A Few of My Favorite Things.... Best of Beauty 2013 Drugstore PART II

Hey Beauty Gems-

As promised, here's part 2 of my favorite drugstore products in 2013. This blog will include lip, foundation, mascara and eye liner products. I didn't want to make this blog too long.  I narrowed it down to just a few in each category. Let's begin shall we.....first on to lips.....

Lipsticks

Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Colors -  Maybelline you really brought your 'A' game with these.  The color sensational lipsticks are wonderful. They are by far one of the best drugstore lipsticks I've used. These lipsticks apply smoothly to the lips, leaving them with a soft, non-drying feel and great color payoff. As well, Maybelline has a variety of colors (62 in all) to suit all beauty gems. Even better, you get a great lipstick at an affordable price. P.S. - Much love to the new "The Buffs" collection they just released..I'm head over heels for them. 

Milani Color Statement Lipstick - Another great and affordable drugstore brand. You can choose from 36 colors that include matte, pearl, shimmer and cream finishes.These lipsticks also have great color pay-off and long wearing. Milani offers other great products including their baked blush and lip glosses. Only downside - The matte colors can be a little drying.  However, just adding some extra balm to your lips before your lipstick will solve that issue.

Wet N Wild  MegaLast Lip Color - Rounding out my favs of 2013 is the wonderful Wet N Wild.  This is a great product for gems on a budget that want a good, inexpensive lipstick.  These lipsticks can be easily found in most drug stores, have a variety of colors for all taste (26 colors in all) and have a sister lipstick with SPF 15 MegaLast Lip Color SPF 15 . These lip colors contain Vitamin E, Amino Acids, Avocado Oil, and Rice Bran Oils that provide moisture to your lips.  With great pigmentation and long-lasting wear, a super value you just cannot pass up. Whichever option you choose, you won't be disappointed.  

Lip Glosses

Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Glosses -Similar to it's lip color counterpart, the Maybelline CS glosses are really nice.  They apply smoothly to the lips and have vibrant color.  These along with the CS lip colors are a great couple for achieving spectacular lip color. The formula is non-sticky so the colors can sometimes be easily transferable.  However, if you're looking for an inexpensive gloss that gives you true color....this is it. You have 24 colors to chose from (12 Vibrant High Shine colors; 12 Pink Perfection). 

Lip Liners

Jordana Lip Liner -  If you don't already know about these then let me give you the 411.  Another best kept drugstore beauty find.  These are one of the best drugstore lip liners I've every used.  The retractable lip liners give you great color and last a long time. Although they only come in 12 colors; they are so versatile that they compliment a variety of lip colors.  For an average cost of $1.99 each, these are a slam dunk deal!!!

Eyeliners

Jordana 12HR Eye Pencils - I feel in love with these the instant I used them.  The long-wearing eye pencils glide on with so much ease and DON'T SMUDGE.  The colors are vibrant and compliment most day/night looks.  The only downside is that currently they only offer 6 colors to choose from.  Fingers crossed that Jordana decides to expand this line because these are a winner in my book, anytime!

Jordana INCOLOR Fabuliner Liquid Eyeliner -  If you're looking for an inexpensive eyeliner to practice your cat eye skills with, this is it.  The slim tip applicator applies liner smoothly to your eyes making the art of liquid eye liner simple. I've found other favorites to use and haven't used this liner in a little while.  However, it's a must have in my makeup kit. The only downside is that it's not waterproof but I've never had issue with smearing/fading.  For $2.99 each, it's another great Jordana deal.

Mascara

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara - All I can say is.....it's WONDERFUL.  You get volume, deep color without any flaking or clumping.  Another bonus...L'Oreal has expanded this line so if you want something more waterproof or longer lasting, they've got it.

Jordana Best Lash Extreme- This beauty delivers with giving your lashes all the volume you need.  While it claims that it doesn't clump, it actually does (at least for me).  As well, if you apply too much, it can make your lashes hard. With a few applications (and even combining with another lengthening mascara) you can achieve the look you want and more. For $2.99, it's a steal.

In 2013, I learned about alot of drugstore brands that produce great products.  It's comforting to know that I don't ALWAYS have to use the high end products to get the results I want. For 2014, I hope to expand my list of "best" to include more drugstore foundations and primers. 

Well gems that concludes my best of 2013 list.  I've already began ordering some other new releases for spring/summer (check out my Pinterest/Twitter/Instagram posts).  I can't wait to dish the 411 with you on those...STAY TUNED!!!

As always, be sure to follow me on all my social media sites.  Until next time....Happy Shopping!!!!

Thursday - What I'm Loving Today

Hello My Beautiful Beauty Gems -

So today I wanted to go back to something I started previously. I got away from it due to all the holiday mayhem. Each Thursday, I'll do a quick blurb about products I'm loving.  Just a little something short and sweet. Thought it might be helpful to BGems on the go, headed to the store and trying to decide on product purchases.

For today, I'm loving is Maybelline Color Elixir by Color Sensational in Vision In Violet . The elixirs made there debut a few months ago.  I recently had the opportunity to pick up a few as a result of a great BOGO 50% off sale...Thanks Walgreens!! The colors are gorg and feel great on the lips. The verdict is still out since I need to still test it's lasting power throughout the day.  Here's a picture of me wearing this today. 

I'm sensing that this could be a potential spring/summer go-to gloss...we shall see!!!

You can find these in most drugstores. To view all the available colors, click on the link above to the Maybelline website.

Until next time....Happy Shopping!!!!

Walgreens Haul

Hello Beauty Gems....

Last week I did a quick haul at Walgreens. I had a chance to pick up some new and not so new products. I snagged some goodies from Rimmel, Wet N Wild and Maybelline. Sooooo

here's the 411 on what I grabbed...

Rimmel Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara - I haven't tried this yet but VERY interested to see if it holds up to its claim of "Bold, No Clumps" mascara..FIrst Impression (FI) coming soon....

Rimmel Scandaleyes Precision Micro Eyeliner - Ok sooo I've tried this ONCE so far and really like it. Of course I'll keep my final review on reserve after at least a full week of use. However, what I can tell, so far at least, is that the liner pen is thin enough to give you great control when applying and it's WATERPROOF.....ahhhh!!!! I don't know about u gems but I can safely say that with watery, itchy eyes like mine, I need products that wear well throughout my testy, allergy moments.

Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer in 301 Galaxy - Rimmel launched these lip glosses last summer. I saw them

and just passed them in the drugstore aisle way mainly because....I love my high-end glosses so if a drugstore. If a lip gloss REALLY and truly wants to impress me....they betta bring it!!! Nough said....FI coming soon!!!

Nexttttt on to Wet N Wild....

WNW Creme Eyeliner in 34348 Gunmetal Grape - Awwww it's my first time breaking in a WNW creme liner!!!! Special Moment occurring in 5...4...3...2..1...please pause for 2 seconds to observe lol...Review to follow on this soon!

WNW Vicious Varnish High Shine Lip Stain - I'm always into trying new drugstore products so these were no exception. FI coming soon on this as well.

Lastly, just a not-so-new product from Maybelline...

Maybelline Exilirs in 030 Raspberry Rhapsody & 040 Vision in Violet - Soo word on the street from some of the industry mags and cosmetic products lines is that Orchid is the new "trend color" of 2014. Of course, I had to pick up these specific colors!!! What gem would be caught without these colors for spring/summer 2014!!!! I'll let u know the 411 once I have a chance to try them out.

So that's all for me...I have my review homework cut out for me. Keep your eyes peeked for other new products sold in your local drugstores. 

In the meantime in between time, I'll keep you posted on da lastest and greatest...until next time gems...happy shopping!!!!

A Few of My Favorite Things....Best of 2013 Drugstore PART 1

Hello Beauty Gems! Happy Sunday Funday. I hope you've been having a fantabulous weekend. I've been taking it easy by organizing my closet, rearranging my makeup storage and catching some ZZZss. 

With that said... I wanted to make sure I posted my 2013 best of beauty drugstore edition. The picture doesn't show ALL of my favs but most. This post will show my favs with the exception of foundation. My fav foundations will be posted in a separate blog post.

So let's get started!!!! As I was cleaning, I pulled the items/brands that I used and loved the most in 2013.

While everything is not shown in the picture below, I included most. 

Eyeshadows

I'm an eyeshadow junkie. Specifically, ones that have a lot of color and pizazz...those standout colors that pop with little to no effort. First drugstore fav is....Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips. This was my go-to day palette during spring/early summer. The colors are amazing. Great pigmentation, lasting power throughout the entire day with no creasing. I primarily used the warm nude palette. Highly recommend trying this product if you haven't done so before. Great price and versatile (offered in various shades to suite your eye and natural color preferences).

NYX Single Eyeshadows... Not necessarily a drugstore brand to me at least (mostly found in Ulta, Target and other retail stores). I cannot say enough about these colors. They are gorgeous. Many of the shades from this brand are great dupes from many high-end shadows. Great pigmentation, no fall out, blends beautifully on the eye and wears ALL day without fading.

Other favorites include (not pictured) are the Wet n Wild Color icon 8-color palettes. Beautiful color at such an affordable price. I also use an eyeshadow base to make the colors vibrant. 

Next, Jesse's Girl Eye Dusts. These I can say are one of the great finds I came across in 2013. My expectation was not really high but Girlll I have been proven wrong. These are amazing products that can give you the high end look for a great value. 

To round out my favs are the ELF baked Eyeshadows. I made mention of these in one of earlier drugstore haul blogs last year. So versatile (use wet or dry) and great color. Some colors can also be used as a highlight/blush. 

On to Blush....

NYX Blush - What more can I can say.... The blushes are just as good as the eyeshadows. Great color, price and lasting power...All Day!!! 

Hard Candy Baked Blush - One of the least talked about brands. I haven't tried all of their products but the blushes are great. The baked blush formula gives you a wash of beautiful color to the cheeks. Another great value find.

Last but not least, ELF blushes. I haven't tried all their colors but Pink Passion and Fuschia Fusion were my spring favs. At $3 each, you get great product with beautiful color. 

On to Highlighters...

I have two drugstore brands that were my holy grails for most of the spring and summer... Wet n Wild and Physicians Formula.  I love, love, love the PF Sunset Strip/Bronzer. They say Bronzer...I say amazing highlight. Ideal highlight to give you that warm golden glow. It's versatile as well....colors are perfect to use as an all over eyeshadow. 

Wet n Wild Color Icon Bronzer.....Again, they say Bronzer, I say amazing highlight. WNW bronzers are matte and contain SPF 15. They're packaged in a large pan so you get a MAJOR amount of product. The product applies smoothly on to your skin. The darker colors in this brand can be used for it's intended purpose Bronzer. A fav drugstore product among many YouTubers and beauty bloggers including yours truly. 

Stay tuned for Part 2 which will include my favorite drugstore lippies, liners and setting powders. 

Until next time... Happy Shopping!!!!

New Spring Release of UD Naked Line.....Today's the Day....

Hello Beauty Gems....

Just a friendly FYI from your resident beauty connoisseur. Well if you haven't heard about it just yet.....Urban Decay has expanded their Naked line.  For spring 2014, UD has released the following new products today:

• Naked Ultra Nourishing Lip Glosses -  A total of 9 beautiful shades that are transparent BUT have great ingredients geared towards lessening the visibility of wrinkles and fines lines. As well, these glosses claim to help maintain moisture on your lips most of the day. 

 

• Naked Skin Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder - Available in 5 shades. I've checked out a few reviews so far and this seems to be a favorite.

Items expanded within the current brand are:

• UD Revolution Lipstick - 2 new colors introduced for spring....Strip and Protest

For now, these items are only available through UD's website.  I'm assuming Sephora and Ulta will these in their retails stores within the next few weeks.  I'm so excited.  Can't wait to review these items as soon as I can get my hands on them.

Until next time.....Happy Shopping!