• Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To MakeupMakeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict

  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
    • Advertising & Media
  • Categories
    • Product Reviews
    • Makeup
    • Skincare & Fragrance
    • Style & Fashion
    • Hair
    • Nails
    • Tips & Tutorials
    • Just for Fun
  • Brands
  • Store

A $10 Makeup Look: Smokey Taupe, Brown and Violet Eyes with Lilac Lips

November 23rd, 2010 by Karen 24 Comments


Here’s a full face — eyes and lips — for $8.91

How low can you go? (Sing it!) How lo-oh can you go? Okay, so I had a lot of fun last week trying to put together a makeup look for less than $10, and I think I did an okay job. The whole shebang came to a whopping $9.85, but I think I can do better. 🙂

I gave it another go, this time shooting for something 1) cheaper and 2) more dramatic. I paired smokey taupe/brown/violet eyes with lilac lips. Again, the products are all from N.Y.C New York Color because, obvs, they’re really inexpensive, cruelty-free, and altogether not half bad.


NYC New York Color products from bottom to top: Ultra Last Lipstick in Lilac Dream ($1.89), Brow/Eye Liner Pencil in Jet Black ($1.14), Metro Quartet Eye Shadow in Chelsea Chic ($3.99). Also used in this look but not pictured: NYC New York Color Lengthening Mascara in Jet Black ($1.89)

Since the eyes AND lips are pretty colorful in this look, I kept the cheeks bare (don’t want to overwhelm passers by, LOL!), but a nice blush probably wouldn’t have hurt.

If you decide to give something like this a try but feel that the lilac lips are way too much, you could swap ’em out for something a little quieter, like perhaps a light peach gloss (maybe the $6 Sally Hansen Diamond 12-Hour Lip Treatment in Flawless?).

Here’s how I did this $8.91 look featuring smokey taupe, brown and violet eyes with lilac lips

First, the eyes. Start by applying N.Y.C. New York Color Brow/Eye Liner Pencil in Jet Black ($1.14) on the lids and the crease as an eyeshadow base. Use a finger or a brush to smooth out the edges before patting the shimmery mauve eyeshadow from the Metro Quartet Eye Shadow in Chelsea Chic ($3.99) on the lid.

Sweep the shimmery brown shadow into the crease, and then apply the violet shadow to the brow bone. Line both the upper and lower waterlines with the Jet Black liner to further define the eyes. Then, smoke out (heh!) the look by lining the lower lash line with the brown shadow, and layer the taupe directly on top for an iridescent effect.

Finish the eyes by adding two coats of N.Y.C. New York Color Lengthening Mascara in Jet Black ($1.89) on your lashes, and then frame the entire eye look by filling in your brows with the very same pencil.

The lips are a lot easier (yea!). Here I applied creamy purple N.Y.C. New York Color Ultra Last Lipstick in Lilac Dream straight from the tube.


Swatches from left: shimmery blue shade, shimmery brown, shimmery violet and shimmery taupe from Chelsea Chic; Brow/Eye Liner Pencil in Jet Black, Ultra Last Lipstick in Lilac Dream


NYC New York Color Ultra Last Lipstick in Lilac Dream


NYC New York Color Metro Quartet Eye Shadow in Chelsea Chic, Brow/Eye Liner Pencil in Jet Black and Lengthening Mascara in Jet Black

Do you think I should try to see if I can do another look for even less? The first one was $9.85. This one was $8.91! 🙂 I wonder if a cute sub-$7 look with makeup for eyes, lips and cheeks is possible (something tells me it is)…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

A $10 Makeup Look: Smokey Taupe, Brown and Violet Eyes with Lilac Lips / Originally published November 23rd, 2010

There are 24 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Makeup, Makeup Tips/How To

Previous Post: All Aboard the Jouer Train Case Makeup Essentials Kit: Departing for Warm Bronze, Peach and Pink Shades Now
Next Post: These Pretty Becca Jewel Dust Eyeshadows Are Priced Like Pirate Treasure

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Blovetbeauty says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 6:33 am

    I hope u do another look for less. U show that beauty doesn’t have to come in expensive packages ! Luv it

    Reply
  2. Nina says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 7:19 am

    that is pretty! 🙂 <333 it!

    Reply
  3. knownever says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 7:51 am

    A look for <$7 is totally do-able. I'd say Wet n Wild and ELF to the rescue!
    knownever recently posted … Anna Sui Mini Rouge 001

    Reply
  4. lo says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 7:57 am

    I’m loving that lipstick! This is such a great look… and the fact that it’s $10 is basically the coolest thing ever.

    Reply
  5. JaNelle says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 8:20 am

    Cute look chica!

    Reply
  6. Kajal Couture says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 8:57 am

    How fun! Maybe you can do a 5 minute face in $5!!!
    Kajal Couture recently posted … New Fave Website and Win Two 25 Giftcards for Skincare!!

    Reply
  7. Vonvon says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 9:11 am

    It’s awesome how you made this look so classy, and to think the palettes cost less than 10 bucks! My first look at the photos, and I wouldn’t have thought it’s form a drugstore brand.
    Vonvon recently posted … Surprise! A Mini Botani Giveaway From Nature In A Box

    Reply
  8. NeenaJ says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 10:10 am

    Karen, thank you so much for reviewing all kinds of products.

    Of course it’s fun to splurge on the good stuff, but some days you just need a little pick-me-up and can’t afford to drop$50 at a counter.

    I checked out some of the NYC lip colors based on your recommendation last week. Because of the packaging, picking shades is a bit like Russian Roulette. To my surprise, I gambled on 3 colors and I absolutely LOVE them:

    Sheer Red is a terrific daytime red ($0.96);

    Mousse is my perfect nude and is an Ultra Last ($1.96);

    Brandy Sparkle is a near-dupe for MAC Funbathing and is an Ultra Last ($1.96).

    Total cost for my splurge was $4.88!
    Thanks for all you do for us and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  9. gio says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 11:37 am

    This is beautiful! I love the lip color! 🙂
    gio recently posted … How To Use Yellow Concealer

    Reply
  10. Maria says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 11:43 am

    Wow – that lip color is amazing… another reason to go back to the drugstore 🙂

    I definitely think you can do less than $8.91, Drugstore Diva believes in you!
    Maria recently posted … Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Loose Powder Foundation

    Reply
  11. Cindy (Prime Beauty) says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 11:47 am

    NYC is so underrated! Their cream blushes are $3.99 and are pretty great!
    Cindy (Prime Beauty) recently posted … Organic Skincare From Made From Earth

    Reply
  12. Trisha says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 11:56 am

    This is really nice! Especially the lip color.
    Trisha recently posted … Yummy Runts Candy Scented Nail Polish 6-Pack

    Reply
  13. Kim says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 12:10 pm

    I second that 5 minute face idea from Kajal Couture! 🙂 This is actually a very nice look but is there something wrong with me that I can’t tell the lipstick is supposed to be lilac? It doesn’t look “out there” at all on you! Truth be told, it doesn’t look lilac to me in the tube either. Maybe it’s my monitor (wait, I hope I didn’t just jinx myself). 🙂

    Reply
  14. Vikki says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 12:34 pm

    I think you should see if you can go even lower! Also, is the price you listed including tax?

    Reply
  15. Dao says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 12:58 pm

    I’m loving it! Sometimes, makeup is not about the dollar but more of what you can do with what you have. Thank you for doing this series, Karen!
    Dao recently posted … Get Festive with Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Polish in Red Carpet

    Reply
  16. Wanda says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 3:40 pm

    After your post about NYC lipsticks, I found a coupon for $2 off two items, so I was like what the heck, I might as well try them. I went and purchased all of them except for the red one. They are so pretty plus, once I went into my coupon stash, I found additional coupons for them. So, I ended up buying like 7 or 8 of them for under $10. Thanks for letting us know about this.

    PS. I found the NYC eyeshadow set that you used today at the Dollar Tree, you guessed it, for $1. I can’t wait to try it!!

    I love some MAC and NARS, but I love a good deal too!

    Reply
  17. Sanja says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 3:47 pm

    Hey this is a great look i love it!! I would love if you could check out some of my looks on my blog
    http://beautyjunkiecorner.blogspot.com

    Reply
  18. Tracy says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 6:36 pm

    I like NYC a lot, especially those cream blushes. Love them a lot.
    You look beautiful!
    Tracy recently posted … Beauty In The Bitter Cold Part 2- Makeup Tips

    Reply
  19. makeup morsels says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 7:58 pm

    hahaha I totally believe you can do a $7 look. This one is really nice! I love the taupiness of it xD NYC has really improved their product quality recently
    makeup morsels recently posted … Bombshell Beauty with Bows

    Reply
  20. Wendy says

    November 23rd, 2010 at 9:37 pm

    Love these series!!! Pls do pls do!!

    Reply
  21. Baby Ruth says

    November 28th, 2010 at 6:16 am

    Beautiful look. I agree with PP that you could do a similar look with ELF or Wet n Wild for under $7.

    Reply
  22. Tammy says

    December 1st, 2010 at 9:09 pm

    I recently subscribed to your blog because I found it really interesting, but what a surprise to find out that we actually live in the same town (Kaneohe) !!! It was a really cool surprise!

    Reply
  23. Yolii- in London says

    March 4th, 2012 at 12:48 pm

    Really nice! I have the same palette but in a different colour.. x

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

About Makeup and Beauty Blog

Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my four-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my torbie girl cat (Pretty Girl Rosie, a.k.a. PGR).

SHOP THE STORE


Long Live Lipstick Tee 💄



Blush Is My Crush Tee



Mascara & Kitties Tee



Thank You For Being a Friend Tee



You Hair Me Tee


Recent Posts

duri burgundy charade

5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

be strong coffee mug youve got this

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 662

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 643

window bed balcony

Saturday Surfing, Jan. 23, 2021

briogeo at ulta

Briogeo Now at Ulta!

Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Featured Posts

Lady Unicorn

Weird Things I Like to Do

brows fill out beforehand

Before You Pluck or Wax Your Brows, You Must Do This

current bare skin status

What’s One Thing That Drastically Changed Your Skin for the Better?

red brown smokey eyes tutorial top pic 2

A Glamorously Grungy Makeup Tutorial: Smoky Reddish Brown Eyes and Vampy Matte Lips [MODERATE SKILL LEVEL]

Copyright © 2020 Makeup and Beauty Blog. Get in touch.