ColourPop or Milani! I think both have a good variety of products, more hits than misses, and aren’t too pricey for products you just want to try. ColourPop has more color variety, I think, than Milani, but Milani is more accessible.
— Christine
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I also agree that Colourpop is great, although for face/eye products, I tend to prefer a more traditional powder formula. They do have great products though and a wide range of lipstick shades, eyeshadow colors, blush colors, highlighters, eyeliners etc.
For more easily accessible brands, it is a tie between Nyx and Wet and Wild. Nyx has really good blushes and lip products (the butter glosses are favorites), including lip pencils. I buy lip pencils from Nyx all the time and pair them with expensive brands. However, for eyeshadow, I think Wet and Wild. I personally prefer high end eyeshadow palettes overall, but if you want to try fun colors, Wet and Wild is a great choice for good quality overall at a low price point. Wet and Wild has good nailpolish too.
Agreed with you. I also think elf, real techniques, and Sonia kasuk are great for experimenting with tools.
Yup, I agree with ColourPop on this! I’d never tried burgundy on my eyes before so I bought Central Perk. I figured if I didn’t like it, whatever, I was only out $5. It made me look kind of bloodshot and sick so I was kind of disappointed but my $5 was still worth it to try something new. Turns out I can use it as a blush cause the consistency blends really nicely on my face so…overall worth it! Love playing with CP products.
Wet n Wild.
It’s inexpensive, it’s easily attainable, and its product quality is decent. It’s a great “beginners” makeup brand.
Oooh, yes, Momo! I forgot about WnW! Some of my can’t-live-without HG items are from them!
Illamasqua
Hmmm that’s an interesting question, I’m not sure! Most brands here are very expensive (even drugstore brands) so that makes ’em not ideal for experimenting.
Yep, ColourPop! I also like Wet n Wild for lipsticks. The formulation isn’t my favorite, but $2 is a fair price for testing new colors before you invest in MAC or Nars.
ColourPop or NYX for me! They are both great for when you just want to try a weird color combo but don’t want to plunk down a lot of cash. I wish stores near me stocked NYX better though! It’s always so picked over!
The next time you go to one of those stores, ask one of the salespeople what day(s) they get their stock (i.e. on Mondays, Tuesdays, etc.) and go later that day after they have had a chance to restock the shelves or early the following day. You should be able to find a better selection.
Nyx, Colorpop, Milani, Hard Candy, Wet and Wild, Physicians Formula
Definitely Colourpop and Nyx! For inexpensive ways to branch out of ones usual color or even formula type, these two brands have hardly ever let me down! Both are very innovative and have a slew of interesting and even nonconventional colors within their ranges, so one can let loose and experiment with shades that one may not be so 100% sure about. Also of note, both brands are very high quality, especially for the $’s!
I agree Nancy! I’ve tried a bunch of different colors outside my comfort zone (red shadows, silver lips, orange blush, warmer shadows, liquid lipsticks ), thanks to Colour Pop and NYX! Some of the stuff didn’t work out, but that means I’m only out like $5, but have found some new fave stuff for new looks
It is a little different here in Germany, as most drugstore brands aren’t very versatile in terms of color, so I´d probably go with a pricier one like MAC.
I agree with you on both counts.
Make Up For Ever, because they have lots of pro-type products — powders and adhesives, special applicators, wild and crazy colors, color correctors, etc. MAC probably has many similar products, but I love MUFE quality, I think it’s more consistent (I just wish they would take fragrance out of their base products and lipsticks!)
Charlotte Tilbury
Probably e.l.f.
Believe it or not I really like Wet n Wild, I actually prefer the formula over some high end brands. I wish they would make the packaging more attractive but for $2 can’t complain too much
It’s pretty hard here in Australia to experiment with cheaper brands because we don’t really have any. All your DS brands are quite expensive here. I guess people here go for L’Oreal, Maybelline, Revlon etc.
NYX is sold in Target and Elf is sold in K Mart.
If I had my choice, I would go for Milani and Wet n’ Wild. I love Milani’s Statement colour lipsticks.
On one hand, ColourPop gets the nod for trying lots of different eye looks. But NYX is the brand that got me on the road to grooming my eyebrows, being a little more adventurous with lip products, and trying some contouring and highlighting (a fail, but it still counts as experimenting, right?). So Nyx gets my nod.
I don’t really experiment that much these days but before I really got into makeup in a big way last summer, I loved to try makeup from: Boots 17, Boots No7, Rimmel, Revlon, Max Factor and Bourjois. Boots 17 and Rimmel were best for new, adventurous colours. I need to visit the drugstore again and try out new brands like NYX, Physicians Formula etc that have sprung up in the UK in the last year. It’s not that easy with a toddler that whinges and says ‘Out!’ when you go shopping with her in the buggy lol.
Great question! Supershock shadows from colourpop. I am having so much fun with color combos and blending with my fingers for the eyes. The cream-ish powdery formula blends super well and some interesting (usually cute) combinations are resulting with no-fallout, no-brushes. My new guilty pleasure!!
Nyx and Wet n Wild. Both are budget-friendly and tend to be high quality for the price, so I’m not out a lot of money if I buy something that turns out to be a dud. Also, Nyx has a wide selection of products and shades.
Been meaning to try Colour Pop, though.
I’d say e.l.f. for most things, as it’s inexpensive, easy to get, have a large range online, and most of the products are great. Sleek and Makeup Revolution are great, as well, and have better eyeshadows than e.l.f. Also for eyeshadows, I’d say bhCosmetics and Coastal Scents. They are both inexpensive and have good shadows. The 88 pan palettes can be great for trying out a ton of different colors without investing a lot.
Nyx and Colourpop because they have a wild range of colors (including weird ones people may be more hesitant to try) but with the low price point you don’t feel like you’re breaking the bank on a risky color. $5 for a blue lipstick isn’t too bad!
ColourPop for me. I’ve never been impressed with any of the drugstore stuff, and a lot of their packaging makes my OCD angry (and Milani is all gold packaging, and I have this weirdly-massive aversion to gold plastic packaging), whereas ColourPop is roughly drugstore priced, has a huge amount of variety, and their packaging is OCD-friendly.
Colourpop or Nyx
Definitely NYX and ColourPop, but I’m a lot more likely to experiment with indies, since most of them are in what I would consider a lower price point, and many of them will send, not just samples, but mini sizes, or 1/2 sizes, that will still last through dozens of solid uses (though you have to be okay with loose powders).
You find the most unique blush colors with the indies as well (again, loose), like pure yellow and true purple (Baroque Cosmetics), sky blue (Detrivore), and any number of lovely higher-end brand dupes (Silk Naturals).
Also, the lipsticks! I just bought 4 lipsticks from Hello Waffle for just over $5 each, and they must be the most comfortable formula I’ve ever tried. Silk Naturals does some great ones as well.
NYX and ColourPop have the whole rainbow spectrum of colors in lipsticks, true, but companies like Aromaleigh, Notoriously Morbid, Femme Fatale, Shiro, etc., blow everyone out of the water with eyeshadow. And Blackbird Cosmetics has the best matte shadows money can buy, at drugstore prices! (And she sells them in pressed pan form as well.)
Hmmm… I have read through a lot of responses but haven’t seen anyone mention Fyrinnae, and their shadows and Pixie Epoxy are amazing. Also, NYX, Hard Candy, and (of course) ColourPop.
I see a lot of people have mentioned WNW so I surely must have a knack for picking duds because I’ve never had any luck with them. =( Except WNW nail polish. I’ve tried two and both were okay. They performed better than one of the bands carried by Sephora.
A year or two back; i would have answered… Definitely mac. But not now. If you really want to experiment, I would suggest urban decay and color pop. Both brands are coming up with good quality products; and at reasonable prices.
Catrice or Essence. Both are really affordable and have a wide variety of products and shades.
I adore Colourpop! It’s beyond amazing!!!
I never ordered from Colour pop before, I have an extensive makeup collection. When I saw some of their products on here as well as the satin lips, I thought I would give it a try. I had to order the satin lips a week after so I haven’t gotten them yet. I ordered 21 eyeshadows, 4 lippie pencils, 5 blush for 160 which is fantastic ! I received the items today and I had a chance to check it all out and I’m completely happy with everything. I did a nice look today with them so it very cool!