;]=-=o]=/]//////////////// (<-My youngest says hello)
I have been so slack with the blog the past couple of weeks and I don’t really have a good excuse. This has been the conversation with myself, “I really need to blog today. I’ve got to talk about [insert product here]. Eh, but that means I need to be clever and I am not in the mood to think today. Tomorrow. Definitely tomorrow.”
Seriously. I’ve been too lazy to think… about makeup. So today, I’m going to “think”.
Aaand, I’ve managed to make it exponentially worse. I shut up now.
I’ve been getting requests to post about good drugstore finds and if you’ve been following me then you know I’m a recovering makeup snob. (I’m still not fully recovered but I’m doing much better. One day at a time.) Over the past month, I’ve accumulated a few products that I really like including a skin care product. I know! Skin care. (Ever since turning the big 3-0, I’ve been paying a lot more attention to my skin but that’s another post.) Okay, let’s dive in.
I’ve been watching a lot of makeup collection videos lately for storage ideas and one thing they all had in common was a huge collection of NYX’s Jumbo Eye Pencils ($4.50) so of course, I had to try it. So glad I did! Here’s Strawberry Milk.
These pencils are creamy, pigmented, and they have staying power. They also come in a wide variety of shades!
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil – $4.50 (NYXCosmetics.com, Ulta)
BnB rating: A+ For the price, you can’t go wrong!
Again, also found in the majority of makeup collection videos I watch are L’Oreal’s Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadows (around $8). It’s just plain stupid that it took me this long to discover these beauties! Love, love, LOVE these! I want all of them! Here is Glistening Garnet and Midnight Blue.
This swatch is just one swipe! They feel incredibly soft, like a cream to powder shadow. Wear them alone or use them as an eye shadow base. And when L’oreal says they’re 24 HR, they aren’t joking. These babies stay put!
L’Oreal’s Infallible 24HR Eye Shadows – $8 (Ulta and most drug stores)
BnB rating: A- (The reason for the minus is the price. Eight smackaroos is pushing it when it comes to a single drugstore eyeshadow.)
Since L’Oreal’s potted creamy shadows were a success, I wanted to try Maybelline’s Color Tattoo cream shadows which also have a “lasts 24hrs” claim. I bought one of their regulars and one from their Metal collection (I believe the Metal collection was limited edition).
Left: Tough as Taupe. Right: From the Metal Collection, Silver Strike
Also, one swipe.
The pros: They certainly rival L’Oreal’s Infallible with staying power. My arm was a bit red from trying to get them off. And they’re a buck cheaper at $7. And I love that bright silver!
The cons: Maybelline needs to up the ante with their color selection. There’s a total of nine permanent shades. Perhaps they try and make up for that by offering limited edition colors. I don’t know. Another con is the color Tough as Taupe. It’s just plain muddy. Yuck. And you can plainly see it’s a totally different color once you stick your brush/finger in the pot. I picked it because it looked like a descent neutral that would give me a lot of use. Nope. Not at all the case. I might use it… never.
Maybelline Color Tattoo Eye Shadow – $7 (Ulta and most drug stores)
BnB rating: B. They do last forever and they feel nice and smooth. But they need to do something about Tough as Taupe. Like maybe get rid of it or rename it Tough as Poop. I would imagine they’d be better off doing the former. That said, I still want to try their other shades.
Let me preface this next purchase with an apology. An apology to myself but mostly an apology to anyone that reads this. *Deep breath* Here we go…
I. Bought. Wet ‘n Wild’s Fergie Eye Shadow quad in Desert Festival.
I knew seeing that on the screen would be tough but I had no idea it would be this bad. Two of my very close friends know this because I told them. (Was I drunk?) And my husband knows this because I foolishly left it out on the counter. I could have sworn I saw a brief look of regret in his eyes. Okay, here is the proof.
I know! I know! I don’t know what happened. It just happened so fast! I think I was working so hard to shed my makeup snob persona and I overcompensated.
It costs $5 for five eye shadows. The only reason the shades look pigmented is because I had to CAKE on the eye shadow. And here’s the thing; I saw other reviews and swatches and the reviews were good and the swatches were super pigmented. Not my results. Not even close. And with one swipe of dry tissue, they disappeared.
Wet ‘n Wild Fergie Eye Shadow in Desert Festival – $5 (Wal-Greens)
BnB rating: Is this really necessary?
On a much smoother note: EOS Lip Balm. EOS stands for Evolution of Smooth and these lip balms are smooth on all kinds of levels. I got my hands on Strawberry Sorbet.
The packaging is genius! It’s cute and super easy to spot in your purse. Not only does it smell and taste delicious, it also soothes and smooths chap lips. Plus, it’s around $3! I think there are six or seven flavors and I want them all!
EOS Lip Balm $3.29 (Ulta and most drug stores)
BnB rating: A+ Just good all the way around!
And last but not least, Aveeno Ultra Calming Makeup Remover Wipes.
I am a fan. Some wipes that I’ve tried have that medicine smell or they’re too perfum-y. Not these. These simply smell fresh and clean. The best part is the feel of your face after you use them. It feels soft, not stripped. And it’s oil free! As far as the removing part; one wipe takes care of the whole face. I would imagine water-proof makeup may present more of a challenge. Priced at $7 for a package of 25. Not bad at all.
Aveeno Ultra Calming Makeup Remover Wipes – $7 (Target and Wal-Mart)
BnB rating: A+ I kinda wanna dirty up my face just so I can use one.
That’s it Lovelies! The weekend is here and I hope it’s great!! As always, don’t be shy and leave a word in the comment box! And if you haven’t already, follow me on Twitter and Facebook and all that other social network jazz. Just click on the little icons on the left. Later Lovelies!
La Fresh Makeup Remover Wipes – These were my very first makeup remover wipes I’ve ever used. I know, seriously! Didn’t like the smell to much. It was a bit on the medicine-y side but they do the job. I believe they sell this size (8 ct) on their website for around $2 And they claim to be eco-friendly. Ehh, “not” eco-friendly is never a deal breaker for me. Anyhow, I plan on sticking with my Aveeno wipes.
Aaahhhhh! That’s what my skin feels and looks like after I use this stuff! I am hooked! It’s basically a toner but it’s just so refreshing. Lerve it! And they sent us a good amount. The full size (6.75 oz) is $22. This will become a staple in my skincare routine this summer. And you can put it in your refrigerator for those especially hot days. I wish it smelled better – Smells like flowers but in a grassy way, not a perfum-y way. You may like that if that’s your thing (silly hippies).
