Looking For Cheap Makeup? These Drugstore Options Are Awesome
My frugal philosophy is pretty simple: Scrimp on things that don’t matter to have the money for things that do. Makeup is important to me. I’ll forego other things that aren’t that important to afford quality makeup (that means avoiding cheap makeup) at all costs!
For years, my makeup of choice was M.A.C., sold online; at cosmetics counters in high-end department stores and in exclusive M.A.C. stores, worldwide. No cheap makeup for me.
It’s been some time since M.A.C. and I parted company and for one reason only—the ever-increasing cost of the M.A.C. line of cosmetics is enough to give me a heart attack.
It took a while, but with considerable research and many trials (and errors), I have replaced each of my M.A.C. items with one of these best drugstore makeup products. My criterion was that the replacement had to be cheaper, but of an equal or better quality.
While my new choices are available in drug and discount stores like Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Target, Ulta, and Walmart, I order online. I can get everything on this list at Amazon, in a single order. I routinely check and continue to find that Amazon’s prices are very competitive, and routinely cheaper.
Purchasing my best inexpensive makeup online works for me because not every drug or discount store carries the full line of every brand.
Best Drugstore Makeup Brands, Products
1. Primer
I got hooked on M.A.C. Prep+Prime Skin ($33) primer because it improves the application of foundation and powder. I’ve learned that starting with a good primer makes everything that follows that go on so much better.
Monistat Powder Gel
My drugstore primer is not actually sold as a makeup product, but it is an amazing powder gel that doubles as a fabulous face primer. Surprisingly, I find it to be better than M.A.C. You have to trust me on this—I would not lead you astray.
Monistat Soothing Care Powder Gel, is outstanding used as a makeup primer and outperforms any primer I know of anywhere. In the $6 range in drugstores.
2. Foundation
For many years I used M.A.C. Studio Fix Fluid ($33) in color C3.5. Good news—I’ve found an alternative I like even better.
Revlon Colorstay Makeup
Revlon Colorstay Makeup for Normal/Dry Skin (also available for Combination/Oily Skin) offers full coverage, it’s lightweight, buildable, and gives an “airbrushed” finish. SPF 20 and SPF 15, respectively. For me, color 240 (Medium Beige) is a perfect match. Available in a wide range of colors. About $10 depending on the drug or discount store.
3. Pressed Powder
I replaced M.A.C. Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in color C3 ($33) with this drugstore alternative.
Revlon Colorstay Pressed Powder
Revlon Colorstay Pressed Powder, Light/Medium 830. It is weightless, glides on, and doesn’t get that clumpy, cakey look. Oil-free, fragrance-free. Love it. Under $10 in drugstores.
4. Eye Shadow
I’ve replaced the tiny single color containers of M.A.C. Eye Shadow in Slate ($18 each—ouch!) with …
Revlon Colorstay 16 Hour Eye Shadow Quad
Revlon Colorstay 16 Hour Eye Shadow Quad, color Addictive. Truly amazing as the quality is so similar, I cannot tell the difference. About $8 average in drugstores.
5. Eyeliner
I’ve replaced M.A.C. eyeliner pencil ($19) with Prestige Waterproof Eyeliner, color Expresso
Prestige Waterproof Eyeliner
This Prestige eyeliner is smooth, glides on better and unlike my previous choice, it is waterproof and therefore, lasts longer. And no pencil sharpener required. About $8 depending on the drugstore. Variety of colors.
NOTE: The color Expresso can be difficult to find, but seems to be always available to purchase in all the other colors as well, directly from Prestige, $8.
6. Mascara
M.A.C. Extended Play Perfect Lash Mascara is excellent but at $24, not THAT excellent!
I’ve switched to Loreal Paris Voluminous Mascara, Black/Brown, which is an excellent alternative with at least equal results. About $6 in drugstores.
7. Lipstick
For years I’d worn M.A.C. lipstick in the color Sequin ($23) and flinched at even the idea of making a switch.
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick
But I did and I’ve had to do that more than a few times over the years. My current lipstick of choice is Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick, (dozens of color choices). Under $8 average in most drugstores that carry makeup.
8. Blush
My current M.A.C. Powder Blush ($25) replacement is Flower Beauty Flower Pots Powder Blush (Sweet Pea.)
Flower Pots Powder Blush
I love this product because I prefer matte blush—not that I have anything against shimmery, glitter-spiked makeup or anything 😉. This drugstore blush is among the best I’ve ever tried, thanks to the super-silky finish. Love it. About $10 in drugstores.
9. Eyebrows
This is the first eyebrow product I have ever used, so I cannot compare it to anything at M.A.C.
NYX Eyebrow Gel
All I know is that NYX Eyebrow Gel color: Blonde, is quite amazing. It stays put (for hours… and hours!), does not smear at all. I use an angled brush* to apply this gel, and can do that with hair-like strokes. Fabulous! I cannot imagine any product out there—at any price—to outdo NYX Eyebrow Gel.
*I really love this Duo Eyebrow Brush, which I found at Amazon (you may find something similar in your drugstore). It’s the perfect angle and has the round brush on the opposite end, which is super useful as well.
Overall, I figure that I’ve cut the cost of makeup by more than 60%—without sacrifice—by switching to what I consider the best drugstore makeup brands, products. And in almost every case, I’ve enjoyed a big improvement. I could not be happier.
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Thanks so much! I just spent quite a bit of money on lipsticks that look terrible on me that cost a fortune. I’m trying two of these lipsticks and the primer and the mascara! I know my husband will be super grateful as we are retired now and need to make some changes. Also, we bought the Stick Vacuum you recommended in another article. I’m so glad I found you again too.
Myra, Please submit your question here: Ask Me Anything Guidelines
I was a customer of the Cheapskate Monthly letter in approximately 1996. I had lost contact with your company in the last few years. Because of following your advice and getting completely out of debt I was able to retire on time in 2017. I will forever be grateful for your advice. I am still very frugal and follow so many of the things I learned from you through the years. I hope you are enjoying living in Colorado. It is great to find you again.
Welcome back, Teresa! Great to see you here and wow … your feedback is personally gratifying. Proud of you!
Thanks for the info. I have been struggling to find an eyeliner and mascara I like that is waterproof and doesn’t flake or smear. Even expensive ones flake. I checked Amazon for the Prestige. It seems they only had espresso at $30 each, so not the best deal. Some of my make-up I might I might switch, but some I might not.
Go to the Prestige website where you can buy direct …
Wow, thanks for this!!! I am finding ordering perishable stuff from Amazon kind of sketchy, some things have arrived watery or smelling weird. Walmart.com seems better better right now.
Great finds. Will try them. Thank you.
Over the years of being a makeup junkie too, I have become allergic to almost everything in it. Vegan makeup can be very expensive! However, I have discovered, all E.L.F. makeup is vegan. There aren’t a lot of color choices in the stores, so I went right to their website, where I was able to find mascara that wasn’t black, liner that was taupe, and eyebrow makeup in taupe. It’s hard to find lighter colors in the stores if one is very fair.