Drugstore makeup has come a long way from one formula for every skin type and age. You can find quality makeup products at the drugstore without breaking your budget. It’s fun to walk into Ulta and see all the new makeup launches and get ideas on what’s new on the market, but you can also find comparable products now for a fraction of the price. It’s also easy when you are already out running errands at Target or your grocery store, as these items are much more accessible to get to than making another stop which makes things much more convenient.
Many luxury cosmetic parent companies own less expensive drugstore brands manufactured in the same warehouses. Some of the brand packagings even look familiar now, and there are plays on the names so that people understand that the products are dupes of the more expensive brand. In some cases, the original product may have had packaging failures or formula problems that improved when the dupe was released, and you get a better outcome in the drugstore dupe.
Before getting started
The label will give insight into the product’s target and skin type. If you have oily skin, look for a foundation with oil control on the label. If you have mature skin, look for wording that addresses your skin type on the label.
I will break down my favorites into categories to make them easier to read.
Lip Products
Believe Beauty’s long-lasting lip liner in Intense Rouge has a creamy texture, and the color is perfect for the holiday season. The products purchased are from dollar general for $3.50. I paired the liner with the Lustrous shine gloss from the same brand in “Cherry on Top” for $4.75. For more information on www.believebeautycosmetics.com, read my past review of Believe Beauty from a previous blog post.
Maybelline lifter gloss is one of my all-time favorites, and it’s easily a dupe for many of the higher-priced lip glosses on the market. It’s hydrating, so perfect for this time of year, not sticky with a plumping effect on the lips, and comes in about twenty shades.
Face Products
Elf High Definition loose setting powder is vegan and cruelty-free that has a blurring effect on the pores. The coverage is extremely sheer and lightweight on the skin. I am not a huge fan of powders, but this one works well on my sensitive and sometimes dry skin. The powder has over 1200 reviews on the Ulta website and sells for $6.00.
No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Serum Foundation contains skincare ingredients like peptides matrixyl 3000 that stimulate collagen and Vitamins A and C that help to reduce pigmentation spots on the skin. This foundation is perfect for more mature skin and is sold at Target and comes in 10 shades for $15.99.
Covergirl Olay Simply Ageless Anti-Aging Foundation Primer is great for mature skin. The primer contains hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C, which are excellent skin ingredients. The primer comes in a pump bottle which is great if you travel a lot, and runs about $14 at Target.
L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Radiant Concealer has ingredients illuminate and hydrate the under-eye area. It’s lightweight but buildable to give your skin a flawless look.
I know concealer can be tricky and not always one size fits all, so I have one more concealer option: the Catrice True Skin high-cover concealer that lasts up to 18hrs. It doesn’t have to last that long, but if you live in a humid area or it’s summertime, it’s nice to have a long-wearing concealer option. The concealer sells for $7.00 and comes in 13 shades.
These products round out my favorite drugstore products for December I’m using. If you are following a budget this month and want to save money, try any of these great products instead of department store brands. The main thing is to keep using good skincare because having good skin will enhance what you use on it!
Teresa
