Drugstore Makeup Starter Kit

It's come to my attention recently that a lot of the people who read my blog are not makeup experts, don't have an expansive beauty product collection, or don't have the money to invest in high end products (hell, even I don't really), so I wanted to do a post with my picks from the drugstore. The idea behind this post is that if I wasn't the makeup obsessive that I am, this is what my makeup bag would look like. I've basically picked my favourite thing from the highstreet for each category!

Primer - MUA Matte Perfect: this is kind of an optional insert to the hypothetical beauty bag, unless you have oily/combination skin, or it's hot out, a primer isn't really necessary. That being said, if I'm leaving the house, I generally slap on a primer. I just like the extra longevity it gives my makeup. Now, when it comes to primers, my top ones are all high end, but this one from the drugstore is pretty damn good too. It's a total knock off for the Benefit Porefessional, but hey, it works and it's cheaper.

Foundation - Rimmel Wake Me Up: there are a fair few high street foundations that really hit the spot if you ask me (Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum, Rimmel Match Perfection, L'Oreal Lumi Magique, Revlon Nearly Naked) but this is my favourite of them all. Buildable coverage, but a thick consistency, without compromising on how natural it looks. There's a shimmer to it which gives you a bit of a glow (it looks natural, not glittery!). I always get compliments on my skin when I wear this foundation! If high coverage is what you're after though Max Factor Facefinity is incredible!

Concealer - Rimmel Wake Me Up: double trouble here, but I LOVE this concealer. It's on it's last legs now and I'll be rushing out to pick up another one at some point today, I don't think I could be without it! Good coverage, not too drying, works really well under the eyes and around the nose. I use this one every day.

Powder - Rimmel Stay Matte: I'm sure you've all heard enough about this by now! It's cheap as chips and sets makeup like a dream. If you're after more coverage from your powder, I'd go for the Bourjois Healthy Mix Powder (which I originally didn't like but have now changed my mind on!) but if you're just after something to set your makeup, this is what you want.

Bronzer - Vivo Baked Bronze: from Tesco would you believe! This is kind of reminiscent of the MAC Mineralize Skin Finishes, it's multi tonal with veins of shimmer running through it. It never looks orange and gives a beautiful sunkissed glow to your skin.

Blush - Sleek: non-specific here because I love all the colours! Pictured here is Rose Gold, but I'm also the proud owner of Flushed, Life's a Peach and Mirrored Pink, as well as the Sweet Cheeks Blush by Three palette. These blushes are super pigmented and last all day on the cheeks, and come in a variety of colours, so there's something for everyone.

Highlighter - Topshop Sunbeam: another optional extra, but I love a bit of highlighter in the summer. This is a beautiful golden shimmer that blends out really lovely, especially when paired with a good bronzer.

Eyeshadow -Sleek i-Divine Palettes: the award for best highstreet shadows goes undisputably to Sleek. Twelve soft buttery shadows, high pigmentation, gorgeous colours, at £7.99 a palette. These shadows are awesome. This is there original palette, but I love all of them. The MUA neutrals palettes are also really good.

Cream Shadows - Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24 Hour in On and On Bronze: I love this cream shadow so much. It's a gorgeous shimmery bronze shade, that can be worked onto the lid with a finger, and then it sets and won't budge til you go at it with the makeup remover before bed. Looks great alone or as a base for eyeshadow, or even with a little colour blended into the edges. I also really like Rimmel's Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paints, but this one stole my heart long before them!

Eyeliners - Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal: I love these bad boys so much. The only other eye pencil that rivals them is Urban Decay, and that's saying something. Super soft so they don't drag across your eye, heavily pigmented and they're waterproof and smudge proof til the end. The nude shade looks great to brighten up the waterline!

Mascara - Max Factor Masterpiece Waterproof: I always feel like mascara is one of those things that makes you look done up, even if you haven't bothered. This is by far my favourite high street mascara, stays put all day, very lengthening, a good amount of volume, doesn't clump and holds a curl well. I always have a tube of this about!

Brows - Along Came Betty Br-Wow: Filling in the your brows isn't for everyone, but like mascara, if you make the effort to, you can instantly look more put together. This six pound Benefit Brow Zings dupe is my favourite, I mix a little of the two shadows to fill any gaps, set it with the wax, and highlight under my brow bone. Everything you could possibly need! 

 Lipstick - Kate Moss for Rimmel London: easily the best lippies on the highstreet. I know a lot of people rave about the Revlon Lip Butters, but there is only one shade of those that I would wear, and I'm not overly keen on the formula. These however, I love. The ones in red packaging are matte, and the ones in black are creamy formulas. These are probably my most reached for lippies.

Lipgloss - Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Glosses and L'Oreal Glamshine Splash Stains: Despite not really being a gloss sort of person, I couldn't pick between these two offerings. The Revlon gloss is a traditional gloss without any stick. It's got a surprisingly decent colour pay off, and I love this pretty coral shade. The L'Oreal offering applies like a gloss, but when the shine wears off you are left with a colour stain to your lips, so they're a little longer lasting than your average gloss. I love both of these, and they're the only glosses I ever wear.

Lip Balms - Maybelline Baby Lips: I did a post on these recently, and y'all know I love them! Hydrating with a pop of colour, they're great for chucking in your handbag!

Brushes - Real Techniques: These are pretty much the only brushes I ever use now. You guys know the drill by now, they're synthetic so they don't shed, they wash well, and they are amazing at what they do. My absolute favourites are the Powder Brush, Blush Brush, Expert Face Brush, and Fluffy Crease Brush.

So there you have it! Those are my picks. It looks like a lot all written down, but when you think about it, that's just one of each product, you're kind of covered for all eventualities!

What are your favourite drugstore products?