So, today, I thought I'd share with you some of my favourite drugstore makeup items. These cheap and cheerful products have replaced some of the high-end products that I've been loyal to for years, proving that more expensive items aren't necessarily better. Although, saying that, it seems that the drugstore brands are upping their prices and some products, especially foundation and mascara, aren't too much cheaper than some premium versions.

Well pigmented, long lasting and non-drying, the No7 Precision Lips Pencils have a lot going for them. The handy pencil winds up, negating the need for sharpening, but it does mean that it loses its precise point quickly. Smudging isn't an issue at all in terms of careful eating or drinking, but it will start to travel across the face if you rub your mouth for whatever reason. The only downside is the shade range, unfortunately, as there's only six colours available. Shade 15, Fire, is a bright, classic red that I can pair with the majority of different red tones in my collection. These lipliners aren't a total bargain at just over £10, but using one of No7's famous money-off vouchers could knock a decent chunk off the price.

Like No7's lip pencils, I absolute love the No7 Metallic Eyes Eyeliners, with my favourite shade being 07 Camouflage. Not only does the range include many gorgeous, jewelled colours, but the creamy texture is just so easy to work with. They blend like a dream and remain looking sparkly and beautiful during wear, even without a primer. I've found that building up the liner is best, applying the colour, blending, then re-applying to prevent colour fading. They're even creamy enough to be used all over the eye in place of an eyeshadow, if you fancy. I just wish there were more shades in the range, but for just over £7, the quality is impressive.

Revlon's ColorStay Foundation comes in two formulas, one aimed at those with dry skin and one for those with combination/oily skin. Having what I'd describe as more of an in-between skin-type, I tried both but was only impressed with the latter as the dry skin version offered significantly less coverage and left behind an unflattering, greasy finish. The combination/oily formula, though, is a totally different story. This foundation is pretty full on, providing an easily buildable medium to high coverage that can soon get out of hand, so a little goes a long way. With this one, you've got to make sure to apply a generous amount of moisturiser beforehand so that the foundation doesn't start to feel too heavy. Using it with a light hand, adding a drop at a time, it creates a gorgeously smooth, perfected canvas. It's certainly long wearing, but it doesn't suck up every last bit of moisture in your skin so that you're left looking dry and dusty. Revlon boasts that their ColorStay Foundation can last 24 hours (a very bold claim) and it sure does last all day into the evening with few touchups required, but I can't attest to that being entirely true as I wouldn't leave my makeup on for that long! The addition of SPF 6 is somewhat of a bonus for everyday wear, but I wouldn't recommend relying on this foundation as your only sun protection and advise layering a dedicated facial sunscreen underneath for added protection. For special events, however, the sun protection factor isn't so high that the foundation will create flashback in photographs. Overall, Revlon ColorStay is a really impressive foundation for just £13.99, and there's a total of 23 shades available, which is pretty good when compared to the ranges of other high-street brands.

The Avon Super Shock Max Mascara does not disappoint. The monstrous plastic wand really delivers a ton of volume without clumping. Just a warning - you need to take your time when using this mascara as the huge brush can be a bit tricky to navigate around the delicate eye contours. Once you get the hang of it, though, your mascara can be applied in seconds! Despite the name, Avon's Super Shock Max is so versatile. The wand itself refuses to get clogged with too much product, so it never becomes too wet, allowing you to create a pared back, natural look or something more dramatic if you build up in coats. Even if you do prefer a bolder finish, the plastic bristles keep each lash separated, so you don't sacrifice that fluttery, feathered finish. To be honest, it's so great at creating the exact lash look that I love that I'd happily pay more than just £6 for it!

I'm not really a fan of lip gloss, more often than not skipping them in my makeup routine. However, when I'm feeling like a change, the Bourjois Effect 3D Lip Glosses are my weapon of choice, with Brun Exotic being my favourite. The brush applies the sheer colour really well, allowing you to cover your lips quickly, and the formula offers instant burst of non-sticky moisture. They have a subtle fragrance, taste nice (if you're feeling peckish!) and give lips a juicy shine. Bourjois claim that these lip glosses are waterproof and last for 8 hours, which you might care more about if you're wearing one to the beach/pool on holiday but seems a bit unnecessary for everyday wear. The glossy finish soon fades when eating or drinking, which I'd expect from any glossy formula, so I'd take the long-lasting claim with a pinch of salt. Priced at £7, the Effect 3D Glosses sit somewhere in the middle of the drugstore market.

When Kate Moss first launched her collection of Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipsticks, everyone couldn't wait to get their hands on them. I hadn't previously tried any Rimmel lipsticks before, which I regretted after encountering these. Not only are they ultra creamy and moisturising, but the pigment payoff is amazing, with the colours translating exactly from the bullet to the lips. I'm not a fan of the cheap, sweet smell of them, but seeing as they cost just £6, I can put up with that. Ranging from nudes through to deep reds and brighter pinks, the Lasting Finish collection also offers a variety of finishes, including some lovely mattes.

If you haven't heard of the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer and the raving reviews that it's received, you must've been living under a rock. I don't know anyone who doesn't love this concealer. It covers everything: under-eye bags, blemishes and redness yet still manages to stay fairly natural-looking. According to the brand, this concealer lasts for 16 hours, which I can well believe. Once I've applied it, it doesn't budge all day. The packaging itself isn't great as the text wears off the tube quite quickly, but for the price and quality of the product inside, you can't complain. Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer is an absolute steal at just £4.99, but a lack of darker shades within the range means that those with deeper skin-tones might be unable to find a match, which is such a shame and pretty unacceptable in this day and age!

These single eyeshadows from L'Oreal, with their metallic finishes, create a wet-look effect. The colour payoff of the L'Oreal Chrome Shine Eyeshadows isn't that strong with the paler shades but more so with the darker. However, when used over the top of other eyeshadows, these add such a gorgeous sheen and a luxe, velvety finish. The packaging isn't anything special, but the single cases make them easy to travel with and the transparent plastic allows you to easily spot the colours when stored in your beauty stash. Whilst £6 is rather expensive for a single eyeshadow, they do give the eyes such a gorgeous effect that they'd look amazing for a special occasion or fancy night out. 

Sleek is one brand that caters for darker skin tones, which is something that more drugstore brands need to do. Their famous Contour Kit includes a totally matte contour powder and a highlighter, with both shades complimenting one another. Both powders can come out slightly strong if you apply too much product in one go with a denser brush, so building up a little at a time with a light hand is essential to give a more natural look. The contour shade is totally cool-toned, so it never turns orange and can't be used in place of bronzer. Honestly, it leaves you with cheekbones so chiselled that you'll give many a model a run for their money! This is such a unique kit to be found on the high-street, and the fact that it's only £6.50 for two products in one compact is really impressive!

More famously known as the 'chocolate bronzer', Bourjois' Delice De Poudre Bronzer has quite the reputation. With the soft texture, natural finish and irresistible smell, I've been drawn to it time and time again. It does contains flecks of golden shimmer, but don't be put off by this as they're barely visible on the skin. Some of the darker shades can look slightly orange if used heavily on paler skin, but a light hand ensures you don't end up resembling an oompah-loompah. One thing that does aggravate me about this product is the packaging. Made from cardboard, the compact both looks and feels cheap, even for a high-street product. Also, as soon as you hit pan, the remaining bronzer is guaranteed to shatter if you drop it, so be careful or it becomes a nightmare to use. Having to repurchase it at £6.99 a time when you don't even get to finish the whole product can be seriously frustrating and does start to add up. That being said, I love it so much that I'll always repurchase!