The 11 Best Affordable Makeup Products to Buy in 2020

Tightening the purse strings is something we all have to do from time to time. From saving for a house to paying off that annoying student debt, there’s always a reason to look after the pennies. Just because you’re putting money aside and not adding to the basket doesn’t mean you have to give up on the fun stuff!

Saving money doesn’t mean you stop caring. The beauty of makeup is, you don’t need to spend a fortune to look good. In fact, some of the best makeup is cheap makeup! Just because something breaks the bank doesn’t always mean it’s the best product. Good but affordable makeup is often the best investment.

High-End vs Affordable Make-up Brands

Because innovative ingredients and unique blends up the quality of affordable makeup, you don’t need to spend a fortune to look and feel good. With everything from affordable chemical free makeup to top rated affordable makeup brushes, you can create a whole new look even when you’ve stopped splashing the cash. And there are so many dupes available! If you do your research, it’s easy to pick up an affordable product that’s super-similar to your favourite high-end brand.

Psst...Here's a little beauty tip!

• Lipstick can double as blusher (a trick the top makeup artists love), and bronzer and contour can act as eyeshadow. Spending less gives you more room to get creative with your makeup!

So, How Can I Achieve a Glowy Makeup Look Without Spending Too Much?

We’ve found some of the best affordable makeup products to get you started. Multipurpose and of great quality, they’ll make you feel high-end after every application.

If you’re looking for a cheap makeup primer for oily skin that will give your skin a Photoshop-finished look, Designer Brands Blur Primer could be a great new addition to your makeup bag. Formulated with a blend of vegan ingredients, it leaves the skin looking naturally airbrushed and hydrated after every application. Giving the complexion a fresher, smoother appearance, the formula contains a Peptide Infusion and Q10 to give the skin a firmer, plumper look. Aloe Vera Extract protects and soothes the skin, while Green Tea Extract acts as a powerful antioxidant. Suitable for even sensitive skin types, this primer leaves a velvet-touch finish and blurs imperfections, prepping the skin and smoothing over enlarged pores. Follow up application with a foundation, or wear primer on its own for an easy routine and a nourished complexion.

Nothing ruins your morning quite like a bad-skin day. From spots to shiny patches and a peppering of blackheads, uneven skin can be upsetting! Luckily, a good foundation doesn’t have to cost the earth. In fact, some of our favourite foundations are super-affordable! Affordable professional makeup comes in all shapes and sizes. Renowned skincare expert The Ordinary has whipped up its magic and created an affordable makeup foundation. Offering medium coverage, The Ordinary Serum Foundation offers medium coverage and more than 20 shades to choose from. If you love a natural-skin finish, this very lightweight serum foundation formula smooths over the skin perfectly.

Perfect at creating fine, thick, and wide strokes, the Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil Mini will help you create a bold look for night or something simple for day. The creamy formula glides onto the skin effortlessly, and the angled tip creates light, short strokes that mirror the look of natural hairs. To use, brush the brows into place using the spoolie provided. Start applying short, light strokes towards the thicker part of your natural brow using the angled tip. Use the flat edge of the tip to add definition to the tail of the brow, and blend further using the spoolie. To lock the look in place, use a brow gel. That’s it! Brows done! If you’re hoping to create a full, defined brow on a budget, this high-quality pencil has you covered.

It doesn’t matter whether you pay a lot for mascara or not. A good formula is a good formula, and Maybelline The Falsies Lash Lift Volumising Mascara - Blackest Black is exactly that. You won’t experience any clumping, smearing, or flaking when you use this mascara. And the innovative brush grips onto each lash, giving it a powerful lift.

Ophthalmologist-tested, this mascara is suitable for contact-wearers and those with sensitive eyes. Even if you’re not wearing any other makeup, this mascara will pull your look together and make it look like you’ve made the effort—even on your laziest day! If it’s a bold and dramatic look you crave, the Blackest Black shade will add definition and make an impact.

Made to achieve a professional finish, the Real Techniques Instapop Eye Brush Duo brushes cling to the pigments in your shadows, so you achieve a full shadow look. In the pack, you receive 2 expert brushes. The Instapop Shade Brush picks up eyeshadow perfectly and offers full lid coverage. The Instapop Crease Brush will perfectly place glitter, shimmer, or matte eyeshadow where you want it. To keep your brushes in the best condition, make sure you wash them quickly after every use and deep-clean them once a week. To achieve a professional eyeshadow look, you need to use more than just your fingers. If you’re going to invest in some brushes, this duo is a great place to start.

Each shade in the Pixi Glitter-y Eye Quad - Gold Lava is highly pigmented and easy to use. More often than not, glittery eyeshadows don’t layer well or deliver what you dream of. The densely packed formulas in this palette are much less messy than normal formulas and offer a blinding metallic finish. You can use only the pressed powder, with no need to employ any glitter glues to achieve the sparkle you crave. You can apply each glitter shadow over the top of your usual eyeshadow, or you can wear them alone. Each pretty colour can be matched to your look. And if you’re feeling daring, you can apply the glitter along your lower lash line for even more sparkle. Glitter isn’t just for the festive season; you can enjoy it at any time!

One of the many great things about the Designer Brands On The Go All in One Face Palette is that you can mix and match where you use the product. You can use the bronzer on your eyes if you fancy a more sun-kissed look, and the eyeshadows on your cheeks for a flushed finished. With everything you need at your fingertips, you can get creative with this full face palette. Use the highlighter at the inner corner of your eyes and on your brow bones to add definition to your look. With an assortment of creamy matte, shimmer, and glitter shades in the eyeshadows, you can build up a day-to-night look with ease. Best of all, you don’t need to pack a heavy makeup bag when you have this travel-perfect palette in your collection.

Sometimes, you just want your makeup to make an impact. The fastest and easiest way you can do that is by adding a pair of lashes! Fluttery, pretty eyes are one of the most affordable ways to feel good about yourself. MODELROCK Signature Lashes - Dominatrix Double Layered give your lashes definition and shape your entire look. Vegan, sulphate-free, cruelty-free, and artificial fragrance-free, these lifted lashes give you a gorgeous cat-eye effect that you’ll love to apply again and again. MODELROCK lashes are loved by makeup professionals across Australia because they suit every eye and every occasion.

The Barry M Cosmic Lights - Highlighting Palette has been designed to create a subtle finish and a head-turning look. The 2 powder highlighters can be used on their own or blended together for full impact. You can also top the cream shades with the powder to achieve a super-glowy effect. The perfect antidote to a ‘boring’ makeup look, the luminous formulas work to bring your look to life. A great affordable option, this highlighting palette includes both warm and cool shades for you to play with. And you don’t need to stop at your face! Highlight your collarbones, your legs, wherever you like! Enjoy the assortment of shades and apply them where you want to shine.

The light, rosy shade of Benefit Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain complements every skin tone. Waterproof and kiss-proof, this long-lasting tint won’t need a touch-up as the day goes on. The nourishing formula won’t dry the skin out either. The buildable colour allows for a natural finish and a full-on glam effect—you can take your look any way you need to! The light, pleasant, rosy scent won’t distract you, and you can apply the formula with your fingertips for ease of use. Great for a girl or guy that’s always on the go, the sheer formula can also be applied with a small brush for extra precision. Glide onto your lips for a pouty look, and dot onto the cheeks for a sexy flush.

Made with 100% natural ingredients, Nude by Nature Moisture Shine Lipstick is PETA-certified and cruelty-free. The formula includes Vitamin E, which helps keep the lips in tip-top condition. Vitamin C, derived from the Kakadu Plum, and Hyaluronic Acid keep the lips plump and moist. As a beautiful bonus, Moisture Shine Lipstick is presented in a luxurious rose-gold case with a satisfying magnetic closure that keeps your product safe, even on the go. Perfect for quick touch-ups, the strong pigments last as long as you need them to. Apply the lipstick directly from the bullet or use a brush if you want extra precision.

From affordable organic makeup to dupes with a high-end feel, your makeup bag needn’t suffer when you stop splashing the cash. Invest in some high-quality, long-lasting products, and your look will always look en pointe. Makeup is meant to be fun, so pick up some affordable products that will make you smile.

Brand and product inclusions are at the sole discretion of Adore Beauty’s highly trained Customer Service team. We do not seek or accept payment from brands or individuals listed in our guides.