How to do a whole face of makeup for under $100.

Watch enough YouTube or Instagram makeup tutorials and you’ll be quickly convinced that it takes 43 steps using 27 products that cost a small fortune to do a full face of makeup.

I can assure you (in good news for both my bank account and morning alarm) that’s not the case. In fact, it’s entirely possible to do your whole face for under $100 without giving up your makeup wish list or compromising on low quality products.

You just have to know where to shop.

Cosmetic Capital has been around for a while now, but it’s a discovery I wish I’d made a long time ago. Stocking brands like Nars, NYX, Revlon, Essie, L’Oreal and Maybelline, you’ll find all the products you hear beauty gurus raving about regularly – but without the huge price tag.

Part of the haul that Brittany picked up from Cosmetic Capital. Image: supplied.

Believing that everyone deserves to be able to treat themselves to high quality makeup brands without draining their bank account, the Australian company source products from around the world to offer genuine top and beloved brands at a fraction of the retail cost. Thanks to their well-established relationships with cosmetic manufacturers, local distributors, overseas partners, retail stores and clearances stores over the years, they're able to offer exactly the same products you'd find in the shops for sometimes up to 90 per cent less.

A warning though - don't visit the site when you've only got five minutes to spare because you WILL get lost down a makeup rabbit hole of wonder trying to narrow down just which products to buy. Or maybe that's just me (but I don't think so).

With spring firmly upon us and the warm weather of summer teasing us with sunshine, my focus was on products that would refresh and update my makeup bag. It was time to say goodbye to the heavier foundations of winter and hello to dewy skin, colour, bright lips and a good old sweep of bronzer.

My focus was on products that would refresh and update my makeup bag. Image: iStock.

First in my basket was Maybelline Super Stay 24 hour foundation in Classic Ivory, $9.95, quickly followed by LA girl pro concealer,$6.95, a product I'd been wanting to try for a while. L'Oreal Pro Glam Bronzer, $5.99, Revlon Photoready Cream Blush, $14.99 and a Satin Brow Pencil, $1.95 soon joined them. A big fan of the nude smokey eye look, the allure of the Maybelline Dare To Go Nude trio of an eyeshadow palette, mascara and liquid eyeliner, $39.95, were too much to resist and in it went.

Of course the minute I saw NYX, a cult brand relatively new to Australia, I had to have one of their bright lipsticks, $6.95. Even more exciting was the grand total - all the products that would help me achieve an insta-worthy look (because if you don't selfie your face, did it really ever happen?) came comfortably under $100. You beauty.

My least favourite part of online shopping is usually the wait. After all the excitement of immediate purchase, you'll typically find yourself waiting days or even weeks and resorting to stalking your postman the minute he arrives at your street in the hope that he's holding a parcel for you. Fortunately, with my Cosmetic Capital order, my postman was left in peace thanks to their handy policy of dispatching every order within 24 hours of purchase and a $6.50 flat shipping fee.

"My order was dispatched within 24-hours and arrived safe and sound." Images: supplied.

As an adult, there are few things more exciting than receiving post that isn't junk mail or worse, a bill. When I got my order just a few days after purchasing, you'd think it was Christmas I was so excited. My goodies were wrapped up in pink tissue paper (although not for long!) and any products likely to break were securely packaged in many layers of bubble wrap to ensure they arrived in one piece - a small but important (and much appreciated) detail.

Of course like any makeup lover, the first thing I did was arrange all the products in a flat-lay. Then, and only then, was I able to play with my new products.

"Everyone deserves to be able to treat themselves to high quality makeup brands." Image: iStock.

The Maybelline New York Super Stay foundation was full coverage without feeling heavy and actually lasted all day, and I loved the handy brush that came with the L.A Girl Pro concealer making application on-the-go a breeze. I've become a little obsessed with cream blushes, so the Revlon in Pinched’s natural-looking flush went down a treat. Simply warm with your finger tips, smile and dap on the apples of your cheeks.

As someone with pale skin, finding bronzer that doesn't make me look muddy is a never ending challenge, so I was pleasantly surprised by the subtlety of the Glam Bronze - enough to make you look sunkissed but not abnormally so.

The Nudes Palette is now officially my take-everywhere eyeshadow palette. The shades are pigmented, blendable and most importantly, versatile - plus they come with a handy guide as to which colours to pair with which. The dark liner is pigmented and glides on and the mascara? Let's just say I've ditched my falsies a few times since.

The NYX high voltage lipstick earned me more compliments in one day than I can ever recall.

As someone who struggles a little with 'doing' my brows, the Satin Brow Pencil is perfect. It's light, natural-looking and easy to apply whether you're just filling in the gaps or building up the shape.

Buying makeup is one of my favourite ways to "treat myself" - the pleasure and the effect is instant and is a great way to (literally) brighten your day or give you a little boost of added confidence. And when Cosmetic Capital help make it even quicker and more affordable, well, who am I to deny myself?

Cosmetic Capital are giving Mamamia readers a 15% discount with their order. Just use the code beauty1 at checkout.

What is your go-to summer makeup look?