For the most part, I'm pretty sure I can say that my rather extensive cosmetics collection reflects a fairly open-minded outlook on
makeup brands -- I've got a good mixture of both bargain and high-end beauty loot. However, I think this unbiased balance is mostly due to the fact that I just compulsively buy cosmetics just about anywhere I go, and not because I necessarily view all makeup equally. In fact, if you really delve deep into the "drugstore vs. designer" makeup debate, you're bound to find that some high-priced picks at
Sephora aren't much better than their cheaper
Cover Girl counterparts, and some of better
drugstore brands are actually
more expensive than some you'd find at a department store beauty counter! So in light of economic hardship, how do you know which convenience store buys are actually good quality at a great value and not just a load of crap? Well, as a girl who's tried nearly everything and therefore knows a thing or two about money well-spent (and wasted) on makeup, I've compiled a list of some of my favorite beauty aisle steals -- from ridiculously cheap
nail polish to top-notch
makeup brushes at a fraction of MAC's cost. Check them out in the slideshow!
