Drugstore finds: glamming on a budget

Primers and lipsticks and masks, oh my!
Here is a list of the best so you don't have to splurge on the worst.

+ 1 First up - e.l.f.'s Mineral Infused Face Primer in Brightening Lavender. I have tried (what seems like) millions of face primers, and every single morning, this is the one I reach for. This little bottle of purple heaven is only $6, but I honestly would still purchase it if it were $36 - it's that good, people. The light, purple-tinted primer goes on your skin like velvet, creating a mattified, even-toned, and bright canvas.

+ 2 Need a one-step eye-brightener? This Wonder Pencil in the color Light by NYX is all you need. Swipe this pencil along your bottom lash line to give your eyes that "I get 8 hours of sleep every night, I swear!" look. Want to take it a step further? Use this pencil as the base you need to keep that champagne eyeshadow in one place at your eyes' inner corners. Budge-proof. Oh, and it's only $4.50. Are you on your way to Target yet?!

+ 3 Loreal's True Match Lumi and True Match foundations are, at least in my family, a right of passage. As one of the eldest female cousins, it is my duty and honor to hand over this foundation to each little lady as soon as she shows even the slightest interest in makeup. Both versions have an incredibly extensive array of shades broken up into neutral, warm, and cool skintones. The original True Match ($10.95) has SPF 17 with a medium/buildable coverage, while the Lumi ($12.95) has SPF 20 and goes on pretty sheer for a gorgeous, dewy look. Both are a total must, and both will always have a special place in my heart and in my makeup bag.

+ 4 I swear, Milani is one of the most overlooked drugstore makeup brands - their products have yet to disappoint (just check number 6 and 11 on this list, or their lip oil featured in my Festival Must-Haves post). This Stay Put Brow Color in Dark Brown not only comes with a double-edged angled brush/spoolie, but is only $7.99! Go on and get those dramatic Cara Delevingne brows that stay put all day with a pomade that never dries out.

+ 5 Flawless skin has never been so easy... Maybelline's Dream Velvet Soft-Matte Hydrating Foundation goes on smooth and with a surprising amount of coverage given how weightless it feels. I rock the lightest shade, Porcelain Ivory, but find that it's juuust a touch darker than my skin, so keep that in mind when shopping for this $10.99 steal.

+ 6 Another Milani fave - this nail lacquer in Mauving Forward is EVERYTHING and is only $3.99. Just the perfect deep, rosy shade that will keep your toes happy this spring and all year long.

+ 7 For only $6.99, close your eyes, cleanse your face, and let your senses take you on a mini-trip to the beach with Coco Pure Makeup Removing Wipes by Pacifica. With 30 towelettes a package, you can't go wrong - your skin will feel ultra-hydrated and smell simply irresistable. 

+ 8 Que Bella's Purifying Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Mud Mask has become my favorite part of Sunday. This little packet, sold for $1.97, is perfect for that "skin-reset" we all tend to need after a long week or a crazy weekend. The tingly feeling we all love in a mask never burns, and the mask tightens pores while erasing those pesky blemishes. I find that there is usually enough mud for a second mask (make sure you seal it in a plastic baggy if you're saving it), or even share one with a friend.

+ 9 The only lip pencils you will ever need are Rimmel London's Exaggerate Automatic Lip Liners, each going for $4.79. The creamy formula glides onto lips effortlessly and in one swipe, never smudging or cracking throughout the day. Let the liner make a statement on it's own, layer underneath a gloss, or use a couple of shades to contour your lips for those Angelina Jolie pouts we all lust over. My three faves are in the hues 063 Eastend Snob, 070 Enchantment, and 064 Obsession (pictured above, top to bottom).

+ 10 Everyone has their personal mascara wand preference, but this fluffy, tapered brush hits your lashes in all the right places (even those hard to reach baby lashes at the inner corners of your eyes). Loreal's Voluminous Miss Manga mascara is my absolute go-to, and is only $7.99! (If you've never heard of "manga," it's that Japanese style of artwork that features doe-eyed characters - think Sailor Moon, or the characters in Pokémon). No need to spend big bucks on other mascaras - this formula is the best I've tried and makes your natural lashes look like falsies. For full on glam, go for the Blackest Black, and for a more natural beauty look, opt for the Black Brown.

+ 11 Last but not least - you all have to get your hands on Milani's Color Statement Moisture Matte Lipstick. This formula hydrates your lips while staying matte, and packs a major punch with color that doesn't fade. My shade? 61 Matte Naked for my everyday, 05 Red Label (not pictured) if I'm in the mood for a bold red. Both make a major statement.

Have any drugstore makeup fails? What about your personal faves?
I would love to hear them in the comments below!