A High End-Free Holiday? Some of my Favorite Drugstore Products

[All purchased by me, one NYX lipstick was a gift from a friend]


I think it's very hard to stay away from high-end makeup normally but its going to be even harder with all of the new releases that are gearing us up for the holiday season (a little too early in my opinion).  This year, I'm going to try a little harder to stay away from the big palettes and fancy packaging.  I don't think this is going to be so realistic around Sephora Friends and Family time,  Luckily for me, a lot of the new things landing at the drugstore (particularly lip products) look very interesting.  I thought this was a good time to look through some of my favorites from the drugstore.

     

The three eye products shouldn't be a surprise since they are well-supported favorites of many people in the beauty community.  The Physician's Formula Lash Booster eyeliner in Ultra Black is very similar to Asian liquid liners.  Most liquid liners, even the ones in a pen form, don't have as fine of a brush type as this.  This formula does really make my lashes look fuller over time if I use this and the serum consistently.  I photographed this with the Revlon Just Kissable Balm Stain below, oops!


  Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze is easy to love, with a creamy and long-lasting formula.  The color is a shimmery mid-tone bronze and super flattering.  I purchased the L'Oreal Infallible eyeshadow in Bronzed Taupe to use with Bad to the Bronze. Alone or used together, this is a gorgeous shade of bronze that's very similar to Bad to the Bronze.

For cheeks, I think this NYX cream blush in Natural is super pigmented, smooth and easy to blend.  I don't really see any aspect of this product that isn't well worth the dollars this costs.  It's definitely one of the most pigmented blushes I own, high or low end.  You can see in the picture below that the texture is really soft and indents with brush fibers. 

I really don't know why NYX Black Label lipsticks are not mentioned as a favorite in every drugstore lip product list.  The formula is absolutely dreamy  and buttery smooth.  They have a semi-shiny finish and aren't sheer or overly opaque.  They're more comfortable than some more expensive lipsticks out there and I think they're definitely worth checking out.  Heiress is an almost perfect nude with a slightly plummy/pink undertone.  Brick is an almost terracotta red-orange.  It is a really great color choice for fall.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey has been on my lips nonstop.  It's so low maintenance and easy to touch up during easy-going makeup days.  It really enhances the color of my lips and works across such a wide range of skin tones.  I definitely recommend this shade to anyone who wants a long wearing and flattering lip color.

Top (L to R): PF liner in Ultra Black, Revlon Honey, NYX Heiress, NYX Brick.  Bottom (L to R) NYX blush in Natural, Maybelline Bad to the Bronze, L'Oreal Bronzed Taupe, Bad to the Bronze under Bronzed Taupe

 

 

Underhyped Products

[All purchased by me]


On the flip side of products that I bought but didn't feel strongly about, I think some of the things I really enjoy aren't really discussed on the big, wide world of Internet beauty blogs.  I guess this comes from just buying and liking a lot of makeup.  Hopefully, some of these things are kind of new to you and finding something interesting! 

NYC Liquid Lip Last, Bareminerals Moxie lipgloss, Maybelline Eyestudio Palettes, Real Techniques base shadow brush. Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof eyeliner, Sephora Flashy Liner Waterproof, Clinique High Impact Curling 

NYC Liquid Lipshine in Wine n Dine:
A super-opaque, non-sticky borderline liquid lipstick that smells like buttercream and comes in a nice range of non-frosty shades, these have come a long way since the lipglosses NYC offered back in the day.  If you're interested in the Rimmel Apocalips (Show Offs), but think that they're too intimidating or want a wine option for the Fall, this is the one for you.

Bareminerals Moxie Lipgloss in Gutsy
For another highly glossy, non-sticky and pigmented lip option, this is a really nice one to try, especially if you want a minty taste.  It isn't plumping and there's no tingling sensation, which I prefer.  I'm pretty sure Bareminerals and it's sister company Buxom make some of the better lip products available of any high-end brand and I'm excited to try some more out.

Maybelline Eyestudio Color Explosion in Caffeine Rush and Forest Fury
These seriously remind me of Asian drugstore shadows in their creamy texture and shimmery finish.  They include a glitter topcoat like many Asian brands and offer good pigmentation that isn't over the top.  The applicator includes a smaller end that can be used in the crease or as liner and is better quality that any other drugstore sponge applicator I've found.

Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush
I know Real Techniques brushes get tons of hype but the eye brushes kind of get overlooked and I can understand that since synthetic bristles don't pick up as much product as natural hairs.  However, this is my go-to brush for applying and blending shadows on the eye when I'm not doing an overly smoky look.  This is more pointed than the Mac 217, so it fits in the crease better.

Sephora Flashy Liner Waterproof in Flashy Violet
Pigmented purple liners are very hard to find, just like pigmented purple shadows.  This is very creamy, pigmented and long-wearing.  These might have been discontinued but I believe Sephora has replaced them with a different formula and more colors.

Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof in Moray
I have these in several shades and they are pretty amazing.  They walk the line between super creamy and super long-wearing and are retractable which many of the new "gel" formula liners are not.  I find these easy to use, easy to blend and then set for  the  majority of the day.  If you find these in a set like I did, I think these are a great buy.

Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara in Black
This is my holy grail (HG) mascara.  It holds a curl, amplifies volume and exaggerates length like nothing else I have ever tried.  Since the brush is curved, I can coat my lashes with the curve side up then flip over to reach the lashes on the edges.  It is the kind of waterproof formula that removes only with warm water, a feature found usually on Asian mascaras.  If you're someone who prefers to remove all eye makeup in one swipe, this might frustrate you.  However, I find splashing warm water on my eyes is a little less harsh than tugging my eyes with a cotton pad.  

Indirect Light: NYC Wine n Dine, Bareminerals Gutsy, two Maybelline Caffeine Rush shades, two Maybelline Forest Fury swatches, glitter topcoat shade swatched above, Sephora Flashy Violet, Stila Moray

In Direct Sunlight

There you have it!  I can recommend any of these products and I hope something here offers a solution to something you're looking for! 

Spring Edit: Part One
[Everything purchased by me, or given by friends not companies]


Spring is in the air!  And even if it's not, it seems as if we're all ready for it anyway.  With the huge influx of Spring related beauty posts and videos out there, I thought I'd join in the fray with some stuff I am excited for as the weather gets warmer and the world gets brighter.

This part will focus on lips, cheeks and eyes with a second post on face, nails, scent and random extras.  

I'm a fan of the bold lip and it doesn't get much springy-er (?) than mixing up a bright lily or orchid-hued lip and making a statement.  The other side of the spectrum that I turn to for Spring is a lightly stained pink lip with a little bit of shine.  These are my picks for this season:

L-R: Milky Tint, Antwerp, Charm, Sweetheart, Charm+Sweetheart

The Face Shop Milky Tint in 01
A cheaper alternative to Benefit's Posietint, this stain has a gel texture and a pretty light pink shade that isn't too light or too dark.  I rarely use this on the cheeks since the area that these stains are first applied tend to stain the most.  It's too much fuss for daily wear so I stick to this for the lips.  The color lasts about 4-5 hours on me, which isn't stellar but I like this mostly for the super natural finish it gives.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Antwerp
This shade is surprisingly bright aside from being an interesting matte texture.  I like the wear time on these, a good 3-4 hours on me.  However, with all mattes, you have to make sure your lips are exfoliated and moisturized before you apply. 

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Charm and Sweetheart
I bought these shades together thinking Sweetheart would look exactly like the Sweet Tart Lip Butter which I don't own and thought it would be a good stand-in.  The shade reads much more fuchsia on me than expected so I tone it down with Charm.  Charm is very very Barbie pink, which can look unflattering on my paler skin tone but also pops very nicely.  Both of these are bold colors.  



Next up we have blushes.  I am not super into blushes because most of my acne scarring is on my cheeks and I also have a hard time applying blush and getting it to show up.  However, these two products are pretty much fool-proof and great standard pieces to own for the Spring.

T-B: Natural and Fresh Pink

NYX Cream Blush in Natural
One of my favorite blushes ever, this lends a neutral pink flush to any makeup look.  It goes with cool-tones as well as warm and is just as pretty on the lips as a pinky nude.  The best way to apply this blush is with a stippling brush as it distributes the color really evenly.  I love that this is so effortless and adds a healthy glow to the cheeks.

Merle Norman Luxiva Lasting Cheekcolor in Fresh Pink
The first may be a limited edition product but it's from Merle Norman, a brand I pretty much hear zero buzz about.  I believe it's a franchise of stores that has locations across the country.  Prices are about mid-range to higher end.  This blush is completely foolproof as the color is, again, a very flattering neutral pink shade.  What can I say?  I love pinks for Spring.  It is a great product to use for more intense eye looks as it isn't overpowering.


Lastly, my favorite topic ever! EYES! 

Surprisingly I have very few picks for eyes.  This is mostly because I don't change up my eye make-up too much depending on seasons.  I do lean towards greens way more in the spring but these are more like "edits" and "add-ons" to my current eye makeup rotation.

L-R: I Dream of Greenie, Dystopia and Light Blue 

A better photo of Dystopia

Wet n Wild Eyeshadow in I Dream of Greenie
I bought this shade hoping to find a perfect mint inner corner highlight.  While the top browbone shade does look nice serving that purpose, this palette really blew me away in terms of pigmentation.  The middle crease shade is stunning.  I like any kind of grassy-green shade for Spring.  It just makes the whole eye look fresh.  Another good drugstore quad with similar tones is Maybelline ColorExplosion quad in Forest Fury. 

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in Dystopia
A complete impulse buy, this was on my radar for a very long time.  I never shelled out for it since I always thought there'd be a dupe and I had loose glitters anyway.  Well, loose glitters tend to fall out of place while this stays on and on.  The glitter particles in here are a  blue-ish green tinge and the base is clear.  I use a tiny bit of this on my lower inner corner.  This whole green/blue inner corner highlight seems to by my biggest eye makeup edit for this season.  Anyway, I was inspired to be a little more adventurous and add some bling to my look by a Thai makeup artist named Pearypie on Youtube.  Check her out for super well-edited videos.  

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Light Blue
After purchasing this pencil in Taupe, I stumbled upon this and thought it looked interesting and unique.  Since I already own a nude eye pencil, I thought this was a cool twist on the lower waterline highlight trick.  This doesn't look as natural as nude shades (duh) but it does make a statement and it makes your eyes really pop.  I use it to highlight just my inner corner sometimes and I think it's a fun way to brighten up your eyes when you're doing a brighter eye look (cue Pearypie once again).


There you have it for Part One!  Hold on for Part Two coming soon.