Drugstore Vs. Designer Makeup: What's Worth the Splurge and What's Not
I've always been a grocery store makeup kind of gal, but there was this one time that someone gave me Chanel eye shadow … and it was revolutionary. It made me realize that expensive makeup may even be more economical than cheaper products of lesser quality.
Think about it: I've had the same Chanel eye shadow for years (yes, I know you're supposed to throw away makeup after a certain amount of time, but I'll be damned if I'm going to toss this stuff) because it doesn't lose its quality; it never clumps or causes unseemly lines. I've had store brand eye shadow fall out of its tray and crack upon first use.
So how do you know what's worth the splurge and what's not? Here's what I found out...
Clinique Concealer, $16 and Foundation, $23
I have combination skin - which means it's oily and dry in different places on my face - with reddish marks sprinkled throughout, particularly in the outer corners of my eyes and around my nostrils. Clinique concealers and foundations come in all different shades and for all different skin types so it's wise to try them out at the counter before deciding which is best for your skin tone. The Clinique All About Eyes Concealer (01 Light Neutral) did an excellent job hiding the red splotches and the Superbalanced Makeup Foundation (28 light) really helped even out my skin tone. A tip the saleswoman gave me: purchase foundation one shade darker than your concealer so the concealer is light enough to conceal under eye circles, but the foundation evens everything out. I'll admit, I put A LOT on but it didn't look or feel like it was pancaked on. I'd definitely recommend.
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Urban Decay "Naked" Palette, $50
I have long been a fan of the smoky eye that Kim Kardashian has turned into a science, and Urban Decay's Naked Palette of eye shadow was absolutely my favorite purchase, hands down. It includes 12 beautiful shades ranging from "Virgin" and "Naked" to the very charcoal "Creep" and "Gunmetal." Though there are a bazillion YouTube tutorials for getting the smoky eye effect using this palette, somehow my eyes didn't look as awesome as the girl, all of 16 years old, doing the tutorial. Still with some practice I think I could nail this look, and the Naked palette is so versatile, the combinations are endless. The palette also comes with a bottle of eyelash primer to help make your eyes stand out even more.
M.A.C. 31 False Eyelashes, $15, DUO Adhesive, $8
Every attempt at applying false eyelashes in my life has ended in abject failure. I'm talking lashes glued to eyebrows kind of failure. The one time I managed to secure them to my eyelid they were crooked. So I spent some time Googling terms like "easy-to-apply false eyelashes" and "best false eyelash adhesive" and ended up purchasing M.A.C. 31 Lash false eyelashes. I was looking for something to thicken and extend my own lashes without looking super obvious and got exactly what I wanted. The adhesive declared by most on the internet to be the best is DUO Eyelash Adhesive, and it worked fantastically (even someone as clumsy as myself was able to apply the lashes). My suggestion: get the "dark" adhesive as opposed to the "clear" because a lot of folks on the web say clear dries white whereas the dark kind of adds to your lash line like eyeliner.
Related: 10 must-have beauty products for Spring 2012
Maybelline Full 'N Soft Mascara, $8
I recently went on a hunt for a mascara that won't remind me of my mom's pink and green Maybelline wand. I wanted something sexy, new - something just for me. I tried a slew of designer brands from Hard Candy to L'Oreal and guess what? Maybelline Full 'N Soft in Very Black blows them out of the water. I'm sure if I took an even more expensive route I might be pleasantly surprised, but, y'all? Unless it curls and grows my lashes, mascara shouldn't be more than $10.
NARS Highlighting Bronzing Blush Duo, $41
I was on the lookout for a blush and bronzer-type item I could use to create naturally rosy looking cheeks, dare I say sun kissed? There's a lot of hubbub surrounding the NARS blush in Orgasm (go figure) so I decided to try it out. Everyone is on to something. The shimmery pink color creates just the right flushed look I was looking for and the bronzer, Laguna, works not only for creating chiseled cheekbones, but dusting all over the face for that radiant appearance. I've found the cure for my winter blahs.
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