Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
The Best Drugstore Makeup, Skin Care, and Other Beauty Products
31
items Amid the thousands of beauty items crowding drugstore shelves are some stellar standouts. Think: makeup that blurs the line between luxury and low cost; simple, efficacious skin care; and hair care that delivers gorgeous results.We don’t just love th...
Sections
4
Makeup
Hair
Nails
Skin
Makeup
Baked blushes are cream formulas that have been “baked” dry, lending a sheer texture and rich tone that’s more pigmented than powder formulas. Milani Baked Blush comes in about 10 pearlescent shades subtle enough for fair skin tones but with enough c...
Milani Baked Blush, Luminoso
With their squeezy tubes and glittery finishes, most drugstore lip glosses feel too juvenile for grown-ups. But Maybelline Lifter Gloss is downright elegant, with a flocked doe foot applicator and a Lucite-like square tube
Maybelline Lifter Gloss Lip Gloss Makeup with Hyaluronic Acid, Stone
For fair, sparse, or over-plucked brows, it’s hard to do better than Nyx’s Micro Brow Pencil. The twist-up, retractable tip is itty-bitty thin, which allows you to precisely define your brow’s shape and density.
NYX Professional Makeup Micro Vegan Eyebrow Pencil, Taupe, 0.003 oz
Brow gels set your brows exactly where you want them, especially if yours are thick, curly, or unruly. CoverGirl Clean Fresh Brow Enhancer Gel is clear with conditioning agents and humectants to soften and plump hairs while laying them flat, sans the...
COVERGIRL Clean Fresh Brow Enhancer Gel Wax, Clear 100, 0.18 fl oz
For people who are not particularly skilled at eye shadow artistry—so few of us are—cream shadow sticks, such as the fan-favorite Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow Stick, are a game changer. But those are seven times the price of the E...
No Budge Shadow Stick - e.l.f. Cosmetics | Ulta Beauty
Maybelline says its Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara is both volumizing and lengthening, but we found it to be exceptional at the latter. After we tested two dozen brands for our guide to mascara, it’s the best we’ve found at the drugstore for creat...
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Washable Mascara, Blackest Black
Dr. Bronner’s Naked Organic Lip Balm was something special. The no-fuss stick formula disappears into lips while making them feel healthy and happy. The near-matte finish even works well under lipstick, and you can find it in almost any drugstore.
Dr. Bronner's Organic Lip Balm Naked - .15oz
The twist-up Maybelline Super Stay Ink Crayon Lipstick has a somewhat misleading name. It’s not ink-like at all, but soft and creamy with an opaque, near-matte finish that’s more forgiving than traditional lipstick. The darker tones (called Make Move...
Maybelline SuperStay Ink Crayon Matte Lipstick, Work For It
Using Flower’s Bright Eyed Under Eye Corrector has—not to be dramatic—completely changed my morning makeup routine. I had pretty much given up on finding a product that would brighten my undereye area without being cakey, creasy, or too heavy
Bright Eyed Under Eye Corrector
I grew up in the early ’00s, meaning skinny brows reigned supreme. So as an adult, caring for—and fluffing—my natural brows is very important to me. Fortunately, Revolution Beauty’s Fluffy Brow Filter Duo makes that easier than ever.
Fluffy Brow Filter Duo
I only use liquid eyeliners, and this has quickly become my favorite. It glides on very smoothly without the “ink spill” problem some liquid liners have. The size makes it easy to carry in my bag, and I love the color options, which range from classi...
At The Borderline Eyeliner Marker
I hate when a metallic eye shadow only catches the light at a certain angle, but the fine glitter in these Chroma Light Shadows gives you 360-degree sparkle. I tried Keepsake, a golden shade that color-shifts beautifully with flattering pinks and gre...
Chroma Light Shadow (020, Lilac Love)
Talk about the perfect serve with this mascara. Wyn Beauty by Serena Williams has scored major points with a tubing formula that stays on all day (even if you sweat). I never reapplied; my lashes stayed perfect all day long. You can tell Williams cre...
Big Vision Lengthening & Defining Tubing Mascara
Hair
With 325 bristles in two lengths (longer to detangle, shorter to smooth), the sleek Tangle Teezer Ultimate Detangler Plant Brush effectively grabs and unwinds hair without any yank. It’s gentle enough for most hair types, wet or dry.
The Ultimate Detangler Plant Brush - Tangle Teezer | Ulta Beauty
The magic lies in the aerosol dispenser, which produces an ultra-fine mist to invisibly coat styled strands. Like all aerosols, it’s important to follow the instructions and hold the can 12 inches from your head, which allows the formula to properly ...
Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Unscented Hairspray - L'Oréal | Ulta Beauty
This Black-owned, woman-founded brand makes a lot of best-in-class products, but Miss Jessie’s Pillow Soft Curls Cream, a lightweight lotion, stands out for its versatility on a range of hair textures, leaving both moderate waves and tight coils soft...
Miss Jessie's Pillow Soft Curls, 8.5oz Lotion
For those with dark hair seeking to cover hairline grays or extend time between colorist appointments, the L’Oréal Paris Magic Root Precision Pen is a game changer. Just brush it along grays at your temples and part, allowing a full minute for the pi...
L'Oreal Paris Magic Root Precision Pull-Top Temporary Gray Hair Color Concealer Brush, Dark Brown
Why it's worth it: Yes, Oribe Shampoo for Magnificent Volume is a splurge, but if you’re chasing serious volume, this shampoo is one of the best Oribe products for just that—and worth every penny. “It uses a polymer blend to plump up the hair shaft f...
Oribe Shampoo for Magnificent Volume 8.5 oz
Nails
Moisturizing cuticles extends the life of a manicure, maintains healthy nail beds, and helps worn nails from dishes/gardening/housework look presentable. But traditional oils are messy, must be massaged in, and, even then, often leave your fingertips...
Olive & June Cuticle Serum - 0.14 fl oz
The shade range offers something for everyone: perfectly soft neutrals, trendy brights, moody classics. The brush is flat and generously wide, allowing for full coverage and control.
essie Nail Polish, UnGuility Pleasures, Green, 0.46 fl oz Bottle
There are a lot of drugstore top coats with a lot of big promises, but Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Topcoat 101 is the best we’ve found. One coat is smooth but thick—let it dry a full, five minutes—and nicely patches nicks or smears in the underlying pol...
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish Lacquer, Shiny Top Coat, 0.5 fl oz
Skin
Many zit creams rely on either the antibacterial benzoyl peroxide (BP) or a chemical exfoliant like salicylic acid; combining the two can be irritating. That’s why the one-two punch of La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Acne Spot Treatment is so unique. It ...
Effaclar Duo Dual Acne Treatment with Benzoyl Peroxide - La Roche-Posay | Ulta Beauty
Over the years, many dermatologists have recommended the unscented Aquaphor Healing Ointment to Wirecutter staffers for everything from infant eczema to chemical burns and stress-induced psoriasis—and we think everyone should have a tube or jar on ha...
Aquaphor Healing Ointment Skin Protectant, Use After Hand Washing, 1.75 oz. Tube
Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser leaves skin feeling impeccably clean with zero tightness, dryness, or redness. Jennifer has been a loyal user for years and notes that while it’s not billed as a foaming formula, it does transform into a satisfying la...
Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin, 8 fl oz
is a great daily option you can buy almost anywhere, which is especially convenient if you forgot your daily sunscreen while traveling. Give yourself a second to rub it in thoroughly; it can leave a slight white cast on dark skin. Once dry, though, i...
CeraVe AM Face Moisturizer with Broad Spectrum Protection SPF 30, 3 oz
Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Original Patch weren’t around when the members of our beauty team were teenagers but wow, do we wish they were. Hannah has her now 16-year-old niece to thank for the hot tip. The tiny hydrocolloid rounds deflate unsightly ...
36 ct Mighty Patch Original Acne Pimple Patches - Hero Cosmetics | Ulta Beauty
The powerful, but gentle daily face wash is formulated with superfood antioxidants from kale, spinach, and green tea - to give your skin the ultimate cleanse. It works effectively to prevent buildup in pores, remove makeup, and balance pH without dry...
Kale + Spinach Superfood Face Cleanser | Youth To The People
I love Hero Cosmetics Dissolve Away for makeup removal. This balm melts the makeup away without drying me out or tightening my skin, and it works great for removing mascara without irritating my sensitive eyes. It’s magical at sweeping away makeup, s...
Hero Cosmetics Dissolve Away 65ml
I love this toner for my sensitive skin. The milky formula is packed with barrier lipids, polyglutamic acid, and cica to restore the barrier and boost moisture. It absorbs quickly, leaving my skin feeling soft and hydrated without any sticky residue....
Hydrating Milky Toner
As I get older, I find my skin needs a little more help; some days my skin is just tired, and of course, wrinkles are hard to keep at bay. Future Youth Gravity Rebound Serum, with its plant-based ingredients, smoothed out my skin. I love holding the ...
Pacifica Future Youth Face Serum - 1 fl oz
As someone with acne-prone skin, I’m very particular about the moisturizers I incorporate into my routine to avoid breakouts—but this product has earned a permanent spot for both morning and night.
Multi-Peptide Moisturizer