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Olympic Gymnast Suni Lee Is a Drugstore Makeup Connoisseur—Here’s Everything She Swears By That’s $20 or Less
Including an award-winning concealer, iconic mascara, and viral highlighter.
You probably know Suni Lee from her iconic Olympic appearances (her 2024 uneven bars routine lives rent-free in my head), her Sports Illustrated shoot, or her viral TikToks giving us a peek into her newfound life in New York. But I know her as a beauty muse. Ever since she wore extra-long lashes and press-on nails during the Olympics, I’ve been a fan of her glam—which she told Cosmo is largely the result of affordable makeup. “Just because something is super expensive, people think that it’s automatically a good product and that they need it. But I’m like, ‘No, you can buy this at Target. Go to CVS—like, it’s right there,” says Suni. Keep scrolling for all her drugstore makeup recs that last through everything—from Olympic routines to nights out in NYC.
Read Suni’s full Cosmo interview here
True to its name, this bronzer feels buttery-soft and blends seamlessly into the skin. “Until I could afford to buy myself makeup products, I was only using stuff that I could get from Target,” says Suni. “This is first bronzer that I ever bought, and it’s still my favorite to this day.”
This under-eye concealer has won countless Cosmo beauty awards (we even crowned it Best Hall of Fame Makeup Product of 2025) for its buildable and affordable formula.
Suni loves this pick because it’s “so good for brightening the under-eyes.” And we wholeheartedly agree. Whether you’re looking to cover up breakouts or camouflage dark circles, this concealer can seamlessly hide anything.
Suni is a lash extension lover, but when she’s in between sets, she reaches for L’Oréal’s Telescopic Mascara. This lengthening formula doesn’t flake or clump and will last all day without smudging or flaking—all for just $12.
Another one of Suni’s go-tos for a voluminous look without pricey professional extensions, these lashes deliver a full, fluttery effect in minutes. Lightweight and easy to apply, Ardell Wispies are the epitome of that full glam vibe.
This multitasker from e.l.f. is both a luminous highlighter and an allover complexion product. Suni loves how glowy it is and that “it lasts so long and is super lightweight.” It’s also safe for acne-prone skin, which we very much appreciate.
Suni uses this eyebrow gel to achieve that soft, laminated look. It comes in both clear and tinted versions, so you can simultaneously add hold and definition. And the tiny spoolie makes it easy to coat each individual brow hair with precision.
Styled by Kaia Carioli. Hair by Nero at MA+ Group. Makeup by Kuma for MAC Cosmetics. Manicure by Yukie Miyakawa at See Management.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
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