If you speak with any celebrity makeup artist, they'll likely inform you that a lot of preparation goes into creating the perfect beauty look for a big event. With that in mind, inexpensive drugstore beauty products you never realized celebs were wearing on the red carpet may come as a surprise to you.
Naturally, you might think that the rich and famous folk, who grace red carpets with their presence, use only the most high-end beauty products. However, just because a product is expensive, doesn't mean it's high quality. You may have experienced this yourself — if you're a beauty aficionado, you might have a few stellar drugstore items in amongst your designer gear, that you buy time and time again because they're downright awesome. When a product's that good, there's no point being a snob about where you bought it from, right? Plus, you get to save more money to spend on brunch, because millennials apparently love eating expensive avocado toast.
I recently spoke with a bunch of makeup artists on their favorite drugstore makeup products for spring 2017 and I discovered that it's super normal for MUAs to utilize — and openly promote — drugstore makeup on the regular. Because when a beauty product is on point, there's no denying it.
So here's a selection of inexpensive drugstore beauty products you may not have realized celebs wore on the red carpet.
1. Rimmel Fix & Perfect Foundation Primer
Rimmel Fix & Perfect Foundation Primer, $7, Amazon
“Debra Messing got me hooked on Rimmel Fix & Perfect Primer,” says Honey Artists makeup artist, Min Min Ma, in an email to Bustle, “it keeps your makeup in place for hours and skin looking matte. It also smoothes out the skin texture giving that photoshopped feel.”
2. Burt's Bees Lip Products
Burt's Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Lipstick Juniper Water, $7, Amazon
According to Lea Michele's makeup artist Melanie Inglessis, Brit + Co. reported that Michele wore a selection of Burt's Bees lip products on the 2016 People's Choice Awards red carpet. One of which was the stunning Burt's Bees Lipstick in "Juniper Water."
3. Makeup Academy Products
MUA Eye Shadow Palette In "Nude", $11, CVS
Celebrity makeup artist Mai Quynh told Byrdie that Tatiana Maslany's look at the 2016 Emmys was almost completely created with Makeup Academy products. Quynh used the Makeup Academy Professional Nude Eyeshadow Palette to help create Maslany's smoky eye look.
4. Essie Nail Polish
Essie Nail Color In "For The Twill Of It", $9, Amazon
Glamour reported that celebrity manicurist Eri Handa used Essie nail polish for Chloë Grace Moretz' Met Gala 2016 manicure.
5. CoverGirl Intensify Me! Liquid Liner
CoverGirl Intensify Me Liquid Foundation Makeup Liner In "Intense Black", $17, Amazon
According to Refinery29, Zendaya did her own makeup for the 2016 Grammy awards and wore a slick of CoverGirl's Intensify Me! Liquid Liner in "Intense Black."
6. Ardell Duralash Naturals Individual Lashes
Ardell Duralash Naturals Individual Lashes - Medium 56-Count (Pack of 4), $12, Amazon
“Laura Benanti has gorgeous eyelashes naturally but we like to pump them up even more with Ardell Duralash Naturals Individual Lashes in medium length when she hits the red carpet,” says Min Min Ma. “Tip: Once you applied mascara followed by individual lashes, I like to go over them with another coat of mascara to 'bind' the two together,” she advises.
7. Maybelline New York's Face Studio Master Contour Pro Palette
Maybelline New York Face Studio Master Contour In "Light To Medium", $8, Amazon
Glamour informed readers of makeup artist Patrick Ta's decision to use Maybelline New York's Face Studio Master Contour Pro Palette, for Gigi Hadid's 2016 Met Gala red carpet beauty look.
8. Maybelline New York Master Glaze Blush Stick
Maybelline New York Face Studio Master Glaze Glisten Blush Stick In "Just-Pinched Pink", $7, Amazon
InStyle reported that Chrissy Teigen’s makeup artist for the 2015 Oscars, Mary Phillips, used Maybelline New York Master Glaze Blush Stick in "Just-Pinched Pink" to help Teigen achieve her divine rosy apples.
9. Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick
Revlon Ultra Hd Lipstick In "Gladiolus", $9, Amazon
For a superstar scarlet pout to match the red carpet, check out this glam shade that InStyle reported Emma Stone wore at the 2015 SAG Awards.
10. Revlon ColorStay 16 Hour Eyeshadow Quad
Revlon Colorstay 16 Hour Eye Shadow Quad In "Decadent", $6, Amazon
If you want to achieve the trendy, burgundy eye makeup look Olivia Wilde wore to the 2016 Golden Globes, Refinery29 informs readers that all you need is Revlon's ColorStay 16 Hour Eyeshadow Quad in "Decadent."
11. Mally Beauty Evercolor Poreless Face Defender
Mally Beauty Evercolor Poreless Face Defender Compact W/Triangle Sponge, $57, Amazon
“Mally Beauty Poreless Face Defender is my go-to face mattifier especially when working with male celebrities,” explains Min Min Ma.
“It controls the shine and smoothes the skin without looking like you have any makeup on,” she adds, “you can use it on its own or on top of your face makeup. Make sure to gently press the product onto your face with a sponge instead [of] dragging it across.”
It just goes to show that drugstore makeup really can compete with designer alternatives — if it's good enough for the red carpet, it's good enough for anyone!
Images: Courtesy Brands
