Style > Best Bargains Package

Do makeup artists have any cheap cosmetics in their bag of tricks? We asked four professionals to share their secrets.

Bargain cleansers: Kiss My Face olive soaps ($3.49 for eight ounces at Whole Foods). “If you want something gentle, this is great,” says Leah McKay. For dry skin, she likes Burt’s Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser ($7.99 for 4.34 ounces at Whole Foods).

Bargain makeup remover: Boots No. 7 Quick Thinking 4-in-1 Wipes. A pack of 30 is $6.99 at CVS. Carola Myers says these wipes cleanse, tone, and moisturize skin and remove eye makeup.

Bargain men’s product line: Every Man Jack. Gustavo Mottola says the face lotion ($5 for 3.2 ounces at Target) “was silky and didn’t have much fragrance.”

Bargain aftershave: Mottola stays away from pricey aftershaves. In a drugstore, he says, “just walk over to the women’s cosmetics and grab a bottle of toner.” He recommends Neutrogena and L’Oréal.

Bargain foundation: L’Oréal True Match ($10.49 at CVS). Myers says it’s comparable to Chanel’s $55 Vitalumière Satin Smoothing Crème Compact. As a cream, not powder, it’s especially good for older skin.

Bargain eye makeup: Revlon eyeliner ($9.99 at CVS). It doesn’t contain wax, as other pencils do, so it won’t run, says McKay.

Bargain nail implements and other basics: Sally Beauty Supply, where a bag of 100 makeup sponges is $5. “Someone told me they went to Georgetown and paid $10 for one sponge,” Kim Giammaria says.

Another one-stop shop for beauty buys: Trader Joe’s, where Giammaria stocks up on Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint liquid soap ($8.99 for 32 ounces), Comodynes makeup remover ($3.99 for 20 towelettes), and tea-tree oil ($5.99 for one ounce), which can clear up blemishes. Myers likes Trader Joe’s Virtuoso mint lip balm (three tubes for $2.49); she says men appreciate the lack of sheen.

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