Budget Beauty: Affordable Makeup Finds Under $5 and $10

Whether you're a makeup enthusiast on a budget, a beginner not ready to invest in high-end products, or simply someone who loves a good bargain, this affordable makeup guide will introduce you to makeup products that deliver quality results without the hefty price tag. We've curated our favorite makeup finds in two categories: incredible steals under $5 and $10.

Why Budget-friendly Makeup Is the Way to Go

If you don’t have at least a few budget-friendly makeup products currently in your makeup bag, you’re missing out! Affordable makeup options are perfect for makeup beginners, students, or really anyone who is trying to watch their spending.

Affordable makeup really is the best way to go because it allows for more experimentation with trends without a significant investment. Have you been eyeing a blue eyeshadow but don’t want to break the bank on a single $30 eyeshadow? Trust us, we don’t either. At e.l.f., you can get a single eyeshadow for as low as $5... *immediately adds to cart*.

Choosing affordable makeup allows you to try new shades, formulas, and makeup products without feeling guilty if they don’t work out.

Affordable Makeup Offers Accessibility and Value

Not only is choosing affordable makeup over high-end perfect for seasonal trends that may not be worth the investment, but it also helps to create a more inclusive beauty community where more people can participate. Being budget-friendly allows makeup to be more accessible to a wider range of consumers.

And trust us, the quality is there. At e.l.f. we’re all about the high quality feel, but without the high price tag. Did you know you can buy 4 e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oils for less than the price of only 1 luxury lip oil. Talk about WOW!

Affordable Makeup Under $10

Camo Liquid Blush

This highly pigmented long-lasting liquid blush delivers a long-lasting, dewy flush to your cheeks. This lightweight formula effortlessly blends out to a soft finish, while the rounded, grooved applicator ensures precise application. Available in a range of nine stunning shades, from warm pink to vibrant purple hues, it caters to various preferences and skin tones.

What makes this liquid blush truly special is its buildable and blendable texture, allowing you to create both subtle and bold looks depending on your desired makeup look. Infused with hyaluronic acid, rose flower water and hibiscus flower extract, this skin-loving, dewy blush is a steal at just $7.

Camo Liquid Bronzer and Contour

This lightweight, pigment-packed liquid formula serves as both a bronzer and contour, offering a long-lasting, sun-kissed, and sculpted look with a natural finish. At just $7, our Camo Liquid Bronzer and Contour comes with a rounded, grooved applicator that ensures precise and easy application, allowing you to effortlessly add definition to your makeup look.

Available in multiple shades to suit various skin tones, this liquid bronzer and contour is designed to blend seamlessly into your skin, creating a natural-looking bronze that lasts throughout the day!

Hydrating Camo Concealer

Our Hydrating Camo Concealer is a popular and affordable concealer that offers full coverage with a hydrating formula! This long-wearing liquid concealer provides crease-resistant coverage while maintaining a satin finish that's perfect for those with dry or mature skin.

Infused with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and rose water, it offers a boost of hydration while effectively concealing the appearance of imperfections. This concealer comes with a large doe-foot applicator for precise and even application, making it easy to blend and build coverage as you need.

Beauty Contour, Blush, and Highlight Wands

At only $9 each, our Halo Glow Beauty Wands are a great option when looking for affordable makeup! This collection includes three beauty wands: the Contour Beauty Wand, Highlight Beauty Wand, and Blush Beauty Wand. Each beauty wand features a cushion-tip applicator for precise and easy application, making them perfect for both makeup beginners and professionals!

This lightweight, liquid formula is infused with hydrating squalane, ensuring a smooth blend and comfortable wear throughout the day. Our contour wand allows for natural definition and sculpting, available in 5 shades to suit various skin tones. Our highlight wand adds a luminous glow to the high points of the face, with 3 glowing shade options. Our blush wand provides a flushed, dewy look to the cheeks and is available in 6 luminous shades.

Soft Glam Liquid Foundation

Our Soft Glam Satin Foundation is a long-lasting, hydrating liquid foundation that delivers medium buildable coverage with a satin finish. This innovative foundation formula is infused with 1% Hydrating Hibiscus Complex, plus fruit extracts like pomegranate, blueberry, and goji berry, making it feel as good as it looks!

This liquid foundation is available in 36 shades, catering to a wide range of skin tones and is suitable for dry, oily, and combination skin types. At just $8, this affordable foundation is an excellent value and you can’t go wrong!

Affordable Makeup Under $5

Squeeze Me Lip Balm

e.l.f.'s Squeeze Me Lip Balm at only $4 is a lip favorite that has captured our hearts for several reasons. This lightweight, sheer lip balm is designed to provide hydration and nourishment with a subtle tint of color. What makes it truly special is its enriched formula, featuring lip-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and goji berry.

The convenient squeeze tube with a slanted tip applicator makes it perfect for on-the-go moisture boosts. Available in a range of delicious scents and shades, including strawberry, vanilla frosting , grape, peach, honeydew and new additions like mango and watermelon, it offers both variety and effectiveness.

Bite Size Eyeshadow Palettes

These mini compact eyeshadow palettes pack a big punch with their ultra-pigmented formula that delivers creamy, blendable color in a perfect travel-friendly size. Each palette features four complementary shades, ranging from mattes to shimmers, making it effortless to create a variety of eyeshadow looks from day to night.

Available in eight different color stories, including neutrals, bold hues, and everything in between, there's an eyeshadow palette to suit every mood and style! What makes it truly special is its affordability, priced at just $3, making it accessible to makeup lovers on any budget. We love it for its versatility, quality, and value, making it an essential addition to any makeup collection.

Cream Glide Lip Liner

This creamy lip pencil glides on smoothly without any tugging, allowing for precise lining, defining, and sculpting of the lips. The ultra-pigmented formula delivers rich color with a semi-matte finish that can be worn alone or under lipstick. Available in a range of eight stunning shades, from soft pinks to vibrant reds, it caters to various preferences and skin tones.

What makes it truly special is its user-friendly application and long-lasting wear, making it suitable for both makeup beginners and professionals. At an affordable price point at only $2, this lip liner offers excellent value for its quality. We love it for its versatility, smooth application, and ability to enhance any lip look with ease, making it a staple in any makeup collection.

Sheer Slick Lipstick Black Cherry

This hydrating lipstick offers a sheer but buildable formula that provides a touch of dialed-down color with a delicious shine. We love this black cherry shade for its versatility, appearing as a light berry mauve but you can also apply more product and build it for a deeper, more intense look on your lips!

Infused with Meadowfoam Seed Oil and Vitamin E, this nourishing formula sits somewhere between a lipstick and lip balm, leaving your lips feeling soft and hydrated. At an affordable price point of just $5, we love this sheer lipstick for its versatility, smooth application, and ability to enhance any lip look with ease! Its popularity has soared on social media, with many comparing it favorably to it’s pricier alternative.