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Let's get one thing straight here: there ain't no shame in the drugstore makeup game. Just because something is affordable, doesn't make it any less pigmented, long-lasting, or just overall better than a higher-end product, Here at Allure, we love a good bargain — after all, we dedicate an entire category to steals every year in our Best of Beauty awards.
Plus, we like to look at it like this — if you're spending less money on one product in your makeup routine, you'll have more money to spend on other steps. Don't get us wrong, we do love a good splurge but think about it, if you save that $100 you were planning to blow on a foundation and use that money in a drugstore, it'll get you so many products for pretty great quality too.
Now, we get it. The drugstore is a really big place and now that so many brands are sold online at retailers like Ulta Beauty, Amazon, and Walmart you can just add these affordable picks to your cart and sometimes you'll get them the next day (shoutout to Prime). So, where do you start? We rounded up the 11 best drugstore brands and our favorite products from each.
Below, you'll see brands like Maybelline New York, Essence, and Covergirl and we promise — you're gonna love what you see and the price tags that come with it.
Colourpop
The Colourpop Xtra Celestial Clearly In Love Pressed Powder Palette is a nine-pan palette that features metallics and matte shades to create an array of looks. We specifically love this pick for that middle hue, Shawty, a copper and magenta blend that shines bright on all skin tones.
For only $5, Colourpop's Pressed Powder Blush delivers high-quality pigment with a low price tag. This powder formula comes in two hues: Swirled, a dusty rose, and Toffee Cake, a rich berry (pictured). Regardless of which you pick, your cheeks will have a healthy flush to them.
CoverGirl
Infused with coconut milk and soothing aloe, the CoverGirl Clean Fresh Skin Milk Foundation blurs pores and fine lines on the skin. This Best of Beauty winner comes in 14 shades and gives a glowing, dewy finish that lasts all day long.
Touted as vegan, cruelty-free, sustainable, and (of course) clean, the Covergirl Lash Blast Clean Volume Mascara has omitted parabens and sulfates and, instead, has been infused with conditioning ingredients like argan and marula oils. Even the packaging is conscientious of sustainability, as it is made with 80 percent recycled paper.
The 2022 Best of Beauty-winning CoverGirl Exhibitionist Lash Enhancing Liquid Eyeliner allows you to create a super sharp cat eye with ease. This is thanks to the soft and flexible tip that just glides across lids and lash lines without any pulling or tugging.
E.L.F.
Available in eight different shade options, the E.L.F. Bite Size Eye Shadow Palettes make creating a put-together eye look easy as pie. The quad shown here is called "Cream & Sugar" and contains a combination of neutral-toned, shimmery, and matte shadows that work on almost every skin tone. Plus, the formula of these shadows is über-opaque, yet also so easy to blend.
E.L.F.'s Brow Lift isn't your ordinary brow gel. This 2022 Best of Beauty winner lifts, tames, and sculpts brows to give a lifted effect. New York City-based makeup artist Christian Briceno says it'll simply just keep brows looking fluffy and in place. Just dip your spoolie into the formula and brush brows up and out to your desired shape.
Essence
Brighten up those under eyes with the Essence Brighten Up! Banana Powder. This formula is pressed matte powder that instantly sets your base makeup for all-day wear. Once set you'll notice less oil, hidden pores, and zero creasing.
Whether you are into overlining or just need a guide for your lipstick, the Essence Soft & Precise Lip Pencil is the one — and only costs $3. This silky formula is available in nine berry-nude hues and is long-lasting, so touchups will be minimal.
Flower Beauty
Available in eight pigmented hues, the Flower Beauty Perfect Pout Soft Matte Lip Color is not only a 2022 Best of Beauty winner but it's a comfortable matte lipstick, too. This formula is made up of hydrating hyaluronic acid and moisturizing jojoba oil so lips stay soft and plump — never dry and textured — with use.
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Flower Beauty's Warrior Princess Mascara holds the richest pigment, so when they say it's black, it is black. Senior commerce writer Angela Trakoshis was so impressed by it. "Its formula works perfectly with its hourglass wire brush, making it what I like to call a one-swipe wonder," she says. Trakoshis adds that it always goes on clump-free, thickening and curling her lashes — even her little baby bottom ones got the royal treatment.
Jason Wu Beauty
Designer products without breaking the bank? Sign us up. Jason Wu's beauty line is prestige on a budget. Starting with the Beauty Flora 15 Eyeshadow Palette. This 15-pan pigmented pressed shadow collection is blendable, easy to use, and contains warm shimmery and matte tones to create any look.
For the lips, the Beauty Hot Fluff Lipstick is creamy, lightweight, and has some lip-nourishing ingredients like dimethicone, which is found in many skin care products, to moisturize and soften skin.
L'Oréal Paris
L'Oréal Paris
L'Oréal Paris Infallible Flash Cat Eye Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
L'Oréal Paris Infallible Flash Cat Eye Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner impressed us so much that we gave it a Best of Beauty Breakthrough Award. Instead of hoping and praying that you'll end up with a clean, even flick while freehanding, this pick comes with a removable cat-eye wing stencil to make the process totally foolproof.
Want your skin but better? The L'Oréal Paris Skin Paradise Water-Infused Tinted Moisturizer is for you. This formula is 70 percent water with a blend of aloe vera and witch hazel, making it hydrating and soothing for those with dry skin. Plus, it's oil-free, so no need to worry about clogged pores or congestion.
If you're shopping for drugstore bronzers, L'Oréal Paris's Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer is one of our tried-and-true favorites. It even comes in a wider eight-shade range, and its formula won't budge or fade for a guaranteed 24 hours. No wonder it was awarded a 2022 Best of Beauty Award.
Maybelline New York
ICYMI: Liquid lipstick is back and this one is on the top of our list. This budge-resistant formula dries into a shiny, vinyl finish so it's never drying on the lips during its 16-hour lifetime. We've loved the Maybelline New York SuperStay Vinyl Ink for a while now, for this and its truly innovative formula, we awarded it a Best of Beauty Breakthrough Award.
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Maybelline New York's Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara became a legendary TikTok beauty product so quickly that it earned itself a Best of Beauty Award. The mascara has a flexible wand and a major following — its hashtag has over 39 million views on the social media app. "My sparse lashes looked remarkably fuller without any weigh-down," says one Allure tester.
Milani
Each of the 11 shades of the Milani Baked Blushes is actually baked. Yep, you read that right. The blushes are sunbaked on Italian terracotta tiles, this helps give each hue a warm finish and a glow that looks way more expensive than $11.
Briceno loves the versatility of the Milani Super Charged Cheek and Lip. "Each of the eight shades adds a tint to both cheeks and lips (hence the name)," he says. We suggest warming up the creamy formula with your fingers before you apply to really have it just melt into the skin, flawlessly.
NYX Professional Makeup
New York City-based makeup artist Disco says that the NYX Professional Lift & Tint! Brow Tint has the finest tip and buildable formula. "The best thing about this pencil is how easy it is to create natural, feathered brows or ultra-defined brows," she says. Plus, it's available in ten shades, so there's something for everyone.
Ah, the perfect nude palette — you really can't beat it, especially for less than $20. The NYX Professional Makeup Ultimate Queen Shadow Palette features 16 super pigment shadows in an array of finishes like mattes, shimmers, metallics, and satins. Did we mention it's a 2022 Best of Beauty winner? Now you must be convinced to add it to your cart.
Revlon
We love the Revlon ColorStay Skin Awaken Concealer because its formula dispenses a sponge for easy, clean application. This creamy concealer is caffeine and vitamin C infused so it brightens under the eyes and dark spots upon application. Plus, it comes in 19 shades so there's something for everyone.
Revlon's Colorstay Ultimate Suede in Couture is packed with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, aloe, and vitamin E. This shade, Couture is a lush cherry hue that is creamy, long-lasting, and is a comfortable dream (no wonder it's a Best of Beauty winner).
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For more of our favorite drugstore reads:
- 17 Drugstore Beauty Products That Won 2022 Readers' Choice Awards
- The 23 Best Beauty Steals of 2021
- The 13 Best E.L.F. Makeup and Skin-Care Products
Done reading? Now, watch this TikToker's 10-Minute beauty routine:
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