As much as you might like to spend $30 on a designer brand eyeliner, for most of us, it’s just not an option. But that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality! If you know what to look for, you can find a drug store lipgloss, mascara, or blush that you’ll love just as much as the department store brand. In fact, since you’ll be saving so much money, you’ll probably love it more! Here’s our breakdown of the best makeup to buy for your budget.
FOUNDATION
Revlon ColorStay $10 All across the internet, this classic makeup is reviewed as being on par with brands like Mac and Laura Mercier. It is oil-free, fragrance-free, provides just the right amount of coverage, and really lasts the whole day. Acne-prone users say it hasn’t caused them to break out. There are plenty of different shades with different undertones to choose from, so you’re sure to find a color to match you.
CONCEALER
Almay Clear Complexion Concealer Stick and Treatment Gel $9.99 This concealer has two ends. One is a cream concealer stick, the other is a spot treatment so you can conceal and treat blemishes at the same time. We like this concealer because the thick formula is perfect for hiding blemishes or red marks, and the treatment isn’t built into the concealer so you can still use this on your under-eyes and other sensitive areas without worrying about the acne treatment causing irritation.
Physicians Formula Gentle Cover Cream Concealer$5.49If you prefer more of a liquid concealer, this is your best bet. We love Physician’s Formula because they take extra care to make sure their products are non-irritating and non-comedogenic. This gentle concealer is a thicker liquid so it will stay put but won’t get cakey when placed under your eyes or over a blemish.
BLUSH
CoverGirl Cheekers Blush$4.79 We love Cheekers because it comes in 15 super natural shades and adds just the right amount of color. It goes on softly, but it easy to layer for more of a pop. We particularly love the ”pretty peach” color, which seems to look great on everyone.
MASCARA
NYX Doll Eye Mascara$4 (Lengthening) This mascara will. not. clump! It’s super lengthening and doesn’t get flaky and leave you with watery itchy eyes.
CoverGirl Lash Blast Mascara$4.55 (Volumizing) This mascara gives the illusion that you have about a third more lashes than you do. Apply it by using a side to side motion for the best results. Oh, and it lengthens too!
EYELINER
Maybelline Lasting Drama by Eye Studio Gel Liner $6.94 Ladies, if you’re still using your pencil or liquid eyeliner and haven’t tried gel, stop what your doing and head to CVS to get this liner. Bobbi Brown makes basically the same thing, but this is about a quarter of the price. Gel gives you the dramatic, long lasting look of liquid liner with the control of an eyeliner pencil. Plus, it’s blendable, so you can go over it with a smudge brush to give a softer look or layer it on thick for more drama.
EYE SHADOW
NYX Cosmetics 10 Color Eye Shadow Palette in Smokey Eyes $9.07 This palette will last forever, all the shades look good on everyone (who doesn’t look good in a smokey eye?), and the color really stays, especially if you use a primer. If you only can afford one eye shadow, buy this palette. You can create looks that are more brown or more grey for variety, but honestly no one gets tired of a classic smokey eye. If you don’t like the smokey eye look, NYX makes a ton of other 10-shade palettes in brighter colors too.
When the weather heats up, there are a few changes you absolutely have to make to your makeup routine to keep looking flawless all through the summer.
Switch to a Lighter Foundation: As the weather heats up, oil glands sometimes go into overdrive to combat the dryness caused by sunburns and heat. Plus all that extra sweat really doesn’t go well with a face full of heavy makeup. Try switching to a tinted moisturizer, or a light dusting of mineral makeup. Summer beauty is low key anyway!
User Bolder Colors: Our favorite summer look is a natural face and eye with a pop of color on the lips. So fresh and festive!
Go Easy on the Eyeliner: Unless you’re going to a formal event, heavy eyeliner in the summer can look a bit too dramatic. Lighten up the look by either wearing it only on your top lid or completely ditching it and wearing mascara alone.
Add a Little Shimmer: Note that we said shimmer and not sparkle. A little shimmer on the cheekbones and decolletage can be really sexy when it catches the sunlight. Just don’t douse yourself in sequins or anything.
Trade Blush for Bronzer: The summer heat and sun are likely to give you a natural blush anyway. So if you even need extra color, go for bronzer instead of blush to avoid looking too red.
Here are our picks for the hottest nail polish trends for Summer 2012:
1. Pastels Other Then Pink: We’ve seen all the top nail polish brands like Essie and OPI come out with some really sweet pastel nail polish colors lately. In particular, we’re digging the light purple and pistachio colors. So fresh and summery!
2. Metallic: Metallic Colors are so sexy! A great look for a warm night out or just lounging around at the beach.
3. Matte: We love matte colors because they still look great even after a day in the sand. Shiny colors get dull looking, but since matte colors are already matte, the sand has no effect on them.
4. Orange: Orange nail polish is so yummy. It reminds us of an orange popsicle or a delicious mimosa.
5. Teal: Teal is for a true trendsetter. This statement color looks great on freshly tanned toes and hands.
Obviously since I write for Latest Beauty, I love makeup. Mostly I love that makeup gives me the ability to look different every day, if I want to. Variety is the spice of life, and it’s nice to be able to change up your look depending on my mood. That said, I think most women will admit that wearing heavy makeup daily is A. a pain in the butt to apply and B. causes more breakouts. So on principle, I try to go a day without makeup every now and then. If I have any breakouts then I’ll apply a little concealer, but otherwise I wear no foundation, eye makeup or lip color. That doesn’t mean I don’t spend time getting ready. I follow the 7 steps below to make sure I look fresh:
Get Enough Sleep: Sleep is the best medicine. Get at least 8 hours a night. 9 hours is better. But don’t sleep more than 10 hours–too much sleep can cause grogginess.
Calm Inflammation: If you didn’t sleep enough the night before (or had a little too much to drink) you may have puffy eyes, puffy skin, and redness around the nose and eyes. First, for all of these symptoms, don’t discount allergies. If you’re frequently waking up with red puffy eyes you might want to try taking Zyrtec or buying a air purifier for your bedroom. You can also use Naphcon, anti-histamine drops that relieve redness and itching almost instantly. If it’s not allergies, then what I do is create an ice pack and alternate holding over my eyes and over the rest of my face. Spend just 5-10 minutes with an icepack and you’ll greatly reduce inflammation.
Pinch and Pat: This might sound a bit strange but next you’ll want to alternate lightly pinching and patting your skin for about a minute or two. This will increase circulation which will make skin look brighter and give you a natural “blush.”
Cleanse Gently: If you want to go out without makeup, then using a gentle cleanser that won’t over-dry you is absolutely necessary. Dry skin can look pale and sallow and can also cause redness to be more apparent. My absolute favorite gentle cleanser is Aveeno Ultra Calming Foaming Cleanser. It’s so gentle and leaves my skin super soft. It also contains feverfew, which helps reduce redness and inflammation.
Moisturize: This is the most important step. I suggest applying a large amount of moisturizer, more than a quarter size dollop. Definitely use something non-comedogenic: I love Cerave. Also, if you really want skin to glow, add a couple drops of Jojoba Oil to your moisturizer. Jojoba oil is non-comedogenic and actually helps balance skin’s oil production because it so closely mimics your skin’s natural sebum. I use Now Foods Organic Jojoba Oil and really swear by it: it has this ability to moisturize my skin when it’s dry and mattify it when it’s oily.
Apply Lip Balm: Dry lips can really kill the “no makeup” look. Try to use a lip balm with shea butter or jojoba oil which will both do a great job of moisturizing.
Curl Your Lashes: Simply curling your lashes will make you look rested and bright eyed.
And that’s it! So, what do you think? Can you go out without makeup? Some women are perfectly comfortable running errands without it, but wouldn’t be caught dead at work with a bare face. If you have any other “no makeup” tips or tricks, please feel free to share them in the comments below! Every little tip helps!
But when I do, my routine is fairly simple: Bare Minerals foundation, a swipe of dark brown or black mac eyeshadow for eyeliner, Maybelline’s Full ‘N Soft mascara, and a dab of Vaseline.
Believe me, I’ve strayed over the years and I’ve tried plenty of other mascaras, everything from the ones that claim to curl your lashes to the ones that claim to double the length and volume of your lashes–and a few in between.
store-cheap and easy to find. Even the packaging (one area in which drugstore brands often falter) is sophisticated and cool: A sleek black-and-silver tube with clear plastic on top so you can see the color inside.
It’s long-lasting and genuinely matte, and the colors are beautiful.
At the moment, I have three shades from this line: Nude Attitude (creamy beige), In the Red (true red) and Wine Not (burgundy). The only one that I have any issue with at all is Nude Attitude; it’s so light that it looks a little like I put concealer on my lips!
Still haven’t really figured out how to make that one work for me, but it might look nice topped with a colored gloss or as part of an updated mod look with a strong eye.
Ok, I admit I’m late to the party but….have you discovered E.L.F. makeup brushes yet?? I went to Target yesterday and was on the hunt for some affordable makeup brushes. I am doing my best friend’s makeup for her wedding in two weeks and I want to make sure she looks flawless. I needed to get a foundation brush and I also thought it would be a good idea to pick up some eyeshadow brushes for her eye makeup. I have some great ones from MAC that I used for my wedding but since I use them and wouldn’t have time to clean them properly between her application and mine, it is more sanitary to get some new brushes just for her. Since I’m mainly buying the brushes for a one-time-only affair, I’m not too worried about not getting top of the line brushes that are going to last forever. I just need some quality brushes that will apply makeup beautifully for this occasion.
I went ahead and picked up a few from the Sonia Kashuk line, since they are pretty great in their own right. And then I decided to wander through the makeup aisles, as I’m known to do. I can’t help myself – you never know what fun stuff you’ll find! And I’m extra glad I did because that is how I stumbled upon E.L.F. I didn’t realize Target carried this line and I thought I heard awhile back that they were going out of business. So I was very pleasantly surprised to see their products. And then I saw how much they cost…..ONE DOLLAR. Yep. A dollar a brush. And not for shabby, stiff, poor bristles. A dollar for soft, pliable, completely workable brushes. I am thrilled with the find and stocked up on what I needed. All for less than the cost of one brush from Sonia Kashuk’s line. Not to knock the SK brushes – those will certainly last longer and are great quality. But when you need a brush for a day, you can’t beat this. And if you are new to brushes and you want
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always felt like I had two choices when it came to buying makeup: I could go low-end (i.e., drugstore) or I could go high-end (i.e., department stores/Sephora). Drugstore makeup is super affordable and easy to come by, but higher-end products are usually better quality and better for my skin – not to mention the invariably sexy packaging.
Unfortunately, I’ve more or less resigned myself to buying drugstore makeup lately, with the occasional Sephora splurge here and there…and then I started thinking about beauty supple stores.
Of course, I’ve always been aware of beauty supply stores, and I’ve ducked in once or twice, but I had pretty much written them off as being primarily hair care.
…plus the $5 I paid for a 1-year membership to the “Beauty Club”
I decided to take the plunge and get a club card because there are tons of discounts exclusive to club members listed on the website; plus, they gave me a $5 coupon good on any purchase during the month of October, so it’ s like my member
As for the awesomeness of my purchases, I’m thinking of doing a series of individual reviews, because seriously, they’re all great. The Palladio powder foundation, in particular, is so much better than the Neutrogena Mineral Sheers I’ve been using – and it was about $5 cheaper!
In conclusion, if you haven’t ventured into a beauty supply store
Just a quick post about how gorgeous Natalie Portman looked on the opening day of the Venice Film Festival. Her bold red dress by Rodarte was perfectly offset with her neutral makeup choices. I love the detail of the shoulders and the neckline on this dress. And this shade of red is what I’m going to be looking for when I start popu
The one thing I’m not so crazy about is the clutch that is paired with the dress. Does it look like a makeup bag to anyone else? Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve had a few makeup bags in my time that I thought could double as purses….but now I see how that doesn’t really work. I’m sure this is some gorgeous designer bag but it stands out to me as
Back to the gorgeousness though: the lightly lined eyes, with what looks like brown eyeliner to keep the look as natural as possible, is perfection. The application really makes her brown eyes look otherworldly. I am a big fan of MAC’s Stubborn Brown Powerpoint Eye Pencil to help achieve this defined yet delicate look. It looks like a touch of white sh
Did you ever want to experiment with different shades of makeup without the hassle of cleanup? Or you simply didn’t have time to explore the endless options? Well, now you can explore endless makeup and hair looks right from your computer! Yes, that’s right, your computer. Ladies, now, you can see how you look with a makeover, without actually getting a makeover. You c an prevent
Unlike most glosses, which have at least a hint of shimmer, this one is absolutely shimmer-free – and, having seen pictures of it on the lips, it’s way more flattering than you might expect.
I already own quite a few of these (in fact, I’m wearing Blue Me away, a vibrant blue creme, right now!) but the new shades that I’ve seen on a handful of blogs look pretty hard to resist – and, since they’re only $1.99 apiece, why fight it
? There’s a glass-flecked deep crimson called Fireberry Red, a smoky purple/gray with delicate green shimmer called Mystic Lilac, and a glittery purple/silver combo called Purple Gala…sigh. Why haven’t I been able to find these yet?!
In fact, after eschewing the product for years in favor of my trusty old (and, admittedly, boring) black eyeliner/ black mascara combo, I only started branching out into the world of shadows earlier this year.
Sure, I’d swiped a wash of color on my lids from time to time, but I’m just now learning how to use multiple colors at once, accent the crease, blend up to the brow bone, and so on.
Lily Lolo is a UK-based brand of mineral makeup, and LB recently received a few adorable little pots of their loose powder eyeshadow for review. The shades I tried, both part of the new Summer Essential line, were Vanilla Shimmer (described as “a softly shimmering pinky-beige”) and Moonlight (“a rich, luxurious and glistening chocolate brown”). Vanilla Shimmer is recommended as a base color or for highlights, while Moonlight is intended to add depth or function as an eyeliner.
I wouldn’t have chosen either of these colors for myself, as I tend to prefer shades that are dark and/or bold, but they both looked perfectly lovely in their pots and swatched on the back of my hand.
Unfortunately, I’m going to have to give them a thumbs down overall because they had virtually no staying power whatsoever! Now the website claims that these shadows have “strong colour pigment to give long lasting wear,” but my experience was exactly the opposite.
(I tried this on my hand as well, and they really do seem to vanish on me after just one or two swipes!) I was unable to create any sort of look with these shadows, which is too bad, because they really did look pretty in the pot.
After our fabulous guest blog by Sheila from the Painted Ladies, I don’t need to get too into detail about eye makeup for your wedding day. Check out her blog and you’ll have a great guide. I agree that primers are a must and I love her trick with the cream base to really may your shadow pop. Since most brides wear white on their wedding day, you have a little liberty with your eye makeup. You can choose to keep it really natural with natural tones, like tans and browns or you can play
It all depends on how adventurous you feel on your wedding day. It also depends on what you are planning to do with your lips…
For your lip color you can go bold or you can keep it natural. But whatever you do, enhance the natural pigment of your lips so they don’t get lost in pictures. I highly recommend putting on a stain under whatever lip color you ultimately decide on. Even if you are using a long lasting lip color, you don’t want to be concerned with double checking to make sure everything has stayed in place. With a lip stain, you will have a beautiful flush no matter how many kisses or drinks you’ve had throughout the day. I use Cover Girl’s Outlast Lip Stain as a base for my lips on a daily basis. The clever magic marker tip makes application really easy. If you want a more traditional stain, you can’t go wrong with Benetint. I love their Pocket Pal stain because it comes with a handy lip balm all in one package. Perfect for when you want to add a little shine as the night goes on.
Last but not least, don’t forget your cheeks! You will need some sort of blush in order not to look washed out. Remember that matte is key but there is nothing wrong with a little dash of bronzer to help create that “in love” glow. Again, I’m a fan of Cover Girl and love their Cheekers bronzer. It comes in two shades and is not overpowering. It gives just a light flush that looks very natural. Use a larger blush brush, like MAC’s #168 large contour brush, to get the right application.
If you still need a little more guidance on how to properly apply all of your makeup goodies, set up an appointment with one of the makeup artists at any MAC store. That is what I did when I got married. The woman who helped me showed me the exact products I would need to create the look I wanted. Then she made a step-by-step guide that was personalized for me on one of their face maps. I don’t know the actual name for that….my memory fails me!….but I had it out on my wedding day and followed her instructions. It was like having my own personal makeup artist with me, which
The following post was written for LatestBeauty by Sheila from the fabulous Painted Ladies. It’s an awesome primer on how to craft an eyeshadow look with maximum impact.
we like to do is to talk about all aspects of beauty from a very honest and real person perspective.
I have a regular section called “Breaking Down Beauty,” where I post tips and tricks I’ve learned through the years. So, here for you is a very special “Breaking Down Beauty,” one that I have not even shared with my own readers!
I firmly believe that every person who uses eye shadow must include a primer or base under their color.
My favorite primers are MAC’s Paint Pots – they wear like steel and your shadow will not budge!
Here’s a little trick for you all… if you want to make your shadows REALLY stand out and get maximum impact from them, use a little cream shadow on top of the primer, before shadows.
When worn on their own, I am not a fan of cream shadows whatsoever. Do not expect a cream shadow not to crease, and yes, Revlon, I am talking about you!
You don’t even have to use a cream base, you can even utilize your eyeliners to help give your shadows a boost by scribbling them on your eye and then blending with a brush or your finger.
You can do so much with a cream base and a powder shadow, transforming them to totally unique colors that you customize as you wish. Now THAT’S empowering!
When it comes to cream shadows just remember these tricks:
I posted yesterday about the basics to start with for your wedding day makeup in Wedding Makeup: Part One. I recommended the use of MAC’s Select Foundation. I noted that it had SPF in it and my bestie wrote to me right away. She thought everything looked good but she had read somewhere that using makeup with an SPF is bad for photos. This was news to me so I quickly did some research and….
Turns out she was right! I had never heard of this before but I found a lot of info. The titanium dioxide that is used as SPF in makeup is formulated to reflect light in order to protect the skin. Which means that you can end up with a washed out look when using flash photography. You learn something new everyday. I checked out MAC’s foundation and sure enough, it has titanium dioxide. So I have to amend my previous post’s suggestion!
So what kind of foundation is best? When I got married, I used Cover Girl’s TruBlend Foundation. It covered evenly and looked great in photos. But I just went over to their site and it looks like they have changed their formula and people aren’t thrilled.
I don’t like recommending something I haven’t used personally yet but since MAC has never let me down, I feel comfortable suggesting you check out their Face and Body Foundation. It doesn’t have SPF and it is water resistant. That could come in handy for the teary moments you may encounter on your wedding day. And the sweaty moments – which will hopefully happen when you’re dancing!
Since today was a day of learning and an amendment to yesterday’s post, I’ll have more for you tomorrow on the best eye, lip and cheek products to try, in Part Three. This could be a week-long series!
My best friend is getting married in September and she is planning on doing her own makeup! I love this idea because it gives you the opportunity to go and buy quality makeup that will last you long beyond one day. But which products do you buy? With wedding day makeup, you have to be sure to get products that photograph well and this where some hard and fast rules come into play. Today, let’s take a look at the basics:
Use a Primer
Primer is brilliant because it gives you a blank slate to start as the foundation of your entire look. My favorite primer that has never let me down is Prime Time by Bare Minerals. One pump is enough to smooth over my entire face and it helps to make my pores look smaller and fine lines smoother. But the real reason behind my love is that it makes my makeup last all day. And that is what you need on your wedding day. Knowing that your foundation is going to stay put gives you one less thing to worry about! And speaking of foundation….
Buy Matte
When it comes to foundations, powders and concealers, buying products that have a matte finish will give your skin the polished and beautiful look you want in your wedding pictures. This is an important note for women who wear mineral makeup on a daily basis. I am one of those women! I love my Bare Minerals for everyday looks but every time I’ve been a part of a professional photography shoot, the makeup artists have advised against minerals. Minerals tend to reflect light and you can end up looking a little oily in photos. Because of this, Bare Minerals did create a matte formula for their foundations. So if you are set on minerals, then this is the one to check out. But if you feel like you’ll be more comfortable with a liquid foundation that has a matte finish, I’d recommend checking out any of MAC’s Select Foundation. It comes in 18 shades and SPF 15 and f
Now that we have the canvas of your look prepped for photos, let’s add on the right layers for the pops of color on your cheeks, eyes and lips….tune in tomorrow for Part Two!
Just goes to show that you don’t need a lot going on in terms of detailing or accessories – you just need to create a compelling combination of elements.
Keep the rest of your makeup and accessories to an absolute minimum (I think Salma could have added some red polish without going over the top, but she looks lovely with nude nails too), and you’re ready for some hot summer nights!
Take, for instance, the Queen from Snow White: Sure, she’s asking her henchman to find and murder an innocent young girl simply because she’s a little bit prettier, but check out those perfectly arched brows, those shadowed lids, that ruby pout! Then there’s Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, who not only turns herself into a dragon, she also rocks purple eyeshadow, tomato red lipstick and some sort of horned headpiece as an accessory.
? Well, you’re in luck – or you will be, come September (just in time for Halloween!), because that’s when MAC is set to launch their Venomous Villains line. The collection, which was created in conjunction with Disney, will include lipstick, lip gloss, blush and powder in shades inspired by four specific villains – although MAC isn’t spilling the beans on which baddies will be represented just yet.
Stop by Ulta’s website and check out their BOGO (Buy 1, Get 1 Free) sale - there are tons of great deals to be had on Ulta brand cosmetics (including minerals) and beauty tools. You can browse through seven pages of deals, to be exact, on everything from eyeshadow and lipstick to callus shavers and cuticle nippers! Whatever you need, Ulta probably has it…and now, you can get 2 for the price of 1. Yay!
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For some reason, I have been obsessed with finding Revlon’s 
Disney certainly h as a ravenous fan b
Fans of adorable packaging, take note: Sephora is now carrying TokiDok
Stop by Ulta’s 
