As glamorous as many of us may feel when we use a luxury beauty product [1], there's still the mass appeal of a budget foundation or face cream that we plucked from the beauty aisle of our local drugstore [2]. Stores like CVS, Walgreens, and every drugstore in between are treasure troves for affordable products that work effectively and follow through on just as many promises as their higher-priced counterparts.
A cream blush that'll give you that flushed, just-left-the-beach look? They've got it. A mascara that provides enough volume and length to make you reconsider wearing eyelash extensions [3]? You can find those, too.
If you don't believe us, just ask Daniel Martin [4] — a celebrity makeup artist who's worked with stars like Meghan Markle [5], Jessica Alba [6], and Nina Dobrev [7]. Ahead, we asked him to dish on his favourite CVS beauty products he swears are worth stocking up on this summer.
Essence Pure Nude Highlighter
Essence Pure Nude Highlighter [8] ($5) applies smoothly to bring out the natural glow on any part of your face. "A light dusting on the tops of your cheeks and bridge of the nose reshapes and adds dimensions to your face with a subtle light shimmer," Martin told POPSUGAR.
JOAH Wat-a-matte Liquid Lipstick
According to Martin, the JOAH Wat-a-matte Liquid Lipstick in Cherry Cola [9] ($7) "makes for the perfect lip stain on so many skin tones." It's highly-pigmented and will give you the most vibrant pop of colour with just one swipe.
Wet n Wild PhotoFocus Primer Water
"Whether I'm looking to prep skin, set makeup, or just refresh, I love pumping a few sprays of Wet n Wild PhotoFocus Primer Water [10] ($6)," Martin said. "It's super soothing and hydrating – and not to mention, super affordable!"
GSQ by GLAMSQUAD Teardrop Blender
"I use the GSQ by GLAMSQUAD Teardrop Blender [11] ($6) after I've applied foundation with a brush to blend out any unevenness," he said. "It's also great to press loose powder onto the skin as well."
Maybelline Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush
The Maybelline Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush [12] ($8) is so good that one of our editors previously called it "the best-kept secret to a just-off-the-beach flush. [13]" Now Martin is giving the product rave reviews too.
"I'm so obsessed with this stuff," he said. "It adds buildable colour on the cheeks that melts into the skin to create a glow from within look on the cheeks."
L'Oreal Infallible Foundation
Martin calls L'Oreal Infallible Foundation [14] ($15) "one of the best drugstore foundations on the market" because it "blends well and doesn't feel heavy on the skin." It also doesn't hurt that the product comes in 40 different shades and can last up to 24 hours.
Milani Baked Blush in "Luminoso"
Martin calls Milani Baked Blush in "Luminoso" [15] ($10) "the perfect peach shade for so many skin tones."
KISS Ever EZ Lashes
Think of KISS Ever EZ Lashes [16] ($12) as the perfect starter product to give your natural lashes a boost without adding too much drama to your eyes. "These lashes add that extra oomph to lashes that need help," Martin said. "Not too big and very easy to apply because they're light."
Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water
If you want to kill two beauty birds with one stone, Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water [17] ($5) is the way to go since it doubles as both a facial cleanser and a makeup remover fit for all skin types.
"This takes off EVERYTHING and doesn't leave your skin feeling stripped afterwards," Martin said.
L'Oreal Paris Bambi Eye Lasting Volume Washable Mascara
Who doesn't love a mascara that boasts a doe-eyed effect? "Because of its brush, the L'Oreal Paris Bambi Eye Lasting Volume Washable Mascara [18] ($11) grabs every lash and amplifies it by 10," Martin said. "Big beautiful bold lashes!"