Top 10 Drugstore Make-up Favorites

I thought it'd be fun to share with you my top 10 all-time drugstore make-up favorites; I've never done one of those before! I use a lot of drugstore products in my everyday routine, and I believe a lot of the time the quality of these more inexpensive items really is on par with luxury brands. For someone on a budget, the drugstore with its constant stream of new products and trendy shades can absolutely constitute a one-stop shop for all things make-up!

Ok, enough of bland beauty truisms, let's dive right into my affordable favorites, starting with the base (oh, and by the way, the respective products are linked to a more detailed review and swatches where possible):

1. Revlon Colorstay Liquid Make-up for Combination/Oily Skin ($12.99 for 1 fl oz/30 ml)
I've hailed the benefits of this foundation before but in a nutshell, this is a must-try for anyone with slightly oilier skin who finds their base doesn't last throughout the day. This is a medium/full coverage foundation that can be sheered out by mixing with a moisturizer and I find their lightest shade (Ivory 110) to be a perfect match for my winter/spring coloring. This foundation does set rather fast, although when applied with a dampened buffing brush, it can be really worked into the skin for a flawless satin finish.

2. Rimmel Match Perfection 2-in-1 Concealer and Highlighter ($4.97 for 0.23 fl oz)
I've realized I'd never posted about this handy concealer before even though I use it every day for my under eye area! The Rimmel Match Perfection comes in a squeeze tube with a brush, and it's a creamy, lightweight concealer with a slight pearl finish. I don't have very bad undereye circles so the pigmentation is enough for me, and I like how natural and undetectable it looks on the skin, especially blended on top of an eye cream. The concealer doesn't settle into my fine lines and the yellow undertones correct my bluish veins very nicely; I think it would also make a subtle cheekbone highlighter for someone who doesn't like a lot of shimmer. Try it if you're in the market for a quick, easy undereye concealer!

3. NYX Powder Blushes ($5 for 0.14 oz/ 4 g)
I've swatched and extensively reviewed all of my collection before, and the NYX blushes are still one of my favorite blush formula, both high-end and low-end. These powders have a silky feel with an impressive pigmentation and all-day lasting power, and their satin finish looks beautiful on the skin. My top three favorite shades pictured here are Angel, Pinky and Mauve.

4. Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Eyeshadows ($6.99 for 0.14 oz/ 3.97 g)
Are you all sick of hearing me wax lyrical about these Color Tattoos? Oh, but I do love them; if you don't own the shade Bad to the Bronze yet, don't walk, run to your nearest drugstore. The other shade in my collection (not pictured) is Barely Beige, and I've recently picked up Lavish Lavender from the LE 2013 Summer collection, although I didn't like it enough to keep it. These cream shadows have medium, buildable pigmentation, enough slip to be easily blendable with a finger or a brush, and last all day without additional primer on my oily lids. I sometimes use these as a base for powder shadows, but more often just quickly slap them on a bare lid and call it a day.

5. Wet'n'Wild Color Icon Collection Eyeshadow Trios ($2.99 for 0.12 oz/ 3.5g)
Does powder eyeshadow get any better than these gorgeous, dirt cheap palettes from Wet'n'Wild? As you can see, I've depotted mine into a magnetized palette for easy access - it's a bit of a mish-mash in here, but my absolute favorite trios are Walking on Eggshells, The Silent Treatment and sadly, a limited edition The Golden Age. I don't own any of the 8-pan palettes but I'm seriously eyeing some of the Black Radiance offerings; check them out if you can't get enough of the Wet'n'Wild shades.

6. NYX Slide On Pencils ($8 for 0.04 oz/ 1.2g)
A couple years back, I used to love Prestige Total Intensity eyeliner pencils; but while they went on very creamy and pigmented at first, after a couple months they seemed to dry out and flake off on my eyes. However, I've since found an even better quality eyeliner pencil: NYX Slide On, a drugstore dupe for Urban Decay 24/7 pencil liners. These are super intense, apply easily with no tugging, last all day and come in 18 fun, bright shades. I have Esmeralda, a kelly green, and Pretty Violet, a duochrome blurple, but I'd love to get a couple more for my collection.

7. COVERGIRL Lash Blast Volume Mascara ($7.79)
Out of all the mascaras I've tried over the years, my most repurchased: I had the original version first, then a waterproof one, then the 24 hours. I still prefer just the original (as I can't be bothered with waterproof make-up removal) and I find it works best on my fine but quite dense lashes: it gives volume, some length and most importantly for me, separates my lashes really well without clumping.

8. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains ($8.99 for 0.09 oz/2.7 g)
I still can't get over how it is possible to make a balmy, non-drying and very longlasting product like these Revlon Balm Stains; they're just the best for long work shifts, beach holidays, family gatherings or any other time you can't be bothered with reapplying your make-up. I own Smitten, a very blue-based hot pink, and Crush, a deep wine but Honey, a neutral mauve, has been on my wishlist forever. I will finally cave one day!

9. Maybelline Color Sensational LipColor Lipsticks ($8.29 for 0.15 oz/ 4.2 g)
Currently available in 68 shades, plus 10 shades of the Vivids and 10 shades of the Pearl version, I believe the Color Sensationals are the most extensive range of lipsticks in the drugstore with options for every skintone and coloring. I have three: Warm Me Up no. 235, a warm nude pink, Plum Perfect no. 435, a brownish plum, and a LE Summer 2012 shade First Class Fuschia, my absolute favorite of the bunch. I find these Maybelline lipsticks creamy, nicely pigmented and quite longwearing without shrivelling my lips like a prune in the process. The coconutty artificial scent isn't for everyone, but if you don't mind, definitely give them a whirl.

10. NYX Mega Shine Lip Glosses ($5 for 0.37 fl oz/11 ml)
I'm not a huge lip gloss wearer, but when I do, more often than not I reach for these cheap and cheerful NYX Mega Shines. They come in 44 shades, have great pigmentation for a lip gloss and an intense, reflective shine, don't feel too sticky on the lips but still last pretty well throughout the day. Personally, I could do without the cherry cough drop scent but it's nothing that would deter me from wearing those.

And that is it! A round-up of my 10 absolute favorite drugstore make-up products that I reach for over and over again. I think once you find your tried and true formula of a product, it makes shopping for make-up so much easier - you can experiment with new shades or seasonal limited edition collections knowing that you'll most likely enjoy your new purchases. What would be included in your Top 10 Drugstore Make-up list?