Because it’s the end of the year, we’ve decided to round-up our favorite drugstore buys for all you budget-beauty lovers! Scroll through to see what we’ve been loving this year and let us know your favorites in the comments below.
Skincare
Oil
L’Oréal Age Perfect Glow Renewal Facial Oil ($22.99) – This lightweight, non-greasy facial oil is a luxurious way to hydrate your skin.
Serum
Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-Aging Regenerating Serum, Fragrance-Free ($15.99) – We’re fans of Olay products, and this regenerating serum is no exception. Its anti-aging properties make our skin look brighter, more even and so much smoother!
Facial Moisturizer
Olay Active Hydrating Cream ($5.92) – We love this classic hydrating cream! It’s a simple daily moisturizer that does the job without a ton of bells and whistles.
Eye Cream
Olay Total Effects Anti-Aging Eye Treatment Eye Transforming Cream ($21.99) – This is a solid, all-around great eye cream. It keeps the eye area looking brighter and younger!
Face Wash
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($5.49) – We’ve found that this classic cleanser works well on all skin types! Our skin feels clean and soft, and not at all dried out, after using it.
Moisturizer
Jergens Original Scent ($7.99) – A tried-and-true body moisturizer that we go back to again and again. It keeps our skin smooth and hydrated. Plus, we’re partial to its fresh, soothing scent.
Body Wash
Dove Body Wash Sensitive Skin ($7.99) – We love this body wash to keep our skin hydrated, moisturized and refreshed.
Body Scrub
St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub ($5.29) – You can’t go wrong with this classic for body exfoliation!
Face Wipes
Dickinson’s Daily Refreshing Clean Cleansing Cloths ($5.64) – These facial wipes thoroughly cleanse skin—without drying it out.
Anti-Aging Product
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream ($17.99) – This has become our go-to eye cream. It blends into the skin so well, is formulated to prevent eye irritation and has helped to fade our dark circles and wrinkles.
Self-Tanner
L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Serum ($11.79) – We love how this serum is fast drying, easy to use and doesn’t cause unsightly streaks. The long-lasting formula also works great when mixed with your favorite body lotion!
Sunblock
L’Oréal Paris Advanced Suncare Quick Dry Sheer Finish Spray SPF 30 ($9.99) – This fast-drying sunscreen doesn’t leave you feeling sticky. It actually moisturizes your skin while you’re in the sun and protects it at the same time!
Shaving Cream
eos Shave Cream ($3.49) – Soft and smooth legs are a cinch with this luxurious shave cream. Shea butter and aloe soften hairs—and deeply condition skin—for a nick-free shave.
Makeup
Primer
Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer ($6.99) – After using this inexpensive primer, our makeup glides on super smooth and gives it a more airbrushed look!
Foundation
L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Makeup ($10.95) – Between the formula’s natural and long-lasting finish and the extensive shade range, you can’t go wrong with this line of foundations.
L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Up to 24 Hr Demi-Matte Finish Foundation ($12.99) – While some mattifying foundations can end up looking cakey, this demi-matte finish foundation has a beautiful finish that doesn’t feel drying. We love its medium coverage as well!
Tinted Moisturizer
Maybelline Dream Pure BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balm Skin Clearing Perfector ($7.44) – This tinted moisturizer and sunscreen leaves skin with a soft glow and is perfect for an on-the-go look.
Concealer
Maybelline Master Conceal by Face Studio ($8.99) – This concealer’s thin, lightweight consistency covers like nobody’s business.
Powder
L’Oréal True Match Super Blendable Powder ($10.99) – Just like the foundation, this powder comes in a great range of shades, is super-blendable and sets makeup without looking cakey!
Bronzer
Rimmel Natural Bronzer, Sun Bronze ($4.63) – You can’t go wrong with this natural-looking bronzer for a year-round sun-kissed look. It’s super buildable and great for contouring!
Blush
NYX Cosmetics Cream Blush ($6.99) – Available in a wide range of shades, this cream blush blends right into the skin for a natural finish.
e.l.f. Studio Blush Palette ($6) – We love the mix of colors in this palette and these highly pigmented blushes look and feel way more expensive than they actually are!
Brows
e.l.f. Studio Eyebrow Kit ($3) – This eyebrow kit has been our go-to all year. It’s fail-proof for beefing up your brows and so affordable!
Eye Shadow/Palette
Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow Palette ($12.99) – We adore this inexpensive eye shadow palette for its range of neutral shades that are easy to apply. If you are looking for a palette for everyday eye makeup looks and to create a smokey eye, this is your kit!
Eyeliner
L’Oréal Paris Infallible Super Slim Liner ($8.95) – This liquid liner pen is easy to use (even for the cat-eye amateur). We love the strong black color because it doesn’t fade to grey after a few hours, and this liner can be applied as thin or thick as you like!
Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Liner Pencil ($2.94) – The liner’s intense color is humidity-proof and easy to apply!
Mascara
Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara ($8.99) – This mascara adds both volume and length to eyelashes. Taylor’s already gone through three since discovering it this year.
Lip Balm
Aquaphor Lip Repair ($4.29) – We generally love Aquaphor for everything, but it’s definitely our standard product when it comes to lip balm. It keeps our lips moisturized and is super long-lasting so you don’t have to keep re-applying it every hour.
Tinted Lip Balm
Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm SPF 20 ($7.64) – These are some of the best drugstore tinted lip balms we’ve ever tried! They are super moisturizing (with an SPF of 20), and have such a beautiful, natural-looking tint to them—even Jennifer Aniston is a fan!
Lipstick
Nude: Wet n Wild MegaLast Lip Color, Bare It All ($2.29) – Don’t underestimate this drugstore cheapy—we’ve found that this semi-matte lipstick is long lasting, has a beautiful velvety finish and doesn’t bleed. What’s more, this nude color looks fabulous on most skin tones!
Pink: Revlon Super Lustrous – Pearl Lipstick, Softshell Pink ($6.39) – A long-time favorite of Taylor’s, we love this classic pretty pink lipstick for any look or occasion!
Berry: Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss Lipstick, 107 ($4.23) – We can’t get over how beautiful this drugstore lipstick is. From the Kate Moss for Rimmel London lipstick collection, this creamy formula is wearable for every day.
Red: L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Collection Exclusive Reds, Blake’s Red, 402 ($8.99) – You can’t go wrong with this beautiful true red color! It’s the perfect way to add a little glam to any look. Plus, who doesn’t want to be a little bit like Blake Lively?
Highlighter
Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator ($10.39) – We loved this when it originally came out years ago and we love that Revlon brought it back. It gives us such a beautifully healthy glow!
Nail Polish
L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Nail Polish, Red Tote ($5.99) – This ultra-saturated red nail color makes us feel all dressed up ahead of holiday parties and, really, any celebration throughout the year.
Essie Good To Go! The Fastest Drying Top Coat ($10) – This top coat formula dries in a flash and prolongs the life of your polish!
Whitening Toothpaste
Crest 3D White Luxe Glamorous White Whitening Toothpaste ($5.19) – When we need to freshen up our smile, we reach for this whitening toothpaste, which shows results in just a few days!
Hair
Shampoo
L’Oréal Everpure Moisture Shampoo ($6.99) – This great-smelling sulfate-free shampoo is one of our drugstore favorites. It thoroughly cleans our hair without stripping it of its oils, and leaves our strands feeling soft and healthy.
Conditioner
L’Oréal Everpure Moisture Conditoner ($6.99) – Similar to its shampoo counterpart, this sulfate-free conditioner keeps hair looking shiny and smooth, while feeling super soft.
Clarifying Shampoo
Neutrogena Anti-Residue Formula Shampoo ($6.49) – When dealing with product build-up, we always rely on this clarifying shampoo from Neutrogena. While it makes our hair feel super clean, it doesn’t strip it of its natural oils!
Dry Shampoo
Dove STYLE+care Volume Dry Shampoo ($6.11) – When we heard that the Olsen twins were fans of this drugstore cheapy, we couldn’t help but try it. It instantly soaks up any unwanted moisture in our hair and helps give it more volume and texture!
Hair Mask
L’Oréal Oleo Therapy Deep Recovery Mask ($8.99) – This has been Abby’s go-to mask for her thick, long hair! Leave it on for five minutes in the shower one-to-two times a week and your hair will feel so much softer, smoother and healthier!
Leave-In Conditioner
L’Oréal Paris EverSleek Humidity Defying Leave-In Creme ($8.99) – We’re big fans of L’Oréal Paris’ EverSleek Sulfate-Free Smoothing System, and its Humidity Defying Leave-In Creme is no exception. This silicone-free formula is perfect for keeping locks smooth, hydrated and frizz-free during the humid summer months!
Heat Protectant
TRESemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Protective Spray ($4.29) – This is such a great budget-effective hair protectant. It helps to minimize the damage we put on our hair with our curlers and straighteners, plus gives our locks some added shine!
Texturizing Spray
Suave Professionals Sea Mineral Infusion Texturizing Sea Salt Spray ($6.09) – This texturizing spray is a great (and affordable) alternative to many of the higher-priced sea salt sprays on the market today and allows you to get that same tousled, beachy-wave look.
Hair Spray
L’Oréal Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Unscented Hairspray ($14.99) – This hairspray is worth every penny—it really works for that touchable hold nearly everyone seeks. It has a pretty scent and holds hair in place without being too stiff—you can see why celebrity stylists swear by it.
