Showing posts with label drugstore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drugstore. Show all posts

Maybelline WaterProof Mascaras

Why did it take me so long to figure out that all I needed was waterproof mascaras to keep my thick straight lashes, CURLED? After spending dollars and dollars on high-end mascaras like Chanel (read here), Lancome, ByTerry (read here) ... I've finally purchased drugstore mascaras from Maybelline and I am loving it. 


Sally Hansen Miracle Gel⎪Truffle Shuffle

Every brand is coming out with their own version of "gel" nails, aren't they? I had my heart set on the Revlon GelEnvy nail polishes, but Sally Hansen makes pretty good ones too. But first off, before I compare the two brands - I want to take about this shade. "Truffle Shuffle" is a beautiful caramel brown. It's elegant and perfect for the fall and winter. 






What I love about this nail polish: easy to apply, shiny
Downfall: they recommend that you use their miracle gel topcoat. I don't know if it's necessary so I'm testing it out right now. Also, it's not as shiny as the Revlon gel envy nail polishes. I'm going to have to test out the duration of how long they remain shiny and intact. I'll keep you notified!

Revlon COLORSTAY GEL ENVY

wearing High Roller


I'm still waiting for nail polish brands to come out with smaller sizes. But in the meantime, I'm still collecting nail polishes and it is becoming quite a collection. There is a new favorite that is surfacing above everything else I have. It is the Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy. I came across this nail polish after Estee from essiebutton wore it in several of her videos. At first I got the exact shade she had (Up the Ante), and after discovering how amazing the quality was, I went and got three more.

Left to Right: Beginner's Luck, Up the Ante, High Roller, Wild Card
wearing Wild Card


What I love about them you ask? There isn't a lot of shades, but I do hope they come out with more. The finish (after two coats) is super... super shiny. As if it was a gel nail polish. I know Sally Hansen came out with gel-type polishes, but oh my, they are horrible! But these from Revlon are amazing. They stay shiny for days on end. I want to compare them to the Butter London polishes because they are super shiny too and the wear goes for days too. The thing though is Revlon is that it is half the price of the Butter London ones! 


I just love how long-lasting they are and how shiny they stay put until you take them off. I usually find that nail polishes start looking dull after a day or two, or immediately after you apply hand lotion. But this will last! I've tried other Revlon polishes, but other lines from them aren't that great. It is specifically this line of products that rock ;) 


Shampoo Worth Blogging⎪Clear Scalp & Hair


I don't ever find the urge to blog about shampoos. I've always used drugstore products, some expensive ones too, but nothing was too spectacular. But for the past few months, I've been reaching for the same shampoo after finishing each bottle. That is the Clear Scalp and Hair shampoo.



I used to have horrible dandruff problems. I've tried the famous Head & Shoulders, but that didn't do much. I used organic shampoos and other recommended ones. Nothing really helped.

But I came across this shampoo after reading Into The Gloss's blogpost on Miranda Kerr. She's the cover girl for this hair brand, and I don't know,  her little snippet on why she loves this product sold me.

I wanted something that would clarify my scalp but not dry up the ends of my hair. I know most of the clarifying detox shampoos are recommended only for the scalp, but what a pain is that! Some of them don't even foam well, and it's all just a fuss. But this shampoo was promising a clear scalp and healthy hair.

After the first use, I knew I was pretty sold. Significantly less dandruff and my roots were... well, alive. My scalp felt so clean but my hair was so soft at the same time!

Now it's a staple hair product for me, and a constant repurchase. I particularly like the Volumizing Root Boost line.


BEAUTY HAUL • skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails!





I waited about a month for all these products to finally come in the mail! But now, since they are all here I thought it was about time to please your eyes with these beauty goodies. I did film a Beauty Haul video but (personal note begins here...) I am hesitant about continuing my Youtube channel. If you are a subscriber, I think you could still see the video but I may close my account soon... still thinking about it.

But as for blogging, I really enjoy it so I'm definitely continuing this! So, on that long note, I wanted to share with you the products I've recently bought. I'm going to post a more detailed review of each of these product when I get the time, but I've swatched some of them for your viewing pleasures haha :)

High-End Makeup 

My most exciting purchase was the YSL rouge volupté shine lipsticks. Guys, I'm still new to YSL lipsticks, and little did I know about their different lipstick ranges. But recently, I've become so intrigued by their line and I really wanted to know what was best for me. Because I am someone who loves bold colors but finds so little time to wear them, I wanted something with medium pigmentation that has a slightly sheer finish so it wouldn't be too off-setting when I wear them around. So, YSL has their "rouge volupté sheer candy" and their normal "rouge volupté" and then, the "rouge volupté shine". Their "sheer candy" line was something I was most interested in, but found that they really are super duper sheer. So much that I found it pointless to even get them. The regular "rouge volupté" is a richly pigmented lipstick. It is very creamy and moisturizing, but it also pretty dense.

The "sheer" version of that is the ones I got in the number 19  and 14. No. 19 is my current obsession. You know I have a thing for purple lipsticks. The fuchsia lipstick from the YSL matte line looked a bit too cherry and not purple enough. But the rouge volupté shine no.19 is that beautiful true purple shade that I was looking for! It seriously looks so flattering. What I love about these lipsticks are that even if the colors are bold, you can wear them without fear that they are too in your face. They are subtle but rich at the same time. And goodness, they are also super moisturizing, and the color stay? Amazing.

No. 14 is a coral-pink shade. One can't have too many of these right? Beautiful, and always out of stock, I finally got my hands on these. Just a good fresh pop o' color, you know?

I also picked up the NARS Creamy Radiant concealer in the shade vanilla. I wanted "custard" but the lady at the Nars counter insisted I get "vanilla" which is a lighter shade than "custard". I caved and got the "vanilla" soon finding that the color "custard" actually may be the better match! HUMPH. But in terms of formulation, it is pretty amazing. I am in love with the Collection 2000 concealers, and thank goodness I now found Nars because it's a perfect replacement, I must say!


DRUGSTORE Makeup:
From the drugstore, I picked up two makeup bits and two haircare bits. For makeup, I got one L'Oreal MagicLumi under eye concealer shade 862, and a L'Oreal Telescopic Liquid Eyeliner in black.

HAIR CARE:
For hair, I got my forever-repurchase L'Oreal Damage Repair Erase Balm (read it here), and It's a 10 miracle-leave-in hair product. It's a new one, but I'm hoping I'll love it!


SKINCARE.
You know I love Mario Badescu so when the opportunity comes, I'l stock up on what I love. I got my favorite toner Cucumber Cleansing Lotion and a new toner I wanted to try, Glycolic Acid Toner. Then I got the Dry Cream I love so much and the Enzyme Revitalizing Mask that seems like a good everyday mask. I also got a good well-rounded moisturizer called Buttermilk Moisturizer and I also got a newbie, Hylauronic Emulsion w/ Vitamin C which sounded like my two favorite skincare ingredients merged into one!


NAILS.

Ok, so I went a little cray you know? I do have a lot of nail polishes, but I wasn't feeling any of them. I splurged on some Topshop nail polishes. They have such cute packaging. The shades I got:
left to right: fly trap venus, carnival, mannequin, threadbare, tidal, rainy day, varsity, parma violet 




Milani Baked Blushes




In my last video where I talk about products I was undecided about, these Milani baked blushes were one of them. It wasn't so much that I couldn't decide whether I liked them, but just to put it out there that I was trying these blushes out since it wasn't long since I bought them. But since purchasing them, I've been wearing them non-stop, preferring these shades over all my luxe brands and that pretty much says all!

Both blushes come with their own set of brushes- but I recommend you chuck those away. They are so coarse that they sweep way too much product off the surface and also leave dusts everywhere! I use them with my Shu Uemura no.20 blush brush. This softly picks up the right amount of product without grinding the surface and grating the product.



The shade I am in love with is "Luminoso". Goodness, this is such a pretty beige blush -- just something that works beautifully for so many skin tones, for so many different kinds of makeup. It really gives that pop of color in such a subtle and calming way! It is neither too dark nor too light, and it blends beautifully with any makeup. You know how sometimes blushes can clash with your eye makeup or lip color? Well, this is the perfect generic shade-- something I'd recommend to everyone.

The more popular and well-spoken about shade is the "Corallina". I'd say this would be gorgeous in the summer. Such a bright red-coral! It is beautiful, really. And gives you that flushes fresh-faced look. It isn't subtle like "Luminiso", so this is for the gals who like that really pretty obvious blush look. I do have other coral shades but this seems to be a bit red/lobster-toned than most coral shades. Hence, I think it'll be beautiful in the summer!

These are really often sold-out in my local drugstore, but if you ever come across them and you need to find just really good working pretty shades, try these. They are amazing! I'm adding them to my list of favorite drugstore products.

Discovery Product #4 BOURJOIS Healthy Balance Matte Unifying Powder

picture came out a little saturated. the picture below is more true to color

The best finishing powder I've tried thus far. This is a recent purchase from a Paris drugstore called Monoprix and I talk about this in my French Drugstore and Pharmacy haul here.

I've tried many a high-end products (Kevyn Aucoin, Hourglass, MAC, Benefit, Chanel, etc.,) but for the price and result, I'm going to place the crown on this gem. The Bourjois Healty Balance Matte 10hr Unifying Powder is an amazingly fine-milled pigmented finishing powder that gives you a natural and matte finish without looking even the slightest bit cakey. The coverage is light, but buildable. I suggest it as a finishing or a touch-up powder, and not intended for coverage.

I love this to finish up my makeup. It seriously ends off all your makeup with a final note. Then, as a touch-up, it just keeps you looking fresh and matte. I love the velvety kind of makeup for the winter and colder days, and this does the job.

swatch. can you see how finely milled it is? love! love! love!

Bourjois is a bit hard to get in the States. Not impossible, of course. So, if you are ever across in the UK or Paris, go pick this up. You honestly won't regret it! There isn't that many color choices, but I found one that works just perfectly. You can get away with not getting the exact shade anyway because it blends so beautifully with the skin. The shade I bought is 53, Light Biege. 

 This has followed me around all over my trip in Europe and even back home. It's a hand-bag essential for days I'm out for more than 8+ hours! Has anyone tried this? x

Ellie goes to London PART I. Drugstore Haul

Ellie goes to London, PART ONE is going to be a beauty/skincare haul. I did a bit of affordable skincare and makeup shopping when I was in London. There aren't too much you can't get in the States, but there sure are price differences in some. When I first saw the BOOTS store in the airport, I was thrilled. For all you British readers, you'd think I was joking! It would be the same if any of you Brits thought CVS or Duane Reade was thrilling. But seriously, I was just way too excited for Boots. I soon learned however, that depending on which store you go to, it's quite different.





I stayed right around Portobello Road, which was such a cute quaint town. I bought a few bits from the Boots store there, but I mainly bought mine from a Boots around Covent Garden.

This haul also has products bought from John Lewis which seemed like a Macy's here, and bought the Antipodes mask from Selfridges, and finally a Nude skincare from SpaceNK.

Watch my video here to see what I have to say about the products. It's only a haul video, so I have yet to form an opinion about all of the products. I did, though, forget to mention a Pixi product that I bought at Convent Garden. It's the Pixi Glow Tonic that bloggers have been raving about. I still have to see how it works out on me. Review will be up soon :)


Loving Drugstore #1

Can you tell I'm into numbering my blogposts? They seem organized that way. I've been numbering my collection videos, my routine videos, and who knows what else!


This is my first (no wait, second) Drugstore faves post. I hardly ever feature any drugstore products into any of my blogposts or favorites because honestly, I'm not a fan of drugstore products. No prejudice. Simply because I have failed to find some of them even worth $5. I had come to the conclusion that I'd rather save the $5 and buy one really good luxury item. I have had many trials and errors with drugstore products, so much that I almost gave up on spending anything at these places at all!

But recently, I have found that I am enjoying quite a few of them. Most (all) of the ones I'm going to be talking about are ones that have been frequently raved about in the beauty blog world. These are products that I have tested out for months before I could make my mind up about them.

Unlike most beauty bloggers, I don't like to hoard all the colors in a particular line of products. Again, just because it's cheap doesn't mean that when you reach the cash register, it won't come out to be a lot. I've seen $$$ being spent at CVS and let me just say, it really isn't hard to spend that much at drugstore. That being said, I don't like to hoard a lot of drugstore products. Not only do I find the packaging not particularly attractive for my collection, but I find it is again potentially a waste.

So whew, that being said, here are some of my favorites. [In no particular order]

1. Revlon Lip Butters

This is talked about. A lot. By almost everyone. Honestly, it took me awhile to figure out why. I bought this during the transition from fall to winter, when my lips were chappy. I found that this sunk into the creases of my lips and did not help repair the lips at all. I remember how people said that this was super moisturizing, but to me at the time, it felt like it only "felt" moisturizing but it didn't actually "moisturIZE". (I was a linguistics major so if you get my grammatical point there, yay!). Anyway, so I had put it off for awhile.
But recently, with the hot weather and the less chappy lips, I found that I actually really like this stuff. I still think that once your lips are chapped, this is a no-no. But, if you do have an already moisturized lips, this could help MAINTAIN that moisture.


I also liked the finish of it. It almost looks glossy, and so there's no need for a lip gloss (not that I even wear lip glosses). Also, if you consistently apply it throughout the day, then I found it does have lasting power and even tints the lips.

Left: Sweet Tart; Right: Tutti Frutti
The shades I have are "Tutti Frutti" which is an orange shade. This is such a flattering color for the summer when you have a bronzing summer makeup on (should I do a makeup look post/video with this? tell me down below). I have been wearing this a lot.
The other shade is "Sweet Tart" which is a pretty pink shade. Not too blue-toned, not too pale, not too red, not too pastel. It's just... pink. And it's pretty, and so it just gives a natural neutral pink lips when applied. Again, the finish is quite lovely!

2.  Maybelline Color Tattoo- "Bad to the Bronze"

Need I say more about this line of products? People go on and on about them. I only have one though and it's the shade Bad to the Bronze which, as the name suggests, is a bronze gold color. It is a really pigmented and creamy eyeshadow that you could hardly say is anything of "cheap". It feels luxurious and the color is stunning on the eyes. They have a whole line of colors, but I have yet to find enough temptation to get anything more than this.
I find I gravitate towards this on days when I am lazy with even an eyeliner and I just want some kind of definition on my eyes, quick and easy. This does the job, and it's great. Packaging is also glass so it feels pretty nice, I have to say.
The rest of the review I previously wrote can be read here.

2. Maybelline Under-Eye CONCEALERS

Okay, so I have recently fallen in love with under-eye concealers. They make all the difference in the world. And although I don't have any prominent dark circles, I do find that putting a concealer that is 2 shades lighter than your foundation can brighten up the face so much.

My all time favorite under-eye concealer has been the Burberry Sheer Glow concealer but so sadly, it's currently lost. So, I had to resort to the only other under-eye concealer I had, which was the Maybelline DreamLumi (Touch Higlighting Concealer) and though at first I kept comparing it to the long-lasting, dewy Burberry concealer, I grew to love this Maybelline one as well. I bought it in the lightest "highlighting" shade and I love it. It's definitely a salmon-pink color that will contrast any blue under the eye.
Left: DreamLumi, Right: Instant Age Rewind
Then, recently I had to run to the drugstore to pick up a concealer because I was starting to look dull that day and I had no touch-ups in my bag. So, I decided to try something new and I picked up the Maybelline New Instant Age Rewind Eraser for Dark Circles. I instantly fell in love with this because I had applied it to an already flaking makeup and this did not stick to any flaked skin or makeup! It's seem more lighter and powdery than the DreamLumi concealer so it does not crease. I am definitely going to carry this in my bag! The shade is again in the lightest shade "fair". It doesn't have as much salmon shade as the other Maybelline concealer, but it does the job beautifully!

If I had to choose between the two to repurchase, I honestly don't know what I'd pick!

Maybelline Color Tattoo: Worth the Hype?

EssieButton (aka Estee) on Youtube uploaded a video on products that are worth the hype. Some of them (most) were drugstore products. Even though so many people fall in love with drugstore products, I seriously and honestly without any discrimination against drugstore products, truly don't like a lot of them! I feel, only in terms of makeup, that they can be a waste of money. They do the work at times, but sometimes I feel like it's better saving that money and buying something really beautiful, luxurious, and lovely. Still yet, these amazing Youtubers are so convincing, sometimes I need to give it a try. Estee mentioned this Maybelline Color Tattoo, as she has in so many of her videos, and I thought hey, maybe it really IS worth the hype.


So I took a trip to CVS. I saw the exact shade she recommended: Bad to the Bronze. I stood there thinking if it was worth the $8-9 dollars. Thought, hey maybe I'll try it. I wanted to try a cream eyeshadow anyway. So, I bought it. Brought it home. Swatched it. Applied it. And thought. WOW.

The pigmentation is gorgeous. This is a bronze that suits my skin tone. You can blend it for a more natural look. I liked the look of packing it on. It captures the light so well and gives your eyes this dimension. Lovely!
The orange you see was a Revlon lipstick I had bought and was swatching. That post might be coming up later!
My sister is always going on and on about the Giorgio Armani cream(?) or pressed powder eyeshadows that come in a similar packaging as this. Theirs are really really lovely too, no doubt. But heck, it's so expensive! But Maybelline seems to be a great dupe for them. So. Much. Cheaper, and yet the pigmentation is SOLID, deep, and shades are really lovely!

It really seems to be a great color to pack on your eyes on those lazy days you don't want to be standing there applying two or three eyeshadows!

Now that I enjoy this so much, I'm going to try the Stila smudge pot in "Kitten" next! I've heard a lot of hype around that. I'm going to trust the hype and try it out!
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