Ah, the drugstore… It’s where I met my first love. It was a Dr. Pepper Lip Smackers; a refreshing, sheer lip treatment. Slowly Dr. Pepper introduced me to Jane, then Maybelline, then L’Oreal…. you get my drift. If I ever need to collect myself or my thoughts, I head to a drugstore (or Target or Ulta) and peruse the makeup aisles. Tell me I am not alone!
A few weeks back I took an informal poll on people’s favorite drugstore products (specifically for face). With my data in hand, I headed into my nearest Ulta and Target with one goal in mind: spend under $60 for a full face of makeup. Thank god for coupons! Everything i grabbed totaled to JUST under $60 with help from a 20% off coupon and a few Target Circle deals (why can’t we still all it Cartwheel?!).
Let’s break this one down, shall we?
Essence Clay Primer
The last time i purchased a drugstore primer I didn’t have children. They were so few and far between then, and ohmygod so so bad. Either they felt like vaseline or they were dry chalky nightmares. Clearly things have changed. For $4, this primer shocked me. Mattifying primers usually mean drying; I didn’t find this to be the case at all. This kept oil at bay in my T-zone without drying out my cheeks and forehead.
Maybelline Super Stay Foundation
I want to give this an 8/10. It has a lot going for it; matte, natural finish, a large shade range (including olive skin), long-lasting coverage. Where it fell short was in how quickly it dried down. Now that I now this, I make sure to blend each section out quickly before moving on to the next. For $12, this is a steal.
E.L.F. Hydrating Camo Concealer
Most drugstore concealers i have tried do one of two things: dry everything up or absolutely nothing. For $4 this is a pretty great option. I am not entirely sure what ingredient is meant to hydrate, but this did not dry out or irritate my undereye. No matter who you are, you will want a powder to set it since it does stay tacky without it- maybe this is the hydrating part? The biggest issue I had was the GIANT applicator. Really it’s massive.
E.L.F HD Setting Powder
Why haven’t I purchased this before? This powder is identical to Make Up For Ever HD Powder. Honestly, it’s probably from the same lab. This is $6. And it wears and feels like a $40 powder. Do yourself a favor and buy this. Make sure to use a light hand- all HD powders have the ability to go from 0 to WTF for flash back real quick.
Maybelline Nudes of New York Palette
This blew me away. I love a good neutral, bronzed eye look and I also love a neutral eye look. This palette has both of those and some purple/cool tones to boot. Each of the shadows blends so smoothly and there was no fallout. I also used the shadows as bronzer and highlight to save myself a little money and some vanity space.
Maybelline Studio Liner
I didn’t like this so I don’t have much to say. The pen is easy to control but too stiff which makes it hard to line. Not a fan.
Essence Mosaic Blush
This is so pigmented. I love the natural peach flush it gives. It does have some subtle shimmer to it making it perfect for a weekend. This did not wear as long as my beloved Tarte, but it did not fade away quickly which is more than I can say for blushes 4 times the price. I wish they would mae this in a matte version too!
Maybelline Super Stay Brow Pen
What the $%& is up with this. The color and brush strokes look beautiful on my hand, and i like the 3-prong brush idea. I could not get this to work on my brows. For starters, the ink wouldn’t come out, and then it was patches, and hen the brush was stiff, and then my brows were stiff. I wouldn’t repurchase or recommend. Spend a few dollar more for a higher end or stick with a pencil!
Maybelline Superstay Ink Lip Crayon
This is a great formula. There are around 15 shades too, so something for everyone. It has a sharpener built in (not sure it’s needed though) for when you accidentally open it on itself like i did. This gave a very even spread of color and didn’t become patchy or dry anything out. I also love the natural finish.
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