Here at the Strategist, we love hearing about everyday stuff that actually works. That line of thinking extends to the drugstore beauty products in our medicine cabinets, shower caddies, and makeup bags. In our new series, Beauty Aisle, we’re talking to folks about the go-to affordable products they keep stocked. For the second installment, Strategist beauty writer Tembe Denton-Hurst chatted with RuPaul’s Drag Race season-13 winner, drag queen Symone, about the drugstore products she loves.
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I recently found out about her because I ran out of my other one, and I was like, I just need something quick and easy. Some toners can kind of dry out your face. This feels like I’m putting moisture back in. It’s the second thing I do.
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How could we not love them? I’ve been using these wipes for at least five years. I love that they don’t dry out the face. You only have to use one, maybe two, to get your makeup off. I really enjoy that because, before these, I was using half a pack before I could get everything off my face. They have the blue (fragrance free) and purple (nighttime) packet; either one of those are great.
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I recently had to be in drag for over 24 hours, and something in my spirit told me to pack this foundation. I can now say the “30 hours” is true. It works. My skin looks great. I have never gotten more compliments in my life.
[Editors Note: Symoné’s exact foundation is being discontinued, but it’s available from a vendor on Amazon.]
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I like that she covers, but she’s not too thick and she blends out very well. I wouldn’t say watery, but it feels light. She conceals the dark circles. Not that I have them, but if I did. She goes really well with the Maybelline foundation but also with other things. I use this one first and then Pat McGrath on top of that. Then I’ll go in with the Patrick Starrr concealer because I like to use different shades to blend. Maybelline has a really wide variety of shades, and they’re really good. They give you the cools, the warms, the neutrals. It can be a little difficult for us girls, but they have a really good variety, which is why I usually go to Maybelline when I’m in the drugstore.
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I like to shine when I’m in drag. I like my skin to look like I’m wet. I’ll use the baby oil after I get out of the shower, but then if I’m performing or getting onstage, I’ll use the baby-oil gel because that is where the shine is really at. The cocoa butter one smells nice. That’s my trick.
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I’m going through my matte phase because it’s summertime. I like to use this to put the radiance back. I don’t like my makeup to look too matte. I like to look like there’s some shine and dimension. This does a really good job without making it look too dewy, which I also don’t like.
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If you have a hard time taking your makeup off, I recommend this. This is for when it’s a serious problem and the makeup just will not come off. I try to use it once a week to make sure my skin is clean.
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It was the perfect nude. There’s a warmth that I really, really enjoy, and the closest thing that I’ve been able to get is from Fenty. I love the consistency. It wasn’t too sticky. It made my lips look so big and full. It’s a pigmented gloss, so I would line my lip and then put that on and then that’s all I had to do. They discontinued it. I hate when that happens. NYX, if you’re listening, bring it back or just make one for me.
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The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
