5 Cheap Beauty Products that Really Work
As our Good Housekeeping Research Institute testing has shown time and time again, expensive products don't necessarily work any better than cheap ones, so the drugstore is where you can find some of the best beauty items out there. Here, my personal faves:
1. L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara (around $8) This drugstore mascara is the perfect mix of thickening and lengthening. Its super-creamy formula thickens my lashes without clumping and stays put all day long. When I head to the gym after work, I find that even after a sweaty workout it doesn't smear, in spite of the fact that it's not waterproof. I also find that the tube lasts awhile - another money saver.
Related: 30 Drugstore Deals
2. Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner (around $8) Not only does this rich eyeliner go on incredibly smoothly, it stays where you put it. I always have problems with migrating eyeliner, so I was thrilled to finally find a non-waterproof (I like non-waterproof products cause they're easier to remove) budget-buy that works and is easy to take off with eye makeup remover. If you prefer a waterproof formulation, try Styli Style Line or Seal 24 Twist, both of which scored high in our waterproof eyeliner test.
3. Suave Dry Shampoo ($3) If you've read some of my previous posts, you know that I love dry shampoo and this one in particular! It's cheap, smells amazing (like mangos!), and freshens my hair in between washings.
Related: Best Quick-Dry Nail Polish
4. Olay Pro-X Eye Cream ($42) This won our 2010 Anti-Aging Award for Skincare in the Eye Cream category. I love using it because, in addition to moisturizing and reducing the appearance of wrinkles, it has an amazing texture that feels great when you're rubbing it in.
5. Almay Eye Makeup Remover Pads (around $5) These easy-to-use pads came out on top in our eye makeup remover study. They're a huge time saver because only a few wipes gets rid of all your stubborn eye makeup.
Related: Best At-Home Haircolor
What's your favorite drugstore beauty buy? Tell us in the comments.
- By Mary Clarke
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