Monday, April 2, 2007

Drugstore Beauty - More Bang For Your Buck! Post 1








Lately I've been delving in to "drugstore beauty" - makeup and beauty products that are sold at Target, Wal-Mart, Rite-Aid, etc. Though I adore most high end brands (who doesn't?), I live in West Virginia and I'm sure that when you think of West Virginia, you don't think of a cosmopolitan shopping destination (in fact, you probably conjure many negative images, including toothless gums and low literacy rates...but I live in the Eastern Panhandle, which is only about 80 miles away from both Washington, D.C. and Baltimore) Needless to say, there are no nearby Sephora stores and the most upscale department store in the area is Macy's (which sells plenty of upscale products, but I'm more interested in the brands that are sold at Sephora). So what's a girl to do when she needs a quick beauty fix? Well, she looks for beauty bargains, of course! In my next few posts I'll be discussing some of my favorite drugstore beauty finds, from lotions to eyeliners to bronzers and more.

Up first - Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse Foundation and Dream Mousse Blush.


While I've been avoiding full-face foundation lately, Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse Foundation provides a very sheer, natural looking coverage that's matte but not chalky-looking. The texture is gorgeous and a breeze to blend. The downside it that it can highlight dry patches, and if you have oily skin, the matte-ness doesn't last very long, but hey, it's only around $9!

The Dream Mousse Blush provides a sheer, luminous wash of color that also looks very natural and pretty. I've been using the shade called "Whipped Strawberries" and I love it! At only $6.99 it's a inexpensive alternative to the Lancome Magique Soft Radiant Mousse Blush or the Smashbox O-Glow!

N.Y.C. New York Color Waterproof Eyeliner and Physician's Formula Eye Definer Felt-Tip Eye Marker

This N.Y.C. Waterproof Eyeliner is a great little eyeliner. It glides on smooth and though it's not completely budgeproof, it does a good job at staying put. I especially love this stuff because my eyelids tend to get oily and eyeliner usually disappears on me, but the N.Y.C. liner definitely lasts longer than any other liner I've used. I have it in both Black and Brown, but the brown shade is interesting - it's sort of an eggplant brown with a hint of shimmer - really pretty and anything but basic! If I were to compare this liner to a high-end brand, I would say it's similar to MAC's Powerpoint Pencil. However, the N.Y.C. Waterproof Liner is only about $4.00!

The Physician's Formula Eye Definer Felt-Tip Eye Marker looks identical to a Sharpie marker and provides the slick look of liquid eyeliner without the hassle of tricky application. I absolutely looooove the look of liquid liner, but I don't have the steadiest hand, so this product is perfect for me. Again, I have this product in Black and Brown, and they're about $7 a pop (and it's also recommended by The Beauty Addict)

Jane Shimmering Bronzer in Sedona


Due to my fair skin, I have a hard time picking out a flattering shade of bronzer. Most bronzers, no matter how sheer, turn my skin into a nice shade of radioactive pumpkin, but this Jane Shimmering Bronzer has absolutely no hint of orange. With five different bricks of sheer, shimmering, skin-enhancing color, this bronzer looks "glowy" but understated. The shimmer also provides dimension and helps to disguise minute flaws. I believe it's available in 4 shades, Sedona (the shade I use) being the lightest. There's also a mirror and a tiny brush stored in the bottom of the compact for quick mid-day touch-ups! (I also recently discovered that Jane makes a blush/highlighter/all-over-color that's similar in concept/design to the Shimmering Bronzer - guess I'll have to try that one, too!)

Mary-Kate and Ashley Glossy Sheers Liquid Shine Lip Tint
and CoverGirl Incredifull LipStick

Ok, so I'll probably catch hell for admitting that I like products from both of these brands because I think it's an unwritten rule that you must never, ever like anything so "tween-ish" past the age of thirteen. But...I can't hide my appreciation for these great (and inexpensive) products! I purchased the Mary-Kate and Ashley gloss in "Pink Glaze," a pale, faintly shimmery pink. (I couldn't find a good picture of the gloss, but I think it's the gloss pictured on the right) Though it looks like a pale shade of Pepto Bismal in the tube, it's almost clear on the lips. The gloss itself is shiny, sweet, and NOT sticky! I believe it's water-based, which explains the non-sticky factor. Unlike some of the other Mary-Kate and Ashley glosses, the Glossy Sheers/Glazes don't contain the nasty chunks of huge glitter. No, the Glossy Sheers formula is quite sophistocated, though at 22 years old, I am a tad bit embarassed to apply this gloss in public! It comes in a multitude of shades and flavors (and they're actually nice, not gross like the LORAC Mocktail!)and it's only $2.94 a tube!

The CoverGirl Incredifull Lipstick is also gorgeous. It's smooth, non-drying, and has a generous dose of pigment and shimmer. I use the shade called "Baby Girl" - a sheer metallic pink (yes, I know, I have a ridiculous obsession for pale/shimmery pinks). It does add a bit of fullness to your lips and it gives a cooling sensation after application. I don't normally wear lipstick, so I'm not sure what to compare this to, but it's only around $7, so it's definitely worth a try!

And finally...

Max Factor Volume Couture Mascara

Normally I'm a DiorShow/BadGal Lash loyalist, but this February my aunt swiped my BadGal before she went to Brazil, leaving me with no good mascara! I didn't have the $19-23 to fork over at the time, so I searched for a cheaper alternative and Volume Couture definitely fits the bill. It's got one of those plastic/rubber brushes so there really isn't any clumping, and I haven't experienced any raccoon-eyes smudging with this mascara, either. Because I love big, thick, almost fake-looking eyelashes, I apply multiple coats of this stuff, but if you like a more subtle look, one coat would probably be sufficient, and at $6.94, it's about one third of the cost of the others.

Whew! Hopefully this epic post has made up for my recent lack of posting! I'll be doing more of these drugstore beauty posts over the next couple weeks, and I'll also be covering hair, skin, and body care products. Hope you enjoyed! What are some of your favorite beauty bargains? Do you think pricey makeup makes much difference, or are we just paying for the name? Leave your comments!

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