We’re a little behind on this one, but if you haven’t heard yet, Drew Barrymore launched her own makeup line, FLOWER, in January. And not only are the products made in the U.S.A. without animal testing, but they’re also affordable—about $5 to $14 each.
It sounds almost too good to be true, but FLOWER keeps its price points down because the company doesn’t spend money on advertising. Instead, they funnel that money into high-end botanical ingredients and grassroots-style marketing—Drew is the spokesperson, starring in adorable (of course!) online makeup tutorials. When we put the goods to the test, we were impressed! And the products look a lot more expensive than they are, with mod-inspired black and white packaging and stamped-metal embellishments, so we always felt good pulling them out of our bag. Here are some standouts.
BB Cream 4-in-1 Skin Solution | $13
This BB goes on evenly, and has a built-in mattifier that eliminates shine. A little goes a long way; you only need a tiny drop to even out skin. But smooth it on quickly, because it absorbs really fast. The plus side to that is that it really stays put.
Nail Lacquer | $5
These are chunky, posh-looking bottles filled with highly pigmented, imaginative colors that are free of DBP, toluene & camphor. Bonus! They last longer than normal. I’ve been wearing Cosmos-Politan, a cheerful bubblegum hot pink with a hint of iridescence, for five days and counting, and it hasn’t chipped yet. Not bad for the price. The candy-apple red First Bloom prompted strangers on the bus to compliment my toes (flattering or subtly creepy?) and gave me a perfect, shiny pedi that lasted a week-plus.
Kiss Stick | $7
There a couple of different versions of “Kiss Sticks,” or lipsticks, in the line. The High Shine Lip Color in Coral Floret is the most coral of coral lipsticks. At first swipe, it looked a little uneven, but after a second layer, it smoothed out. It’s lustrous and a bit shiny, but not exactly “high shine.” The Velvet Color has more of a matte finish, yet it’s not at all drying, and has serious staying power. My favorite shade is So Gladiola, a seriously bright, coral-pink that’s almost exactly the color of Peaches ’N Cream Barbie’s lips, a shade that has stayed locked in my brain since the late ’80s.
Which drugstore scores are you loving right now? Tell us in the comments.
