The beginning of the year, for me, is when I really need to budget and save my money (buying Christmas gifts hits my bank account hard every year). If you're in the same boat, I thought it would be helpful to go through some of my favorite affordable drugstore products I've found.
I've found the drugstore to have a few great primers - in fact, the more expensive ones I've tried have been the ones that break me out. I love the L'Oreal Magic Lumi Light-Infusing Primer. It's perfect for injecting some life back into dull skin while also ensuring that your makeup will stay around all day.
My favorite drugstore foundation I've tried is the Revlon Nearly Naked foundation. It offers about the same amount of coverage as a tinted moisturizer, but it just helps to even everything out. It doesn't cover all redness and blemishes, but I save concealer for that. It gives a perfect veil of coverage that still looks like your own skin. If you're looking for more coverage, L'Oreal True Match is great as well.
Both of my most-reached for drugstore concealers come from Maybelline. I can't sing enough praise for the Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser. The sponge on the end kind of grosses me out, but the product itself is amazing. It goes on so smoothly and blends out beautifully and quickly with just a finger. I currently use the shade Fair, but I'd love to try the Brightener shade as well. The concealer I'd use everywhere else (redness, blemishes, etc) is the Fit Me Concealer. It's so creamy and blendable, and the shade 15 Fair matches my skin perfectly. Be sure to set it with powder, though, because the creaminess does cost you a little longevity.
For eyeshadow, the best I've found are the Maybelline 24-Hour Color Tattoos. These cream shadows are so easy to just slap on and blend out with a finger that they're perfect for doing your makeup in a rush or for minimal makeup days. Since they'll stay put all day, they make great bases for other eyeshadows. My favorite shades are Barely Branded, Bad to the Bronze, and Pomegranate Punk.
If you're looking for a pencil liner, look no further than the Rimmel ScandalEyes line. I've found that they're dupes for the Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliners. They go on so smoothly and creamily, but won't budge once they set.
My two favorite mascaras (including high-end) have been from L'Oreal. The Telescopic Shocking Extensions Waterproof Mascara is absolutely perfect for lengthening and holding a curl right up until you wash it off at night. And the Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara is a great all-rounder - it adds length, volume, and curl, creating a perfect amount of drama. It can tend to clump if you put too many coats on, but for me this is a one-coat wonder.
As for lips, you can't go wrong with either the Nyx Butter Glosses or the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsticks. Both feel so comfortable on the lips. The Butter Glosses have great pigmentation for a gloss, and they smell incredible. The Revlon lipsticks come in loads of colors that are pigmented in one swipe. My favorites are Pink in the Afternoon (that perfect "Breakfast at Tiffany's" shade) and Cherries in the Snow (a classic pink-toned red).
As for tools, my favorite drugstore brushes are all from Real Techniques. They're such great quality - I reach for these more than some more expensive brushes I have. I've washed mine a lot and have experienced no shedding at all. My favorites are the Buffing Brush, the Contour Brush (both sold together in the Core Collection set), and the Blush Brush. I've tried just about all of them, though, and they're all amazing.
If you're still here, thanks for sticking with me till the end, and I hope this was helpful!
What are your favorite drugstore products?
