By Juli Fahey

Shopping for makeup can be an adventure. For some, it’s retail therapy; for others, it’s about reinventing oneself. If you’re looking for a cheap pick-me-up when money is short, head to the drugstore; you’ll find brands that work just as well as their more expensive counterparts.

Foundation

If you’re a foundation woman, Maybelline’s Dream Smooth Mousse is only $9.79 and makes your skin look flawless. But if you like to go eco-friendly, check out Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques. The crème foundation is made with certified organic extracts of green tea, passionflower and raspberry and can be had for $27.

Eyes

Long days require a lot of energy and (unfortunately) little sleep; hence, the dark circles under your eyes. Laura Mercier’s Secret Concealer is exactly what you need. You can pick it up at Sephora for $22. A cheaper choice, but still excellent, is Revlon’s Colorstay Under Eye for $8.49.

If you are looking for an eco-friendly concealer, check out Josie Maran Cosmetics. This line offers the Argan Creamy Concealer Crayon ($20) and Argan Magic Marker Liquid Eye Liner ($22). These products contain organic ingredients and are fragrance-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free and recyclable.

Moving on to the eyelashes, do you have ongoing issues with clumpy mascara? Since you can’t slow down to “declump” your lashes, Covergirl has created Clump Crusher Extensions Lashblast ($8.99). If you prefer the doll lash look, try out Lancôme’s Hypnôse Doll Lashes mascara for $27.

Who doesn’t love a good smoky eye? If you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, Maybelline has the Master Smoky Eye Shadow Pencil for $6.99. Give it a shot; if it doesn’t work out, at least you didn’t spend a fortune.

Maybelline also has an eye shadow for people who don’t know exactly how to put it on, and it comes in the perfect shades for fall. There is a step-by-step guide on the back of Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quad ($5.99).

If you want to step it up a notch and spend a little more money, check out the Sephora Collection Makeup Made Simple BCA Palette for $34. This palette of eyeshadows has three sections to provide you with different looks for different occasions.

Lips & Cheeks

Now, don’t forget about your lips! Red lipstick is the new trend when it comes to finalizing your make-up for the day. Viva Glam Nicki lipstick by M?A?C is just what you need for $15. M?A?C and hip-hop diva Nicki Minaj joined forces to create this lipstick. Every penny from the sale goes to help women, children and men who are fighting HIV and AIDS. If you’re looking for something less expensive, L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche Caresse Lipstick comes in multiple shades for $9.99.

How about a lip liner to go along with your lipstick? Revlon ColorStay Lipliner ($7.99) comes in plenty of shades.

If lipstick isn’t quite your thing, you may want to try out an eco-friendly lip gloss. Try Sally B’s B Glossy Lip Gloss($18). This product is made with 95 percent certified-organic ingredients.

Of course, one way to save money is to make your lipstick do double duty. Smear a little on your cheeks for a gentle flush and skip the blush.

With so much quality makeup in the drugstores, it’s your choice whether you want to go budget-friendly or splurge. Either way, you do not have to spend your life savings to upgrade your makeup for a night out on the town, so treat yourself!