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Celebrity Makeup Artists Share The Best Drugstore Makeup Under $20

Get red-carpet ready makeup on any budget with these drugstore picks from the pros
Expert: Sarah Uslan

We love our high-end eye shadow palettes as much as the pros do, but even celebrity makeup artists like Sarah Uslan (with clients like Rachel Zoe and Tori Kelly), will reach for a drugstore eye shadow over a spendy high-end palette. Uslan's drugstore makeup pick? The L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche La Palette Nude. Uslan loves this palette for its range of nudes, according to The Zoe Report. "You can achieve a perfect, soft daytime eye and also intensify the look for evening," Uslan shared. Plus, $19.99 sure beats $40 to $50.

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Expert: Beau Nelson

Speaking of eye shadow, another drugstore makeup fave of celeb makeup artists is the Maybelline New York Eye Studio ColorTattoo 24HR Cream Gel Eye Shadow. According to makeup artist Beau Nelson -- whose clients include Kristen Stewart, Nicole Richie and Riley Keough -- this particular eye shadow will stay in place for hours. "I love using these to create a super easy but sophisticated wash of color on the eyelid," Nelson told Coveteur. "I especially love [the shades] Bad to the Bronze and Tough as Taupe."

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Expert: Julie Harris

Celebrities Idina Menzel, Meg Ryan and Sarah Paulson all rely on celebrity makeup artist Julie Harris to keep them looking their best. But before applying any makeup, Harris believes in prepping the skin with a quality cleanser. "I love the La Roche Posay Thermal Water Spray," Harris told us. "It's refreshing and soothing for every skin type, and it doesn't irritate the eye area." Pro tip: Harris uses the spray to apply loose powder shadows on her clients. "I mist on the brush, so the loose shadow doesn't fall on the face," Harris said. Just give your powder brush a couple spritzes pre-application and you'll be golden.

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Expert: Kristofer Buckle

With bombshell clients like Blake Lively, Jennifer Lopez and Demi Moore, you know Kristofer Buckle is only reaching for the very best drugstore makeup. The CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Mascara is fan favorite, and more than one makeup artist swears by it. Buckle notes that mascara is usually a must-have in most women's daily makeup routine, so you'll be dropping dough for mascara more often than your other makeup products. "Picking a great drugstore mascara like this one, which has a giant brush to fatten up lashes fast, will save serious cash over time," Buckle told Women's Health. So why not save time, money and grief with the mascara the pros swear by?

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Aquaphor Healing Ointment, $9.96
Expert: Tina Turnbow

If there's one drugstore product we're surprised made the list of best drugstore makeup products, it was the ever-practical Aquaphor Healing Ointment. Celebrity makeup artist Tina Turnbow told Nylon the ointment is her product of choice for "everything dewy, smudgy eyes and lips, and highlighting cheekbones." When it's not healing dry, cracked skin, other makeup artists agree that the ultra-hydrating ointment can be used cosmetically for strategic shine, especially in photo shoots.

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BY JESSICA AMARIS | MAR 9, 2017 | SHARES
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