Perfume and Playlists

 

Here’s some products I was loving during the month of April!

1. Lush Mint Julips lip scrub – Yes, I know I could DIY something just as effective using olive oil and sugar, but would it taste like mint chocolate chip? No. This does, and it leaves my lips smooth and flake free, so I think it’s worth the ten bucks. Sorry hippies.

2. Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless Eye Corrector – I use this before applying concealer and it works wonders on my under eye circles. It’s swirled with Olay moisturizer, so it goes on smoothly and doesn’t crease. This is currently 50% off at Walgreens (which I think means it’s being discontinued SOB), so I’m planning on stocking up.

3. Bath and Body Works Market Peach Candle – This really doesn’t have anything to do with beauty, but it makes my house smell fantastic! I used to be a Yankee Candle gal, but these seem to be much stronger and they go on sale all the time. BTW, who decided to change the promotion from 2 for $20 to 2 for $22? Not me.

4. Maybelline Color Whisper – This product seems to be Maybelline’s answer to Revlon’s Lip Butters (which I’m also a fan of). I’ve been loving the shades Lust for Blush and Mocha Muse. Super wearable for everyday, no liner or gloss needed.

5. Clarisonic Mia 2 – After months of consideration, I finally broke down and invested in a Clarisonic. I’ve been using it all month, and while I haven’t noticed insanely drastic results, my skin is definitely smoother and clearer. I’m hoping with continued use I’ll see an improvement in the visibility of my craters, oops I mean pores.

6. Tresemme Liquid Gold Shine Therapy – This is a conditioning treatment that’s light enough to use several times a week. It’s cheap and shiny and leaves my hair noticeably softer. I’m a fan, and will definitely repurchase once I’m out.

7. Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara – I have eyelash issues. They are short, straight, and stubby, and like to clump immediately upon contact with mascara. This product actually does what it claims (shocking!) and I’m able to apply several coats without my lashes sticking together in protest.

8. theBalm Nude Tude Palette – I have several items from theBalm, and I haven’t paid full price for any of them. They are always on Haute Look, or offering 50% discounts on their site. Their eye shadows are such great quality – super creamy, pigmented, and blendable. I own Urban Decay’s Naked 1 palette and convinced myself that this was different enough to purchase. I love this set of colors;  it’s great for both natural and dramatic looks.

Maybe I just wasn’t paying attention before, but it seems like drugstore brands have really stepped up their game lately, especially in the eyeshadow category. These are my top choices for eyeshadows that go on smooth and show up vividly, without breaking the bank!

1. Wet n’ Wild Color Icon 

Tiffany mentioned these in a previous post, and I have to agree. The pigmentation and blendability of these shadows is really nice, and I love that they come in palettes. Makes me feel all fancy.  The 8 pan palettes seem to feature only shimmery colors, but I snagged a completely matte palette that was limited edition at Christmas time that I absolutely LOVE. It’s been released several times with different names, so perhaps there is hope for it to reappear. In my area, I can only find Wet n’ Wild at Kmart and Walmart, but I think it is more widely available in other places. The price on these can’t be beat ($5 for 8 colors? Yes and amen), and they are perfect for experimenting with new colors without sacrificing on quality.  My favorite: I think this was called Drinking a Glass of Shine. I’m no marketing expert, but I’m pretty sure that name is misleading since this palette is complete matte. I use the neutral side of this every single day!

2. L’Oreal Infalliable Eyeshadow 

These shadows have a really unique texture – very creamy, similar to a pressed pigment. They come in a nice variety of colors, most of which are pretty shimmery. I’ve found the best way to apply these is with my fingers, followed up with a brush to blend the edges. The packaging is unique as well, they come in individual pots, each with a damper type tool to keep the product in place. Makeupgeek did an entire video comparing these to Armani eyeshadows. Since I am nowhere near fancy enough to even go in a store that sells Armani, I can’t comment on their similarity. However the video stated they are pretty dang close. My favorite: Amber Rush, a beautiful rose gold color.

3. Maybelline Color Tattoo

I love these cream eyeshadows on their own, or to use as a base. When used under powder shadows, they help the color appear even more vibrant and stay all day. This line originally featured mostly vivid brights, but they have since released more neutral shades that are perfect for everyday looks. My favorite: Inked in Pink from the rumored-to-become-permanent metals collection.

Next on my list to try: Maybelline Eye Studio
I’ve never tried any of these before (perhaps because the Wet n’ Wild price is so good!), but one of my favorite beauty bloggers/Youtube gurus Emily Noel has done several tutorials with these palettes that turned out great. She recently wrote a blog about her favorites (see it here), and now they are on the top of my list!

Am I missing any? Let me know your favorite drugstore eyeshadows!