Pigment & Lipstick: A Beauty Rookie on a Budget

I have to confess: I'm a beginner when it comes to makeup.  In addition, I'm also on a budget, which means that most of my beauty supplies come from the drugstore or an affordable online retailer.  The way I see it, there is no reason for me to spend $20 on a single makeup brush or $40 for an eyeshadow quartet when I barely know how to use the stuff!

With that being said, I bought a 15 piece makeup brush set on Amazon that had pretty good reviews:

It was only $18.  Also, I bought 88 Original Eye Shadow Palette from Coastal Scents.  It usually costs $18.95, but I got it on sale for about $15.

For the price, the eye shadows seem to be really pigmented and there are so many colors that I can create a ton of different looks.  Once I get the execution down pact, maybe I'll save up and experience the wonder that is MAC  : )


What's your favorite makeup product/brand?  What are some must haves for the beauty beginner? Let me know in the comments!