Let me set this up with some complete honestly here -- your personal makeup kit is going to be an investment. Especially if you're blessed with sensitive skin, like me, you're going to have to shell out more than a few extra bucks to buy products that are non-comedogenic, oil free, paraben free, sulphate free, fragrance free, cruelty free, make up free (!!!!!). But everything in your makeup bag doesn't need to cost a fortune. It helps to know what's worth breaking the bank for, and what you shouldn't care to spend much on. (By the way – this is just my opinion from being a professional makeup hoarder for a couple of years now. But you if you find products that are cheaper/more expensive that work for you - just go for it!)
PRIMERS:
SPLURGE!
The rule of thumb I follow for myself is -- if it's going directly on your skin, make sure it's a really good product. And in all honesty, I've never come across a drugstore primer that's nearly worth it's salt.
FOUNDATIONS/CONCEALERS/POWDERS:
SPLURGE!
Especially if you're a woman of colour like me, a good foundation and concealer are makeup kit essentials. It has taken me years to find the most appropriate foundation and concealer combinations for my skin -- and a good base could make or break your makeup game. So definitely, worth a little investment here.
BRONZER/CONTOUR:
SPLURGE!
It's absolutely essential to find a bronzer or contour product that's a good balance of warmth and shadow. You don't want something that's too orange/red and makes you look like you had an accident on a spray-tan bed. At least, that's the experience I've had with most drugstore products.
BLUSH:
SAVE!
A good blush is easy to find in the drugstore without a hassle. You will almost never need to splurge on this -- unless you WANT to. If you know what colour works for your skin tone, you're all set. I've gone my entire life with just two blushes in my kit.
KOHLS/EYELINERS/MASCARA/EYESHADOW:
SAVE!
The drugstore eye-makeup game has seen some serious improvement in recent times. You shouldn't have to spent thousands on your liners and mascaras anymore. (Especially since you should ideally toss kohls/mascaras 3 months after opening them to save yourself from eye infections). Most drugstore brands carry very practical eye-shadow quads that work for simple and more complex looks, and they should have you covered. Although, it may be worth investing in one good palette of neutral matte shadows, if you're the kind of person who wears makeup to work.
LIP LINERS/LIPSTICKS:
SAVE!
You will almost always find a decent drugstore alternative to an INR 1,500 liner and INR 1,500 lipstick. So in this case, you shouldn't have to put your money where your mouth is ;) you'll find a good enough dupe for less than half the price.
I hope that was useful. By the way, if you're looking for a place to hoard all that makeup you're about to buy, the makeup pouch in the picture on this post can be found at: https://society6.com/product/mirror-mirror3856_carry-all-pouch#s6-5741389p51a67v445
Happy Shopping!