“You get what you pay for”. We’ve all heard it, right? While in some cases it’s true (think: cheap vodka and the killer hangovers that come with it), there are some exceptions to the idiom. While I do love a good skincare or beauty splurge, I’m a firm believer you don’t have to spend a million bucks to look like a million bucks. I’ve rounded up my favorite drugstore products that I repeatedly buy. Here’s to beauty on a budget!
For the Face:
- Garnier Waterproof Micellar Cleansing Water: The multitasker. I love using this to remove my makeup instead of makeup wipes. I also don’t wash my face with soap in the morning so I sometimes use this to “wash” my face after workouts in the morning. It’s perfect to use in place of a wash if you have dry skin. To use, squirt the water on a cotton pad and swipe over face.
Fun fact: micellar water was created in Paris decades ago for ladies to cleanse their face with because the tap water was so bad! Yikes!
- Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Mist: I cannot stress the importance of sunscreen enough. I’m naturally very fair and I burn easily. I love applying SPF before my makeup, but it’s hard to remember to reapply and most times I don’t reapply because I don’t want to mess up my makeup. This spray solves that problem. Besides that, It’s easy to use and goes smoothly over makeup.
Makeup Must-Haves:
- L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara Primer: You don’t know you need a mascara primer until you use one. This makes any mascara glide on easily and makes your lashes look longer and fuller. Pro tip: apply primer first and then immediately apply mascara, but don’t let the primer dry or you’ll mascara will be a clumpy mess.
- NYX Jumbo Pencil in Iced Mocha: I love how versatile this product is. It can be used as eyeliner or eyeshadow. I love using this as lower lid eyeliner to make the eyes pop.
- NYX Lip Liner in Nude Beige: This is the perfect nude liner that I’ve found to be universally flattering. It looks good on all skin tones and pairs well with a lot of different lipstick shades.
- L’Oreal Color Riche Shine Lipstick in Varnished Rosewood: I will always grab a satin lipstick over a matte lipstick. I love how this one feels and I’m obsessed with the shades. I also have the color Dazzling Doe.
Body/Miscellaneous:
- L’Oreal Elnett Hair Spray: The OG hair spray used by dancers, celebrities, pageant girls, etc. This stuff works! I love spraying this on my hair before and after curling to lock in the style. Note: it says unscented but it definitely has a scent.
- Native Deodorant: The best aluminum-free deodorant I’ve tried – and I’ve tried tons. It goes on smooth like regular deodorant and smells fresh, but not over-powering. Bonus: it’s paraben free and also comes in sensitive formulas.
- Essie Gel Couture in Matter of Fiction: The only color polish I’ve worn on my nails for two + years. (I’m not one for change). It gives you the shellac look without the price, and it lasts longer than regular polish. It doesn’t damage your nails, and comes off easily with acetone. Matter of Fiction is the perfect pinky white.
- Essie Gel Couture Top Coat: This one seals the at-home-shellac deal. This top coats gives the cushiony look of shellac and makes any kind of polish underneath last longer. It also dries super fast and fills in imperfections of the polish.
And there you have it! All ten products under $15 each. What are your favorite drugstore products you can’t live without?
