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13 Inexpensive Beauty Tricks Only Stylists Know

Updated on Aug. 29, 2024

Achieve a megawatt look on the cheap with these expert tips.

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Watching beauty tutorials can make it seem like the only route to a flawless face is dropping major bucks. But once you know the tips and tricks, you can recreate them with your favorite inexpensive products.

Note: Prices listed were accurate as of press time; pricing fluctuations may occur.


Mature woman looking in beauty mirror in bathroom

Naturally youthful skin

$39.00

Sir John, the superstar makeup artist behind Beyonce’s most iconic looks, says the secret to making your face appear naturally glowy during the age of Zoom calls: It all starts with hydration. He’s a fan of hyaluronic acid because it holds a heavy amount of moisture compared to the size of the molecule. To achieve a youthful look, he suggests applying hyaluronic acid as the first step as well-hydrated skin equals a more radiant complexion. We like this Overt The Hydrator, an organic product that delivers a hefty dose of hyaluronic acid to your skin—a little goes a long way.

Visagiste applying makeup

No-mess eyeshadow application

$5.49

Young Latina woman laughing

“No makeup” makeup

$19.99

Barely-there makeup has been all the rage for the last couple of years and is only getting more popular now that we’re all going out less. Artist Lisa Eldridge, makeup artist to Kate Moss, Cameron Diaz, Sienna Miller, and more, confesses a simple truth when it comes to nailing this look in a tutorial with over 3 million views. “How you do it depends on your skin tone,” she says. Your skin tone should dictate the type of colors and formulas you use. To find the best blush color, she suggests that you choose a natural cheek shade that mimics the color you turn when you blush naturally. The Maybelline New York Dream Bouncy Blush comes in 10 shades.

Woman looking in bathroom mirror

Reduced redness

$5.49

Celebrity makeup artist Daniel Martin, known for his signature red carpet looks, has a genius trick to calm down redness caused by acne breakouts. “I use cortisone to calm the redness from my acne,” the pro shared on Instagram when explaining a no-makeup look to his followers.

Gorgeous woman with professional makeup

Warmed up to shimmer

$11.49

Lost in a carefree summer's day

Outdoor makeup

$8.98

Man Applying Facial Cream

Bye-bye puffiness

$28.99

Portrait of freckled young woman applying lipstick

Signature red lip

$4.99

Perfecting a signature red lip is no easy feat but Mylah Morales, Rihanna’s longtime go-to makeup artist, a few tips that make it easy for you to master a beautiful red lip like RiRi’s at home. Her golden rule is to start out with a lip liner, like this Milani Color Statement Lip Liner in True Red. She doesn’t cover the entire lip with the liner, rather she just uses it to create definition around the mouth. She also suggests staying away from drying matte lipstick formulas in favor or a moisturizing one.

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African American woman applying blush to cheek

Perfectly blushed

$8.99 for 5

Patrick Ta’s is celebrated for giving celebs a naturally flushed look at red carpet events. He shares how to recreate this at home with a few simple steps: First, he applies a powder blush to the apples of the cheeks with a brush, then follows with a cream blush applied with a beauty blender sponge. This two-step process helps “melt” blush into the skin to make the color appear as if it’s coming from within.

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Mixed race woman doing make up in front of mirror.
Lowest Price in 30 days

Eye brightening

$5.87

Mature woman, portrait, close-up of left eye

Hooded eye rescue

$3.46

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Japanese senior woman putting make up
Lowest Price in 30 days

Flawless foundation

$7.99

Finding the right foundation shade is tricky, but absolutely necessary. Pat McGrath, one of the world’s leading makeup artists, shared her simple solution to finding the best shade: She tests the color on the neck. Once she has the right hue, she blends the foundation upwards all the way to the hairline, including behind the ears. Maybelline Fit Me Foundation comes in a range of 40 shades.

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Beautiful woman recording face contouring and highlighting vlog at home.
Lowest Price in 30 days

Contouring trifecta