so I thought I would breeze through this challenge no problem…Turns out, it was a lot harder to stay within budget. Because of this I had to do a little improvising and you might be surprised by some of my selections


I was really fixated on staying in budget so I based my product selections on this, making sure everything accumulated to $20 or less (including tax). I found everything in two trips to Walmart and Shopper's Drug Mart. Shopper's was having a huge price-drop on almost all their beauty brands so I had to take advantage.



Step 1:  Essence Forget it! 3in1 Concealer

Concealer is a must in my makeup process and it was my first time trying this product. I used the beige against my blemishes and all-around my face and the pink under my eyes as a highlighter. The green is meant to disguise redness but I didn't find any use for this in my process. I discovered that the beige concealer went on too lightly and was greasy. It had a creamy, silicone texture and I was not too fond of it. It did give me some coverage to start.

Step 2: Essence Sun Club Eyeshadow Palette in Long Beach

I’ve never used Essence eyeshadow before but two things caught my attention: the price and colours. This eyeshadow palette comes with 8 different sun-kissed shades and a duo brush and sponge applicator making it easy to use on-the-go. I wanted to create a neutral look but with a bit of hue. It was difficult choosing a color scheme. I used three colours: a dark, medium and light and brush for blending. Although it looks like a fun kit, the formula was loose and powdery and did set on my eyelids as nicely as I wished.

Step 3: New York Color Liquid Eyeliner

Next, I lined the top of my eye. This makes my eyes 'pop' and to give my eyes dimension, I created a cat-eye look. The eyeliner is fine tip and glides on smooth and dries quickly without any smudging or mess. I’ve been using NYC liquid eyeliner for a while and never bothered to change it. It gives me the results I want and it only costs $1.96.  I’m very pleased with this purchase.

Step 4: Maybelline New York Colossal Volum’ Express Mascara

When choosing mascaras I always settle for drugstore brands. I don’t really invest too much. Maybelline has a large selection of mascaras and all work wonders for me. I like going for volume and length and this brush applicator delivers. It was easy to use, picked up a lot of formula and extended my lashes while thickening them. 

Step 5: Nivea Cherry Fruity Shine Lip Balm

Lastly, I applied my favourite on-the-go-lip balm. I cheated and bought this balm for my lips and cheeks. It has a soft red pigment and was not sticky when applied. The first result was pretty transparent and needed to layer for more color. The only thing I fear about applying this to my cheeks is whether it will cause breakouts on my face, but so far, so good! Definitely a keeper.

There you have it! This makeup style can be worn out day/night. It’s subtle and if I want to take it up a notch I can add more layers to my eyes, cheeks and lips for a bold look. The only things I wish I could  add to the list was blush and foundation, but overall I think I did pretty good. What do you think? Have you tried any of these products? What are your drugstore favourites?