Winter Drugstore Finds

In almost all scenarios, you get what you pay for – especially when it comes to the wondrous world of cosmetics. But sometimes a drugstore brand will come out with a product that wows without the hefty price tag. During these chilly (yet still snowless) winter months, there have been a few products that have dug me out of the cold-weather blues:

Psst! Dry Shampoo

This is my favorite cheap-y dry shampoo. Amidst this dry atmosphere, static wreaks havoc on my hair (like, mad scientist-scale havoc). So shampooing every day is sooo not an option. This stuff gets rid of the grease and adds a ton of texture and grit – perfect for chicks who like volume or beachy waves. Just makes sure you REALLY rub it in so you don’t get any tell-tale white spots or the formidable George Washington wig effect…

Con Air Bun Maker

I hate wearing my hair up, but when the weather outside is frightful, it’s often a must. Instead of just throwing my hair in a bun, I like to look like I’ve put at least SOME effort into my updo. Enter the hair donut. Slide your ponytail through, wrap around, pin – and you’ve got yourself a picturesque ballet bun. I also use this little guy as a base to make for more volume on other such updos. It’s the easiest way to get perfect buns (at least of the hair variety).

NYC Lipstain

I’ve found that this cheap-o lipstain lasts longer and looks better than so many other brands. And I’m particularly fond of the color spectrum it comes in. The more opaque ones last a lot longer than the sheerer shades, but all in all I usually only need to reapply once a day (after lunchtime). My favorites are: Endless Spice, ____ Red, and ____ Nude.

Milani Blush in "Luminous"

This Nars Orgasm knock-off is the closest to the real thing I’ve found thus far. It’s pinky-peach color with gold-toned shimmer mixed in gives a nice rosy cheek in lieu of the natural frost-nipped look only achieved by walking around Boston in January. Since the price tag is about ¼ the Nars price, this is one of the only times it’s a good idea to “fake it.”

Sugar Fix

                              Isn’t everything better with sprinkles???

                          

Speaking of which, it seems I’m fully abandoning my usual all black, all the time ways for more and more color. I’ve got to have a sugar fix at 5 o’clock every day…and now I need more of this in my life:


Shoes - Haus of Price, Dress - Josh Goot for ASOS, Eye Glitter - Makeup Forever

The Pen is Mightier Than the Palette

I have fallen in love with a couple Holy Grail cosmetics in the past month. Not only are these two babies makeup miracle workers, but they’re both pen-sized – and can replace a whole myriad of products in your makeup bag, truly proving that good things do come in small packages.

YSL Touche Eclat

Part highlighter, part sheer coverage concealer, this gleaming gold tube offers something other products just can’t: a perfect touch of radiance wherever you need it. I’ve been searching for years for something that could give me that glowy, brilliant sheen that you see on models in the magazines, but I always ended up either looking like a shiny, oily mess or disco ball from all the glitter. This little guy basically makes you look like you’re being perfectly illuminated by a professional camera crew at all times. And because it’s sheer, you can ever layer it over concealer for an instant pick-me-up under the eyes. Just add a stroke or two here and there, and you’ll have a perfected complexion.

Revitalash Eyelash Conditioner

Okay, so we’ve all seen that commercial with Brooke Shields where she’s talking about this stuff her doctor prescribed her for her “inadequate, or not enough lashes,” right? And it sounded a little ridiculous but maybe got you thinking…is there something out there that can really give me my own permanent set of false-looking eyelashes? But then you heard the disclaimer about the eyelid-tinting side effects, iris spots, blah blah blah, forget about it.
Enter Revitalash. Same deal, no side effects, no Rx, and about a third of the price if you find a deal online. I’ve been using it for just about a month now and I’m starting to see some real growth on these stumpy, stick-straight lashes. One of my co-workers has been using it for several months and recommended it to me when I commented on what I thought were her FALSE lashes. So I remain confident I too will soon have enviable eyelashes – with or without mascara.

Spring Cleaning

I’m not sure if it’s because the weather is changing or because I’ve been going through a throw-out-everything-you-don’t-use phase, but I recently did a little overhaul of my regular hair ‘n’ makeup routine.  I’ve been wearing full makeup on a daily basis since I was about 12 years old (okay, let’s not count the whole horrific American Apparel era where all makeup was strictly forbidden), and I’ve mostly gotten it down to rigid regime, but every once in awhile I get a little bored… Here are some new favorites:

Physician’s Formula Shimmer Sticks Bronzer

Hooray for cheap drugstore makeup!  But the real reason I like this is because I’m a redhead with very pale skin.  Normally, bronzer is traumatic fiasco for us.  This is the only bronzer I’ve found that comes in a rosier shade that actually doesn’t make me look like a clown.  Bonus: the ivory strip doubles as a highlighter for the mornings after you’ve had too many screwdrivers.

MAC Studio Finish Concealer

It’s been a lifelong hunt for concealer that doesn’t cake up.  I love it when people assume I have naturally perfect skin (almost as much as I love it when people assume this is my natural hair color).  This one is the ONLY concealer I’ve found to last through the whole day (and the night…and the morning after) without caking up, rubbing off, or creasing.  Bravo to the salesgirl who picked this one out for me.

Kerastase Elixir Ultime

If you knew me really well, you’d know that beachy hair is my jam.  I’ve always preferred texturized (okay, slightly messy) hair to shiny hair.  In fact, I usually hate when my hair is shiny at ALL.  But I started to realize that whole bedhead look I was going for was actually just really dry, damaged hair.  Whoops.  Enter the Elixir.  I put it on before I blow dry, after I blow dry, before bed as a treatment, while the water is boiling for my pasta dinner, during the commercial breaks for SNL…yeah, you get it.  All the time.  Best. Hair product. Ever.

Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara

I want to wear false eyelashes all the time.  I know it’s not realistic.  I know it’s not sane.  This eases the constant craving for drag queen-worthy lashes.  Plus, it smells reeeallll purty.  No, really.  Next time you see me, take a whiff of these eyelashes.

Neutrogena Moisture Shine Lip Gloss

So many betrayals.  1) I hate wearing lip gloss almost as much as I hate wearing nail polish.  I think I skipped those days in girl school. 2) Neutrogena is evil. 3) Pharmacy makeup is just in general a bad idea.  HOWEVER, this is not much of a stray from just wearing lip balm, it is super cheap, and (the real reason why I like it) it tastes like a freshly mixed tropical drink.

There, I mentioned girly beverages TWICE in this post.  I feel this compensates for the lack of nail polish.