Online Beauty Salon

I say this begrungingly because I only wear Lancome brand mascaras (mascaras being one of those beauty products people find and stick by forever), but I really don't need to be spending the money I do on mascara. Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara has gone down forever as the best drugstore buy ever. At just $7 a tube, it's a good basic standby. L'Oreal and Max Factor also make great drugstore mascaras.

Every magazine touts Shu Uemura ($15) as The Eyelash Curler everyone must have in their makeup drawer. So why then, do so many makeup artists stockpile the much cheaperRevlon Extra Curl Eyelash Curlers (about $6)? Hmmmmm......

See my list of the best mascaras.

Next: Tweezers & Flatirons

Most pencil eyeliners are made of wax, which is not worth $18 when you can get a great pencil eyeliner for $3 from any drugstore. Don't like the way wax won't glide on easily? Try a kohl pencil or a liquid eyeliner. You can get either for cheap at your local Walgreens or Target. When it comes to eyeshadows, quality is quantity. A great eyeshadow (like the beauty editor's all-time favorite,Dior 5-Colour Shadow Palette , pictured here) will stay on your eyes all day long, while a cheap, $4 palette will have faded by the time you finish your mid-morning coffee. What's more, quality department counter eyeshadows typically have richer colors.

Don't want to spend upwards of $20 on a pricey palette? Invest in a small tube of M.A.C. Paints, which acts like a eyeshadow primer and will keep even the least expensive eyeshadow in place for days. With a dab of this on your eyelid, your shadow isn't going anywhere.

See my lists of the best eyeliners and best eyeshadows.

Next: Cleansers and moisturizers