How to get better results from your drugstore makeup

Who doesn’t love a bargain buy?
Mick Jagger should try scoring a lippy for just $2 or an entire eyeshadow palette for $10, then he’d really know the meaning of satisfaction.
Granted, some budget beauty products don’t always perform as well as high-end versions (der), but when you know all the tricks to get them to behave, it hardly matters. Here’s how to hack your drugstore make-up.
#1 Wet your eyeshadow brush
Using a damp eye brush can help to bring out the pigment of eyeshadow. Just be careful not to add too much moisture to your palette, as it can cause it to crease and crumble. An easy alternative is to dip your dry brush into your shadow first and then use a spray bottle or something like Clarins Fix' Make-Up Mist to add moisture.
www.beautypointofview.com
RELATED: 28 of the best supermarket beauty buys
#2 Create a white base
You can also try applying a white pencil across your eyelid to make any colours you layer on top appear richer and brighter. Try: Sormé Smearproof Eye Liner in White and NYX Cosmetics Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk.
#3 Make heat your hero
Warming up your beauty products can work wonders. Mascara tube dry and clumpy? Pop the encased tube into a hot mug of water for a minute to soften the formula. Eyelash curler not doing the trick? Use a hairdryer to heat it up before you use it. Eyeliner tugging and dragging? Soften the pencil with a candle flame or lighter.
makeupandbeauty.com
RELATED: 17 sneaky hairdryer hacks
#4 Use invisible lip liner
The downside to that super-cheap lippy in your favourite shade? It bleeds and feathers. But when you have an invisible lip liner like Australis Secret Agent Invisible Lip Liner or Designer Brands Invisible Lip Liner, the problem is easily solved (and can be used for any other shades you may have purchased at the same sale…).
#5 Dust translucent powder on your lashes
If your mascara isn’t giving you enough volume, dust some translucent powder or baby powder over your lashes before applying. Va-va voom!
lorensworld.com
RELATED: 4 ways you can use your old mascara wand
#6 Use a clean spoolie over your mascara
Or if you’re having the opposite problem and your mascara is clump city (population: you), go over your lashes with a clean spoolie to even out the formula and remove clumps. But be speedy! This only works while it’s wet.
#7 Go over your liner with eyeshadow
If the staying power of your liner is as weak as your willpower at Sephora, try adding a layer of black shadow over the top. Use an angle eye brush for precision and gently pat the shadow over your line. It will add extra staying power and help to prevent smudging.
Do you know any other hacks to improve budget make-up? Have you tried any of the above before?
Have you tried any of the products mentioned above?
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239 Member Comments
Great tips! I never would have thought of them. To thicken up or to make my eye brows fuller, I apply dark brown eye shadow over them. I unfortunately spent my teen years plucking my brows because you know... it was trendy. If only I could go back. But I might try wetting the brush then apply to my brows and see how it goes
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I love tip #5 but would be a little freaked about getting powder in my very sensitive eyes!
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NYX do such high quality makeup for their price point.
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Thanks BH for these tips!
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Wetting your brushes is a tip most makeup artists give me.
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I've only found a handful of drugstore products that work well. I stick to mid to high end because I know I can trust the quality.
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Same here but I wish more brands were fragrance free!
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I do no.1 all the time and it's so easy and effective!
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great tips! i always keep a clean spoolie near by when applying mascara
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Great tips. I'm definitely gonna use some of these tricks.
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Some awesome tricks! I had no idea there was an invisible lip liner!
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Neither!
I learn a new thing every time I login to BH!
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Oh I LOVE these tips!! I’ve never thought oh then before but they make so much sense now
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This has been great to read through again. It's on my favourites!
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Might have to try some of these!
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amen to the first one!
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Some really helpful tips to help save money!
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Quite amazing what hot water and soaking your mascara can do to loosen up the product and get it working
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Really great advice!
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Adding a splash of water is a trick I learnt when I was at uni. Great for making colours pop out especially the lighter shades that often don’t show up. Also heating mascaras etc. also works with nail polish heat them up s little before applying for an even coat and less clumping
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Great advice. I wonder about the powder on lashes to get more lift to mascara.
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Another tip similar to #4: Apply translucent powder between layers of lip colour to extend wear.
Just apply lipstick normally, take 1 ply of facial tissue or bath tissue and place lightly on lips, use fluffy brush to apply translucent powder on top of the tissue on lips. If you want a more matte look, finish here with the powder as the final layer, but if you want some shine, apply another layer of lipstick on top of the powder.
It seriously makes lip colour last all day/night!
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