12 Best drugstore makeup products and brands

Sure, owning luxury brands is fun for the bragging rights, but when it comes down to the quality and reliability of a product, you don’t always have to gravitate towards the big names with the even bigger price tags.

Drugstore makeup has come a long way over the years, growing in popularity as more and more makeup enthusiasts are getting impressed by these brands and quickly spreading the word that quality cosmetics don’t necessarily have to cost you a tonne of money.

At Cosmetic Capital, we aim to stock the best drugstore makeup and best cheap makeup brands that don’t compromise on quality so that you can spend less time worrying about how much you’re spending, and more time brainstorming which looks you want to rock.

Here are 12 of the best affordable makeup brands and products in our makeup-loving opinion!

Brand: wet n wild

Product: wet n wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder Blossom Glow ($9.99)

wet n wild is known as one of the top value brands in America. Their affordable yet effective products have won awards from Allure and Cosmopolitan to name a few, as well as the admiration of celebrities and YouTube personalities alike.

We love this highlighting powder as it is silky smooth, easily blended and reflects light beautifully!

Brand: e.l.f

Product: e.l.f Shape & Stay Wax Pencil Clear ($3.95)

e.l.f makes quality beauty accessible to all with their well performing and well-priced beauty products for the eyes, lips and face.

This wax pencil is ideal for getting the clean girl aesthetic look that has been trending on TikTok and Instagram. Its pencil format makes it extremely user-friendly and it is infused with Vitamin E so you can keep your brow hairs in place while also treating them to some much needed nourishment.

Brand: MCoBeauty

Product: MCoBeauty Eyeshadow Palette Trend Collection ($12.95)

We might seem a little biased praising an Aussie brand when we ourselves are Aussie, but MCoBeauty is seriously slaying the beauty game and deserve a mention. They are a PETA Certified vegan and cruelty-free brand and are promoted by beloved ambassadors Jules Sebastian, Leigh Campbell and Australian comedian Celeste Barber.

This palette makes us swoon with its rich, intense pigments and stunning matte and metallic finishes. It’s a versatile palette that can take you from day to night, business luncheon to night club.

Brand: NYX

Product: NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick 04 Soft Spoken ($4.95)

NYX bridges the gap between luxury and affordability. They inspire self-expression with their expert formulas and high-quality pigments while remaining low priced to make individuality and originality accessible to more beauty lovers out there.

We adore this liquid suede cream lipstick as it glides across the lips with an infusion of Avocado Oil and Vitamin E so your lips remain comfortable and soft as it dries down to a stunning matte finish. The colour 04 Soft Spoken is an extremely flattering and versatile shade.

Brand: Maybelline

Product: Maybelline Dream Urban Cover Full Coverage SPF40 ($4.95)

We’re definitely not alone in hailing Maybelline as one of our all-time favourite drugstore beauty brands. This brand is well-known, trusted and respected and certainly a leader in the world of affordable cosmetics.

What we love about this foundation is its multi-beneficial use. Not only does it help you create a flawless natural-looking base for the rest of your makeup, but it also contains antioxidants and SPF 40 to keep your skin protected from harmful environmental aggressors and pollutants.

Brand: LA Colors

Product: LA Colors Browie Wowie Brow Pencil ($7.95)

LA Colors are big on colour expertise and product innovation and this brow pencil clearly demonstrates both of those traits. It offers great pigmentation for a defined yet natural-looking brow with a spoolie on the opposite end for you to comb the product through once you’re done.

Convenient, much?!

Shop online at Cosmetic Capital and get stocked up on the best budget makeup brands and affordable makeup products.

Make your shopping experience even easier by checking out our buy now and pay later payment options with Afterpay and zipPay.