Best drugstore makeup: 15 top picks at CVS and Walmart - USA TODAY

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No one likes running out of their skin-perfecting foundation or eye-popping mascara. For one thing, who wants to be without their favorite products? Second, replacing those items can get pricey. Luckily, the drugstore makeup aisle has come a long way over the years. Regardless of what your current makeup routine looks like, you can find an affordable alternative for every step. Below, find the best drugstore makeup products, according to reviews.

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1. This lengthening mascara from Milani

We've tested our fair share of drugstore mascaras at Reviewed, and the Milani Highly Rated 10-in-1 is our top pick. In addition to applying easily onto the lashes without clumping, the formula provides a voluminous, lengthened effect on the lashes in a single coat. When it's time to take your makeup off, this comes off in a cinch with makeup remover.

Don't take our word for it; one Walmart reviewer shares: "I've tried so many mascaras over the years and none of them have made my lashes thicker. I finally found one that does the trick. I will only be using this one in the future. This is my favorite by far."

$10 at Walmart

2. This dewy foundation from Maybelline

Luminous-looking foundation is the goal for many makeup lovers these days. Maybelline's Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation—the counterpart to the line's Matte + Poreless option—remains one of the most popular complexion products in the drugstore. The formula claims to moisturize the skin and leave it looking smoother and more radiant. It's available in 24 shades ranging from very light to deep.

"After trying several expensive department store brands, I decided to try this after a recommendation from a friend," one Maybelline reviewer writes. "Wow! I can't believe how smooth this went on. It looks great on my skin and the finish is perfect. I wish I had known about this all along!"

$9 at CVS

3. This full-coverage concealer from Covergirl

After testing more than a dozen drugstore concealers, Reviewed's favorite is the Covergirl TruBlend Undercover Full Coverage Concealer. The creamy formula blends with ease onto the skin and offers plenty of coverage to conceal dark circles or blemishes. It also wears well on the skin, only fading a tad over several hours. It's available in 30 shades spanning light, medium, tan and deep tones.

One Covergirl customer agrees with us: "It blends beautifully, great coverage, great color range and great on dry skin. I love this formula. Covergirl is blowing my mind!"

$10 at CVS

4. This buttery bronzer from Physicians Formula

Since entering the drugstore, the Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer has received rave reviews. Though a powder, the bronzer has a super-soft feel, thanks to ingredients like murumuru, cupacu and tucuma butters, that make it blend into the skin with ease. Once applied, it claims to leave the skin with a glowy, bronzed finish. You can find the powder in four hues ranging from a light, cooler-toned shade to a deep, warmer-toned one.

"The formula is super buttery and applies so beautifully on the skin," one Physicans Formula reviewer writes. "The colors never look muddy or cakey. I can apply a tiny bit or layer it on for a more bronzey look and it never looks heavy at all. It just melts into the skin so nicely and looks amazing."

$13 at Walmart

5. This glossy lipstick from Revlon

If any amount of lip gloss feels too sticky to you, turn to the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick for that touch of sheen. The lippie claims to moisturize with vitamin E and leave a satin (not too shiny or matte) finish. You have your choice of 82 shades, from the fan-favorite "Rum Raisin" (brownish mauve) to the bold "Va Va Voilet" (plum purple). 

"I usually have no luck with lipsticks," one CVS reviewer writes. "Revlon luscious is different. It is creamy, goes on smoothly, and the color goes with everything and looks good with my skin."

$10.50 at CVS

6. This makeup-gripping primer from E.L.F. Cosmetics

At the core of any great makeup look is solid skin preparation. After moisturizer and sunscreen, apply the E.L.F. Cosmetics Power Grip Primer, which claims to hydrate with hyaluronic acid as well as "grip makeup for long-lasting, all-day wear." Plus, this primer went viral on TikTok.

"After hearing and seeing a lot of influencers talking and using this product, I just had to purchase this and I'm actually very glad that I did," one Walmart reviewer raves. "This primer is literally amazing and the result is incredible. This primer gives that amazing grip to the foundation and is so tacky."

$10 at Walmart

7. This shine-reducing powder from Maybelline

To hold makeup in place, many lean on a setting powder in addition to a makeup primer. Maybelline's Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder is beloved for its ability to set liquid products for a longer-lasting base as well as reduce oil and shine. The powder is translucent, meaning it won't add much—if any—coverage, but it's available in eight shades to ensure a seamless blend into the skin.

"Hello Maybelline, please never discontinue this product," one Maybelline reviewer pleads. "It is my holy grail, I recommend this to everybody please try it. It leaves your skin looking flawless and beautiful."

$9 at CVS

8. This shimmering eyeshadow from L'Oréal Paris

Your everyday eye makeup doesn't need to be anything fancy—swipes of a shimmery eyeshadow across your lids is all you need for a polished look. For one trusty option you can use for every occasion, look to the L'Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Waterproof Eye Shadow. The cream-powder shadow claims to resist creases and fading for 24 hours, and it's available in more than a dozen shimmering colors.

"This line of eye shadow is spectacular! The colors are vivid, and the shadow is soft," one Walmart reviewer writes. "I wore these shadows for a four-hour pond photo shoot, where my face was submerged in water, and my make up looked pristine after! I was so pleasantly surprised!"

Starting at $6 at Walmart

9. This luminizing blush from Milani

For a pop of color and shimmer on the cheeks, look no further than Milani's Baked Blush. Each of the 11 hues, ranging from deep coral to light pink, claims to be "richly pigmented" and "highly buildable" with a glowy-looking finish.

One CVS reviewer gushes: "This blush is incredible! It lasts long and the color gives a tiny bit of shimmer and looks so smooth. I would love to try every shade, it's that amazing."

$11 at CVS

10. This eye-defining eyeliner from Covergirl

One easy way to define your eyes and create a dramatic look is to lean on eyeliner, and reviewers rave about the Covergirl Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner. The water-resistant, retractable liner claims to glide onto the eyes with ease and stay put all day. It's available in seven colors: black, cobalt blue, charcoal gray, chocolate brown, gray-brown, navy and cream.

"I've been using this for many years and it goes on easily, can be smudged for smoky eye look or defined for dramatic look," shares one Walmart reviewer. "Stays put and great color choices!"

$6 at Walmart

11. This glowy lotion from L'Oréal 

Want to add a gorgeous gleam to your skin? The L'Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion can help. It claims to hydrate the skin as well as add a "fresh, natural glow" thanks to its shimmering liquid formula. You can apply it underneath your foundation or wear it on top as a highlighter anywhere you want the light to catch. It's available in four shades, from "Fair" to "Deep."

"This is the best glow enhancer I have ever used!" one Walmart reviewer exclaims. "It's so affordable, and the effects are magnificent! I use it over foundation or on its own after my fave cream and it gives me the best glow! It's so smooth and easy to use!"

$13 at Walmart 

12. This eyebrow gel from NYX

Even if you do nothing else, grooming your eyebrows can add structure to your face. To keep them in place but looking natural (read: not ultra-defined and filled-in), go with the NYX Professional Makeup Eyebrow Glue. The clear gel claims to hold hairs for 16 hours with a non-sticky, natural-looking finish. Use the tiny spoolie to comb your hairs how you want them and you're done. 

One NYX reviewer writes: "I am always on the look out for brow product that actually holds and this little baby is it! I am obsessed! I bought a second one after I tried it in case is sells out!"

$9 at Walmart

13. This neutral-toned eyeshadow palette from Maybelline

When you want options for your eye look, the Maybelline The City Mini Eyeshadow Palette acts as a great option without causing overwhelm. The palette comes in 11 color-ways, each of which contain six neutral tones that'll work well with any look you can think of. Depending on which option you choose, your palette will contain all shimmers, all mattes or a mix of both. 

"I have 3 city mini palettes; Urban Jungle, Concrete Runway, and Downtown Sunrise," one Maybelline reviewer writes. "I love the colors and love how I can mix and match colors from all my palettes to create really awesome and fun looks."

$10.50 at CVS

14. This moisturizing lipstick from Neutrogena

Sometimes, you may want a bold lipstick that'll brighten up your makeup look, and other times, you'll want a your-lips-but-better tone you can throw on with zero fuss. The Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick Lipstick is meant for the latter times. The balm claims to help lips feel softer and look smoother while imparting color. The line includes eight sheer, shimmery hues labeled as 10 through 80 in the shade range as well as nine darker, more pigmented hues, labeled as 90 through 180. 

One Neutrogena reviewer puts in simply: "This is the only product I use on my lips; I love the subtle colors and the rich moisture it adds."

$12 at CVS

15. These colorful cream sticks from NYX

Who doesn't love a multi-purpose product? Allow the NYX Professional Makeup Jumbo Eye Pencils to act as your eyeshadow or eyeliner on the lid or waterline. The cream stick is available in both matte and shimmer shades and in an abundance of neutral and colorful shades. 

"I love these so much! I want one in every color," one NYX reviewer confesses. "They formula is creamy and goes on the skin so seamlessly. I love how multipurpose they are too; I use them for my eyeliner, eyeshadow, blush and highlight."

Starting at $5.50 at Walmart

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