Re: affordable makeup
I agree about target. Sonia Kashuk brushes are great quality. Rimmel and Revlon are good brands. you can try any brand as long as it agrees with your skin and looks good on you.
Expensive does not always mean better. Many high end items can break your skin out too. Quality is not always good too. For example I think mac lipsticks are very drying...they always make my lips chapped. Stila makes expensive lipglosses but they dont last long at all.