Tag: MAYBELLINE

Drugstore Hits and Misses

1. Almay Eyeshadow Trio Smoky Smoky Hazel – Sorry to start out on a negative note, but skip this guy. The powder has very little pigment and is quite dry. I like the idea of a kit that caters to eye color, but they missed on this one.

2. L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow – Instead, pick up these pots. They look like pressed powder but have a creamy formula. They apply like a dream. I wish they had more colors and some less metallic options but only because I love them so much. I have Endless Pearl, which is relatively matte and a great base color. Bronze Taupe is a beautiful, warm and multifaceted neutral. These appear much more expensive than they are. Also, they mean it when they say don’t discard the little interior plastic to press down the product. If it isn’t on there the powder loosens. Whoopsie.

3. Ardell Fashion Lashes Black (110) – I am relatively new to false lashes and was incredibly intimidated to try them. But I gave it a whirl with these, using Duo adhesive. It was a breeze! They look very natural and I got loads of compliments. They were comfortable to wear didn’t damage my own lashes. Use tweezers to hold the lash strip. Put a dot of glue on the back of your hand. Slowly and carefully dip the lash strip into the glue several times along base of the lashes. Lay onto your lashes, add mascara and liner to blend with your own!

4. Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner in Blackest Black – This guy is an award winner and no surprise why. The formula has massive staying power. The color is a perfect, deep black. The brush is easy to handle. Need I say more?

5. Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Coffee Cake – I’ve been ooing and ahing about this innovative product all over the social media waves. The texture is what makes this blush different. It almost feels like a makeup applicator sponge at first. It is malleable but springs back. It applies like a cream, but dries to a long staying powder appearance. The effect is not matte but there is no shimmer (which I love). I picked up Coffee Cake, a nude peach that works great for a tonal, natural face.

6. eos Smooth Sphere Lip Balm – I reviewed these here, but I just had to mention them again. They are fabulous balms and are so easy to find in a big purse. They have loads of flavors with medicated and SPF options.

7. Maybelline Color Tatoo 24HR Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze – Another standout drugstore eyeshadow. This is creamier than the L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow, with slighly less pigment but a little more staying power. Bad to the Bronze is a lighter version of Bronze Taupe. I also wish this came in more colors because I love it so. Many of the shades are dramatic and on the cooler side.

8. eos Shave Cream, Ultra Moisturizing, Lavender Jasmine – If you like a foaming shave cream, this isn’t for you. But the smell is what sold me. It also comes in pomegranate raspberry, island blue, cucumber melon, vanilla bliss and sensitive – fragrance free. It is massively hydrating and almost feels like conditioner.

9. eos Refresh Active Care Hand and Body Lotion – Again, they got me on the fabulous scent. The fresh cucumber lingers just enough. It isn’t greasy in the least bit. These products aren’t tested on animals and paraban-free. I’m becoming quite the eos fan.

Maybelline Favorites

Today, I am thrilled to be guest blogging at the fashionable Style Me Thrifty! Madeline curates a collection of affordable fashion finds, which can always come in handy, especially this year.  I encourage you to check out her blog.  She asked me to come up with some drugstore gems, and naturally they were all Maybelline.  I am a huge fan, if you didn’t know.

Head over to Style Me Thrifty or check out the post below:

Some of the best drugstore finds these days are by Maybelline.  Not only are they a great bargain, but are serious performance powerhouses.  These four favorites have earned a permanent place on my vanity:

1.  Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealers – nothing refreshes my face like covering those dark circles and this is SO easy to use

2.  BabyLips SPF 20 Moisturizing Balm – such adorable packaging and it really heals dry winter, lips

3.  Eye Studio Master drama – creamy, high intensity liner perfect for the evening cat eye (and comes in fun colors like Sapphire)

4.  Colorsensational LipColor – incredibly rich colors that don’t dry out

Maybelline Eye Studio Master Drama Eyeliner

In a blind test, I know I would guess this liner is far more than its $7 price tag.  The pigment is insanely rich, the roll-up pencil glides beautifully, and staying power is unbelievable. 

I created a cat eye with Midnight Master – easy to fine tune, worked well on lower lashes and dramatically pigmented.  The packaging, overall, is adequate.  There were a couple hiccups rolling up the pen, but with the quality product and amazing price, I am not going to complain.

This fall, bright hues are huge, so I plan on picking up Sapphire Strength or Vibrant Violet.  This is a great option to experiment with a trend with a relatively small investment.

Maybelline Volum’ Express The Falsies Spoon Brush Washable Mascara

In honor of @Maybelline Great Lash Birthday Bash (40 years! Wow!) and the GreatLash Twitter party is from 7pm-9pm EST tonight, I had to mention my new, most favorite mascara.  Since you must really trash your mascara after three months of use, drugstore offerings are much more economical.  Especially when there are some serious super-power performers like, Maybelline Volum’ Express The Falsies Spoon Brush Washable Mascara. 

This mascara has the staying power of Great Lash, but with dramatic effects.  I love the way the spoon brush can lift and separate my lashes.  For evening, I like to build this mascara to mimic false lashes.  Clumping just doesn’t happen – how do they do it? But for everyday wear, this mascara adds just the perfect amount of volume while coating my lighter lashes with great color (always very black for me).

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation

Why, why, why! did it take me so long to pick this foundation up?  I was definitely intimidated that I would select the wrong shade, but when I visited CVS, I found handy testers.  After visiting the mirror aisle, I was sold on #115 (Ivory).  Good thing for the testers because I would have purchased #110 (Porcelain) had I not had the opportunity to try shades.  Because I was sans makeup (in my defense, it was 8AM), I put the makeup on in my car.  My skin is super sensitive right now due to starting a retinol treatment, but this did not irritate my skin at all.  The coverage is really good – but do not confuse this with heaviness.  The makeup is actually really light.  How did they do that?  Six hours later, coverage is still looking great.  I see what all the hype was about.  Don’t hesitate picking this up next time you are at the drugstore.

Maybelline Colorsensational Lip Color

A word of caution just in from our valuable makeup market analyst… Mom!  While Mom has done a great job at sniffing out some surprisingly good drug store lip color, this one was a disappointment.  Blame it on the genetics, but both Mom and I are in search of a neutral pink shade with a gloss appearance and lots of staying power.  We both love the Armani gloss and lipcolor.  This Maybelline Lip Color fell short, delivering less thickness than a “tube of chapstick” and short lived color.  Steer clear of this bargain lip color… even it is not worth it.