It suddenly occurred to me the other day, without reason or warning, that I have entirely too much makeup. I could write a laundry list of excuses as to why I have so freakin’ much, but when it really boils down to it, I’m addicted – plain and simple.

While I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to what I will or won’t put on my face, I’m also a bargain hunter by nature, so I end up with lots of stuff that I try once and it never again sees the light of day.

 Deep down inside I do understand that as a general rule of thumb, you’re going to get what you pay for. Yet every once in a great while I do run across what I truly consider to be a bargain – a product that not only offers serious performance, but a price tag that doesn’t break the bank.

With most everyone on a budget these days, what better time to try out some of these fabulous finds, especially when it comes to stuffing stockings and gifting goodies? Your friends, family – and wallet – will thank you.

My Diva’s Closet – Okay, maybe not quite as cheap as some of my other favorite finds, but there is one thing that really makes them stand out – they sell NYX cosmetics. 

What makes this such a bargain? If you like bold eyeshadows, gobs of glitter or just hard to find shades, NYX is your brand. Now, while I am a die hard MAC gal, there are times when forking out almost fifteen bucks for an eyeshadow just isn’t practical or feasible. NYX offers superior performance and with 22 shades of liquid eyeliner at four bucks a piece, 16 shades of mascara for $5.00 each and 60 shades of chrome eyeshadow for a five spot, there is a certain charm. My Diva’s Closet also has a fantastic selection of false lashes as well as more fashion, costumes and accessories on their site.

Cherry Culture  – They offer tons of cosmetic lines at bargain prices, but Amuse Cosmetics are the ones that caught my eye. Why? Four words – Chocolate Lipgloss - One Dollar.

With six shades to choose from, who can pass that up? It’s ‘round the clock chocolate that doesn’t go straight to your hips! Glitter eyeliner is going for a buck as well, with regular pencil liners starting at fifty cents, and multi-shade eye palettes starting at $2.00. They also have super cute accessories, brushes and large palettes of 96 shades going for $20.00 right now.

ELF  – I fell in love with ELF (short for Eyes Lips Face) when someone recommended them to me and I gave them a shot. A buck a pop for tons of assorted cosmetic items? Why not?

What really sold me was their therapeutic conditioning balm. Having a bit of a lipstick/gloss fetish to begin with, I’m always looking for the latest and greatest to keep my lips soft and supple. ELF’s therapeutic conditioning lip balm did that, without being heavy, goopy or sticky. They’ve since branched into bath and body products, as well as more expensive items, but they’re still a bargain worth investigating. Another cool new feature? Custom palettes of eye and lip color – the palette (which holds four shades) and each cosmetic item are only a dollar a piece, so you can really mix and match!

With these kinds of deals, it’s hard not to become a beauty junkie! More than that, it’s easy to give, and give in abundance, this holiday season. Friends and family will be delighted to find any of these makeup must-haves in their stocking this season and with such awesome prices, there’s no pressure on you or your wallet.

*Photos from: mydivascloset.com, eyeslipface.com, cherryculture.com