I have to preface this by admitting that I am a huge fan of department store makeup. My favorite store in the mall is Sephora and my favorite department in Nordstrom is makeup (followed closely by shoes). I love Bobbi Brown and MAC and can spend hours sampling at Sephora. Unfortunately, my budget is not as big a fan as I.


While it’s great to get a makeover, advice from a trained makeup artist and be able to try products before you buy them, it still doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to spend that much money on products that can be found much cheaper at the drugstore. Don’t get me wrong, there are certain department store products that are far superior to anything you can find at the drugstore. And, there are certain things you just can’t find at the drugstore.


So, in this post, I’ll distinguish which products should be purchased at the department store and which at the drugstore. I’ll also give you the top drugstore products for each type of makeup and trendy colors for this season.

Department Store vs. Drugstore

Products like mascara and lipgloss have a short lifespan and there’s such little distinction in quality, they should be purchased at the drugstore. Lipstick and eyeliners found at drugstores are pretty comparable to the the quality found at department stores. My general rule of thumb is that anything that is powdered or an all-over makeup should be purchased at department stores. Most drugstore blushes, powders and eyeshadows contain large amounts of talc, making them appear very chalky. They don’t have the lasting effect that products like MAC have.


Though there are some quality foundations and concealers at drugstores, there are two downsides. One, it’s often difficult to tell if the colors will match your skin tone. At department stores, you can sample different shades before you purchase. Two, the products at drugstores are not always formulated with products meant to stay on your skin all day. Remember, they’re cheaper for a reason.
So, in short–

Products to buy at department stores:

powder
eyeshadow
blush
foundation
concealer

Products to buy at drugstores:

mascara
lipgloss
eyeliner
lipstick

Best Drugstore Products

Here are the best drugstore products for each type of makeup. I’ll include the best foundations, powders, etc. since there are times when you just MUST buy from the drugstore.

Mascara

Shown: L’Oreal Voluminous, Maybelline Great Lash
It’s no surprise that these two brands are the best mascaras. They are actually both owned by the same company (L’Oreal) that makes Lancome, also known for having great mascara. These mascaras create thick, clump-free lashes and generally last longer than other mascaras.

Lipgloss

Shown: Sally Hansen Lip Inflation Extreme, Revlon Lip Glide
I love the Sally Hansen Lip Inflation glosses. They’re a very affordable alternative to department store lip plumpers and they actually work! Revlon’s Lip Glide comes in many different colors. This is a great product to have in your purse or pocket for a quick color/gloss combo.

Eyeliner

Shown: Rimmel Liquid Eyeliner, Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner
Liquid eyeliners are the way to go. Both of these eyeliners have lasting power similar to that of a waterproof mascara. Rimmel is by far the best in this category, somehow mastering the art of not being runny, streaky or clumpy. If you prefer a pencil eyeliner, go for the basic Cover Girl pencil.
Fall Eyeliner Colors:
Blue Eye Makeup is trendy this Fall. Try Rimmel’s Sapphire liner.

Foundation

Shown: Almay Smart Shade Makeup, Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer
As I said before, foundation can be a scary thing to buy at the drugstore. Since it’s something you wear all over your face all day, you want to be careful to find a quality product that looks great and is also good for your skin. It’s also difficult to find the right color for your skin tone since you can’t sample products in drugstores. That’s why Almay’s Smart Shade Makeup is the best bet for drugstore foundation. Not only does Almay use quality ingredients like grapeseed, gingko biloba and ginseng, this foundation also has magical (there’s no other word for it) microscopic color beads that blend into your skin’s natural skin color. I have no idea how it works, but basically, the formula works to match your skin tone, providing natural, all-over coverage. Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Enhancer doesn’t contain magical color beads, but it is full of vitamins that are great for your skin.

Lipstick

Shown: Max Factor Lasting Color Lipstick, L’Oreal Color Riche Lipstick
Department store lipsticks often fade quickly. Both of these brands are creamy, long-lasting and smudge-proof. And, they come in many colors.
Fall Lipstick Colors:
Red Lips are the thing this Fall. If you have a dark complexion, go for a red with more orange. If you have a light complexion, go for one with more blue. The basic, fire engine red works on everyone! Try L’Oreal’s ‘True Red’ or Max Factor’s ‘Red Passion’.
Burgundy is also a great Fall 2008 color.

Eyeshadow

Shown: Cover Girl Eye Enhancers Eyeshadow, Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow
Though I prefer buying eyeshadows from Bobbi Brown or MAC, I do buy drugstore eyeshadow when I’m trying out a new color. This is especially important for Fall Trends. If you haven’t tried purple or blue eyeshadows before and aren’t sure about them, try a drugstore brand first.
Fall Eyeshadow Colors:
Purple and Blue are the top eyeshadow colors this Fall. Try Cover Girl’s ‘Blue Notes’ or ‘Dance Party’. Try Maybelline’s ‘Blink of Blue’ or ‘Crown Jewels’.

Blush

Shown: Jane Shimmering Blush, Revlon Blush
I love Bobbi Brown’s shimmer brick blushes. This Shimmering Blush from Jane is pretty similar and a fraction of the price. For a basic blush, try Revlon. Beware of what I mentioned before, though. Most of these drugstore blushes have talc in them, making them appear chalky.

Mineral Makeup

Shown: Milani Mineral Makeup, L’Oreal Bare Naturals Mineral Makeup
Are you a mineral makeup convert, but want something cheaper and easier to find than Bare Escentuals? Try one of these. Here’s a great review of drugstore mineral foundations from Makeup Moxie.