I wanted to do this blog post because I think there is the common misconception that in order to get good beauty products you need to spend a lot of money, and that's just not true. There are so many amazing products that you can find for under $10 that there really is no reason to splurge on all your beauty needs. Don't allow yourself to get caught up in the hype of brand names. Instead, save your money and visit your local drug store.
If I was only able to use one beauty product ever again, it would be this dry shampoo. I'm really obsessive when it comes to keeping my hair healthy and this is a huge part of my haircare routine. I only like to wash my hair between 2-3 times a week because I don't want to dry it out, and this is a life saver. I know a lot of people who don't like dry shampoos because they can leave a white cast in your hair, especially if you have dark hair like, but thats the magic with this one. It sprays on brown, so you don't need to spend 20 minutes brushing white powder out of your hair. I go threw these like its my job - I use probably 2-3 a month and that is not an exaggeration. If you haven't tried it, I absolutely recommend it, I think everyone will love it. They also have regular ones without tint, and one for blonde hair.
Price: $8.99
2. Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Towlettes
I have used more make-up removing wipes that I can even count. I feel like I've tried them all, but these are truly the best. They are all natural so you don't have to worry about smearing harmful chemicals all over your face, and they smell really good. They are super moist, unlike some that I've tried that have felt dry and kind of rough. It says that there is no rinsing required but I still always use my Clarisonic afterwards to make sure absolutely all my make-up is off. If you are in the market for some seriously amazing wipes, definitely pick these up at your local drugstore.
Price: $6.00
3. Wet n' Wild Eyeshadows
Wet n' Wild in my opinion has the best drug store eye shadows around. They are RIDICULOUSLY affordable, it is insane how cheap they are, and they are great quality. The eye shadows are extremely pigmented and super blendable. You get so much bang for your buck, that every time I've gotten one of the 'Color Eyeshadow' pallets, I've felt like I was an extreme couponer. My favorite pallete is the one picture above, called 'Comfort Zone.' I'm a big fan of neutrals and they're really all I wear so this pallet was right up my alley. They sell the shadows in groups of 3, or 8. You can get a total of 8 shadows, each labeled with where they recommend you put them on your eye, for under five dollars. They are great for anyone who is just starting out with make-up because you can practice different eye looks with tons of colors without feeling like you're wasting money.
Price: $4.99
Milani is one of my all time favorite brands at the drug store, the quality is amazing and it's very budget friendly. Their baked blushes have amazing pigmentation and are very blendable. My favorite shade is 'Luminoso.' It's very comparable to Nars' 'Orgasm' in the sense that it has the same bronzed glow to it. Another one of my favorites is 'Coralina' which is perfect for the summer when your skin is tanner than usual. The entire collection has a lot of color versatility which means regardless of if you're of a lighter complexion or a darker one they'll have a shade that will compliment you.
Price: $7.49
5. Revlon ColorBurst Matte & Laquer Lip Balms
I am OBSESSED with these. I suffer from dry lips and 9 times out of 10 it's a serious struggle to find a lipstick or pigmented lip balm that isn't going to accentuate that. Revlon hit the nail right on the head with these bad boys. The entire collection contains 10 different colors and they are all gorgeous. They are so pigmented it is insane & they go on like BUTTER. They also have a relatively long wear time for a balm, and every time I've worn them I have been pleasantly surprised by how long they've lasted. My favorite shades at the moment are 'Unapologetic,' 'Standout,' 'Shameless,' and 'Elusive' (these aren't the same shades as pictured). They are very similar to the Clinique Chubby Sticks, except the color pay off is much better in the matte balms and they are a third of the price.
Price: $8.99
Anyone who knows me knows I live and die by my True Match foundation. While I have been leaning more towards the newer 'Lumi' version, the original is amazing. Finding a good drug store foundation is always difficult for me because my skin gets really dry in certain areas and a lot of them just cling to those dry patches - this one does not. It's a medium coverage foundation that gives a relatively dewy finish but nothing too excessive. It is by far one of the easiest foundations to work with, its very blendable and can be used with either a beauty blender or any type of foundation brush.
Price: $6.96
7. L'Oréal Telescopic Mascara
While I don't use drug store mascara that often, just because I'm madly in love with my Benefit 'They're Real" mascara, this one is really amazing. I have pretty long lashes naturally so I look for mascaras that don't just lengthen but volumize as well. This was the first mascara I ever really bought for myself and it will always be the one I go back to when I'm looking for something that I know will give me good results. They have three different shades but I use the shade 'Blackest Black.' The wand is a rubbery one with small bristles and those are my favorite - they get every single lash and don't let them clump.
Price: $9.99
I honestly could not live without this stuff. I know it looks very strange but it is AMAZING. I don't use it as mascara, I use it as a clear brow gel. There is absolutely no reason to spend more than $10 on brow gel for your everyday stash. You can just go to any drug store and get this baby. It works just as well and lasts forever. The 'Great Lash' line is amazing in general but this is by far my favorite one - they also have tons of fun colors like blue, pink, and purple.
Price: $5.99
Everyone I know that has tried these is in love with them, and I am no exception. There are two version of the 'Age Rewind' erasers - one that is for dark spots, and one for dark circles. I use the one for dark circles because fortunately I don't suffer from dark spots. Depending on how dark my circles are, I will either use this by itself, or pair it with a full coverage concealer. I use the shade 'Brightener' because it really helps to bring life to my face significantly more than a regular flesh toned concealer. I also really like the applicator which is rare for me in a drug store product. If you don't have really dark circles, but you just want to brighten up that under eye area, I would absolutely recommend trying this out.
Price: $7.49
If you haven't heard of this product you literally need to stop what you are doing and go buy it. I have been using this nail polish since I was probably 6 years old. My mom always had it in the house and I just fell in love with it. I am constantly begin told how insanely thick and strong my nails are, and I am not lying when I tell you it is because of this. When I do an at home mani, I always use this as a base coat and a top coat. It comes in two shades, the clear one that I use, and a pinker tint called 'natural.' Never in my life have I felt like I have had such amazing results from a nail product. There will never be a time in my life where this is not in my nail polish collection and I strongly recommend you make it part of yours ASAP.
Price: $2.47
