Is there really a difference between drugstore and high-end makeup? Certain department store brands are worth every penny, however it varies by brand and product. One thing is for sure, though – the quality of drugstore makeup has greatly improved over the years.

I’ve become a fan of brands recommended by my favorite stylists, such as NYX and E.L.F.! Both brands create great products found almost exclusively in drugstores.

Today I’m sharing a few of the tips I’ve learned along the way to help me select the best beauty products in the aisle.

Make a List: It’s easy to get carried away in the beauty section at your local CVS or Walgreens. To narrow things down, I like to create a list at home so I don’t get too sidetracked when I get there.

Know Your Skin Type: It’s very important to know whether you have oily, dry or combination skin for base products like foundation. After all, what may be a great foundation for someone with oily skin may be an absolute nightmare for someone with very dry skin.

Research Top-Rated Brands: As mentioned above, two of my favorite drugstore brands are NYX and E.L.F. It’s always good to browse sites like Drugstore.com to see which products users are rating highest.

Be Familiar with Your Skin Undertones: Have you determined your skin tone with a makeup artist? An easy way to do this at home is to look at the veins in your wrist. If your veins are blue, you have cool undertones. If you have green veins, you have a warm undertone. To help you pick the right foundation for your tone, look for signs on the foundation bottle, like W for Warm or C for Cool.

 Keep a Beauty Review Site Open: Websites like MakeupAlley.com provide great product reviews to help you make a final decision before you reach the register!

…and Instagram, too: Try looking through the feeds on Instagram of your favorite makeup gurus or searching by brand hashtag — such as #MilaniCosmetics or #NYX. Chances are you’ll find out which products are well-liked and used often by fellow beauty lovers!

Tell Me: What are your tips for shopping great beauty products at the drugstore?