These ten drugstore cosmetic products are listed in the order you’d put them on. Each one earns its spot with something specific, like a smart applicator, a tested wear time, or a formula detail. A low price alone didn’t get anything on this list. Swipe ahead for more.

wet n wild Color Icon Blush

This velvety pressed powder is buildable, so it can go from sheer to bold. Jojoba oil gives it a silky texture, and the shades run from soft neutrals to bright pops of color. It’s also cruelty-free and fragrance-free.

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation

Matte foundations have a reputation for looking masky. This one goes on light and creamy and dries to a demi-matte finish rated for up to 24 hours of wear. It’s oil-free, and you can choose your coverage: buff it out with a sponge for a sheer, natural look, or build it up in layers for more.

NYX Professional Makeup Epic Ink Liner

The brush tip responds to pressure: a light touch gives you a fine line along the lashes, and pressing down gives you a wider line. It’s waterproof, vegan, and cruelty-free. NYX’s own tip for sharp edges is to clean up the line with a flat brush before it dries.

Revlon PhotoReady Eye Contour Kit

Each compact holds a primer, three shadows, and a shimmer topcoat for highlighting, so the shades are already chosen to work together. An included step-by-step guide covers placement for eight different eye shapes, and if you want stronger color, you can apply the shadows with a damp brush.

essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

The brush is why this mascara has a cult following. Its cone-shaped fiber brush builds length, curl, and volume while keeping lashes separated. Start at the base of the lashes and wiggle the wand upward, adding coats until you like the result. The formula is free of parabens, silicones, fragrance, and alcohol.

Maybelline Express Brow Ultra Slim

The 1.5mm tip is thin enough to draw strokes that look like individual brow hairs, and because the pencil retracts, you never have to sharpen it. The formula resists breaking and skipping, and a built-in spoolie blends everything softly. It’s ophthalmologist-tested and safe for contact lens wearers.

CoverGirl Clean Invisible Loose Powder

Flashback is the white cast some loose powders leave under camera flash. CoverGirl says this formula doesn’t cause flashback, crease, or cake. It’s now talc- and fragrance-free, vegan, and made with just 15 ingredients, and oil absorbers keep shine down on oily skin.

Physicians Formula Butter Glow Contour Wand

You twist the wand to unlock it and squeeze until product reaches the built-in cushion tip, then dab it straight onto your cheekbones. The cream formula melts into skin and is blended with murumuru, cupuaçu, and tucuma butters, so it doesn’t look dry or patchy. It comes in two shades: Fair/Light and Medium/Deep.

e.l.f. Power Grip Primer

This gel primer is built to grip your makeup and give skin a soft-focus, smoother look. It goes on clear, so it works on every skin tone and type, and hyaluronic acid keeps skin moisturized underneath. The trick is in the application: pat it in with your fingertips, then wait 30 seconds before starting foundation.

KIKO Milano Lasting Matte Veil Liquid Lip Colour

Clinical testing puts its wear time at up to 10 hours, and it’s water-resistant and transfer-proof. Jojoba oil keeps lips hydrated, and the formula is vegan. The tapered applicator makes clean edges easy, and you get full coverage from the first coat.