You go through 3-4 foundations/powders a year?? I usually buy foundation once a year and end up having to throw it out because it goes bad before I've used much more than half. I don't wear makeup every day though, especially in summer in TX (it would just sweat right off!).

For the basics – foundation, concealer, and eye shadow, I stick with department store brands, mostly Bobbi Brown. The price is a little higher than I would like to pay, but the quality and the consistency are unsurpassed and so I just seem to justify giving it up. Merle Norman is the brand I use for powder, there product is great, and the price is affordable as well. For eyeliner, bronzer, and mascara I usually just buy drug store products. These are things that I go through more quickly, and spending a lot of money on them doesn’t seem to make sense to me. Plus, I haven’t encountered much difference between the drug store and the department store brands. I do have one tube of Dior Show Mascara that I wear when I go out or get dressed up, but that’s a rare occurrence, so the tube tends to last a few months. Lip-gloss is something I don’t usually buy myself, but somehow have a ton of. My friends and family tend to give me them as gifts for holidays and birthdays. I’ve also gotten a number of free testers from the different brands I buy makeup from.. It’s nice that I don’t have to factor this one thing into my beauty budget. As far as brushes go, I invested in a high quality MAC set a few years ago, they’ve held up great. I wash them once a week to keep them clean and sanitary and they work like new. I have a few brushes from Sonia Kashuk for Target, which are much less expensive then MAC, and they’ve held up great and lasted as well. I also only use the Shu Uemura eyelash curler. These are a little pricey, but you only have to buy one a year, so it pays itself off pretty fast.

The truth is, at the end of the day, I have fun putting on makeup and looking nice. For me, it’s an important part of looking professional and polished, so I suppose it’s worth the money I spend on it.
.-= Chelsa Bea´s last blog ..Pencil Skirt Monday – Cold Weather Inspiration =-.

$40 every 1-2 years – foundation
$20 a year- eyeliner
$20 to 40 a year – lipstick/gloss

Not counting skincare…

I don't wear blush – my skin is already flushed enough, and I can't wear mascara with my glasses because my lashes brush against the lenses whenever I blink. I should probably get some to wear out on special occasions, with my contacts in though!

If I included skincare, I'd probably double the amount. I can't live without my Rx for Brown Skin from Sephora!

Let's see. My Armani eyeliner – $26. Armani foundation – $60. Clinique mascara – around $15 I think. Oh and Smashbox primer – $42.

And Philosophy Amazing Grace fragrance spray – $15. I buy the travel size and it lasts me months plus fits in my purse.

It's still 3/4 full

So I am guessing… I only need to buy blush if it runs out within the end of 2010, and mascara.

Maybe new lip balm to replace my Burt's Bees or a lip gloss or something

Basically, whatever I buy, will be for fun and not required. I rarely wear makeup.

That's all.

- Starter kit – came with three brushes, two foundations, a "glee" highlight, a "warmth highlight" and mineral veil
- Two eyeshadows
- Eyeliner "brush" – I mix a drop of water and some of the darker shadow, and "paint" it on

The total was about $140, but $100 of that was covered by my Shoppers Optimum points. I had been saving them for this purchase.

For lip colour, I use a gloss from Aveda. I've bought two in the last 2 years I think. They're about $10 each.

Now that I'm addicted to the Bare Escentuals stuff, I might have to actually budget in make up – but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Right now I think what I have will probably last at least a year, as it expires in in 2011 or 2013 or something, and I don't wear it everyday.

Other than that, I use Burts Bees Beeswax Lipbalm. I use it constantly and one lasts me about a year as long as I don't lose it. It's a little more expense than Chapstick but definitely worth it to me.