I have to confess that I have spent years claiming there is no way a foundation from the drugstore can hold a candle to my beloved prestige brands.

After some experimenting, I’m happy to report I was wrong.

Drugstore makeup has come a long way, and our faces (and wallets!) are reaping the benefits.

Here is the breakdown of my all-time favorites:

L’OREAL TRUE MATCH SUPER BLENDABLE MAKEUP (SPF 17), $9.99

The name says it all. This foundation glides on flawlessly and is a snap to blend. Their shade selection is unmatched by any other on the market today. The chances of you not finding your exact shade are slim to none. The coverage is full and buildable – I usually find one layer gives me great, everyday coverage. If I was going out I would add an additional layer. The finish is what I would call dewy to demi-matte. If you have a serious oil problem this is going to look greasy, quickly. I have combination skin and find that setting this foundation with a translucent powder works wonders. Or, you can mix it with a more matte-coverage foundation for a custom finish.

My shade: W3 (Nude Beige) or W4 (Natural Beige)

Looks featuring this foundation here.

MAYBELLINE SUPERSTAY BETTER SKIN FOUNDATION (SPF 15), $11.99

On days I’m going for a more natural look but need more coverage than a BB cream can offer, this is my go-to. This foundation has a skin-like finish that doesn’t feel heavy. My only complaints are that it doesn’t last as long as the others, I would opt for something more full-coverage if you are going to need something that wears longer. The shade selection is the smallest of all foundations named here and the names are a little tricky – I would recommend going in-store to purchase.

My shade: 25 (Nude Beige)

MAYBELLINE FIT ME! MATTE + PORELESS FOUNDATION, $7.99

I can’t rave enough about this baby. It blends perfectly, has an excellent shade selection and keeps my skin matte and flawless with minimal touch ups. It mixes well with other foundations for custom coverage and builds nicely to obtain the finish you want. It doesn’t wear quite as long as most prestige brands but a bit of setting powder can really extend the life of this foundation.

My shade: 125 (Nude Beige) or 220 (Natural Beige)

Looks featuring this foundation here and here.

L’OREAL INFALLIBLE PRO-MATTE FOUNDATION, $12.99

Here it is, folks. The holy-grail of drugstore foundations. This one stands up to my prestige favorites (MAC Pro Longwear and MAC Studio Fix Fluid) in every category. This foundation does exactly what it says it does. It blends and builds flawlessly for a true full-coverage without looking dry or cakey. It has a decent-sized assortment of shades to match most (if not all) shades and undertones. The best part? It lasts ALL. DAY. LONG. Seriously. They say 24 Hour wear and they mean business. If you have very dry skin, I would make sure to prep with a super-hydrating primer to get the best possible finish. Other than that, this baby is everything.

My shade: 103 (Natural Buff) or 105 (Natural Beige)