Firstly, I have to admit that I don't always use the word "cheap" when talking about products that are inexpensive, as it implies that the quality isn't worth a shit. What this is really about is when inexpensive make-up brands that you find at drugstores - like Rimmel London, Revlon, and Covergirl - actually works out for the best. I know that people always stress that for the best effect, you should use good designer brands like MAC, Dior, and Sephor(a?), but let's face it: some of us are too poor (or just plain cheap) to spend $15 on one (small) container of eyeshadow.

Does anyone here use drug store brand make-up? Do you use any techniques to make the finished product on your skin look a lot better than what some people would expect from lower brands?

I for one would really like to buy MAC or Dior, but it's too pricey for me (even my mom only goes there twice a year to buy one $15 vile of lip gloss now). What my ma told me to do - and I know it's the dishonest, poor-man way out - is to test out shades of lipstick at the beauty counter at a ritzy department store, and then find the closest equivalent at the drugstore. I did this with a shade of plum lipstick that I adored at Dior (but at $20 - please), and I was lucky enough to find a match made by Revlon. I love it so much because the shade by Revlon is actually darker than the one I tested that was by Dior.

I get a lot of my eyeshadow from CoverGirl, but the one problem with most eyeshadows is that it's not as briliant if you don't use primer. So what I found to work best for me is if I use these chunky eyeshadow sticks by Maybelleine; I also heard that using a thin layer of chapstick works too (though I have yet to try that technique). Either way, it helps the eyeshadow stick and stay.

Stories? Advice?

I use it for my liquid eyeliner. I am not sure of the brand (I like it is lorael or something) but it is great. It costs 8 USD and it lasts ALL DAY. It dries quickly and the black is extremely black. I doubt I would ever want to use another brand because the one I use works so well. It is also not a small tube. It is rather long. I buy it at Walgreens. It is a long black tube (no writing on it) with a golden top. It looks similar to this.

I actually do not own any eye shadow at the moment, and I buy my lipstick from Hot Topic. Hell, I don't care how cheap it is so long as it works! The lower the cost and efficient it is, the happier I am.

I must admit that a lot of Hot Topic's make-up works really well. I have some of their powder eye shadow, the liquid eyeliner, black lipstick, and some gunky eye shadow that I really wish I had gotten in black (they don't sell it anymore ).

I'll admit that I'm a high-end beauty junkie- I should'nt spend as much as i do. I prefer MAC as I love the way thier eyeshadows fit into palettes- I'm on my 6th 15-pallette! But i do loike Revlon too. I love Revlon’s cherries in the snow lipstick and thier Matte eyeshadows are almost perfect dupes for MAC Matte2 collection (some of which are now discontinued):

Revlon Vintage Lace = MAC Blanc Type
Revlon Pink Innocence = MAC Pen N pink
Revlon Lucious Lime- MAC Sunnyspot
Revlon Venetian Blue= MAC Clarity (Discontinued)
Revlon Riviera Blue= MAC Prussian
Revlon Aubergine= MAC Fig
Revlon Rich Sable= MAC Handwritten

I like proffesional performance brands rather than luxury brands- so as alternatives to MAC I'll use Ben Nye or Kryolan etc.

What about when cheap is bad? Every CoverGirl item I've ever bought got used only once because it was crap with no staying power. Except for the lipslicks glosses, those aren't meant to last.

My eyeliner I refuse to scrimp on. I use MAC fluidline or Almay. I also like Loreal for their mascara(the brushes are great!) and Revlon for their foundation(Although once I run out I plan on using this) and their shadows.

Unfortunately, a lot of people either don't know or don't care that eyeshadow primers are a necessity. I didn't know about primers till a few yers ago. They make a HUGE difference! Normally I use either this or this. I got both of mine on clearance a while back, though.

My lippie is all over the place, MAC, Revlon, Loreal and various lipglosses from different brands. I tend to stick to whatever lasts the best.

Also, Coastal Scents and E.L.F.Cosmetics are 2 good companies. The brushes from ELF are amazing! I spent $3 on the perfect liner brush for my MAC liner. ^_^

There's such a thing as waterproof eye shadow? I honestly didn't know.

I've been timid when it comes to make-up, because I don't want to be constantly touching it up throughout the day. But hey, if it's waterproof and/or there's ways to make it stay, that's something to look into!

The waterproof shadow acts as a primer that helps the powder shadow stay all day. I have absolutely no clue as to how to wear 2 different shades of waterproof shadow!

I need to buy some eyeshadow. Right now the ONLY make up I have is

1. A tube of black liquid eyeliner (almost empty)
2. Morbid brand Black Nail Polish (almost empty)
3. Morbid Brand Black lipstick (again, almost empty).

Apparently make up is usually last on my list to buy. I really do need to invest in some make-up...along with some different colors.

Come on Wolfie let's stay positive weee! Okay I'll admit I've had one bad experience with eyeshadow by CoverGirl: it was a silver shade and it really didn't show on my skin. I think what I'm going to do is crush it up and make it into eye dust or something.



Before I found out about primer, I think I was just lucky that a lot of my eyeshadows stayed on and weren't too faded (that or my skin is just oily ). The first time I found out that primer really does make a difference wasn't with actual primer, since I didn't know about it. Hot Topic sells some of their eyeshadows in duo lipgloss containers for some reason I don't know... I accidently dabbed my brush in the lip gloss first and ended up smearing that on, but before I concidered washing it away I dabbed some of of the black eyeshadow on, and I was astonished how much darker the eyeshadow got. I recently found out that you can make your own primer with fondation and body butter, so I might experiment with that.

In the earlier days, when I was less goth and more whimsical, I really wanted the subtle ethereal look, so in that case, I didn't care about making it stick.

Now I get my lipstick by Revlon, but I got all of my lip glosses by those tweeny companies like N.Y.C. and Bonne Belle. I use the clear and tinted lip glosses (in cappuchino and creme brule) for when I don't want to go all out with lipstick but I want my lips to be muted. Before I used lipstick, I'd outline my lips with purple eyeliner pencil from Hot Topic and blend it in with the lipgloss.

For the most part, Midi, I feel the same way. I like spending my money on sewing stuff and chocolate more. I usually get all of my stuff from Walmart when I go shopping with my ma on the weekends. I think I'd get more into make-up if I were to make my own.

(Hmmmmm.....)

Positive? What is this, a pregnancy test?

You're under arrest for punnery in the first degree.

I rarely wear makeup so I don't spend a lot on it. I have dreadfully sensitive eyes so I can't use powder-based products, so eye shadow is out and I have to be really careful with pressed powders, too. Same goes for mascara with added fibres, they tend to end up in my eyes and they become red and sore for a few days afterwards.

I tend to stick to Rimmel London for mascara... this one, and Collection 2000 for everything else. I love their lipstick in Mudslide (the dark colour on the bottom row)... it's much darker than shown, more like a dark reddish brown that wears off into burgundy. I love it

For powder I use baby powder, it's white and cheap and rarely irritates my eyes. I never use foundation as I just sweat it off.

Sadly, when I have my glasses on, because the prescription is so strong it makes my eyes so small that it's impossible to see eye liner and stuff so I don't use it - I've just realised that I have to get a new eyebrow pencil as my hair is no longer black and it's the only colour that I currently have

That's a massive "phew!" - I thought I was going to be exposed as really cheap.

I love their "Electric Punk" nail varnish - beautiful, deep, metallic purple which looks black, depending on how the light hits it.

Oooh, sounds lovely. I'll have to keep a lookout for that one. I must admit to getting a little tired of my usual black (not so much the colour, but the shocking variations in quality between brands ).

Not cheap, Minnie... fiscally responsible

Thank you - that's wonderful!

Electric Punk is shade number 329. It's deeper than Rimmel London's "Pompous" but is a similar idea.

Ironically, my black is also Collection 2000 - and I find it's okay for a little while after opening, but doesn't have anywhere near the shelf-life as the 6 months stated on the bottle.

When I'm feeling a bit extrovert I use it as a base and add a stripe of Inca Silver (248).