Being on a student budget but wanting to keep up with the latest beauty trends is no mean feat, but ‘drugstore’ products are no longer leaving a lot to be desired. With Superdrug offering 10% student discount, you really can’t go wrong. I’ve narrowed down my long list of favourites to 5 go-to, tried and tested drugstore products (an unnecessarily gruelling process) including some cult favourites and my own discovered gems. I couldn’t recommend these enough next time you’re in the market for a little pick me up; if you’re anything like me, new makeup will probably the first and foremost thing on your list.

1. Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - £3.99

I feel like the vast majority of people would have this somewhere a top their list of fool-proof products and you don’t need me to tell you how glorious it is. That being said, if you’re yet to find your holy grail pressed powder, look no further. You’re welcome.

2. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - £4.19

This pretty much changed the game for all drugstore concealers of the future, without being too dramatic. I can honestly say I haven’t touched a single other concealer to my face since I discovered this in 2014. It has a great amount of coverage, while still being lightweight and creaseless. If that doesn’t float your boat, I’ve got nothing. I would also highly recommend the colour-correcting versions; I use the green shade on almost a daily basis to counteract redness.

3. NYX Tame and Frame Tinted Eyebrow Gel - £6

Essentially just the infamous Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade at a fraction of the price. For me, this one is a similar story to the concealer where I can’t go a day without it and pretty much haven’t since I tried it out 4 years ago. For whatever reason, this product is nowhere near as hyped as it should be, in my opinion. It has a fab shade range with something to suit every tone and the smoothest formula which glides onto the skin with minimal effort, without being smudgy or sloppy. I use this with my MAC 266 angled brush which, although pricey, has served me well for a number of years, and it’s a match made in heaven.

4. Sleek Highlighting Palette in Solstice/Cleopatra’s Kiss - £9.99

Finding a drugstore highlighter on-par with my high-end ones definitely was more of a task than for other products, until these palettes came into the limelight. Personally, I’ve only tried the Solstice shades as I have quite fair skin, but Cleopatra’s kiss is definitely on my wish list for when I’m tanned and want a more bronze glow. Both include creams and powders which is so handy for travelling and means you can layer the products, depending on how radiant you want to be. The pigmentation of these highlighters is not for the fainthearted, but with a light hand they give the most gorgeous glow-from-within. This is another product which I use daily to highlight my brow bone, inner corner and cupids bow because nothing else I have pops like this iridescent purple shade. This is one that is only at Boots at the moment, although ASOS do stock Sleek, they don’t yet have this exact product.

5. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Makeup Sponge - £6.99

Everyone knows about how amazing the Beauty Blender is meant to be, but I just couldn’t bring myself to spend over £15 on a sponge. Although I can’t vouch for this high-end alternative, having never tried one, these Real Techniques sponges leave absolutely nothing to be desired. Hand on heart, I don’t think I will ever go back to use a brush for foundation or concealer as I find it’s a lot more time consuming and leaves me with a finish that’s streaky and cakey more often than not. I mean, that might just be my lack of finesse but who’s to know.

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