3 Makeup Artists Reveal Their Top Drugstore Picks Over Luxury Products
Whenever we're looking for beauty product recommendations, we like to turn to makeup artists. Day in and day out, these beauty pros are testing the latest and greatest that makeup brands have to offer, and they're not shy about sharing their honest opinions.
Makeup artists know which products will last all day and which ones will give up on you after a few hours. They also know when it's worth spending your hard-earned money on an ultra-pricey product.
For this reason, we were curious to know which drugstore products experts would buy over a luxury version, so we asked three of them—and their answers surprised us.
We chatted with celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert Nydia Figueroa ; Connecticut-based professional makeup artist Lindsey Trop ; and Tim Quinn , a celebrity makeup artist and the co-founder of Halo42 Skincare .
Each of the pros weighed in on the drugstore vs. luxury makeup debate and gave some of their personal picks for the best drugstore makeup products that perform just as well as their expensive counterparts.
From the best mascara to the most affordable find under $10, these makeup artist drugstore picks are worth a bit of your beauty budget.
The 3 Categories Where Drugstore Beats High-End Every Time
Getty
If you've ever shopped for makeup at a drugstore, you know the selection is pretty impressive.
Drugstores are full of quality makeup products, but the pros we spoke with said there are three main categories where drugstore products beat their pricey counterparts every single time.
1. Mascara
"Mascara has a short shelf life and most expire after three months of use. Buying from the drugstore every three months versus buying from a luxury retailer definitely helps you save," Trop explains.
"There are so many drugstore mascaras that give you great volume, length and definition that spending $30+ isn't necessary," she adds.
Figueroa agrees and says this is one category where she "almost always" reaches for a drugstore option.
2. Lip products
"When it comes to lip products, drugstores have the fullest array of shades, finishes and applicators. You can absolutely find your perfect lip product there," Trop says.
Figueroa is also fond of the lip gloss selection at drugstores.
"Drugstore brands offer beautiful shades, textures and finishes. Gloss is also such a fun way to change up your look, so I'd rather save here and have a few options to play with," she tells Parade .
Related: The Clever Lipstick Trick We Wish We'd Known About Sooner
3. Brow products
"You don't have to spend a lot to get a good brow pencil or gel. What matters to me is a pencil that gives me control and a gel that holds the hairs in place without making the brows look stiff," Figueroa says.
7 DrugstoreProducts Makeup Artists Buy Over Luxury
1. Best Overall Drugstore Swap: Maybelline SuperStay Vinyl Ink Liquid Lipstick , $12.99
CVS
Trop is a huge fan of this affordable liquid lipstick that offers up to 16 hours of wear and a color lock formula that prevents smudging.
"Historically, it's been incredibly difficult to find a lip product that is truly long wear and also has a sheen, or gloss-like finish. This was virtually unheard of until Maybelline SuperStay Vinyl Ink Liquid Lipstick came onto the scene," Trop says.
2. Best Drugstore Mascara: Maybelline Sky High Washable Mascara , $13.99
Walgreens
"Mascara is one category where you can get a beautiful result without spending a fortune. I want length, separation and enough definition to open up the eyes without making the lashes look heavy. Sky High is a great option for that polished, fluttery effect," Quinn says.
Trop has even done a side-by-side comparison that pitted this drugstore product against luxury mascaras.
"This was a clear winner. It offers maximum length, volume and curl at a drugstore price point," she says.
3. Best Drugstore Beauty Product Under $10: Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner , $9.19
CVS
Figueroa swears by this multitasking eyeliner that's waterproof, smudge-proof, fade-proof and transfer-proof. Plus, it offers up to 24 hours of wear.
"I love the rich color payoff and how well it stays put," she says.
Related: 15 Best Drugstore Moisturizers for Mature Skin, According to Professional Makeup Artists
4. Best Drugstore Brow Gel: e.l.f. Wow Brow Gel , $6
CVS
Quinn is quite fond of this budget-friendly find.
"Brows frame the whole face, but I don't want them to look painted on. A tinted brow gel is such an easy way to add a little fullness and groom the hairs while keeping the effect soft. This is a lovely finishing touch for very little money," he says.
Trop is also a fan of the product.
"It delivers tint, fullness and definition all in one swipe. It absolutely rivals luxury brands," she tells Parade .
5. Best Drugstore Concealer: LA Girl Pro.Conceal , $5.49
CVS
Figueroa adores this concealer's wide array of shades.
"I love that the formula is crease-resistant. The brush tip makes it easy to use on yourself, whether you're concealing or using a deeper shade to sculpt the face. It's one of those affordable products that does more than one job," she says.
6. Best Drugstore Cream Blush: Milani Cheek Kiss Cream Blush , $11.49
CVS
"Milani has always been known for their blushes—both creams and powders. This formula blends really easily and gives the cheeks a beautiful flush without looking patchy or muddy," Trop says.
7. Best Drugstore Lip Liner: NYX Professional Makeup Slim Lip Pencil Lip Liner , $6
Ulta
A good pencil should give you control, and Quinn says this one offers it up in spades.
"I like a traditional pencil that you can sharpen to a fine point, softly define the lip and then blend inward. NYX offers a lovely range of shades at an accessible price. The key is choosing a shade that works in harmony with your lipstick and your own coloring," he says.
Trop is also fond of the lip pencil's consistency.
"The product is creamy enough to apply easily, but still gives you the definition you want from a lip liner," she explains.
Related: Dermatologists Settle the Debate: How Often Should You Really Exfoliate Mature Skin?
3 Products That Are Worth the Splurge, Makeup Artists Say
Everyone loves a bargain, but sometimes, it's worth splurging on particular products.
"I tend to invest in complexion products, particularly foundation and cream blush, because their texture and finish influence the entire look," Quinn tells Parade . "Shade selection is equally important. I want foundation to become part of the skin and blush to bring life back into the face. Especially on mature skin, that beautiful balance of coverage, luminosity and softness is worth investing in."
Figueroa and Trop are also willing to shell out more money for the right complexion products.
"As a makeup artist, I need to find the right shade and undertone for the person in my chair, and I like being able to swatch a formula before committing to it. Some drugstore lines have excellent complexion products, but shade selection and the chance to test them in person can make the difference for me," Figueroa says.
Here are a few of the products the pros are willing to spend a little extra money on:
1. Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick , $48
Westman Atelier
Quinn loves this cream blush since it blends beautifully.
"Baby Cheeks creates that soft, fresh flush, and the stick makes application so easy. Work a small amount onto the cheeks and blend outward. Keeping the cheek and lip tones in harmony makes the whole look feel effortless," he says.
2. Sarah Creal Face Flex Concealer & Complexion Enhancer with Caffeine , $58
Sephora
Trop loves the amazing coverage this concealer offers.
"It sits so beautifully on the skin," she says.
As an added bonus, it's formulated with hydrating hyaluronic acid and caffeine, which depuffs dark circles.
3. Dior Forever Skin Glow Liquid Foundation , $60
Sephora
A high quality foundation is "worth every penny," according to Trop.
"I don't need to worry about this foundation emphasizing fine lines and texture. It has a radiant, blurring finish," she says.
How To Tell When Price Actually Buys You Something
Paying more for luxury products that don't perform well is so yesterday . But it can be a gamble since you can't tell how well a product will work unless you test it.
"I look beyond the packaging and pay attention to how the product actually performs. Does the color show up the way it should? Does it blend easily, wear well and do what it promises?" Figueroa says.
Unfortunately, there's no real way to find out how well a product will work unless you test it in store or get a sample. But the ingredients list can be a valuable cheat sheet.
"For skincare-related makeup products, in addition to the product usage experience, it's important to look at the ingredients themselves and the concentration of the key ingredients in the formula," Trop explains.
If you do splurge and purchase a luxury product, you can tell if it's worth its price tag by observing how it acts when you apply it.
"The real test is how it looks and lasts on different skin types and tones. If an affordable product gives me the same result, I don't see a reason to spend more," Figueroa says.
Up Next:
Related: We Compared a $12 Mascara With a $32 Option—Here's the 1 a Makeup Artist Prefers
Sources:
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Nydia Figueroa is a celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert.
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Lindsey Trop is a Connecticut-based professional makeup artist .
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Tim Quinn is a celebrity makeup artist and the co-founder of Halo42 Skincare .
This story was originally published by Parade on Oct 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the Beauty section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
