Back to School Makeup: Drugstore Edition

Now I'm 21 years old and my school days are over but I do remember how excited I got before a new year began. It's a fresh start and the opportunity to kind of reinvent myself. It was actually my senior year of high school that I started to get into makeup. Like most teenage girls I was on a budget so I usually bought my new makeup through out the summer and at the drugstore. I have compiled a list of drugstore products that will help you achieve great looks all year round for every occasion. The first thing you need no matter what you choose to wear is a great primer. It will make your makeup last all day and all night so you can worry about bigger and more important things. My favorite eyeshadow primer is $1 primer from E.L.F. Eyeshadow Primer. I have said before it works just as well as my $18 primer from Too Faced and I mean it. You will also need a primer for your face, so you're foundation will last longer and your face will continue to be flawless looking. I personally like the Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer you can buy at Walmart for $8. However if you have used these products and you don't like them there is a few other alternitives. For eyeshadow primer your other options are L'Oreal De-Crease, Hard Candy Eyeshadow Primer, the $3 Mineral Eyeshadow Primer from E.L.F., or NYX HD Eyeshadow Base. Now for face primers you can choose from Rimmel Fix & Perfect or Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro, L'Oreal Studio Secrets Primer, or NYC Smooth Skin. I think there's another primer from Almay but I don't know the name of it.

Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer and E.L.F. Eyelid Primer

For eyeshadow I have a few options. My first suggestion I think makes the most sense and will save you the most money. If you're really on a budget I would recommend buying the new E.L.F. Little Black Beauty Books in both the Warm and Cool Editions. I think it will give you enough options to change your daily look up but it wont cost you a ton of money or take up a ton of space either. The Warm book will give you plenty of options for a great neutral look while the Cool book will give you the ability to do a great smokey eye. You could also mix and match colors and create a fabulous look of your own. The best part is they're only $5 a piece. My other suggestions are the Wet n' Wild trios. I think Walking on Eggshells and Sweet as Candy are the best everyday options. I think even the Cover Girl trios and quads are great. Shimmering Sands is a great option if you want a neutral look.

E.L.F. Little Black Beauty Books, Wet n Wild Waling on Eggshells, and Cover Girl Shimmering Sands

Now as for foundation and mascara I find it's hard to make suggestions. Everyone's skin is different so while one person looks great wearing Maybelline Dream Matte Mouse, it may break someone else out. The same goes for lashes. I have sparse lashes with oily lids. This means I need a thicken waterproof mascara. While my sister has natrualy dark full lashes, all she needs is and eyelash curler and clear mascara to make them stay put. My go to foundation and mascara are the L'Oreal Magic Smooth Souffle and Cover Girl Last Blast Fusion (the waterproof formulation). I do like other foundations like Rimmel's Lasting Finish and Maybelline's Dream Matte Mouse. I haven't found any other mascaras that I just can't live without.

Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion and L'Oreal Magic Smooth Souffle 

Last but not least concealers and setting powders. Now not everyone need's a concealer, but they don't hurt to have for the occasional blemish or after a late night of studying. I really like Revlon's Photo Ready concealer because it goes on really nice and smooth and it has pretty great coverage. If you use it under your eyes be sure to set it with a powder cause it will crease. If you're looking for an even heavier concealer I would recommend Hard Candy's Glamoflauge Concealer. It reminds me of Makeup Forever's Full Cover Concealer. Now on to setting powders. My new love is Hard Candy's Welcome Matte Powder. I've used it a few times and it really does make a difference with how oily my face gets through out the day. My other favorite powder is L'Oreal True Match Powder. I think it has enough coverage that you could use it as and extra coverage step if you felt you needed it. Even if you don't need the coverage it's a great powder that doesn't get cake-y.

Hard Candy Welcome Matte and Revlon Photo Ready Concealer 

I hope all of this has been helpful and will help you achieve the look you want this school year. Remember to study and make good grades because that will serve you better in life then makeup ever will. Be Fearless. Be  Beautiful. Be You.