5 Products in My Quick & Easy Everyday Makeup Routine That Cost Less Than $40

We all love a beautiful bougie beauty product, but when it comes to my everyday makeup routine, I try to be... economical.

I want and need affordable makeup product options for day-to-day life, because I will be using them a lot.

And going through them fast!

So, is it too much to ask for a great posse of everyday makeup essentials that won't bankrupt me, but will deliver a gorgeously glowy, natural look and last as well as my expensive favourites?

Absolutely not, and I've found some bargain beauty buys to prove it.

Read on for the products I'm loving in my affordable everyday makeup routine.

And the best bit? They all cost less than $40!

Best Affordable Makeup Routine.

The basics of my everyday makeup routine include some kind of foundation, a full coverage concealer, blush, mascara and something on the lips.

Here are the products you'll need for this routine:

• L'Oreal Paris Infallible More Than Concealer

• L'Oreal Paris True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum

• Maybelline Lash Sensational Lengthening Mascara

• Maybelline Fit Me Blush

• Maybelline Lifter Gloss Plumping Lip Gloss With Hyaluronic Acid

If you're looking for affordable makeup online, good affordable makeup brands or affordable good quality makeup, you will love this list.

Now, onto how I use each product and why they're all winners!

1. An Affordable Full Coverage Concealer.

As someone with dark circles, I would say concealer is the first and most important step in my everyday makeup routine. 

I refuse to show my face to the world without popping some concealer on first.

Dramatic? Maybe. I am who I am. And I neeeed a great everyday concealer. 

The best concealer for dark circles in my opinion is something full coverage that masks and brightens, and makes me look like I’ve had 12 hours of sleep.

I’ve talked a lot about one of my favourite and best concealers for dark circles, but at $43, I needed a dupe that’s a little more affordable...

Enter, the L'Oreal Paris Infallible More Than Concealer, $29.95.

L'Oreal Paris Infallible More Than Concealer is creamy, full coverage and so easy to apply thanks to the applicator.

Two layers of my shade Caramel 335 blends into and matches my skin tone perfectly. It covers darkness, but also brightens the whole eye area - yes, you need a concealer that does both.

I would say this is one of the best affordable concealers for dark circles I've tried.

2. A Very Good Affordable Foundation.

I first wrote about this plumping tinted serum for my Bargain vs Bougie: The Difference Between These 4 Dewy Skin Tints & Serum Foundations story.

Out of the four amazing, dewy, weightless serum foundations I road-tested, L'Oreal Paris True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum was the most full coverage.

The serum foundation gave a matte, skin-like finish, making it great for those of us with really oily skin who want that healthy-looking glow, but nothing too shiny.

The affordable foundation has a gorgeous, silky texture and the hyaluronic acid-infused formula helps to plump, smooth and hydrate your skin.

It's comfortable to wear all day and lasts pretty well. Plus, a little goes a long way, so this already super affordable $39.95 bottle will last you at least a good six months!

My skin tone suits a couple of the shades from the range, but I’m currently using shade 6-7 Tan.

3. A Cheap & Cheerful Cult Mascara.

Maybelline mascaras are iconic!

They're affordable and always deliver, which is why you'll find a Maybelline mascara in most makeup bags.

The right affordable mascara for you will depend on your lashes and makeup preferences (we compared five mascaras under $27 in this Beauty IQ article if you're interested).

Maybelline Lash Sensational Lengthening Mascara is my tried and true mascara for everyday wear.

I have really straight, kind of long lashes that refuse to curl on their own (rude). But to be honest, I can't be arsed using a lash curler every day.

I want a tiny bit of curl, and a mascara that lengthens and awakens eyes without too much drama. 

Maybelline Lash Sensational works every time, and for $21.95!

A few coats of the clump-free inky black formula gives me length and a natural-looking fanned-out curl rather than anything too high-impact, which is exactly what I want in an everyday mascara.

The Maybelline Lash Sensational Lengthening Mascara wand is awesome too because the inner bristles grab all of your tiny lashes, while the outer bristles add volume.

4. A Powder Blush That Won’t Break the Bank.

A makeup routine isn't complete without a little blush on the cheeks to anchor the whole look.

Now, I’m not usually a powder blush girl (cream blush for the win), but the Maybelline Fit Me Blush quickly changed my mind. 

I don't usually go for pink-y blush hues either as I don't think they suit my skin tone, but this little compact in the shade Nude delivered a lovely, warmish, rosy flush to my cheeks.

I like to pop a tiny bit on the tops of my cheeks and work my way up along the cheekbone, making sure to blend, blend, blend!

At $14.95, the buildable, long-wear blush is a winner.

Come summer, I’ll definitely be adding the Coral shade to cart, too.

5. The Best Affordable Lip Gloss.

Maybelline Lifter Gloss Plumping Lip Gloss With Hyaluronic Acid is one of my favourite new budget beauty buys. 

Big statement.

Usually, I look for affordable lipsticks (I’m mostly a matte lipstick-wearer), but this lip gloss had me at ‘infused with hyaluronic acid’ and ‘$18.95’.

The perfect way to amp up your everyday makeup look, this high-shine lip gloss glistens, hydrates and plumps. The lip gloss applicator wand is easy to use too, so no sticky fingers.

I'm very picky with my nude and neutral lip colours. I found this Maybelline lip gloss in the shade Stone deposits the perfect browny/pink colour with just one swipe. 

It comes in a range of versatile shades - Adore's Senior Editor Amy loves the shade 004 Silk.

And there you have it!

Those are my current affordable makeup essentials.

If budget is a concern, I find these to be the best affordable makeup buys for building a natural everyday makeup routine.

No personal loan or mortgage refinancing required!

P.S. Want to see this whole routine in action? You can watch my video below.

Want to read more about bargain and affordable makeup? Try these articles:

• I've Finally Found Affordable Dupes for My Fave Expensive Foundation and Mascara

• Our Verdict on 5 Popular Concealers Under $30

• Bargain vs Bougie: The Difference Between Our 4 Best-Selling Mascaras