As beauty editors, we come across dozens of new beauty products daily — (don't hate us, we know we have it good.) While we do get exposed to some of the most luxurious, over-the-top expensive products on the market, there are just as many beauty products out there that totally rock our world and don't break the bank. These days, drugstore makeup brands are keeping neck and neck with the more expensive guys in terms of quality and staying on-trend.
If you're looking to update your makeup stash and don't want to spend a small fortune, look no further than your nearest drugstore. In those aisles, you'll find products that are as amazing as they are affordable.
We had our team empty out their makeup bags and play show-and-tell with the drugstore makeup products they love the most. These are the beauty products that stand up to the most cult-worthy brands (and deserve a cult following of their own).
Here's the thing about foundation: You can never have enough of them. Some days you want a dewy finish; others, you want to be completely matte. Events rife with cameras or selfie-happy friends demand fuller coverage while casual, outdoor occasions require less. You get the picture. Hard Candy Glamoflauge Mix-in Pigment Makeup Drops is the completely customizable foundation product that promises to declutter your makeup bag — and give you flawless skin (for a ridiculously bargain price).
Worn alone, these drops provide weightless, full coverage that lasts all day. But they can be mixed with any skin-care product to get the finish and coverage that you want. Today, I'm wearing them mixed with a luminous primer for a medium-coverage, soft-focus finish. Tomorrow, I'll add them to my sunscreen for natural, BB-like effect. — Jill Provost
In my book, makeup should look amazing and be a breeze to apply. (What can I say? I'm low maintenance). That's why Revlon's ColorStay Crème Shadow has become my daily staple. The cream formula is lightweight and silky, so it doesn't sink into creases, and it looks just as fab by bedtime as it does when you put it on in the morning. I like to apply it with my finger, but it also comes with a little brush that seamlessly snaps into the compact packaging, which is extra-clutch for traveling. — Mary Squillace
Travel brushes, while adorable, aren't always practical. A tiny blush brush doesn't do much in the way of blending. So instead of minis, I've been traveling with this double-ended set. You get eight brushes for the size of four (everything from foundation to liner to brows is covered), and they come in a simple black bag that's easy to tuck into a suitcase or larger makeup bag. — Dawn Davis
There's nothing I like more than mascara that can get me out the door (quickly) with wow-worthy lashes. CoverGirl Super Sizer Fibers Mascara is one of those mascaras that always delivers. Thanks to its sleek, long application wand, I'm able to coat my lashes with the fiber mascara evenly, while getting in those hard-to-reach places like the inner corners of the eye. The result? Gorgeous, long lashes that reach to the sky. Thanks to the fiber particles in the mascara, lashes gain volume and density, and despite the reputation of fiber mascaras, this has very little fallout and zero irritation. — Jessica Amaris
