The Best New Drugstore Beauty Products of 2021

Drugstore beauty has always been an indelibly important category in the beauty world, but perhaps never so much as it is right now. With a pandemic forcing so many of us to live on a tighter budget while simultaneously making us realize just how important self-care is, we’ve been leaning harder on drugstores — and their online outlets that allow us to avoid nonessential outings — to shop for the hair-care, skin-care, and makeup products that brighten our moods and complexions. 

The drugstore beauty category isn’t what it used to be, and we mean that in the best possible way. Pharmacies like Walgreens, Rite Aid, and CVS have always been a convenient source of some of our favorite brands, and they continue to make quick trips to pick up Tylenol and toilet paper so much more fun. But the last decade has seen an expansion of the brands we can expect to find in drugstore aisles, as well as a new level of sophistication in the formulas they’re putting on the shelves.

As we enter 2021 still under some of the strangest and most challenging circumstances we’ve ever known, we wanted to make it that much easier to shop for the best new drugstore beauty products by rounding up the most exciting launches dropping shortly after the ball does. Prepare to fall in love with a new batch of shampoos, skin boosters, and so much more, all of which can be yours with a couple of clicks — or an actual trip to the good ol’ drugstore.

All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.