From high-coverage concealers to pigmented blushes and hydrating lip oils- drugstore makeup brands like E.l.f., Wet n Wild, and Covergirl have been giving their luxury counterparts a run for their money these days. The drugstore is now a treasure trove of great makeup products with fantastic formulas at affordable prices.
Today, I’m sharing 12 of my favorite drugstore makeup products, all ringing in under $12. I know these products are great because I use and love every single one of them. Take a look at my vanity or a peek into my Kate Spade cosmetic bag and you’re guaranteed to find these products sitting right next to my favorites from more expensive brands like IT Cosmetics, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Too Faced, and more. They’re just that good!
1. Wet n Wild Photofocus Translucent Powder
I have been using this powder for 5 or 6 years, and it is by far my favorite affordable setting powder of all time. There are a lot of reasons to love it- it truly mattifies any oily areas on my face, gives an airbrushed look, doesn’t feel heavy on my skin, isn’t fragranced, and the translucent shade is truly colorless. Plus, you really can’t beat the price, especially for such a finely milled powder!
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wet n wild Photo Focus Loose Baking Setting Powder, Highlighter Makeup, Fair to Medium & Tan Skin... |
$6.49
$5.38 |
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Last update on 2024-09-18 at 14:46 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
2. E.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil
I admit I was a bit skeptical at first about this one because I hate sticky lip oils. However, I was pleasantly surprised! This oil feels moisturizing, looks super glossy, and is NOT sticky. My favorite shade is Pink Quartz, which has a barely-there pink tint to it.
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e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil, Nourishing Tinted Lip Oil For A High-shine Finish, Infused With Jojoba... |
$8.00 |
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Last update on 2024-09-18 at 17:31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
3. Wet n Wild Skinny Breakup Proof Eyeliner
This felt-tip liquid eyeliner can compete with any high-end liner I’ve ever tried. It’s very pigmented and waterproof, and the brush is extra fine so you can create a super sharp wing. I can also confirm that it does NOT budge once you put it on- it will stay all day, apparently even through a bad breakup.
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wet n wild Breakup Proof Liquid Eyeliner - Skinny, Ultra-Fine Brush, Waterproof, Long-Lasting -... |
$6.99
$3.52 |
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Last update on 2024-09-18 at 17:31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
4. E.l.f. Halo Glow Beauty Wands
E.l.f. has released some really great new products over the last couple of years, including these glow wands. I use the contour and highlight wands, but they also offer blush wands that I want to give a try soon.
I love how easy these are to blend out and the fact that they layer so nicely on top of my favorite foundation. Plus, for a small tube, you get a lot of product- my contour and highlight wands have lasted me a long time.
Last update on 2024-09-18 at 17:31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
5. Covergirl Trublend Undercover Concealer
This is one of my more recent drugstore finds and it has become one of my favorite full-coverage concealers for a few reasons. It’s NOT drying but provides good coverage and a matte finish. It also layers nicely over my foundation, never pulling it up or causing patchiness (an issue I’ve had with other concealers). Lastly, there are a ton of shades to choose from, 30 to be exact.
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COVERGIRL TruBlend Undercover Concealer, Classic Ivory, 0.33 Fl Oz |
$11.99
$8.68 |
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Last update on 2024-09-18 at 17:31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
6. E.l.f. Putty Blushes & Bronzers
I love, love, love the putty blushes and bronzers from E.l.f. They are super blendable, pigmented, and dry down to a powder finish. Plus, they’re compact, making them perfect for travel or keeping in a smaller makeup bag.
If you’re curious- my favorite blush shades are Bora Bora (a true bright bubblegum pink) and Tahiti (a more reddish pink). My favorite bronzer shade is Golden Daze (a warm-toned shade that makes you look sun-kissed).
Last update on 2024-09-18 at 17:31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
7. NYX Lip Liners
With over 43,000 reviews and an average rating of 4.4 stars, these lip liners are basically drugstore makeup royalty. Like many others, I love them because they glide on easily, don’t smear or bleed, and are very pigmented. They come in a ton of different colors, but I am a neutral pink lip type of girl so I love the shades Nude Pink and Peekaboo Neutral.
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NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Slim Lip Pencil, Long-Lasting Creamy Lip Liner - Peakaboo Neutral |
$4.96 |
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Last update on 2024-09-18 at 17:31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
8. Wet n Wild Photofocus Concealer
This is another one of my favorite concealers and one that I’ve been using for 6 or 7 years now. It offers creamy, long-lasting medium to full coverage. My favorite thing to do is to mix this concealer with the Covergirl Trublend concealer mentioned earlier.
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wet n wild Photo Focus Concealer, Light Ivory, Under Eyes, Makeup, Blemish, Full Coverage,... |
$4.99
$3.88 |
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Last update on 2024-09-18 at 17:31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
9. E.l.f. Glossy Lip Stain
This is another relatively new product to me, but I’m already on my second tube of this gloss-stain hybrid. I love it because it gives your lips all-day color by staining them, but when you put it on it looks like you just gave your lips a coating of gloss. It’s not sticky or drying, and the shade Pinkies Up is the perfect neutral pink for me.
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e.l.f. Cosmetics Glossy Lip Stain, Lightweight, Long-Wear Lip Stain For A Sheer Pop Of Color &... |
$6.00 |
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Last update on 2024-09-18 at 17:31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
10. E.l.f. Wow Brow Gel
I have been using this brow gel for years and it never fails me. It’s great for filling in your brows quickly because it adds small hair-like fibers to make your brows look naturally full. I like using it as a first step in my brow routine, followed by a brow pencil to fill in any sparse areas.
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e.l.f., Wow Brow Gel, Volumizing, Buildable, Wax-Gel Hybrid, Creates Full, Voluminous-Looking Brows,... |
$5.00 |
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Last update on 2024-09-18 at 17:31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
11. E.l.f. Satin Lipstick
I know there are a lot of E.l.f. products on this list, but what can I say? They have been dominating the drugstore makeup game lately.
This lipstick by the brand isn’t drying and comes in some beautiful shades. My favorite is Dirty Talk, which is a beigey-pink color that will likely remind you of an ultra-famous shade from a much more expensive brand. Plus, as an added bonus, the soft matte finish and magnetic closure on the packaging feel much more luxury than drugstore.
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e.l.f. O Face Satin Lipstick, Richly Pigmented, Nourishing & Long-Lasting Creamy Lipstick, Infused... |
$9.00 |
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Last update on 2024-09-18 at 17:31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
12. E.l.f. Instant Brow Lift Pencil
While I will forever love my IT Cosmetics and Anastasia Beverly Hills brow pencils (shop on Amazon), E.l.f.’s is a much more affordable option that I really enjoy as well. These pencils are creamy and blendable, making them very forgiving and easy to use. They are pigmented, not waxy, and I really like the taupe shade for my brows.
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e.l.f., Instant Lift Brow Pencil, Dual-Sided, Precise, Fine Tip, Shapes, Defines, Fills Brows,... |
$3.00
$2.00 |
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Last update on 2024-09-18 at 17:31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Honorable Mention: E.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter
While it doesn’t quite meet the $12 and under requirement, this product deserves a mention in this post. E.l.f.’s Halo Glow Liquid Filter complexion booster adds radiance to the skin underneath or on top of foundation. You can also purchase lighter or darker shades to use as a subtle highlight or contour. Like many of E.l.f.’s products, this one might remind you of a very popular luxury product. (I’ll give you a hint- the brand rhymes with Scarlett Milbury.)
Please note that this is NOT a foundation- it provides very light coverage, almost zero in fact. However, if all you are looking for is some glow and a bit of tint, it can be worn alone. Personally, I wear it under my foundation for a bit of extra glow on the high points of my face.
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e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter, Complexion Booster For A Glowing, Soft-Focus Look, Infused With... |
$14.00
$12.94 |
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Last update on 2024-09-18 at 17:31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
What is your favorite drugstore makeup product?
Clearly, I have quite a few affordable favorites! I think this list is proof that it is very possible to get great quality makeup at a more affordable price point. Brands like E.l.f. have really stepped up their game recently, giving us products that are comparable to luxury brands at a much lower price. I, for one, love to see it and will definitely be trying some of their new launches (like the bronzing drops below).
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e.l.f. SKIN Bronzing Drops, Liquid Bronzer For Face & Skin, Creates A Sun-Kissed Glow, Infused With... |
$12.00 |
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Last update on 2024-09-18 at 17:31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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