At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I fully believe that drugstore beauty products can perform just as well as—if not better than—luxury items. Don’t get me wrong. Investing in a designer name and/or elevated sensorial experience is nice, but when it comes to the formulas themselves, drugstore brands are pretty on par with their spendy counterparts. There’s a reason plastic surgeons, dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and hairstylists have their favorite pharmacy staples on lock. They work.
While you may be used to snagging budget-friendly heroes on Amazon or strolling through a pharmacy IRL for an impromptu restock, I’d like to make a case for a slightly more underrated online retailer: CVS. Yes, you could always stop by in person, but the online platform tends to have lower base prices and regularly offers exclusive sales and promos. In other words, the CVS beauty section is a cheat code for snapping up affordable items (plus some designer fragrances) at even lower prices. To make your shopping experience a tad easier, I’ve rounded up the 17 items I swear by, from French skincare to moody fall nail colors to that Baccarat Rouge dupe.
The Best Beauty Products to Buy From CVS Right Now
Like it’s name suggests, this $16 mascara literally rivals the look of lash extensions. Kendall Jenner loves it (sold), and so do our beauty editors. You have to see these impressive before-and-after photos.
It’s Lincoln Park After Dark season! I’ve been wearing the deep, near-black purple for the past few weeks, but I’m game to switch things up with the subtly shimmery version, Lincoln Park at Midnight. Originally launched in 2006, the moody hue is back for the brand’s Most Requested Collection.
Dossier’s Impressions collection features scarily similar iterations of iconic scents, and Ambery Saffron is a dead ringer for the famous $360 Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540. The blend of amber, cedar, and saffron is just as intoxicating (even perfumers agree), and at CVS, you can snag it for $10 off.
You’ll never find me without a bottle of Embryolisse’s Lait-Crème Concentré. I usually pick one up at the pharmacy whenever I’m in Paris, but I fly through them so often that a stateside restock is imminent.
A retinol-infused eye cream with clinicals to back up its claims (a 45% reduction in dark circles after two weeks) and a cooling metal applicator could easily cost you upwards of $100. For $39, this is an absolute steal.
If there’s an ounce of humidity in the air, my wavy-curly strands will find it. This smoothing spray from Not Your Mother’s is a godsend for SOS touch-ups. Plus, it imparts the healthiest-looking shine.
I practically bathed in Viva La Juicy in middle school, and the warm floral-gourmand still hits. I’m not alone in my obsession: In case you forgot, Alex Cooper wore it on her wedding day. Do I grab another bottle for a fraction of the regular price? I think I must.
If a Dove bodywash isn’t in my shower, somebody check on me. I’m deeply obsessed with the serum-infused formulas, which make my skin feel soft as cashmere. No exaggeration. A restock is a must before we head into the cooler, drier months.
It’s hard to pinpoint just one La Roche-Posay hero, but the prescription-strength retinoid treatment is definitely one of my favorites. If you’re looking for an effective, no-fuss formula to start your retinol journey, you can’t go wrong with this derm-tested pick.
A classic! Derms, aestheticians, and makeup artists recommend this gentle micellar water time and again. My tip: Grab the travel-size option as well for your carry-on.
Hailey Bieber wears Loops Double Take face masks, so I’m buying five. At $6 each, it feels like a no-brainer.
Native offers the most sophisticated scents. I adore its seasonal offerings, but this sandalwood-spiked formula works year-round and never fails to make my shower feel like a luxury spa. I swear you’d think it costs three times the price.
As the weather gets drier, I like to incorporate Avène’s barrier-strengthening cream into my nighttime routine to prevent chapped, wintry skin. It works wonders on any tender patches of skin—for me, that’s the cheeks and sides of my nose.
If you’re in the market for a new eyelash curler, please do yourself a favor and commit to Tweezerman. The quality is top-tier (that goes for all its tools), and it’s priced at a couple of bucks less than the listing on Ulta.
I’ve tried hundreds of tinted lip balms, yet I always come back to this $6 Burt’s Bees pick. The rosy hue is unmatched, and it provides just a hint of juicy sheen that reads natural, not glossy.
Redditors swear this high-shine lip balm is comparable to Chanel’s $53 Rouge Coco Flash. I’ll leave it at that!
Kiss press-on nails are some of the most realistic and elevated-looking nails, IMO. My eyes immediately gravitated toward this aquamarine cat-eye set, which I know will earn me plenty of compliments.
