Audra McDonald: Star Style Beauty Products on a Budget

When Audra McDonald is on screen (as one of the actors on the television drama, Private Practice) or dressed up for a press event, she forever wreaks of class and grace. While the majority of us don’t have Hollywood money to look this perfect, we still want to look as pulled together as those on the silver screen without going broke doing so.

If you have cash to burn or your budget is telling you to slow down, just know that a look as flawless as Audra’s is always within reach with star style beauty products.

Define and intensify your eyes with colors that are great for night and day with Guerlain’s Ombre Eclat Duo & Liner for $54 (bergdorfgoodman.com). But, if spending this kind of money for an eye liner makes absolutely no fiscal sense, then a good alternative is L’Oreal’s HiP Studio Secrets Crystal Shadow Duo, Darling($7.99, ulta.com). This product delivers high-intensity color at a fraction of the cost.

Get sexy cheeks for $22 by purchasing the dual-use formula Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks (neimanmarcus.com). Just blot a little on your lips and cheeks to get a sheer finish. You’ll be happy to know that it works on all skin types. For the budget-conscious, spend only $6.99 to get the same look with the similar berry hue of Revlon’s Cream Blush, Berry Flirtatious($6.99, walgreens.com). It gives a sheer, natural glow to your cheeks, and being as vein as I am, I love the fact that it has a pop-up mirror to freshen up your face anywhere.

Tip: Apply cream blush effortlessly. Look dewy and fresh by dabbing cream blush on the apples of your cheeks going up towards your hairline and then pat a sheer face powder over your cheeks to bring down the intensity of the color.

And we mustn’t forget your lips. Are you willing to spend $22 for Laura Mercier’s Lip Velvet (saksfifthavenue.com) or $5.49 for Rimmel’s Vinyl Lip Gloss in Cosmic 145 (ulta.com)? The difference between the two lip products is that Laura Mercier’s contains anti-oxidants and lip-plumping properties, while Rimmel’s is a non-sticky lipgloss that gives your lips a high-shine finish.

Hue Knew It? I did.