Best mascara and concealer for someone on a budget?
I'm trying to ease into the complicated world of makeup slowly and I don't want to spend a lot of money on expensive brand names just yet. What is the best drugstore concealer available for someone who needs to cover up undereye circles and the occasional pimple? I bought a Maybelline coverup stick the other day but it is cakey and doesn't cover up the circles well enough. If there aren't any really good drugstore ones, are there any department store brands that are worth investing in?
Also, I am going to a formal event in May and would like to have standout lashes. Unfortunately, my eyelashes in their natural state are short, stubby, and somewhat sparse. My eyes are also deeply set, making it difficult to apply mascara with a traditional big, fluffy brush. What type of mascara (curling, lengthening, volumizing, multiplying, etc.) should I buy, and what are some good drugstore brands? This is one item I probably cannot afford to buy from a department store. Thanks!
I should mention that I am only 17, so I do not need to cover up wrinkles or other signs of aging. I am also a makeup-o-phobe (the scientific term), and would like to keep things as light and natural-looking as possible.