Lately I’ve noticed that a lot of the makeup products I’ve been gravitating towards have been inexpensive items you can find at the drugstore. A lot of drugstore brands have really been stepping up their game lately to compete with higher-end brands, and many of them work just as well (or better!) than the expensive stuff – for a fraction of the cost.
There are SO many drugstore makeup options out there, and while it’s great to have options, it can be overwhelming trying to decide which products to try. So, I’ve rounded up some of my tried-and-true inexpensive makeup favorites that I know you’ll love. And the best part is that you can grab them next time you’re out running errands at Target, CVS, or Walmart!
Drugstore makeup favorites
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup
I partnered with Neutrogena on their Healthy Skin campaign earlier this year, and I’ve been using this liquid makeup as my everyday foundation ever since. It’s a really lightweight, medium coverage formula that isn’t too heavy for everyday wear. Plus it doesn’t irritate my sensitive, breakout-prone skin, and it even contains an antioxidant blend that helps improve the appearance of skin over time 🙌🏼 I use shade 40 – Nude.
Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer
This bronzer has been a drugstore favorite of mine for a while. First, the smell is amazing – it smells like coconut and makes you feel like you’re on vacation every time you put it on. It also goes on smoothly and is really easy to blend, so you don’t have to worry about harsh lines or the dreaded “bronzer helmet” (aka the look when your bronzer isn’t fully blended along your hairline and jawline – yikes 😂). I also like to use this as eyeshadow by applying it in my crease with a fluffy eyeshadow brush – it adds some warmth to my eyes without having to spend a ton of time on an entire eyeshadow look. It comes in four different shades; I use the color Bronze.
I’ve tried a handful of higher-end blushes over the years, and while I’ve liked them, they’ve never done anything for me that an inexpensive drugstore blush couldn’t do.
Milani Baked Blush
I’ll be completely honest – blush is one of those things I just can’t justify spending a ton of money on. I’ve tried a handful of higher-end blushes over the years, and while I’ve liked them, they’ve never done anything for me that an inexpensive drugstore blush couldn’t do. I really like this one from Milani (I use the shade Luminoso) because it has a subtle sheen to it, almost like a blush and highlighter in one. And the color is a light peach shade that gives you just enough color without being too pinky.
L’Oreal Brow Stylist Pencil
Brows are probably the area that I’m least skilled in – which is why I need a product that’s easy to use! I don’t do anything crazy with my eyebrows. I follow the existing shape of my brows and just use the pencil to fill in any holes/sparse areas to make them appear fuller – that’s it! Some people can use brow products to completely transform the shape of their brows, but I’m just not that skilled! If you’re like me and just want something easy to use to help define your brows in the simplest way possible, then this drugstore brow pencil is perfect for you! I use the color Dark Brunette.
L’oreal Brow Stylist Tinted Gel
I always follow up my brow pencil with a gel to set my brows and prevent them from looking messy throughout the day. This one is tinted, which helps my brows appear even fuller and more defined than if I were to use just the pencil. I also like using it on its own (without the pencil) on light makeup days – it sets my brows in place and gives them a little bit of definition without looking too overdone. I use this in Dark Brunette.
NYX Epic Ink Liquid Eyeliner
If you follow along on my Instagram stories, you know that I’m a big fan of winged liner and wear it pretty much every day. The one I swear by is this liquid liner by NYX. The tip comes to a sharp point, which makes it easy to draw a thin, precise line (I don’t like my wings too thick/intense for everyday). The best part is that it stays put REALLY well – I’ve never had an issue with it smudging or fading throughout the day – yet it comes off easily with makeup remover without having to scrub hard. The best of both worlds when it comes to a liquid liner!
L’Oreal Lash Primer
If you’re not using a lash primer before your mascara, trust me when I say you need to start. I apply one coat as a base before my mascara, and it basically intensifies the effect of whatever mascara I’m using and helps my lashes appear longer and fuller. The other day I was in a rush and quickly applied my mascara without using primer, and my eyelashes just looked…sad, haha. It really does make a big difference!
L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara
While we’re on the topic of mascara, this one is always in my makeup bag. It has a long, skinny brush that separates and lengthens lashes. I like to layer different mascaras to get multiple benefits, and this one is typically the last step in my mascara routine. First is primer, followed by a volumizing mascara (my current favorite is L’Oreal Lash Paradise – also drugstore!), and finally a light layer of Telescopic to separate my lashes and brush through any clumps. I also like to use this by itself on light makeup days, when I’m just using a few products to look a little bit more alive. When I use it on its own, it gives my lashes a feathery, lengthened, defined-yet-understated look.
NYX Butter Gloss
This is one of my favorite drugstore lip glosses because it’s not super sticky, like a lot of inexpensive lip products can be. It goes on smoothly and actually makes my lips feel softer, almost like a lip balm but in gloss form. I like the color Tiramisu – it’s a pinky nude that’s just a little bit darker than my natural lip color.
Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser
Ok so this is technically a makeup remover, but I wanted to include it because I’ve been using it for years and it’s still one of my favorite drugstore beauty products (I also talked about it in my evening skincare routine post). This is one of the only makeup removers/cleansers I’ve found that removes ALL of my makeup in one step. I’m talking heavy foundation, waterproof liquid liner, multiple coats of mascara – my face is completely makeup-free after cleansing with this.
What are some of your favorite drugstore makeup products? Let me know in the comments below!
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