Makeup doesn't have to break the bank...really!

It can be difficult to find good makeup that doesn't come with a heavy price tag, but today I'm going to tell you how to fill your cosmetics bag without breaking the bank. All of the products featured in this post are under $10.00 and can be found at your local drugstore or Wal-Mart.

1...FOUNDATION: Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse, an oldie but goodie. Use this stuff over some primer and you'll be set. $8.79











2...MASCARA: CoverGirl Lash Exact, alot of bang for your buck (make that about six bucks) It comes in different shades and doesn't clump. $5.99












3...BLUSH: CoverGirl Cheekers, they've been around forever and there's a reason why. They work! $3.59












4...EYESHADOW: Revlon ColorStay 12 hour eyeshadow, no need for eyeshadow primer (save your money!) this stuff is super-long lasting and blends easy. It also comes in a huge range of different eye popping colors, my favorite is Coffee Bean. $6.29













So there you have it, all your daily essentials for a little over $20.00.

MayBelline Colossal...yay or nay?

I can never help but to stop in the makeup isles at my local Wal-Mart...it's like all of the little powder palettes and eyeshadows are calling my name. On my last trip, I came across Maybelline New York: The Colossal Volum' Express mascara. With it's big, bold purple letters and daring yellow casing, it was hard to say no- so I didn't. Although I'd usually rather be caught dead in dirty undies than I would a drugstore mascara in my bag, you never know when you might come across a swan in a pond full of ugly ducklings.

I didn't try it immediately, I'll admit that I was hesitant. I've been very faithful to the mascaras that have treated me right, so I had to be careful about bringing another member into the family.

Applying the mascara was tricky, but for $5.99, what do you expect? They claim the mascara is "clump free," and all I have to say to that is B.S.! But with a little combing and girly-magic, I felt confident enough to leave the house.

As soon as I was on my way, I regretted my decision. If you've ever woken up with pink eye, you'll understand the feeling I suddenly had when my eyes felt glued together. My eyelashes felt sticky, and if my life was an episode of punk'd, I would have been certain someone switched my masacara with a bottle of super glue.

...But beauty is pain, so I didn't let such a small inconvience get in the way of what could be an amazing mascara.

Now, you may not know this- but as a good person I feel it's necassary to share my secrets.

A good mascara looks great when you put it on, and even for a few hours afterward, but quickly dulls and you lose length, thickness, and color.

A great mascara looks amazing when you put it on, and stays that way until you wash it off. Imju, I'm looking at you...

A bad mascara, comes off on your face.
Leaving you with mascara lines and clumps right under your bottom eyelid...even if you haven't cried.

NO ONE wants to find that
when they look in the mirror, but that's what I got with Maybelline's "colossal."

So another day, another disappointing mascara...I'd cry, but I'm not wearing the waterproof kind.

Verdict: Stay far, far away from it...unless it's Halloween.

Bare Minerals, MAKEUP BAG ESSENTIAL.

A new year calls for new products, so when Sephora was offering trial sized Bare Minerals with any order, I snatched that deal up like I was pms'ing and it was a free chocolate bar.

I'm embarrassed and saddened to admit that I've never actually tried anything by Bare Essentials before- I saw the TV ads, my friends recommended it to me all the time, but the whole "swirl, tap and blend" thing didn't sit well with me. How could this powder stuff give good coverage, be good for your skin, AND not look cakey?

I don't know how they did it, but what you see on TV is true. It took me a few tries to get the coverage and blending just right to fit my skin type, but it is now my new favorite foundation. I've even gotten compliments from my friends who say that my skin is glowing!



Pros:
Looks natural (no foundation lines and no thick cakey look- it looks like your skin, only healthier)
No oil buildup (ever notice some foundations tend to puddle up on your face, especially around the t-zone area?)
Feels light (You forget you're even wearing makeup)
No rub-off (You can wipe your face with your sleeve or rest your head on your shoulder and it won't rub off)
Easy to apply (like the commercial says, just swirl it on the brush, tap off excess and blend)

Cons:
Expensive, around $25 for the foundation alone...plus the cost of their brushes is outrageous.
Messy. They tell you to put a little of the foundation powder in the cap, which can get quite messy if you're not careful or in a rush. I wish they would have come up with better packaging to go with such an awesome product.

Next up: Stay tuned for great makeup ideas without the heavy price tag.

New Products For A New Year

On a personal note, I want to apologize for not keeping this blog updated, unfortunately due to the holidays and a severely sick grandmother, my time was scarce. Now that it is a new year, I hope to update more frequently and keep you girls in tune with what's new, hot, and worth buying.

Over the holidays, I got to thinking about new products for the new year, YES! I thought about you girls while I was away! I wanted to start off the new year with a truly amazing product, so....

















Fredric Fekkai Au Naturel Gentle Shampoo

Shampoo? Who wants to start off 2009 with some boring shampoo?

I apologize if you wanted glitter, vibrating eyeshadow, or...well, anything more exciting than shampoo, but I have to tell you, this stuff is amazing and worth all of the attention it's getting.

Here's why:

"Your natural beauty comes more naturally with Fekkai Au Naturel. Luxurious and purely gorgeous, this shampoo is infused with beneficial essential oils and organic ingredients, and is absent of synthetic fragrance, dyes, and additives like sulfates and parabens. Packaged in a bottle made with 40% recycled materials, Fekkai's formula embodies the essence of eco-conscious, positively-crafted haircare."

Yes, it's "GREEN," and I know a huge majority of you guys out there have resolutions to be more green this year. It also lacks all those nasty ingredients like sulfates (ew) so there's less gunk in your hair, and more healthy locks.
After one shampoo, you'll notice a huge difference. Remember when you were a kid and you had soft, manageable hair? This shampoo will shave off all the years and give you back the hair you once had- you know, before you started putting tons of gunk in it? After using this, I even noticed my natural highlights were more noticeable...and I wasn't the only one who noticed!

An 8oz bottle of this stuff will run you about $23 at Sephora, but it pays for itself in compliments!

How clean are your brushes?!

It's important to keep your makeup brushes clean and sanitized. Brushes that are not regulary cleaned hold millions of swarming germs.
Not only is that completely disgusting, but your brushes also hold onto oil and dirt, so every time you apply makeup you're putting that stuff right back onto your clean face. If you're suffering from breakouts, dirty brushes may just be the culprit.

What you can do: Buy some sanitizing beauty wipes to keep in your makeup bag and give each brush a swipe after every use. I personally like Sephora's brand, they're only $9 and sweep up all the yucky residue.


Doing this will keep germs, oil and dirt residue to a minimum, but you still need to give your brushes a "deep" cleaning. You can purchase brush shampoo, which is basically gentle anti-bacterial soap. If you don't want to spend the extra $10, you can simply use anti-bacterial hand soap instead.

The Steps: Always use tepid (or luke warm) water. Never use hot water! Hot water will destroy your brushes. Run anti-bacterial soap/shampoo through your brushes, kind of like you would while shampooing your hair. Rinse well and reshape while still damp. Let air dry.

You'll see the difference: And here's why, clean brushes cling to makeup better, they also apply it better. Your colors will look fresh again, plus the overall quality of your brushes will last much, much longer.

What you should avoid: Borrowing other people's makeup, even your best friends. Everyone's makeup carries some germs and oils, so every time you use a little bit of their blush or their eyeshadow, their germs are being transferred to your face. Gross, right? So as much fun as it can be, don't share makeup. Ever cruise the makeup counters at the mall and spot a sample product you've been dying to try? Don't. That stuff has been "sampled" by probably a hundred people by the time you get around to it. Do you really want strange germy oils on your lips, face, or eyes? Doing so can lead to nasty infections like pink eye, and that's just gross!

If you really want to try a product before buying it, flip through your magazines for special offers by companies. They often put little cards in there that you can fill out and bring to their makeup counters for a free personal sample of their product. Also, try asking the sale rep if they have any take home samples, they'll understand.

RIP BERNIE MAC

Bernie Mac passed away this morning, at the young age of 50. Mac died Saturday morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital, his publicist, Danica Smith, said in a statement from Los Angeles. She said no other details were available.

RIP Bernie <3

Tonight in honor of Mr. Mac, we will be gathering to watch Badder Santa :(

Neutogena Visibly Even

I get bored quickly, so I switch face washes more often than I change my sheets. Ew- just kidding, but I recently added a new product to my regimen, and I think I'm seriously in love.
Neutrogena Healthy Skin, Visibly Even with vitamin C and essential soy, is meant to deliver more even-toned, radiant skin. It has tiny, gentle exfoliating beads which gives you an amazing deep clean feeling. It didn't overdry my skin, which is important because I tend to get dry patches from some harsh medicated cleansers and scrubs. It only cost me about $6 at my local Wal-mart and I am excited to try the other products in the Neutrogena Visibly Even line (they sell SPF moisturizer, concentrated night moisturizer, and even body wash!)
It smells lovely too, which is hard to find in a face cleanser.

Dior DiorShow Iconic Mascara

Fall must be the season for new mascaras, not only did Lancome introduce their new vibrating mascara, but Dior is also introducing a new one. It's called "Dior Diorshow Iconic Mascara" and expect to be pleasantly surprised because Dior's new mascara was created backstage for fashion shows and celebrity red carpet events. It claims to be the secret weapon behind alluring eyes, and includes a special Oblique Brush designed to give you thicker, sexier lashes.

Which mascara are you excited to try this season?
Lancome Oscillation Mascara
Dior DiorShow Iconic Mascara
Neither, I'm staying true to my fave
Not sure, I'll wait for more reviews


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Also, if you'd like to be notified when either mascaras become available again, just click here or here and Sephora will e-mail you.