Stock up while you still can.
You’re about to enter No Man’s Land.

Access to makeup and beauty products is different in Spain.
High end makeup and hair care is still just that in Spain, high end. So if you go looking for Moroccan oil hair products or premium brand face powder you will surely be shelling out for it.
These leads me to believe in a round-a-bout way all Spanish girls have some secret cultural tricks to looking so flawless all the time, but I never got to learn those. I hope to yet.

ANYWAY

There is a MAC counter in the Corte Ingles in Plaza Del Sol and a free standing one somewhere on Fuencarral, however you need to be prepared to pay serious mark-up because of the currency difference.

There are Sephoras, but they don’t carry Smashbox, so No, you cannot get your Photo Booth Primer that was for cheapz in Duty Free on your international flight, but you decided not to buy and wait till you landed HAH.
Also, if you are incredibly fair like I am, they generally don’t stock the lightest shade you’re familiar with that any company makes, sorry.
So what I’m saying is: if you love it, take enough of it to last the whole time you’re gone, or be prepared to pay premium to replace it.
A lot of simple brands that we take for granted in the US of A are a given a bit more regard abroad, just because they’re imports. So, like, even still rather cheap Maybelline is slightly more just based on import fees.
I didn’t find any Spanish drug store brands whose makeup I loved, but I also kind of despise drug store make up (wee-ooh-wee-ooh bougie alert). I did find a drug store body wash I am super in love with still, however, and am happily rationing out what I have left of the bottle here in Texas. The brand is Le Marseilles and it is a lavender body wash I picked up for a few euro– highly recommend, from Corte Ingles (really you should avoid shopping there, it is super Americanized, but sometimes its just a comfort).

Do you see my split ends???? (I’m the curly haired one)

SO, you need:

• A whole stay’s worth of deodorant (only liquid deoderant is widely sold, and it’s awful. I know a place that sells the American style stuff, but you’ll have to wrestle it out of me).
• If you have very particular skin or hair needs, the stuff for it. I have wildly dry hair at home, but it was even worse in Madrid because its so dry there, and I wouldn’t be surprised if smog levels factored in, too. I had to cut 5 inches off my hair when I got home to rid the damage done by not properly preparing to tend to my hair while there. My point: good conditioner, quality face moisturizer, coconut oil (its ahrd to find and expensive in the city), exfoliator, etc.
• The foundation/concealer/powder that matches you best if you’re either quite light or dark, it will be a fool’s errand trying to find it (or pay for it) in Madrid.

GoLDeN lining, there is a LUSH on Fuencarral. If you aren’t familiar with the body & hair care brand LUSH, it is time to get familiar!!! And you’re paying as much or similar in Spain as you will in the US, which I appreciate.

Have fun, stay fabulous, enjoy Madrid.
Also, drink water. Really. The tap water in Madrid is delicious. Its the bet tap water I have ever had in my life. I insist it tastes like Fiji, the expensive bottled water brand.