Drugstore makeup has once again proved it deserves just as much red-carpet praise as its prestige counterparts. This time, the proof comes courtesy of Ilona Maher, who wore a full face of Maybelline to the 2026 ESPYS on Wednesday, July 15—and the finished look earned multiple selfies beyond the usual step-and-repeat shots.
Celebrity makeup artist Kendal Fedail was behind Maher’s look. “For Ilona’s ESPY Awards glam, the goal was to create something soft, light and ethereal that still felt polished and red-carpet-ready,” she said, adding, definitely, that “the eyes were the focus of the look.”
“I created a soft halo eye and tapped Shadow Drip Eye Tint ($9) in Silver Drip right over the center of the lid to add a soft shimmer that catches the light beautifully,” she continued. “To define the eyes without making them feel too heavy, I lined the upper lash line with Unstoppable Eyeliner ($8) in Espresso, keeping it close to the lashes, then finished with a couple coats of Lash Sensational Sky Tubes Mascara ($14) for soft, wispy lashes.
For the lips, I lined them with the Lifter Liner ($10) in Out of Line, applied Lifter Glaze ($9) in Caramel Glow, and topped everything with the Lifter Gel ($10) in Mantini for a glossy nude lip.”
The best part: Every product clocks in at $14 or less, making this one red-carpet look you can recreate on a drugstore budget.
