I Tried Kim K's Favorite Cheap Makeup Products & Was Surprised At The Results

Everyday I admire Kim Kardashian's fully made-up face on Instagram and Snapchat. Whether you love her or not, Kim is one of the biggest beauty influencers in the pop culture scene. The reality TV queen has brought makeup that what was once only reserved for red carpets and photo shoots into people's everyday lives—and literally everyone wants to look as #flawless as her. Whether it's contouring, non-touring, baking or highlighting, Kim is a trendsetter. Basically, she is to contouring what Diane Keaton is to menswear.

So when Kim's makeup artists Mario Dedivanovic and Ariel Tejada revealed how your average gal can get her look using products from the drugstore, I knew that it was my civil duty to try this out. She called the look "CVS Chic" on her website, which sounds right up my alley. 

Now, I'm not the most skilled makeup artist, but I am as creative when I only have a few things to work with and limited dollars to spend. Granted, I went into this challenge without knowing a single thing about contouring or what these makeup products would do to my very oily skin. Boy, I was sure in for a treat—and some pimples, too.

Here's a breakdown of Kim Kardashian-approved drugstore products:

-L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Makeup, $10 

-Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation, $8

-NYX Cosmetics Hi Definition Photo Concealer, $5

-Maybelline Fit Me Concealer, $7

-Milani XL Bronzer, $13 

-Milani Baked Blush, $9

-L'Oreal True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Highlighter, $13

-Physicians Formula Powder Palette Mineral Glow, $9

-L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow: Eternal Sunshine, $8

-L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara, $8

-NYX Slim Lip Pencil Soft Brown, $10

-Maybelline Color Sensational, $8 

-Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Vegas Strip, $13

-NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss: "Sugar Pie," $5

What I used: L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Makeup, NYX Cosmetics Hi Definition Photo Concealer, L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow, NYX Slim Lip Pencil Soft Brown, Maybelline Color Sensational Matte.

Takeaway: I've never really understood the point of no makeup-makeup—like, just don't wear makeup if you're going for that look? I doused my face with two layers of foundation and painted concealer around my eyes and under my nose, then applied mascara, lip liner, and lipstick. I looked like a slightly better version of myself when I rolled out of bed. 

The makeup lasted for a good few hours before my oily pores gave in and started melting the makeup off. By the end of the day, the foundation clumped on my cheeks and upper forehead, making me look like I had just run a triathlon. I also broke out with two pimples on the right side of my face that weren't there in the morning, so that was cool. 

What I used: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation, Maybelline Fit Me Concealer, Physicians Formula Powder Palette Mineral Glow, Milani XL Bronzer, L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara, L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow, NYX Slim Lip Pencil Soft Brown, Maybelline Color Sensational Matte, NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss.

Takeaway: This was definitely my favorite of the three looks because the foundation blended in evenly and according to my skin tone. Next, I went HAM on the concealer under my eyes and on the pimples I developed from the day before. I dusted my face with powder and highlighter, which I was honestly nervous about because I thought it would make my skin look more oily. The Physician's Formula Powder was great because it was just subtle enough to give me an Edward Cullen sparkle. My eye makeup consisted of two layers of mascara on top and bottom lashes, and some brown powder acting as an eyeliner. I would 100% wear this look again. 

What I used: L'Oreal True Match, Maybelline Fit Me Matte, Maybelline Fit Me Concealer, Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder, L’Oreal True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Highlighter, Physicians Formula Powder Palette Mineral Glow, L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow, Prestige Waterproof Lip Liner, Maybelline ColorSensational, NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss.

Takeaway. Well, I totally dropped the ball on the whole contouring thing. I made it a point not to do any research on contouring until afterwards—bad idea. After my foundation, concealer and eye makeup were applied, I took a big brush and made strokes in a "3" around my face. I also used the dark brown powder to darken my brows. I wet the same powder to use as eyeliner on the top and bottom of my eyes. I tried to complete my contour process with some bronzer, but wound up with big brown marks on my cheeks—I later found out I should have been blending that shit in. 

The entire process took about 15-20 minutes, which is way longer than I ever want to spend on makeup unless I'm meeting Harry Styles IRL. There were a few products I'd totally use again like the Maybelline foundation and concealer, the Physicians Formula Highlighter and the Maybelline Mac lipstick. A few pimples aside, Kim Kardashian's "CVS Chic" showed me it's entirely possible to look like I belong in a GQ photo shoot when I'm really just taking advantage of my local drugstore.  

Now, please enjoy a video of me failing to contour.