My Top 5 Drugstore Products

I know I said that I'm not trusting of drugstore products, but that doesn't mean that there aren't some gems to be found there. Here are my top 5 picks.

1. EcoTools Brushes

These have to be the softest brushes you will ever use. Bonus: They are cheap and vegan. The brushes have bamboo handles, recycled aluminum ferrules, and cruelty-free taklon bristles. You can buy them individually (around $4-5) and as a set (around $15) as well. I have seen them sold at Walgreens, Target, and Ulta. My favorites are the Bamboo Bronzer Brush and the Large Eye Brush.

2. Olive Oil

Many people are afraid of putting oil anywhere near their face, but this stuff will take off any makeup in a matter of seconds. If you are afraid of using it all over your face, just use it around your eye to get everything off without tugging at your delicate eye area. An extra plus is it will also condition your lashes.

3. Burt's Bees Lip Balm

This lip balm is 100% natural and does the job. They even sell tinted ones, but the packaging is a little bit chunkier so I usually opt for one of the non-tinted, slimmer ones.

4. E.L.F. High Definition Powder

This product is very similar to Make Up For Ever's HD powder. This finishing powder retails for $6 in comparison to MUFE's HD powder which costs about $34. Be careful to use this product sparingly though. The light-reflecting properties of the product can show up as a white-cast in flash photography. Don't believe me? Just do a quick search, and you will find photos of some unfortunate celebs who were subject to a heavy-handed application. Use this finishing powder to set your concealer or in areas that you want to control oil.

5. Burt's Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme

Now that it's winter, my hands are drier than the Sahara Desert. I keep a jar of this creme next to the sink. Why there? Because I want to use it right after I wash my hands. I don't want to introduce bacteria into the container by sticking dirty fingers into it. Bacteria loves moist environments, so do yourself a favor and keep your grimy fingers out long enough to wash them. :P