Alexa Demie's Makeup Artist Says These $16-or-Less Drugstore Products Are Staples in Her Pro Kit

Welcome to Drugstore Heroes, a monthly series in which we spotlight the often-overlooked and underhyped drugstore beauty products that industry experts count on. We're asking tastemakers, from editors to content creators and even celebs, to share their top recommendations for affordable yet effective products. Get ready to see the best of drugstore beauty, period.

I follow a lot of makeup artists on Instagram. (As a beauty editor, that's a given.) I love how each one has a signature style, technique, and aesthetic. For example, Mary Phillips is known for her underpainting technique, and Nam Vo is known for "dewy dumpling" skin.

One of my favorite makeup artists to follow is Alexandra French, whose clients include Katy Perry, Charlotte Lawrence, Victoria Pedretti, and Alexa Demie. She even worked on Euphoria under lead makeup artist Donni Davy. Yeah, her résumé is impressive, but that's not why I love following her. I love following her because she shares often-affordable product recommendations and breaks down trending looks in easy-to-follow tutorials. It's the stuff straight out of beauty-editor dreams.

She's an expert at creating all kinds of makeup looks, from soft and subtle to bold and unapologetic. However, I'm most fond of what I would say is her signature—editorial and experimental looks. Whether it's glitter lipstick or holographic highlighter, French makes it look cool and effortless. It's not magic; it's makeup mastery!

Ahead, French shares her favorite drugstore makeup products, the ones she keeps in her pro kit and constantly uses on her celeb clients. Keep scrolling to see them all, from a $16 velvety foundation to a $4 eyelash curler and beyond. These are the affordable items she's tried, tested, and loved the most.

How often do you use drugstore products on celeb clients, and would you say they're staples in your kit?

Drugstore products these days have become so incredible. With TikTok and Instagram reviews, I think they have to compete with what works and what's popular on the market because people are posting reviews online every day. If the product doesn't perform well or is gimmicky, they are so quick to call them out. My kit is filled with drugstore products! If it works well and makes my life easier and makes my clients happy and makes my makeup look good, I don't care if it's a drugstore .