I Polled 15+ Celebrity Makeup Artists: 11 Drugstore Products They Agree Are Better Than Luxury Buys
Save yourself the cash with these designer-rivaling formulas from Maybelline, NYX, Neutrogena, and more.
Ask any makeup artist what their favorite products are, and it’ll likely be a mix of high and low. While famous formulas like Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation (yes, even the reformulated version) and Dior’s lauded 999 Rouge Dior Velvet red lipstick will forever remain makeup kit staples, most artists would be lost without their ol’ reliable drugstore buys.
Almost as if in a perfect balance, the sections of their kits will jump from $145 foundations (hi, Hermès Plein Air Luminous Matte) to $10 mascaras, evening the playing field and performing with star quality. But after asking more than 15 expert makeup artists if drugstore SKUs can match (or even outperform) high-end options, the overwhelming majority said yes—however, they agree that not all formulas are made equal.
Celebrity makeup artist Neil Scibelli believes that, despite differences in formula, the sharp success of drugstore beauty can be attributed to accessibility. “People want that flexibility to try new looks without having to over-invest, and mass brands make that a real possibility for consumers and beauty fans,” he explains. In an economy where the cost of living and other necessary expenses continue to rise, Scibelli recognizes that beauty is not the main focus for most—which is why accessible, low-priced, drugstore heroes make the most impact. Luckily, there’s a handful that the pros say can keep up with, or even replace, your pricey purchases.
Keep scrolling for our master list of drugstore beauty products that behave like designer.
11 Drugstore Beauty Products that Rival Luxury Formulas
Lip liners are equal opportunists in both the drugstore and luxury retailers, according to the pros, but nothing beats NYX's low-priced offerings. "The NYX lip liners are just as good as their expensive counterparts," says celebrity MUA Kirin Bhatty, who glams the likes of Chase Infiniti and Lilly Allen. "I swear by them!" she adds. Celebrity makeup artist Mical Klip specifically calls out the brand's Slim Liner as a personal favorite. "[It] gets a lot of play in my kit," they tell Who What Wear. The formula is silky soft and available in a wide variety of shades, each offering impressive long wear and a comfortable texture.
Setting sprays are an essential in every makeup artist's kit, but most can attest that you don't need to spend $30+ on a bottle to get high-end, long-lasting results. "I honestly prefer the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Setting Spray to the One/Size," one celebrity makeup artist tells me confidentially, referencing the mega-viral One/Size On 'Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray.
Scibelli agrees that setting spray is a category where drugstore works just as well as luxury formulas—even expensive foundations. "You can think of it as similar to fashion, where you might pair a higher-end bag with some fast fashion pieces,” he explains.
"I just don’t believe in spending more than $15 on a mascara," one celebrity MUA tells WWW anonymously. It seems that others would agree, as experts Kelli Anne Sewell and Alexandra French have previously recommended this lash-defining, volume-boosting mascara over spendy picks. The curved brush offers improved application, capturing every last fine lash—yes, even the short ones on the inner corners—and gives your fringe noticeable, yet natural-looking length with each swipe.
Bhatty adores these glossy lip stains for long-wearing glam with high impact. The formula swipes on with a high-shine, pigmented fervor that eventually dries down into a watercolor wash of color—allowing you to build up the intensity if desired throughout the day, or hydrating the skin and leaving behind a no-budge kiss of color that will last for hours. "I use them constantly," she adds. "They are high-performing products that feel luxe."
Lip gloss is another category full of formulas that excel both on the drugstore aisles and the luxury plane. Klip personally recommends the 3D Hydra glosses from Kiko Milano, which retail for just $14 and come in a bevy of juicy, vibrant colors in sparkling and traditional glossy finishes. We WWW editors love our luxe formulas from Dior, Chanel, and Armani Beauty, but no one can deny the power of a good drugstore lip gloss.
In the age of glass skin and dewy makeup, it's easy to overlook powder. However, the pros confirm this product as a makeup must-have in whatever form—whether for setting, baking, or foundation—especially if you're going for long wear. This drugstore pick is a common recommendation from anyone makeup-obsessed, as its versatile formula allows you to brush a light layer over liquid foundation to set the makeup or apply it directly to the skin with a sponge for optimal oil control and buildable coverage. Plus, it's available in 25 flexible shades.
Scibelli wastes no time recommending Revolution Beauty as a whole at Target for luxury-level performance, but specifically zeroes in on this SPF-boosted skin tint from Makeup Revolution. "It's infused with skincare and antioxidants, but most of all, it gives this sheer, even glow to your skin for $17," he gushes. "People are already comparing it to Fenty's and Laura Mercier's skin tints."
For another lip stain option, experts recommend Milani's Color Fetish tubes for its semi-matte formula, hydrating formula, and long staying power that offers up to eight hours of no-budge color. Its plush doe foot applicator extends into an angular point that makes it easy to sketch precise lines and a defined cupid's bow before filling in the rest of the lips,—each stroke providing lush hydration thanks to its hyaluronic acid and squalane-infused formula.
Speaking of no-budge lip colors, Spickard advocates for the Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick when it comes to standout drugstore formulas. "Long-wear lipsticks from Maybelline outlast and outwear any luxury brand," he states. The bulletproof formula—which offers up to 16 hours of wear, high pigmentation, and resistance to water, sweat, smudging, and eating—is surprisingly comfortable despite its high-quality performance. Plus, it comes in more than 30 shades. What more can you want?
Another product that Scibelli says can compete with bigger names is this juicy, hydrating blush stick from Neutrogena. "It's a buildable, creamy blush stick that goes on super smooth and is infused with mango butter," he describes. "The color range is really beautiful, offering shades from mauves to peachy tones to deeper berry tones. This is certainly one of the best cream blush formulations that I've tested from a drugstore," he adds.
Though our experts love the NYX Slim Pencil, there's another lip liner that made its way out of our expert polls and onto this page. The Maybelline Lifter Liner is a matte, contouring lip pencil that offers your pout a plumper, more cushiony appearance with every swipe. Its formula is designed to be long-lasting with hours of wear while hydrating the lips with hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil, which gives the cream tip a luxurious glide.
What Will Celebrity Makeup Artists Only Shop Luxury For?
While there are many products you can get comparable results from while saving money by shopping at the drugstore, Scibelli says there are a few categories worth investing in when it comes to beauty. "I'll typically go for luxe eyeshadow palettes and lipsticks for clients," he explains—his clientele being seen on red carpets hours after sitting in his chair, which requires creaseless formulas. "However, as a consumer, I would pick up my [face] cleanser at the drugstore because it's on our skin for way less time," he explains. The makeup artist also relies on the drugstore for makeup kit essentials, such as makeup removers and mascaras.
"I would invest in a powerful skincare serum that addresses your personal skincare needs, and then mix and match with some drugstore skincare and SPF," he recommends. However, when it comes to foundation, Scibelli recommends going into your favorite beauty retailer and looking for a perfect color match with an expert (and ideally something with a bit more skincare benefits)—things that you simply can't get in the drugstore.
