15 Luxe Beauty Brands You Can Buy (for Cheap!) at the Drugstore

Molly Griffin
Jun 28, 2015

Don’t get us wrong: We love a beauty haul from Sephora as much as the next girl. It’s just that sometimes our skin is like, “Actually… I think this $50 foundation doesn’t agree with me,” while our wallet cries uncle. Fortunately, that’s what drugstore beauty is for, but we’re not talking Maybelline or CoverGirl (although they’re both perfectly fine too). Stylists, makeup artists and luxury brands have been teaming up with your favorite drugstores to release products that are big on quality and value. Swing by these local shops to discover some new favorite brands.

1. Circa Beauty by Eva Mendes: This makeup line ranges from $8 to $15 and is meant to bridge the gap between cheapie buys and professional makeup products. Eva Mendes is the creative director, and she knows all about the struggle of finding makeup to suit darker skin, so this collection has plenty of hard-to-find shades.

2. Nonie Creme Colour Prevails: Butter London is one of those prestigious nail polish brands that we’d buy in every shade… if we could possibly afford it. Then creator and top manicurist Nonie Creme came out with this affordable line, exclusive to Walgreens. Polishes are HALF the price of Butter London, and there are even some makeup products to match. (Photo via @colourprevails)

Costco

3. Jenna Hipp: This manicurist is known around Hollywood as the Celebrity Green-Nail Stylist, because she created a line of “5-free” nail and hand products. In addition to being eco-friendly, these polishes come in trendy colors and don’t break the bank, with an eight-piece mini set going for just $25 at Costco.

4. Orlando Pita: Orlando Pita is big deal in the fashion industry, styling for haute couture runways and editorial spreads, but you’ll also find him in the aisles of Costco. His hair products run on the pricier end, but you wear your mane every day — give it the pro treatment!

5. Dr. Jessica Wu: Celebrity dermatologist Dr. Wu treats beauties like Katherine Heigl and Lisa Ling. Their skin is so flawless, you know she’s working some magic. She’s created two lines of skincare products, but one is prohibitively expensive(we’re talking $125 for a moisturizer, people) and hard to find. Opt for her Costco brand instead, which is more in the $50 range.

6. Kristofer Buckle: Check out Kristofer’s Instagram, where you can find him doing makeup for the likes of Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Chastain and Khloe Kardashian. Now you definitely want to know what all the fuss is about, right? Grab one of his red carpet-ready makeup sets for less than $50. (Photo via Kristofer Buckle)

7. Pati Dubroff: Another one of L.A.’s favorite makeup artists, Pati has styled the likes of Emily Blunt, Charlize Theron and Miley Cyrus. Create your own versatile looks with one of her great neutral palettes, eyeliners and lip colors, ranging from $10 to $44.

Walmart

8. Flower Beauty by Drew Barrymore: Drew’s new makeup line is the ultimate budget-friendly brand. It’s got everything you need for a complete beauty arsenal — lip glosses, nail polishes, BB creams, eyeshadow quads, cheek chubbies and more — yet nothing retails for more than $13!

9. Ken Paves You Are Beautiful: You probably recognize Ken from countless makeovers on Oprah, America’s Next Top Model and various reality shows with former BFF Jessica Simpson. Who wouldn’t want hair like hers?! Nowadays, you’ll recognize him at your local Walmart, where you can score his salon-quality hair products.

10. Hard Candy: YES! That’s right. Your go-to brand for sky blue nail polish in the ‘90s is still going strong, with lots of fun, sparkly nail colors and cosmetics. It’s as cheap as ever too, with everything under $10. (Photo via @hardcandylife)

Target

11. Sonia Kashuk: We’re sure you’ve noticed this brand of makeup brushes, cases and cosmetics on a Target run, since it’s been there for over 15 years. But what you might not have known is that Sonia is a pioneer in the beauty industry, as one of the first to bring luxury beauty products to the masses. Seriously, buy her brushes — they win Allure Best of Beauty awards alongside the likes of Tom Ford and Dior.

12. Laneige: Moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness… is the essence of beauty. Yup, water — or more specifically, mineral water — is the secret ingredient to this South Korean skincare line. It’s incorporated into everything from anti-aging masks to complexion-correcting makeup.

CVS

13. Makeup Academy: MUA gained popularity in the UK for being a professional-level beauty brand without the high street prices. Lucky for us, it’s made its way over to your neighborhood CVS without losing its great value. Lip colors and false lashes start at just $5, while brushes start at $8. Now when can we get the rest of the makeup in the US?

14. Nuance Salma Hayek: Salma’s philosophy behind her new product line for CVS is that makeup should enhance natural beauty. The secret to those enhancements? It’s all in the family. She’s taking inspiration from the local ingredients her grandmother used while growing up in Mexico. Abuela definitely knows best, because this has been CVS’s best-selling proprietary brand ever.

Ulta

15. IT Cosmetics: Ulta carries many prestige brands, but one of the best things about it is that it sells them right next to your usual drugstore brands. So next time you’re picking up some L’Oreal, check out IT Cosmetics. In addition to makeup that’s been developed by plastic surgeons and dermatologists, you’ll find over 60 Ulta-exclusive professional makeup brushes.

Have you tried any of these brands before? Which do you think rival those high-end beauty products? Give us your review in the comments!

How To Nail Halloween Cry Makeup That's Still Pretty

Alright, this was definitely an interesting Halloween makeup tutorial to do for y’all, but it had to be done! There seems to be a handful of pop culture-inspired opportunities to rep this look on Halloween. From Bey’s awesome sad streaks in her “Why Don’t You Love Me” music video to the repeated "Girls will cry and girls will lie" in Sabrina Carpenter's "Lie to Girls," you can pretty much turn anything into a sad version as long it’s done well. Whether you are going for a scary or gory look — BTW, you can totally switch out the black liner here for a red one to make this bloody eye makeup (Max Mayfield anyone?) — you’ll still look pretty. Sad, but pretty.

The Best Cry Makeup Ever

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See how good this looks?! Let's get into it.

Prep: Flawless Face + Smokey Eye

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Follow this tutorial to get your base makeup started. Add a pretty dramatic smokey eye. Layer up the eyeliner on both your upper and lower lash line — you’re going to need the extra pigment to help get those sad little makeup streaks to fall down your pretty little cheeks.

Step 1: Concealer

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Normally I say keep it light on the concealer so it does not get cakey or look too heavy. In this case, you are going to be adding water and messing with the under eye area more than normal, so you want to go a bit more dramatic in this department. Apply an upside-down triangle shape and then blend in with a brush.

Step 2: Visine

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Add a few drops of Visine to your lower lash line. Be sure to start off by focusing on one eye, because you want to take the next step immediately so you don’t lose the Visine drop.

Step 3: Smear

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Use a thin makeup brush to gently encourage your eyeliner to bleed in the same pattern that the Visine drops are falling down your face.

Step 4: Highlight

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Add a pop of deep silver metallic shadow to the inside corners of your eyes. This is going to give the highlight and dimension we want, but it'll maintain more of a moody vibe.

Step 5: Repeat

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Go through these same four steps on the other eye! Easy peasy.

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Get your acting skills on and have fun with this pretty cry baby look! Play your go-to sad tunes to really get into the mood.

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So. Sad. (But so pretty!)

Check out more Halloween ideas on Pinterest and our Halloween page.

This post has been updated.

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Yay! Margot Robbie Welcomes First Baby With Husband Tom Ackerley

Margot Robbie has a son! The Barbieactress and her husband Tom Ackerley welcomed their first baby in early November after a very busy year (after all, she announced she'd star opposite Ryan Gosling again in an Ocean's Eleven prequeland boarded a Sims & Monopoly adaptation as producer).

The Sirens producer proved she has impeccable pregnancy style at Wimbledon and a red carpet, and I just know she's going to have amazing mom style too. Here's everything you need to know about this new family of three.

How many kids does Margot Robbie have?

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Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley have one child, a son! A source confirmed to People that the couple had welcomed their baby boy on November 2.

People also confirmed Margot Robbie is expecting a baby in July, the same day images of the actress showing off her growing baby bump went viral on X (formerly Twitter). In the images, Margot's standing with Tom on a dock, wearing black trousers, a black blazer, and a white tee rolled up to rest above her stomach. Leave it to Margot Robbie to make chic pregnancy wear look effortless!

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Margot Robbie later attended the L.A. premiere of My Old Ass — produced by Robbie and starring Aubrey Plaza — on September 9, 2024. The ever-elegant star rocked a muted, off-the-shoulder bodycon dress (hello, fall style inspo!) and some adorable strappy heels! Her simple hair, makeup, and jewelry allowed her most major accessory to shine here — her bump! This is the first time we've really seen Robbie since her Wimbledon appearance, and it's no surprise that her look absolutely did not disappoint.

Who is Margot Robbie's husband Tom Ackerley?

Jeff Spicer/Getty Images

Margot Robbie married Tom Ackerley in 2016 after they met on the set of Suite Française in 2013. Tom is an actor (he appeared as an extra on the first three Harry Potter movies), and a film producer. The two also co-founded their production company LuckyChap Entertainment in 2014 and have worked on movies like I, Tonya,Promising Young Woman,Maid, and Saltburn.

What have Tom Ackerley and Margot Robbie said about their relationship?

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Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley love spending time together, and Tom told The Sunday Times they spend "24 hours a day together."

"It’s seamless," he continues. "We don’t have a toggle on, toggle off. It’s all become one thing.”

“Being married is actually the most fun ever, life got way more fun somehow," Margot told Porter in 2018. "I have a responsibility being someone’s wife, I want to be better."

Margot has also been vocal about how frustrating it is to constantly be asked about children, telling Radio Times in 2019 that, "I'm so angry that there's this social contract," she says. "You're married, now have a baby. Don't presume. I'll do what I'm going to do."

What is Margot Robbie's baby name?

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Margot and Tom haven't officially shared their baby's name yet, but we're all ears should they choose to do so.

How old is Margot Robbie?

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Margot Robbie just celebrated her 34th birthday on July 2. Tom Ackerley turned 34 on June 13, so there's only a one-month age gap between this celeb couple.

We're sending all the best wishes to Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley! Check out Hilary Duff Officially Gave Birth To Baby #4! for more adorable baby news.

This post has been updated.

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12 Undeniably Chic, Slouchy Bags To Upgrade All Your Fall Outfits

Whether you've seen The Olsen twins' oversized bags and are finally starting to cave, or perhaps you've been looking for ways to achieve that "effortless" look — slouchy bags are all people are talking about online, and I can see why. Not only are they practical, giving you room to fit your whole skincare routine, beautyessentials, and daily must-haves, they're also incredibly chic!

I've been searching for the right slouchy bag to give me that "not trying too hard" vibe that looks high end, but isn't $1000. Upon my online shopping, I found some of the most perfect and undeniably chic options from all of our fave stores like Target, Reformation, and so many more! Keep scrolling to find your new favorite daily bag!

Reformation

Reformation Patricia Bag

Anyone else been hearing about how the Margeux bag from The Row is the new Birkin? It's everywhere on socials, and I've fallen victim to lusting after it as well. That all stopped when I found this insanely cheaper alternative from none other than Reformation. And unlike places selling The Row version, you won't have to pay $10,000!!! Grabbing this one immediately!

Anthropologie

Anthropologie Love Knot Bag

White doesn't have to stop after Labor Day, especially in beautiful cream shades like this one here. I love the milky, creme color, along with the slouchy shape of the bag. It's seriously the ultimate slouchy bag I've been looking for — and all for under $100!

Free People Bobbi Slouch Bag

This Free People bag appears to be the perfect type of bag to "Jane Birkin-ify" — AKA grab your charms and necklaces and get to accessorizing it (like above)! It would look so cute with some added accessories to style it according to your personality!

Target

Target Slouchy Bucket Shoulder Bag

Brown suede is truly all I'm thinking about for fall, particularly in bag form. This bag from Target is an amazing option because while it's "slouchy", it still has some structure on the bottom, making it easier to sift through for your things. Because nobody likes spending 10 minutes looking for your lipstick!

Madewell

Madewell Curve Shoulder Bag

This style of curved-shoulder bag is everywhere ATM, and I can see why. Not only is it giving the effortless "I barely thought about my outfit, but it still looks like it's straight from a magazine shoot" vibe, but it's also so practical! The crossbody and shape of the bag help it to be comfortable for anybody that's on-the-go! I also happen to love this burgundy color — so on-trend this season!

Reformation

Reformation Silvana Bag

The always-chic Reformation just won't stop slaying the game with their accessories. From their shoes to their belts, and now bags, I truly can't get enough! Become an instant cool, city-girl in this suede bucket bag. I would pair it with a mini skirt, sweater, and knee-high boots!

Target

Target Crescent Sling

#BratSummer has left the chat and made room for #BratFall, because this color trend is not going anywhere! I'm loving this more watered down shade of green compared to the typical neon Brat color we've seen. It's definitely a fall-appropriate hue, while still bringing in some fun, autumnal color!

J.Crew

J.Crew Edie Shoulder Bag

J.Crew is always hitting the mark, and they've done it yet again with this year's hottest color: butter yellow. The typically summer color is breaking out for fall in an amazing way. I love incorporating this light hue to my more neutral outfits that need some color-love. This bag is also on sale, so you definitely wanna grab it now!

Mango

Mango Shopper Bag

A great, slouchy shopper bag like this one from Mango is great for all our commuters that work in-office and need a bag to fit all their must-haves for the day. This one is my fave, because it also could double as a chic travel bag to fit all your toiletries and travel essentials. We how affordable it is, too!

Reformation

Reformation Bucket Bag

This bucket bag is the ultimate luxe option for my girls that love to replicate Princess Diana's '90s style. I just know you'll feel oh-so chic with this heather gray bag slung over your shoulder. I recommend pairing this bag with a sweater-top like above, boyfriend jeans, and cute ballerina flats! Seriously, this would be my daily work outfit combo! And some bonus points for this bag? It looks like it could fit your entire office inside.

Target

Target Ruched Crossbody

This bag would have you thinking it's high end before you saw that the tag actually says "Target" on the inside. I love the chic ruching that is definitely trending this season. It's a great option if you're looking for something a bit more on-the-go and easier to carry around.

Reformation

Reformation Cylinder Bag

This bag genuinely looks like it came straight from The Row. It's a great alternative to their beloved '90s bagthat's taken the internet by storm! If you're looking for an alternative that isn't always sold out (and happens to be around $700 cheaper), then look no further!

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12 Holiday Decorations That Will Make Your Neighbors Totally Judge You

Don't get me wrong, tacky holiday decorations can be a lot of fun, from ugly sweater parties to Griswold-style outdoor lights. I love strolling the neighborhood for the most OTT holiday houses and thinking creatively what I'll wear to my friend Marie's annual corny Christmas party. I'm here for all the intentional tacky decor.... just not in my home. Tacky can also mean plastic and wasteful and just well hard to look at if you're going for any sort of non-tacky decor aesthetic. If you want to invest in more natural holiday decor this year (fresh pine wreaths, linen tree skirts, beeswax candles), steer clear of these tacky holiday decorations!

Super-Sized Yard Decor

Wayfair

Fionnula Bumble Lighted Display

As much as my kiddo loves these over-the-top inflatables and animated light-up figures, I have to say no to the super-sized lawn ornaments, like Santa riding a motorcycle, enormous snowmen, or this Bumble Lighted Display from the movie classic "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." They can be pricey and take up a ton of storage, but for those who love them the more the merrier!

Christmas Light Explosions

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Covering every square inch of your house, trees, and yard with twinkling, multicolored lights or flashing LEDs can look chaotic and well crazy. It's an art form to get it right, but when done well it can bring holiday cheer to the block. When done wrong, well, it's sort of a waste of time and money.

Tinsel Snot

Amazon

Amazon Christmas Icicle Tinsel

Is tinsel making a comeback? Please say it isn't so. It not only looks tacky IMHO, but it makes it harder to recycle your natural tree. (Our Girl Scout chapter picks up our trees the day after Christmas for recycling - but not if there's tinsel on it!). Anyway, if you have nostalgia feels for tinsel, go for it sparingly and avoid this drippy snot look. We want to see that pretty tree!

Ugly Christmas Sweaters

Tipsy Elves

Tipsy Elves Women's Ugly Christmas Sweater

Ugly Christmas sweaters are intentionally tacky, but what's with all the stores capitalizing on them? I liked it back when you could get creative and DIY your holiday sweater, but now you can find racks full of garish colors, clashing patterns, and glittery appliqués. Maybe we can rein it in this year?

Overly Trad Decor

Wayfair

Faux Lighted Wreath

The angels, the harps, the bells, the Merry Christmas sign, oh my! Overly trad Christmas decor can make a home feel dated. Sure, if you have some childhood favorites, toss them into the mix of modern-day neutral holiday decor, like natural linens, fresh garland, and naturally scented candles.

Metallic Garland

Amazon

Amazon Metallic Garland

Can we just skip the metallic garland this year? It's wasteful, it's hard to wrap and unwrap around your tree (so much so you just want to toss it in the trash after), and it just makes your tree look like a blast from the past.

According to Stanford University's Waste Reduction, Recycling, Composting and Solid Waste Program, household waste increases by more than 25 percent during the holidays with additional waste like packaging, wrapping paper, and one-use decorations contributing an additional 1 million tons of landfill trash each week from Thanksgiving to New Year's. Better alternatives? Satin ribbons, dried orange slices, cranberry garlands, and felt garlands that you won't throw away. Even the classic construction paper chain link would be an upgrade!

Corny Theme Pillows

Amazon

Christmas Theme Pillows

I'm on the fence about the Buffalo plaid too, but it's a classic pattern (we just see it everywhere now). The pillows on the other hand are a little much, no?

Chair Covers

Amazon

Christmas Chair Covers

Why do we need these? Maybe just tie a velvet ribbon with mistletoe or add Scandi-style sheepskin to your chairs and call it a holiday.

Christmas Character Themes

Amazon

Grinch's Christmas Tree Decorations

The Grinch's green isn't quite Christmas green, putting it even higher on the tacky spectrum. Anything with characters says tacky to me and sort of distorts the meaning of the holidays.

Bathroom Decorations

Amazon

Christmas Theme Bathroom Decorations

If you want to make your guests giggle, this tacky set will do the trick.

Porch Banners

Amazon

Christmas Porch Banners

Loud and proud!

Kitschy Tea Towels

Amazon

Amazon Christmas Towels

The jokes just don't quite hit the way they should. Also, the traditional red and green are killing me! But of course, there's a time and place for tacky Christmas decorations and bringing a little joy to the season. Happy holidays!

Find holiday decor on our Pinterestand check out our email newsletter for more holiday inspiration!

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5 Shows That Are (Almost) As Good As ‘Nobody Wants This’

How many times am I going to mention Nobody Wants Thisbefore this year ends? The world may never know — but I'm doing my best to move on from it...at least until we finally get season 2! Instead, I'm here to talk about all the shows you can watch right now that feel similar to Kristin Bell and Adam Brodyin the best rom-com I've ever seen. I'm not pretending that they're going to give you everything Nobody Wants This did, but they hold their own weight as standalone shows worth watching.

Amazon Studios

Fleabag

Looking for the much spicier version of Nobody Wants This? Well, Fleabag has just what the doctor ordered. As Fleabag (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) haphazardly grapples with grief, she boldly speaks her mind and refuses the support of others. She's known for her, uh, colorful language and is seen juggling an awkward love life.

Both seasons are available to watch on Amazon Prime!

John Medland/Hulu

How To Die Alone

How To Die Aloneis the one of the closest TV series that feels like Nobody Wants This because it follows a similar formula. But instead of centering around two people whose lives intersect, viewers are introduced to Melissa (Natasha Rothwell). She's taken a laissez-faire approach to life because she's basically given up on it and doesn't see the point in try to hope for more. It isn't until a rude awakening knocks her off her feet that she decides to start making more intentional choices. The more Melissa truly starts living, the more she's able to find a spark of magic in everyday living.

Stream it on Hulu today!

Apple TV+

Platonic

I , for one, love when pop culture champions genuine platonic friendships between men and women. So often we hear that it's impossible for the opposite sex to keep things friendly, but Platonic exists as the best counterargument. Viewers get to watch two former best friends — Sylvia (Rose Byrne) and Will (Seth Rogen) reconnect after something soured in their friendship. They quickly find themselves in hilarious scenarios that make their everyday lives a little more stressful than they'd like and it doesn't take long for the cracks in their foundation to start showing again. Overall, there is love in this show but it normalizes the way it shows up in friendships.

Be sure to watch it on Apple TV+!

CW

Sullivan's Crossing

If you haven't watched Sullivan's Crossing yet, what are you waiting for? Before I watched Nobody Wants This, this TV series was #1 on my list — and I hardly ever binge watch new shows anymore. It could have something to do with the fact Chad Michael Murray makes us wish he were Cal Jones in real life.

Anyway, the series is all about neurosurgeon Maggie Sullivan (Morgan Kohan) and her return to her hometown. She slowly starts reconnecting with the people she left behind — including her dad (Scott Patterson) — and a potential romantic interest that adds color to her life.

Barbara Nitke/Netflix

Based on a True Story

Although there are elements of love in Based on a True Story, it's something true crime fans will thoroughly enjoy because it revolves around everyday people who set out to make money based on the popularity of the genre. Ironically, Ava Bartlett (Kaley Cuoco) has the same obsession as other people who can't stop listening to podcasts or watching documentaries about serial killers or unsolved mysteries. Not only does it put a strain on her personal relationships, but she and her husband Nathan realize there's a serial killer in their inner circle that has to be stopped before they hurt more people.

Binge watch the first and second seasons on Netflix this weekend.

Trust me — these are the TV shows that will keep your group chat buzzing until Thanksgiving. Follow us on Facebook for more recs!

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