Speaking (writing?) as a former beauty editor, if anyone needs to KonMari their life, it’s probably a former beauty editor. Between receiving new product launches from publicists, calling in products for shoots and testing a disturbing amount of product on behalf of the people, it’s alarming how quickly a photogenic #shelfie spirals into at best, a warning to your roommates that you’re a terrible doomsday prepper, and at worst, a qualifying application for a certain show on TLC.
Yes, less living space and a handful of allergic reactions (always patch test) are a small price to pay for having luxury products comped, but once I began picking up all the fancy dry shampoos and day creams, politely asking “DOES THIS SPARK JOY?!?!?!” to no one in particular, I was left with a pile of gifts for friends and only a handful of empties that required a spendy restock trip to Sephora.
Nine times out of 10, I’m still strategizing my beauty shopping while standing in the pharmacy line, because it always takes forever and I’ve learned that sometimes, packaging and a prestige name are nothing more than just that. Meanwhile, a mascara that sounds like Victoria’s Secret latest bedazzled bra (see slide #5) may turn out to be the best thing to happen to your lashes since you were a child with naturally lovely lashes. The tricky part is knowing what to target on which shelf and in what aisle.
Which is why I’m here to present you with our latest batch of favorite drugstore beauty buys (OG roundup here). We all played beauty editor to bring you 10 affordable finds with unquestionable joy-sparking and money-saving qualities. What’s yours?
Photos by Edith Young.
