As a makeup lover, it’s easy to be infatuated with all the expensive beauty products, but the formulas at the drugstore are truly just as amazing. Here are some of my recent favorites.
If you know me, you know my love for everything L’Oréal, and my most repurchased product from the brand is the L’Oréal Lumi Glotion. It’s a liquid illuminator that I love using on no-makeup days for more even skin or wearing under or mixed in with my foundation for added glow. I’ve tried all the shades, but Medium is my favorite.
I started using the L’Oréal True Match Foundation in middle school and still find myself reaching for it today, especially since the much-needed packaging upgrade. It’s medium coverage with a satin, skin-like finish that wears beautifully on both dry and oily skin types. I wear N4.
I’ve tried quite a few affordable concealers, and the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Radiant Cream Concealer comes out on top. It’s medium coverage with a creamy, hydrating finish that melts into the skin. It works well over foundation or on bare skin, which is appreciated. I use Ecru for my undereyes.
I discovered the L’Oréal Infallible Blur-Fection Loose Setting Powder on TikTok and love using it for brightening my undereye area. It locks everything in place without feeling dry or cakey.
I haven’t seen anyone talk about the new L’Oréal Lumi Bronze Le Stick Soleil Bronzer, but I have been so impressed by it. I was worried it would be orange or glittery, but it’s a gorgeous warm-toned cream bronzer with a sheen. It’s also one of the most blendable cream cheek products I’ve ever tried, making it perfect for beginners. I have the shade Copper Bronzette.
Another new release is the CoverGirl TruBlend Skin Enhancer Baked Luminous Bronzer. The lit-from-within glow that it provides is so luxurious and reminds me of the Hourglass baked bronzers. It’s pigmented, easy to blend and doesn’t emphasize skin texture. I wear Toasted Butterscotch, which is a medium bronzer with soft rosy swirls.
The CoverGirl True Blend Skin Enhancer Baked Luminous Blush is equally as stunning as the bronzer. It’s also a wonderful alternative to the Hourglass baked blushes. I am in love with the shade Rose Latte, a neutral-toned pinky nude.
Another product that feels high-end is the L’Oréal Lumi Le Glass Highlighter Stick. It’s a sheer, dewy formula for a natural glow rather than a glittery one. I have the shade Glassy Pearl Eclat, but I also want to try the other two shades.
I’ve always struggled to find eyeshadows at the drugstore, but when I saw the new e.l.f. Fine as Fleck Glitter Eyeshadow in Champagne Showers, I immediately thought of my favorite Urban Decay Moondust Glitter Eyeshadow in Space Cowboy. While the e.l.f. option has more of an icy base rather than the scattered glitter I was hoping for, it’s still a great alternative.
I love incorporating mily toners into my skincare routine and the CoverGirl Clean Fresh Prime + Refresh Spray Nourishing Milk falls along those lines. Formulated with ceramides, glycerin and hyaluronic acid, it calms bare skin and hydrates makeup, leaving behind a glowy finish.
I love the idea of a lip stain, but it’s impossible to find shades that aren’t orange, red or bright pink. The NYX Lingerie Lip Liner Stain in Lip Lock is a cool-toned beige that I use to contour my lips. I use the marker to overline and then blur the edges with my finger for a softer look, and it lasts alone or under other lip products all day.
Maybelline’s entire Lifter line is incredible, and the Maybelline Lifter Liner is no exception. The shade On It is one of the most used liners in my collection. It’s the perfect nude with cooler undertones, and I love how pigmented and creamy it is.
I recently purchased the Morphe Signature Lip Pencil in Spiffy and am in love with both the formula and the shade. It’s pigmented, creamy, long-lasting and blendable with the perfect cooler-toned beige. I wish I tried it sooner!
To be honest, the NYX Slim Lip Pencil isn’t my favorite formula because it requires more tugging on the lips, but I still repurchase it because the shade range is just too good. I use Nude Beige and Nude Truffle.
My barista was wearing the most perfect cool-toned brown lip liner one day and when I asked her what it was, she said it was Rimmel Lasting Finish 8HR Lip Liner in Cappuccino and I immediately purchased it. It’s a little dark for me right now so I use a lighter hand, but if every other shade pulls orange on you, this is a must-try.
I first tried the L’Oréal Colour Riche Satin Lipsticks in middle school and even though I rarely use traditional lipsticks, I still reach for this often. Fairest Nude is the perfect light, cooler-toned beige for pairing with the lip liners I mentioned above.
The Maybelline Lifter Glaze Lip Balms are a newer release that I’m very impressed with. It’s a lipgloss-in-a-stick formula that’s comparable to those from high-end brands like YSL. I own Clear Crave and Pink Drip.
The e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil Glimmer in Candy Coded is one of the most stunning shades I’ve ever seen. It’s a light pink with iridescent shimmer. I do wish the gloss lasted longer on my lips, but I love how shiny it is.
Sheer miky pink glosses are my go-to, so of course I had to buy the L’Oréal Plump Ambition Hyaluron Lip Oil in Milky Nu. It’s a thicker formula that has a minty scent and smooths out fine lines.
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