TOP DRUGSTORE BEAUTY BUYS

For me I love pretty much ALL of the higher end market of makeup including Nars, Giorgio Armani, Chanel, Dior, Estee Lauder but as we all know they can be veryyyyyy expensive. Lately I've been loving some super inexpensive drugstore products which literally make you question why you hadn't tried them before?

I've rounded up some of my all time favourites (some old and new) to share with you.

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1. Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid Foundation
Official product description: "air-whipped liquid provides perfecting coverage for 100% poreless skin, ideal for normal skin, oil-free, fragrance-free, dermatologist-tested, allergy-tested, non-comedogenic, won’t clog pores, safe for sensitive skin"

You know those products that you've just been using since you can first remember it's now just second nature to reach for it every time you apply makeup? Well this is mine! I have been using this foundation forever it gives a medium-buildable coverage which is perfect for wearing to work (although believe me if I could afford to wear my Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation every day I would). I have used this foundation both with and without a primer and honestly both times it made my skin look poreless and smooth. I would compare this foundation to the Bobbi Brown Moisture Rich foundation because they both have a very liquidy consistence but dry into a semi-matte once applied.

http://www.boots.com/en/Maybelline-Dream-Satin-Liquid-Foundation_866883/

Price - £7.99 (30ml)
Shade - 048 Sun Beige


2. MUA Undress Your Skin Highlighting Powder
Official product description: "this highlighting powder instantly radiates and lifts any complexion, this can be applied all over for an added radiance or applied to the cheek bones and under the brow bone to lift and accentuate your natural features"

MUA products are quite hard to come across but if your lucky enough to live by a Superdrug that carries this then you'll know how amazing these products are for how little they cost. I picked up this highlighter because it looked sooooo pretty and when I swatched it I couldn't believe how pigmented it was. The design reminds me of MAC Whisper Of Guilt highlighter which also sold it to me! It does look quite powdery in the pan but I can assure you when applied it feels so creamy and will suit almost any skin tone. I sweep this across my cheeks with a fan brush and down the bridge of my nose to give me that 'lit from within' look haha.

http://www.superdrug.com/MUA/MUA-Highlighting-Powder-Gold/p/212800

Price - £3.00 (7.5g)
Shade - Gold


3. Nivea For Men Post Shave Balm
Official product description: "sensitive post shave balm calms the skin after shaving and combats irritation and moisture, this alchohol-free formulation is perfect for sensitive skin that lacks moisture, it contains calming bisabolol and calendula, anti-irritant allantoin and moisturising agents; soothing panthenol and vitamin e"

If you haven't heard about this pot of gold where have you been?! This shave balm earned holy grail status in 2015 when NikkiTutorials shared how good this balm is as a face primer to her youtube followers. I can see why it is a beauty cult favourite because this stuff is like glue for your foundation! This is my most recent beauty buy and let me tell you I was sceptical at first because there are a lot of reviews about this having a strong manly smell but although it does definitely have some sort of scent to it it is fairly light and doesn't linger on the skin
so you won't have to worry about smelling it all day. I'm a sucker for a good primer my favourites are Smashbox Photofinish and Benefit Porefessional so when I heard about this I knew I had to try it. I got it whilst it was on offer for £2.49 so I thought even if it doesn't work you really can't go wrong for that price and if I didn't like it I just planned on giving it to my boyfriend (that didn't happen though because it actually worked!) You basically just dab it on to your face before you apply your foundation making sure it's evenly applied and let it sink in for about 3-4 minutes. All I can say is wow! My makeup stayed put for a good 8-9 hours. This is a MUST TRY.

http://www.superdrug.com/Nivea/Nivea-For-Men-Sensitive-Post-Shave-Balm/p/247057

Price - £4.99 (100ml)
Shade - Sensitive

4. Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser Concealer
Official product description: "micro-corrector applicator micro-fills and smoothes, active formula with haloxyl reduces the look of puffiness and shadows while fading the appearance of under-eye circles, apply neutralizer shade for extreme dark circles, brightener shade adds a luminous touch"

My favourite part in doing mine or somebody elses makeup is applying the concealer, it instantly lifts your face making it appear very youthful and airbushed. The best tip I can give you before you purchase any sort of concealer is to find out what skin-type you have.. do you have warm (yellow) undertones or cool (pink) undertones? For me I am fairly olive-skinned and have yellow undertones which means in Mac for reference I am an 'NC' compared to an 'NW' if you have rosy undertones. The best way to find out what your tone is to look at the colour of your veins in your wrist; if they are predominately blue then you are pink toned - if they are green then you are yellow toned. Now that you know your undertone you can pick the perfect concealers for you. Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser has been in the makeup game for years and to me it is up their with the more up-market Laura Mercier and MUFE concealers purely because it has the staying power of over 8+ hours. It has a mix of both cool and warm undertones making it suitable for a variety of skin tones. This concealer is great for cancelling out dark circles and brightening your under eye area.


http://www.boots.com/en/Maybelline-Eraser-Eye-Concealer_1321843/

Price - £7.99 (6ml)
Shade - Light

5. Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Plumping Lipgloss
Official product description: "amazing, addictive and definitely something to shout a-pout, it features the same ingenious lip-plumping technology as the original with superfill™ lip plumping spheres, which explode in volume when they meet the moisture on your lips (they’re like tiny, dehydrated sponges that expand when they get wet) plus lipswell™ natural plant oil infusion – an incredible microcirculation-boosting extract that makes your lips feel instantly fuller"


I'm not a big lipgloss girl but for those days that I feel like having glossy shiny lips THIS is the item I reach for, who doesn't want fuller lips with an extra oooomph? I have never found a lipgloss that plumps as well as this one does. It does have a tingling sensation, think pins and needles in the lips, but not to the point where it is uncomfortable - it just shows it's working! The formula has recently been improved, it contains no glitter or shimmer and smells like chocolate. I wear about two swipes on each lip to give me the full effect. When I am wearing this I will have to take it with me if I'm going out as it isn't 'non-transferable' and will get on glasses etc. If I don't drink/eat anything between applications I can get a good 3 hours wear out of this. If you want plumper shiny looking lips then this is the product for you.

http://www.soapandglory.com/sexy-mother-puckertm-lip-plumping-gloss

Price - £9.00 (7ml)
Shade - Clear

6. Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator
Official product description: "banish dullness and even out skinwith light-capturing crystals and photochromatic pigments, get lit from within look when you wear alone or mix with your foundation"


Illuminators are an essential summer must have - or all year round if you love that glowy skin like I do! I use the tiniest bit to mix in with my foundation to give me a really subtle sheen on my skin. The liquid formula blends in to your face so effortlessly and gives you that gorgeous fresh look without being too over the top. The formula is very thin and light which in my experience hasn't turned me oily or clung on to any dry areas. I would really recommend this if you are new to makeup and just experimenting with different things because it's so light and natural you can't really go wrong; you can also use it as a cheek highlighter, eyeshadow base or mix it in with your favourite lipgloss!

http://www.boots.com/en/Revlon-PhotoReady-Skinlights-8482-Face-Illuminator_1312658/

Price - £11.99 (30ml)
Shade - Bare

7. Barry M Dazzle Dust Eye Shadow
Official product description: "is a spectacular collection of breath taking loose, highly pearlised powder available in a profusion of colours to enhance your eyes, cheeks or lips, each little pot contains multiple facets of intensive reflective colour that glides on smoothly adding sparkle and sheen, these luscious barry m dazzle dust shades can be applied bright and bold or shimmering and subtle"


Gold glitter is an essential part to your makeup kit! I love using glitter on top of eyeshadows to give that extra sparkle and I always come back to the Barry M Glitter Dust's - they're just so pigmented and completely safe for your eye area. I like to use this when doing a smokey eye with winged eyeliner. I add a dark brown/black shade to both corners of the eye and dab this gold glitter dust with a flat brush in the centre of the lid as it really catches the light and looks amazing in photographs.

http://www.boots.com/en/Barry-M-Dazzle-Dust-Eye-Shadow_947273/

Price - £4.59
Shade - Yellow Gold


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There are many more drugstore products that I love but these are just the first ones that came to mind.. what are your budget makeup kit must haves? Let me know, I'm always open to recommendations!




Chloe xx


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