Drugstore Favorites & I Need Some Recommendations...

Has anyone else noticed that drugstore brands are really stepping it up as of late? I remember being in middle school and struggling to find anything in the drugstore that wasn't, to put it nicely, good. Everything seemed cheap for a reason with a few gems hidden in the mix. Years later, it seems to be the opposite now, with new releases from brands that seem to one-up the previous release. Even still, I don't own a lot of drugstore products anymore. I don't know why, either, if I'm being completely honest. I don't when when or why my obsession with Sephora and high-end brands started, but it's been an expensive discovery, that's for sure.

Still, even with my shift in cosmetic interests, I have some tried and true drugstore favorites. I wish this list was longer and that's where I might need a little help...what are your favorite drugstore products? I want to make the switch to mainly drugstore for my daily products to save myself money and give some other brands some love. I really need to find a drugstore brow product (namely a tinted brow gel, but perhaps a pencil too), a good concealer for spots and acne (I have an undereye concealer that I really like already, thankfully), and a setting powder (preferably loose, but pressed could also work). I don't even know where to start, there seems like there are so many options now and I'm not sure which are worth trying. Thank you in advance!

To start off, I love the Maybelline Lash Senstational and L'Oreal Lash Paradise mascaras. Lash Sensational has a curved brush and it is one of the few mascaras I've repurchased because I liked it so much. It really lengthens, separates, and adds volume to my lashes on days where they fall a little flat. I recently talked about Lash Paradise, but it's very similar to Too Faced's Better than Sex mascara for a serious fraction of the price. I'm all about that money saving life!

As for drugstore eyeshadow, this is where I tend to struggle. I have so many high-end palettes at this point that I don't ever really reach for my drugstore quads and trios from high school. However, to this day, I still reach for these two. #TBT to when everyone on YouTube stanned the CoverGirl eyeshadow trio in Shimmering Sands. I told myself I needed it when I saw my favorite girls raving about it. I'd say it's pretty clear that I like the Sonia Kashuk nude eyeshadow palette. This thing is so old that I am not even sure if they sell it anymore. The pigment isn't terrible, but the eyeshadows are just so buttery and nice that they just feel good when I apply them. It's hard to describe, but if I want a really nice and lowkey natural look, this is definitely the palette that I reach for, especially since the two nude shades to the right of the palette match my natural skin color nearly perfectly and neutralize my lid quite nicely.

Everyone and their grandmother knows that the CoverGirl Outlast All-Day Stay Fabulous foundation is my favorite drugstore foundation and will never be replaced. I love the coverage, I love the way it applies nicely with a sponge or brush applicator, and I love how long it lasts on my skin without fussing with it. Oh, and the price, but that's pretty obvious. As for drugstore lipsticks, anything from NYX is a win in my book. Even if it's not a win, you don't spend more than ten dollars for a dud and in my opinion, those are not bad odds. I specifically really like the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams because they offer a really nice and punchy color range and don't dry down and get crusty. They definitely have a matte appearance though so I still wouldn't wear them if you had chapped lips or a lot of fine lines on your lips that day. However, if you're looking for a comfortable and less intense matte lip look, these should be on your radar! Also, while we're on the topic of NYX, their regular matte lipsticks and Lip Lingerie liquid lipsticks are also must-haves.

I'm a fan of Elf in general, because, well, it's a no brainer. They have some of the cheapest products in the drugstore and constantly deliver with good quality. I particularly like their blushes, which I really need to get more of to be completely honest. I prefer Candid Coral (the left) to the one on the right (which I admittedly cannot remember the name of and do not have in front of me at this exact moment and cannot find it online). I mean, it's pretty much a dupe for Benefit's Coralista, so you're saving about $26 by choosing drugstore on this one. I'm also really into the NYC Sunny Bronzer, which was also a pretty highly raved about product on YouTube a few years ago amongst the beauty channels I watched. It's inexpensive, gives you a nice bronzed glow, and did I mention inexpensive?