The Drugstore Makeup One Editor Can't Live Without
If I Lost My Makeup Bag, These Are the Products I'd Repurchase Immediately
I'm a nosy person, so I live for the "what's in my purse" and "what's in my makeup bag" type of content. (I carry so much stuff in my purse, even Mary Poppins would be gagged.) My makeup bag is constantly overflowing, but if someone else thinks a certain product is worthy of the precious real estate in theirs, I think, perhaps I need it, too.
Lately, TikTok creators have been giving a shout-out to their favorite makeup products by way of sharing the makeup they would repurchase if they lost their bag. You can't deny that it's a good way to separate the products that you like from the ones you truly love. This got me thinking about what products I would seriously miss if I no longer had them. Would I be able to do the impossible and narrow down the list to just the essentials? I have good luck with drugstore makeup, and many of the products perform just as good as, if not better than, their high-end counterparts, so if I lost my makeup bag, a trip to the drugstore would be my first stop.
May karma never hit me so hard I lose my bag, but if it happens at least I know where to start and at least five L'Oréal Paris products I would repurchase — immediately.
L'Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer
L'Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer in Deep ($16)
My beauty routine is hardly perfect. I may not double cleanse every night or clean my makeup brushes once a week, but you won't ever catch me tanning my face in the sun. This drugstore dupe liquid highlighter allows me to flaunt bronzed, sun-kissed-looking skin without the sun, and I totally share Alix Earle's — and TikTok's — obsession with it. Some days, I forgo foundation and just wear this; other days, I layer it under my foundation to help create a lit-from-within glow. The formula is infused with glycerin and shea butter, so it feels hydrating on the skin but never crosses into oily or sticky territory.
L'Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner
L'Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner in Brown Denim ($11)
I will forever kick myself for all of the years I wasted not wearing eyeliner because I thought it was "too much effort." Please! Adding a little gel eyeliner to the upper and lower lash line, and the tiniest wing in the outer corner, is one of the most flattering things I've ever done for my makeup routine — and it's so easy to achieve. I love this eyeliner because the gel formula is blendable — at least before it dries down — and glides across the skin with ease. The formula is waterproof, transfer-proof, and can last up to 36 hours. Not even my oily eyelids can bring it down.
L'Oréal Paris True Match Hyaluronic Tinted Serum
L'Oréal Paris True Match Hyaluronic Tinted Serum ($15)
I loathe the feeling of cakey, heavy makeup, which is precisely why my love for this tinted serum runs so deep. It can help even out my skin tone and keep things looking natural, which is what I crave with my makeup, especially in the summer. The formula is infused with hyaluronic acid, making it a skin-care-meets-makeup hybrid that luxury brands could maybe sell for five times the price. And some do; I've tried most of them and this one is my favorite in terms of texture, consistency, and the way it feels on my skin. The under $20 price tag is just an added bonus.
L'Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer ($16)
L'Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer ($16)
You won't catch me looking pale, but not because I let the sun shine on my face. Self tanner, bronzing drops, and bronzer are essential to my makeup routine. I used to love shimmery bronzers, but this powder made me convert. The soft matte formula melts into skin without chunky flecks of glitter, and it doesn't emphasize texture. I've tried it with a number of different types of complexion products, and it never comes out patchy or muddy. The neutral undertone of each shade helps eliminate the worry of looking more orange than sun-kissed (a big win), plus this powder uses the kind of soft, clean floral scent I live for.
L'Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Balm-in-Lipstick with Pomegranate Extract
L'Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Balm-in-Lipstick with Pomegranate Extract ($10)
I will choose a hydrating lipstick over a matte one any day, simply because the former tends to be more comfortable to wear and easier to apply. This feels oddly specific, but I love any type of lip product I can apply without a mirror — and that is this product. Like the name suggests, it applies and feels like a balm but offers pigment like a lipstick. If my lips are chapped I know I can reach for this because the hydrating formula will help nourish them without emphasizing flaky or rough texture. I can't be without this product, and that is the very reason why I keep a few shades in both my makeup bag and purse.
