Recently drugstore companies have been really stepping up their game when it comes to beauty products and every time I head into Boots or Superdrug I tend to come out with two or three things that I had no intention of buying (like every other girl, I’m sure 😉 ). So today I thought it would be good to give ya’ll a rundown of my favourite picks from the drugstore incase you’re looking to invest in a few more pieces or if you’re a complete beginner, these are the products that I have tried and loved. And to top it off, they’re super affordable too!

This post is also special because it’s my collaboration with Stephanie Bradbury, another amazing blogger and my friend here on the blogosphere! Her blog is beautiful with amazing posts that are beautifully written and her photographs are literally blog photography goals *heart-eye-emoji*. She has curated her picks for high-end products to give you all a chance to see our picks from both drugstore and highend, so after you’re done here, go on her blog and give her a like and a follow!

Now, this post is going to be a bit of a long one so bear with me and without further ado, here are my top picks from the drugstore:

Primer:

I have never found the right powder highlighter from the drugstore that suited my skin so an alternative that I have tried and fallen in love with is the Loréal Lumi Magique Primer which is a liquid champagne highlighting primer. This stuff is so good and moisturises the skin really well while giving you a healthy glow. You can also use this on just the tops of cheekbones, blending out the liquid with your finger tips. I also like to mix a pump of this in with one pump of whichever foundation I’m using to get a really dewy finish. Another alternative you could try is the Soap and Glory Hocus Focus which is also very similar and gives a lovely, glowy look to the skin. I also found that this is an exact dupe for the MAC Strobe Cream, which is also beautiful!

Foundation:

The Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum has a cult status in the beauty world and with good reason! I don’t tend to use foundations often, being more of a BB Cream gal, but when I do, this is my favourite one. It has a gel like consistency which sits beautifully on the skin, not heavy at all and leaves a lovely satin finish. It’s good for sensitive skin, but it does have a fruity scent, which I don’t mind at all, but if you’re sensitive to scents then this might be something to keep in mind. Bourjois have a great shade range, so this foundation is perfect for an everyday look, with a light to medium coverage that is build-able! I highly recommend you give this a little swatchy-swatchy next time you’re in Boots or Superdrug.

Cheeks:

Now I dont have a drugstore bronzer to show you unfortunately but a blush that I absolutely love is the Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in the shade Nude Mauve. This blush is so so good for a drugstore product, and I was actually shocked by it’s pigmentation and buttery texture when I first swatched it. It is actually very similar to the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes. A wonderful product from the drugstore and one I highly recommend. A setting powder that I love is the Créme Touch Face Powder by No.7. I dont tend to use powder much, just for my t-zone and I find that this powder works well to keep any oily-ness at bay and sits very nicely on the skin.

Brows:

Up until recently I was never a fan of drugstore brow products as I found they were a little too warm for my liking, as my brows have a very cool undertone and I always favoured the Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Whiz in Granite. And then lo and behold I discovered the NYX Micro Brow Pencil and the Archery Brow Pencil by Soap and Glory. These two are EXACT dupes for the ABH Brow Whiz and have a much more affordable price tag. They are both the right amount of creamy and waxy and have a good range of shades from warm to cool tones. In terms of brow gel, I swear by the Maybelline BrowDrama in the shade dark brown and I feel like this keeps my brow hairs in place all day long without making them feel crispy. Ten out of ten would recommend :p

Eyes:

Now I am not a fan of drugstore eyeshadows, especially since I find them very hard to work with and aren’t quite as pigmented as I’d like. So if you’re going to invest in an eye-shadow pallet, let it be a highend one (my favourite two are the Too-Faced Chocolate Bar Palette and Urban Decay Naked Palette). Saying that however, the best eyeshadows I’ve seen so far from the drugstore is this little quad by No.7 in the shade Smoky Rose. The eyeshadows are soft and pigmented and dont apply patchy to the skin. It has really pretty cool toned purple hues which is right up my street so this gets a big thumbs up from me! My favourite mascarra from the drugstore has to be the Maybelline Rocket Volume and the Loréal Mega Volume Miss Manga. They both so well at giving me volume and length and have amazing formulas! And my eyeliner pick from the drugstore is another one from Maybelline, and it’s the Maybelline Matte Master Ink and this has got to be ride or die eyeliner. It’s Matte, its jet black and applies beautifully. You just can’t go wrong!

Lips:

Now I have a few picks for this section as it’s quite possibly my favourite part of makeup! For a sheer, glossy and plump lip, I like the Vaseline Sugar Coated Lip Therapy. It has the slightest touch of a rosy hue and is super moisturising which is great for a slap and dash lip colour for busy mornings. Next up is the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams, another cult product and with good reason! They don’t dry out your lips and have an amazing range of colours! Great option if you’re after matte lips. Another good alternative are the Revelon Colour Burst Matte Balms and I absolutely love the formula. They aren’t at all drying on the lips and have more of a creamy texture with a minty flavour that leaves your lips feeling all nice and tingly.

If you’ve made it thus far, well done for sticking with me, I know this post was a bit of a long one! But I hope that it’s given you some good ideas of what’s good at the drugstore if you’re looking to get some makeup items at affordable prices. Please do go and check out Stephanie’s post on her favourite High-end products if you’re in a splurgey mood. If you have any questions about more products available at the drugstore then get typing in the comments sections below! I’ll see you all in my next post! Happy reading folks!

Disclaimer: All products featured have been purchased by myself or have been gifts from family and friends. These are products that have worked for me, however they might not work for everyone. All reviews are honest opinions. I am not affiliated with any links mentioned above, unless otherwise stated. All photographs above have been taken by the author and must be approved for any duplication or further use.