Glam on a Budget: Makeup Essentials at Ulta Under $20

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

With so many beauty products on the market, shopping can feel a tad overwhelming. Luckily, Ulta is a one-stop beauty shop with plenty of affordable makeup essentials!

With its supply of both high-end products and more affordable (but still excellent!) options, Ulta caters to both beauty fanatics and beginners. There’s a little something for everyone. Over the years, Ulta has really evolved to keep up with the ever-changing beauty industry. But there’s still one thing you can count on: Ulta will have products you love and constantly reach for.

Today I want to share with you some makeup essentials from Ulta that I think every beauty lover should try. These are products that I’m constantly reaching for and always recommending. 

Key Takeaways

• Ulta carries budget-friendly makeup, skin care and hair tools from brands like NYX, e.l.f., ColourPop, L’Oréal and CeraVe.
• Standouts include NYX Butter Gloss, e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer, Urban Decay All Nighter spray and L’Oréal Infallible Fresh Wear foundation.
• Use heat protectant before blow-drying, and wear daily sunscreen, especially if you use a retinol.
• Retinol isn’t for everyone: start slowly, and check with your doctor first if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

NYX Butter Gloss in the shade Tiramisu 

Looking for the perfect nude lip shade? Look no further! This gloss makes you look put together with minimal effort. Also, it wears just beautifully and feels great on your lips. Best of all, it’s super affordable! 

NYX lip pencil in the shade Citrine

You can’t go wrong with NYX lip products! This lip liner in the shade “Citrine” looks great on a wide range of different skin tones and pairs perfectly with the butter gloss. This lip liner can be worn all over the lips with a little gloss over top or to line the lips. 

Revlon One-Step Volumizer Hair Dryer

If there is one hair tool you need in your life, this is the one! If you have thicker hair, it can really cut down your blow-drying time! It’s super easy to use; there’s no fussing around with this tool. Plus, you end up with salon-styled hair. What’s not to love? 

OGX thermal spray 

If you’re heat-styling your hair, you need a good heat protectant! This is my go-to thermal spray when blow-drying my hair. It helps protect against heat damage, and in my experience it also speeds up drying. 

CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion

Any skincare-obsessed lover will tell you that CeraVe has some of the most amazing products. The moisturizing lotion is definitely a holy grail product. It does its job well and contains ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to support your skin barrier. The AM version also has broad-spectrum SPF 30, so it can double as daytime sun protection if you apply enough and reapply when you’re outdoors. 

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum

Another CeraVe must-have! If you’re ready to add a retinol to your skincare lineup, this one’s a winner. It is designed to help even out skin tone and the look of post-acne marks, and it includes ceramides to support your skin barrier. Retinol can still irritate, so start a few nights a week, use it at bedtime and wear sunscreen daily, since retinol makes skin more sensitive to the sun. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your healthcare provider before using it. 

The Ordinary Rosehip Seed Oil

You simply can’t go wrong with most products from The Ordinary. They have so many amazing skin care products that will help you achieve your skin goals. But if there is one product I’d tell you to try out, it would have to be this Rosehip Seed Oil. If you like a facial oil in your routine, this one is a favorite. It feels lightweight, though oils don’t suit everyone, so if you’re acne-prone, introduce it slowly and stop if you notice breakouts. 

Urban Decay All-Nighter Spray

Makeup lovers know you need a good makeup spray. Urban Decay’s All-Nighter Setting Spray is a cult favorite for a reason. As someone with oily skin, I can’t live without this product! 

Mascaras: L’Oréal & Covergirl

If you want to have envy-worthy eyelashes, this mascara from L’Oréal is for you! As someone who was not blessed with long, luscious eyelashes, I make sure my makeup bag always has this product. Just remember to replace mascara every few months and never share it. 

Covergirl has been my go-to mascara since I was in middle school for a good reason! It gives your lashes volume and length without looking clumpy. I find that a lot of volumizing mascaras can weigh your lashes down, but this one doesn’t do that. Instead, your lashes come out looking naturally long and thick. 

Face Primers: NYX and e.l.f

For a flawless-looking, long-wear foundation, a primer is a must. The one from NYX evens out your skin to make for a perfect canvas. It’s lightweight and doesn’t feel heavy or greasy on your face. As someone who has acne-prone skin, I find this product does not break me out either. 

If you’re looking for a more affordable primer, e.l.f has several really great options. This Poreless Putty Primer is one of the best ones, though. It has a cult following and is often compared to a much pricier primer from Tatcha. This one is also lightweight and does not feel heavy or greasy. 

ColourPop Highlighter

ColourPop is one of our favorite affordable brands. This highlighter is a must if you are looking for that luminous glow look, with an incredible long-wearing, buildable, and weightless formula… what’s not to love? You can also use it as an eyeshadow if you’re in a hurry. 

ColourPop Palette

There are TONS of eyeshadow palettes out there. However, if there’s one neutral palette with a twist of bright colors I could recommend, it would be the ‘You’re Golden Pressed Powder Palette‘. It has a beautiful variety of very wearable neutral shades that look good on anyone. I find that a lot of palettes have a few colors I would never use, but that’s not the case with this one. Every color is wearable and easy to incorporate into a look.

ColourPop Tinted Moisturizer

If you’re looking to take a break from more heavy-wearing foundations, a tinted moisturizer is a good choice. This one from ColourPop gives a light coverage that still hides redness and evens out your skin tone. 

e.l.f Hydrating Concealer

This concealer is long-wearing without being heavy or cakey. A lot of concealers settle into fine lines, but this one is much less likely to. It’s not drying at all, making it an excellent under-eye concealer.

L’oreal Fresh Wear 24HR Foundation 

Update (October 2026): L’Oréal now sells this foundation as Infallible 32H Fresh Wear Foundation. L’oreal Fresh Wear 24HR Foundation is a truly standout beauty product and a must-have in my book. In my opinion, it goes head to head with many high-end foundations. It suits a wide range of skin types and has worked well for my acne-prone skin. In addition, this foundation has buildable coverage that applies smoothly. You just can’t go wrong with this choice!

Conclusion

That’s it for my latest makeup essentials recommendations from Ulta! As you can see from this variety of beauty and skincare products, Ulta basically has everything you need without making you empty your wallet. As I see it, this store is a go-to for affordable, on-trend glamour.

But what’s your opinion? Do you have any additional suggestions that I left out? Leave your comments below, as we’d love to hear from all of our aspiring beauty mavens! Remember, as long as you look and feel great, there’s no wrong way to be glamorous!

Sources

• Cleveland Clinic – Retinol: What It Is, Benefits and How To Use
• American Academy of Dermatology – How to select a sunscreen
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Eye Cosmetic Safety
• American Academy of Dermatology – I have acne! Is it okay to wear makeup?

Here are a few hand-picked articles for you to read next:

• Exploring the Hype Behind Glossier: Is It Worth It?
• Sephora Favorites: What to Snag From Today’s Sale Items
• Is the New Line Fenty Skin by Rihanna Worth All the Hype?