DRUGSTORE BEAUTY ESSENTIALS


Today, I'm going to share some of my favorite drugstore beauty essentials that I have been loving lately! I have seen so many drugstore products on social media lately, and I just had to see what they were all about. I ended up going through my makeup collection and I actually had some drugstore products already--some never even opened! Of course I have everything linked for you as well. You might notice that some of the products have a little different packaging--that's just because Ulta updated theirs since I've bought any!


Skincare //

 


If you haven't tried these facial cloths yet, you SO have to. I picked them up for a quick makeup remover, and they will be a monthly purchase for me, for sure. They are so quick and convenient. I grab one before I head in the shower and then I can remove my full face of makeup while my hair is soaking in a hair mask or my purple shampoo. The cloths are water activated and they have webbed texture to them. They are a 4-1 cloth so they cleanse, exfoliate, tone, and hydrate. Ever since I started using them, I have truly noticed a difference in my skin. What I love the most is that they are super gentle on my skin (I have super sensitive skin) and they are gentle on my eyes.


Micellar Cleansing Waters are all the rage right now, so I picked this one up at Ulta a little over a month ago. I never realized how much makeup is left on my face even after cleansing. Now that I am using the Olay Daily Facials, I have noticed very little left over, but right under my eyes I still have a little mascara left over since I use the cloth in the shower; it's hard to tell if I get it all off. After my shower, what I will do is take a little of the Micellar Cleansing Water on a cotton round and get the little bit left off in just seconds. 

What I also love is that I can use it as a morning cleanser that takes less than 10 seconds. Again, I will put it on a cotton round, wipe my face, and let it air dry. This particular Micellar Cleansing Water comes with a convenient push down top, so you never have to waste product. You just push down to dispense the amount you need. 


You guys. This stuff smells AMAZING! It's my favorite part of my nightly/weekly routine. It's a bronzing mask and it helps moisturize at the same time. I will usually switch back and forth between this bronzing face mask and the facial tanner that I talked about in this post. If you want to give your face a healthy summertime glow (without using the sun--as you should!) then you will love this bronzing facial mask.

Makeup //



I first tried this foundation about four months ago when I was searching for a liquid foundation that was my proper shade. I didn't have time to get to Nordstrom to pick up my Estee Lauder Double Wear, so I made a quick trip to Target and picked up the Fit Me foundation. Let me tell ya, it completely surprised me. I wore it and still wear it as a lightweight replacement to my Double Wear. It's not as full coverage as the ELDW, but it comes close for me. So, if you are looking for an ELDW dupe, I highly recommend this one! In the Summertime, I don't need as much coverage as I do in the Winter, so this will definitely come in handy when I want a little more coverage than a tinted moisturizer.


If you don't use a beauty sponge to apply your liquid foundation and concealer, you are missing out, girlfriend. This beauty sponge is the best dupe for the real Beauty Blender. I just can't bring myself to pay $20 bucks for the real version per sponge, so I have been using the Real Techniques version, and it works perfectly fine for me. Plus, you get 2 for half the price of one BB! 

This sponge is much better than any of the other knock-offs that you can find at Marshalls. I used to use some of those that you could grab in the beauty section, but I found that they were too hard and didn't really blend my foundation and concealer. This Real Techniques beauty sponge is super squishy and soft on the skin and makes blending a breeze. I will usually use the flat side for literally my whole face and then the pointed side for near my eye area.



I've had this blush for a few years in the color Infatuation. This is one of the products I found randomly in my makeup collection and realized that I still love the color and formula. I love that Ulta has its own makeup collection that is so well priced. I remember in college when I was on a much tighter budget, I would grab the $19 makeup bundles that had an eye and cheek look in them. They still do those bundles, and I am tempted to go back and grab the next one that comes out!


I recently just picked this bronzer up at Target. I was so excited to get it home and try it, because so many beauty bloggers and YouTubers have been raving about it, and I had to see what all the hype was about. As soon as I opened it, I became obsessed with the way it smells. OMG it smells like a piña colada and sweet Summertime. 

I was really happy with the way it blended and the color payoff as well. I accidently grabbed the light version, and I think I would love it even more than I already do if I had grabbed the original version. The light version will be perfect for me when I'm fairer and for any of you that are fair to light. The original is the perfect shade for the Summertime now that I'm a little tanner, as well.



Okay, who knew that a $2 eyeliner could be so good!? I found this guy in my makeup collection as well, and I have become obsessed with it! It goes on so smoothly and it stays on all day. I haven't tried it on my lower lash line, just my top, but it worked great!


A lot of peeps were saying this is a good dupe for the Too Faced BTS mascara and it definitely comes close! It has a really large wand, which I love. It definitely gives a ton of volume, and with a few coats, you have natural looking falsies!


Ulta's eye shadows are surprisingly pigmented. This Ulta color is super similar to this Urban Decay shadow that I wore on my wedding day. You can find it in this beauty post! I used to wear Ulta shadows all the time in college, and I am still loving them for occasional looks!


I think I found my new go to brow pencil. Don't get me wrong, I still love my Anastasia Brow Definer, but because the Maybelline brow pencil is so thin, it allows me to draw in hairs, making my brows look so much more natural. I have been lining my brows with the Maybelline Micro Crayon and then lightly filling them in. It has a spoolie on the other end to make blending a breeze, too!




e.l.f. makes some of the best products. I first discovered this lip exfoliator back in college and I have been using it ever since. It is such a low price point (only $3!) and it works so well. It uses sugar to exfoliate your lips and remove the dead skin, but it is not harsh on your lips. I will use this especially before a matte lip, but it always feels amazing to have smooth lips, always.


This is one of my other random makeup collection finds. I literally used mostly Ulta products from those $19 bundles I mentioned earlier. I'm almost positive that this was part of a Spring collection and I still use it on occasion. It's a really creamy formula and it stays just as long as a high-end lipstick would!

Well, those are my drugstore beauty essentials!

What are some drugstore products that you are loving?! Definitely let me know in the comments if there are any other products that I need to try!

Stay Classy.
xx,
Kristen

24 comments

  1. Thanks for sharing these Kristen! I've actually been trying to buy and use more drugstore makeup lately, just because I don't always have the money to blow at Sephora!! But I loved your little reviews of each of these products, and I think I might have to try some of them myself!

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    1. Definitely let me know if you try any of these and what you think! : ) I've been the same way. I kept spending WAY too much money at Ulta (oops!) and so I decided to try these again and fell in love!

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  2. I love the Yes To brand! I'll have to keep an eye out for these when my current makeup stash runs out!

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    1. Yes, for sure! Let me know if you try any of them! I would love to know what you think.

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  3. This is an awesome round-up, Kristen! I need to get that bronzer when I'm at Target today! Putting it on my list. That's the brow pencil I'm currently using and I like it. My only issue with it is that it runs out super fast. It's a great replacement whenever I don't have my favorite ColourPop brow pencil!

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    1. Definitely love the bronzer. It smells AMAZING! Oh does it really? Bummer about the brow pencil--I haven't gotten that far into it yet. Fingers crossed it lasts a good while for me.

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  4. Those Olay wipes sound so similar to my favorite L'Oreal ones that got discontinued! I cannot wait to go pick the Olay ones up on my next Target run :)

    xoxo, SS

    www.SouthernAndStyle.com

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    1. You're going to love the Olay cleansing cloths! They are amazing!

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  5. The butter bronzer is my ALL time favorite bronzer, ever! It smells so good, has a great undertone and it stays all day!

    xo, Chelsie @ Hey There, Chelsie

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  6. I definitely want to try olay's new body wash system, it seems like it'll be a little bit more cost and time efficient :)

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  7. Love the color of the ulta blush! I'm definitely checking that out!

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    1. Isn't it so pretty?! It's perfect for all year round, too!

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  8. I need to try the Olay wipes. They sound amazing.

    I love the Maybelline Matte+Poreless foundation, Real Techniques sponge, and e.l.f exfoliator.

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    1. You def need to try them! You'll love them.

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  9. Oooh!! I love my high-end makeup as much as the next girl, but I just loooove drugstore brands too. I think you've convinced me to pick up the Yes to Cotton Comforting Micellar Cleansing Water and Freeman Coconut Glow Leave-On Bronzing Mask this weekend!!

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    1. You definitely have to let me know how you like them!! : )

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  10. I love the Fit foundation! I pick this foundation over prestige brands any day.

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    1. It's seriously my fav go to drugstore foundation--I don't know how I lived without it!

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  11. Love these! I've been wondering about that Fit foundation, so maybe I'll give that one a try! Okay, and this is going to sound weird, and I know everyone swears by beauty blender sponges, but when they first came out I saw a horrible video of a girl who found worms in hers and I got scarred hahaha every time I start to reach for one to buy it and try it, I can't do it because of that ONE video!

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    1. Oh gosh--I heard about that! I wash mine all the time with brush or baby shampoo so it's always clean. BUT, you can always get a new one like once a month to make sure that it's not gross!!

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  12. I LOVE your picks! I almost always prefer drugstore brand mascara too, they're usually the best!

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    1. Thanks, Adriana! Drugstore mascaras will surprise you, for sure!!

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