The Ultimate Drugstore Makeup Starter Kit

While I love an occasional high-end purchase, the majority of my makeup collection comes from drugstore brands. There are so many great, affordable options that splurging on luxury hardly seems worth it! So, if you’re looking to add to your makeup collection – or even start it from scratch – here are a few items you just can’t go without. Read on to discover which budget buys form part of my ultimate drugstore makeup starter kit.

THE ULTIMATE DRUGSTORE MAKEUP KIT

Primer

Of the drugstore primers I’ve tried, the Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer has impressed me most. It doesn’t feel overly chalky (like some silicone primers do) and it sits well under makeup. It has an almost silky finish which definitely helps to blur pores and fill in fine lines.

Foundation

For dry skin: My go-to always used to be the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation. But, since that has been discontinued in the UK, I’ve turned to the e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation instead. This has a semi-matte finish and doesn’t cling to dry patches at all. Love!!

For oily skin: If you prefer high coverage and a matte finish, I’d highly recommend the Revlon ColorStay™ Makeup for Combination/Oily Skin. The salicylic acid component controls oil production and stops any shine coming through.

Concealer

For the price, the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer is just unbeatable. It’s creamy, blendable and has really good coverage. I also really love the Maybelline Fit Me! Concealer. It hides dark circles really well and has a lovely natural finish. It’s not an exact dupe for the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, but it does come pretty close!

Translucent powder

Pressed powder: My favourite pressed powder of all time is the Soap & Glory One Heck Of A Blot Powder. It’s so fine that it’s hardly even noticeable on the skin. It doesn’t provide any extra coverage, it just takes away the shine.

Loose powder: I’ve been using the Rimmel Match Perfection Silky Loose Powder for years and I can’t see myself stopping any time soon! If your skin gets quite oily throughout the day, this is a God send. It doesn’t have any flashback and it doesn’t leave your skin looking cakey. One thing I will say, however, is that this works much better with a brush than it does the puff applicator that’s included.

Bronzer

There’s a clear winner in this category and it’s the Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer. The packaging isn’t the best, but the product itself is amazing. It applies really smoothly and blends out like a dream. It doesn’t hurt that this bronzer smells incredible too!!

Blush

There are so many incredible drugstore blushes that I actually found it tough to narrow it down to just a couple! My first pick would probably have to be the Milani Baked Blush. This has such a pretty shimmer to it and just looks so natural on the skin. My second pick is the Ofra Pressed Blush. This is super pigmented, but still blends out really nicely.

RELATED READ: The Best Blushes For Fair Skin

Highlighter

I have to admit, I’m not a massive highlighter wearer, so my knowledge of drugstore highlighters is slightly limited. However, the Revolution Pro Lustre Highlighter is a solid choice. I love that it comes in various shades so you don’t just end up with white streaks across your cheeks. The gold or pinky tones make it that much more natural.

Brow pencil

My favourite drugstore brow pencil at the moment is the Rimmel Brow This Way Fill and Sculpt Eyebrow Definer. The slanted tip makes it really easy to create natural-looking hair strokes and the attached spoolie brush is great for blending. On top of this, it lasts all day without smudging or fading – a necessity for summer!

Brow gel

High-end brow gels are hard to beat … but the NYX Tinted Brow Mascara gives them a pretty good run for their money. I think the main reason I like this one is because the blonde shade doesn’t look strange or artificial. Trust me, it’s a tough find!

Eyeshadow

What I’ve come to realise from making this makeup starter kit is that Revlon rules the drugstore scene. Seriously, they have so many amazing products! The Colorstay 16 Hour Eyeshadow Quad is no exception. This palette is available in a number of shades and is great as it makes it possible to create a whole eyeshadow look with just one tiny compact. Because of its size, you can pretty much take this anywhere!

Eyeliner

For easy application, I like the Maybelline Lasting Drama Mechanical Gel Eyeliner. The pen-like shape makes it super simple to draw on the perfect wing. The creamy formula means that it stays in place for hours too!

Mascara

My go-to drugstore mascara is the Soap & Glory Thick & Fast High Definition Mascara. I love it because it’s lengthening but not super heavy or clumpy. The finished look is very subtle – which is not to everyone’s taste – however, I feel like this is perfect for everyday wear.

Lip liner

Barry M lip liners are one of my favourite lip products of all time. For me, these beat many of their high-end counterparts (and obviously cost a lot less). The colour payoff is good and they don’t wear off easily. The shade selection is universally flattering too.

For something a bit creamier, I usually opt for the Makeup Revolution Renaissance Lipliner. These lipliners feel sort of waxy so it can take a bit of getting used to. However, I find that they do tend to last a lot longer than other liners I’ve tried.

Lipstick

I’ve tried out a lot of lipsticks and I’m yet to find a formula that beats the Max Factor Colour Elixir range. These apply so nicely and are not drying at all. Since they contain vitamin E and three different plant butters (shea, avocado and aloe), I strangely find that my lips actually feel moisturised after use!

Lip gloss

NYX lip products are just so reliable, which is why everyone needs to own at least one of their Butter Glosses. These are really smooth and not overly sticky. They also sit well over other lip products which I really appreciate 🙌

Setting spray

Rimmel’s #Insta Fix & Go Primer & Setting Spray is such an underrated product. It’s really lightweight and leaves your skin looking super refreshed. The fact that it also works as a primer makes it an essential for those trying to build their makeup collection on a budget.

And that’s it – my ultimate drugstore makeup starter kit! Do you own any of these products? Or are you looking to buy any of them? Let me know in the comments.