There are plenty of beauty and skincare products I will gladly splurge on. A $166 serum? Sure, why not (especially when my Who What Wear colleagues give rave reviews). Night creams and moisturizers to revive my tired skin? Yes, please. A skincare tool I’ve been coveting? Add to cart. A foundation that looks like I’m wearing zero makeup? You got me!
But while there are plenty of beauty items I don’t mind spending my hard-earned cash on, there are some that I’m extremely frugal about, like body lotion, haircare products, and eye shadow.
Listen, I know the luxe, high-end eye shadows have some great qualities and benefits—they can be highly pigmented for a dramatic effect, they can last a long time, and they don’t smudge. But I’ve found some affordable drugstore options that are just as good for me (and for my wallet).
Take a look at some of my favorites below and others I’m adding to my wish list.
I love Covergirl’s nude eye shadow palette because it reminds me of a similar cult-favorite beauty product (you probably know which one I’m thinking of!). It has all the shades for both daytime and nighttime looks, with glitter, matte, and shimmery finishes.
Drew Barrymore’s Flower Beauty has become a go-to affordable makeup brand. You won’t be sacrificing quality with these eye shadows, because they’re crease-free, long-lasting, and so easy to blend. And this palette has a variety of shades, so the eye makeup possibilities are endless here.
I have this quad in my makeup bag, and it’s one I reach for a lot, especially for everyday wear. The shadows stay on for a long time, and they’re smudge proof.
I like to layer this shimmery shadow when I’m going out. The color is intense and highly pigmented, and the formula has a lot of staying power, so I don’t have to worry about smudging or sweating off the product.
This palette pretty much does it all—you can use the eye shadows as liners and highlighters, too. From bright blue to shimmery nudes to matte brown, you’ve got all the colors you need for any look.
These powder eye shadows are soft, creamy, and blendable. Each palette features a variety of 12 hues that are ultraflattering. You can apply the product dry or wet.
With 40 shades for $35, this palette is such a deal, and it will be your one-stop shop for all your eye makeup needs. You seriously won’t need anything else. If you love experimenting with different eye shadow looks, you’re going to want this palette on your vanity.
The rose-gold trend is not going away, and that’s because it can be a super-flattering look on a lot of skin tones. This palette helps you achieve the glowy trend, but it’s also good for everyday wear, thanks to 12 different shades.
Your eyes aren’t deceiving you. Yes, this mini palette is just $3! Even with just four shadows, you can get creative with your eye makeup, because they’re easy to blend and are highly pigmented.
Milani’s eye shadow palette is labeled as an Amazon Choice, and it’s highly rated, with over 2,000 reviews and 4.5 out of 5 stars. The colors range from dark and intense shades to shimmery metallics to matte hues.
Here’s another crazy-good deal: This 10-pan palette is just $5. It has five matte and five shimmery shadows that you can blend and layer. The formula is lightweight and won’t crease.
Pixi’s palette comes with 12 rich mineral eye shadows in a variety of colors and finishes. Each has a reflective, almost-3D effect to brighten the eye area. Next up, The New Autumn Lip Trends Bringing Us Serious Joy
