I don’t tend to wear a lot of makeup. But I can say that I have not enjoyed CG at all.  I do have to say I like my Almay eyeliner. It probably isn’t the best one out there, but it has certainly served me well. Oh, and I don’t like E.L.F. stuff. Another pricey one that I do like is Mary Kay. I know it isn’t drugstore, but… it is great quality. Hope that helps!

I like Neutrogena products, especially the Healthy Volume mascara. I wear it everyday and like it because it doesn’t clump or flake. I never mastered the art of putting on eyeliner, so I can’t help you with that.

God bless U… DO NOT USE ANYTHING ELSE.  hypo all..  stuff is the best.  c’mon ... this stuff lasts the longest.  the skin care alone… 11 bucks for soaP BARS THAT LAST 8 MONTHS.  IVORY DOESN’T LAST THAT LONG.  I GET NO NO NONO NON NYET KICK BACKS FROM THIS.  It does last that long.

That other stuff.  nah…  stick to the stuff that lasts.  8 bucks for stuff that you keep paying 8 bucks for over 6 months…  budget for the real stuff.

You owe yourselves to look great.  I get nothing from this.

I’ve found, as I’ve gotten older, that my skin needs more exfoliation, but not the apricot scrubs I’ve used in the past.  So I now add a little baking soda to my regular cleanser for my face.  Not everyday, but a couple times a week.

I was excited to start trying my hand at wearing make-up when I hit junior high—all that frosty purple & blue eyeshadow & teal eyeliner…it was the 80s!  Ack!  The novelty wore off in 12th grade & I haven’t worn make-up since.  I must have sensitive skin, because the smell & sensation of the cosmetics on my face always bothered me, I felt like I was wearing clown make-up!  (& probably looked like I was, considering what was in style at the time!) 
I have some friends who really like the Bare Minerals (is that the name?) line of cosmetics.  For me, Burt’s Bees on my lips & sunscreen on my face is my routine.  I developed skin cancer in my 20s—so whatever you wear, be sure you have some sunscreen in there!

I’m a cliniquer too - back after trying all sorts of drugstore cosmetics and facial cleansers, etc and many being a big disappointment.  I was surprised to find that much of it really wasn’t that far off from clinique in price and I didn’t get the ‘waste factor’.  I’ve even exchanged things from clinique even when the colors didn’t work or whatever.  My ‘budget’ is pretty tight these days but I decided to stick with tried and true and quality.  I know my skin isn’t going to break out, I’mnot going to get hives, the pencil isn’t going to break apart, the color works, etc.  Sorry not much help in getting you to Walgreens!! 

Oh, and my teen son is sold on their acne skin care.  I wince when purchasing but remind myself that at least I’m not paying for a dermatologist like I have with other teens.

I love Maybelline Great Lash mascara; Cover Girl eye liner pencils in dark brown; and L’oreal Colour Juice lip gloss; Physicians Formula Shimmer strip in Vegas.  A few things that I do not skimp on is foundation (Lancome), good makeup brushes and MorroccanOil for the hair.  I’ve also found that Lancome eye shadow lasts longer than the drugstore stuff - I think the pigmentation is better.  I also only purchase new makeup when they have those free giveaways.  I give a lot of the free stuff to my daughters for their ballet recitals.

I love the Maybelline mascara better than any other brand(even the expensive ones). I have always used Mary Kay for all my skincare and color needs. They last a long time and the colors are beautiful and rich. Good Luck.

I use Clinique too. A dermatologist recommended it to fight my acne problems and he was right! Whenever I try to go back to drugstore foundation or Mary Kay I have a huge breakout. I’ve learned to time my shopping trips for when they have those bonus giveaways. Then I get lipstick, mascara, eye shadow and blush for free (in a cute bag!). I do like Neutrogena mascara best though. And I use drugstore eyeliner- Wet n Wild.

I am a BeautiControl consultant.  I love our skincare.  I used to be a Clinique girl myself.  Anyways, the key to how your make up looks is your skincare.  If you use quality products, you are going be be happy with the way any make up will go on.  I have tried some liquid eyeliners and lip pencils from Sally Beauty Supply.  I have been happy with the way that they have performed.  The liquid liner was less than $5 and the lip pencil was under $3.

I was a Clinique lipstick gal for many years, but I think I’ve found a drugstore lipstick that can topple them.  Ready?

It’s Revlon ColorStay.  I’ve been very happy with its staying power.  It’s not quite as long-lasting as certain Clinique varieties, but it’s darn good.  The “Smooth Coffee” color is my personal favorite.

I rarely wear anything but foundation and lipstick (everytime I wear eyeliner, I end up looking Goth ...clearly I’m doing something wrong), so that’s all the advice I can offer.  I know you’ll get good recs on eye stuff from others.  Happy shopping!

Even though it is not a drugstore brand I would highly recommend Mary Kay for skin care and cosmetics.  I have seen several of their products recommended in magazines like Better Homes and Garden, Prevention, Parent’s Magazine, etc.  I was a high end skin care/cosmetics buyer and when that became too pricey went to Revlon, Maybelline and Cover Girl, but wasn’t always happy with my purchases and then I was stuck with them.  With Mary Kay you have a consultant that you work with one on one and they take any product back no questions asked if you try something and don’t like it.

I tried Almay for the first time a month ago and really like the Smart Shade concealer (goes on very smoothly so I don’t end up pulling on the skin under my eyes; color blends beautifully) and i-intense eye shadow. Walgreens often has buy one, get one at 50% off but will have buy one, get one occasionally too (why I tried it). I haven’t tried the eyeliner though.

My sister-in-law works for Macy’s, so I get samples from some of the make up counters from her.  Even though I don’t use the nicer stuff anymore (except those lovely samples) I still think that most inexpensive make I’ve used is not worth it because I often regret my bargain purchase.  I’ve tried to buy things that recieve awards or “good buy” stickers from, you know, In Style, etc.  I think it is easier for my husband to appreciate a few 8$ purchases for let’s say eyeshadow, than one 15$ purchase.  In the end, though, I think I would probably save money buying the better stuff.  Then I’d buy one good blush…instead of three bad ones…that I end up unhappily using…until they break or I give up and toss them.

I love L’oreal’s Infinite Wear eyeliner.  It is waterproof and smudgeproof.  It is the only eyeliner I use now.  As for all my other make up, I use BareMinerals.  It is a little on the pricey side, but it lasts FOREVER.  It is fantastic make up!  I highly recommend it.

I remember Clinique as being one known for not being tested on animals and that was a “biggie” for me; I believe Princess Diane used it too…it always felt so “clean” and it was also recommended by the doctor.  I know that it is more on the pricey side, but in the long run it is better.  I have tried so many other good brands including Mary Kay which would probably be my second choice but it is so hard to find someone selling it…Estee Lauder was also a good one but expensive.  I have found someone selling Bare Minerals (and that is a problem finding someone selling it) and it is good but it doesn’t give me a “shine” which I think I might need, but it is pretty good—my third choice….....I am not the drugstore type although I have tried many different ones and have not been satisfied…sorry.

I really like Rimmel and Almay.  I use Almay’s smart shade foundation and concealer.  On top of that I use Neutrogena mineral sheers compact… although if it’s a day that I just want a little color on my face, the mineral sheers does just fine on it’s own.  I also like Physician’s Formula products. 

I’ve actually used Revlon Colorstay foundations on photoshoots I’ve done as a makeup artist… good product, but you have to be quick to blend it before it dries.

And I can’t stress enough to take care of your skin before you even think about makeup.  Even Dior Airflash foundation (retails somewhere around $60-$70 a can) looks yucky on bad skin.  THAT’s where your money should be invested. I can’t tell you the time it adds to a photoshoot or a bridal makeup when I have to do a skin care regime before I can apply anything because the model/bride has super flaky or really congested skin.

My favorites for skin care are Shaklee Enfueselle and Mary Kay.  For make up I love, love, love Physicians Formula Organic.  Not very budget conscious choices though, sorry.

I bought some Clinique makeup and face care for my wedding and I loved it too! But my budget definitely does NOT allow for it anymore, so I’ve gone back to what I wore in high school. My favorite eyeliner and eye shadow is from Almay… they have a collection where the shadow, eyeliner and mascara make your eye color really stand out, and I have found it does! I don’t use the mascara because I have only used Maybelline’s Full and Soft.

Rimmel is pretty inexpensive and has GREAT mascara and nail polish.  Avon also has terrific mascara and high quality lipsticks, lipliners, and eyeliners.
For drugstore foundation, I like Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse and Mineral Power.  Revlon always has lots of great foundation choices, and Olay, Almay, and Neutrogena are pretty good too.  I think Covergirl is way behind on foundations, and don’t get their lip ink either - it is primitive, and the colors are nowhere near true.  And if you like a cream blush (the only kind I use anymore because of oily skin), Maybelline Dream Mousse is very good, but not a lot of pigment, so it’s easy to work with and avoid overapplying.  It is “buildable” color, so you can get the EXACT result you want.  If you wear eyeshadow, Max Factor and L’Oreal HIP have the most saturated colors, and excellent texture.  L’Oreal HIP cream eyeliner is awesome too.

But another great thing you can do is shop for high end makeup on ebay.  Not used, of course.  There is a lot out there for cheap or very reasonable.  Laura Mercier makes fabulous foundations and cream blush.  Also - LM makes a great brow powder, esp. if you have ashy tones in your hair.  And Smashbox probably gives you the best overall brow compact set, with setting wax.  You can get a tiny, credit card sized sampler for under or around $10 that will give you all the colors to play with and will last forever.  Bobbi Brown has the best gel/cream eyeliner, but Stila and Smashbox also have good ones.  For lipstick, there is a world of choices, but I love Bobbi Brown for overall lipstick quality and color saturation in natural colors, and MAC for trendier colors.  I stay away from older super high-end brands like Chanel and Guerlain because I think they are really overpriced in general, even on ebay, and I’m not really a fan of their products.

And one more plug for Avon.  I think they are probably the best company out there for low-priced, consistently very good quality cosmetics.  You can get clearance deals year round from your Avon lady, online, or on ebay.  Really good stuff - they just change their product lines so frequently.

Hope this isn’t TMI, but I have to mention Walgreens is the best place to buy drugstore cosmetics.  They have constantly rotating cosmetics sales - every week there are different BOGO deals for makeup, so if you want, say Revlon, you only have to wait a few weeks till it comes back up in the sales.  Then you can stock up if it’s an item you really love and use frequently.  They also clearance stuff frequently, and have in-store coupons which are stackable with manufacturer’s coupons and sales prices (triple discount that way).  Join all the makeup companies mailing lists to get lots of coupons, some “try me free” offers, and check out products to see what might be interesting, to help plot your purchases.

Lastly, join Makeup Alley if you want to get user reviews on anything and everything.  Some users even post pics of color swatches, etc.  I almost never buy a new cosmetics product without checking the reviews first.  And sometimes the discussions and swatch pictures (or FOTD - face of the day - pics) on makeup blogs.  I’m not really a makeup fanatic, but I do enjoy it, and don’t have time or money to waste on mistake purchases.    Good luck, Hallie!  I love your blog and fashion posts!

For skin care I do splurge and use Mary Kay.  But for color, I go drugstore.  I love Almay’s intense i-color combos.  Almay pairs shadows, liner, and mascara with your eye color to give your eye color a boost of intensity.  I also love H.I.P. eye shadows.  My absolute favorite products are Almay’s liquid eyeliner and any mascara that will lengthen and thicken the appearance of my naturally short, light, and thin lashes.  Eyes are my thing and that’s what I like to play up

Thank you so much for all of this great advice, girls! I really appreciate it! Y’all are the best!

it is fun to read everyone’s comments! i’m a make-up girl, though i don’t have much time for it anymore with 2 babies under 2.  i was just thinking about clinique bonus time… how i looked forward to it every fall/spring… but have had to cut back since having a family and watching the budget. after trying lots of drug store eyeliners, i have found that i love outlast by covergirl. i used it a couple years ago, tried a few other kinds, and came back to it. it’s the only eyeliner that stays on my eyes all day! and it’s less than $5.  (i still use clinique foundation - but try to spend less on the eye/lip stuff…)