My Favorite Drugstore Makeup Products
Well, well, well. It's been a while since I posted my favorite makeup products. And I have a confession.
Up until a few months ago, any time I scrolled through a fashion/lifestyle blog, I always skipped right over all the beauty posts and went straight to the fashion articles. I've never been into beauty products and makeup and I've been using the same few products for yeeeeaars.
Until now. Now, I get excited every time I see a makeup post from a blogger that I follow. And my new favorite thing to do is watch beauty bloggers on Youtube. ALL. DAY. And night. And I've become obsessed with finding the best new mascara or moisturizer or concealer.
I've done my research on the best stuff out there. I've purchased and tested out LOTS of new merchandise. And the list below makes up my all-time favorite drugstore makeup items. For now.
Eventually, I'll get to my high-end makeup favorites. And my favorite skin care products. And my favorite general beauty products. But that will require more homework on my part. We're still in the testing stages for many of those things. So I'll get back to you.
But for now, you'll have to be satisfied with these 11 drugstore makeup products. They're all tried and tested. And affordable. And I love them all. And I think you might too.
1. Real Techniques Makeup Brushes
Real Techniques Core Collection Brush Set ($8.08)
These four brushes together are under $9. Which is insane, because they're as good as some $50 high end brushes I've tried before. The largest brush I like using to apply foundation, the next one for bronzer, the smaller one for concealer, and the smallest one for spot concealing and highlighting my inner eye area.
2. Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Eyeshaow
Maybelline 24 Hour Tattoo Eyeshadow ($5.94)
You know the Mac paint pots? These Maybelline eyeshadows are supposed to be the dupes. These eyeshadow pots are creamy, super pigmented, and long lasting. I like using this eyeshadow in the shade "too cool" to highlight the inner corners of my eyes and my Cubid's bow.
3. NYX Retractable Eye Liner
NYX Retractable Eye Liner ($4.27)
I only use eyeliner on my upper waterline. And I've found that most eyeliners I've tried disappeared very quickly because the waterline is, well, watery, and absorbed all the color within the hour.
But not this cheap, little miracle. This NYX eyeliner lasts longer than any other eyeliner I've tried, even high-end ones. AND it never needs to be sharpened, because it's a creamy twist up stick.
4. Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water
Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water ($6.96)
Micellar cleansing water has been a recent discover of mine, and let me tell you, LIFE CHANGING. I use this cleanser whenever I don't want to go through the real deal cleansing process where a sink is involved.
Just soak a cotton round with some of this cleansing water, press it onto your face, and wipe off all traces of makeup. No need to rinse after.
5. Real Techniques Makeup Sponge
Real Techniques Sponge ($7.31 for 2)
By now you've probably heard of, seen, or used a Beauty Blender. Beauty blenders have been my ultimate makeup blending tool for the past year, more than any traditional makeup brush.
But this Real Techniques makeup sponge is less than half the price of the Beauty Blender. And it's just as good. If not better *GASP*
I use this sponge to blend concealer, liquid highlighter, bronzer, blush, and as the last foundation blending step. Yep, I use it for everything.
6. Simple Micellar Cleansing Wipes
Simple Micellar Cleansing Wipes ($5.12)
So we've discussed my favorite micellar liquid cleanser. And now let's talk about my favorite micellar makeup remover wipes. These ones. From Simple. I like first going in with one of these makeup wipes to remove most of my makeup, and then use the liquid cleanser to get rid of any remaining traces of makeup.
Other great cleansing wipe options are the original Simple Cleansing wipes and the Simple exfoliating cleansing wipes.
7. Mascara
Loreal Telescopic Mascara ($7.60)
Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara ($8.50)
Maybelline Colossal Volume Mascara ($5.03)
* Edit: I like the Maybelline Pumped Up Colossal Volume Mascara better now
I know, I know, there's three mascaras here. Sorry, I just couldn't pick one!
The Maybelline Colossal Volume one is my favorite volumizing mascara, the Maybelline Lash Stiletto (almost as good as my favorite Lancome Defincils Mascara) one is my favorite lengthening mascara, and the Loreal Telescopic Mascara is my favorite volume + length combo mascara.
8. Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer ($4.16)
I vacillated between a few different drugstore concealers before choosing this one to post. If I'm being honest, I haven't found a drugstore concealer that's as good as a few of the high-end ones that I've tried, but this Maybelline one comes the closest.
This concealer is hydrating, covers up dark circles and spots well, and has a slightly luminous finish. It does tend to flake up ever so slightly around my nose, my driest area.
Other good options are the Maybelline Age Rewind Dark Circle Corrector which is very hydrating, and the Wet and Wild Celebrity Concealer, which I only use if I'm really desperate because it's super thick and high coverage and covers my darkest spots
9. Aquaphor Lip Repair
Goodbye Vaseline, hello Aquaphor. Immediate relief for dry, chapped lips, just as the packaging claims. It's a good one.
I like the Aquaphor healing ointment tube too for dry areas on the rest of my body.
10. Loreal Brow Stylist Plumper
Loreal Brow Stylist Plumper ($5.35)
I don't fill in my brows, but I brush them and then use this brow gel to hold my brows in place. I've tried other drugstore eyebrow gels but none come close to this one. I would even say it's almost as good as the popular Anastasia Beverly Hills brow gel.
This brow gel is transparent, but you can also get it in a colored shade to fill in and set your brows in one step.
11. Loreal True Match Lumi Foundation
Loreal True Match Lumi Foundation ($10.42)
If you know me, you know I'm obsessed with dewy, glowing skin and makeup. Which is why I won't go near foundation that doesn't have a luminous finish.
This Loreal Lumi foundation comes in a wide range of both warm and cool shades and glides on easily for a dewy finish that doesn't look cakey. It's perfect. And cheap. And I love it.
