Nothing quite compares to the joy of finding a holy grail drugstore beauty buy. Discovering a new go-to feels like you’re being let into an elite club—one that knows the best skin-care and beauty items don’t necessarily have to come with sky-high price tags.
Because we’re all about finding those stellar bargains, we’ve rounded up the 58 best items you can score at your local (IRL or digital) drugstore. Even better? All of these picks are under $20—so it’s perfectly understandable that you’d want to add more than one to your cart.
Rest assured that these products all live up to their promises, since they’re all winners from the 2022 SELF Healthy Beauty Awards. That means they’ve met guidelines provided by dermatologists, and they’ve all been tested by SELF editors, skin-care pros, or makeup enthusiasts. Keep reading for our top picks, organized below by category, and go here to browse all of our winning items.
- Cleansers, Toners, Essences, and Skin-Care Tools
- Moisturizers, Eye Creams, Serums, Oils, and Masks
- Shower, Body , and Nail Products
- Oral Care Products
- All Makeup
- Sunscreens and Body Lotions
- Shampoos and Conditioners
- Hair Styling Products and Tools
Cleansers, Toners, Essences, and Skin-Care Tools
Formulated with ceramides and made especially for sensitive skin (read: fragrance free!) these wipes are perfect for easily swiping away the dirt, oil, grime, and makeup of the day. We especially like on the go for midday touch-ups, too.
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One of the best-kept secrets at any drugstore? Garnier micellar water. The go-to brand for this classic cleanser does it again with this new formula, that offers moisturizing hyaluronic acid and soothing aloe—so you won’t dry out your skin or irritate your eyes while removing your makeup and cleansing.
Courtesy of brand / Amanda K Bailey
Your favorite sensitive skin facial cleanser just got an update: It’s now fragrance free. Made with hydrating glycerin, this is a cleanser that won’t leave you with that too-tight feeling on your skin. It’s gel-to-foam formula makes washing your face feel especially easy, and at this price point, it’s easy to make this purchase.
Sharing Thayer’s cleansers and toners feels like letting friends in on a well-kept secret. The old-school beauty brand that—as the label indicates—has been around for 175 years offers several fragrance free, oil free, and allergy-tested products, and this cleanser is no exception. Formulated with soothing aloe vera, this face wash is perfect for gently removing makeup and oil at the end of each day.
Centella asiatica, a.k.a. CICA, is purportedly great for calming inflammation, redness, and soothing acne-prone skin. The science is limited, but some findings have been shown to be “intriguing,” as SELF previously reported. So if removing impurities, while keeping your skin calm and free of redness sounds good, give these a shot.
This alcohol-free toner is formulated with vitamin E and hyaluronic acid—making it perfect for those cold, winter months when you need to remove your makeup and don’t want to strip your skin of every last bit of moisture in the process.
Soothe, hydrate and instantly cool your skin with this face mist that sprays on easily and absorbs quickly. Pro tip: Throw this in your carry-on when traveling—face mists are perfect for keeping your skin hydrated during long flights.
Moisturizers, Eye Creams, Serums, Oils, and Masks
While this mask may not actually be cryotherapy, Holler + Glow does recommend you throw it in the freezer for best results. The icy cold mask, coupled with energizing and cooling ingredients, like menthol, will instantly reduce puffiness on your skin—and probably wake you up a bit as well. Think of it as a perfect summertime treat.
This gel mask is infused with hyaluronic acid to hydrate and niacinamide to brighten and tone. Simply place it on, let it do its thing for 20 to 30 minutes, remove, and pat in the remaining essence. You’re good to party—or spend a pampered night in.
Niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, is one of those ingredients that can do it all: brighten, remove excess oil, and help fight acne. With that in mind, this vegan mask can be used two to three times per week to achieve optimal effects. Bonus: Niacinamide is one of the few pregnancy-safe acne-fighting ingredients you can use, making this mask perfect for expectant folks.
These vegan pimple patches are intended to go directly over your pimple and then stay there for six to eight hours. Formulated with salicylic acid, the patches turn white as they suck up impurities and oil. Use them each night and say goodbye to stubborn zits.
This hydrating hair mask is designed to repair existing damage, lock in moisture, and help protect your locks from future breakage. If you’re looking for a new addition to your “self-care Sunday” ritual, we highly recommend this one—which you’ll let sit for five minutes after shampooing and conditioning.
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