Beauty hacks to save your wallet
Picture this: You’re watching a makeup tutorial when the blogger pulls out four eyeshadow palettes, three concealers, two primers and a dozen other products — all for a “simple, no-makeup-makeup” look. With advancements in the beauty industry, it’s easy to find products marketed to pinpoint every single specific issue. It’s hard enough to decide what you’re going to eat for breakfast, let alone decide between 20 different mascaras. (Do I want one that lengthens my lashes or one that volumizes them? Maybe both?) Makeup routines are getting longer, with hundreds of different steps and tons of makeup products. But let’s be real — as college students, we are two things: tired and broke. Who has time to spend 45 minutes on makeup before a 9 a.m. class or blow money on new products just to keep up with increasingly intricate tutorials? Shorten your routine and save money for Coffeehouse with these hacks that show you how to get the most bang for your buck out of products that you already own.
1. A COLOR STICK AS A BLUSH, CREAM SHADOW AND LIP TINT
Monochromatic makeup looks are all over the runways and a quick and efficient way to look put-together. Try a blush or nude colored stick, like Bite Beauty’s Multistick ($24) or Wet n’ Wild’s MegaGlo Makeup Stick ($4), and swipe it on the apples of your cheeks, lips and eyelids for a coordinated flush of color. Blend the color with the warmth of your fingers for a glow-from-within look. The stick can also act as an eye primer, so you can layer eyeshadow on top of your lids to intensify the color.
2. MOISTURIZER AS FACE PRIMER AND MAKEUP REMOVER
No matter if you have oily or dry skin, moisturizing is an essential part of any skin routine. Applying moisturizer smooths the skin for a more flawless base, while the sticky texture helps the foundation last longer. Contrary to popular belief, moisturizer actually helps limit oil production better than a mattifying primer containing salicylic acid. Salicylic acid dries out the skin, which signals your glands to produce more oil, so keeping your skin moisturized is the easiest (and cheapest) way to prevent additional oil secretion. Moisturizer also doubles as a makeup remover that you can apply with your hands or on a wipe or washcloth. Just make sure to wash your face afterwards and to use face-specific products, as creams for the body include many harsh fragrances that can irritate the skin. Try a cold cream, such as Pond’s Cold Cream Cleanser ($5), which is exceptionally good at removing makeup because of its oil component, or any regular moisturizer such as the Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer ($13).
3. COUNTER PALETTE AS EYESHADOW PALETTE
In addition to using your contour palette to achieve Kim Kardashian-like cheekbones, (Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit ($40)) contour palettes usually include matte and shimmer highlight shades, and darker contour shades, making it perfect for a natural eyeshadow look. Swipe the brown shades in the crease and under the lower lashline to create depth, add the matte, light shade on the lid and shimmer in the inner corners to highlight. Since contour palettes are made to mimic the shadows and highpoints of your face, the shades will compliment your eyes without looking too harsh. Bonus tip: Dust the shimmer shade on your chest and collarbones before a night out to create a light, pretty sheen that takes your look to the next level.
4. EYESHADOW AS ... BASICALLY EVERYTHING
If you invest in one thing as a makeup artist, it should be an extensive eyeshadow palette. All it takes is one large, diverse eyeshadow palette to create a multitude of looks (try BH Cosmetics Neutral 88-piece Eyeshadow Palette ($13)). With a range of matte and shimmer shades, the possibilities are endless. Use matte tones on an angle brush to fill in sparse eyebrows, or black or dark brown along the lashline as a more natural and foolproof alternative to liquid eyeliner. Light shimmer tones can also work as highlighter — swipe it on the tops of your cheekbones, brow bone, nose and cupids bow. For sparkling lips, pat on a glitter shade in the same tone as your lipstick for dimension.
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