Summer Saviors

Hellooooo All!!!

I hope that you are all enjoying a terrific Tuesday afternoon!!! I recently read Mary's post on her Summer makeup/toiletry favorites and thought to myself: WHAT A FANTASTIC IDEA!!!!

 

Especially for our readers in awkward, ridiculous climate types---summer makeup can be tough!! Take Florida for example. During the summer months, we Floridians are likely to wake up to absurdly high temperatures. Then, at the conclusion of our days, we aren't too surprised when an insanely loud and VERY rainy thunderstorm. This happens....oh...I dunno...EVERY...FRIGGIN...DAY. As a result, if you like to doll yourself up during these cer-azzyy months...you have to learn to adjust your makeup techniques accordingly. Which brings me to:

 

MY SUMMER MAKEUP FAVORITES

 

 

FOUNDATION

 

 

I have found the Lumi True Match foundation to be the holy grail of all summer foundations. "Why?" you may ask. I'll tell you why. Because it doesn't make the worst mistake all my other foundations make in the summertime---guaranteed. The Lumi True Match does not attempt to make your skin look perfectly matte.

 

As one Floridian to another, if I see a girl at any type of outdoor, summer event who's face is perfectly matte I'm thinking she either A) did her makeup in the car on the way or B) hasn't been outside for more than five minutes yet.

 

To me, matte foundations are not a good thing for the sweaty, steamy weather that is Florida in summer. It feels way too heavy and eventually yields to looking plain greasy. Ew.

 





On the other hand, the Lumi foundation stays somewhat glossy and gives a more dewey finish. It is so awesome in the summer because it dosnt feel too heavy and it's supposed to look a little shiny. At only $12.50 it's well worth the cost, especially considering Loreal gives out $2.50 coupons all the time :)

BRONZER

 



In summer, I personally forego the blush and go for the bronzer instead. I have naturally pink cheeks, so I just try to provide a little color under the cheekbones for a more defined appearance.

Specifically, the one I love is Goddess from Wet N' Wild. As you can see, it has hints of pink and tan and so it looks really nice for a blush/bronzer. It also provides it's wearers with a touch of a glow---which looks great with the Lumi foundation. At $2.50 for a purchase price, it doesn't get much better than this.

P.S. More ivory-toned ladies (such as myself )may want to use this sparingly, and only in the summer when you are a little more tanned. It comes off a little too dark otherwise!

EYESHADOWS

 

 

It's well-known knowledge around here at budget beauty that I can't get enough of those Wet N Wild eyeshadow pallets. For $5.00 and 8 SHADOWS it's a remarkable buy!

 

But what I really love about these shadows, for summertime, is the shimmery side that looks so much more natural in summer. Just put a little on for day and then add a darker color to the browbone for night. So easy and such beautiful colors. The one pictured above is in "Petal Pusher."

 

So there you have it, just a few of my summer faves. Don't forget to keep the ideas coming about what you want to see next, as Mary and I love our readers :)

 

Until Next Time,

 

Summer Sun-sations

 

Eliz



Duel of the lashes.

Hi everyone! 

I was in Walgreens the other day and noticed they were running a buy 1, get 1 half off special on Covergirl products, so I decided to try a couple of mascaras I've been eyeing. 

So they were the Professional Super Thick Lash Mascara and the Lash Blast Fusion Water Resistant Mascara.  

(I need to gripe for a minute about the absolute stupidity of mascara names. I mean, "Super Thick Lash," "Millionize" and "Volum' Express Turbo Boost?" I mean, wtaf, guys?? Also, mascara commercials are my favorite example of sexism in the advertisement industry, but that's a rant for another day.)

Anyway, I wanted to try the Super Thick Lash because I had read that it was an affordable dupe for Tarte's Lights, Cameras, Lashes, and I'd heard good things about the other one in the beauty blogosphere, so I thought, "let's go for it." 

The Super Thick Lash worked much better in terms of separating the lashes, and it definitely held the curl better over the course of the day. The Lashblast seemed more thickening, but it didn't do much in the way of lengthening or defining.

Ultimately, if these two had a waterproof lovechild, it might be a pretty good mascara. 

Since neither is actually waterproof (the Lashblast is "water resistant"), they both smudged a bit throughout the day. The Super Thick Lash was a bit flaky by afternoon as well. 

As far as formula, the Super Thick Lash is much more liquidy, making it messier to apply. The Lashblast is a drier formula which makes it lot easier to apply, but it works so poorly that it doesn't really matter. Also, I like the traditional bristles on the Super Thick Lash better than the giant rubberized ones on the Lashblast (see pics above).

Overall, if I had to choose one, I'd choose the Super Thick Lash and just wear it on days when I only needed good lashes short term (these are not good mascaras for the 8 hour work days!). Overall though, neither of them blew my mind. 

I will say, however, that the Super Thick Lash does seem to be a good dupe for Tarte's pricier mascara. That being said, this is one of those cases where I think you get what you pay for. Tarte's is still a better mascara...I'm just not willing to shell out $20 for a tube of mascara! 

Have you tried either of these? Do you have one you recommend or would like to see tried? Let us know in the comments!

Luscious lashes, 

Mary

Hot town, summer in the city...

Hello, lovelies! 

So, as you all know, summer is HERE and it's HOT outside! As such, I find myself adjusting my beauty products to the season so my face doesn't absolutely melt off by the end of the day. I wanted to share some of my favorite summer products with you! Read on!

Boots Beautifully Matte Foundation

I'm going to do a more in-depth review of this foundation sometime in the hopefully near future, but for now suffice to say that I love it. It's a much drier formulation than most liquid foundations, which is great when the sweat starts pouring. This has been my go-to foundation since the weather got warm, and I think it'd be great for anyone with oily skin (or people who live in a swamp, like we do!). Highly recommend, you can get it at Target!

Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer, Monistat Chafing Gel

In the sticky summer heat and humidity, primer becomes a MUST if you're going to wear foundation (or anything on your face, really). Both of these work really well to help keep makeup from sliding off your face as the day goes on, and assist in creating a matte finish. 

NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder, E.L.F. Matifying Powder, and Hard Candy Welcome Matte Powder

 I have used all 3 of the pressed powders above, and they all work really well to a) help keep makeup in place, and b) touch up during the day. Any pressed powder will do the job, but it helps during the summer heat to switch to more powdery formulas and save your liquids for when it cools down a bit. 

Hard Candy Blotting Papers

Blotting papers (like primer by Monistat) are one of those beauty things that are actually pretty gross. But they become an essential in the summer to keep oil at bay during the day! I've used a bunch by different brands, but don't really have a preference...I think they generally all work pretty well. But Hard Candy's hot pink packaging (and price point!) sold me! 

Rio Rumberry, "Lucky You," and Victoria's Secret Pink Beach Body Sprays

I find that most actual Eau de Parfums are wayyy too heavy to wear during the summer, so I usually opt for a  clean, floral, or tropical body spray. They're light enough to keep the fragrance from becoming too heady, but just enough to give you a nice fragrance. A lot of perfumes have body spray editions now, too, so definitely check that out if you have a signature scent. 

Dove body wash and deodorant in Cucumber & Green Tea

This is SUCH a cool, light, clean, and refreshing scent for summer! The body wash lathers up really nicely and is perfect at the end of a hot day, and the deodorant works really well, too. The scent is just really nice, and helps combat that stank-nasty "sweaty body" smell that sometimes happens in summer! 

Lush Vanilla Puff Powder

I love Lush's dusting powders, but this one is my all-time favorite. I've re-ordered it quite a few times, and it's something I can't do without during the summer! The vanilla smell is so decadent...a great, calorie-free way to indulge your sweet tooth! And I love that all their powders are talc-free, but they work really well to help absorb oil and sweat throughout the day. I can't recommend it highly enough! 

Vaseline Total Moisture Aloe Fresh Lotion

This is just a really nice, lightweight lotion that still manages to moisturize without being too heavy. I love it for after I shave, and, BONUS, it has aloe too! So if you end up getting too much sun, this feels really nice on scorched skin, too! 

So there you have some Summer Secrets from the Swamp! Do you guys have any beauty products or tips/tricks that you use to beat the heat? Let us know, and thanks for stopping by! 

Stay cool!
-Mary

I'M BACK!!!! And ALSO...Drugstore Products I LIKE BETTER than the high end stuffs :)

HELLO ALL!!!

Gosh it feels good to be back on our blog!!!!! I'm so sorry I've been away for awhile, but life has been nuts---as I'm sure you all understand!!

I got to thinking, in my (ahem) not so brief absence, that I have so many friggin products in my makeup bags that are either straight up dupes or BETTER VERSIONS of high enders I own. So I thought I'd do a little video post for you guys and let you see for yourselves. ENJOY!!!!

Skin Winning

Hello, lovelies!

I am a BIG believer that healthy skin = beautiful skin. The better care you take of your skin, the less product you end up needing (of course, there are exceptions: acne, rosacea, etc.)! 

My all time favorite skincare line is Clinique's 3 Step system. 

Remember how Proactiv had the 3 step system, too? Clearly, I think they're on to something. Cleansing first, followed by an astringent/toner to remove any remaining gunk, makeup, dirt, etc., is a great combo for getting squeaky clean skin. Of course, all of this should be followed by a moisturizer so you don't completely strip your skin of oils and moisture. 

The problem with the Clinique thing is that, while it's lovely and nearly-perfect, it's PRICEY. I asked Santa for it, and that's how I get it every year, because if I have to shell out $50-$60 for SKIN SOAP...ain't nobody got time for that!

Luckily, I have a backup plan made entirely of drugstore products that works JUST as well. Behold!

For skincare, I've found that Clean & Clear works better for me than Neutrogena, Cetaphil, or any of the other pricier drugstore brands. They have a TON of different cleansers, so if you have any kind of oily skin, chances are you can find a product that'll work for you. 

Witch hazel is probably my all-time favorite skin product. It's a wonderful, natural astringent and is awesome for all skin types. My father has used it as aftershave for years, I routinely apply it on sunburns (when I get them), and I'll even skip my Clinique toner in favor of witch hazel if I'm having a sensitive skin day. It's absolutely MARVELOUS, and you can find it for about $2-$4. If you don't have any, GO GET SOME. 

And lastly, I've realized that the Garnier Moisture Rescue Gel-Cream is an almost dead-ringer-dupe for the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisture Gel. But it's a fraction of the cost! It has a really nice, cooling feel, and a whipped gel texture, which makes it perfect for hot summer nights (don't even pretend like it's not 87 degrees in the shade, come on now). It's a very lightweight moisturizer, which makes it perfect for people with oily skin. 

All that said, this is what works for MY skin. You could have oily skin like mine, and these products might not work for you, but I just wanted to share my favorite (splurge!) and what works just as well (save!). Also, bear in mind, if you have combination or dry skin you'd want to use different products. Clinique will screen you for your skin type and customize their 3 step system for you and your skin. You should probably do the same thing with drugstore products. Dry skinned people want to AVOID Clean & Clear (or anything with Salicylic acid) and would probably do well to find a heavier moisturizer. Witch hazel will work for EVERYONE, though! 

Here are a few products I use regardless of what skin cleansing system I'm using, just to supplement:

Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub: a great exfoliating scrub that I use a couple times a week.

Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer: I'll use this in the mornings. It's a great base for my makeup, has SPF 30 (!!!) and doesn't have the greasy, heavy feel of sunscreen. Plus, it smells nice! 

Freeman Anti-Stress Dead Sea Minerals Facial Mask: it draws out dirt and crud that's deep in pores, is a fun blue color, and rinses away leaving skin feeling PERFECT. It's pretty affordable, too! I use it about once a week (if I remember). 

And always remember to take off your makeup before bed! Even if you're three sheets to the wind, JUST DO IT. It's so incredibly unhealthy for your skin to sleep in makeup. If you don't believe me, just Google it (and hope to God you don't have a strong gag reflex). 

So, what skin products do you use? Did you find this at all useful/relevant? Let us know if you have any questions or comments! And thanks for stopping by! 

Sensational skincare, 

Mary

Save green on Lumene!

Hey guys!

I'm currently working on a post all about skincare (!!!), but in the meantime, I wanted to share something awesome with you!

Walgreens just released their new Summer Savings coupon booklet, available in stores, and while there are LOADS of incredibly useful coupons on all kinds of products (even everyday stuff like paper goods and groceries...CHECK IT OUT!), my absolute favorite was a $4 OFF coupon for any Lumene product!

Now, if you're unfamiliar, Lumene is a Finnish cosmetics/beauty company that specializes in all-natural, and mostly organic skincare. Their stuff is really nice, and usually a bit costly, but getting $4 off is a great way to splurge and try something! 

Their BB Cream got rave reviews on Makeup Alley, and I tried it. I have to say, I loved the formulation: creamy, silky finish, medium buildable coverage...only the shades SUCKED! It only comes in Light and Medium, and apparently my vampire skin is lighter than Light. Go figure! But other than that, I loved it! So if you're looking to hop aboard the BB cream bandwagon, and have light to medium skin, I definitely recommend it. It's one of the better ones I've tried! 

Anyway, rush yourselves down to your local Walgreens and get one of their coupon books! And if you're not a member of their rewards program, I highly suggest you sign up. They actually GIVE you rewards (unlike other so-called "rewards programs") that can add up to major savings! 

Super savings!

-Mary

E.L.F. lip magic

Hello, dearest readers!

We want to apologize for the lack of regular updates lately. Real life sometimes gets in the way of doing more fun things, like makeup tutorials and product reviews! But as always, we want to thank our readers and followers for your ongoing support. You're the best!

I'm here to review a few products from ELF. ELF (Eyes Lips Face) is one of the leading budget cosmetics companies, with many of their products costing between $1-$5 (!!!) and having widely known distribution places, such as K-Mart, Sears, and Target. 

Now, I've tried and LOVED ELF's brushes and eye shadows, but I had never tried any of their lip products. So on a whim, I ordered 4 fun lip things from ELF's website and I wanted to review them for you!

1. Essential Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick - $2

So, I ordered this product because I've been eyeing the chubby sticks from Clinique for ages but can't justify the price tag. So I figured I'd give this a shot and see what I thought. I got the shade Coco Loco, and I have to be honest: it's almost so sheer that nothing shows up. I apply it with a really heavy hand, and it looks like I have almost no discernible color on my lips apart from a sheer, sparkly gloss. The texture is nice--it's not sticky or thick. I'm not sure if it's just the color I got, or if the color payoff for all of them would be so unimpressive. Overall, I'm glad it only cost $2 and would maybe try one more shade to see if it would make a difference. Otherwise, I wouldn't repurchase. 

2. Mineral Moisturizing Lip Tint - $3

I got this because I am pretty much addicted to tinted balms (see my review on the Revlon Lip Butters!). The shade I ordered was in Guava, and it's a nice peachy-pink color. Is it super moisturizing? No, not really. It goes on, lasts, and has the color payoff that you'd expect from a lower-end tinted balm. The color is pretty, but it lasts such a short time. I do like the packaging, though. It's slim enough to fit nicely into a pocket for on-the-go touch ups. That being said, again, I don't think I was madly impressed with it enough to reorder. I still use my Baby Lips more than this one. 

3 and 4. Essential Lipstick - $1 each

This was my favorite of the three products I ordered. I actually really like the texture of these lipsticks (really silky, not sticky at all), the color payoff is decent considering they're ONE DOLLAR, and they came in a plethora of shades. I ordered the shades Charming (#3) and Fantasy (#4), but as you can see, Charming came broken! I was really disappointed because naturally, in a huge twist of irony, that was my favorite of all the products I ordered. I attempted to fix it using like three different ideas on Pinterest, but none of them worked. So I've just been using it as is with the help of a lip brush. But darn! Because it's the prettiest color! It's a really springy-looking pink, and I don't actually have anything that's similar in my lipstick arsenal. Since it's only $1, I'll definitely reorder. Fantasy is just as nice, but it's too brown for me (it doesn't look so brown on the website!). But this was the one product I think I'll definitely reorder, and try in some more shades--they're only $1 after all! 

Swatches without flash.

Swatches with flash.

Anyway, I'm really glad I tried some of these, and it just goes to show that more expensive products don't necessarily work better than their cheaper colleagues! Have you ever tried ELF's lip products? What's your favorite? Let us know! 

Exciting ELF Endeavors!

-Mary