I'll always be the first to admit I'm a bit of a beauty snob - while some people spend their life savings collecting things like limited edition Pez dispensers, I collect high end makeup. Is that such a crime? I do a lot of blabbing about my favorite high end products, but there really are some true affordable gems I've found that I don't talk about enough. So today, I'm here to change that.
I mentioned in my Beauty Haul that I had picked up the L'Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion foundation, and I'm already head over heels in love. It's been awhile since I've fallen for a drugstore base, but this one's been ticking all the boxes. Lightweight? Check. Dewy? Check. I'm all over it.
Speaking of base products, I'm sure you know by now what a fan I am of the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser. The sponge grosses me out a little, but it's always the first product I reach for when I've got dark circles to cover up. The formula is super thin and yet creamy, so it doesn't settle into the fine lines under my eyes or cake up and get dry. I'm definitely going to be picking another one of these up soon.
The last affordable face product I can't get enough of is the Soap & Glory Solar Powder. I think it's ridiculous that we can't get Soap & Glory's makeup in the US - I'm dying to try more from them. The Solar Powder is the perfect bronzer if you've got paler skin. I love that there's two shades in the pan to swirl together and customize the color you get.
Moving on to eyes, my favorite affordable eyeshadows come from Colourpop. The mousse-y sponge-y formula makes for the perfect texture for an eyeshadow. They apply so easily with a finger, and you can't feel them on your lids at all. And, with a primer, they don't crease on my hideously oily eyelids. They have so many shades to choose from, but my absolute favorite is Hanky Panky, a simple neutral taupe.
For liner, I've been exclusively reaching for the Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner in Brown. I love these eyeliners and really think they're a good dupe for the Urban Decay Eyeliners (although they don't come in as many cool colors). I tightline and line my upper lashline with this every morning, and it never smudges. But it does go on creamily enough to not tug at my eyes.
For mascara, I'm sure you'll know I'm absolutely in love with the Maybelline Full 'N Soft Waterproof Mascara. It's probably my favorite of all time. It gives the perfect amount of definition and fluffy volume for every day, and easily layers up for more drama. I'm sure I sound like a broken record with this one, so I'll leave it there.
Lip products are the things I buy most from the drugstore - I think it's the category that is the easiest to get right. For liner, I absolutely love the Milani Color Statement Lipliner in All Natural as it's just the perfect nude, and the Nyx Slim Lip Pencil in Mauve - a dupe for MAC Soar. Both pencils are nice and creamy for a wooden pencil formula and have great longevity. I'm also obsessed with the Revlon Balm Stains - the sheer colors really do something for me. I've got Adore, a lovely more neutral-toned red, and Honey, a perfect cool nude for every day. If I'm looking for a gloss I'll always reach for the Nyx Butter Gloss in Angel Food Cake. These have a beautiful formula - they're a creamy gloss rather than a sticky one, so they feel moisturizing on the lips and still last a long time. Angel Food Cake is the perfect browny-pink nude. The last lip product I'll mention here is the Colourpop Lippie Stix. These have an absolutely amazing formula, akin to a high end lipstick. They come in many finishes, but my favorites are the mattes - they're super creamy and never drying. My all-time favorite shade is Lumiere (so I definitely need the new liquid lipstick version they just came out with).
What are your favorite affordable products?