Favorite Drugstore Makeup Brands

Hi Socialites! My journey with makeup has been a slow, upward climb since I initially published this post*, but I’ve made it to at least midway up the mountain! In just 2 years, I’ve gotten much more confident with my makeup technique. I still struggle with the fine arts of contouring, highlighting, cut creasing, and blending it all together, but I am able to give myself a chic and polished everyday look. While I now gravitate to more professional products to achieve a flawless look, I still have moments where my wallet won’t let me be great. This is where drugstore makeup brands come in handy! In fact, many of them outperform the high-end brands and can replace some of the overly expensive products that are not essential. I’m the type of girl who only relies on a few products for everyday glam, so drugstore makeup brands are really great for helping me achieve my day to day looks! I’m sharing the products I currently use and recommend to everyone. Let’s get started!

This post was originally published on 7/20/2017 and updated on 5/17/2019

When it comes to drugstore makeup, I tend to stick with a few tried and true brands: Maybelline, Milani, and NYX. Maybelline has been a staple drugstore makeup brand of mine for years so many of the products in my collection are from them. I’ve broken my collection down into two parts: Face and eyes, so keep reading for my thoughts on each product.

Maybelline FITme! Foundation/Shade 355 Coconut

I stumbled across this foundation in my effort to find a lower priced formula though would offer good coverage with a dewy finish. This foundation applies smoothly, gives a nice glow, and has a medium coverage level that lasts throughout the day. Typically, I use Nars Sheer Glow Foundation for blog shoots, but I stick to Maybelline FITme for everyday wear. Watch the video at the end of the post for more details on how I use this product!

LA Girl PRO.Conceal/Shade Toffee

I use this concealer for my face and eyes (keep reading for how I conceal my dark under eye area!) I don’t contour, but I do use this to conceal darker spots around my mouth and nose. This concealer has a smooth, creamy consistency that covers well and is easy to blend.

NYX #NoFilter Finishing Powder/Shade Golden Deep

OMG y’all, this powder really does give you a flawless, airbrushed look. I have tried many setting powders (Charlotte Tilbury, Laura Mercier), but I keep coming back to No Filter, which is quite good for my bottom line! This powder blurs out my pores, minimizes shine, and really helps to set my makeup and keep it in place all day.

Milani Blushes

Milani is one of my favorite drugstore makeup brands because their products are so richly pigmented, which is insane at such a low price point. Honestly, I’ve had these same exact blushes for about 2 years (does blush expire?), and I haven’t hit pan because you literally only need to flick and tap your brush across the palette to get great color. I use Milani Baked Blush in shade Red Vino, which may have been discontinued (remember, I’ve had mine for 2+ years), but the shade Rose D’Oro is a really close match! To get a subtle highlight on my upper cheekbones, I rely on the Illuminating Face Powder (the multi-shade palette shown above) in shade Hermosa Rose. I should note that this is the *only* highlighter I use, and I use it with my high-end products as well.

NYX Suede Matte Lipstick/Shade Sweet Tooth

I am a serious fan of NYX lipsticks for when you want to try fun new colors without spending a ton of cash. I always feared matte lipsticks because I tend to suffer from very dry lips that require a more moisturizing or glossy lip product. But NYX Suede Matte Lipstick goes on sooo smoothly, allowing you to apply layers of buildable color, and feels very moisturizing. I usually don’t reach for my gloss until closer to the end of the day! Great price as well and worth it for trying out fun, colorful shades.

Bonus: Loreal Lumi Glotion/Shade Deep & Milani Setting Spray

The Lumi Glotion has been pretty hit or miss among beauty bloggers, but it’s an “ok” product for me when used in moderation. When my skin needs a break from foundation, I mix the Lumi Glotion with my daily moisturizer for a radiant look. It works, but you have to use it sparingly, because it can dry a little darker than it looks when you first apply. This is great for those who self-tan, but if you are darker skinned, it can look muddy.

The Milani Make It Last Setting Spray is the best of all of the setting sprays I’ve tried: It even beats out the high-end brands! I love that it sets your makeup like cement, but has a glowy finish. It is not sticky and does not have any strange smells. If you’re tired of your makeup fading in a few hours, or your eyeshadow creasing, this is the perfect product to set your look!

Maybelline The City Mini Palette/Shade Blushed Avenue

This palette has such pretty shades that complement most outfits. You can probably tell from the photo that I use the peach and rosy shades the most, as they really help to brighten and “wake up” my eye area. The pigment level is pretty good for a drugstore makeup brand, although not as richly colored as high-end brands. This palette works really good for everyday use though, and it’s a weekly staple.

Maybelline The Falsies Flared/Shade Blackest Black

Growing up, I always saw my mom using the classic Great Lash Mascara in the pink and green tube! I couldn’t wait to get older and try it myself, and that began a love affair with Maybelline mascaras. Although I do rely on Lancome and Too Faced for blog shoots, The Falsies Flared is such a great everyday mascara. It elongates and volumizes my short lashes, fans them out, and gives them a rich color, with no clumps!

NYX Professional Retractable Eyeliner/Shade Black

I use this eyeliner to get a clean, tight line on my waterline. The formula goes on smooth and dark, and doesn’t tug or skip! I love that it’s retractable because I am always losing my sharpeners. #firstworldproblems

LA Girl PRO.Conceal/Shade Toffee

I use this concealer as a basic under eye formula. It comes with it’s own built in brush so it is easy to use: I just put 3 small dots along my under eye area to conceal any darkness or shadows, minimize fine lines, and even out the skin. This concealer has a smooth, creamy consistency that covers well and is easy to blend.