Hola Beauties! Starting your makeup journey can be exciting… and a little overwhelming. With shelves full of products and trends changing every season, it’s hard to know where to begin. That’s why I created the Ultimate Drugstore Makeup Starter Kit for Beginners in 2025—a curated list of affordable, beginner-friendly products that actually perform. Whether you’re just dipping your toes into the world of beauty or helping a friend get started, this guide has you covered.
Let’s break it down, category by category, with two fantastic drugstore options for each!
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This post is about The Ultimate Drugstore Makeup Starter Kit for Beginners in 2025.
1. Face Products
✨ Primers
Primers are not strictly necessary in your makeup collection, if you have a good skin prep, that’s all you need. However, I have two recommendations: one to prolong your makeup and another to blur your pores.
e.l.f. Power Grip Primer + 4% Niacinamide – $10
- How it works: A sticky gel primer that grips makeup while helping smooth texture.
- Benefits: Niacinamide helps even out skin tone and reduces oiliness.
- Results: Long-lasting, smooth makeup with a healthy glow.
Milani Conceal + Perfect Blur Out Smoothing Primer – $15.99
- How it works: A silicone-based primer that blurs pores and evens skin texture instantly.
- Benefits: Fills in fine lines and minimizes shine.
- Results: Smooth, filter-like finish that creates the perfect base for any foundation.
🧴 Foundations
L’Oréal True Match Super-Blendable Foundation – $13.99
- How it works: Lightweight, buildable formula with skincare benefits.
- Benefits: Blends like a dream and matches your undertone perfectly. They have 47 shades available.
- Results: A seamless, natural finish that works for every skin type, medium to full coverage.
e.l.f. Soft Glam Satin Foundation – $8.00
- How it works: Gives medium, glowy coverage with a skin-like finish.
- Benefits: Infused with squalane for hydration.
- Results: Radiant, airbrushed complexion that feels weightless.
🖌️ Concealers
NYX Bare With Me Concealer Serum – $12.00
- How it works: Combines medium coverage with hydrating serum texture.
- Benefits: Ideal for dry under-eye areas or textured skin.
- Results: Smooth, non-cakey finish that covers dark circles effortlessly.
L’Oréal True Match Radiant Serum Concealer – $15.99
- How it works: A lightweight concealer infused with 1% hyaluronic acid and caffeine to brighten and hydrate the under-eye area.
- Benefits: Feels like skincare, blends easily, and brightens dull or tired eyes.
- Results: Refreshed, radiant, and well-rested doesn’t crease or cake.
💨 Setting Powders
e.l.f. Halo Glow Setting Powder – $8.00
- How it works: Adds a glow while setting your base in place.
- Benefits: Blurs pores without drying.
- Results: A radiant, smooth finish that still looks like real skin.
Wet n Wild Photo Focus Loose Setting Powder – $7.99
- How it works: Ultra-fine loose powder designed to set makeup and reduce shine without flashback.
- Benefits: Lightweight and smooth, with a soft, matte finish—perfect for photos and everyday wear.
- Results: The makeup stays in place, looks flawless, and fits like it’s not on the skin.
💖 Blush
NYX Cosmetics Buttermelt Blush – $10.00
- How it works: A buttery cream-to-powder blush that melts seamlessly into the skin.
- Benefits: Super blendable, non-greasy, and infused with mango and shea butter for a smooth, skin-loving formula.
- Results: Natural, soft-focus cheeks with a healthy pop of color that lasts all day. High Pigmentation, so a little bit goes a long way.
e.l.f. Camo Liquid Blush – $7.00
- How it works: Pigmented cream-to-liquid formula that blends easily.
- Benefits: Easy to layer and super long-lasting.
- Results: Natural-looking flush with a soft-focus finish.
🌞 Bronzer
Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer – $15.99
- How it works: Buttery formula that melts into skin. A classic in the makeup industry.
- Benefits: Buildable with a soft, tropical scent.
- Results: Sunkissed, natural warmth that lasts all day, and super blendable.
e.l.f. Putty Bronzer – $7.00
- How it works: Creamy texture that blends effortlessly.
- Benefits: Great for beginners using cream products; the formula is easy to work with.
- Results: A sculpted yet subtle warmth that looks natural. Matte or dewy finish.
💦 Setting Spray
e.l.f. Power Grip Setting Spray – $10.00
- How it works: Locks makeup in with a dewy finish.
- Benefits: Long-lasting grip without dryness.
- Results: A fresh, radiant look from morning to night.
Milani Make It Last Setting Spray – $10.99
- How it works: A lightweight mist that locks in makeup for hours.
- Benefits: Multipurpose—prime, set, and refresh.
- Results: Smudge-proof, transfer-resistant finish.
2. Lip Products
✏️ Lip Liners
Maybelline Lifter Liner – $9.99
- How it works: A creamy, long-wear lip liner designed to define, shape, and enhance your lips with ease.
- Benefits: Infused with hyaluronic acid to keep lips feeling smooth and hydrated. Pairs perfectly with the Maybelline Lifter Gloss or any lipstick.
- Results: Fuller, more defined lips with a modern soft matte finish and zero tugging.
L.A. Girl Ultimate Intense Stay Auto Lipliner – $5.50
- How it works: Twist-up liner with incredible staying power.
- Benefits: Bold pigment, soft texture.
- Results: Long-wear definition with easy application.
💄 Lipsticks
For lipsticks, I’ll recommend a few since there are so many types available.
Maybelline SuperStay Vinyl Ink Liquid Lipstick – $12.99
- How it works: A long-wear liquid lipstick with a glossy vinyl finish.
- Benefits: Smudge-resistant, transfer-resistant, doesn’t dry out your lips. Just shake, swipe, and go!
- Results: Bold color that shines like a gloss but stays put like a matte. Perfect for beginners who want glam without the fuss.
e.l.f. O Face Satin Lipstick – $9.00
- How it works: Creamy, hydrating satin formula.
- Benefits: Packed with color and easy for beginners to apply.
- Results: Soft, beautiful lips in trendy shades.
L’Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Balm-in-Lipstick – $10.99
- How it works: A hydrating lipstick-meets-balm hybrid with a sheer, dewy finish.
- Benefits: Infused with pomegranate extract and nourishing oils to keep lips soft.
- Results: Glowy, fresh lips with a kiss of color—perfect for natural makeup lovers.
Milani Color Fetish Matte Lipstick – $10.99
- How it works: A luxuriously creamy matte lipstick that feels as good as it looks.
- Benefits: Velvet texture, rich color payoff, and infused with hyaluronic acid for added hydration.
- Results: Plush, full-looking lips in trending shades that last and feel amazing.
💋 Lip Gloss
Maybelline Lifter Gloss – $10.99
- How it works: Gloss with hyaluronic acid for hydration.
- Benefits: Plumps and shines without leaving a sticky residue.
- Results: Juicy, glossy lips that feel good. Probably one of the best glosses on the market, a must in your Drugstore Makeup Starter Kit for Beginners.
NYX Butter Gloss Non-Sticky Lip Gloss – $6.00
- How it works: A lightweight, creamy lip gloss that provides sheer-to-medium coverage with a super smooth finish.
- Benefits: Totally non-sticky, deliciously scented, and available in tons of flattering shades.
- Results: Soft, buttery lips with a glossy, natural shine that feels comfortable all day.
3. Eye Products
👁️ Brow Products
NYX Blade and Shade Nano Brow Mechanical Pencil – $12.00
- How it works: An ultra-fine mechanical brow pencil with a precision tip to create hair-like strokes effortlessly.
- Benefits: Easy to control, features a super slim design for detailed shaping and filling, and includes a built-in spoolie for blending.
- Results: Natural-looking, fuller brows that are perfectly shaped and defined with minimal effort—ideal for beginners.
NYX The Brow Glue Laminating Setting Gel – $10.00
- How it works: A stronghold brow gel that sets and sculpts brows in place for a laminated, lifted look.
- Benefits: Flake-free, flexible hold that lasts all day.
- Results: Fluffy, styled brows that stay in place all day, giving you that trendy laminated effect.
🎨 Eyeshadow
ColourPop 9-Pan Palettes – $14.00
- How it works: Amazing color selection, great Pigmentation, and super easy to blend.
- Benefits: Small and beginner-friendly.
- Results: Vibrant, buildable eye looks.
NYX Ultimate EyeShadow Palettes – $20.00
- How it works: A highly pigmented 16-shade palette with a mix of mattes, shimmers, and satins, curated in easy-to-use color families.
- Benefits: Beginner-friendly formula that blends effortlessly and comes in multiple color themes—perfect whether you want neutrals or bold looks.
- Results: Endless eye makeup possibilities, from soft daytime glam to vibrant and bold.
👁️ Mascara
L’Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara – $12.99
- How it works: A volumizing and lengthening mascara with a soft, wavy brush that coats each lash evenly.
- Benefits: Adds intense volume, dramatic length, and silky softness without clumps or flaking.
- Results: Full, fluttery lashes that look lush and voluminous—perfect for both natural and glam looks!
Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara – $4.99
- How it works: A cult-favorite affordable mascara that builds volume and length with just a few swipes.
- Benefits: Dramatic volume without clumping or flaking, and super easy to remove.
- Results: Full, dramatic lashes that look like falsies—without ever needing glue!
Okay Beauties! Starting your makeup collection doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. With this Drugstore Makeup Starter Kit for Beginners, you’ve got everything you need to create soft glam, natural looks, or even a bold pop of color, without breaking the bank. These drugstore gems are beginner-tested, trend-approved, and approved by beauty lovers.
✨Want more makeup tips, looks, and product recs? Check out my other blog posts for everything beauty in 2025 and beyond! Let’s keep glowing together. 💄
Love you all 💖
Adriana
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