Berry tones are always popular in the fall and winter when it comes to makeup looks. It warms up the face (which could lose its natural tan) and helps your skin radiate with warmth.
Please excuse my messy hair and gym clothes. I was on my way to Tai-chi class but wanted to make sure I got a picture of my makeup before I worked out. :)
Eyes: For this look, I chose to feature purple eyeshadow, but you could really do a pink or warm maroon as well. After priming the lid, I took Wet n' Wild's eyeshadow in Kitten ($0.99 at Walgreens. What a steal!!) and applied it with a stiff, flat brush all over the lid. I really like this shadow because it has a gold shimmer running through it that, when the light hits it just right, makes it look like you actually applied two eyeshadows: a purple as a base and a gold on top. After packing on the eyeshadow to reduce fall-out, take a fluffy dome brush and blend out the edges into your crease. You can add a highlight on your brow bones and in the inner corner of your eyes with a silver eyeshadow if you want. Apply concealer AFTER your eyeshadow in case of fall-out from the purple shadow that would make any under-eye circles look darker and more apparent.
Lips: I'm loving lipstains at the moment because the require minimal upkeep throughout the day and give your lips a gorgeous color for quite some time. For this look, I used Revlon's Just Bitten in Passion ($8.99 at CVS, but was on sale for buy one, get one 50% off), which gave my lips a delightful, berry-pink color. Make sure you apply a good lipbalm on top of the stain, though, because stains can dry out your lips: a major no-no for the winter. Revlon's lipstains come with a great balm on one end and the stain marker on the other.
Face: I would recommend a peach-tone blush for this look because any blush that's more pink or rosy will make your face look to red in the winter cold. A peach blush will still add a warm pink tone to your face, but won't look too over-done.
And there you have it: a pretty, girly look that is 100% perfect for everyday wear this winter. Enjoy!
Note: I realize that a lot of these products are more expensive than what I normally feature on this blog. Because these are items that I constantly use on a day-to-day basis, I think it's okay to splurge on them because you get more bang for your buck. Still, I encourage you to leave some of your more reasonably priced go-to products in the comment section!
Primer: L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base ($12.95)
Foundation: Revlon PhotoReady Makeup in 004 Nude ($11.95)
Concealer: Clinique All About Eyes Concealer ($15.50)
Setting Powder: Clinique Blended Face Powder ($19.00)
Blush: Rimmel London Lasting Finish Blendable Powder Blush in Peach ($4.37)
Contour/bronzer: Napoleon Perdis Mosaic Bronzer (No longer listed online, but I think I paid $6.00 for it at Sephora)
If you follow my blog, you already know that I'm a champion of drugstore makeup and beauty items because they often work just as well as the more expensive brands and cost a heck of a lot less. While it's true that some work better than others, so many of the fantastic drugstore products I've tried have worked miracles and never fail to impress me.
Here, in no particular order are my most highly recommended drugstore makeup, skin, and hair care brands:
1) Rimmel London: I obviously have to mention this brand because their mascara, Sexy Curves, just won my Battle of the Brands: The Search for the Perfect Mascara, but the brand has so much more that I really love. Their lipsticks are smooth, moisturizing, and heavily tinted, allowing for a vibrant, colorful lip. I also like their pencil eyeliner because of it's smooth and creamy formula. Rimmel always has adorable packaging and their makeup is slightly edgy and hip. I would recommend it for the 20-30 crowd, but anyone with the right attitude can make it work. Rimmel's prices are pretty low on average.
2)Maybelline: Maybe it's because they've been around forever, or maybe it's because they just have really nice products, but Maybelline is another fantastic drugstore brand. Their Falsies Mascara came in second place in my Battle of the Brands, but I'm a huge fan of their eyeshadow quads. These fantastic little palettes have four highly pigmented eyeshadows that go together to create the perfect eye look. I really enjoy the eyeshadows on their own or together because they're high quality and don't crease easily, which means your look can last all day. Maybelline is also low priced -- although, sometimes it's a bit more expensive than Rimmel -- and has pretty bland packaging, but I feel that the high quality of their eyeshadows more than makes up for it.
3) Revlon: They make my favorite foundation. Period. Without their stellar foundation formula, I don't think my makeup would look quite as good on a day-to-day basis. It's a bit on the pricey side as far as drugstore makeup is concerned, but I think it's truly a great product and worth every single penny.
4) John Frieda Collection: This is by far one of the best hair care lines I've found in any drugstore or Walmart. I feel that it's quite trustworthy because it has the name of one of the most successful salon owners in the world behind it and has always helped my hair, whether for frizz control or color shielding. Currently, I'm in love with the Lustrous Blonde line of this collection. The shampoo and conditioner leave my color-treated hair feeling soft, strong, and manageable. I don't feel that it weighs down my hair nor does it dry it out. The price point can get expensive, so I would recommend shopping around at different stores before buying (i.e. price compare Walmart and Walgreens online before buying as they might be running different ads and specials).
5) Neutrogena: I've always been and always will be a Neutrogena girl. The brand makes the perfect skin care regiment for people with skin like mine: normal to dry with little acne, some rough patches, and minor discoloration. They have products targeted at teens, but recently introduced a more mature, adult skin care line (review, anyone?). Their scents are clean and light, easily usable by men and women, and their formulas leave my skin soft and glowing.
6) Aussie: When it comes to deep conditioners and hair masks, Aussie's got it down pat. I'm a big fan of their products because they're made mostly of natural ingredients, which means there's less of a chance of my hair suffering damage. The products are very affordable and smell delicious!
7) Sonia Kashuk: Though it is only available at Target, Sonia Kashuk is a fantastic cosmetic line that has high-quality makeup at a mid-level, affordable price. The gel eyeliner from this line is a standout product that I could not live without!
8) New York Color (NYC): When it comes to nail polish, nobody does it better than NYC. They have a HUGE variety of nail polish that is extremely affordable and comes in beautiful shades and colors. No matter what people try to tell you, NYC is definitely on the same quality level as OPI and China Glaze (all nail polishes chip eventually, no matter how much you pay for them). NYC is constantly coming out with new colors, so go check them out!
9) Physician's Formula: Kind of like the Clinique of drugstore brands, Physicians Formula makes tons of great products for people with sensitive skin. I love their baked eyeshadows and have heard wonderful things about their recently released custom eye enhancing line. It's moderately priced for a drugstore brand, but really works well and is bland enough for sensitive skin.
10) Evolution of Smooth (EOS): I've already told you that I LOVE their lip balm, but their shaving cream is just as nice: extremely silky and moisturizing and smells fantastic. I wish they were carried more widely, but they're products are always available at CVS and Target. They can be a bit pricey for a drugstore brand, but it's totally worth it.
So the Battle of the Brands: The Search for the Perfect Mascara is over! Have we found a champion? Let's review the five mascaras I used this past week and see which one comes out on top!
All five of the mascara's I reviewed. From L to R: Fabulash by Revlon, Falsies by Maybelline, Sexy Curves by Rimmel London, LashBlast by Covergirl, and Million Lashes by L'Oreal.
Fabulash by Revlon Pros: Good curl hold, pretty long lasting, classic packaging Cons: Smudged pretty easily, not waterproof, tended to clump Final Verdict: Okay, but not great. I'd probably pass it up. Score: 2.5/5
Falsies by Maybelline Pros: Intense volume, literally looks like you're wearing false lashes, cool curved wand, waterproof Cons: Very hard to remove, some clumping, spiky Final Verdict: I think this mascara is good for a night out, but not every day wear. Score: 4/5
Sexy Curves by Rimmel London Pros: Waterproof, medium volume, smooth application, cool bubble wand, cute packaging Cons: Require recurl after application, minimal clumping Final Verdict: Fabulous every-day mascara! Score: 4.5/5
LashBlast by Covergirl Pros: Smooth application, quick-drying, waterproof Cons: No volume, no curl holding, hard to remove Final Verdict: Good back-up mascara, but not strong enough for every-day wear. Score: 3.5/5
Million Lashes by L'Oreal Pros: None. Cons: Disgusting smell, no volume, no curl holding, wears off quickly, clumpy Final Verdict: If you're considering buying it, don't. If you own it, throw it out. Score: 0/5
Sooo... In last place, clearly, we have Million Lashes by L'Oreal. I won't get too far into details, but I just did not like it. Revlon's Fabulash also scored low, but I think it's okay as an emergency mascara (perhaps for travel bags or the purse you don't use often?). Covergirl's Lashblast did not live up to expectations, either. I think it's very dull and would not recommend it as a primary, every-day mascara.
Which leaves us with Maybelline's Falsies and Rimmel London's Sexy Curves. And the winner is... RIMMEL LONDON'S SEXY CURVES!!!!!! This mascara is gorgeous and wears perfectly. The waterproof power is incredible and it gives you gorgeous lashes all day, everyday.
Maybelline's Falsies Mascara takes home the runner-up award and my recommendation for Night Out Mascara. It's volumizing power is perfect for those of us who hate false lash application, but love the look of false lashes. Now you can have the best of both worlds with this mascara! Be sure to comb out lashes to avoid clumps immediately after application and then recurl lashes if you want it to work, though.
This concludes this week's Battle of the Brands. Do you have another cosmetic item you'd like me to do a comparison on (i.e. concealer, bronzer, lipstain, cream blush)? Let me know in the comments!
Day five has arrived! Over the past four days, I've reviewed Fabulash Mascara by Revlon, Falsies Mascara by Maybelline, Sexy Curves Mascara by Rimmel London, and Lashblast by Covergirl.L'Oreal's Voluminous Million Lashes in Blackest Black (635) originally costs $8.99 at Ulta but was marked down to $7.99.
Today, we'll be trying out L'Oreal's Voluminous Million Lashes. This mascara also has a rubbery applicator free of fiber bristles that is also quite flexible (for what reason, I have no clue.). The face of the advertising campaign is the lovely Eva Longoria, which definitely influenced me when I considered which mascaras to test. Frankly, I don't love the packaging. Yes, it's gold and shiny and blingy, but name just stamped on there? I think it makes the mascara look cheap, like it came out of a $10 makeup kit at Christmas time. Not my cup of tea! But let's try it out, shall we?
10:00 AM Ew. Not liking this formula at all. It absolutely REEKS.. like, straight up smells. How disgusting! If I didn't know better, I would think it had gone bad. It smells like old, dead flowers. GROSS!
Aside from the smell, I kind of feel like this did nothing on my lashes. They won't hold a curl (I've curled them twice now) and they certainly don't look voluminous. The mascara might have added a little length, but not enough to really make this worthwhile. At least it dried in like 30 seconds.
3:00 PM Yeah, this mascara is a waste. Normally I'd reapply a few coats, but it smells so terrible, I can't bring myself to. It really looks like I'm wearing no mascara at this point, except that I can still feel the clumps along the base of my eyelashes.
7:00 PM No real reason to update. I hate this formula
11:45 PM Nothing seemed to really come off when I washed my face this evening. But my lashes feel clean and free of mascara, which to me, just means that it didn't stay on throughout the day. Super depressing!
Clearly, I was not a fan of this mascara. I think the smell was terrible and the formula was poorly made. I'm quite shocked this came from L'Oreal, a drugstore brand that normally produces the highest quality cosmetics at an affordable price. This mascara was a complete dud.
Tomorrow, I'll reveal my number one choice and rank these mascaras first through fifth place. Which one do you think will be the winner?
Covergirl's LashBlast Mega Volume Waterproof Mascara in Very Black (825) is $8.39 at Ulta.
Today, I'm trying out Covergirl's LashBlast, a mascara with such rave reviews that it's become an icon in pop culture, like Kleenex (as seen in the movie Whip It: "You can never have too much LashBlast"). What makes this mascara stand apart from others? Hopefully, I'll find that out today!
LashBlast has a synthetic rubber applicator with no fiber bristles. I think the applicator is a bit too wide, though, and I really had trouble getting my smaller, inner corner lashes with it. The formula also has a strange smell? At first, it sort of smelled like cookie dough to me (haha..), but now it just smells 'off'.
10:00 AM Just applied the mascara! It applied smoothly and reached all of my longer lashes 0n the middle and outer corner of my eye, but the lashes on the inner corner were just too small to really get coated. I definitely notice some lengthening of my lashes which is great and so far, it's holding a curl fabulously. Not much volume to report, though. I guess no volume will really compare to The Falsies mascara from a few days ago. This mascara dried pretty quickly (it took about 30 seconds). 3:00 PM This mascara seems to have worn off a bit and I'm kind of surprised, really. I mean, I've heard such fantastic things about it, but it just isn't impressing me. There's like zero volume and my curl didn't last very well. This is kind of just sitting on my lashes =/
7:30 PM Just applied another coat because I thought it looked so blah. It looks okay now, but I'm really not thinking this is a winner. It did apply very smoothly, though, which is surprising. Normally, when applying a mascara over a dry coat, the formula can clump and get really nasty. That wasn't the case with LashBlast, but I wondering if that's because it just wore off earlier.
1:30 AM This mascara was almost impossible to remove! I had to rub my lashes for a good 2 minutes before the formula even began to soften. While this definitely proves it's lastability, it also proves that your eyes are going to hurt after wearing it. Not so sure that's a good thing..
To be quite honest, LashBlast disappointed me. After hearing such rave reviews and seeing it tied into a major motion picture (albeit a Drew Barrymore movie. She is the current model for Covergirl's campaign and produced Whip It), I really expected it to do and be everything a perfect mascara should. I don't think it really brings much to your lashes in terms of volume or curl-holding power and it's a pain in the butt to remove. I'm not saying this is a terrible product! However, I'd probably only use it as a backup, a mascara I could keep in my purse to throw on before running into a grocery store. At the same time, for the price I paid (it was the most expensive mascara I sampled this week), I don't know if I'd repurchase.
The Battle wages on! Today is day three of my Search for the Perfect Mascara and I have previously reviewed Revlon's Fabulash Mascara and Falsies Mascara by Maybelline.
Rimmel London's Sexy Curves Waterproof Mascara in Black (001) is $7.50 at Ulta.
Unlike Revlon's and Maybelline's Mascaras, Rimmel's has a rubbery silicone applicator and not the classic bristles found on most mascaras. Here's what it looks like... I'm not really sure why they made it this way, but maybe it's more sanitary because it's easier to clean? This is also a waterproof formula, so let's see how that holds up!
10:00 AM My eyelashes still felt like they had some residue on them from yesterday's experiment, but I decided to apply this mascara anyway. The applicator was nice and definitely grabbed each lash, but it seemed to pull a bit (maybe because of that darned residue?). It also seemed to take forever to dry (at least 2 minutes). Still, I think it looks rather nice.. 11:30 AM WTF?! This formula is not holding a curl at all. Isn't supposed to because it's called Sexy Curves?! Hmph.... Guess I'll have to go break out the eyelash curler.
12:30 PM Well, this formula is DEFINITELY waterproof. That's good, right? And since I've recurled my lashes, they seem to be holding the curl. Yay!
3:30 PM Still looking awesome. I think this mascara gives the perfect amount of definition for day time. It's not too full or dramatic, just a nice way to bring attention to your eyes.
7:30 Pm I think I'm in love. The bottle is even cute :) I mean, how adorable is that?! It's such a lovely shade of blue and the reflective packaging makes it look a bit more upscale because it's so shiny.
1:00 AM This mascara came off with gentle rubbing at the lashes while I was in the shower with a bit of makeup remover and soap: not bad at all! Thankfully, my lashes feel residue free, so I should be ready to try Covergirl's LashBlast in the morning =)
Right now, I'm totally loving this mascara. It did everything I'd want my everyday mascara to do and looked really pretty. No major complaints other than that I had to recurl my lashes, but that's no biggie. It's waterproof power is DEFINITELY impressive!
Day two of my Battle of the Brands: The Search for the Perfect Mascara! Yesterday, I reviewed Revlon's Fabulash Mascara, so let's continue on with Maybelline's Falsies Mascara!
Maybelline's Falsies Waterproof Mascara in Very Black (291) is $6.99 at Ulta.
Maybelline's The Falsies Mascara is the lastest in the company's Volum' Express line. The one I bought is the waterproof kind, which I find normally helps the formula last longer. Let's see how it goes!
11:30 AM The Falsies has a super cool wand that has a slight curve in it. This helps your lashes hold their curl and lengthens the lashes as the wand and formula are pulled through them. So far, I really like this formula. It doesn't seem to clump up, but it does make my lashes look a little spidery (the lashes look like spider legs). At the same time, it definitely adds volume! I really think I look like I'm wearing false lashes. It's also holding a curl very nicely. The mascara dried within 45 seconds of application: another major plus! 3:45 PM This mascara is still holding up. I think it's given my lashes really impressive volume and has held the curl fantastically. The spidery-ness is still sort of visible. No smudging to report, though!
10:00 PM My lashes still look super full and long and have held a curl, but the crunchy, spider-legs look is still apparent. I do have to acknowledge that the formula stayed on all day and didn't budge, but I don't like that my lashes never softened up. 1:30 AM This mascara was really hard to take off! I scrubbed at it with a cotton pad and my makeup remover and it hardly budged. Eventually, it started to rub off and then, after washing my face, it was all gone. It did burn a bit when I tried to get it off and my lashes feel a little tacky still. Eww!
Overall, I think this is a step up from the Revlon mascara I tried yesterday, but I'm still not thrilled. The spiky, spidery lashes aren't cute, so I need to find a way to make this work. I definitely think this product is worth hanging on to, but I need to play around with it until I can find a way for it to apply smoothly and look polished.
Today is day one of my new series, Battle of the Brands: The Search for the Perfect Mascara. Over the next several days, I will be trying out various drugstore brands of mascara in search of the perfect one. Each mascara will be judged on lasting power, how it feels on the eyes, curling power, volume creation, lash lengthening, and packaging. At the end of the series, I'll pick a new favorite!
Revlon's Fabulash Mascara in Black (002) is $6.89 at Ulta.
10:00 AM Just applied the Fabulash Mascara! The wand looks super cool...
Please pardon my messy hair. I just got out of the shower.
But I'm not so sure about the formula. It seemed to clump pretty badly on my lashes (you can kind of see it in the picture below)...
And it still hasn't completely dried! I finished putting on mascara about 10 minutes ago and it's still a bit wet. Not cool, Revlon, not cool!
2:00 PM Surprisingly, the mascara held a curl really well. I'm used to my lashes falling flat even if I do use an eyelash curler and mascara normally makes it much worse. It still looks a little clumpy, though which is kind of gross.
7:00 PM GAH! Major smudging under the eye from this mascara!! Definitely not a fan of that. Lashes are still curled though, which is nice. I also really like that it doesn't make my lashes feel crunchy or hard: they're pretty soft. I would post some photos, but my lighting isn't great enough for you to see all the detail.
2:00 AM Just about to go to bed. I think the mascara held up pretty well throughout the day. As I was taking off my makeup, I noticed that it made my lashes look a little bit longer which was nice, but there was still some smudging (not so nice). The mascara didn't come off at first, but when I used a cotton pad directly on my lashes, it came off pretty easily.
Overall, I think this mascara is okay. It held a curl and lasted longer than my previous mascara (which I will reveal at the end of the contest), but I was not a fan of the smudging and clumping. I don't believe this was a waterproof formula, which is another downfall.
Stay tuned for tomorrow, when I review Maybelline's Falsies Mascara as the Battle of the Brands rages on!
Foundation is definitely the most important step in any makeup application because it evens out your complexion and creates a truly blank canvas for you to work with. Therefore, finding the one that is perfect for you is really, really important. So what should you consider when comparing foundations? I'd recommend looking at texture, thickness, coverage, time it takes to dry, and oiliness, but you can judge foundations on tons of other qualities as well.
Over the past year and a half, I have made it my business to try as many liquid foundations as possible in search of the one, as in the one foundation that will highlight my best features, lovingly hide what I don't like, and will stay with me forever (yeah, I just compared finding the perfect foundation to finding true love.). In this post, I'll give some reviews of the most noteworthy products and hopefully help you find your true love.. er, I mean foundation!
1) mark. Get a Tint Tinted Moisturizer Lotion ($9.00)
This is actually a tinted moisturizer -- different from a foundation because it is more sheer and lightweight -- but I count it as a foundation because you still apply it after your primer and concealer, but before eyeshadow or powder. A decent amount comes in the tube which is fantastic!
Pros: Lightweight, contains SPF 15, has a moisturizer built into the formula.
Cons: I noticed that it completely melted while I was outside over the summer which is NOT good. It got in my eyes and stung terribly. This product also takes a while to dry.
Final Verdict: Great product if you're not going to be outside in the sun. Which is kind of silly, since it does contain SPF protection.
Rating: 2.5/5
2) Rimmel London Stay Matte Clarifying Matte Foundation ($6.90 at Ulta) Love the packaging because the tube is super thin which makes it easy to slip into a makeup bag for travel. At the same time, the tube is a bit small, so I feel like I'm not getting as much product as I paid for.
Pros: Thicker consistency, good coverage, creamy application, dries within 45 seconds of application.
Cons: I don't think it actually lasted 12 hours like it promised. And I didn't really notice any shine control.
Final Verdict: Although it doesn't do exactly what the packaging promises, I still think this was a pretty good product and would consider purchasing again if only for travel.
Rating: 3/5
3) Covergirl TruBlend with Blendable Minerals ($6.50 at Walmart) This brand has a reputation for being a strong contender in drugstore makeup, so I thought I'd give it a shot. The packaging isn't too cute and the pump got dirty kind of quickly. The glass bottle also kind of scared me (if I drop it will it shatter and get foundation everywhere?), but it was thin and easy to fit into a makeup bag.
Pros: Pump makes it super easy to apply, great coverage, thicker consistency.
Cons: Seemed to take forever to fully dry, left my skin feeling a bit oily. I don't think it actually lasted all day, especially in my t-zone.
Final Verdict: It's a great back-up foundation, but I'm not sure I really love it. I'll probably purchase it again because the price is so fantastic.
Rating: 3.5/5
4) Revlon PhotoReady Makeup ($11.97) I heard wonderful things about this foundation from other makeup gurus on Youtube, so after much thought (because it is a bit pricey), I decided to give it a try.
Pros: OHMYGOSH! Almost everything!! It's incredibly lightweight, but gives fantastic coverage. No scent, SPF 20, dries quickly.
Cons: It dries quickly. Haha.. I know I just said that was good, but since it does dry pretty fast, it's very hard to blend it once it's on your skin. So, if you're not quick with your foundation or stippling brush, your foundation could look a bit streaky. The bottle is also made of glass and is a bit of an odd, round shape.
Final Verdict: This is the best liquid foundation I've ever used! It's smooth, has great coverage, light formula, and dries quickly with no oiliness. LOVE it!!
Rating:4.5/5
Do you have a foundation you'd like me to review? Or do you have your own review for one of these products? Share it!
Please excuse my messy hair and gym clothes. I was on my way to Tai-chi class but wanted to make sure I got a picture of my makeup before I worked out. :)
Eyes: For this look, I chose to feature purple eyeshadow, but you could really do a pink or warm maroon as well. After priming the lid, I took Wet n' Wild's eyeshadow in Kitten ($0.99 at Walgreens. What a steal!!) and applied it with a stiff, flat brush all over the lid. I really like this shadow because it has a gold shimmer running through it that, when the light hits it just right, makes it look like you actually applied two eyeshadows: a purple as a base and a gold on top. After packing on the eyeshadow to reduce fall-out, take a fluffy dome brush and blend out the edges into your crease. You can add a highlight on your brow bones and in the inner corner of your eyes with a silver eyeshadow if you want. Apply concealer AFTER your eyeshadow in case of fall-out from the purple shadow that would make any under-eye circles look darker and more apparent.
Lips: I'm loving lipstains at the moment because the require minimal upkeep throughout the day and give your lips a gorgeous color for quite some time. For this look, I used Revlon's Just Bitten in Passion ($8.99 at CVS, but was on sale for buy one, get one 50% off), which gave my lips a delightful, berry-pink color. Make sure you apply a good lipbalm on top of the stain, though, because stains can dry out your lips: a major no-no for the winter. Revlon's lipstains come with a great balm on one end and the stain marker on the other.
Face: I would recommend a peach-tone blush for this look because any blush that's more pink or rosy will make your face look to red in the winter cold. A peach blush will still add a warm pink tone to your face, but won't look too over-done.
