When it comes to makeup, Im always trying to find a good deal.
You know that metaphor about money down the drain?
Yeah, I feel like theres some truth to that here.
I have my favorite, go-to brands and products.
Ive tested and tried my way through Targets beauty aisles.
No Interest Til Almost 2027?
I mean Ive started to wonder what ingredients are being used in my favorite drugstore makeup.
Are they harming me?
Heres what I found out.
Did you know?
It focuses on the chemical components and the potential health risks triggered by frequent use.
The app uses a numeric rating scale from 0 to 10.
Zero means a product uses clean ingredients that dont have possibly negative health effects.
And thats where your personal preferences come in.
Do I wish I could toss my entire lineup and start fresh with natural, good-for-me products?
Do I have the budget to make that my reality right now?
Face Lotion
I use a pretty simple moisturizer:Olay Complete Daily Moisturizer.
Ive tried more than a few drugstore moisturizers, and this was by far my favorite.
So imagine my disappointment when I scanned the bottle just to see a big ol yellow 7 pop up.
Remember, a low rating is a good rating here.)
In the meantime, I may try a more middle-of-the-road option.
Drugstore brand Id try instead:Burts Bees Intense Hydration Day Lotion, $10.29 at Target.
(It rates a 3 on the app.)
So far, I have no complaints, so this one feels like a win.
When I opt for full coverage, I useMaybellines Fit Me!
Matte + Poreless foundation.
Drugstore brand Id try instead:LOreal Paris True Match Naturale foundation, $11.99 at Ulta.
Concealer
Ive usedMaybellines Face Studio Master Concealfor a while, but Im not very attached to it.
So imagine my giant sigh of relief when I found out the blush I use most often (e.l.f.
Studio Blush) scored a beautifully low 3 on the app.
It costs only $3.
Yeah, thats one Ill be keeping in rotation.
Drugstore brand Id try instead:Id stick to the e.l.f.
Studio Blush, $3 at Target.
Drugstore brand Id try instead:Organic Wear Physicians Formula mascara, $9.99 at Ulta.
Lip Balm
Im not a lipstick wearer.
Try as a might, I just cant make it a part of my daily routine.
Instead, I like to use a tinted balm.
(Still, ratings vary so much even within brands.)
Drugstore brand Id try instead:Burts Bees Tinted Lip Balm, $4.79 at Target.
(I didnt even get into which brands are vegan or cruelty-free here.)
Thats why its so important to do your own research and make decisions based on the information you find.
Grace Schweizer is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.
