Updated: September 12th, 2023
There are a lot of budget-friendly drugstore beauty and makeup products out there, but not all of them are redhead tested and redhead approved!
Many think you need to spend a lot of money on an item to get results. This is false. Just because something is affordable, doesn’t make it any less pigmented, long-lasting, or just overall better than a higher-end product. Here at H2BAR, we love a good bargain — after all, we always talk about the best drugstore buys and finds.
Don’t get us wrong, we do love a good splurge but think about it, if you save that $100 you were planning to blow on a foundation and use that money in a drugstore, it’ll get you so many products for pretty great quality too.
Now, we get it. The drugstore is a really big place and now that so many brands are sold online at retailers like Ulta Beauty, Amazon, and Walmart you can just add these affordable picks to your cart and sometimes you’ll get them the next day (shoutout to Prime). So, where do you start? Which ones are good for redheads? We rounded up the 10 best budget-friendly makeup brands and our favorite products we love for sensitive redhead skin. We promise — you’re gonna love what you see and the price tags that come with it.
Here are 10 drugstore/budget-friendly redhead makeup items we are currently loving:
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1. Brow Pencil: Finally Have Brows Ultra Fine Redhead Brow Pencil
Created by How to be a Redhead and the brand’s third drop in the Finally Have Brows® series. Automatic fine liner with a built-in grooming brush to create incredibly natural-looking redhead brows. In shade Universal Red, all redheads can use this shade in their redhead makeup routine. Easy & fast brow filling. This custom redhead-specific glide-on formula lasts for up to 10 hours. Go from no brows to filled & defined brows in seconds. Cruelty-free, Leaping Bunny approved, paraben-free, and vegan.
2. Brow Gel: Finally Have Brows Longwearing & Volumizing Eyebrow Gels
The redhead eyebrow gel experience. Use the Volumizing to tint, condition and fluff. Use the Longwearing to tint, tame and lock. Get ready for fluffy, full, and always natural-looking redhead brows. Cruelty-free, Leaping Bunny approved, paraben-free, and vegan. Made in the USA.
3. Mascara: Finally Have Lashes
Launching November 5, 2022 on National Love Your Red Hair Day!
Most redheads know mascara is a vital part of life. Many of us can’t leave the house without mascara on because our eyelashes are transparent. Once mascara is applied, eyes magically pop and confidence will soar. But, mascara can be tricky because there aren’t many shades available on the market and many aren’t formulated for those with sensitivities.
Like the brow line, Finally Have Lashes is paraben-free, cruelty-free, non-GMO, vegan, made in the USA and designed for sensitive redheads. It is also made without alcohol, gluten, oil, paragons, phthalates, silicones or talc. This clean formula is optimized with an hourglass brush to glide through lashes, separating and coating them with a classic redheads shades.
Finally Have Lashes Update:
Finally Have Lashes is new & improved! With a new brush, updated formula + new H2BAR Extension Technology®, curl, lift & lengthen your lashes with a sensitive-friendly formula. Two new shades are introduced to the line so you can expand your selection of redhead mascara. Shop the Finally Have Lashes line now
4. Makeup Sponge: Real Techniques Makeup Sponge
The best way to get a flawless finish on your makeup is by using a makeup sponge. It applies liquid and cream products to the face evenly and smoothly, without leaving any streaks like you can get from makeup brushes. In our experience, makeup sponges make redhead makeup looks the most natural and flawless. This budget-friendly version of the Beauty Blender works wonders.
READ: The 7 Essential Makeup Brushes Redheads Need to Own
5. Primer: NYX Studio Perfect Photo Loving Primer
If you’re wondering how and why our favorite redhead celebrities look so flawless, we can guarantee there is primer under all of their glam. Primers are the photoshop of the makeup world. They’re used underneath eyeshadow, foundation, tinted moisturizer, and mascara to create a smoothing effect and targets concerns like oily or dry skin. This primer is a dupe for the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer and costs about 3 times less.
6. Foundation: L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Longwear Foundation
This product is used all over the face to create an even base — or foundation — for the rest of your makeup. We know how difficult the right shade of foundation is to find when you’re a redhead. Get the perfect complexion in ‘Redhead-Friendly’ shades. Looking for more budget options for redhead-friendly foundations?
READ: The 13 Best ‘Redhead Friendly’ Drugstore Foundations of 2021
7. Blush: e.l.f Primer-Infused Blush in Always Rosy
Blush is an interesting recommendation for redheads because many makeup artists would advise against it. Since many redheads already have redness in their skin and the primary purpose of blush is to give the skin a naturally flushed look, you might think you have to skip using blush. However, if you are wearing a full coverage foundation, your face might look too flat and the redness is probably gone, too. Give your cheeks a rosy glow with this gorgeous blush that is super budget-friendly.
8. Bronzer: Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer Sunkissed Bronzer
Since many of us redheads can’t tan, you might love a bronzer. They’re used to give skin a healthy glow. A well-chosen shade makes you look as if you’ve spent time in the sun—without the UV damage. Bronzers enhance your tan, artificial or not, and darken the skin without masking it. This bronzer is a go-to for redheads no matter your budget. It’s the perfect shade for fair skin and won’t leave you muddy.
9. Setting Powder: NYX HD Finishing Powder
Once you’ve put forth all of the effort to get the perfect makeup look, setting powder helps to “set” or hold your foundation in place and prevent it from rubbing off. Setting powder can also help reduce the sticky feeling and shine that foundation often has after it is applied. Some women use setting powder to absorb excess oil and use it to touch up their makeup throughout the day.Top it all off with this translucent finishing powder that will keep your makeup locked in all day long.
10. Falsies: Ardell Wispies False Eyelashes
For redheads who want a full glam look, fake eyelashes give you a full, thick look. They are fun to wear on special occasions and have become a part of many people’s everyday makeup routines. Try these super affordable lashes that are loved by makeup artists and beauty gurus alike.
For a quick tutorial on how to apply false lashes, check out this tutorial on the @H2BARBox Instagram page:
Rock it like a Redhead!
