Price: $28.50
This is the first ever high end mascara that I have ever used. It reminds me a lot of the Maybelline Lash Stiletto in the length that it gives your lashes. I was a little worried at first when I opened this mascara to try it because it was quite a bit drier than I like (I like a really wet formula in my mascaras). I only purchased this because it was on sale with a sample sized eyeshadow set from Dior and I figured, "why not?". I am so happy that I bought this because I absolutely adore it! I wish it wasn't so darn expensive though, so maybe when I run out (which should be soon since I've had it about two months and it is getting quite dry ugh) I will go purchase the Lash Stiletto again and see how well it compares. I have fairly oily eyelids and I don't really have a problem with smudging from this mascara which is kind of weird since it is not a waterproof formula which, again, I normally go for.
It has a rubber bristle brush and it is actually quite small and the bristles are spaced out quite further than most other wands, but I don't really mind it - it gets into those stubborn corner lashes really nicely because of the smaller sized brush.
Before Mascara
(my apologies for my awful eyebrows...they need to be done like, yesterday)
After Mascara
As you can see, it doesn't really give much volume to my lashes, but it does give them some length (which I tend not to go for because my eyelashes are already very long). I'm not sure how well they would hold a curl because I have naturally curled eyelashes and next to never curl my lashes. I was definitely blessed in the eyelash department.
Price: $18.00
I'm not going to go into details about this product on here because I have an entire blog post specifically reviewing the Acne/Oily Skin Regimen from Michael Todd here. But let me just tell you I am absolutely head over heels in love with this scrub. Ugh. Beautiful.
Price: $4.00-$6.00
This product is so inexpensive, I'm surprised it works as well as it does. I am an extreme advocate for drugstore makeup as I don't think you need to spend hundreds of dollars to look and feel good (although sometimes there are exceptions to this rule - as with everything else in the world). I have super dry skin one minute and then it's like pools of oil the next and this one of the only powders I have tried that combat the oils and does not accentuate my dry patches either. This is an amazing powder and it is definitely a staple in my collection and I totally recommend this product.
Price: $7.00-$10.00
This does exactly what it says it does. Wakes you up (or at least makes you look like you're awake). It gives such a nice glow to the skin without making you look shiny or greasy and from someone with an oily skin type, that's saying something. I do recommend if you are oily skinned, to set it with a powder because it will start looking shiny throughout the day, but this is absolutely perfect for someone with dryer skin. It transforms dull looking skin into youthful glowing skin. I wouldn't say it has a dewy finish, but it is definitely not matte either. I would say it gives a medium coverage, but you can still see your skin showing through so it is very natural looking.
Before & After Foundation
(Clearly the before and after are on the wrong sides...oops)
Price: $3.00
YES. THREE DOLLARS FOR THIS COMPACT OF BEAUTY. I am telling you right now, for someone who is on the fairer side of the skin-tone spectrum, this gives you the most natural looking bronzed look (as an all over bronzer or as a contour powder). It is completely matte, too, so it makes the best contour in my opinion. I can't say enough good things about this. It does not make you look orange or muddy and it is so damn inexpensive you can't go wrong. Please go buy this. Just do it. Please.
Price: $32.95
Yes, I know, it's expensive, but I promise you it is work absolutely every single penny. It makes your foundation look absolutely flawless and because there are no edges, you do not get those stubborn foundation brush lines on your face. It is beautiful. You use it damp or dry (though I prefer it damp) and you "bounce" the blender on your face and it makes your foundation look magnificent. You can use it with cream and powder products and I do not know if I will ever use a foundation brush again (flat, stipple, kabuki - nothing). Unless I find a brush that can do what this does, I don't think I can go back to the days of trying so hard. It is effortless. It is latex-free and it is easily washable (mine is clean, but it is stained so it looks a little dirty). Just go buy this.
Price: $8.00-$10.00
This is my most-loved under-eye concealer. It makes me look like I've had a 12 hour sleep and it does not crease (at least, not on me). It is so creamy and smooth and so easy to blend (I use either my fingers or my beauty blender). It brightens my eye area and conceals dark circles. It is quite a simple product and I think that's why I love it. It still looks natural. Unfortunately, it only comes in 6 different shades, so unless you're light, light-medium, medium, or medium-dark, you may not find a match for you (by the way, I wish companies would start catering more products for you dark-skinned women because it's quite pathetic how little there is to choose from). Overall, I think this is a great concealer for under the eyes and I definitely recommend it to anyone in the market for something simple.
Price: $6.00
This is for special occasions (aka everytime I have a breakout...aka every day of my life?) because this is the thickest and most full-coverage concealer I have ever used. It literally goes such a long way because of how thick in consistency it is. The downside to this product is that it dries quite quickly so you need to work fast when it comes to blending it in. I wouldn't recommend it for your under-eye area because it most likely will crease but it is perfect for covering blemishes, acne scarring, and hyper-pigmentation. For only $6.00, I don't think you can go wrong to at least try it.
Price: $12.00
I purchased this whilst shopping in the states a little while back because I was looking for something to help with my pores (low and behold, I found this and it was on sale, yippee!). This makes my skin so smooth and fills in my pores so my foundation goes on like a dream. I've used a ton of different drugstore primers, but nothing works quite like this when it comes to pore control. I don't really notice much of a difference when it comes to making my face makeup last longer, but it does make it go on so smoothly that I can overlook that small infraction. I love this stuff and I use it every time I do my makeup. Now that I think about it, I think I may need to make a trip to the states soon and pick up another one (along with multiple different items because Ulta has become my favorite place).
Price: $6.99
You see, I have a problem with nude lipsticks because most of them make me look like I just woke up from a 6 year coma and it is not cute. This one, however, is my favorite nude lipstick in this whole entire world (Here I am, talking like I've tried every single nude lipstick in the entire world...ha). It does not make me look dead, which is always a bonus and it is so soft and moisturizing, you'd think you were wearing a lip balm. I love all of the lipsticks from this line that I've tried, but since we're talking nude lip only, I won't show you the other ones. Head to your local drugstore and create a swatch storm and pick your favorite. I'm sure they are all good and there's a shade for everybody.
Swatched
Swatched on my Lips
(Such a cute mustache...)
Price: $6.99-$11.00
Hi I love these. Wear them as a base or on their own. I only have three shades to show because I am not at home right now with my entire collection (and I have most of them...), but these are a few of my favorites
Left to Right: Tough as Taupe (Matte), Inked in Pink (Metallic), Barely Branded (Metallic)
They are so smooth and creamy and they last forever. I don't know about the 24 hour claim because I don't keep my makeup on for that long, but they do last for ages, I will tell you that much. They are a cream, but they don't dry sticky or wet, but more of a powdery kind of texture (I am so bad at describing things, my goodness). I don't really have much to say about them because they are just so good and not overly expensive either. A couple of my other favorite shades are Bold Gold and Bad to the Bronze. They are wonderful. Beautiful. Incredible. Go get some please.
Swatched on my Hand
Left to Right: Inked in Pink, Tough as Taupe, Barely Branded
So there a few of my favorite products. I probably should have picked like, five, but that would have been too difficult and I'm a very indecisive person. I highly recommend everything that I mentioned in this blog and I bought and paid for all of these items myself and my reviews are completely honest. I love these products so much that I would run out and buy them all in a heart beat if I were to lose any of these precious babies. Thanks for reading and I hope you found something good enough to go and buy if you don't own it already. Sorry it was so long, and this is just more words for you to read that you probably don't want to read. Okay. That's all. Goodbye :)
xoxo Alyssa
P.s. Please comment and let me know some of your favorite products and if you have a blog or a YouTube channel, please leave the link to it below! I am always looking for new blogs to follow or videos to watch :) xxxx
I love all of these products! I just bought the Stay Matte powder last week and I'm in love with it already!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog - I'm a new follower! I'm doing a Review a Day week over on my blog where I review a different beauty product everyday for a week, so it would be amazing if you could check it out!
Ella x
http://beautibits.blogspot.co.nz/