Drugstore Face

It wasn't really a conscious effort. I started out with a makeup bag full of high-end makeup products that you can buy through Sephora, and I've ended this year with a makeup bag full of drugstore brands. These makeup products would NOT remain in my bag if if they didn't do the job I needed them to do. So, now I'm happy to say I have a drugstore face and some extra spending cash. And you should care why? Well, because YOU could have extra $$ and look great too! Duh!

So, before I put any makeup on my face I use other drugstore finds like St. Ives Apricot Scrub, Clean & Clear moisturizer and Ponds cleansing towelettes to keep my face squeaky clean and moisturized!

And now for the fun part...

I use L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Makeup in natural buff. It has sunscreen and it moisturizes and blends well when applied with a foundation brush. It's seriously the perfect makeup for the winter time when your face is extra dry. It's oil free, so I don't ever worry about it clogging my pores.

I'm also obsessed with Maybelline's Lash Stiletto Mascara. I've blogged about it before, and it's still my favorite mascara. It really defines your lashes and it's easy to take off at night. I also love Maybelline's Unstoppable eye liner's easy, smooth application.

I used to use Benefit's Browzings ($30) compact to keep my brows looking perfect, but now all I use is CoverGirl's Brow & Eye Maker pencil. It's the exact brown I need and it's only $2.99 for TWO pencils AND a sharpener. Good buy if you ask me.

To make my eyes look pretty and natural in one, I really like Almay's Intense i-Color eye shadow trio. I chose the one for brown eyes, and I love it. I don't always wear the purple, but when I do it's the perfect shade. Now, I'll admit that I do play around with a lot of other eye shadows that I have, but it's because they seriously last FOREVER. The kicker though is that you HAVE to apply eye shadow with a brush and not the measly little sponge applicator. That goes for ANY eye shadow you EVER wear.

For my rosy cheeks I love Almay's Pure Blend powder blush in bouquet. It applies nicely on top of the L'Oreal base. Definitely use a fluffy blush to apply it though. Again, those applicators that come with the product stink!

And now for the grande finale, lipstick. Oh boy, these are my two favorite lipsticks in the whole wide world. Revlon makes fantastic matte lipsticks that stay on for a long time.

If you've been looking for a bright red lipstick for a while you have got to try Revlon's Fire & Ice. My friend Jessie and I are both addicts of the color. As you can see below...

If you want a more natural lip color, go with "mauve it over." It looks great with olive skin.

There is a tiny disclaimer though...You may or may not have noticed that I haven't said anything about concealer or eye shadow base. Those are still the only two things that I haven't been able to find at a drugstore that rivals the quality of Benefit's Boi-ing, Erase Paste and MAC's paint pots. And, I would have to say that the reason why my eye shadow looks as good as it does is owed to MAC.

But other than those three things, my face belongs to Walgreens, and my pocketbook is grateful.

I'm a Benefit "Hoola" Gal

I tan easily, but I try to stay out of the sun as much as I can because I don't want to be one giant freckle when I'm 60. Lately, I have been dusting my face with Benefit's bronzer "Hoola." I have had so many people comment on how tan I look. Little do they know that it only takes me one minute in front of my mirror with this magic powder. haha. I highly recommend it. It doesn't make you look orange, and it works for all skin types. All of you pale peeps, don't be scared of  this dark brown hue. Just dust it lightly all of your face and throat.

What's in My Makeup Bag?

I'm sure many of us gals have a couple free-bee Clinique bags filled with products we think we may some day use, but we never do. And, for some reason, we hold onto these makeup products that are probably expired because we feel wasteful just throwing them away.

Well, I have finally consolidated to one makeup bag that I can grab and know that I have what I need for any occasion. So, what's inside? Here are the main ingredients...

What is all this? Well, it's the basics: foundation, concealer, mascara, lipstick, powder, eye shadow, eye liner, blush and some bronzer. Granted, I don't always use everything all of the time, but when I do have my "full face" on, I use these.

Probably the most significant product in here is Lorac's Eye Shadow Palette. Unfortunately the palette that is shown here is no longer available, but there is one that is similar at Sephora. I can create a day look with the lighter shades and an evening look with the darker shades. I don't really use the blush too much because it's pretty dark.  Instead, I use NARS blush in "orgasm."

NARS blushes are known as being the best of the best, and the color "orgasm," though risque, has been voted the best color for ALL skin types. It goes on skin best with a liquid foundation. If you use mineral foundation, try using their cream blush.

Which brings me to my favorite liquid foundation, Lorac's Natural Performance Foundation. If you have acne prone or sensitive skin, this is a great product. It's water based and is long lasting. Apply this with a foundation brush.

Along with my foundation, I use Benefit's Boi-ing concealer. I have talked about this product in the past because it's the best concealer I have EVER used. It's highly pigmented so it covers scars and red marks well. It's also very creamy, which makes application easy with your finger.

Another Benefit product I enjoy is their bronzer in the color "Hoola." I just lightly dust it all over my face to give my skin a bit of a tan since I haven't been outside much this winter.

To eliminate any shine, I stick with Almay's Nearly Naked Loose Powder. Almay products are hypoallergenic. There's no need to spend a ton of money on powder. I've never experienced a major difference between high end makeup lines and those that you find in drugstores when it comes to powder.

MAC's Technakohl Eye Liner in "Brown Border" rocks! You can apply this liner on the inner part of your lid without irritating your eye AND it stays! This liner is retractable and doesn't need to be sharpened. Plus, it's very creamy and goes on smoothly.

MAC's Zoom Lash mascara is alright. I wrote a review about this product awhile ago. I will say that this mascara washes off easily with soap and water. That's a huge plus for me.

BUT, MAC's Paint Pots are AMAZING! I have also written a post about these little wonders in a pot. I highly recommend that everyone purchase these. They are a great base for eye shadows because they keep your shadow looking fantastic ALL day long.

Lastly, I have been using Lancome's lipsticks lately because my awesome sister-in-law, Nicky, gave me her freebies. I'm really enjoying the shade, "Trendy Mauve." It give my lips a very natural look. I definitely recommend it for olive skin tones. In general, I find their lipsticks very creamy and long-lasting.

If I put all this makeup on, it usually takes me 15 minutes.

Product Review - Revlon Brow Fantasy

Eye brows - I have to say that I really lucked out in this department. I love my eye brows. They are low maintenance and naturally have a great shape. I know that not everyone has the same experience with what my mom would call your "little parentheses," but we all have our battles, right? Anyway, defined and groomed eye brows are a quick way to look more awake and put together. I've always used Benefit's Brow Zing compact with brow gel and powder, but I decided to try Revlon's Brow Fantasy - a brow gel and pencil in one... I love it! It works just as well as Benefit's product and gives even more definition. Not to mention it's only $7.00 vs. $30.00! The product comes in four different shades and you can find it at Walgreens, CVS or Ulta.

Product Reviews

Ever have one of those shopping trips where you feel like you're stocking up on face wash, body lotion, tooth paste, etc. all at once? I had one of those weekends awhile ago, and I decided to try some new products. I've definitely found some new favorites!... Johnson and Johnson Deep Hydrating Body Lotion - I'm not a fancy shmancy lotion person. Scent is a factor, but I'm definitely about results. This body lotion really does keep my skin moisturized all day long! It does have that baby smell, which you may or may not like, but I definitely recommend checking it out.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizer - I've tried Aveeno's products before, and nothing ever wowed me, but this daily moisturizer with SPF 15 is definitely working for my sensitive, combination skin. This product is oil-free, hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic.

Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser - I've always been a fan of Johnson & Johnson's PURPOSE Facial cleanser because my dermatolgist recommended that product, but I decided to take a risk with this one. I'm loving it! It's super gentle on my face. Suds usually dry out my face too much, but because it's such a light cleanser I haven't had any problems. Not to mention, it takes my eye makeup off with a breeze.

Benefit Boi-ing - Now this is a product that I did not find in Target, but rather at blissful Sephora. Best concealer on the market times ten! This concealer is creamy, stays on and covers anything up. I highly recommend it! I've tried a lot of concealers in the past with LORAC, MAC, etc., this is the best. I'll keep coming back for this one and I don't mind paying the bigger bucks because it works!