My Favorite Drugstore Beauty Buys

Like most women, I love the makeup counter at department stores and can spend hours trying on makeup at MAC, Chanel and others. Brand-name beauty products have always been one of my guilty pleasures; I've never really cared much for manicures, pedis or waxing. I've been trying to trim my budget while we're in this recession, so beauty products seems like a natural place to start … $50 Chanel foundation isn’t exactly a necessity.

I've spent a little more time at my local Target lately browsing the beauty aisle and surprisingly, have found that some drugstore products that outperform pricier department store counterparts. Here's a roundup of my favorites:

Maybelline Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Foundation, $8.29

I'm pretty picky when it comes to foundation and was a little apprehensive about trying this. The wrong foundation can leave your face looking cakey and dry, or give you the dreaded disco-ball effect. Also, I have very fair skin and have a hard time finding foundation that isn't too dark. This left my skin looking even and radiant all day without any caking. The foundation feels very lightweight when being applied, and it blends easily. Porcelain ivory matched my fair skin really well.

Aussie Moist Shampoo & Conditioner, $3.99

I used to rotate through 3 or 4 different shampoos and conditioners on a weekly basis because I couldn't find one that I loved. My medium-length hair is wavy, dry and very thick, and a lot of shampoos and conditioners leave it feeling frizzy and weighed down. The Aussie Moist Shampoo and Conditioner have a great tropical smell and do a great job of enhancing my natural wave and leaving my hair shiny and smooth. Aussie works better than many salon brands I've tried, and at $3.99, the price can't be beat.

OPI Nail Lacquer, $8.50

Unlike some other polishes, OPI is free of toxic chemicals such as toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate. The quality is also superb and the polish lasts longer than any other brands I've used before.

Wet 'N' Wild Ultimate Expressions Eyeshadow, $4.99
I remember Wet 'N' Wild from my teenage years and there's no way that I would’ve tried this eyeshadow if I hadn't stumbled upon the reviews on Makeupalley. I purchased two of the palettes and was instantly sold. The colors are highly pigmented and stay for hours, even after hitting the gym. The shadow is silky-smooth and easy to blend, and you should be able to wear at least 3 of the colors in each palette, since good neutrals are always included. There's no reason to spend $20 or more on eyeshadow when you can get 8 colors for $5.

Aveeno Clear Complexion Cleaning Pads, $7.29

I’ve used Aveeno’s Clear Complexion Cleaning pads as a makeup remover and cleanser for the past week and I love how soft this makes my skin. The pads are much larger than most other makeup pads so it makes using the product so much easier. The exfoliating side of the pad cleans deep and removes makeup and dirt and the other side polishes, leaving my skin clean and radiant.

What are your favorite drugstore beauty buys? Are you spending less on beauty products because of the recession?

Also on MSN Lifestyle:

• Should you spend more on shampoo or conditioner? 
• 30 best beauty products
• Allure's best beauty bargains