If you’re anything like me, a true product junkie, you hate spending a ton of money on make-up, when you’re just going to get bored with it after a few weeks anyway.

I like to try everything, but at $25-$50 a pop, I just can’t afford the "good" stuff, and with all the choices in the drug stores, how are you supposed to know what's worth your hard earned money and what's a waste?

Luckily for you, you don’t have to try everything, because you have me to do it for you!

Below I have listed my #1 FAVORITE drug store makeup brands...

Face:

Foundation:

physician’s formula: mineral wear make-up.

I have the liquid Foundation and the loose powder. Sometimes I use both, other times, just the powder. It looks and feels like your skin, only better!

Bronzer/Blush:

Neutragena: Healthy Skin Custom Glow

It’s a bronzer and blush duo. I love the look of bronzer, but you just can't get that sun-kissed flush with bronzer alone. I started using this in the summer to give me that "just out of the sun" look even on days I didn't make it to the pool, but I'm still using it in the fall (just a little lighter) because I love the way it makes my skin look.

I dust my entire face with the bronzer, concentrating on cheekbones, then apply blush just on the apples of my cheeks, bridge of my nose, and a touch on my forehead. It gives a beautiful natural glow to my skin, and the colors blend perfectly together, because they're made to do so.

Eyes:

Eyeshadow:

Physician’s Formula: Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing shadow & liner.

I have to admit, I am a Clinique eyeshadow’s biggest fan. Their shadows are one of the only products I still splurge on because of their creamy texture, which allows them to go on smooth, and last all day. This is the closest shadow to that texture I’ve found anywhere, and I just love that these are custom designed for your eye color. Not that the concept of shadows for your eye color is unique, every brand has their own version of the “make your eyes pop” shadows, but this one isn’t the typical same old 4 boring colors. There are many choices in each strip, even some really unusual fun colors (like a fantastic goldenrod in the brown eye kit) mixed in with the traditional ones. This is a real “must have”

Liner:

Covergirl: Perfect Point Plus

This is like an old friend to me. I have been using this liner since I was about 13. I have tried a million different kinds, but I always come back to the trusty perfect point. It’s a crayon liner. It goes on smooth without a lot of pressure like a liquid or gel, but still allows for the control of a pencil liner. The texture and color are great, and you never have to worry about a sharpener, because it has a twist up top. It also comes with a tiny sponge on the end for smudging, or corrections, which is what I use it for.

Mascara, my fav!:

Maybelline: Volume Express, The Falsies – Black Drama

This is my current fav, but my favorite mascara changes about as often as my tube runs out. Although this is my second tube of this brand, which is almost unheard of! I’ve tried the regular falsies, which I was not as impressed with, but this black drama stuff is pretty amazing. Personally, I think that lash success is only about half product. The other half is application. I have the longest, most even, clump-free, separated, and ironically, natural looking lashes I’ve ever had…here’s my application method:

1. Curl bare lashes, then apply one coat of falsies black drama to the top lashes of each eye in an sweeping upward motion

2. Apply 1 coat to bottom lashes

3. While mascara is still slightly damp, but not dry, apply a second coat. Make sure that all lashes are even with this coat. If one eye looks longer than the other brush some additional product just on the tips to extend lashes.

4. Apply second coat to bottom lashes if desired.

5.Use Pointer fingers to guide lashes into a natural curl by applying pressure at the roots and rolling finger up to the tips.

6. Once mascara is completely dry, curl lashes again and apply one last coat to define and set.

This will leave you with long, beautiful, naturally curled lashes that will last all day... and then some (as opposed to stick straight lashes that stand up at a 90 degree angle from the root and fall within 30 minutes). It may seem like a lot of work and steps, but you can be confident that they will look great until you wash your make-up off. The key is to use a few thin coats, instead of clumping it on all at once. This allows the “Keratin Fiber Formula” to build on top of itself.

Lips:

Lipgloss:

NYC Brand Extreme Lip Glider Lip Gloss

I have this in "Carnegie Melon" - a super sheer natural color, great for daytime,"Chinatown Cherry" - still sheer, but with a little pop of cherry red, and "Riverside Rouge" - which is my favorite for evening, because it offers the color of a lipstick with the shine of a gloss. You can apply a thick coat for super shiny lips or a thinner coat and rub lips together for more of a stained look. It stays on longer than any other lipgloss (and most lipsticks) that I've ever used, and the best part: It's like 3 bucks!

I hope this helps ease your un-easiness about drugstore brands, and makes you look and feel more beautiful.

Send your beauty questions to [email protected] and I'll answer them in my next blog.

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend! 

Oh, and don't forget to stop by next week for another dose of the beauty blog!

-Bethany