Professional makeup artists lug thousands of dollars’ worth of beauty products to a cover shoot or fashion editorial, but some of their favourite items in their kit are less than $20.

Carmex Lip Balm

Carmex Lip Balm

We’ve personally seen makeup pros apply this super-super-super moisturizing balm to quickly rescue chapped lips and prep for lipstick. Sometimes they’ll gently work the balm with a cotton bud to remove any flaky bits. Then, they’ll leave the balm to absorb while they apply foundation and concealer.

For more information about the product, click here.

Ben Nye Translucent Powder

Ben Nye Translucent Powder

It sets foundation perfectly, and the matte finish endures through the craziest conditions: beach shoots, fashion shows when there’s simply no time to retouch between changes, TV interviews where the hot lights can turn most matte makeup into a sweaty mess. The Kardashians love it: Joyce Bonelli uses it on Khloe, and Mario Dedivanovic uses the Banane shade to hide Kim’s dark circles and give that highlight she’s so famous for.

For more information about the product, click here.

loreal-voluminous-butterfly-mascara

L’Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara

Many makeup artists use Lancome Hypnose, which isn’t exactly cheap but damn, it gives volume! The L’Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara has a lower price tag ang comes pretty close. The awesome formula and the wand work together to give life to even the shortest lashes. It works on bottom lashes too!

For more information about the product, click here.

Revlon Colorburst

Makeup artist Monika Blunder has used Revlon Colorburst in Ingenue on celebrity clients like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Behati Prinsloo, and  Megan Fox. “They love it because it looks so natural on the lips and stays on like a stain.”
Looking for a bright red? Check out Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm In Striking – makeup artist Molly R. Stern has used this on Reese Witherspoon and Julianne Hough.

For more information about the product, click here.

Maybelline Color Tattoo by Eyestudio

Maybelline Color Tattoo

Both makeup pros and beauty bloggers say this cream eyeshadow is an excellent dupe for Mac Paint Pots. Apply on its own, or as a base for powder eyeshadows so you’ll get last fallout and fading.

For more information about the product, click here.

baby lips

Maybelline Baby Lips

If you’ve got a really dramatic eyeshadow look going on, you want to keep your lips simple. This lip tint looks like-your-own-lips-only-better. Peach Kiss works on many Asian skin tones – it’s a warm pink that brightens up the face

For more information about the product, click here.

Basically any cheap clear mascara

Eye Brow gels are great and we love them to bits, but if you’re not careful with the color you can end up making brows look way too harsh. That’s why a lot of makeup artists will simply use clear mascara to set the eyebrows –  or even hairspray. Seriously: spritz a clean wand with your favourite hair styling product and we promise even the most unruly brows will behave.

For more information about the product, click here.