23 Beauty Buys For $5, $10, and $15 (Or Less!)

Even if you have just a little cash burning a hole in your pocket, it’s easy these days to brighten up your beauty routine with some new goodies. There have never been more great, affordable products to choose from! Whether you have $5, $10, or $15 to spare, you’ll find something among our 23 favorite bargain buys of the moment.

$5 and Under

1: e.l.f. Essential Glitter Primer | $2

A lightweight liquid that keeps glitter (and really any shadow) in place and crease-proof, and might cost less than your morning coffee. Genius!

2: Yes To Naturally Smooth Lip Balms | $2.99

Natural, cruelty-free, SPF 15 and available in three of the yummiest Yes To flavors—blueberry, pomegranate, and grapefruit.

3: Jordana Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara Black | $2.99

Any $3 mascara that gets rave reviews for everything from its thickening ability to its brush to its lasting power is worth a test run; Jordana just might be giving Great Lash a run for its money. 

4: Jesse’s Girl Julie G. Nail Color | $3.99

Fun nail colors under $5 are great for stocking up; we’re partial to the Frosted Gum Drops polishes, which have a fizzy-frosty finish (note: you have to skip base and top coat for the full effect).

5: IMAN Cosmetics Lip Affair Palette | $5

Five shades of Iman’s (yep, the supermodel) Luxury Lipstick in a tiny, portable compact with brush and mirror. Even if it doesn’t come with every classic shade—and indeed there’s a red, coral, deep berry, soft pink, and hot pink—five lipsticks for $5 is hard to pass up.

$10 and Under

6: NYX Cosmetics Matte Lipstick | $5.99

So many beautiful shades, and high pigmentation for the price. It’s no wonder this cheapie is as well-loved as classic drugstore lipsticks from L’Oreal and CoverGirl.

7: Goody Cheetah Fabric Hair Wrap | $5.99

Cute fabric wrapped around a super flexible wire that doesn’t hurt the head at all! It’s great for thinner, “slippery” hair types that typically don’t hold accessories well.

8: Jane Cosmetics Water-Resistant Eye Liner | $6

Self-sharpening liner that glides on so smoothly, in gorgeous, unexpected shades like gold, lavender, and khaki.

9: Hard Candy Mod Quad Eye Shadow Palette | $6

Each faux snakeskin–embellished compact includes four coordinating baked shadows to wear alone together. You even get simple color-by-numbers instrux on the back of the compact.

10: Sugarpill False Lashes | $7–$9

shop it | Sometimes you just need a little drama. Sugarpill’s falsies come in daring, pretty shapes that you won't quite find anywhere else.

11: Pantene Pro-V Overnight Miracle Repair Serum | $6.99

Slather it on strands at night, wash and condition when you wake up, and your hair will be softer and more manageable. I’ve tried tons of pricier treatments that don’t work as well as this one.

12: Maybelline Full 'N Soft Washable Mascara | $7.49

This product has been deemed a “holy grail” mascara by many and holds a solid 4.5-star average review on Beautylish. A great option for everyday wear on sensitive eyes.

13: FLOWER Eyes On The Prize Eyeshadow Chubby | $7.98

Drew Barrymore’s FLOWER won our hearts with all of its luxe-but-affordable products, and this brand new item is no exception. The self-sharpening, fat eye pencil comes in five shades like the holiday-perfect Olive My Love.

14: Mineral Fusion Nail Polish | $7.99

An easy-to-use brush (my favorite thing), 3-free formula, and more than 60 distinctive colors and textures make these a great, inexpensive addition to any mani-pedi collection. Rusty Rum is the most perfect brown-burgundy winter shade.

15: Inglot Cosmetics Duraline | $9

shop it | A makeup-artist’s favorite mixing medium that turns any powder product into a liquid (for example, shadows into liquid liner). You can also mix a little into a dried up gel liner or blush to revive it!

16: Cult Nails Wicked Fast Top Coat | $10

shop it | Beautylish staffers agree—this top coat is the best and well worth ten bucks. It dries super fast, goes on bubble-free, and locks in a mani for a solid week-plus. 

17: Physician’s Formula Super BB All-In-1 Beauty Balm Cream | $10.99

If you like a lightweight multi-tasking complexion product, this is a great option. It evens and brightens, protects with SPF 30, and is relatively natural (as affordable BBs go, it ranks low on EWG’s toxicity scale).

18: L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Power | $10.99

While some have called L'Oreal's new release a dupe for Armani's Maestro foundation, Wayne Goss says its closer to Make Up For Ever Face and Body. In any case, we agree with Goss's endorsement (of the U.K. version). The product gives you buildable sheer to light coverage with a demi-matte finish that's not at all cakey. Once it dries you really can't feel it on the skin! Thankfully, in the U.S., there's a much larger shade selection—12 colors versus six in the U.K.

$15 and Under

19: Topshop Gloss | $12

A slender tube with Topshop’s signature striped cap gives these multi-purpose glosses a fancy and fun feel. In A Flutter, a sheer pink, is beautiful on both lips and cheeks, on its own or over another color.

20: Paw Palette Red Bow Ring | $12

shop it | A mixing palette you wear as a ring! So cute, so convenient, and a brilliant (and practical!) gift for anyone who loves makeup.

21: Mi-Me Avocado Butter | $12

An ultra-simple product with nearly infinite uses that will quickly became one of your go-tos. It’s 100% pure avocado butter—an ideal plant-based, made-in-the-U.S. swap for petroleum jelly. Use it anywhere you need hydration: cuticles, feet, hands, legs, face, even hair!

22: TONI &GUY Dry Shampoo | $14.99

How did we ever live before dry shampoo? The U.K.-based brand’s version is perfect for reviving second- and third-day hair, and giving locks a volume boost. It’s as good as high-end salon dry shampoos, with a fair price to boot.

23: Pixi Correction Concentrate | $15

Makeup artist Petra Strand constantly turns out pro-quality makeup for her Pixi collection (sold at Target). This miracle concealer, often compared to YSL’s Touche Éclat, looks peach in the pot, but transforms on to color-correct dark circles and perfect almost any skin tone.

We couldn't even narrow it down to 20 picks, and we know we missed some steals. What are your favorite cheap beauty all-stars?