#i literally only had eyeshadow and brow gel don't look too hard

[californiaquail]

this + eldo tom of finland for don quixote ballet. second picture to spite my phone which tells me "try raising camera for your selfie" die

[halaltequila]

What are you favorite drugstore makeup products? Ones that actually work, please lol. I feel like I might as well spend all my money on high end because I don't know what's worth it or not when I'm at target or walmart.

darling, i feel you. some of the products are such rubbish, and no matter what i do, i sometimes end up with all my makeup sinking into my pores and clinging to dry skin. 

however!- my makeup collection is mostly drugstore and there are some products i personally find to be quite good: 

maybelline instant age rewind dark circles concealer 

i don’t know about age rewinding, but a lot of times this is the only thing i use all over my face (like an animal and not just for my under eyes like i’m supposed-but it works) besides a primer and color green corrector (see below)

http://www.target.com/p/maybelline-instant-age-rewind-eraser-dark-circles-concealer-treatment/-/A-50042372

nyx green cc cream:

reviews vary on this, but it works really well for me, especially because it doesn’t just actually blur red/black/brown/purple spots (yes, i got it all), but also has some light coverage. during the times where my skin is fairly behaving: this, a primer, and the maybelline concealer are all i use for my face 

http://www.ulta.com/green-cc-cream?productId=xlsImpprod12011199

rimmel stay matte powder: 

admittedly, i haven’t used setting powder in, like, eons, but it does exactly as it says it will-sets your foundation and keeps you decently matte (even if you’re an oil producing machine like me). side note-i will be trying to reincorporate powder and try the maybelline fit me powder so i can compare it with this one, but everyone usually agrees that this is probably the best drugstore setting powder. also, it’s under $4. 

http://www.target.com/p/rimmel-stay-matte-powder/-/A-17210301

maybelline brow drama sculpting brow mascara:

disclaimer: this probably only works well if you’ve got decently thick brows in the first place. my brows are pretty thick as it is, so, if they’ve been recently done, i usually just use a little to set them and fill any sparse places in the end. once they start growing out, (i can’t really afford get them done as fast as they grow and at some point they’re too much for me to do on my own), using this literally gives them shape and tames the brow hairs since mine tend to grow long. it does sometimes dry like a light hair gel, but i can’t complain since at least my brows between threading stay in place. 

http://www.target.com/p/maybelline-eye-studio-brow-drama-sculpting-mascara/-/A-16675000

e.l.f moisturizing lipstick:

honestly? there’s nothing but good things to say about this product, especially when you consider the cost and how well it works. it’s one of my favorite lipsticks: smells great, the formula’s pretty darn good, creamy, opaque, and it literally costs $3. it’s not matte or a liquid lipstick or anything though, so if you’re using your mouth (in godly and ungodly ways), you’d need touch ups (though i’ve used more expensive lipsticks that were worse despite costing double or more)

http://www.target.com/p/e-l-f-moisturizing-lipstick/-/A-51169576

pixi rose oil blend:

oh my dear, i just bought this at target today-only a few hours ago, as we speak-and i already love it? it feels heavenly on the skin and smells delightful! i can’t attest to how well it works yet, but i know it’s the perfect lower cost oils (that aren’t diy) that can mimic what you see experts using it for on instagram or whatnot-whether as a moisturizer, in foundation, or to make contouring products easier to buff (i don’t contour regularly though). a little goes a long way, so it will last, but it’s also the most expensive thing at $24.

http://www.target.com/p/pixi-by-petra-rose-oil-blend-1-01-oz/-/A-49128224

l.a. pro conceal corrector set 

in all fairness, i haven’t really tried other correctors besides these, but all three come for under $9 on amazon and they seem to really work. i usually only use the green one, but the orange is also good (haven’t tried the peach one). i have no complaints with them, and i’ve heard even professionals swear by them so give ‘em a try!

https://www.amazon.com/L-Girl-Conceal-Orange-Correctors/dp/B00XPW9IHQ?th=1

maybelline color tattoo eye shadow: 

probably the best long wear eyeshadow in the industry, and i’d even say it beats most of high end eyeshadows ( i use “nude pink” as a base for my tarte tartelette tease pallete since it has so much fall out despite being “clay infused”). it does not budge. besides using the nude as a base, i used another navy shimmer one for my lids during a bachelorette party and it was perfect when i got home at like midnight/one in the morning. i do find it a bit hard to blend my other eyeshadow if i use it as a base, so i’d guess it makes more complicated looks harder to blend too (i wouldn’t know since i’ve never gotten that wild with them)

http://www.target.com/p/maybelline-eye-studio-color-tattoo-24hr-eyeshadow/-/A-13896462

milani bella eyes gel powder eyeshadow:

i just recently started using this after finding an endless amount of them at various 99 cent stores. i’m going to just guess that they’re being discontinued, and if you can’t find them at the dollar store, they’re online for $5. when i swatched them, they literally felt like velvet (i.e. “gel powder”). i’ve used them a couple of times and so far so good. they’re really pigmented and easy to blend-haven’t worn them long enough to test how long they can endure 

http://milanicosmetics.com/Bella-Eyes-Gel-Powder-Eyeshadow.html

wet n wild color icon lipliner:

they’re 99 cents, they’re pretty lengthy for a lipliner (which equates to more product), they last decently long, and are pretty opaque. i sometimes use them in lieu of lipstick and it looks perfectly fine, if not better than a lot of other lipstick brands.

http://www.cvs.com/shop/beauty/makeup/lips/wet-n-wild-coloricon-lip-liner-pencil-prodid-1040076

dupes and other things: 

beauty blenders:

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017Y9LEVS/ref=twister_B017XRL628?_encoding=UTF8&th=1  (2 for under $15)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FEPTH2C?psc=1 (highly rated & under $10)

brushes: 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I3VHKVK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1 (all for the face and concealing and pretty dense. i’ve only had two fall off the handle, and once they were glued-worked like a charm. 10 pieces for $10)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H51KLZA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (12 pieces for $11, includes eye, lip, fan, and liner brushes. haven’t fallen off so far)

http://www.elfcosmetics.com/makeup/tools (quality corresponds with price. the $1/$2 aren’t dense, at all to be honest, but i do love the $1 eye shadow blending brush and use it the most for blending eyeshadows when i have time to do that)

for the record, my skin is pretty oily (not my eyelids, brows, or under eye area thankfully-say masha’Allah) with really small dry patches on areas where i have acne, dark marks, or cystic spots. i also have big pores and blackheads, so usually i just try to find something that works with everything i’m cursed with.

i haven’t included mascaras or foundations, because i frankly haven’t found specific brands i would repurchase and i’m still experimenting-it’s also really subjective. i have three bottles of drugstore foundation i need to go through before testing out others. my current favorite foundation and the mascara i’m just about satisfied with are both high end, unfortunately.

honestly, i feel kind of bad for even trying to give makeup advice because i look like shite 90% of the time (especially my skin; it’s that bad, love)and should just really stay in my lane. but i really do hope it helps and that these products work for you, too.