It seems like new drugstore makeup products are launching every day. And I’m always trying out new products to provide you honest reviews of these budget-friendly options. While I appreciate high-end beauty products, some of these drugstore makeup products rival their quality. If you’ve been curious about that $5 eyebrow pencil you spotted at Ulta last week or that $8 foundation, here’s a roundup of the absolute best drugstore makeup I tried out of hundreds of products from the past year.
BEST DRUGSTORE MAKEUP FOR MATURE SKIN
CoverGirl Clean Invisible Foundation
I’m constantly testing foundations, and Covergirl Clean Invisible has become one of my drugstore favorites. This foundation was created last year to merge two of Covergirl’s previous foundations (Clean and Clean Matte Foundations) into one. It blends effortlessly and quickly, regardless of my application method, and provides light to medium coverage. It gives a natural skin-like finish while blurring my pores and wears well on both my dry and shine-prone areas.
Elf Soft Glam Satin Foundation
Elf launched numerous incredible products over the past year or two, and this foundation is no exception! It blends out like a dream and can be applied with any method, giving a flattering finish with medium coverage. A little goes a long way with this foundation, so it’s best to use less than you think you need and avoid excessive layering to prevent a heavy appearance. This is an excellent satin foundation for every day at a fantastic price point!
Lottie London Brightener
Many drugstore concealers and correctors for the under-eye area can be quite drying, but this one from Lottie London is very nice! It’s the closest drugstore dupe I’ve found to the best-selling Smashbox x Becca Undereye Corrector.
This corrector/brightener features that same thick, sticky, tacky texture that is extremely hydrating and brightening. I actually find this formula more lightweight and easier to work with than the original Smashbox x Becca corrector, making it an excellent affordable product that delivers fantastic results.
L’Oreal Lumi Le Liquid Blush
I’m a blush enthusiast, and I think this liquid blush from L’Oreal is one of the best drugstore blushes on the market. It’s effortless, easy to blend and build, and wears beautifully all day. It gives your cheeks just the right amount of glow for a naturally radiant look.
CoverGirl Clean Eyeshadow Sticks
These eyeshadow sticks from Covergirl are some of the best drugstore eyeshadow products available. They come in 12 shades and apply effortlessly! They glide on smoothly with no tugging, giving you ample time to blend before they set. They also have a flattering sheen, even on dry eyelids. I can wear these all day without any creasing unless it’s extremely hot and humid. On those days, I simply apply an eyeshadow primer beforehand.
L’Oreal Voluminous Panorama Mascara
When it comes to drugstore mascaras, this is one of my favorites! As someone with sparse, thin lashes, I find the combination of the formula and the brush gives me beautiful, long lashes without clumping or flaking. My lashes don’t hold a curl well, but this mascara surprisingly keeps them curled, which I didn’t expect from a drugstore product! I prefer the waterproof version, but the regular formula is nice also.
Judy Doll Curing Iron Mascara
Although this isn’t technically a drugstore product, it is drugstore-priced and is available on YesStyle, so I wanted to highlight it! This viral curling iron mascara features a wand specifically designed for hard-to-curl Asian lashes, ensuring that every lash is reached. So if you have straight, hard-to-curl, or short sparse lashes, this is a fantastic daily mascara. I use this mascara on its own for subtle everyday looks or as a base coat under other mascaras.
Maybelline Build-a-Brow
I love using a brown pen to recreate the appearance of natural hair when filling in my eyebrows. My favorite product for mimicking natural brow hairs is this build-a-brow pen from Maybelline. It has an extremely fine tip and an easy-to-apply formula, making it perfect for achieving a natural look. Additionally, it features a clear brow gel on the opposite side of the pen.
Maybelline Lifter Lip Liner
This Maybelline lip liner is one of my favorite drugstore makeup products! Its creamy formula glides easily over the lips without tugging and offers beautiful pigmentation. It layers well and is excellent for correcting uneven lip shapes. Plus, it doesn’t leave my lips feeling dry and helps the lip products I apply over it last longer. I enjoy the shade Line Leader, which is a soft mauve-pink.
Essence Slim Sticks
I am not a massive fan of matte lipstick formulas, but I really enjoy these slim sticks from Essence. They glide on smoothly, have a creamy texture, and have beautiful pigmentation! One reason I love them is for their smooth satin matte finish rather than the simple matte finish they claim to have. Additionally, they are formulated with great ingredients that help keep your lips hydrated while giving them a smooth appearance.
Elf Glow Reviver Tinted Lip Oil
If you love Clarins lip oils like I do, but want to save some money, try these lip oils from Elf. They are vegan and cruelty-free with an oversized doe foot applicator similar to the Clarins ones. They also give your lips a sheer, vibrant tint that boosts your natural lip color with a beautiful glass-like shine. Formulated with squalane and various nourishing oils, these lip oils hydrate without feeling sticky. The texture is incredibly similar to Clarins, but instead of having a fruity taste, these taste slightly minty. These are also great if you cannot use Clarins lip oil because of the hazelnut oil but are allergic or sensitive to nuts.
To shop more beauty recommendations, visit my ShopMy storefront and follow along on LTK!
This post includes affiliate links, meaning I can earn commission through purchases at no additional cost to you!
