GET FREE SAMPLES

sign up for our newsletter to get free sample alerts

I Gave Up Luxury Beauty Products for a Month. These Are the Drugstore Products I Loved

In the name of beauty, I ditched all my expensive products to find the drugstore ones that would make me swoon
Photo 2/15
A Highlighter That Made Me Rethink Everything
Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked Highlighter, $6

Three weeks into my experiment, I had yet to find a drugstore highlighter that stands up to my pricey ones. And it's not for lack of trying -- I tested dozens, and none of them gave me that oh-so-glowy look I crave. Then I heard that Khloe Kardashian swears by this $6 highlighter. I tracked it down, because why the hell not? What's one more highlighter?

It was magical. Talk about cheekbones. Applied dry, it goes on creamy, blends easily and makes skin look generally amazing. At night, if I want to amp up the drama, I apply it wet to my cheekbones, under my brows, the inner corners of my eyes and above my Cupid's bow. I'm hooked -- and you will be too.

Buy Now

Photo 3/15
A Duo of Glowy Skin Essentials
Sonia Kashuk Resurface Gentle Exfoliating Wash, $14.99 and Skin Detox Purifying Black Mask, $15.99

Sonia Kashuk's makeup line at Target is something I've been consistently impressed with, so I was excited to get my hands on her skin care line. And it did not disappoint. The creamy formula of the face wash has teeny hard-shell algae particles that gently exfoliate and leave my skin feeling superclean. And the mask -- at the risk of sounding basic, I can't even. It's made from Kaolin clay to absorb oil and suck out gunk in your pores, plus four alpha-hydroxy acids to exfoliate and even skin tone. It leaves my skin feeling and looking so good I have the urge to take a selfie and brag about how fantastic my skin looks.

Buy Now

Photo 4/15
#BrowsOnFleek on the Cheap
L'Oréal Brow Stylist Plumper, $8.99

I'm particularly fond of a certain brow gel (that shall remain nameless) that costs almost twice the price of this product. But the fiber-infused formula of this tinted gel managed to win me over. The tint looks totally natural -- which is saying a lot, considering I have superblonde brows right now -- and helps make my brows look fuller and more Lily Collins-like. Plus, the small brush is easy to maneuver, and the gel has yet to clump on me.

Buy Now

Photo 5/15
A Mascara That Gives You Lashes for Days
Maybelline New York The Colossal Spider Effect Mascara, $7.77

Along with my expensive tastes, I tend to have a flair for the dramatic. Which is probably why I fell head over heels for this mascara. The brush is spiky -- I feel like I'm wielding a weapon -- and the formula is a rich, glossy black. It gives a ton of volume and makes my lashes so long they can touch my eyebrows. Most mornings, this was the only eye makeup I wore.

Buy Now

Photo 6/15
An Eye Cream That's My Defense Against Wrinkles
Olay Professional ProX Eye Restoration Complex, $39.99

Ever since I was told that, thanks to my thin and pale skin, my eyes are going to get wrinkled hella fast I have become obsessed with eye creams. But I haven't really been impressed with an anti-aging drugstore eye cream until I tried this one. And, I know, I managed to pick probably one of the most expensive eye creams you can buy at the drugstore (it's just in my nature, I can't help it), let me say that this is worth it.

It's a dream to apply, and sinks into skin effortlessly. It was designed by the Global Derm Alliance to target crow's feet, puffiness, dark circles and wrinkles with a potent blend of caffeine, amino peptides, niacinamide and glycerin. In other words, it's an excellent weapon against the signs of aging. Plus, I appreciate that it comes in a package with a pump, instead of a jar, so the ingredients aren't compromised.

Buy Now

BY ALLIE FLINN | JUN 17, 2016 | SHARES
VIEW COMMENTS
Full Site | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy
TotalBeauty is a property of Evolve Media Holdings, LLC. © 2024 All Rights Reserved. | Affiliate Disclosure: Evolve Media Holdings, LLC, and its owned and operated subsidiaries may receive a small commission from the proceeds of any product(s) sold through affiliate and direct partner links.