Our Favorite Back-to-School Drugstore Beauty Bargains

Buy It: $7.25; amazon.com

No matter where we go, we always come back home to this dry shampoo. No other inexpensive brand does the job quite like it. Choose from a variety of scents, and even get hair color specific with it.

Buy It: $6; amazon.com

This mascara gives some truly impressive thickness. Your lashes come out ready to bat at anything that walks.

Buy It: $7; target.com

If you really want to make a statement, this stunning red lip color is the perfect choice. We know Revlon is already known for a great red lip, but this awesome balm stick has a matte finish without making your lips feel dry (so extra points).

Buy It: $6; walmart.com

Pore strips have been making a big comeback, and these have been kicked up a notch. The charcoal helps get rid of oil and deep clean your pores. It might hurt a little to take off, but it’ll be worth it when you see what came out of those pores—ew, we know.

Buy It: $11; amazon.com

This hairspray is a favorite among hair professionals, thanks to its extra strong hold that doesn’t feel stiff. Many reviewers note that it helps hold their curls, even if their hair typically doesn’t keep a curl.

Buy It: $6; walmart.com

This foundation, with its large array of shades, will match your skin tone and erase your pores. The mattifying formula makes your skin look more airbrushed than dewy, which is a plus in our book.

Buy It: $8; amazon.com

If you want to feel like you’re literally zapping a zit, this is the product for you. None of us want to suffer from a surprise blemish for longer than necessary, so roll this stick on the spot and the mixture of oils, including tea tree oil, will go to work.

Buy It: $12; target.com

If you can’t seem to keep an unchipped manicure, this new polish line will solve your problems without having to pay a fortune at the nail salon for a gel manicure. The polish dries quickly and looks thicker and shinier than regular polish (like a gel manicure does) for an extra pretty finish. You have to buy the Essie gel topcoat too, but trust us—it’s worth it. You won’t have to repaint your nails for a couple weeks at least.

Buy It: $10; target.com

Towards the end of summer, there are two types of people. Those who have a quickly fading tan and those who are too fair to get, much less keep, a tan. This super lightweight formula is your solution. You don’t find many gels like this, but it really helps to get a nice, even tan, while not having to mess with those pesky mousses that stain your hands.

Buy It: $9; target.com

You won’t ever go back to your other brush again—at least, the one you use after the shower. This brush is made to detangle wet hair in a way that doesn’t pull out hair, create split ends, or hurt like Hades no matter the amount of knots. This brush has a cult following, and we have no shame in being a part of it.

Buy It: $4; target.com

There’s a reason that this face scrub is always highly rated online. It’s coarse enough to really exfoliate your skin, but still soothing. The apricot scent is great too!

Buy It: $8; target.com

This soft pencil glides on easily, but doesn’t smudge. Use white to make your eyes seem more awake and bigger, but we really recommend branching out with a fun color. It’ll add a subtle pop to your whole ensemble.

Buy It: $7; walgreens.com

Although not the most well-known wipes—Aveeno, Neutrogena, and Simple come to mind, and they’re also great—these wipes are a quiet cult favorite. You don’t necessarily hear about them, but they get a lot of reviews (all great, obviously). They are soothing, leave skin feeling ultra-clean, and tone skin at the same time. 

Buy It: $6; target.com

We know beautyblender is the most well-known makeup sponge right now, but we’ll let you in on a little secret…this sponge is awesome (everyone has an opinion, but I would argue that this sponge is hands-down better) and it’s way cheaper.

Buy It: $17; target.com

We’re all in need of some TLC when it comes to our skin, and this hydrating mask that contains cocoa butter and glycerin leaves your skin soft, smooth, and moisturized. Hydration is an underrated factor in good skin complexion, but don’t overlook it anymore!

Buy It: $7; target.com

If you want a matte finish that’s easy to apply and highly pigmented, this liquid lipstick is the answer. Within seconds, it will dry velvety smooth and stay on for hours.

Buy It: $9; amazon.com

This lotion packs some serious punch when it comes to moisturizing your skin. It’s pretty incredible, no matter if your skin is super dry or not, and the pump makes it even easier to lather up. You won’t ever skip a day.

Buy It: $16; target.com

You’ll be thinking of about 10 ways to thank us for this recommendation. This leave-in conditioner (an underrated hair product, we’d also say) detangles, adds shine and bounce, and protects from pesky frizz. It’s a jack-of-all-trades if you’re someone who just wants a simple product to spray in for many different benefits.

Buy It: $5; target.com

We consider these the original standout of blotting sheets. They absorb oil and shine throughout the day and don’t mess with your makeup—perfect to keep in your purse at all times.

Buy It: $3; walgreens.com

This lip balm smells amazing and doesn’t feel too oily or thick. It’s 100% natural and contains shea butter and vitamin E for ultimate hydration. The mint scent is another favorite.

Buy It: $15; target.com

This concealer helps keep skin looking fresh and hydrated—that means it’s way more likely to look like you don’t have concealer on at all, which is always the goal. Dry undereyes plus average concealer? Not a good match.

Buy It: $5; walmart.com

With the refreshing scent of cucumber and green tea, this deodorant helps you out when the last thing you want to worry about is your underarms. It’s reliable and leaves skin very soft.

Buy It: $9; walgreens.com

Although cleansing water is newer to the beauty world, this one has received raving reviews all over the Internet. The all-in-one formula gently removes makeup, cleanses face, and leaves skin feeling soft—with no need to even rinse. Talk about eliminating some time in your beauty routine.