Ask Belle: Drugstore Beauty Buys
Sep 25, 2014
Hi Belle,
I love bargain beauty shopping. Do you have any favorite drugstore brands or products that you use? I’m looking for some new products to test.
Love the blog, glad to have found it. AJ
There are so many products on store shelves these days, you could start testing now and be done sometime in 2034. I splurge on a few beauty products, but when I can save without sacrificing quality, I’m all about a drugstore brand. Here are a few of my favorite choices:
Boots No. 7 Stay Perfect Primer ($8)
Boots No. 7. I used to spend 5x more for facial primer that held my makeup in place without clogging my pores. Now, I use this Boots primer. Need a calming primer? Boots also makes one that will help your reddish-tinted skin relax. I also love their overnight eye cream. And if you want to give your tired skin a boost of radiance and life, this glycol-acid peel-kit is just the ticket.
Yes To. If you like products that have natural ingredients, try the Yes to… brand. Their grapefruit brightening wipes are the best for removing your makeup. I also like their tomato blemish-treatment gel.
Pixi. Need products to highlight and brighten? Pixi is the brand to check out. I adore their Glow Daylight Highlight for adding a dewy sheen to my cheeks. Setting your makeup is loads easier with their Quick Fix Powder to hold everything in place. And their best product? The chunky eyeshadow stick, which comes in the perfect plum color.
Bonne Bell. Hear me out. The Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker is one of the greatest beauty products ever sold. It has the perfect subtle kiss of color. Target also sells a pack containing all the other soda-inspired flavors.
Bonne Bell strawberry is my favorite chapstick ever. I even bought the mondo tube to put into the diaper bag so it was easy to find!
I’m pretty happy to see that you approve of Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker usage because it is kind of my favorite, ever. Period.
Hi Belle,
Have you tried E.L.F HD Face Setting Powder? I found it to be a dupe for Makeup Forever’s HD powder (which the Pixie one you mentioned here looks to also be a dupe for). Can’t recommend ELF’s version enough! For $3.99, it makes your face look Instagram-filterified and doesn’t clog pores! (Only downside is it doesn’t last as long as Make Up Forevers or Laura Mericier’s which I’ve both used, but for 1/5 the price, I’m willing to re-apply!
^ what she said! 🙂
I’ve never tried Makeup Forever and thought maybe it was time to splurge but this just reaffirmed my decision to keep with the cheap stuff.
Thank you both for this! I use MUF’s version religiously. Definitely trying ELF’s version!
So happy you recommended the Yes To brand, many of their products are organic and paraben/fragrance-free. their makeup wipes and cleanser are the only ones that work without making my sensitive skin react.
PREACH! I love Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker. It is second on my list, though, to strawberry. Because it’s the best. Also worth a mention: Johnson’s Baby Lotion. In the pink bottle.