My Guide to the UK Drugstore #DrugstoreWeek

drugstore

Today is a bit of a preview to my absolute favourite drugstore products which I will share with you tomorrow but I thought I would quickly go through the UK drugstore brands, what products I like and which I love. I’m hoping it might help anyone that is a little scared of drugstore, looking for great affordable products or someone coming to the UK and looking to get a few products which you might not be able to get in other countries.

B. (available here)
My top pick: Brush Cleanser
Available exclusively in Superdrugs B. is quite a new brand and I haven’t tried too much from them, their brushes are quite nice but their brush cleanser is my favourite!

Barry M (available here)
My top pick: Nail Paints
One of the best brands to pick up whilst in the UK as it still isn’t too widely available everywhere else, their Dazzle Dust are quite underrated if you love shimmery shadow but their nail paints are a must try and very affordable. They offer everything from nail care to glitter and gel effect polishes.

Bourjois (available here)
My top pick: Healthy Balance Powder
Available quite readily in Europe Bourjois has really high quality products at great prices. Although their foundations break me out I think they are a great drugstore option for anyone that doesn’t have sensitive skin. Their blushers are some of my absolute favourites but their concealers and lipsticks are also worth a look.

Collection (available here)
My top pick: Lasting Perfection Concealer
Very affordable drugstore brand, I personally find the Lasting Perfection Concealer a little drying but it’s very affordable and highly rated by so many people that it’s a must try.

Gosh (available here)
My top pick: Velvet Touch Liners
Surprisingly this was the hardest brand for me to pick a top product from, everything is nice but there isn’t really anything I can’t live without. Other than the Velvet liners, the lipsticks and blushers are also both really nice.

L’Oreal (available here)
My top pick: True Match Foundation
L’Oreal True Match foundation is an absolute must have with a nice colour selection but the liners, neutral eyeshadow palettes and lipsticks are also worth picking up.

Makeup Revolution (available here)
My top pick: Eyeshadow Palettes
Known for offering affordable alternative to cult beauty products, their palettes and lipsticks are great alternatives to highend brands.

MaxFactor (available here)
My top pick: Mascaras
Although I love the whole range, no other drugstore brand offers better volumising mascaras than MaxFactor, I don’t have a particular favourite but all the ones I have tried have been great.

Maybelline (available here)
My top pick: Instant Eye Eraser Concealer
Great all round brand but the Instant Eye Eraser is a great alternative to highend concealers and I would quite happily swap my usual cocnealer for it. I also really like Dream Flawless Nude Foundation, Brow Satin Eye Pencil and their Color Sensational Lipsticks.

Models Own (available here)
My top pick: Nail Polishes
Models Own started by offering nail polishes and I still think it’s what they do best. My favourite colours are Beach Bag and Utopia although their Hypergel and glitters are generally great ranges.

MUA (available here)
My top pick: Luxe Velvet Lipsticks
Anther super inexpensive UK beauty brand, their eyeshadow palettes are also great value for money!

Real Techniques (available here)
My top pick: Core Collection brushes
Probably my favourite brush brand, their original collection is still by far my favourite along with their sponge, I would personally skip the bold metals collection (although they look beautiful) as they’re pricier and not as soft.

Revlon (available here)
My top pick: Colorstay Foundation (particularly for oily skins)
Revlon is a great brand for almost everything and it has quite a makeup artist feel to it. If you like lip crayons then Revlon do the best affordable ones.

Rimmel (available here)
My top pick: Exaggerate Lipliner in Eastend Snob
Theres so many great items from Rimmel, the whole Exaggerate range is excellent, I love their lipsticks and I reach for their foundations and concealers regularly.

Sleek Makeup (available here)
My top pick: Contour Kit
Has a special place in my heart as I use to blog about Sleek endlessly when I first started blogging. Palettes, blushers and Matte Me in Birthday Suit are all well loved in my collection.

Soap & Glory (available here)
My top pick: Kick Ass Concealer
Slightly higher price point in comparison for drugstore products but I adore their body products. Other great product include Brow Archery, Supercat liner and Thick & Fast Mascara

Topshop (available here)
My top pick: Lipsticks
Not strictly drugstore as it’s available only in Topshop stores but a great price point. All the lip products, blushers, bronzers and nail polishes I have tried have been fab but the glow highlighter has to be the best cream affordable one I own.

Would love to hear your drugstore recommendation in the comments, are there any drugstore secrets I am missing?

13 Comments

  1. 16th January 2016 / 8:32 pm

    I haven’t bought anything from the drugstore in such a long time! I’m really intrigued by the new mascara launches from Revlon so I’ll definitely have to hunt those down once they are finally released in my local Boots store! I still can’t believe I’ve never tried the Sleek contour palette.. I’ve heard so many people raving about it! Fab post.. thanks for sharing xx

    Ciara Rose | http://www.ciara-rose.com

    • Sabrina
      Author
      17th January 2016 / 10:39 am

      I tried a few of the mascaras and they’re nice but not really life changing, the contour palette however is amazing! X

  2. carys emily
    16th January 2016 / 9:19 pm

    loved this list, great idea and picks !

    Distant Dreamer

    • Sabrina
      Author
      17th January 2016 / 10:39 am

      Thank you! X

  3. 16th January 2016 / 9:31 pm

    Can’t believe that I literally agree with everything you wrote as for other drugstore favourites I have:
    1. Collection Extreme Liquid Felt Tip Liner
    2. Maybelline Better Skin Foundation
    3. Maybelline Falsies Mascara
    4. Primark Lip Pencil in Brown
    5. Essence Gel Polishes

    This has inspired me to do a similar post in the near future as I always love good affordable products, and sometimes shopping at the drugstore can be really daunting as everything can sometimes look gross, dirty and used and inside you’re just like I would rather go to Selfridges.

    • Sabrina
      Author
      17th January 2016 / 10:38 am

      Thanks for these! I’ve added them to my wishlist, especially the Primark Lip pencil! X

  4. 16th January 2016 / 11:34 pm

    This post is actually super helpful for me right now as I’ll be going to London in just over a week and I definitely want to take advantage of the drugstore bits I can’t get in the states! I’m probably most excited about Bourjois, Sleek, and Barry M nail polishes as those are nowhere to be found in the US (at least as far as I can tell).

    Amber | A Write Through Life

    • Sabrina
      Author
      17th January 2016 / 10:38 am

      Glad you liked it, have an amazing time X

  5. Wanny
    17th January 2016 / 2:44 pm

    This is a very helpful post indeed! I’ll be going to London in couple months time and planning on doing some beauty shopping. Thank you so much for the lovely post! x

    Wanny | thoughtsatweekend.blogspot.sg

  6. 17th January 2016 / 8:44 pm

    I wish we had Sleek in America! Great post! xx

  7. 18th January 2016 / 6:43 pm

    This is such a good helpful and handy post for those who are just beginning with make-up or are unknown to some of these brands and what their best products are!
    Charlotte // charlottespicks.blogspot.com

  8. 18th June 2016 / 7:49 pm

    How do I get deliveries from drugstore to the uk, I went on drugstore uk but it still coming up American site and saying they don’t deliver to uk just wondered if they do and how to do it

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