You know whats fun? Buying fun beauty items. You know whats even more fun? Finding great beauty products under $10! Seriously, the only thing I like more than beauty shopping is getting a deal.

Let’s talk about the most fun thing first. I have been on sort of a hiatus from using nail polish strips, I don’t know why I guess I just got sick of them. I’m a fickle creature. Back when I was using them pretty much all the time, I swore by Incoco nail strips. They are the easiest to apply (even better than Sally Hansen I think) and the selection of designs is waaaaay better. I had been deep into my nail strip slump until the other day I got an email about Incoco’s new Metropolis Summer Collection (which you can find here at Incoco) and I was like yeah, buddy. Those are some prints I can get behind!

These are the three that really piqued my interest. I love that the colors are summery but they still have a little modern edge to them. Metropolis is definitely my favorite, it gives me feelings in my soul . . .I may actually oder it before I finish writing this post. I don’t know if they have new designers working with them or something, but they have seriously stepped up their game. You can find them on Incoco, and the best part is they’re only $8.99 🙂

It’s not only great when you can find fun, colorful things for a good price though. Finding handy and useful things for a bargain is great too. I mean who wants to spend a lot of money on something that isn’t even fun right? My first utilitarian bargain is emery boards.

First of all, I feel like a total grandma even using that word. But the truth is that those little disposable nail files can really save your ass from time to time. I like to buy a pack of them and keep a few in my makeup bag. They come in handy more often than you might realize. Ever have a little scraggly end on your nail that keeps catching on your hair or your knit top? Pop out your emery board and fix it on the spot. It may save you from turning a little snag into a full on broken nail! And you can be that awesome person who has a nail file on hand when one of your friends chips a nail when you’re out. Everyone loves that person. And since they’re only a few bucks for a whole package of them, you won’t mind when nobody gives them back . . .or you lose them in the abyss like hair ties.

Ok next boring but useful one and then back to the fun stuff! Nail Lacquer Thinner . . .

Not only can you get this for well under ten dollars, but can you even CALCULATE the amount you might save if you use it to keep your nail polishes from drying out? ‘Nuff said.

Now for something more fun . . .Mascara!

I am still very much 100% in love with my Maybelline The Falsies Waterproof, don’t get me wrong. But I wanted to try Clinique bottom lash mascara for ages, since always hear people rave about it. I just couldn’t see spending a ton of money since it was just for your bottom lashes. I didn’t realize at the time that it was only ten bucks. So I picked it up recently and I totally get why people love it so much. I don’t usually have a problem with mascara transferring from my bottom lashes, so I can’t really say how it works for that, but I can tell you that it makes my bottom lashes somehow look natural, but also like doll lashes at the same time. And I can get every single one of them without blobbing it on my skin. I’m going to make my sister try it, because she always has mascara transfer issues and I’ll let you know how it works as far as that.

As far as affordable beauty products, you really can’t get much better than NYX. But Lately I have been really loving their blushes in particular. They have a really large range of shades, the quality is awesome and they are SO affordable. . .and their taupe blush just happens to be my all time favorite contour shade. My only gripe is that the packaging is a little cheap and the lids always break off, but for such a low price I guess you have to cut corners somewhere.

Those are my picks for great beauty products under $10 . . .for the moment. There are so many out there I could probably do a hundred of these posts.

Do you have any favorite beauty bargains?