5 Products: Cheap Makeup for New Year's Eve

Smoky eye kits usually run you upwards of 20 bucks. That's pretty steep, especially when you consider the fact that they generally come with a million tiny brushes that are too small to use. Also, unless you're a professional rock star, you're probably not going to do a smoky eye to go to the supermarket. L'Oreal makes an awesome, cheap smoky eye duo that costs about $11 and won't give you buyer's remorse.

There are several HiP duos on the market, but both our Beauty Guide Julyne Derrick and I favor the platinum. Want more tips on how to do a smoky eye? Makeup Guide Faith Lawless has you covered, and not in wayward makeup. That's why it's not a bad idea to read her tutorial before you get started. I could tell you tales of migrating mascara that would curl your hair, and not in a cute way.

In some ways, New Year's Eve has lousy timing. It's arguably the biggest party night of the year, and it happens during the worst time of year for most of us, looks-wise. We've basically just spent a week and a half eating holiday cookies and pretending the gym doesn't exist. Not to mention the fact that it's been several months at this point since we've seen the sun.

That's where bronzer comes in. A leetle bronzer -- not a lot, mind you, just a little -- smoothes out all those tiny cookie-induced zits and makes it look like you've just spent a week on the beach instead of a week in front of the TV. Physicians Formula's Light Bronzer is great, because it's hard to over-do. Unlike most bronzers, which tend to look like they've been applied with a trowel, this one goes on light and doesn't cake up. $11 or under from most online stores.

As far as I'm concerned, the whole point of New Year's Eve is to give us all an excuse to wear sparkly makeup. Jane Iredale 24-Karat Gold Dust comes in a bunch of different colors, including my favorites rose gold and bronze, and can be worn anywhere from your eyes to your decollete. Around $12.50.

A small warning: Shimmer can be tricky. Wear too much, and you could wind up looking like someone's about to lower you into Times Square to ring in the New Year. For tips on choosing and applying the perfect shimmer, check out this piece from our Multicultural Beauty Guide Gerrie Summers.

If you ask me, there are not nearly enough excuses to wear false eyelashes anymore. New Year's Eve is definitely one of those times when you and your eyelids can get away with playing dress-up.

There are a lot of pretty decent false eyelashes out there, but I like these because they're easy and cheap -- around $4. If you do go the false eyelash route, remember to get extra adhesive, or you'll spend New Year's Eve watching your eyelashes migrate all over your face, which is not as much fun as it sounds.

In my opinion, red lipstick is appropriate for all occasions: going to a New Year's Eve party, doing the laundry, attending a state dinner, you name it. It's a classic look, and I love that it gets you off the hook in terms of wearing any other makeup at all. If your lips are bold and bright, you really don't have to work very hard on the rest of your face. And as we know, I am a big fan of reducing effort wherever possible. (As an aside, can I recommend this for a New Year's resolution? Forget going to the gym or breaking bad habits. Resolve to be lazier and cheaper. I swear you'll have more fun.)

Wet 'N Wild makes a couple great reds, but I have to give my vote to anything called "Stoplight Red," because why mess around? Also, bonus points for cheapness: You can buy this lipstick online for under $9, and it's probably even cheaper at your local CVS. I've seen this for as little as $2.25 in the drugstore.

Our parting wisdom on this timeless look comes from our Makeup Guide Faith Lawless, who will show you how to put on any red lipstick without looking like a clown or someone who's been enjoying a few too many end-of-the-year libations. Do not say we never gave you anything.