Being a makeup enthusiast is pretty hard when you’re a college student, what with budgeting your money and being a responsible adult and all that. Since every time I walk into Sephora I can hear my wallet start to cry, I’ve learned that the drugstore can have some great alternatives to those higher-end goodies. To spare you all from having a bank account reading out nothing but zeroes, I’ve dug around my makeup stash to find my holy grail drugstore items.
L’oreal Infallible Pro-Matte 24HR Foundation
Do you have oily skin? Are you a fan of the matte makeup look? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then this foundation is for you. It’s a little pricier than most drugstore foundations (one ounce for $12.99), but the quality is amazing. I apply this foundation with a damp beauty sponge and the finish is so smooth and flawless, it’s incredible. A little goes a long way and the coverage is very buildable without looking cakey at all.
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
No doubt you’ve heard of Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, but at $29 a tube it’s totally not affordable. Meet your inexpensive alternative! At $6.99, this concealer is a definite dupe for the Nars RCC. The consistency is thin and creamy, but also has a ton of coverage and staying power. With a convenient doe-foot applicator, this concealer is super easy to apply in your under-eye area to conceal dark circles. For blemishes on the face, I find it much more effective to swipe a bit off the applicator stick and lightly apply it with my finger rather than tap the doe-foot to the blemish.
Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder
This powder deserves all of the awards. Seriously. Once you try this powder to set your makeup, you will not go back to using anything else. Using the pointed end of a dampened beauty sponge, I pick up a light coating and press it into wherever my face usually gets oily or wherever my makeup tends to break up or crease. Not only does it keep me matte all day long (normally an impossible feat for my oily skin type), but it completely smooths out my skin. Large pores? Gone. Fine lines? Gone. Creasing makeup in the under-eye area? Gone. I don’t know how this powder does it, but it makes my skin look flawless. The powder does come in various shades, but I use “translucent extra coverage” so it doesn’t alter the look of my foundation. Coming in at just under six dollars, you definitely need this powder in your collection.
Makeup Revolution Ultra Bronze Palette – All About Bronzed
For just $10, you’re getting eight super pigmented bronzer shades. This is the bargain of all bargains. The palette includes both cool and warm toned shades and both matte and shimmer finishes, so whatever your skin tone or bronzer style, this palette is guaranteed to have something to suit you.
Makeup Revolution Ultra Blush Palette – Hot Spice
At a mere $10, Makeup Revolution also has a blush palette guaranteed to please. With six amazingly pigmented blushes and two dazzling highlighters, this palette has everything in terms of making your cheeks look amazing. There’s pink, rosy and peachy shades coming in both matte and shimmer finishes.
e.l.f. Illuminating Palette
This is it. The only highlighters you will ever need. No joke. At only $6, e.l.f. has stepped up their game with this fantastic little palette. You get a gold, pink, beige and bronze shade of highlighter, none of which contain those dreaded flecks of glitter. Lightly sweep on one layer for a sweet, subtle look, or sweep on additional layers for more glowy cheekbones without looking like a disco ball. The powders are buttery smooth, blend like a dream and a little goes a heck of a long way.
Nyx HD Eyeshadow Base
Other than being a tad bit thicker and creamier, it’s really a miniscule difference though, this eyeshadow primer from Nyx is a total dupe for the well-known Urban Decay Primer Potion. At $6.99, this primer will keep your eyeshadow crease free and color strong all day long.
Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Single — Brulee
You guys, this eyeshadow is only 99 cents. You need it. Even if you don’t think you need it, trust me, you need it. This shade is perfect. It’s very light nude, so I like to use it to set my eyeshadow primer. It’s light enough that it’s nearly translucent, but it also gives a nice brightening effect to the eye.
Maybelline Eyestudio Master Precise Skinny Gel Pencil
I’m a huge fan of gel eyeliner, but the usual routine of dipping a small brush into a jar and swiping it across my eyelid can get old real fast. This eyeliner is a godsend, I swear. For just $7.99, I can get an ultra thin line to define my upper lashes or get that perfectly precise wing that is oh-so-popular right now. The staying power is phenomenal and the color payoff is fantastic. My only word of advice is to use very light pressure because this eyeliner is super thin and prone to snapping if you’re not careful.
Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara
A mascara that curls, lengthens and adds volume without being clumpy. It sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? Covergirl really did it right with Clump Crusher, this mascara is my number one go-to when I want strong lash game. The best part? The formula leaves lashes feeling soft and touchable and doesn’t produce those horrible black flakes all over your under eye. At $7.99, this mascara is a must.
Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
I know this technically isn’t a makeup product, but it’s definitely an essential from the drugstore. Coming in at $6.99, this Real Techniques sponge is a total dupe for the classic Beauty Blender. I own both and I can swear to you that the Real Techniques sponge performs exactly the same and even cleans off much better than the Beauty Blender. They didn’t put “miracle complexion” in this product’s title for no reason, this sponge is guaranteed to give you a flawless face with every use.