Kendall Jenner Used This $11 Highlighter Stick to Perfect Her Met Gala Makeup

When it comes to sourcing new beauty inspiration, we can always count on celebrities on the red carpet to introduce us to a new product or show-stopping trend. Last year, we saw the return of some old favorites — like Taylor Swift's trusted red lip and the controversial jellyfish haircut — and this year, we're already seeing some affordable beauty surprises (we're talking under $20!).

While celebrity glam is more typically associated with high-end, luxury beauty products, many celebrities use more budget-friendly products for their red carpet looks. Most recently, affordable glam dominated the 2026 Met Gala, from hair to makeup. Kendall Jenner perfected her makeup look for the Met steps with a $11 highlighter stick; Zoë Kravitz added a pop of color with $8 lipstick; and Emily Blunt prepped her hair for a sleek updo with $14 primer spray.

Ahead, we rounded up the best affordable beauty products under $50 that today's biggest stars relied on for their red carpet appearances this year. From drugstore favorites to hair-care staples to plenty of editor-approved skin-care products, these beauty must haves will make it easy to achieve A-list glam — even if you're on a budget. Keep reading to shop our favorite finds.

Celebrity Red-Carpet Beauty Products Under $50 The $11 highlighter Kendall Jenner used to perfect her Met Gala makeup: L'Oréal Paris Lumi Le Glass Stick at $11 Zoë Kravitz grabbed this $8 lipstick for a pop of color on Met Gala night: L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick in 762 Divine Wine at $8 Gigi Hadid's hydrating Met Gala foundation clocks in at $13: Maybelline Lifter Plump & Glow Foundation with Hyaluronic Acid at $13 Kelsea Ballerini used this $6 eyeshadow at the 2026 Grammys: Covergirl Eye Enhancers 4-Kit Eyeshadow at $6 The $8 secret behind Paige DeSorbo's soft, glowy Actor Awards look: Maybelline Cloudtopia Cheek & Lip Mousse at $8, originally $10 Marsai Martin's glamorous $11 lashes at the Oscars: I-Envy Mink Impact Everyday Lashes at $11 The $12 gloss Miley Cyrus chose for the 2025 Grammys: Maybelline Super Stay Teddy Lip Tint at $12 The $14 spray that kept Kendall Jenner's makeup in place in the rain: L'Oreal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Spray at $14 Sarah Pidgeon's lip liner at the Vanity Fair Oscars party: Tilt Beauty The Easy Way Lip Liner at $26 The concealer Olivia Rodrigo used at the 2025 Grammys: Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Full Coverage Concealer at $32 Doechii's setting spray for flawless 2025 Grammys makeup: Urban Decay All Nighter Waterproof Makeup Setting Spray at $34 Lindsay Lohan's nude pout at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar party: Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lipstick at $37 Olandria enhanced her natural glow with this $7 buy at the Golden Globes: Vaseline's Glazed & Glisten Gel Oil in Golden Hour Glow at $7, originally $9 Keke Palmer's $9 secret for glowing skin at the Actor Awards: Vaseline Cocoa Shimmer Jelly Stick Cocoa Butter at $9 Tate McRae's $12 primer with SPF for the 2025 VMAs: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Invisibly Radiant UV Primer, SPF 30 $12, originally $14 Sabrina Carpenter pulled out this $13 hydrating body spray at the 2025 Grammys: Aquaphor Ointment Body Spray at $13 Chrissy Teigen kicked off her Grammys beauty routine with this $18 cleansing gel: Curel Japanese Makeup Cleansing Gel at $18 Selena Gomez's $14 Actor Awards cleanser is ideal for sensitive skin: Dr. Althea Green Relief Amino Gel Cleanser at $14, originally $16 Clairo's pre-Grammys prep included this popular moisturizer: Ilia Base Face Milk Moisturizer at $28 Kylie Jenner used this K-beauty staple for the Vanity Fair Oscars after party: Erborian CC Red Correct Green Color Corrector, Travel Size at $46 The $14 spray Emily Blunt used to prep her Met Gala updo: Tresemmé A-List Collection All-in-One Hair Style Primer Spray at $14 Tate McRae's secret for smooth, frizz-free hair at the Met Gala: Tangle Teezer The Chrome Ultimate Detangler at $20 Keke Palmer relied on this $6 find for sleek hair in New Orleans humidity: Creme of Nature with Argan Oil Style & Shine Foaming Mousse at $6 The $6 key to Ciara's slicked-down edges at the 2025 VMAs: Creme of Nature Argan Oil Perfect Edges Firm Hold at $6, originally $7 This $8 gel kept Wunmi Mosaku's hair perfectly coiffed at the Oscars: SheaMoisture Edge Control Strong Hold Gel at $8 Charli XCX's $12 creme for frizz-free curls at the Grammys: John Frieda Frizz Ease Secret Weapon Touch-Up Crème at $12 The $10 beard spray Michael B. Jordan used for Oscars night: Toppik FiberHold Spray at $10 Coco Gauff's $12 find for hydrating and softening her curls: Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Hydrating Leave In Conditioner at $12, originally $14 Olandria applied this $11 "silk press in a bottle" cream before the Vanity Fair Oscars party: SheaMoisture Silk Press Prep Cream at $11, originally $14 The $17 product behind Sarah Pidgeon's face-framing waves at the Actor Awards: Nexxus Medium Hair Mousse at $17, originally $18 How Tate McRae toned her highlights at the 2026 Grammys: L'Oréal Paris Le Color One Step Toning Hair Gloss at $14, originally $16 This $18 tool kept Megan Thee Stallion's hair smooth at a rainy 2025 Met Gala: Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Detangler Hairbrush at $18 Willow Smith applied this viral hair oil before the 2025 Grammys: Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil at $32 The bestselling product used to create Barbie Ferreira's Old Hollywood waves: Amika Plus Size Volume & Body Mousse at $32 Chappell Roan grabbed this oil for voluminous curls at the Grammys: Amika Superfruit Star Lightweight Hair Styling Oil at $32 The tool that helped perfect Zendaya's bixie blowout at the Oscars: ghd Ceramic Vented Round Brush at $35 Hailey Bieber used this serum for body and softness at the Vanity Fair Oscars party: Emi Jay Heavenly Hair Milk™ Vanilla Leave-In Conditioner Hair Serum at $40 In This Post Red Carpet Makeup Products Red Carpet Skincare Products Red Carpet Hair Products