The Best Drugstore Makeup to Buy Right Now
Beauty bargains for under $15!
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Who says you have to spend a ton on quality makeup? Drugstore beauty products are getting better and better, with more shades, styles and effective formulations being offered every year. And because of the wallet-friendly price tags, drugstore makeup is also the best way to play around with new looks and trends.
Here, we've rounded up the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab's top-tested drugstore makeup products and brands, including formulas backed by the trusted Good Housekeeping Seal, as well as picks from our beauty editors and celebrity makeup artists Maya René and Kristofer Buckle. These affordable mascara, concealer, foundation, highlighter and primer finds will leave you looking flawless and ready for the day (or night!) no matter your budget, and are all available to shop online right now.
Revlon Illuminance Crème Shadow
Pros
- Glides on easily
- Long-lasting
Cons
If your lids tend to get oily throughout the day, this is the perfect eyeshadow palette. "These set especially well, so they don't move around the way other cream shadows can," says Buckle. "Also, the pigment particles aren't too sparkly, just subtly gleaming."
COVERGIRL TruBlend Liquid Foundation
Pros
- Blendable
- Buildable coverage
Cons
Ranging from classic ivory to soft sable, this drugstore foundation comes in 20 shades. Its pump dispenser aims to make makeup application a snap while its super affordable price tag is low stakes on your wallet if you're not satisfied. But if your preference falls at foundation-that-looks-like-my-skin, its medium coverage formula is sure to please.
Many Ulta reviewers pointed out its buildable layering: "The medium coverage and semi-matte finish make it perfect for all occasions and seasons," one said. "Blends so easily and looks very skinlike, even up close!"
Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream SPF 30
Pros
- Multi-tasker
- Sheer, natural finish
- Lightweight
Cons
This is a moisturizer, SPF and sheer foundation all in one! GH beauty pros like that the BB cream has a lightweight texture and blends easily into skin for a flawless, no-makeup finish. Beauty Lab testers agreed. “I loved everything about this product, mainly how natural it looked,” one said.
COVERGIRL Exhibitionist 24-Hour Kohl Eyeliner
Pros
- Smooth, glide-on application
- Long-lasting wear
Cons
Say goodbye to tugging, since this kohl pencil liner glides on smoothly and with precision. In our Lab tests, it earned the highest score for its impressive staying power. In fact, one consumer found it so budge-proof they forgot they had it on. "This liner allowed me to go throughout the day without having to touch up even once!"
NYX Photogenic Concealer Wand
Pros
- Blends well
- Buildable
Cons
- Can get cakey
In our Beauty Lab's concealer study, makeup artists gave NYX's budget-friendly formula good scores for being easy to apply and spreading well on skin. Ideal if you're looking for sheer coverage (medium at most), it comes in 20 skin tone shades and three color corrector options.
Physician's Formula Butter Bronzer
Pros
- Buildable coverage
- Smells great
Cons
Our Beauty Lab chemists Sabina Wizemann and Danusia Wnek unanimously agree this bronzer is a must-have: it's super creamy while offering a light, blendable glow. If you prefer natural makeup, this sheer option suits those "no-makeup" makeup days. "One of the best parts is the fragrance," says Wnek. "It literally smells like a day at the beach."
Pros
- Breathable
- Prevents makeup from getting cakey
Cons
- Strong scent
Keep your makeup in place all day long by dusting this classic Coty powder over your face with a fluffy makeup brush. "It goes on incredibly evenly and easily; it's always been one of the best-textured translucent powders on the market," explains Buckle.
L’Oréal Paris Unbelieva-Brow Longwear Waterproof Brow Gel
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Natural finish
Cons
Define your arches with this L’Oréal Paris waterproof brow gel that lasts up to 48 hours. A Good Housekeeping Seal star, it's available in seven colors and comes with a dual-end brush, which makes it easy to control how dark your arches look while still getting a precise shape. In a consumer study, testers said the long-wearing color didn’t transfer or smudge, even resisting sweat!
Pros
- Good shade range
- Blendable
Cons
- Fragile (can break if not careful)
Not only did this CoverGirl blush earn a GH Beauty Award, but it's also a Good Housekeeping Seal star. This classic drugstore pick easily blends into skin for a natural-looking pop of color. Choose from 15 shades!
Pros
- Silky, soft texture
- Versatile
Cons
- Color can be intense
A winner of the GH Beauty Lab's Beauty Breakthrough Awards, Flower's affordable palette is the ultimate luxe for less pick. Testers were blown away after trying it out. "These velvety powders are on par with high-end brands," one tester said. Another shared her trick for using the shades as brightening eyeshadows.
CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Waterproof Mascara
Pros
- Easy to use
- Clump-free
Cons
- Can be hard to remove
Give yourself gorgeous, long lashes without ever picking up a tube of eyelash glue. CoverGirl's under-$10 pick performed better than competitors triple its price in Beauty Lab tests. An extra-large brush with small plastic bristles makes it easy to apply, and it comes in three shades. Not to mention, it's our beauty director's holy grail mascara!
e.l.f. Makeup Mist & Set Setting Spray
Pros
- Soothes skin
- Prevents makeup smudging or transferring onto clothes
Cons
This inexpensive mist from e.l.f. is formulated with aloe, green tea, cucumber and vitamins A, C and E, so you'll get a moisture boost and long-lasting makeup. We also like that it's alcohol-free, which makes it great for people with sensitive skin.
Maybelline Total Temptation Washable Mascara
Pros
- Nourishing formula
- Doesn't flake
Cons
This Maybelline formula was rated the best mascara in our GH Beauty Lab's recent study. It offers a smooth, clump-free application. Consumers loved its natural, subtle look, and appreciated that it didn't smudge throughout the day. “This did a great job at separating and lengthening my eyelashes," one tester said.
CoverGirl Get In Line Liquid Eyeliner
Pros
- Doesn't smear or smudge
- Good for sensitive eyes
- Dries quickly
Cons
Whether you love a bold cat eye or more understated look, CoverGirl’s drugstore liquid liner can do it all. The formula glides on lids smoothly and resists fading throughout the day, according to GH Beauty Lab testing. “It behaved like a waterproof eyeliner, but when you wanted to take it off, it came off with ease and left no traces behind,” one tester said.
Pros
- Stays shiny
- Doesn't streak
- Long-lasting
Cons
Essie's cult-favorite lacquer was a winner in the GH Beauty Lab's nail polish study. The 2020 Beauty Award winner stays chip-free, dries quickly, comes in every color imaginable, and is super shiny. Testers and experts alike raved about its glossy finish and the high shine throughout the entire duration of wear.
Is drugstore makeup as good as high-end makeup?
Drugstore makeup can certainly help you achieve the same look as higher-end products, and you can even find many excellent dupes for your favorite luxury makeup at the drugstore. In fact, some drugstore products are made in the exact same factories as high-end makeup, according to René. "For example, L’Oréal and YSL are under the same umbrella: if you love the YSL Rouge Pur glossy stain, a great substitute could be the L’Oréal Paris Color Riche Extraordinaire Lip Color."
However, don't expect all drugstore makeup to offer the exact same quality as high-end makeup brands. "For example, an eyeshadow palette that you purchase at a drugstore might not have the same longevity or pigment payoff as a product you purchase from a high-end brand," says René.
What to consider when shopping for the best drugstore makeup
✔️ Write a list. Go in with an idea of what you’re shopping for, recommends René. There are so many brands and options that it's easy to feel overwhelmed.
✔️ Read the reviews. Since you’re not able to open products for testing, René advises saving yourself time and money by reading online reviews to find out if a product is worth a try or not.
✔️ Peek at the ingredients. Depending on your skin type and if you have any sensitivities, you may want to search for makeup that doesn't have any potentially irritating ingredients, such as parabens or fragrances, she says.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
With a background in color cosmetic development, Danusia Wnek has spent years as a chemist in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Health, Beauty & Environmental Sciences Lab, where she tests everything from eyeliners and mascaras to longwear lipsticks in order to recommend the best makeup products on the market. To test the longevity claims of makeup products, for example, she has evaluated waterproof mascara by monitoring testers' eyelashes after exposing them to water and has rated the transfer of longwear lipstick on coffee cups. She loves to spend hours in the cosmetic aisles at pharmacies researching the newest makeup launches for upcoming studies.
Jacqueline has spent years researching and experimenting with makeup products that work with her severe eczema and subsequentially began her career covering everything from buzzworthy buys to sensitive skin staples. She regularly consults with professional makeup artists and collaborates with GH's Beauty Lab to put together product reviews on the very best skincare out there, according to consumer and Lab testing.
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