Everyone is always looking for a good deal, especially on things like makeup and other beauty products. The truth is, many cheaper brands just don't meet the quality of those with higher price points. Even when a less expensive product works well, it still might be full of harmful ingredients like parabens! But it's also true that with a little digging, you can find excellent makeup that is not only inexpensive, but contains great ingredients as well. Welcome to my list of the ultimate Best Budget Beauty Buys!
Foundation
The trick: Be careful with foundations. Cheaper versions will often contain harmful fillers or irritating ingredients, because they're easier and less expensive to use. Watch for things like parabens and mineral oil, which can make issues like uneven skin tone or acne worse.
My pick: Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 foundation. Not only are the ingredients on par with more expensive brands, but it's a beautiful product that really works. While at first, I was a little taken aback by its claim to be a primer, foundation, and concealer in one, I came around once I realized how wonderful the formula is! It provides non-cakey, natural-looking medium coverage, feels light on skin, blends out easily, keeps my combo skin matte without over-drying the more sensitive areas, and lasts all day. If you buy one foundation from the drugstore, let this one be it.
Nail Polish
The trick: You want to find a nail polish that applies well, stays on, and comes in many high-quality formulas, from mattes to glitters. While not all drugstore nail polishes are created equal (many pastels are too sheer, many glitters are too gluey or tacky), there are some that stand out from the rest. Be aware that many polish formulas contain potentially hazardous chemicals, so do your research on the ingredients list.
My pick: Revlon Parfumerie Nail Polish. These are the closest thing I can find in the drugstore to the beloved Deborah Lippmann nail polishes, which are famous for their high quality. A hallmark of the Deborah Lippmann line are glitter polishes with an excellent formulation - the glitter is within the colour, rather than just sitting on top of the nail. I experienced the same effect with many of the Revlon polishes, notably Wintermint and Autumn Spice. Plus, they have pretty scents that you'll only be able to smell once the polish is dry (it's not overwhelming, don't worry).
Multi-Purpose Concealer
The Trick: Many drugstore concealers have poor coverage or staying power (sometimes both) and the ones that don't often contain parabens or, more commonly, mineral oils. Watch out for all of those things! When looking for a multi-purpose concealing product, you'll want something with enough coverage to mask blemishes, enough staying power to last all day, and the ability to work under eyes without creasing or looking heavy.
My Pick: Revlon Colorstay Concealer. This reminds me a lot of Kat Von D's Lock It Tattoo Concealer. It has great medium coverage and blends out easily. I also love using this under my eyes when I need a little extra bit of coverage or I'm out and only have one concealer on me. The ingredients in this make it one of the best drugstore options, and it doesn't contain parabens like it's foundation counterpart. If you pick up just one concealer from the drugstore, this would be a great option.
Lip Gloss/Lip Colour
The Trick: There are so, so many lip products to choose from in the drugstore. The truth is, a lot of them are great! The problem lies in choosing the best one. In my experience, if you're looking for a general lip colour you can wear anywhere, it's best to avoid the super-sheer and super-heavy formulas. Look for something in the middle, with buildable colour that lasts for a reasonable amount of time. Make sure that it's also hydrating for days when your lips are chapped or dry (which can even happen during the Summer, sadly).
My Pick: Maybelline's Color Whispers. This lip colour/lip gloss hybrid is gorgeous, moisturising, and natural-looking. Apply it very lightly for a wash of sheer colour, or slightly build it up for a more intense pigment. There are so, so many shades to choose from - there's a pretty colour to complement every skintone. I love the coral-pink shade Pin Up Peach, as it allows me to wear a coral without the colour overwhelming my face. Plus, you can apply this anywhere on the go without having to worry about a precise application, as you would with a lipstick.
Eyeshadow
The Trick: A lot of powder eyeshadows from the drugstore can be sheer or powdery. Some quads (notably ones from Maybelline and Wet n' Wild) are actually quite high quality, but it's always a guessing game. You'll want something that's a sure bet - highly pigmented shadows that stay put, look gorgeous, and are easy to blend out and apply.
My Pick: Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow. You can't go wrong with these gorgeous cream shadows that come in a variety of pretty shades. They blend out easily with fingers or a brush, make great bases, and simply stay on all day. No creasing or fading here! In my opinion, they're on par with many high-end brands in terms of quality. And if you look in drugstores now, you might be able to pick up some of the fabulous neutral shades that Maybelline has released as part of their limited edition nudes launch.
Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow
Brightening Concealer
The Trick: When choosing a brightening concealer from a drugstore brand, you'll want to make sure that you pick something that actually has some coverage to it. Many products on drugstore shelves these days blend out so sheerly that it almost looks as though you haven't applied anything! You'll also want to make sure that the product won't look too heavy or cakey, or crease under your eyes where you need that extra pop of radiance and light.
My Pick: L'Oreal Touche Magique Concealer. Not only does this come in a variety of colours for both warm and cool skin tones, it's a great pick all around. It's the closest thing I can find at the drugstore to Mac's Prime and Prime Highlighter, which is a great brightening concealer. L'Oreal's version has light-to-medium coverage, and is actually pigmented enough to make a real difference radiance-wise, without looking unnatural or heavy. It blends out super easily under eyes and on top of cheek bones to sculpt the face.
All-Over Face Brush
The Trick: While there are some great brush sets at the drugstore (my favourites are from RealTechniques), sometimes you're just looking for one amazing multi-purpose brush that you can use for many purposes. It can be a challenge to pick just one when you're trying to stay on a budget, but it's definitely not impossible to find a wonderful and useful brush at the drugstore.
My Pick: Ecotools Bronzer Brush. This big, fluffy brush can be used for so much! Buff out liquid or cream foundation easily for an airbrushed finish, blend out powder or loose foundation products, dot on and blend out cream blush, set your makeup with a finishing powder, blend out contour creams or powders, apply powder bronzer or blush, or even set undereye makeup with a light powder. This truly does it all. And it's eco-friendly, super soft, available at nearly every Walmart makeup section I've been to, and is durable and lasts. What more could you ask for? This is my personal favourite brush for setting my makeup when I use my Tarte Smooth Operator Finishing Powder. It gives a gorgeous airbrushed look that no other brush I've tried can achieve.
I'm so excited to be back with you guys! Look out for more posts soon.
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