Contrary to popular belief, celebs use drugstore products, too…or, at least the makeup artists who work on them do. Just ask beauty guru Julianne Kaye, who shares the affordable finds that industry experts like just as much (or even better) than designer brands.
My guilty pleasure is going in to Walgreens for a prescription and walking out with a ton of inexpensive, awesome makeup. It's like when you do a Target run for toilet paper but end up spending $300 on things you didn't know you wanted or needed. I've done a lot of drugstore shopping as well as worked with some great brands that have truly amazing products for a fraction of the price of prestige products. You can find some real gems—you just need to know what to get 'em!
1. L'Oréal Voluminous Original Mascara, $5.39
I have been using this mascara for years, and it's also my personal choice for my own makeup. When I cheat with a prestigious brand of mascara, I'm seriously let down almost every time and I always come back to the Voluminous again! It's a very deep black, doesn't flake or smudge and for some reason seems to not dry out as quickly as other brands.
2. Milani Infinite Liquid Eye Liner, $7.99
You would think that this was a semi-permanent liner because it does not move at all! It creates an elastic film that lines the eyes, so it also looks wet. Completely waterproof, intensely black but has to be removed with makeup remover because it's so good!
3. E.L.F Matte Lip Color, $3
If you want to jump on the matte lip trend, you have to have this product. I recently received a huge makeup box from these guys and I was super impressed with the matte lip color. It dupes as a liner and lipstick, so it's a great twofer, and the color selection is super on-trend.
4. Covergirl Nudes TruNaked Eyeshadow Palette, $11.99
I just worked with Covergirl recently and I'm really impressed with these palettes. The color choices are awesome, formula is silky, long lasting and rivals Urban Decay Naked Palette, which is a lot more expensive.
5. Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator, $12.99
This illuminator is so great to mix with foundation or just use alone as a highlighter. I also love mixing it with lotion and putting it all over the body for a nice sheen.
6. Maybelline EyeStudio ColorTattoo Metal 24Hr Cream Gel Eye Shadow, $6.99
The formula is really similar to Chanel's Illusion d'ombre, and the colors are ridiculously cool! You can layer the tattoos or use under shadow as a base. Honestly, you can really get a lot of mileage out of these creams so it's a great investment.
7. L'Oréall Infallible Pro-Glo Foundation, $12.99
I've been using Armani Luminous Foundation for years and so do most of the makeup artists I know, so it's safe to say that this is a seriously coveted cult product—BUT it comes with a steep price of $62. I've been looking for a good drugstore dupe, and one finally arrived! This foundation is so glowy, not cakey, just creamy enough with perfect medium coverage.