Makeup Artist Leticia Bishop spills on the best budget makeup buys in Hong Kong

To find the best budget makeup buys in Hong Kong, we went straight to the source. Here, MUA Leticia Bishop gives us the lowdown on the cheap and cheerfuls that populate her makeup kit

Maybe you love splashing out on affordable massages, or perhaps investing in hundreds of pairs of cool cheap prescription glasses is your thing. Either way, affordability and quality in the same package is always a good thing right?! Just as self-care routines don’t need to break the bank, buying new makeup doesn’t always have to be an extortionate treat. Here are the best budget makeup buys in Hong Kong for you to snap up pronto.

Top 10 budget makeup buys in Hong Kong

1. Real Techniques Brushes

Real Techniques Brushes, in general, are just fabulous for the price, but the Everyday Essentials set really stands out when it comes to value and quality. First up, you have a BIG blush brush for seamless blending, next is the foundation buffing brush which makes light work of all your liquid and cream foundation needs. Following that is a perfect pink setting brush to lightly set your under-eye concealer and your t-zone. The last brush in the line up is called a crease brush, meant for eyeshadow application, but I don’t use it for this – I find it ideal for blending in under-eye concealer! The kit also includes one of their beauty sponges which to be honest is neither a hit nor a miss for me; in this pack, it’s all about the brushes!

Shop Real Technique Brushes on iHerb.

2. NYX Micro Brow Pencil

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A great little pencil for drawing hair-like strokes on the brows, with a spoolie on the end to brush through and soften the look. Plus there’s a great shade range – with seven available – including one for the blondes (which has often hard-to-find cool undertone shades) in a soft neutral taupe.

Shop NYX Cosmetics online or in-store.

3. Sephora Collection 12HR Contour Eye Pencil

Sephora’s own brand has a few good buys, like this eyeliner. Apply this one on the lash line, it glides really well, then smudge it out with a detail brush; it stays in place for hours. You could do this as part of a smokey eye look or as just a liner alone. They have it in practically every colour you would ever want to wear on the eyes so get experimenting.

Shop Sephora online or in-store.

4. Maybelline Color Sensational Lipsticks

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Maybelline lipsticks always carry a large variety of textures and colours. In my opinion, these classic lipstick type lipsticks have nothing fancy going on – they’re just a good old lipstick priced right. The range has plenty of texture varieties – matte, satin, sheer, shine, you name it – there’s bound to be something to suit your style and preference. They bring out different collections seasonally, matching with the current makeup trends at the time. These are the perfect option for trying a new shade for summer without making a huge wallet commitment, making them one of our top picks for budget makeup in Hong Kong.

Shop Maybelline lipsticks at your nearest Watsons.

5. Heroine Make Long & Curl Mascara (Advanced Film)

Both the original, and this latest updated version, of this cult Japanese mascara, do a good, long-lasting job. The new version claims to be easier to remove with ‘washable’ technology that does not require a separate eye makeup remover, however for me I didn’t find this to be the case. It lasts well, with no smudging but it’s not exactly ‘wash off’; like tubing mascaras are. It includes some added eyelash care benefits such as camellia oil, argan oil and wild rose oil, which may improve lash growth over time – can’t hurt right?

Shop Heroine Make Long & Curl Mascara at your nearest Sasa.

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6. Maybelline FitMe Concealer

A classic in the ‘drug stores’ often referred to as a dupe for the ever-popular NARS radiant creamy concealer. It maybe gives a tad less coverage compared to its NARS cousin, but it still sits nicely under the eyes. Plus at less than half the cost, it’s a fabulous alternative for the beauties on a budget.

Shop Maybelline at Watsons.

7. Revlon Eyeshadow Palette – ColorStay Looks Book™ Palettes

Available in four different palette shades, Maverick is my favourite; featuring warm on-trend colours. An extremely compact little product for your makeup bag, it has eight shades to play around with. Perfect for both creating a soft day look, as well as giving you all the shades you need to amp it up for a bit of evening drama.

Shop Revlon Eyeshadow Palettes at Watsons.

8. Kiko Milano Velvet Touch Creamy Stick Blush

This cream blush available in eight shades comes in an easy to apply stick format; you can even multitask and dab a little on the lips when in a rush! This one is a top seller for the brand, but I find Kiko, in general, is a great place to shop for good quality budget makeup in Hong Kong, plus they have beautiful stores. I also really rate their nail polish range and lip pencils too.

Kiko Milano has multiple stores throughout Hong Kong.

9. Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer

Fenty Beauty isn’t known for being super economical – after all, it’s a celebrity brand, and one that’s founded by the superstar Rihanna, too. But luckily, it has some pretty amazing products that are well worth the price, an example being the Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer. The aim of this liquid formulation is to keep your lips hydrated while looking shiny and oh-so-kissable – so yes, you deserve this! Pro tip: to add extra dimension to your lips, simply layer this Luminizer over your fave lipstick.

Shop Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer at Sephora.

10. CeraVe Lotion or Cream

A much-loved skin staple in the skincare world; by both myself and many others, this product was developed in conjunction with dermatologists. A nice, simple, ‘good for the skin’ moisturiser that looks like a body lotion, is priced like a body lotion, but works miracles for your face. The bottle lasts for ages and is definitely a great budget buy – I couldn’t leave it out. Spend your money on active ingredient filled serums and lock them in with this lotion or cream (the cream is a little heavier than the lotion if you like that). It’s well-formulated, with barrier repairing essentials like ceramides and hydration boosting hyaluronic acid.

Shop CeraVe Lotion or Cream at Watsons.