Drugstore Makeup Steals
Best Skin Tint
Best Concealer
CoverGirl Outlast Extreme
Wear Concealer
Best Mascara
E.l.f. Cosmetics Big Mood Mascara
Don't let the thick, creamy
consistency of the CoverGirl Outlast Extreme Wear Concealer ($13) throw you off; the formula feels the opposite of heavy on skin. In fact, it's pretty weightless, which is shocking given
the full coverage it provides. One dot
will cover even the darkest circles or angriest breakout and leave only a natural, skin-like finish. And once it's on, you're good. It won't settle into fine lines or move throughout the day. It's also waterproof, so it'll hold up against summertime dining al fresco or
post-Peloton plans.
It might be called the E.l.f. Cosmetics
Big Mood Mascara ($7), but this one
is giving us big-lash energy. Thanks to
the fluffy, hourglass-shaped brush and jojoba wax, it evenly coats each hair to
bulk everything up and gently lock your
curl in place. The buildable formula gives lashes natural-looking volume and length with one swipe, or a falsies-worthy effect with two or three more. No clumps here.
Best Brow Gel
Nyx Professional Makeup
Brow Glue Instant Brow Styler
Ever wondered how Sarah
Cameron's brows looked so good
after a shipwreck, a failed robbery, and
an impromptu surgery in season two of
Outer Banks? If we had to guess, we would wager she was using the Nyx Professional Makeup The Brow Glue Instant Brow Styler ($7). This clear brow gel starts out tacky, so you can get a ton of shaping and lift at first swipe, then dries down in a minute to a nonsticky, transparent
coating that doesn't flake or budge.
Best Lipstick
Maybelline Color Sensational Ultimatte Slim Lipstick
There's an old-school makeup
artist trick to getting the most high-
impact matte lips that involves tapping loose pigments over your lipstick. It's pretty involved, and, as you can imagine, powder fallout is unavoidable. The Maybelline Color Sensational Ultimatte Slim Lipstick ($7) gets you that same vivid effect, minus all the mess. "Pigmented" doesn't begin
to describe the intense color payoff
of these slender lipsticks, as well as the blurring, matte finish and comfortable
wear is unmatched.
The Lip Bar Tinted
Skin Conditioner
"Skin tints" quickly became
2021's alternative to foundation, delivering those fresh-faced, no-makeup-makeup complexions you see all over your FYP. The best of the bunch?
The Lip Bar Tinted Skin Conditioner
($21). This vegan, cruelty-free tinted moisturizer delivers light coverage that just looks like skin, albeit more glowy and even-toned. Plus, its eight-shade range, from deep cocoa to porcelain, covers a surprisingly huge depth of skin tones, thanks to the sheer finish.
Sean Garrette
Aesthetician and skin-care influencer
