Rockstar Drugstore Makeup Under $5

Updated March 18, 2018

You guys know I am a drugstore makeup fiend. And if you didn’t know that — HI, I LOVE DRUGSTORE MAKEUP. Amazing cheap makeup makes me feel like I can conquer the world, I get excited about finding dupes, and I adore high quality cheap makeup brushes. I will always choose a cheaper alternative if I find it performs just as good as my high end products.

Since I know many of you are into saving money on makeup, I thought I would start really focusing some of my posts strictly on drugstore makeup. Clearly I love telling you guys all about my favorite products, but I always get so many questions about what to pick up at the drugstore. I plan on breaking it down by category, brand, and even dollar amount. Get excited!

Today we’re going to start with getting the attention of our extra frugal friends. We’re talking about drugstore makeup under $5! As always, I own and love each and every one of these products, and wouldn’t rave about them unless I believed in it 100%. I wanted to choose products that were widely available in most drugstores, and you won’t have to scour the internet for them. (I love ColourPop, Makeup Geek and Morphe, but those are online only!) The products I’m featuring today can give you a complete look… and for just over $40! We’re talking 12 products for $40.71. How awesome is that? It’s pretty rockstar, if you ask me!

Essence Silky Touch Blush – I mentioned this blush in my September 2015 Favorites video. I am loving how soft, pigmented and blendable this blush is. You can find these at Ulta. The brand doesn’t carry a ton of products, and I haven’t tried anything else from the brand, but I give this a two thumbs up!

Jordana Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara – Hands down the best mascara under $5. Hands down one of the best drugstore mascaras! Get you some. Go. Now.

Wet ‘n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Set in ‘Comfort Zone’ – I first raved about this eyeshadow palette on my blog back in 2011, when I was pregnant with Kennedy! (Side note: my eyebrows have come a long way. So have my eyeshadow skills. Go team!) I still love this palette, and all of the Wet ‘n Wild eyeshadows, honestly. I always recommend them, especially if you are new to eyeshadow. I chose this palette over the others (and the $2.99 trios) because it’s more bang for your buck. You get 6 eyeshadows for just under $5 and this palette is a great neutral option with a little pop of color.

NYC Liquid Eyeliner – All of the YouTubers rave about this stuff. And their raves are totally true. This stuff is black as can be, applies so easily, the brush is tiny and precise, and this stuff stays put. Best of all, it’s under $3. For realz. I don’t even plan on buying that Kat Von D stuff because I’m so happy with this.

Wet ‘n Wild MegaLast Lip Color – I am so impressed with these lipsticks. They’re creamy, pigmented stay put, don’t feather, and don’t look crusty. I seriously cannot believe they’re $1.99. What magic is in these lipsticks? Seriously! The quality is right up there with MAC! I’m serious!

E.L.F. Matte Lip Color – I recently purchased two of these in a berry and nude and I am so pleasantly surprised by how much I love them. I like the smaller, more precise stick, they are creamy, and look amazing on the lips.

L.A. Girl Pro Conceal – This concealer knocks my socks off. I wish I had it in a lighter color for highlighting, and I will likely get one. L.A. Girl is a little more difficult to find, but for sure you can find it at Big Lots. I know, random. If anyone has seen the brand in other places, let me know. Anyway, they formulate a lot of their products after high end brands, and this concealer is so similar to the MAC Pro Longwear, but a little more creamy. Highly recommend it!

Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation – If you need a full coverage foundation for oily skin, you will absolutely love this foundation. I also like sheering it out quite a bit for lighter days. It’s a mousse-like consistency, blends really well, and stays put for a long time on the skin.

Rimmel Natural Bronzer in ‘Sun Bronze’ – While I do love the NYC Bronzer in Sunny, I feel like I don’t always see it. I, however, see this one all the time. I love that it’s matte, and not too warm-toned. It’s perfect for bronzing up the perimeters of the face or for a little contouring.

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil – The NYX jumbo eye pencils are so much fun, and they come in a myriad of colors. They can be used as eyeshadow bases or even as your eyeshadow color. I particularly love the white one in ‘milk’ because it is an amazing eyeshadow base underneath colors you want to pop, especially brighter colors. I’ve also used it for highlighting the face, and even for under the brow bone.

E.L.F. Eyebrow Kit – It’s really hard to find an eyebrow product at the drugstore. While I love the NYX Micro Brow, it’s one of the more expensive drugstore products, at $9. I have been using the E.L.F. Eyebrow Kit for a while, and I really like it. I use it with an angled brush, and both the wax on the left and powder on the right are fantastic for filling in brows.

I really could keep going, but I am stopping myself for now. What would you guys like to see next? Top drugstore concealers? Best products from a certain brand? Let me know and I will do thy bidding!