Drugstore Superstars: Blushes

 The whole idea of blush is to mimic a healthy glow.  It all depends on your skin tone, but the right blush can make you look awake, alive and impossibly refreshed... like you just came from a day at the spa.  The problem with many drugstore blushes is that they can come off chalky and unblendable, or they have so little color payoff that it's almost impossible to see.  That's why I'm super impressed with these blushes.  Like the other blog posts in this series, I'm going to divide them up by category, so it's easy to figure out which product meets your needs.

Best Matte Blush: NYX Ombre Blush ($10.00)

Daaaaamn, NYX! Back at it again with the awesome products!  These blushes have only been on the market a few months, but they've shot straight up onto my must-have list.  Not only are they amazingly pigmented and easy to blend (a requirement to be on this list) but I love that the ombre effect actually gives you options for color.  NYX officially wants you to swirl your brush around the whole product to mix the light and dark colors together, but if you want something a bit darker, just dip your brush in the lower portion of the compact and the opposite goes for the higher portion of the compact.  3 blushes in 1!  Who doesn't love that?

Best Luminous Blush: Milani Baked Blush ($8.49)

Ok, this little endorsement comes with a bit of a caveat.   For those of you that don't like the look of a matte blush and prefer a bit of a healthy sheen, I think that SOME of the blushes in this line are fabulous, and others are kind of duds.  Let me explain.  A good luminous blush will quite literally illuminate and wake up your skin.  It should give you a youthful and almost dewy flush of color.  In order to create that illusion, the product needs to have a nice sheen and sparkle, and sometimes instead of putting in a finely milled sort of sparkle, companies will opt for the cheaper option of chunky glitter.  Now don't get me wrong, I love glitter as much as the next drag queen, but I don't want it anywhere near my cheeks - I'm not 13 anymore.  That brings me to the Milani Baked Blushes.  The majority of them have glitter in it.  I don't know why they chose to only make a couple without, but that's definitely the case.  I do have to point out, that even though they do have glitter in them, it's quite easy to buff it away once it's actually on your face, so it's not a complete lost cause.  Having said that, the shade Luminoso is GORGEOUS!  Being an almost exact dupe for the cult-favorite NARS Oragasm, I actually prefer Luminoso to it's much more expensive counterpart.  It has a peachy coral shade that is universally flattering on almost all skintones.  I, in fact, reach for Luminoso almost exclusively when I'm doing other people's makeup.  Since I do have a darker skintone, I do need to layer Luminoso quite a bit in order to get it to show up on me, so I usually end up using either Belissimo Bronze or Terra Sole (they are the darker versions of Luminoso with the least amount of glitter.)

Best Cream Blush: Maybelline Master Glaze Blush Stick ($9.99)

For those of you that prefer to work with creams, Maybelline has a great cream blush that comes in an easy to use stick.  Just swipe on your cheeks and blend with your fingers or a brush... what could be easier than that?  These have a gorgeous luminosity to them without any glitter and they have a light consistency to them that makes you feel like you're not wearing anything at all!

Best Blush Palette: e.l.f. Powder Blush Palette ($6.00)

I love any kind of makeup palette.  I love them so much that I actually depot the majority of my single makeup products and condense them into a Z Palette.  They're easier to work with, easier to pack up, easier to travel with, easier to mix colors with... they're just easier!  There actually aren't very many drugstore blush palettes on the market, so when I saw that e.l.f. came out with two, I rushed to my nearest Target to check them out.  As with all e.l.f. products, the price point can't be beat - it's already cheaper than the first three blushes on this list!  But what really impressed me was the pigmentation.  I'm not really that big of an e.l.f. fan... I usually feel that even though the price is amazing, there's always something wrong with either the pigmentation or blendability (something that's pretty common for drugstore products.)  But man, they made me eat my words with this one.  There are two different palettes to choose from, Light and Dark, and within those two palettes, there are four different blushes.  I prefer the Dark palette not only because the colors match my skintone better, but I feel like the products are a bit less chalky than those in the Light.  I'm going to tell you right off the bat, that one of the blushes has glitter in it and I hate glitter in blush (see above) so I could do without that shade.  The others, however, pack one heck of a punch!  I'd say start with a light hand, because these babies are PIGMENTED but they glide across the skin beautifully and blend like a dream!

Best Bang For Your Buck: Wet n Wild Color Icon Blush ($2.99)

I would be remiss if I failed to mention the O.G. of the drugstore blush world - the Wet n Wild Color Icon.  These matte blushes were the best on the market for so long, and it's really not that hard to see why.  They're super pigmented, blend beautifully and last all day long.  They were recently reformulated to be softer to the touch, and while I appreciate that, this has increased the product's fallout upon application.  For this reason, NYX has dethroned these blushes as my favorite.  The price, however, still makes it a great option for those looking for a good matte blush.

That's it!  Those are the best drugstore blushes on the market right now!  Which ones are your favorites?  Check out the other posts in this series here.

~Glammie love!
Jaz

Drugstore Superstars: Concealers

 Hey Glammies!  Welcome to the next installment of our Drugstore Superstar series!  This one is all about concealers.  Much like foundation, there is not one miracle concealer that is suited to everyone's needs... if there was, the company that sold it would make a killing!  So, I've broken down this post into categories, in order to help you find the best match for your needs.

Spot Concealer

For those of us with blemishes and imperfections to hide, L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Crayon Concealer ($8.95) is an absolute Godsend.  The thick, full-coverage formula is ideal for spot concealing and it's been my go-to for years (beating out all of its high-end competitors).  You may have seen it in action in my Summer Glow Makeup video tutorial, which is on our YouTube channel (if you haven't, go check the video out here!).  Its stick packaging not only makes it easy to apply, but also easy to throw in your purse for on-the-go touch-ups.  As you'll find with many other concealers, however, it's not really multi-purpose.  For instance, I would never use it for concealing under-eye circles since I find the consistency to be quite dry and because it does not blend as easily over the skin.  As with most cream products, be sure to set this product with powder if you want it to stay put on your face all day.

Under-Eye Concealer

I rarely suffer from dark circles or bags under my eyes, so I don't find myself reaching for this product as often as some others.  However, when I'm extra tired and my eyes need some help in order to perk up and look awake, I grab my Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser ($9.99).  It comes in 6 shades and does a wonderful job of neutralizing dark purple shadows cast underneath the eyes.  The liquid formula is easy to blend (especially since most people have drier under-eye areas than the rest of their face), but it doesn't skimp on coverage.  On the other hand, I'm a bit torn on the sponge applicator because, although it does a great job of blending the product, I can't imagine that it's very sanitary since you can't remove the sponge to clean it.

Brightening Concealer

With the trend of highlighting and contouring your face becoming more and more popular, concealers that also highlight and brighten your features are becoming increasingly in demand.  For the cost-conscious, there's Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highighting Concealer ($7.99).  Its gel-based formula diffuses light, illuminates your skin and blends like an absolute dream!  Unlike other products that claim to do the same thing, it doesn't come off as streaky on the skin.  I wouldn't use it to conceal blemishes, however; not only does it provide very sheer coverage, but with the illumination factor drawing light and attention to the face, it may result in the complete opposite of what you're probably going for!  In other words, it may draw attention to any problem areas, as opposed to hiding them.

Color Correcting Concealer

I don't usually advocate the use of color correcting concealers for casual makeup users since they can be difficult to work with and because it takes practice to properly apply them.  However, if you have some skin issues that will not be covered up by regular, flesh-toned concealer, NYX Above & Beyond Full Coverage Concealer Jar ($5.00) is for you!  Here's a quick crash course on which colors do what:

• If you want to conceal yellow discoloration (such as sallow complexions or yellow bruising), go for a lavender concealer;
• If you want to conceal redness, go for a green concealer;
• If you want to conceal purple discoloration (such as dark circles or scarring), go for a yellow concealer; and
• If you want to conceal deep purple or blue discoloration and you have a deeper skin tone, go for an orange concealer.  (My fellow Glammie, Bex, mentioned this technique in her 1 Product, Multiple Uses blog post.)

This product is incredibly full-coverage and long-lasting, and a little goes a long, long way.  Just dab the product on your problem areas, layer your regular foundation over it and say goodbye to your hard-to-conceal spots!  These also come in more traditional flesh-colored tones for those of you that want a high-impact, full-coverage concealer that matches your skin tone.  Since they are so thick and high-coverage, it's not a consistency that I enjoy using all over my face, as they tend to make me look cakey, which is something I try to avoid as much as humanly possible!  Nevertheless, they have their place, so if your skin has any of problems that I mentioned above, you should give this product a whirl.

All-Purpose Concealer

Now, I know that I mentioned before I started this list that there isn't a concealer that is suited for everyone's needs, but bear with me.  The NYX HD Photogenic Concealer Wand is my absolute favorite drugstore concealer, and I have my freelance makeup kit stocked with every single shade.  It does a great job of concealing my blemishes and blends effortlessly under my eyes, and the lighter shades highlight my face perfectly.  Why on earth do I have this entire list of products if I use it for everything, then?  Because, as mentioned before, I don't really suffer from a great deal of face discoloration (especially after I put on foundation.)  This product has a light to medium coverage, which is all I really need, but some people might need more.

So, there they are, my concealer superstars from the drugstore!  If you want to check out the other blog posts from this series, click here.  Stay tuned for the next installment: Bronzers!

Glammie love!

~Jaz

Drugstore Superstars: Foundations

I'm a huge fan of drugstore foundations!  While I feel like some products on the drugstore market are lacking when compared to their higher-end counterparts, I don't find that to be the case for foundations.  However, because the range of products out there is so amazing, writing a blog about the best drugstore foundations is tough; it really is a matter of taste.  For instance, some people prefer very light coverage while others tend to go for something heavier.  Likewise, one person might prefer a dewy finish while another opts for a matte finish (with some people going for something in between).  Lastly, there are powder-lovers and then those who prefer cream.  While there are literally hundreds of variations out there, I've tried my best to narrow it down to the best in the biz, as well as highlighting those products that are the most accessible.  So, without further ado, here are my drugstore foundation superstars!

Liquid Foundations

Liquid foundations are the most popular type of foundation.  When used well, they can mimic flawless, airbrushed skin, but when used improperly, they can tend to look cakey and fake.  Although they are typically recommended for people with dry to normal skin, which doesn't describe me, it's my favorite type of foundation.

Light Coverage: Maybelline Fit Me Foundation ($7.99)

Like the majority of liquid foundations on this list, there are two different formulas for this foundation: Matte + Poreless (geared towards people with normal to oily skin) and Dewy + Smooth (geared towards people with dry to normal skin).  This product has a nice range of colors (sixteen shades), so it shouldn't be too hard to find something to match your skin tone.  I find that, even though it's advertised as a medium coverage foundation, it's quite sheer.  Of course, that contributes to it feeling very natural and lightweight on the skin, but it doesn't do too well with concealing blemishes, which is why I tend to favor other products over it.  However, if you don't have anything major to conceal and would just like to even out your skin and fix some light discoloration, this is the perfect fit for you!  (Haha... no pun intended!)  On a regular day, I find that it will give me a good 4-5 hours' worth of wear before I have to touch up (keep in mind that my skin is oily and breaks down makeup faster than people with drier skin).

Medium Coverage: L'Oreal True Match ($10.95-$12.95)

Well, hello there, holy grail item!  There's a reason why this foundation has won tons of beauty awards - it's that good!  L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Makeup has been a part of my life since I was a teenager buying makeup at the grocery store.  It was amazing to me then, and it has stood the test of time because I still still think it's amazing.  The color range is fantastic (thirty-three shades!) and is divided into three categories: cool, neutral, and warm undertones.  It has a satin finish, which means that it is somewhere in between matte and dewy, so it looks very natural on the skin.  Bottom line, while it's not exactly weightless, it doesn't feel heavy on your skin.  As y'all know, I have oily skin, so I do feel like I need to set this one with powder to keep my oiliness at bay, or else blot throughout the day.  In an effort to expand the line, True Match Lumi has been added to the True Match family, and fans with dry skin rejoiced!  While there aren't as many options with this one (twelve shades), it's still just as blendable as the original, but this time, with a beautiful dewy finish.  True Match has medium coverage, but I find that it builds pretty well to cover problem areas.  I can get a good 6 hours' worth of wear with it until I have to touch up.

Full Coverage: Revlon Colorstay Makeup ($10.39)

I'm a big fan of Revlon's Colorstay collection (as you'll see when I continue on in this series), and the foundation is no exception.  Like the others, it has a formula for Combination/Oily Skin, as well as one for Normal/Dry Skin.  The shade range is pretty great, with twenty shades for the Combination/Oily and twelve shades for the Normal/Dry.  What I love most about this foundation is the coverage.  It provides the fullest coverage of any foundation on this list, without feeling super heavy on the skin.  I've never tested the 24 hour wear guarantee of this product (mainly because I don't feel like it's good for your skin to keep makeup on for 24 hours), but I can attest that it is very long-wearing; this is the one that keeps me matte the longest.

BB Cream: Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream ($7.44)

For the days that you don't want to put on a full face of makeup, there's BB Cream.  Since being introduced into the market a few years ago, Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream has been my ultimate go-to in the summer, when I feel like eyeliner and lip gloss is all that my face can keep on in the Texas heat.  It has sheer coverage, so I definitely need to use a concealer with it when I have blemishes, but it's the only BB Cream on the drugstore market with enough coverage that I feel comfortable wearing it on its own.  It's light, comfortable and hydrating while providing some coverage, as well as, best of all, SPF 30.  There aren't very many colors in this line (only five shades), but that's the name of the game with BB Creams.  I find that it's blendable enough, however, so that most people will be able to make it work.

CC Cream: Covergirl + Olay CC Tone Rehab Foundation ($13.99)

While I may have neglected it when I was younger, proper skincare has become quite important to me. Covergirl + Olay Tone Rehab Foundation's whipped consistency feels almost too thick for a CC Cream, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it's incredibly lightweight on the skin and that, although it has light coverage, it's not nearly as sheer as a BB Cream.  With fourteen shades, it has an incredibly large range of colors for a CC Cream.  The only drawback is the scent... while not exactly unpleasant, I really try to stay away from products with perfumes as they irritate may people with sensitive skin.
 Maybe it's because the tone and evenness I was used to seeing in my skin had started to fade, or because my skin is now rebelling with age (hooray adult acne!), but I've become obsessed with trying to restore my skin to its former glory.  That's why I've been very intrigued by the idea of CC Cream.  Somewhere between skincare and foundation, the main difference between CC and BB cream is that CC Cream not only hydrates and protects, but it is also supposed to correct discoloration and reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles.  The

Honorable Mention: L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation ($12.99)

Since this is my personal list of favorites, I feel like I would be amiss if I didn't mention my current favorite drugstore foundation.  The L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte hasn't been on the market for too long, but as soon as it went on sale, I snatched up a bottle for myself.  It's almost weightless on the skin, and it's oil-free, which means that the wear doesn't change over the course of the day.  It's a demi-matte finish, so even though I don't feel like I look shiny, it still looks like skin (something that matte formulations tend to ignore).  The only reason why it didn't unseat the other foundations on this list, is because it has a limited shade range of only twelve colors.  I find this somewhat frustrating because I'm between two shades, which I have to mix to get my perfect shade.

Powder Foundations

Powder foundation is the easiest type of foundation to apply, and it tends to stay put in hot weather, which makes it the perfect summer staple!  Powder foundation is also very versatile; you can opt for sheerer coverage by applying it with a brush, or you can go for fuller coverage by applying with a sponge.  Although not necessarily ideal for people with dry skin, as the powder tends to cling to dry patches, a good moisturizer should be able to correct that.  I have two drugstore options.

Pressed Powder: L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Powder ($10.95)

L'Oreal's True Match Line is seriously the gold standard in drugstore face makeup.  I've already mentioned their liquid foundation, and the powder foundation is just as amazing!  The formulation in this powder is so creamy and soft that it hardly feels like powder at all, and (like the name states) it blends onto your skin like an absolute dream.  Like the liquid foundation, the color range for these powders is unparalleled, with thirty-three shades from which to choose.  There's no doubt that you can find a shade that matches you!

Loose Powder: L'Oreal True Match Mineral ($15.25)

Remember what I said about the True Match line?  The L'Oreal True Match Mineral Powder can't be beat.  Although they have a reputation as being messy, I find that loose powders usually provide the most natural looking finish to the skin, as blending is part of the application.  It doesn't come in as many colors as the pressed foundation (twelve shades), but it has a wider selection than any of its competitors.  Mineral makeup has become somewhat of a must-have for those with sensitive skin, as well as those who are looking for coverage but trying to avoid clogged pores.  I love that this product has a brush attached to the lid, so it's easy to apply and pop into your purse to do touch-ups on the go (something that is usually pretty difficult to do with most loose powders).

So, there you have it: my drugstore foundation superstars!  As with the primer post, below is a handy little chart to find out which foundation best suits your needs.

	Oily Skin	Dry Skin	Light Coverage	Medium Coverage	Full Coverage	Skin Correcting
Fit Me (Matte)	X		X
Fit Me (Dewy)		X	X
True Match Lumi		X		X
True Match Liquid	X			X
Colorstay (Oily)	X				X
Colorstay (Dry)		X			X
Dream Fresh	X	X	X
Tone Rehab	X	X		X		X
Pro-Matte	X				X
True Match Pressed	X	X		X
Mineral	X	X		X		X

Glammie Love!
~Jaz

Drugstore Superstars

If you're new to the world of makeup, the task of starting a cosmetics collection may seem daunting.  Since there are so many products and brands, it can be hard to know which way is up and which way is down.  That's why, whenever a friend who is just getting started asks me for guidance, I always point them in the direction of the nearest drugstore.

Makeup can be expensive.  (Trust me, I should know.)  In fact, I'm somewhat of a makeup hoarder, and if I go unchecked, I can spend hundreds of dollars at Sephora in the blink of an eye.  I know, however, that spending a big chunk of your paycheck on makeup is an absolutely ridiculous notion to most women, which is why drugstore makeup is so great.  Makeup application is very much a process of trial and error, and you need to try something on in order to figure out what works for you and your skin.  Bottom line: If you don't like a certain product, a $7 loss is easier to swallow than a $50 one.  Unfortunately, since there's so much out there in the way of drugstore makeup, it's hard to separate the good quality products from the bad.  That's what this series will focus on; I'm going to help you navigate through all the affordable brands to find out which products you should try out and which ones you should leave on the shelf.

In order to make it more navigable, I'll be breaking down this series by categories:

1) Primers;
2) Foundations;
3) Concealers;
4) Bronzers;
5) Blushes;
6) Eyeshadows;
7) Eyeliners;
8) Mascaras and Brow Products;
9) Lips;
10) Setting Products; and, last but certainly not least,
11) Makeup Tools.

Hopefully, after I finish this series, you'll have all the information that you need in order to go out and start (or add to) your makeup kit.

Glammie love!
~Jaz

October Favorites 2014

Here are our favorites from the month of October!

Hair/ Nails:

• Sally Hansen Big Matte Topcoat ($5.99)

• Suave Professional Moroccan Infused Dry Shampoo ($3.99)

Lips:

• Maybelline Colorsensational Matte Lipsticks: Siren in Scarlet, Mesmerizing Magenta, Divine Wine ($7.49)

• Bite Beauty Cashmere Lip Cream: Sancerre ($28.00)

From Left to Right: Sancerre, Divine Wine, Mesmerizing Magenta, Divine Wine

Eyes: 

• Younique 3D Fiber Lashes ($29.00)

• Anastasia Beverly Hills Tamanna Palette ($29.00)

The Tamanna Palette From Left to Right: Fresh, Bush, Venezia, Gilded, Custom, Sangria*, Bengal, Chocolate, China Rose*, Noir

• Makeup Forever Flash Palette($99.00)

• Lorac Mega Pro Palette (sold here) (it looks like it's all sold out on the official website but you can grab one off of ebay)

Top Row of the Mega Pro: Cream, Fawn, Camel, Sepia, Dusty Plum, Orchid, Mulberry*, Espresso

Second Row of the Mega Pro: White, Khaki, Brown, Stone, Lilac, Wisteria, Gray, Black

Third Row of the Mega Pro: Opal, Sand, Copper, Sienna, Apricot, Blush, Merlot, Indigo*

Last Row of the Mega Pro: Vanilla, Cashmere, Smokey Topaz*, Dusty Rose, Granite, Maroon, Deep Teal, Caviar

 *These shades were mentioned in the video

Face:

• Revlon ColorStay Whipped Cream Makeup Foundation: 310 Caramel ($13.99)