We asked makeup artists to tell us the exact products you should always scrimp on.

If you're like any good beauty aficionado, you'll go into Mecca, Sephora or Priceline on the reg and end up spending enough money on makeup to buy a house in Sydney. It's true! It really is.

The good news is that you don't actually have to drop a heap of cash on makeup - there are some affordable options out there that work just as well (if not better!) than the snazzy options.

How do we know this to be true? Well, we cornered two makeup artists and asked them to tell us everything.

Watch: We tried the lube makeup trick that's all over TikTok - here's how it went. Post continues below.

Here, they share their expert-approved tips on where you should spend your money - and exactly where you should save.

Ready? Let's go!

The makeup products you should save on.

As a guide, celebrity makeup artist Michael Brown said to "scrimp on products that tend to go on an area that doesn’t move as much, allowing the product to stay in place and not crease with expression movement."

Note. Taken.

Ellen from AskEllenBeauty on TikTok also said to "always save on anything with a short use-by date or higher infection risk."

Makes sense, no? We've popped a cute little breakdown below:

Mascara. 

"Say it with me now. Do. Not. Use. Old. Mascara," said Ellen. 

Yes, we're talking to you! When was the last time you switched out yours?

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"Mascaras need to be replaced every three months. The eyes are more vulnerable to infection (conjunctivitis, anyone?) so this is essential, and there are some terrific budget mascaras on the market that give top luxury brands a run for their money."

Ellen's pick? Maybelline Lash Sensation, $21.95. "Amazing curl and volume, without the clumps."

Top tip: "Pop a lash primer on before your mascara for va-va-voom volume!"

Eye, lip and brow pencils. 

"Fun fact: ALL the cosmetic pencils in the world come from only a handful of factories," said Ellen. 

"This means, that pencil that seems REALLY similar to another brand you own… might be made in the same factory."

Wait... WOT. 

How incredibly awkward.

"Pencils also need to be replaced every three to six months, so save yourself some money and grab a shiny new liner."

When it comes to Ellen's fave picks, she said you can't go past anything from brands like Maybelline New York, Revolution Beauty or L'Oréal Paris. 

Top tip: "Sharpen-able pencils last longer than wind-ups!"

The makeup products you should splurge on.

When it comes to what's actually worth spending on, Brown said, "Splurge on any area of the face that can move because of expression."

Interesting!

"By investing in these products, you’ll most probably have better product textures and consistencies to avoid product build-up or creasing in these areas," he adds.

According to Brown, this mainly includes complexion products like primer, concealer, foundation, highlighter, eyeshadow and for some (either dry or lined lip edges) lipstick.

Gotcha!

"Your skin is 90 per cent of your selfie so this is where we wanna invest. Also spend money on anything that you keep longer or relies heavily on colour i.e. blush, eyeshadow, bronzer," adds Ellen.

Here's a lil breakdown below:

Foundation and concealer.

"Nobody ever looked bad with great skin. Buy the best quality foundation and concealer you can afford, particularly if you have textured, acne-prone, or mature skin," said Ellen.

"A great base will make everything else look amazing - your blush and bronzer will look better, and your whole look will be upgraded."

One of Ellen's top picks? Ellis Faas Skin Veil or By Terry Eclat Opulent, $111. 

Top tip: "You can often skip the primer if you’ve got a great base - put that extra 30 bucks towards the actual foundation," she adds.

Powder products - eyeshadow/blush/bronzer. 

"Most pressed powder products last 12 to 24 months after opening, so you’ll get to enjoy your NARS Orgasm Blush until you hit the pan," said Ellen.

"Higher pigment makes a huge difference to the end result, and it’s worth getting the exact colour and finish you want. You’ll enjoy it more!"

According to Ellen, you can't go past anything NARS when it comes to splurging on powder products. 

Top tip: "Try to pick ONE amazing eye palette that has the colours you wear every day," said Ellen. 'Resist the urge to buy fashion or novelty colours you know you won’t wear."

What kind of products do you like to splurge on? C'mon, 'fess up! Share with us in the comment section below.

Feature image: Adore Beauty; Look Fantastic; Revolution Beauty; Mamamia.