Cheap Make-up

I know a lot of us, including myself, can't really afford to have our entire make-up collection consist of luxury, department store brands (even though we'd really love to). I also know that a lot of us, including myself, snicker at the thought of using the really inexpensive stuff at the drugstore. No more.

Next time you're at the drugstore, don't rush past the following brands: Jane, NYX, New York Color, e.l.f., and Wet N' Wild. There's a reason why these brands exist and why many of them have been around for so long (I remember browsing through Wet N' Wild in elementary school). Some particular items from these brands have even reached cult status among make-up fanatics.

Now, not all the products in these brands are good, let alone worthy of even acknowledging. Let me give you a quick rundown of which items to check out in each brand.

• Jane - blush, eyeshadow (The colors are really pigmented, and last a good while. Try the Blushing Cheeks blush line; it's become one of my favorites.)
  
• NYX - eyeshadow, blush, lip color (Its eyeshadows are really what it's known for.)
  
• New York Color - loose powder
  
• e.l.f. - makeup tools, lip color, blush, highlighter (Every item is $1! You can't lose!!!)
  
• Wet N' Wild - blush, bronzer, eyeshadow, lip liner (Some people complain that the lip liner's a little too hard, but one particular color (#666, I think) has actually reached cult status.)
  

Believe it or not, some of the products from these brands actually rank higher among reviewers than those from the more mainstream drugstore brands, like Maybelline or Cover Girl. So, next time you're in the drugstore, be sure to check these out. They're all cheap enough that you won't feel bad if you decide to toss them (although, you should remember that make-up is refundable at most stores).