Full Face Using Drugstore Products ONLY!

Here's a video tutorial of how I did my makeup using drugstore products only for an "everyday" glam look. Who said that you have to spend an arm and a leg to do your makeup and feel glamourous? Drugstore brands have been really amping up the quality of their products, and giving the high-end makeup brands a run for their money.

In the video, I show you step-by-step how to achieve a very simple yet glam look using affordable drugstore products. The look is meant to enhance your features while still some what keeping it natural. It's a very easy makeup tutorial without doing too much.

August 2016 Beauty Favorites: Skincare & Makeup

Neutrogena leave-on mask / L'Oreal peel pads / TULA mask / Benefit Cosmetics Browvo! primer + eyeliner / CLEAN body splash / Lancome lip crayons

Happy Labor Day! August has come and go, and we're now on to September. It's crazy how summer just went by like a blink of an eye.

I'm going to start rounding-up my favorite beauty products every month, so I can share some of the beauty items that I have been testing and loving lately. Watch or read which products made my August beauty favorites list...

L'Oreal Double Extend Mascara (Review)

Product Blurb:L'Oreal introduces Double Extend Beauty Tubes Lash Extension Effect Mascara, a revolutionary lash extension effect mascara the provides up to 80% longer-looking, nourished lashes.

Step 1 - Nourish & Protect
Step 2 - Tubes extend lashes
Step 3 - Remove with just water

Tube Benefits:

Clump-free length

Smudge-proof

Flake-proof

Long wearing hold

Ophthalmologist and allergy tested

Suitable on sensitive eyes & for contact lens wearers

Ingredients:
Magnifier
Inactive Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Paraffin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Acrylates Copolymer, Cera Alba/Beeswax, Cera Carnauba (Carnauba Wax), Steareth 2, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acacia Senegal Gum, Rayon, Panthenol, Ethylenediamine/Stearyl Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Methyparaben, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, 2 Oleamido 1, 3 Octadecandiol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylparaben, Simethicone, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben
May Contain: CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide

Extender
Inactive Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Laureth 12 Sulfate, Acrylamide, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Phenoxyethanol, Rayon, Polysorbate 80, Methylparaben, Imidazoldinyl Urea, Sodium Dehyroacetate, Disodium EDTA, Silica, Ethylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben
May contain: CI 77499, CI 77492, CI 77491/Iron Oxides, CI 77007 (Ultramines), Mica, CI 75470 (Carmine), CI 77288 (Chromium Oxide Greens), CI 77289 (Chromium Hydroxide Green), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide), FIL D32060/3

Price: $10.95

Available at: Leading drugstores or at Drugstore.com

More Product Images











L'Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Lash Extension Effect Mascara is a cheaper alternative to Blinc Kiss Me mascaras if you like the idea of coating your lashes through tubing. What I like about this mascara is that the brush evenly coats your lashes, and I didn't even have to worry about clumping even after several coatings. There were no weird or putrid smell like some mascaras tend to have. As for the voluminizing factor, it only did a mediocre job. I've had other mascaras that gave me a more voluminous lashes.

Some gripes about the mascara: I had a hard time controling and holding the mascara wand because the wand itself was too short. Application took a lot longer for me to do and at one point became frustrating because of the trouble I'm having trying to hold the mascara wand. It also didn't help the the tubes were bulky and fat.

As for the lengthening factor, there were no apparent changes in length with my lashes even with the primer and regardless how many coat you choose to apply. The mascara also weighed my lashes down and leaving them flat looking and nowhere being anything sexy or sultry.

But, the worst part of using this mascara is taking it off! For some odd reason, makeup remover only makes it even more difficult in taking it off, but sometimes just washing it with water like it suggests you do will also not get the job done. The idea of tubing your lashes might be a neat one, but not when they're getting stuck on your cheeks. And most of the time even after you thought you completely took it off, you'll wake up the next day with traces of mascara. The 'tubes' can be quite messy and annoying.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

(Photo Credit: Drugstore.com)

L'Oreal HIP Color Rich Cream Crayon (Review)

I originally saw this when I was picking up the HIP Metallic Duo eyeshadows. I decided to pick these up as well since they were BOGO at the time. They had stricken my fancy when I saw them on display next to the eyeshadows because they reminded me of the MAC shadesticks. I'm all about saving if I could, so I thought maybe this can be a good dupe. But the question is, are they as good as the good ol' MAC shadesticks??

What they say about it: Bloom into the world of color with HIP high intensity pigments Color Rich Cream Crayon Eyeshadow and Liner. Ultra-versatile color comes in six rich, super fresh shades.

Technology in bloom: a cream shadow and liner wrapped in one.

HIP high intensity pigments Color Rich Cream Crayon is a fresh take on makeup. Apply to lid as all-over base shadow. Or use it as a liner to dial up definition.

And, all like HIP high intensity pigments products, this long-wearing crayon packs more pigment in every shade. So, when it comes to breath taking looks you're sure to be a natural. (source)

Price: $9.99 (price varies depending on stores)

Available at: Major drugstores (Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS, etc)


L'Oreal HIP Color Rich Cream Crayon
Quality: 5 out 5
Price: 5 out of 5
Packaging: 5 out 5

Overall: 5 out of 5




SWATCHES:


What I like about it: As you can tell from the swatches, these crayons are highly pigmented and with a metallic finish. It works well as a base, eyeshadow, or even as a liner.
I swatched the L'Oreal HIP crayon and my MAC Shadestick (in Beige-ing) right next to each other. I tried rubbing both of the swatches and the L'Oreal HIP crayon definitely did not budge nor faded while as the shadestick smeared and disappeared after a few rubs. You will definitely need a good eye makeup remover to get the HIP crayon out!

When it comes to applying it as a base on my eyelids, the L'Oreal HIP crayon is softer and easier on the eyes. It wasn't a constant battle trying to use the crayon when applying it into my eyelids as it glides on easily as oppose to the MAC shadestick where I sometime find myself tugging on my lids (big no-no!) just to get the product to apply evenly. The base is actually really good also in terms of making your eyeshadow vibrant. I paired up the green crayon with my MAC Fresh Mix MES, and the colors just popped. I've also used the pink crayon in my previous Laura Mercier tutorial and it definitely gave me a better color pay-off as oppose to not using it as a base. The eyeshadow were also still blendable when using the HIP crayon.

Another good thing about this product is it comes with a sharpener that you can pull out at the bottom. It's actually rather convenient and a big plus if you want to use the crayon as an eyeliner. A pointier end will definitely give you a better line. I've used the crayon as an eyeliner, and it only showed minimal fading during a really hot weather (think high 90's) here in sunny California.



You'll definitely get more bang out of you buck if you purchase these when they go on sale. I'm not too sure if I'll purchase these at $10 each, but I'm all over it if they're in BOGO or even BOGHO (50% off second item). Why not get it cheaper if you can?

What I don't like about it: I guess the retail price. It's almost as much as a MAC shadestick for a drugstore brand. But then again, the quality of the HIP crayon is much better in my opinion so I can see some justification on the pricing there. I also don't like how they only have six shades available meaning the color selection is very limited. Sometimes they're also hard to find or unavailable in certain drugstores. You only have your basic colors, but it will be a really nice addition to have a creme color available.

Will I buy this again: Absolutely! Especially if more colors become available. I think the HIP crayon is a good alternative to MAC shadesticks, and like I mentioned earlier, it's probably even better. For a drugstore brand, L'Oreal is definitely stepping up it's game in giving a better quality at a relatively lower price.