25 Drugstore Makeup Picks Cosmo Editors Would Totally Pay a Premium for (But Don’t Have To)

"As a beauty editor, I’ve tested countless foundations, including all the luxury options and viral hits, but I always come back to the True Match Lumi Tinted Serum Foundation. This under-$20 drugstore skin tint. It’s shockingly full-coverage, accessible, and ideal for sensitive skin. The multitasking formula is infused with hyaluronic acid, which made a huge difference on my dry, shedding face. It smoothed over my patchiness instead of clinging to it, and gave my face a hydrated, fresh finish. It’s also non-comedogenic, so I didn’t have to worry about making things worse with clogged pores or breakouts. And despite the formula being labeled as a skin tint, the coverage is akin to that of foundation while still being super lightweight."—JH

"I love the semi-sheer formula of the Maybelline BB Cream for everyday wear—it blurs your complexion *just* enough to provide coverage without feeling cakey. The silky, your-skin-but-better finish is quite blendable, so you can apply it with a makeup sponge or just your fingers. It also plays beautifully with concealers (including the cheap but reliable FitMe concealer, and more expensive options like Haus Labs and Tarte) without becoming patchy."—SAMANTHA JONES, COMMERCE EDITOR

“This product is so unique. The doe-foot applicator is oversized, so you can use it to spot concealer breakouts or dark circles or swipe it all over your face for a skin tint-like effect. The formula is ultra-lightweight and easy to build and blend with fingers and never looks thick or cakey. And the staying power is beyond impressive—I applied it at 7:15am before running out the door and when I got home 12 hours later my skin still looked even and glowy.”—LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR

“I feel like this setting spray has been everywhere the last few months, and it’s honestly so worth the hype. It keeps my face hydrated while locking my makeup in place during 12-hour days. I also love that you can hold it down for a continuous spritz instead of having to unevenly spray across your face. This has def replaced my go-to expensive setting spray.” —JH

"Cool thing about this spray is that it both primes and sets. I can spritz it all over my face before makeup and it helps grip my makeup onto my face. But after my full face is done, I can spray again to set down powders and lock it all in. It gives my skin a natural, slightly dewy finish that pairs well with basically every foundation I use."—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR

“The e.l.f. Halo Glow Blush is the ultimate blush-highlighter hybrid, and I’m obsessed with the radiant sheen it gives my skin. And the sponge-tip applicator makes it ridiculously easy to tap in the perfect amount. If you’re into that dewy, lit-from-within kind of glow (because who isn’t?), this blush is about to become your new go-to for summer.” —JH

"Milani's Baked Blush in Luminoso is the perfect dupe for Nars Orgasm (truly, I can't tell the difference between the two on my skin). The powder pigments are super blendable and seem to melt into skin instead of sitting on top for a really natural-looking flush."—LB

"I love a light dusting of highlighter on my cheekbones if I know I'm going to take flash photos at night. And I almost exclusively reach for this ultra-affordable drugstore pick. There are zero chunky glitters—just a finely milled, shimmery powder that creates a wet-like effect on my cheekbones. It's not like a swipe of metallic either, though. It really blends into whatever I have underneath and looks glowy, not shiny."—BG

"Amongst gymnast Suni Lee's drugstore makeup favorites is this iconic bronzer that I had admittedly forgotten about. But after our photoshoot with her, I was intrigued to test it again for the first time in a few years. And I see why Suni says it's 'still her favorite to this day.' The formula is extremely smooth and—true to its name—buttery soft. I can blend it all over my face with a brush and a light hand to get a warm glow."—BG

"I'm a big fan of expensive neutral eyeshadow palettes for the most part. But I make an exception for Rimmel, which makes arguably some of the best eyeshadows I've tried in general, not even just at the drugstore. Listen, sometimes you don't need something so intensely pigmented, but rather a formula that is blendable and smooth without looking chalky on your skin. These shadows do just that—for a sixteenth of the price of so many of the other palettes in my collection. And they come in a range of tones depending on your vibes, which I really love."—BG

“I’ve become a liquid eyeliner gal in my 20s, so to convince me to switch to my high-school self, aka an eye pencil, is a tall ask. But I am absolutely blown away at how much this Morphe liner not only gives me control over my line but also lasts so much longer than any of the other pencils I tried. It’s the only pencil eyeliner I’ve used that doesn’t give me raccoon eyes by noon. Getting two options in one is also a major win, and the various colors are absolutely gorgeous, giving even the most adventurous makeup lovers tons of options for looks.” —TAMARA FUENTES, ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

"If you want your eyeliner to go on and not move until you take it off with waterproof makeup remover, try this. I seriously am amazed every time I swipe this on my eyes and it doesn't budge. No smudging or running, even with my teary eyes. And the brush tip makes creating wings easier than other application methods, IMO."—BG

"Out of all the affordable mascaras I've tried, Essence’s def take the cake. Whether I want length, volume, a tint of brown, or literally anything else, I can snag an Essence mascara that gets the job done for less than $5."—JH

"I am absolutely horrendous at applying fake eyelashes and also generally hate the feeling of a thick lash sitting on my eyeballs. BUT! A makeup artist recently used these specific lashes on my eyes and highlighted just how easy they are to apply. He left me with a box to start testing them on myself, and I've been adding a cluster to the outer corners of my eyes when I want my makeup to look a bit more professional. It really is so simple. I just tap on a little bit of eyelash glue, then stick the cluster underneath the base of my lash and hold for 30 seconds. It sticks on all night long without any lifting. But best of all, it makes it look like I had a pro do my makeup (even when I spent approx 15 minutes slathering things on in my tiny bedroom)."—BG

"I've gone through dozens of this brow pencil in my life. It works as effectively as so many expensive pencils, comes in a great shade range for all hair colors, and has a fine tip that makes creating hair-like strokes easy."—BG

"Just like the fine hair on my head, I have extremely soft, thin brow hairs that require a lot of hold if I want to keep them in place. NYX's Brow Glue is my favorite brow gel of all time for that reason. It locks my brows down from the time I swipe it on until I take it off at night, all without feeling crunchy or too laminated."—BG

"These itsy bitsy lip balms are so freakin' cute, I just wanna bite 'em. They also happen to smell really good. And not in a totally juvenile way, either. The mint is my favorite—it's a bit more elevated than a standard affordable lip balm. And the formula is moisturizing too, of course. All the things I want in a balm, truly."—BG