I’m not actually cheap, but I do pride myself on getting the best value for the money. Friends often ask what cosmetics they should buy at the drugstore and what they should splurge on in department stores. Considering every where you turn there is a publication featuring a headline on how to save money or do more with less, I thought now is as timely as ever to delve into this subject.

Here are the best products to get at the drugstore:

1. Mascara – When you can get fabulous mascaras for $7 or less why spend $27 on a department store brand? Plus you have to replace mascara so often, buying a high priced one just seems foolish. Clear mascara is great for taming the brows as well. Cover Girl Volume Exact and Maybelline Lash Discovery are my favorites.
2. Nail polish – Essie nail polish is used at many nail salons and you can find their dizzying assortment of colors at the local drugstore. At $7 a bottle, the streak free, chip resistant formula is a bargain. Honorable mention goes to Revlon’s Colorstay nail polish, which while they don’t have nearly the same number of color options as Essie, hands down has the longest wearing formula. At 8-10 days of wear, you’ll be bored of it before it comes off on its own.
3. Blush - plenty of good colors to choose from.  Sally Hansen’s Natural Beauty by Carmindy line has some cream blushes which are easy to apply and look natural.
4. Face and body wash – My situation is different than most because I am allergic to many cleansers, so I have to use Cetaphil, but even when I stray to other fancy brands, I realize simple really is best. There’s a reason this stuff is recommended by dermatologists. There are few ingredients, which means less possibilities for irritating you skin, and it gets the job done. They have formulas for dry, normal and oily skin and they’re all good.
5. Moisturizer - Again this goes to Cetaphil. Stay away from the lotion, since it doesn’t absorb well and can make you feel clammy. Counter intuitively, the richer moisturizer is perfection. No fragrance to irritate. Works equally well on the entire body as it does under the eyes. My mother, who hordes Lancome eye cream like Ponce de León at a watering hole, would be horrified. I’ve never bought in to the idea that you need a separate eye cream, neck cream, foot cream, and on and on until each body part has it’s own laundry list of products and regimes. If it’s gentle enough for the face, it should be gentle enough for the eyes. This calms my skin when it gets angry. Enough said.
6. Moisturizer with SPF – Not to bore you, but Cetaphil’s Daily Moisturizer, SPF 15 is lightweight yet moisturizing and performs well under makeup. Can you tell I like this brand?
7. Sunscreen for the body – Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch with Helioplex SPF 70. Don’t ask me why you would need an SPF that high. Peace of mind? Some dermatologists will even tell you you don’t – it’s just marketing. All I know is that whether I’m in Hawaii, Aruba or Napa, I have never gotten burned using this stuff. Too bad I can’t use it on my face since it stings like crazy.
8. Anti-aging products – Truth be told, I don’t use these, but Olay’s Regenerist line has received accolades from so many different sources that I had to mention it here. It’s expensive for a drugstore brand, but considering you can easily spend $500/month on dept store goo, it’s a downright bargain.
9. Lip Gloss – let’s be honest, any goopy wet formula isn’t going to have great staying power and most glosses are not super pigmented, so why spend mucho dinero on them? Cover Girl Wetslicks in Berry Splash is a popular one.
10. Lip Liner – Rimmel’s and Wet & Wild’s are insanely popular. Sephora has some good cheap ones as well.
11. Lipstick – there’s a wide array of lippies to fulfill all your pucker’s needs.
12. Powder – Cover Girl’s translucent powder gets raves.

Now here’s what you’re better off buying at a department store or Sephora:

1. Foundation - A product you apply to your entire face and which has to match it perfectly isn’t something you want to attempt to buy at a drugstore. Or maybe you do. If you’re feeling plucky and don’t mind the fact that you can’t test any of the colors out at your local CVS, go for it. L’oreal True Match is the way to go. If you end up seeing pictures of yourself at your friend’s wedding looking like you had a head transplant because your face is 2 shades darker than your neck, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
2. Eyeshadow – I’ve never had any luck with the kinds at drugstores. They look nice enough in the packages, but they either go on chalky or don’t have enough pigment to them.
3. Eyeliner – Again I’ve never really found a keeper at the drugstore, with the exception of some Revlon ones. That said, there are some great eyeliners sold by entry-level dept store brands, such as MAC and Clinique.

Feel free to take me out to a nice steak dinner with all the money you’ll save.