What a Beauty Editor Would Buy at Walmart When Shopping on a Budget
March 23, 2020
Shopping for makeup can get expensive, fast. Add a luxurious foundation to your shopping cart and you’re already spending upwards of $40 and you haven’t even gotten halfway through your list of what you need to complete a full face beat. Although we admit that sometimes it’s nice to #treatyourself, drugstore makeup makes it easy to shop ’til you drop without breaking the bank. To prove it, we gave our editors a hypothetical budget of $30 to spend at Walmart. See what makeup picks they think are worthy of adding to their shopping cart, ahead.
Genesis, Assistant Editor
Part of being a beauty editor means getting to test tons of makeup products at varied price points. Despite the constant introduction of new and sometimes expensive products, though, I always find myself reaching for drugstore beauty products when doing my everyday makeup. For example, the Maybelline New York Fit Me! Dewy + Smooth Foundation ($7.68) is a holy grail item for its price point and dewy finish. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, my skin always looks great after a thin layer of this comfortable and lightweight formula. While you can certainly build up the coverage for a fuller finish, I like to keep things light and cover any remaining blemishes with the Maybelline New York Super Stay Concealer ($9.98). It offers a full yet hydrating coverage that’s really easy to blend. I can’t justify spending the little bit of money I have left on anything other than the L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara ($9.97). This magical formula seriously transforms my eyelashes from limp to long and voluminous in just a couple of swipes and lasts all day long.
Genesis, Assistant Editor
Part of being a beauty editor means getting to test tons of makeup products at varied price points. Despite the constant introduction of new and sometimes expensive products, though, I always find myself reaching for drugstore beauty products when doing my everyday makeup. For example, the Maybelline New York Fit Me! Dewy + Smooth Foundation ($7.68) is a holy grail item for its price point and dewy finish. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, my skin always looks great after a thin layer of this comfortable and lightweight formula. While you can certainly build up the coverage for a fuller finish, I like to keep things light and cover any remaining blemishes with the Maybelline New York Super Stay Concealer ($9.98). It offers a full yet hydrating coverage that’s really easy to blend. I can’t justify spending the little bit of money I have left on anything other than the L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara ($9.97). This magical formula seriously transforms my eyelashes from limp to long and voluminous in just a couple of swipes and lasts all day long.
Samantha, Assistant Editor
Give me $30 and let me loose in the Walmart makeup aisle and I’m like a kid in a candy store. I’ve tested my fair share of drugstore beauty buys, so I’d be sure to restock on my holy-grail items. First up? The Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Concealer ($7.97). It’s my all-time favorite concealer because it brightens my complexion, hides pretty much every dark circle or blemish and has a radiant finish. I’d also be sure to add the Maybelline New York Cheek Heat ($5.98) and the Maybelline New York The Colossal Washable Mascara ($6.97) to my cart. Can you tell I love Maybelline? Cheek Heat is the perfect cream-meets-gel blush that gives my cheeks a subtle rosy flush, and The Colossal mascara gives my lashes insane volume and length. I’d use the rest of my money to try a new shade of one of my favorite lippies, the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Plump and Shine ($7.97). My current favorite is Guava, but I’ve had my eye on Pitaya.
Give me $30 and let me loose in the Walmart makeup aisle and I’m like a kid in a candy store. I’ve tested my fair share of drugstore beauty buys, so I’d be sure to restock on my holy-grail items. First up? The Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Concealer ($7.97). It’s my all-time favorite concealer because it brightens my complexion, hides pretty much every dark circle or blemish and has a radiant finish. I’d also be sure to add the Maybelline New York Cheek Heat ($5.98) and the Maybelline New York The Colossal Washable Mascara ($6.97) to my cart. Can you tell I love Maybelline? Cheek Heat is the perfect cream-meets-gel blush that gives my cheeks a subtle rosy flush, and The Colossal mascara gives my lashes insane volume and length. I’d use the rest of my money to try a new shade of one of my favorite lippies, the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Plump and Shine ($7.97). My current favorite is Guava, but I’ve had my eye on Pitaya.
Alanna, Associate Editor
A pigmented, buttery and illuminating bronzer is a go-to for me to buy in the drugstore aisle, so naturally, I’d gravitate toward the Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator ($26) for the majority of my purchase. This formula is long-lasting, perfect for dusting onto your contours (and down on your neck!) and is so creamy. To go along with my bronzer purchase, I’d pick up the Maybelline New York Cheek Heat ($5.98). This gel-blush formula sits on top of the skin to create a sunkissed flush that I simply can’t get enough of. The duo put together makes for the ultimate glowy complexion, spot-on for the warmer days to come. The extra $1.98 is so worth it, I promise.
A pigmented, buttery and illuminating bronzer is a go-to for me to buy in the drugstore aisle, so naturally, I’d gravitate toward the Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator ($26) for the majority of my purchase. This formula is long-lasting, perfect for dusting onto your contours (and down on your neck!) and is so creamy. To go along with my bronzer purchase, I’d pick up the Maybelline New York Cheek Heat ($5.98). This gel-blush formula sits on top of the skin to create a sunkissed flush that I simply can’t get enough of. The duo put together makes for the ultimate glowy complexion, spot-on for the warmer days to come. The extra $1.98 is so worth it, I promise.
Jillian, Social Media Editor
With $30 on my hands, I know I’d need to pick up at least one essential beauty buy, and lip balm is at the top of my list, so I’d grab the Maybelline New York Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm in Peach Kiss ($7.99). It has all the moisture and just enough pigment to give my lips a little life, which is a win-win in my book. I’m a firm believer you can still get a luxurious foundation for an affordable price, and Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation proves my theory. At $8.79, I get the coverage of both a foundation and a concealer for way cheaper than if I’d splurged somewhere else. Sometimes it’s great to treat yourself, but I’ll always fall back on Milani. I’ve been using pomade on my brows for years now, and the Maybelline New York Tattoo Studio Brow Pomade in Soft Brown ($9.56) is my go-to product. I never leave the store without picking some up because I go through pots of it.
With $30 on my hands, I know I’d need to pick up at least one essential beauty buy, and lip balm is at the top of my list, so I’d grab the Maybelline New York Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm in Peach Kiss ($7.99). It has all the moisture and just enough pigment to give my lips a little life, which is a win-win in my book. I’m a firm believer you can still get a luxurious foundation for an affordable price, and Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation proves my theory. At $8.79, I get the coverage of both a foundation and a concealer for way cheaper than if I’d splurged somewhere else. Sometimes it’s great to treat yourself, but I’ll always fall back on Milani. I’ve been using pomade on my brows for years now, and the Maybelline New York Tattoo Studio Brow Pomade in Soft Brown ($9.56) is my go-to product. I never leave the store without picking some up because I go through pots of it.