The supermarket beauty products Fashion Journal readers swear by
IMAGE VIA @schmidtsnaturals/INSTAGRAM
Words by Christina Karras
Holy grails that don’t break the bank.
For many of us, browsing the cosmetics aisle at the supermarket when we were kids served as an introduction to the big wide world of beauty. Looking back now, the urge to throw Maybelline’s Baby Lips into the shopping trolley when my mum wasn’t looking was probably the gateway to my present-day makeup obsession.
And while I love a high-end brand, my own beauty products are probably split fifty-fifty between expensive purchases from Mecca, and classics from Coles that don’t break the bank.
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I’m a firm believer that luxury mascaras rarely live up to the hype, and have struggled to find my perfect one anywhere – but the MCoBeauty Xtendlash comes pretty close. It’s a tubing formula that does not budge (you could wear it swimming!) and manages to keep my lashes lifted all day for just $14.
The Revlon Photoready Concealer has also become my go-to for how impressively it sits over foundation. And as a lip balm hoarder I normally have a handful on me at all times, often rotating between Blistex’s Conditioning Lip Balm with SPF30 and my trusty Lucas’s Pawpaw Ointment.
In the spirit of saving your hard-earned pennies ahead of the holiday season, we asked our FJ readers for their supermarket holy grails, dupes and underrated beauty picks that are worth sneaking into your next grocery shop.
Tully
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Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Rum Raisin is my makeup bag’s MVP. The perfect, ’90s Liv Tyler-meets-fresh-cherry-stained lip enhancement, but low maintenance enough to apply sans mirror on a moving tram. The shade meets the sweet spot between a nude and a bold red which just feels super wearable but still always elevated.
Meanwhile, the formulation is creamy, foolproof and forgiving. Despite constantly refreshing my lip lineup with newer, sexier, more hype-y (I rate this higher than Clinique’s Black Honey) and often vastly pricier additions, I always reach back for my Rum Raisin.
Isabella
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The Monday Volume Shampoo and Conditioner is the holy grail of haircare in my eyes. Yes, it’s pink, sustainable AND affordable. You can buy them from Coles from as little as $10. I’m all about products that value the environment while making it accessible to any type of person. I tend to get pretty oily hair, but after each wash, it looks incredibly silky and healthy.
I do have a lot of hair (I’m growing it long!) but the actual strands are quite thin, so these products give me a bit more oomph which means I have more to work with when styling my hair post-wash. Watch out Matilda Djerf, I’m coming for you!
Fiona
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My tried-and-true product is the Maybelline Matte and Poreless Foundation. Not going to lie, this is a product I 100 per cent have been gatekeeping because it’s so affordable, seriously lasts ALL DAY (I’ve tried it) and doesn’t feel cakey on the skin at all. I personally find it’s better than my Giorgio Armani and Chanel foundations, so that’s saying something.
Laura
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My holy trinity of supermarket beauty products includes a brow pencil, facial sunscreen and moisturiser, all sourced from Coles. The Maybelline Brow Ultra Slim Defining Pencil doubles wonderfully as an eyeliner as it doesn’t smudge, emphasises my beauty spots and is only $10, so I honestly couldn’t ask for more from a product.
Finding an affordable, non-pilling sunscreen has been the bane of my skincare existence but Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Fluid is true to its name and melts in beautifully with the brand’s Oil-free Moisturiser, retailing at $14.
Hansika
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The Maybelline Fit Me Concealer at $12.80 is my go-to concealer every day. It’s not only affordable, but lightweight, has great coverage, and it doesn’t dry out my skin. Organic coconut oil is my new go-to for everything. It’s $4.40 and it’s good for your hair, body and your skin. Growing up, my mother would use it for almost everything because it’s a natural product that has so many benefits in keeping the body well nourished.
I also love how long-lasting the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel is. It’s the only polish I have come across that doesn’t seem to chip away – not to mention all the beautiful colours. And I can’t tell you how much I love the Dermal Therapy Lip Balm. Since using this product, my lips have been soft, smooth and hydrated and I haven’t had a problem with dry lips since.
Yianna
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When it comes to beauty, I always try and opt for clean and organic products. I’m a huge advocate of natural deodorants and love seeing more clean options becoming available at supermarkets. My favourite is Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant in Rose and Vanilla, which leaves you smelling, as the name suggests, like roses!
I’ve also been on the hunt for the perfect mascara for years, searching almost every department store for a mascara that lifts and elongates your lashes, without smudging. I thought it didn’t exist until I found Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High.
Caleigh
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I swear by Toni & Guy’s Dry Shampoo. It’s the only dry shampoo I’ve tried that doesn’t leave my hair with that hairspray-like stiffness, and without that powdery feel at the roots. I have also used it to texturise my hair when styling and it works like a dream!
The other product I swear by is the Skin Control pimple patches. They are super affordable and come in various sizes. The tea tree formula is so gentle on blemishes and has a lovely light scent. They are also the most unnoticeable patches I’ve tried, designed to be worn during the day, under makeup if needed.
Erica
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Working in the beauty industry, you’d think it would be easy to name a few of my ride or die products from your local Coles or Woolies. However, narrowing it down to just a few was the hardest task of all time. I’m obsessed with the Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara – you will never need to purchase another drug store mascara ever again, it gives you the most dramatic lashes without any smudge.
The day I found out about the Neat 3B Action Cream was the day my life got better. Hot girl summer, unfortunately, calls for not-so-hot chaffing and this stops it completely! Thank You’s body wash and lotions are also a favourite of mine. This will give you Aesop vibes without having to sell your left limb and they look uber fancy in the bathroom.
Lastly, it wouldn’t be a recommendation from me without a sunscreen on the list: the Bondi Sands Face Lotion with SPF 50+. This supermarket sunscreen ticks all the boxes. Hydrating, perfect under makeup, water-resistant and it won’t break the budget!
Ashley
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Three words: Maybelline Lash Sensational. I’ve been using this mascara ever since Zoella recommended it in a 2014 YouTube video and it’s definitely still my fave supermarket beauty find. It’s super volumising, not clumpy and I can buy it from Coles, which is the best part.
I’m not the kind of person to wear a lot of makeup, but having a good mascara to make my lashes look hot makes me feel that little bit more put together. The cute pink packaging is a bonus too.
For more on the best supermarket beauty products, try this.
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