I’m always on the lookout for beauty bargains and news, so when Glam Media asked me to review the newly expanded cosmetics department in Walmart stores, I cleared out some haulage space in the back of the 4-Runner and drove out to the closest store.
I haven’t been to a Walmart in years. The store I reviewed is in Richmond, spread out on two floors, but once inside it only took a minute to spot the large “Cosmetics” sign showing me where to go.
In terms of selection, the new department dwarfs anything I’ve seen in a while. It’s huge, to say the least (three long aisles; I’m guessing 600 square feet of cosmetics).
They carry most of the big drugstore brands like Neutrogena, Almay and Covergirl. The only product I looked for but couldn’t find was Sally Hansen Lipgloss, but the store did have Sally’s nail polishes.
It was time for the ultimate test: the price check, so I parked my boo-tay in front of the Rimmel section and went to work.
Right now I have the Rimmel Mono Powder Blush in Santa Rose, which I got at the drugstore for $3.50 a while back. Walmart had them for $2.97 (Walgreens regular price: $3.49). Not bad!
I couldn’t decide on a blush at Walmart (don’t you hate that?), so I made my way over to the Physicians Formula section.
Remember the Shimmer Strips I reviewed a few weeks ago? At Walmart they were $9.30, about $2 less than I paid on the Physicians Formula website and about $1.70 less than the Walgreens price.
After an hour of shopping I’d barely touched the surface of Walmart’s new cosmetics department, but El Hub was getting antsy, so my last stop was to the Sally Hansen Salon Nail Polish display. At $5, each polish was about $1.50 less than the price of a bottle at my nearby drugstore ($6.50). That’s a huge 30% savings.
I wanted a bright, springy color, so I choose creamy reddish coral Orange You Cute?
All told, Walmart’s new beauty section has just about every big drugstore product and brand at an average of 20-30% lower prices than drugstore. If you’re bargain beauty conscious, check it out!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Jian says
April 21st, 2009 at 6:31 amDamn! Our supermarkets only stock few cosmetics, my local one only does Rimmel and Collection2000 (I think its an English thing).
It’s true supermarkets are great for picking up make up bargains but I find the shopping experience less than enjoyable because half the time there aren’t samples and the stuff I actually want to buy is SOLD OUT! Although I do notice quite a few empty spaces in your photos. Oh well.
Hope you’re having a great day!
Jian´s last blog post..Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe
Karen says
April 21st, 2009 at 7:25 amHi Jian,
Yeah, that’s true. Sometimes I’ll have to hit up a few stores before I find the item that I’m looking for!
My Tuesday is going okay so far. I’m just sipping some coffee and listening to the news right now. How’s your day been?
Jessica says
April 21st, 2009 at 6:57 amI love Walmart for makeup! Its always cheaper and theres a few things that I just never buy high-end like mascara and shampoo 🙂
Jessica´s last blog post..MAC and Lush Haul!
Karen says
April 21st, 2009 at 7:26 amHi Jessica,
Cool! What brands do you usually buy when you’re there?
Chris says
April 21st, 2009 at 8:21 amGood review Karen!
Walmart does have better prices (especially compared to Target for cosmetics) although not usually the BOGO deals that a Long’s/CVS or Walgreen’s will have.
(I shop at the Richmond store sometimes but have found larger selections in San Leandro (Davis St). The stores also vary in terms of upkeep. The Oakland store gets heavily shopped and is OOS quite often. You find the same thing at Long’s – they are all different.
That’s my local East Bay girl point of view lol.)
Physician’s Formula Eye Shimmer strips are one of the “unsung heroes” at drugstores imho.
Karen says
April 21st, 2009 at 8:25 amHi Chris,
Yay, East Bay!
I really like the Richmond store. It’s roomy… plus the pet section rocks, LOL!
Vanessa says
April 21st, 2009 at 9:53 amI’m not really one for shopping at Walmart. If I do go in, I only grab the items I need and leave as quick as possible. Call me crazy, but their grey colour scheme makes the store unappealing and sort of a drab.
Liz! says
April 21st, 2009 at 10:00 amUm, yeah… whitey over here won’t be going to Richmond’s Walmart anytime soon, lol.
On another note, what’s your take on Walmart as it treats its employees and impacts the community? How low do we stoop to get a lower price on a luxury item like cosmetics (i.e. it’s not necessary to keep us breathing and healthy)? I mean, would you rather get a $1.50 off that bottle of nail polish, or pay a little extra at a different store where employees are provided health insurance and so don’t have to go on government health programs? Just food for thought…
cloudburst says
April 21st, 2009 at 10:03 amOne of my favourite ways to unwind at the end of a stressful day is to trawl drugstore or Walmart isles for good makeup deals. THanks for the price check!
Maggie says
April 21st, 2009 at 10:05 amwow, i haven’t been to walmart in a year! they’ve improved a lot!
aha, i only went there, back then, for school supplies, but i guess now i could count cosmetics!
thanks for the review! 🙂
Maggie´s last blog post..Something New, Photography, and Sephoraaaa<3
Karen says
April 21st, 2009 at 10:25 amHi Liz,
I’m not sure what you meant by the whitey thing, but about Walmart in general, I don’t agree with them on everything. They do, however, have one heck of a great drugstore cosmetics department.
For what it’s worth, the employees who helped me in the store were very happy and helpful — actually more pleasant to work with than the employees in a lot of so-called luxury stores.
Coco says
April 21st, 2009 at 11:02 amI’ve yet to see Physician’s Formula at my local Walmart, but they do carry the complete Cover Girl Queen Collection, IMAN, Black Radiance, Black Opal and another drugstore line targeted towards women of color, which is really cool and rare.
Coco´s last blog post..Posh Brush Review
Milan says
April 21st, 2009 at 11:42 amI’m more of a Target girl myself (Walmart makes me itch) but I may have to venture in there and check out the beauty aisles. Sigh. LOL!
Milan´s last blog post..Prescriptives Motor-Eyes Instant Action Mascara
Kate & Zena says
April 21st, 2009 at 12:10 pmHaha, my local Wal-Mart is in the process of expanding so everything is a mess. My Wal-Mart’s make-up aisle isn’t that big. It’s bigger than my Jewel-Osco’s but smaller than my Target’s cosmetic aisles. Messy, messy, messy. I still prefer my Walgreens and Jewel, thank you. I at least know where everything is and they are both close to me (less than a mile).
Julienne says
April 21st, 2009 at 12:15 pmOuu~ I l-o-v-e sally hansen nail polishes, hehe.
There’s something about my Walmart’s cosmetic section that I don’t like.. They’ve remodeled it twice and I still don’t like shopping there, haha. I prefer Target’s layout better I guess; especially since they don’t have ugly yellow price tag stickers wherever you turn. :0)
Julienne´s last blog post..I never liked you anyway.
Stacie says
April 21st, 2009 at 3:42 pmThe nearest Walmart to me is scary! I refuse to go by myself; I’m afraid I’ll get mugged in the parking lot. Sigh, that’s East Fort Worth for you! But even the nicer Walmarts don’t thrill me. That are less expensive, but in my experience it’s usually too insanely crowded in the store. They will have two checkout lines open, and the lines wrap around the store! And I’ve found that often the makeup aisles are chaos; things not in the right places, etc. I’ll browse the cosmetics when I’m there for something else, (such as groceries) but I won’t go there just for that.
qudz104 says
April 21st, 2009 at 4:11 pmfor me, i go armed with coupons to the drugstores, and i work at one so i get employee discount too!
Daya says
April 21st, 2009 at 6:34 pmI’m not a Walmart girl by any means, but I do *heart* Target. I love that they sell OPI! It’s cool that you can find more expensive cosmetics (perfume for example) at the drugstore now! 🙂
kit says
April 21st, 2009 at 6:42 pmToo bad I don’t have a Walmart near me. The drugstores usually seem to have “old” merchandise and the selection is nothing to brag about ><
Michelle says
April 21st, 2009 at 7:05 pmI have Orange you cute? too! I bought it last summer. I’m so glad to know it’s still around because mine’s probably thickened by now.
Marisol says
April 21st, 2009 at 9:04 pmWhat a deal! Glad to see more stores revamping their cosmetics dept.
Marisol´s last blog post..babbling brook… blah blah blah
rochelle says
April 21st, 2009 at 9:25 pmi live close also to the richmond walmart and also closer to the martinez walmart and looking at the pictures of what you took, there is a lot of selection, but the walmart where i live closer to in martinez, there stock usually low half the time… but there is a lot of selection now.
Tanya says
April 22nd, 2009 at 12:39 pmI’m frequently at Wal Mart (I’m from a small town and it’s the closest “big” store within 5 minutes in town- Target is about 20-30 minutes away), so it’s no shock or rarity for me to buy makeup at Wal Mart 🙂 I always know I’ll save a few bucks at Wal Mart compared to a drugstore like Longs/Walgreens/Rite Aid, but when drugstores DO have those wonderful BOGO sales, I’m there!!!
Tanya´s last blog post..I’m Feelin’ Good – Sephora Haul.
MJ says
February 9th, 2013 at 7:00 pmHi! I’m from Manila PH, I just want to ask if Walmart has Benefit Cosmetics products? Thank You!
luchetti says
May 24th, 2015 at 3:46 pmI steer clear of my Walmarts for everything, not worth the 50 cents the caliber of people and trash that shops there I call it the Ghetto Mart..just filled with ghetto trash….I am a Target lover…