Forums > Hair, Makeup & Styling > best drugstore cosmetics brand

Model

allie catherine

Posts: 347

Hagerstown, Maryland, US

As a college student, I'm of course on a very limited budget...  I'm saving my money to invest in a good, more expensive brand of make-up (probably Smashbox), but until then I need to replenish some of my make-up just from CVS... particularly eye shadow and eyebrow powder...

What brand/product would you recommend??

Mar 19 09 12:50 pm Link

Makeup Artist

BellusCreations

Posts: 103

i personally like nyx and Annabelle...i am not sure if Annabelle is vailable in US but in Canada it is a great hit.

Mar 19 09 01:03 pm Link

Model

allie catherine

Posts: 347

Hagerstown, Maryland, US

thanks for the response... I've never heard of them before so I'm not sure if its available down here or not

Mar 19 09 01:09 pm Link

Model

allie catherine

Posts: 347

Hagerstown, Maryland, US

anyone else?

Mar 19 09 01:13 pm Link

Makeup Artist

SarahKay

Posts: 1682

Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

I've heard L'oreal Hip colours are pretty good

Mar 19 09 01:24 pm Link

Makeup Artist

Vanessa Dawn- Jhaesayte

Posts: 2567

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

TOTALLY NYX!!!! I love that brand!!

NYC is decent for making your own lip palettes.

Mar 19 09 01:52 pm Link

Makeup Artist

BellusCreations

Posts: 103

Jhaesayte wrote:
TOTALLY NYX!!!! I love that brand!!

NYC is decent for making your own lip palettes.

i had some nyc lipsticks in past but they won't stay long....could u please tell me how to make own lip palettes with NYC.

Mar 19 09 01:58 pm Link

Photographer

Jess Bowen

Posts: 510

Winchester, Virginia, US

I'm no makeup artist, but I love Loreal HIP, it's really vibrant.

Mar 19 09 03:35 pm Link

Makeup Artist

Jordan Liberty

Posts: 4831

New York, New York, US

Loreal HIP.

Mar 19 09 04:00 pm Link

Makeup Artist

ZenaDamali

Posts: 325

Boston, Massachusetts, US

Milani eyeshadow
L'Oreal HIP eyeshadow
NYX
NYC
Black Opal eyeshadow
Maybelline Dream Mousse Matte-this actually photographs pretty well! Ive tried it out.
Maybelline Airbrush liquid foundation-photographs pretty well for cheap stuff!
Maybelline dream mousse cream blush-could not tell the difference between this and my NARS cream blushes.

Maybelline-dream pressed powder foundation or the regular pressed powder.

Maybelline Define Lash mascara-worked better than my MAC mascaras!

L'Oreal Art liner liquid liner-worked just as well as my Lancome liquid liner.

Wet n Wild cream luminizers/bronzers-works excellent for a dewy bronzed look!

edited to add: you can find some of the most pigmented eyeshadows and lipcolors in the "ethnic or African American" area of the cosmetics section. 

Max Factor clear brow gel

Max Factor pancake foundation

Mar 19 09 04:04 pm Link

Model

allie catherine

Posts: 347

Hagerstown, Maryland, US

wow, thank you so much for the advice everyone!

Mar 19 09 04:58 pm Link

Photographer

terminal blue

Posts: 234

New Orleans, Louisiana, US

i'm not a MUA, but...

i'm a big fan of ben nye theatrical makeup...not available at drug stores, but still on the cheap side.

Mar 19 09 05:25 pm Link

Photographer

Divo Models

Posts: 5469

Atlanta, Georgia, US

Loreal

Mar 19 09 05:43 pm Link

Makeup Artist

Aziza Walker

Posts: 865

New York, New York, US

HIP, Nyx. Milani used to be good but they totally sold out to the Man.

Mar 19 09 06:05 pm Link

Hair Stylist

A J T

Posts: 3113

Brooklyn, New York, US

terminal blue wrote:
i'm not a MUA, but...

i'm a big fan of ben nye theatrical makeup...not available at drug stores, but still on the cheap side.

Yeah if you have a costume store near you, they may have this. Last I bought them, they were like 9 dollars for a color and the pot's pretty humongous. But I haven't gotten any of those in a couple years.

Mar 19 09 06:49 pm Link

Makeup Artist

Jordan Liberty

Posts: 4831

New York, New York, US

allie catherine wrote:
As a college student, I'm of course on a very limited budget...  I'm saving my money to invest in a good, more expensive brand of make-up (probably Smashbox), but until then I need to replenish some of my make-up just from CVS... particularly eye shadow and eyebrow powder...

What brand/product would you recommend??

Maybelline makes good brow powder, believe it or not.

Mar 19 09 06:53 pm Link

Model

B Ludwig

Posts: 80

Los Angeles, California, US

I love Maybelline mascaras. Thats all I use for shoots and I love when they have the buy one get one free deals. I stock up my kit.

Mar 19 09 07:01 pm Link

Makeup Artist

Stephanie Rinda

Posts: 8

Franklin, Arkansas, US

NYX and Milani have great eyeshadow colors

Mar 19 09 07:01 pm Link

Model

Action Packed

Posts: 516

Norwich, Connecticut, US

Hey, I'm a college student, I feel your pain.

If you go onto smashbox.com, on the far right they have "curtain call", these are their on sale items. If you order between 9AM and 2PM on a tuesday or thursday, even if your order from the curtain call section, they will also give you a full size make up product that they are promoting that week for absolutely free. Plus a choice of one from three free samples they are promoting that week, plus an extra free sample they are also promoting. For $22.50 from smash box I got a quad with three eye shadows and a cream liner. Then they gave me a full size dark brown shadow cream liner for free, plus a sample of their O Glow blush that shades to your natural blush color automatically, plus their photo light foundation sample. All that from smashbox for 22.50, just last week.

So Smashbox isn't completely out of your reach on a student budget!

Yeah, this college student finds the deals smile

As for drugstore cosmetics, I like Almay the best. Comparing it to my smashbox deal, I got a liquid eyeliner, a pencil eyeliner, and a mascara all in deep amethyst purple this week for about 25.00, so pick your deal!

Mar 19 09 07:15 pm Link

Model

Cadence Rose

Posts: 2689

Greenfield, Massachusetts, US

I'm not an MUA, but I LOVE both makeup and CVS and I too recommend Loreal HIP. It's my favorite that I can afford!

Mar 19 09 07:21 pm Link

Makeup Artist

Vanessa Dawn- Jhaesayte

Posts: 2567

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

BellusCreations wrote:

i had some nyc lipsticks in past but they won't stay long....could u please tell me how to make own lip palettes with NYC.

Get your colors, cut them out of the tube into a palette and stick them in the microwave for a short time so they just melt enough to settle down straight into the pan.

Mar 19 09 07:35 pm Link

Model

allie catherine

Posts: 347

Hagerstown, Maryland, US

Action Packed Amanda  wrote:
Hey, I'm a college student, I feel your pain.

If you go onto smashbox.com, on the far right they have "curtain call", these are their on sale items. If you order between 9AM and 2PM on a tuesday or thursday, even if your order from the curtain call section, they will also give you a full size make up product that they are promoting that week for absolutely free. Plus a choice of one from three free samples they are promoting that week, plus an extra free sample they are also promoting. For $22.50 from smash box I got a quad with three eye shadows and a cream liner. Then they gave me a full size dark brown shadow cream liner for free, plus a sample of their O Glow blush that shades to your natural blush color automatically, plus their photo light foundation sample. All that from smashbox for 22.50, just last week.

So Smashbox isn't completely out of your reach on a student budget!

Yeah, this college student finds the deals smile

As for drugstore cosmetics, I like Almay the best. Comparing it to my smashbox deal, I got a liquid eyeliner, a pencil eyeliner, and a mascara all in deep amethyst purple this week for about 25.00, so pick your deal!

great idea! how did you ever figure that out??

Mar 19 09 07:43 pm Link

Photographer

Ernesto Casillas

Posts: 1346

Los Angeles, California, US

hmmmm...milani, really?
i shall head to cvs and get me those cream blushes ive been wanting, the maybelline mousse

Mar 19 09 08:05 pm Link

Model

ElleV

Posts: 3343

San Antonio, Texas, US

maybelline has amazing eye shadow.  recommendation: midnight sky(black)

Mar 19 09 08:10 pm Link

Model

allie catherine

Posts: 347

Hagerstown, Maryland, US

does anyone know how bare minerals photograph?

Mar 19 09 08:24 pm Link

Makeup Artist

Jordan Liberty

Posts: 4831

New York, New York, US

allie catherine wrote:
does anyone know how bare minerals photograph?

like shit.

no really.

bounces back solid white or halogen green.

it's dirt.

Mar 19 09 08:49 pm Link

Makeup Artist

Jordan Liberty

Posts: 4831

New York, New York, US

allie catherine wrote:

great idea! how did you ever figure that out??

I forgot about that! Great advice. Yeah, they do 'let's do lunch' on there where you get free shipping and stuff. Curtain Call has some of my favorite oldies they are discontinuing:(

Mar 19 09 08:51 pm Link

Makeup Artist

Tj Felts

Posts: 11

Los Angeles, California, US

Love Nyx and HIP! Avoid BE at all costs!

Mar 19 09 08:58 pm Link

Model

Ceecilia

Posts: 1012

New York, New York, US

Mar 19 09 09:26 pm Link

Photographer

Chicchowmein

Posts: 14585

Palm Beach, Florida, US

Cecilia model wrote:
does any use ELF?
http://www.eyeslipsface.com/

I have used ELF before some of their shadows are pretty good. I am not a MUA but some of the MUA's I work with said that they were decently pigmented.

Also I have used the Loreal Hip shadows and they were good

Mar 19 09 09:33 pm Link

Model

Olivia C-L

Posts: 1180

Portland, Oregon, US

Cecilia model wrote:
does any use ELF?
http://www.eyeslipsface.com/

Their products smell really gross...overly fragranced...the lip stuff smells and tastes gross...

Mar 19 09 09:46 pm Link

Makeup Artist

Ms Eryka

Posts: 3923

Inwood, New York, US

Loreal and Max factor

I'll also play in Black Opal also

Mar 19 09 10:27 pm Link

Photographer

Chicchowmein

Posts: 14585

Palm Beach, Florida, US

Olivia Long wrote:

Their products smell really gross...overly fragranced...the lip stuff smells and tastes gross...

My dog loves their lip products ( He eats it) also he ate the foundation tubes but I did not notice any funky smells from the eye make-up.

Mar 19 09 10:34 pm Link

Model

Vivien H

Posts: 269

San Francisco, California, US

Cecilia model wrote:
does any use ELF?
http://www.eyeslipsface.com/

The eye shadows and eye creams are great for every day wear and since they're so cheap, you can have every color in the rainbow. I find their foundation to be drying on my skin.  Their lip gloss is very sheer.  I would not recommend their eye pencils at all - they break easily, don't go on smoothly!

Mar 19 09 10:43 pm Link

Makeup Artist

Teresa Wylie

Posts: 3706

Livingston, Scotland, United Kingdom

Jordan Liberty wrote:

like shit.

no really.

bounces back solid white or halogen green.

it's dirt.

HAHA!! you are cool, you just tell it how it is, love it!

I like Urban decay and Too faced products, the eyeshadows and liners in particular.
I also like maybelline mascaras
Revlon lipgloss, oh and skinlights.
Some Barry M things too, the really bright liners and the lip paints.

Mar 20 09 05:29 am Link

Makeup Artist

Aziza Walker

Posts: 865

New York, New York, US

Ernesto Casillas wrote:
hmmmm...milani, really?
i shall head to cvs and get me those cream blushes ive been wanting, the maybelline mousse

Milani has great pot eyeshadow and really nice quads. Avoid the Runway Strips and the single shadows that are bigger than your standard shadow. They have glitter and crap on them and they suck. Milani used to have the best blush formula but they discontinued them and jumped on the mineral bandwagon. Minerals suck.

Mar 20 09 05:59 am Link

Model

Ceecilia

Posts: 1012

New York, New York, US

I remember Milani use to have this GREAT waterproof mascara...sadly I can't find it anymore

Mar 20 09 07:42 am Link

Makeup Artist

Cordial Lee MUA

Posts: 2256

Houston, Texas, US

Revlon Color Stay foundation
Loreal True Match foundation
Max Factor foundation

Loreal HIP eye shadows
NYX eye shadows, jumbo pencils, lip stocks/glosses
NYC eye liners, lashes (they're about a buck cheaper than regular lashes and come in a light and heavier fringe), lipstick
Milani eye shadows
Black Opal eye shadows
Black Radiance eye shadows

Milani brow kit (comes with two or three shades in powder options, mini brush, and tweezers)

Loreal lash tube mascara
Cover Girl lash blast mascara

Wet n' Wild nail polish

ELF brushes (if you just need some real quick for real cheap), all over color sticks

Rimmel foundation primer

Cover Girl blush (in Natural Twinkle)

Mar 20 09 07:58 am Link

Model

allie catherine

Posts: 347

Hagerstown, Maryland, US

so I went and got maybelline dream matte mousse foundation and blush, milani eyebrow kit, and loreal HIP eyeshadow...

I usually never wear foundation, and if I do its just Bare Minerals so I was wondering how to apply the mousse foundation.  Sponge?  Please help!  My shoot is tomorrow and it's basically my first shoot ever.  (So nervous/excited!)

Mar 20 09 06:18 pm Link

Model

allie catherine

Posts: 347

Hagerstown, Maryland, US

anyone??

Mar 20 09 07:02 pm Link