Make Over Your Makeup Bag for $30

It hit me when I was packing for the holidays, and my makeup bag took up half of my carry-on: It may be time to downsize in the beauty department. We're not makeup artists, so 27 different eyeliners aren't necessary. But we do deserve a fresh, beautiful face. I gave myself $30 and took a good, hard look at what was actually essential to the modern makeup bag. These four products do the trick every time.

Shadow & Liner Crayon

Who doesn’t love crayons? Since we were Kindergarteners, they’ve been our go-to tool for that perfect amount of smudge. Now that we’re grown up and on a budget, there’s a way to make that smudge look sexy. Palladio’s Shadow & Liner Herbal Crayon ($6) will be your new favorite way to color. With a variety of shades, you can create thin lines for definition, or thicker lines for the smoky eye effect.

Mascara

Coming home from college over Thanksgiving last year, my mom looked shocked as she asked, “Did you start wearing fake eyelashes?” As someone who cringes whenever a finger gets near my eyes, I thought she knew I’d stay away from eyelid glue. Instead, it was that I'd found my soulmate: Maybelline Volum’Express The Falsies Mascara ($8). Available waterproof, the formula is always long-lasting and light.

Tinted Balm

I’ve just about reached my limit on experimentation with lipsticks that end up slipping into creases, and lip glosses that last ten minutes. The answer is Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm ($7), which allows you to eschew priming and lining and shining and setting.

BB Cream

By now, we’ve heard about all the benefits of a BB Cream. From helping with breakouts to creating a natural finish, Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream ($7.50) does it all at a non-insane price. Why kill ourselves trying to find the perfect foundation, moisturizer, sunscreen, and toner…when we can use a gem like this?

Image: Bustle Stock Photo