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

 

 

Makeup Bag: Travel Edition

[Everything purchased by me]


As Summer is going full-blast (at least where I live), I think a lot of people are going to be going on vacation (or "holiday" as the Brits say). There was actually an original version of this makeup bag that included more Maybelline Color Tattoos and L'Oreal Infallible pigments but my friend nixed that idea for the more travel-friendly single palette format you see here.

Also, I tried to only bring lip products I included in my "Five Lip Products to Use up in 2013" post from oh so many months ago.  An SPF lip balm is definitely coming with me though.

It's a really basic kit of makeup that I can hopefully adapt everyday to suit my preferences. For base, I haven't decided which one I'm taking but it will definitely be liquid and therefore not in my carry on but in a Ziploc with my skincare.  For concealer, the SheerCover Duo Concealer in Light Medium is a creamy combination of peachy and neutral shades.  It beat out other concealers where brushes/excess blending is required.  The setting powder is from GloMinerals and is translucent.  Nothing to write home about but it has a mirror and is non-chalky.  A mini of Benefit's Watt's Up is not only coming along for it's compact size but also because it's a very nice highlighter.  I can't stand the fact that the full size is so bulky and has an applicator at the other end though so may have to find another alternative when this is gone.

For cheeks, I have a little duo from Tarte in Park Ave Princess and Dollface.  The bronzer contains shimmer so it's not my favorite and the blush is ok as well.  It's a nice lighter pink blush and for a peachier option I am taking Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Candy Coral.  I've been reaching for this a lot because it's easy to apply and hard to over-do. 

I think the Too Faced Summer Eye palette will be great for a neutral look to pair along my pinker lip colors (NYX Haute Melon, Revlon Peach Parfait) but also adjust really well to a brighter blue or pink look if I want to wear just the Dior Beige Casual lipstick.  For brows, the Missha Brow Styler from the semi-annual sale post is really impressing me. As for eyeliner, I am taking Stila Smudge Sticks in Stargazer and Oscar Fish.  The lash curler you see above is from Koji.  


Bonus Item!

This was in my original version of my travel makeup bag, but I had to add it back in because I want my friend (the one I'm visiting who has an impressive makeup collection already) to try this out!  I'm so sold on this duo and it's a current must have.  

There you have it!  Wishing everyone safe travels this Summer! 

Quick Lip Comparisons:  Things that Seemed Really Similar but are Actually Quite Different

Also, Thing I Couldn't Resist Buying


[All purchased by me]


This is sadly not a "dupe" post as denoted by that verbose title.  I started out with a couple lip products I liked (and which you've already seen many times in this blog) and thought that since these are some of my favorite products of the moment, I should go off and find some comparable products to blog about.  Well, it didn't end up working out so well but I did get a couple of new favorites to add to my collection. 

I thought that (in formula):

Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquers (which go by the much cooler Apocalips in England) 

= 

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream 


and (in shade)

Maybelline Color Whisper in Coral Ambition

=

Dior Addict Lipstick in Delice (I should just stop talking about this already)

Clockwise from Top Right: Rimmel Stellar, NYX Antwerp, Maybelline Coral Ambition and Dior Delice

As you can see from the swatch, the Rimmel Show Offs are extremely opaque much glossier than the NYX Lip Creams.  These Rimmel lip lacquers have the texture of a thin lipstick that is comfortable to wear and easy to apply.  However, these are surprisingly not food or waterproof and last on my lips about as long as a typical bright lipstick would.  The color is a bright almost neon pinky coral with zero shimmer.  I thought these would remind me of the Lip Creams in their pigmentation but it actually surpasses the NYX by quite a lot.  It's a true bold lip suitable for anyone who wants a traditional lipstick finish in a nicer formula and easier application.  The Lip Creams are decidedly matte and you need to build them up for full opacity.  I think the color selection in the Lip Creams is slightly more appealing but that is purely personal preference.

I thought that I would find a dupe for Delice in the new Color Whisper line and this seemed to be the closest pick.  However, it has a much whiter base than the Dior and reads more nude on my lips.  In terms of formula, I think that the Color Whispers are closer to matching the texture of Dior than the Revlon Lip Butters because they are thinner and more glossy.  However, the Dior has more of a balm texture whereas the Color Whispers feel lighter and more "gel-like" as their formula claims. I have yet to try L'oreal's take on this lip trend but will report back if I do on which one comes closest to the Dior formula people like so much.


Lastly, my random impulse purchase of the month (so far) is this Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Candy Coral.  Did I buy it just to try out the cool texture of this product?  Maybe.  Have I seen this in pictures of some pro makeup artists recently?  Yes.  Could I resist?  No.

Beware as this really is not super-pigmented.  It's endless entertainment molding this around the pan but when it comes to getting this color on your cheeks, multiple swipes are needed.  I think using a brush may help but have yet to try that out!

The Summer Line-Up Part One 

[All purchased by me or given by friends-yes I have generous friends who know I love makeup!]

Seems like just weeks ago since I did my "Spring Edit" post.  Oh wait it was only a few weeks ago?  Cue the typical "I can't believe Spring passed by so quickly" spiel. 


Starting things off with the boring stuff first, SPF is something I'm a big stickler about.   No skincare routine is complete without adequate sun protection and this is especially important when the weather gets hotter and the rays seem stronger.

Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer in Aloe
This scent in the original lotion form always reminds me of Summer and the added convenience of a spray form just makes it even more appealing.  This disperses in the same way that an aerosol hairspray would.  It has a continuous mist and is a really ingenious way to get lazy people like me to moisturize during the Summer.  I really recommend this for a refreshing twist on lotion.  Disclaimer:  contains parabens and non-spectacular ingredients.  Still like the concept-will continue using.

Paula's Choice Resist Ultimate Anti Aging Hand Cream with SPF 30
Sorry the glare is cutting off the degree of sun protection this has.  I got this since the regular offering of hand creams that contain SPF is abysmal.  I think since hands show age so easily, this is something more companies should address since last time I checked women drive cars and enjoy outdoor activities.  This is very non-greasy and absorbs easily for something with such a high SPF.  Reviewers have also used this as a facial moisturizer, something I cannot attest to.  Apply at your own risk to anything besides hands!

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist SPF 30
My go-to every year for easy application, light feel and general convenience.  I always buy a backup when I run out.  Probably not the best if there's even a slight breeze in the air but as I've stated before, I'm all about the convenience factor.

MAC Semi Precious Mineralize Skinfinish in Rose Quartz
This was a limited edition product from last year's MAC Summer launch but they do launch a mineral collection every year.  I tend to like shimmery blushes in the Summer even though my face gets oilier.  Maybe it's so my cheeks don't look overly matte if I use a non-shimmery blush?  Who knows, I just know this is so pretty.

Lancome Teint Idole Fresh Wear in Bisque 0W
For the warmest of months, the lightest and most long-lasting of bases is required.  My ultimate oil-controlling foundation and darkest shade owned is combined into one with this product.  It's a watery texture that's very oil-controlling.  It makes sense since this contains a lot of alcohol.  So does Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk (another fave-go figure) and many other high-end foundations that have long-wear claims.  I stand by this even knowing that and even with my paranoia that this shade is every so slightly too tan/peachy for me.

NYX Haute Melon, Essence Candy Bar, MAC Lychee Luxe and Dior Delice

Can you tell I like corals?

NYX Round Lipstick in Haute Melon
Pardon the grubby packaging.  The lipstick bullet broke off pretty much as soon as I opened it (ordered from Cherry Culture) and I tried re-attaching with the freezer trick but it never worked.  This is a nice orange with a lot of pink undertones.  For me, this is perfect kind of coral.  The formula is also light and easy to wear but not the most moisturizing.

Essence Stay With Me in Candy Bar
From my "Top 5 Lip Products to Use Up" post, this is the lipgloss counterpart to the Haute Melon lipstick.  Great formula, highly recommend.

MAC Lipglass in Lychee Luxe
Totally picked this up on a whim.  I'd heard about this shade for years from die-hard MAC fans but was wary of trying their gloss because of how sticky the formula is.  Well, I don't regret this purchase because this shade is gorgeous and pigmented.  It's an orangey reddish color with gold shimmer running through it.  Yes it does have a heavier formula but I actually don't feel it's a dealbreaker for me. It's nowhere near as smooth as the Essence gloss but as you can see from the swatch, it has better color payoff.

Dior Addict Lipstick in Delice
I already talked about this in my last purchases post.  Easy, sheer orangey pink that is foolproof.  A glorified and overpriced tinted lip balm.  But I couldn't help myself.

I feel like my posts are usually too long.  Stay tuned for the eyes portion of this post!

What's in my Unii Palettes?

[One purchased by me, one given by a friend]

The Unii palette is the sleeker, modern version of the DIY palettes floating around the web.  It also happens to be kinda pricey and the only reason I ended up with two is because I bought one myself one Christmas thinking I wouldn't receive one ever as a gift.  Lo and behold that Christmas a good friend who knows me oh so well, purchased one for me!  

My curiosity was ignited by the de-potting craze that swept the beauty community with its promises of improved storage capacity, Back to MAC realness and fun flatiron times.  I actually depotted all my shadows with rubbing alcohol which was pretty easy and only ended up with a few casualties.  

In the end (and zero burns later) I ended up putting a lot of the products with the bulkiest packaging in my collection into these two palettes and I thought this was a good idea for a post for those interested in a Unii palette.

In the white palette I have some of my brights:

The two big pans you see are part of the Hard Candy Punk Palette which was actually from back in the day when Hard Candy was sold in Sephoras.  Don't judge me!  I am a hoarder I know.  The highlighter in this is too pretty to throw away and I don't reach for this too often because of the full-on glow it gives.  The bottom left three shadows are from the Covergirl Tropical Fusion quad.  I never got the lime color to work for me so it went in the bin.  The semi-circle shade is from a L'oreal HIP duo in Flamboyant.  I hit pan more because the color doesn't show up very well unless you back it on versus actual usage.  The turquoise shade is from Sephora which revamped their entire eyeshadow line so I'm not sure if the shade even matters.  The lilac shadow is from a very random eyeshadow palette that was probably from Claire's or something.  The right three square pans are actually a Covergirl blush trio.  The shades are really soft and nice looking and I actually should use this more.

The pink Unii palette houses my brown tones and some dark purples:

The black shade is from Covergirl and I actually never wrote the name in.  The middle purple shade belongs with the other two smaller square pans on the other side as part of the Hard Candy Punk Palette.  The glittery purple is an Inglot shadow a friend got me in Vegas in shade 491.  On the other side, the top left square pan is NYX Iced Mocha, a supposed dupe for MAC's Satin Taupe.  The round matte shade is an old Jane eyeshadow that makes a great crease color.  The shade stamped EYELID is from the Wet n Wild trio I'm Getting Sunburned which a friend sent me but the other two shades shattered.  I made these pics smaller because there's a lot of uh-ohs in my de-potting here.  Lastly that gold shade is the other half of the L'oreal Hip duo.

So, in general, would I recommend the Unii palette to everyone?  Yes and no.  These are expensive at about $30 each.  If you're someone who has a lot of eyeshadows to depot the cost can really add up.  Also, since they're sturdy plastic with full size mirrors, these are definitely a little hefty for a palette.  It beats any cardboard palette I have in terms of weight.  However, these really do look nice, are compact, and are a fun way store the small part of your makeup collective that takes up a huge amount of space with their unnecessary packaging.  

I have some space in the pink palette for more shadows.... I'm thinking MAC? 

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.