Drugstore makeup is seriously so amazing. In the last few years, so many drugstore makeup brands really stepped up their game and are producing quality products that rival some of the most expensive makeup!
I’ve done a lot of “Best Drugstore Makeup” posts recently and although each post was different, there are a handful of items that are mentioned in more than one post.
And those products are my ABSOLUTE FAVORITES.
I love finding a great product at the drugstore for a great price. And it’s even more special when that product beats out the rest of my collection and is the one I reach for first on a regular basis.
And that’s what the products in this post are to me – those special products that I love and want to use every single day. In other words, my holy grails, ride-or-die products, tried-and-trues – you get the picture, right?
This post won’t have a product for every makeup category, because I’ll be honest, I don’t use drugstore makeup on my entire face. And in some categories, I have more than one holy grail!
So, instead of a holy grail product for each category, this post will include my TOP 10 all-time holy grail drugstore makeup products that I constantly use. And I’ll keep buying these products over and over.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
Affiliate links may be used in this post, which I may receive a commission from, at no extra cost to you. You can read my full disclosure here.
P.S. Before you even start thinking about buying any of these awesome products, be sure to sign up for Ebates!
SIGN UP HERE FOR FREE AND GET A $10 BONUS after you make your first qualifying purchase using Ebates!
Top 10 Best Drugstore Makeup -My Holy Grails
(listed in alphabetical order, by brand)
Essence – Pure Nude Sunlighter
The Essence Pure Nude Sunlighter is one of my more recent favorites, as I just got in in November. But since I got it, I have been using it almost every single time I do makeup.
Although it is intended to be a highlighter, I actually use it as a bronzer topper!
It’s the perfect subtle golden highlighter that creates a perfect sun-kissed look when applied on top of bronzer, especially on the forehead and temples.
I’m a huge fan of having an all-over glow, and this highlighter has the same effect as the Hourglass Ambient Bronzing Powders.
Of course, you could also use it as a highlighter, if you want a subtle highlight!
This shade is darker than my usual highlight, but it would work well for medium-deep skin tones. If you have a light skin tone, I would recommend the Pure Nude Highlighter, instead!
Related: 15 Drugstore Makeup Must Haves under $10
L’Oreal – Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara
I LOVE this mascara so much! It’s my go-to mascara when I want a mascara that does it all.
It does an amazing job of lengthening, separating, and adding volume to my lashes. Also, it’s long-wearing so it doesn’t smear or flake off throughout the day.
I especially love the tapered tip of the brush because it makes it easy to coat the lower lashes and the hard-to-reach lashes like the outer corner lashes.
If you’re looking for a mascara that has even more of a voluminizing effect, I highly recommend the L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara.
Related: Ultimate Drugstore Makeup Starter Kit for Beginners
Makeup Revolution – Fast Base Stick Foundation
The Fast Base Stick Foundation is my go-to foundation when I’m in a rush, as the stick application makes it so quick and easy to apply.
It provides medium coverage that’s buildable to full coverage, which makes it very versatile, and it can double as a spot concealer.
This foundation leaves a beautiful natural radiant finish, which is my preferred foundation finish because after setting it with loose setting powder, it never looks dry or cakey and still very natural.
Shop Now: Ulta
Related: The 10 Best Drugstore Foundations for Dry Skin
Makeup Revolution – Liquid Highlighter
in Starlight and Champagne
The Makeup Revolution Liquid Highlighter is totally one of the most underrated products around! I never hear anyone talk about them!
Liquid highlighters can be tricky to use at first, but the best way to use them is by tapping it on with your finger.
Brushes don’t work well with liquid highlighters, but you could also use a makeup sponge to apply them.
But, the way I personally love to use them is as a foundation mixer.
As I mentioned earlier, I’m a huge fan of an all-over glow, and mixing a liquid highlighter into foundation totally amps up the glow!
I’ll also apply liquid highlighter all over my face before applying foundation when I’m feeling super extra LOL.
These liquid highlighters are comparable to the Iconic London Illuminator drops and the Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops, but at a very small fraction of the price.
Related: 5 Unexepected Must-Know Uses for Highligher
Maybelline – Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder
It took me a while to find a loose setting powder from the drugstore that I liked – I was using the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder for years.
But, once I tried the Maybelline Fit Me Loose Powder, I never looked back! This is totally a product that I cannot live without.
It does an amazing job of setting makeup into place while never looking cakey or dry and it feels so lightweight on the skin.
It’s a total dupe for the Laura Mercier Translucent powder, except that it comes in shades. For reference, I use the shade Fair 05.
Related: Top 5 Drugstore Loose Setting Powders Under $10 + How to Use Loose Setting Powder
Maybelline – Master Chrome Highlighter
in 100 Molten Gold, 050 Molten Rose Gold, and 250 NikkieTutorials collab
I thought about trying to choose just one of the three shades I own to include in this post, but I just couldn’t do it. They are all so beautiful!
The formula of the Maybelline Master Chrome Highlighters is just TOP-NOTCH. Out of all the highlighters out there, both drugstore and high-end, this formula is definitely one of the best.
It’s just so soft and creamy, super pigmented, and blinding AF. Especially if you build it up while applying it – GIRL they will see you from outer space.
The shade I reach for the most often is Molten Gold, which is kind of funny because it’s probably too dark for me but idgaf, it makes me look like a golden goddess and I LOVE IT.
Maybelline – SuperStay Better Skin Concealer
My all-time favorite drugstore concealer is hands-down, the Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Concealer.
I’m super picky when it comes to concealer and with many drugstore concealers, I’m just like, “meh.” Nothing bad, nothing great.
But, this concealer made me smile from the very first time I tried it.
I initially bought it as an alternative for the NARS Radiant Creamy concealer. I used to use that concealer religiously, but with the amount of concealer I use, it was getting too expensive!
In terms of coverage, consistency, and longevity, the SuperStay Better Skin Concealer is definitely comparable to the NARS Radiant Creamy concealer.
It might provide a tad less coverage, but not much. I’d call it a medium-full coverage concealer.
I only wish they would release more shades! The shade range of 8 shades (I believe) is pretty damn sad.
Milani – Baked Blush
in Luminoso
I got this blush midway through 2018 and since then, it’s THE blush that I keep going back to. Out of all the blushes I’ve bought and tried since then (which have been a lot), I always find myself reaching for this one.
It’s the perfect pinky peach tone with a hint of shimmer in it. You know I love that glow!
The blush has a lot of pigment in it and a good amount of product gets picked up on the brush, but it blends out smoothly without leaving any patchiness.
If you’re a fan of the fan-favorite NARS Orgasm blush, this is a pretty similar drugstore alternative, it just may be slightly more peachy.
Physicians Formula – Murumuru Butter Bronzer
in Bronzer
When I was first getting into bronzing a few years ago, the Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer was the first one I tried after hearing rave reviews on it everywhere.
And I totally was not disappointed! It’s still one of my favorite bronzers.
It was the perfect bronzer to start out with because it’s totally “fool-proof.”
It isn’t too pigmented that it’s hard to blend out if you accidentally apply too much. And it isn’t too warm that it looks orange on some skin tones.
As a bonus, it smells like coconuts and it’s amazing.
Pixi Beauty – Glow-y Gossamer Duo
in Subtle Sunrise
This highlighter duo was such a surprise when I first tried it. I didn’t have a lot of experience with Pixi products prior to this highlighter, so I didn’t know what to expect.
Let’s just say, I was blown away. It is just so gorgeous!
I only really use the gold shade in the duo and it is the perfect golden shade for light skin tones.
It looks like it has a mixture of silver and gold reflective particles in it because it gives off a really reflective look, especially in the right light!
It’s much more than just a nice sheen across your cheekbones – it really beams.
Shop Now: Pixi Beauty | Target
And that’s it for this post on my holy grail drugstore makeup products!
Are any of these products a holy grail of yours? Let me know down in the comments!
If you haven’t tried any of these products yet, you need to get on that asap! You definitely won’t be disappointed.
But first, don’t forget to sign up for Ebates!
SIGN UP HERE FOR FREE AND GET A $10 BONUS after you make your first qualifying purchase using Ebates!
Thanks for reading and until next time! 🙂
P.S. If you like what I do here on lianadesu, it would mean so much to me if you bought me a coffee (support my blog)!
More Drugstore Makeup Posts:
- Ultimate List of Drugstore Makeup Dupes
- New Must-Try Drugstore Makeup – Spring 2019
- Top 25 Drugstore Foundations in 2019
- Drugstore Makeup Starter Kit for Beginners
- Best Drugstore Makeup to Buy on Amazon
Did you like this post? Pin it! ♥
Nichole says
Oh I love this post . I’ve always used Physicians Formula as a bronzer but a few years ago there was one that I thought I could ever live without but unfortunately I’m having too. It was physicians formula and it’s been so long since I’ve been able to find it I can hardly remember what it looked like. I wanna say it was sun kissed or moon eclipse . The actual product had a moon or a sun shape as the bronzer . If give anything to know if they replaced it with something new. . You did awesome on the product reviews. I have most all of these and can’t wait to add to my collection . Thanks so much. .
Pam says
Someday all makeup will be cruelty free. A couple you use are cruelty free!
Liana says
Yes! I definitely need to educate myself more about cruelty-free products!