Sometimes it's just not a good idea to go cheap when it comes to makeup, sometimes it's your only option. Ginny Lee takes us through and gives her input on eight products breaking them down.

Expensive.

On a Budget.

Make up Brushes-
MAC brushes are 3 times the cost of Crown brushes. I have both and cannot tell a difference. I would definitely recommend the pro series at crownbrush.com

Lip gloss-
NYX formulas are lightweight, sheer and have great color to them. I love that the formula isn't sticky! The juicy tubes are thick, rich in color, and last forever (great for photoshoots). Easy application makes this gloss a great choice if you are willing to pay a little extra $$$

Highlighter-
MAC highlighting cream in shell is not super cheap but worth it. It's the perfect shimmer for your eyes and cheek bones. If you are willing to spend the extra $$$ go with Dior. I love this shimmer cream shadow, it doesn't crease and truly makes your eyes sparkle. It's the perfect balance of shimmer without feeling like you're 12 again!

Foundation-
I love the Laura Mercier foundation. They are perfect. The yellow tones are amazing because they cancel out redness and don't look orangey or pinkish. They have full and medium coverage to suit what you're needing.
The cheaper route is L'oreal true match. This is the best drugstore foundation! the colors are catigorized in warm, neutral and cool tones with a variety of colors. It goes on smoothly, lasts all day and doesn't look cakey. Love this stuff!

We all go through those times when we need our makeup and all the MAC/ SEPHORA stores are closed except for Walgreens or CVS and you don't know what is actually decent to purchase there. Well now you know! Hope this was helpful and I will see you again next Monday!

In case you missed the last 'Makeup Monday with Ginny Lee', CLICK HERE

Welcome to our new mini series 'Makeup Mondays.' We hope to provide helpful information for any lady and her makeup bag. Brandi and I always get small tutorials from Ginny and helpful hints and secrets and we thought it was about time we started sharing the wealth.

Today, Ginny is schooling us in how to achieve a clean, day look for 'open eyes.' I have almond shaped eyes and I know I'm probably doing a lot of things wrong with my makeup because sometimes they just look like two little slits on my face. Melodramatic? Perhaps. If you ever feel like that or just want to toy with a new look, follow the steps below.

(btw, we will be filming these tutorials from now on... I was just being a bit of a space cadet and grabbed the wrong camera that day)

Step 1: Apply eyeshadow primer on whole top lid. It conceals redness, veins, and will allow the eyeshadow's truest color to show. We used MAC Soft Ochre

Step 2: Apply a nude eyeshadow to whole top lid. We used MAC Brule

Step 3: Taking a taupe eyeshadow and a crease brush, apply the eyeshadow along the path of the top of your eye socket in a round motion (my eyes are almond so we want to accentuate roundness* as much as possible). We used MAC Omega

*From here on out, every mark that we will be making with a brush with be 'round' with the most weight in the middle.

SEE. Once again, we will be doing videos from here on out, but we hope these photos will get you through this first time.

Step 4: Apply a medium thick amount of eyeliner. Remember, apply heavy and thicker in the middle and taper off to thin at both corners of the eye. This reinforces the round look. Then along your bottom lash line, apply gray eyeliner (black if you want a more dramatic or night look).

Once both liners are applied, go back over them with a matching eyeshadow with an eyeliner brush to 'set' liner. This will not only help the liner to last longer, but will also make the colors richer.

If you are new to eyeliner or just not good with it, Qtips will be your BFF at this point.

SEE.

Step 5: Time to add a little dazzle. Take a pearl white eyeshadow and apply it from the middle of your eye to the inner corner of the eye. Then apply a little to the brow bone, just under your eyebrow where it starts to arch as a highlight. We used MAC Phloof

Step 6: Apply white, peach, or nude pencil at the bottom water line of the bottom lid.

Finish off the look with an eyelash curler and mascara!

This is me attempting to laugh with my eyes open... I think I just got a bad deal when it comes to my laughing face. ha.

If you are going to spend the time on your makeup, please do the same for your hair. It makes all the difference.

Are there any makeup tips+tricks you are having trouble with? Ginny Lee will be back every week!

MAKE UP MONDAYS WITH GINNY LEE: Babes on a Budget

Make Up Mondays With Ginny Lee: Eye Opener