Most of my products are from independent companies or drugstores.
![Stick out tongue :p :p](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
So let's assume I could only pick 10 make-up products (not beauty or hair, LOL!), I would have to pick these 10, in no particular order:
1. L'oreal True Match foundation -- great medium-coverage foundation that's buildable or can be lighter coverage if used carefully. The "3 tone" sampler packs are GREAT for make-up kits, if you can find them...I have one in shade 2, which I use on myself in the neutral shade, and one in shade 5, which works well for medium-skinned models.
2. NYC liquid eyeliner -- I use this all the time. A super thin brush, which I like, and a bottle will last you foreeeeever!
3. Wet n' Wild blushes -- VERY limited color range, but the actual product is amazing for just $3 a blush. Buildable and beautiful!
4. CoverGirl Lash Blast mascara -- I actually don't own my own tube of this. I had to use my mother's make-up over Thanksgiving break, and I was especially upset about having to use her mascara, since she always buys "brown black" (even though all of the women in our family have jet black eyelashes...oi). But this has the creamiest formula and the best brush I've ever used! No clumps! And it volumized and lengthened AMAZINGLY! I'm buying my own tube ASAP. It's going to replace my L'oreal HIP mascara.
5. Jane lipsticks, the ones in the blue bullet packaging -- I've only owned a few colors, and I only have one in my posession right now, but I LOOOOVE! Great texture, staying power, and minty smell that never fades.
6. NYX single shadows -- my sister dragged me to a now-defunct drug store back when I was in high school to check these out. I bought a couple and fell madly in love! I haven't bought any more since, since the drug store closed down shortly thereafter and I've yet to order any more online, but I'm stocking up as soon as I can. And I don't even like pressed eyeshadows all that much!
7. TKB Trading pigments -- these aren't "drugstore," but they're definitely bargain basement. $1.50 for 1 teaspoon -- 1 TABLESPOON of awesome product? Um, SO THERE!
8. Max Factor 3D Lipfinity Max Wear -- I got these in an eBay lot shortly after the company's discontinuation in the US was announced, and holy crap, they are some of the best long-wearing lipsticks I've ever used! I haven't gotten to wear mine much, as I'm at home right now and have been sick for the past month or so, but I can't wait to break them out.
9. Artist's brushes -- Half of my make-up brushes are artist's brushes, and they are literally the same thing as a MAC brush, if not better. And for an absolute fraction of the price!
10. E.L.F pressed powder -- I bought tone 1 a quidzillion years ago, and it's been my favorite pressed powder for a while. It's not perfect--you need to buff it a good bit to get a less powdery look--but for the price and the coverage it provides, I'm all there. It's only recently been replaced by The She Space's Cashmere Stockings in level 1, and considering I've used the E.L.F powder for about 5 years now...well, that's saying something!
I have one of the Revlon "automatic" pencils, which I hate, and I've never tried the ColorStay foundation, but everybody keeps recommending those, so I guess I'll have to give them a try!