The Bold and The Beautiful: Bright Makeup from Indie Cosmetics Lines

SLEEK MAKEUP

My favorite products: the gorgeous, highly-pigmented blushes (great dupes for NARS blushes)

Sleek Santorini Blush, $6.50

Sleek Aruba Blush, $6.50

Sleek Blushes, $6.50 Each

MEDUSA'S MAKEUP

 My favorite products: the Eye Dusts and Lip Glosses

Medusa's Makeup Eye Dusts, $6 each

Medusa's Makeup Lip Gloss Set of 12, $29

OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE COSMETICS

 My favorite products:the super-pigmented Lip Tars, which you can wear alone or mix to blend your own custom colors

OCC Lip Tars, $13 each

FACE FRONT COSMETICS

 My favorite products: the bright Cream Blushes and Color Bases

Face Front Cream Blushes, $11 each

Face Front Color Bases, $9.50 each

SUGARPILL COSMETICS 

My favorite products:  Loose Eye Shadows

Sugarpill Cosmetics Loose Eye Shadow, $12 each

High-End Beauty Brands for Less

I can't be the only girl whose wallet (and makeup bag) is suffering because of the economy. When a trip to Sephora for a few "essentials" can run you about $100, you need to get a bit creative when it comes to finding high-end cosmetics for cheap.

One of my new favorite websites to find high-end beauty brands for less (besides BeautyTicket and AllCosmeticsWholesale) is BuyMeBeauty.com. You can find discounted items from Lancome, MAC, Bobbi Brown, Stila, Trish McEvoy, Borghese, Elizabeth Arden, Kiehls, Origins, Smashbox, Phyto Pro, Clarins, Clinique, Yves Saint Laurent, Adrien Arpel, + more. I bought my MAC Select Sheer Loose Powder there for only $16!

Lancome Professional Blending Brush #17, $10

MAC Studio Stick Foundation, $23

Phyto Pro Ultra Shine Cream, $8

Smashbox High Definition Healthy FX Foundation SPF 15 Oil Free, $27

Another great site is MakeupShop.com, which sells quality cosmetics and luxury skincare brands for cheaper than retail.

Happy shopping!