I’m not a big drugstore makeup user, for several reasons. First, it requires more time to find the good stuff, as the quality is more uneven than with high-end brands. Second, I like things to be beautiful and maybe a little obscure, so the luxury and niche brands have an advantage. And third, I’m no longer forced by circumstances to buy drugstore, so I often don’t.

That said, there’s something life-affirming about great affordable products: everyone should be able to buy quality make-up if they feel like it, and finding something wonderful but cheap provides a very particular thrill. I have absolutely zero snobbery in case I find something effective, no matter the price. In the end of the day, I want the products to work, not just look pretty on my vanity (I don’t have a vanity, but you get the point). Japanese drugstores are famous for their excellent quality/price ratio, so I did make a point of getting some items.

Lips & cheeks. If I had to recommend only one beauty product from Japan, high-end or low, Canmake Cream Cheeks would be it. They are very affordable (a bit more than 5 euros), but among my favourite blushes of all time. I got two (cl01 and cl08) from the clear series and I regret not getting more. These have a gel-like texture that I love; they are easy to apply, look beautiful and slightly dewy on the skin and last reasonably well. Both colours are red – one true, the other strawberry – and that’s a notoriously difficult shade for blush. In this formula, however, it looks great. I think they are beautiful on the lips, too – fresh in a sexy way. Just don’t expect much longevity or hydration. I also bought two Canmake Lip & Cheek Gels (02 and 05) that ironically feel less like gels to me than the creams. These are softer in texture and have a lot of slip. Consequently, they are even easier to apply and feel more comfortable on the lips. I love these slightly less, as I like the creams on my cheeks so much, but the gels are definitely worth a try, too.

Mascaras. Japan is famous for its mascaras and I got three, all pretty much cult products: Kiss Me Heroine Make Long & Curl Mascara; Mote Long Repair Mascara and Dejavu Fiberwig Mascara. Based on these and a DHC mascara I bought a while ago, I’d say that if your problem with mascaras is that they smudge, clump or don’t hold the curl, Japanese mascaras could be perfect for you. For me, they are too dry and therefore not dramatic enough. And I don’t even necessarily want that much drama for everyday! Unfortunately, I couldn’t really get that long and elegant look either. Fiberwig is probably my favourite of the three, as I like fiber mascaras. But I much prefer the Kevyn Aucoin volume mascara that is beautiful for day.

Liquid eyeliners. Now, what you need to know about me and eyeliners is that I don’t use any. I use eyeshadow sticks and sometimes an eye pencil, but liquid liner? Maybe once a year. Make it two years, in fact. But I thought that if I’m ever going to buy an eyeliner, it’s going to be in Japan. And I’m glad I did: I haven’t tested K-Palette 1 Day Tattoo Liquid Liner and Mote Eye Liner extensively, but I managed to create a decent look with both at the first attempt. Mote in particular felt easy to use. Especially if you want a thin line that gives your eyes some subtle definition, these are very much contenders. Both have a fine brush and last well – in fact getting them off is the only drawback I can think of.

Liplove. This is a somewhat random category for things that don’t fit into any other post I’m planning. I saw DHC Lip Cream all over the place in Japan and finally just bought one. It’s as if Lanolips and 8 Hour Cream had a baby and it turned out to be a stick. I am a huge fan of Lanolips and DCH is also lanolin based. It seems slightly inferior in quality, but the packaging is so convenient and I’m enjoying it. Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bars (04 and 07) don’t fit here because they are Korean and cannot be bought at a typical Japanese drugstore. They do fit the theme, though, being fun and affordable. These are not the most amazing products ever, but they look adorable and are decent balm-gloss hybrids. If you need a stocking-filler for someone in her early teens, these are an option. Or if you just want to own something that makes you smile when looking into your makeup bag – a better reason to buy things than most.

And yes, there is a Hello Kitty powder. I bought this for my daughter. Honest.