So I have been seeing this tag going around on YouTube since 2012 so I decided to do it on this blog! Unfortunately, I couldn't find the person or group that created this but anyway, here is my take on the tag. Given the current situation of the world right now (a new plague, COVID-19, causing whole cities to quarantine themselves), it's probably not wise to go out to the nearest drugstore to buy makeup so I wanted this post to be different but accessible.
So I decided to include products that can't necessarily be found in the drugstore but have drugstore makeup prices. So there will be indie brands and makeup brands that sell exclusively online included on this list because these days, it's wiser and more practical to go online shopping.
1. What is your favorite drugstore makeup brand overall?
I genuinely love Revolution Makeup (and all of its sister brands really) the most. There is no brand that has the product range, social consciousness, and accessibility like they have. It's also very rare for me to have a lot of products from the same brand for the eyes, face, and cheeks. But here we are. And this collection will likely just keep growing!
I love their packaging, I love the improving quality of their products, and I honestly find it hard to not buy something from them because I just love so many things.
2. What are your favorite face, cheek and lip products?
Face
Powder: Ellana Minerals Stay Matte Poreless Powder
I wanted to try a local brand loose powder to set my complexion products just to see if I could find one that matched my skin tone and was better for my skin. I found this. I wouldn't necessarily say that using this powder means you should skip setting spray (it doesn't do THAT much).
But it sets my face products down nicely, allows you to blend blush and highlighter on top of this seamlessly, and gives you a nice finish. Can't ask for more than that.
Concealer: Revolution Makeup Conceal and Define Concealer
Are you really surprised that I mentioned this product? I hope not. Revolution Makeup recently came out with a bigger tube and I went ahead and bought two.
Cheeks:
Highlighter: Mermaid Beauty Mermaid Glow Kit
I know, I know, I did talk about this just last week but in all honesty, this is a really good highlighting palette. It's diverse AND accessible.
Blush: VICE Cosmetics blushes
While these are technically cheek duos (from the BTS collection released in 2019), the blush side on these compacts is the same formula that you know and love from this brand. They're pigmented, blend well, and last throughout the day. These are also perfect for my skin tone, I look human with it on.
Lips: VICE Cosmetics and Detail Makeover Liquid Lipsticks
It's a tie between these two brands for me, you can't make me choose! I simply love the formula, color selection, and affordability of the liquid lipsticks from both these brands.
3. Least favorite product?
Since I use a lot of drugstore products, I do come across some duds pretty often. I definitely need to give this question to the J. Cat Beauty Lipfinity Matte Lip in Wild Limo Rides though. I have a LOT of black lipsticks, and this is the most disappointing one out of all of them.
It's just too sheer and I don't think the lasting power or comfort is that great. I recommend that you buy from Detail Makeover or Colourpop over this product.
4. What is the best makeup bargain?
I think for makeup that you will use on a daily basis, it's such a nice thing if it's affordable because you will likely go through it quickly and will be repurchasing it a lot. That's the reason why I love the Essence mascaras so much.
They work so so well and are so affordable. I don't even use mascara as much anymore but these give my lashes drama and it lasts! It's so nice to know that you really don't need to pay an arm and a leg for good quality makeup anymore.
5. What is your favorite underdog product? (Something you love that often gets overlooked?
I rarely see this product being talked about but I love using the Lash Lock Glue from Jolie Beauty Cosmetics as a glitter glue for my makeup looks. As an eyelash glue, it's terrible but it's exactly what I'm looking for in an eye adhesive type of product.
It's clear, dries down fast, and doesn't budge. And it's only around 504 pesos. I bought it around August last year and I've barely made a dent. I love iiiiit.
6. A drugstore product that is overpriced?
I can honestly put so many products here because a lot of drugstore products are getting a bit overpriced and it does confuse me. Is this inflation at play or are we the ones being played? While I do love the products that I do have NYX Cosmetics, I still think their prices are way too high. I particularly feel this way about The Love You So Mochi Highlighting Palette in Arcade Glam.
Now this palette is very well used, and I like it and think it's a nice palette. It's pale girl-friendly, and I don't find the texture not gimmicky at all because the glow you get is really amazing. But it was almost 1000 pesos when I bought it. (Upon writing this, the palette is on sale now and is roughly around 700 pesos, which is more reasonable).
There are so many colorful highlighting palettes out there at drugstore prices that you can definitely skip this palette. It's not really worth it in my opinion.
7. Show your best drugstore dupes!!
These palettes aren't necessarily what I call exactly dupes, but they're both similar to a bunch of Huda Beauty Palettes. I have reviewed this before on the blog but my opinion deserves reiteration: I love the Chocolate Rose Gold palette from Revolution Beauty! It's honestly one their best eyeshadow palettes in quality and formula.
It looks similar to the insanely overpriced and infamous Rose Gold Palette from Huda Beauty - minus those annoying pressed glitters. This is an old favorite in my collection that I will continue to keep and cherish.
A newer palette in my collection that I have enjoyed using is the Colourpop It's My Pleasure palette. It looks a lot like the Amethyst Obsessions palette from Huda Beauty.
But after seeing a lot of the comparisons online, I don't think this is a dupe either. I saw reviews saying that the Colourpop shadows are more pigmented for one thing. And from the swatches I see online, the Huda Beauty palette has deeper purple tones that are matte while CP has more variety.
Lastly, the newest palette of the bunch is the Focallure Secret Palette. My boyfriend gifted me this along with a bunch of other products from this brand. So I didn't buy this myself but I will still be honest about this. Focallure is known to dupe many high-end brands, and this palette does look similar to the Emerald Obsessions Palette from Huda Beauty.
However, I don't think the brand intentionally did this because they had their fans vote for the color scheme of this palette from a selection of green shades. This is the first time they have done this, and there are a few key differences in eyeshadow colors between the two.
I actually like the quality of this palette, I think the metallic shades are a little inconsistent but the mattes are pigmented, blend well, and the shadows haven't irritated my eyes.
8. Drugstore product that isn’t worth the hype?
I know a lot of people like to hype up Ellana Minerals products but I don't get the hype for their Stay Fresh setting spray. I got it to try it out but I don't really think it's doing anything to make my makeup last longer, it just helps melt it into my skin. I feel like makeup still breaks down through out the day when I wear this, even if I only leave my house for a few hours.
I need a setting spray that keeps my makeup matte and intact for as long as possible through sweat, heat, and humidity. Does it do this? Not at all. Gotta keep looking.
My Final Thoughts
Well, there you have it! My top recommendations (and warnings) of some quality makeup products. Hopefully, I go back to a more regular posting schedule after this. See you next week!
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