Drugstore Makeup Faves

I'm a drugstore makeup gal at heart.  I've only recently ventured into the high-end beauty market, but I have to say there are so many great options at good ol' Target.  Here are some of my holy grail favorites that I've repurchased over and over. (All under $10!)

**All Prices are from Target**

NYX Butter Gloss ($4.99): I have yet to find a better lip gloss.  The formula is so smooth (like buttah baby), moisturizing, not sticky and smells like cake! My two favorite shades are Creme Brulee and Tiramisu.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer ($4.59): I love this concealer for covering dark under eye circles and skin imperfections.  The formula is super lightweight and blends really nicely.  I've heard many compare this concealer to the NARS Creamy Concealer.  I use the shade Light.

Loreal Paris Voluminous Butterfly Mascara ($7.99): I'm a mascara junkie.  As soon as I hear of a new one, I want to try it.  I have yet to find a high-end mascara that I wanted to repurchase. I tried the Benefit They're Real Mascara ($30!) recently and I didn't see what all the hype was all about.  Waste.Of.Money. This mascara is AWESOME.  It really fans out the lashes, making them super long and also adds volume.  And---for me to love it, it has to be easy to remove.  The unique wand really get those outer lashes and gives that 'butterfly effect.'  I've went through probably 5 of these and will continue to repurchase.

Maybelline Color Tattoo ($5.29):
This is a cream gel eye shadow that I love to use as an eye base.  This product is great in helping prevent eye shadow from creasing.  It's also great on its own, its my go-to when I'm in a rush and just want a little bit of color to the lid.  It blends out nicely and powder eye shadow layers great on top. The two shades I have are Barely Branded and Bad to the Bronze (pictured below).

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer ($6.49):
Oh how I'm a sucker for a super-highlighted under eye.  I use this on top of the Fit Me concealer in a V-shape under my eyes, around my nose, down the bridge of my nose, forehead and chin.  This highlighting concealer give such a natural glow to the skin and blends out amazingly.  Since this is a highlighting concealer it doesn't have super great coverage as it is more meant to highlight the face. This is somewhat comparable to the MAC Prep n' Prime Highlighter (which is pretty amazing), but more than half the price.  I use the shade Light and have also used the Radiant Shade (which is a pinkish shade, good for counter-acting dark circles).

e.l.f. HD Powder ($6): This is a recent purchase for me, and I can already say that I love it.  I pat this fine, light-weight, translucent powder in my t-zone after I'm done concealing.  I swear it must have magic fairy dust in it because it's amazing!  Pores, shine, fine lines just disappear. It really makes your face look flawless and smooth.  I love this powder.  And for $6...can't beat that.

Loreal Paris True Match Foundation ($6.99): This is my lifetime love.  I have tried many different foundations and have yet to find any other that I love better than Loreal True Match.  There are SO many shades to choose from which is a must for color matching foundation.  It has great coverage and you can build it up depending on how much coverage you need.  I apply it with a beauty sponge (more on that below!), it's really easy to blend out, goes on even and smooth.  What I love the most is that it lasts.  Unlike other drugstore foundations, it doesn't wear off after a few hours.  Despite it's great coverage, it doesn't feel or look too heavy which is great. I'd say this is a great foundation for normal, oily and combo skin.  There is also True Match LUMI, which is a more dewy formula that would be better for dry skin.  I'm in shade W6.

Milani Baked Blush  in Luminoso ($9.99 at Fred Meyer):
I have a hard time finding good drugstore blushes.  A lot of times they are too powdery, too brightly colored or not very pigmented.  I love this one by Milani.  It's not overpowering, has the tiniest bit of a glow. It's a perfect coral-pink shade and great quality.  It's a little more pricey, but I've had mine for about 9 months, I use it everyday and I'm not even through to the pan yet. Plus I LOVE the gold packaging!

Maybelline Color Sensational The Mattes Lip Color ($5.49): It's hard to find a matte lipstick that doesn't look or feel super dry on the lips.  These new Maybelline mattes are creamy and comfortable. They last a long time and have a great color selection.  I have shades Daringly Nude and Touch of Spice.  I want to try a couple more bold colors too!

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge ($5.99): I cannot express how much this has changed my foundation/concealing routine.  This literally makes your face look airbrushed. It evens everything out and makes blending a breeze.  The very important KEY to using this sponge is using it damp.  Run it under water for about ten seconds and squeeze several times, then I like to squeeze it out on a towel. I then dot foundation sloppily all over my face and then stipple the sponge all over my face until everything is blended.  I still have yet to try to Beauty Blender sponge--which people say nothing compares to.  But it's $20 and I have no complaints about the Real Techniques Sponge.

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush ($6.49): I love ALL Real Techniques brushes, but the expert face brush is definitely my favorite.  I use this brush mainly for contouring, but I've used it for foundation too.  The brush is so soft but also dense enough for being precise.  I can't say enough about this brand.  And the price is so right!

NYX Matte Finish Setting Spray ($7.99): "Setting spray? Is that really necessary?" That's what I used to ask myself.  But it makes a difference! The best way to describe it is that it's hairspray for your face.  After I'm completely done with my makeup, I spritz this all over my face.  1. It feels so refreshing.  2. My makeup lasts longer. 3. I don't get as oily throughout the day.
You can also use a setting spray to wet your eye makeup brush to apply eye shadow wet for a more vibrant and bold finish.
I have to say, I love the Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray.  But again, it's expensive! I go to town on setting sprays, so blowing $28 on a bottle that only lasts a month or so is not okay in my book. The NYX matte finish setting spray works just as well in my opinion...well close enough.

 e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in St. Lucia ($3): It's so hard to find a bronzer, especially for contouring, that isn't too shimmery or orange.  I use this every. single. day. and I've had it for over a year and it's still going strong!  I don't use the blush as often, it's just not very pigmented.  But the bronzer/contour side--amazing.  It's not too warm-toned, not too cool-toned and creates that perfect shadow on the face.  I use it to contour my cheek bones, forehead, jaw line and if I'm feeling extra Kardashianesque, I'll contour my nose too.  I also layer a more warm bronzer on top so I don't look muddy and to add a bit of a glow, but I'm still on the hunt for the perfect warm bronzer.  Any suggestions? I want to try the NYX matte bronzer next.

Any drugstore products you love? Please let me know in the comments!

xoxo,
Gilly

High Five Friday!

Well hello again!

Many of the blogs that I follow do what is called a 'High Five Friday'. This is where they share their top five moments of the week every Friday as a nice way to remind themselves that they A) survived one more work week and B) have things to be thankful for this past week, which may take their job resentment, road rage, etc down a couple notches, to allow for an enjoyable weekend.

So here are five things that rocked my socks this week:

1) My hubby has been out of town all week on business. I don't know about you, but when I have the house to myself, I am usually relaxing with a long bath or shower, using a ridiculous amount of hot water, and lip syncing to Beyonce Pandora...Bae. It's also when I can actually take my time and use some of the products that I am usually too lazy to use at 5am when I'm getting ready for work.

This week I busted out this loofah deal that I bought on our honeymoon in September. This thing is AMAZING! Its made of a vegetable glycerin and has a cross section of natural loofah in the middle. As the glycerin starts to shrink, more of the loofah is exposed.

::Awkward hand pose::

WARNING- This loofah means business. I like a more rough exfoliation (that sounds a little inappropriate- - eh, oh well) so this is perfect, but for the sensitive Sally's out there, stick with a body wash based exfoliant.

Here's the link to their shop if you're interested:
www.paradisegardensoaps.com

2) With my hubs being out of town, I have needed some help with letting our crazy 9 month old puppy Tank, and 11 year old Chihuahua Chile out during the days I was working. My aunt Sherri offered to help me out, and I can't thank her enough! She made my life so much easier this past week, and reminded me how ride or die my family is... (I feel like such a Kardashian talking like that).

3) Does anyone else have a pact with their significant other, roommate, etc. that the shows on the DVR cannot be watched without the other person or else you'll get the 'Really? you just couldn't wait' face. Or worse, you slip and say 'Oh this is the best part...' when you're re-watching it and they're under the impression you're seeing it for the first time... that's destined for disaster.

Well our household has the DVR agreement, so I took this week of single living to find a new show while my usual shows wait patiently for hubs return on Friday.
This is what I found:

Ok... I know I'm a little late to join the bandwagon, but holy hell have I been living under a rock?! I have binge watched the entire first season after work this week.
Crazy eyes, lesbian prison yard fights, Pennsytucky's (sp?) disgusting teeth, Red, etc. So much good stuff in one show. I'm just beginning season 2 and I cannot believe Alex... what a biatch. Oh man, I could go on and on. Anyone else obsessed with OITNB, or have a show that they have binge watched in one sitting? C'mon be honest, we're all friends here.

4) OKRA! I don't think I've ever had Okra (knowingly), until yesterday when the cafeteria at work was serving it. Oh mylanta, I love it! I will be cooking with this very soon. I know this seems anti-climactic and kind of random but this little discovery made my workday.
Anyone have a good recipe that incorporates okra? If so leave it in the comments!

5) I don't know when this happened, but at some point I stopped wearing real adult clothing on my days off, and have succumbed to a life of workout pants, hoodies, and running shoes when I have nowhere important to be*. Does anyone else do this?

*Note- important places/ events include: weddings, funerals, job interviews, and... that about sums it up.

Well for all you ladies who like to keep it cozy in your downtime, I have found the most comfortable exercise/ yoga/ lounging pants, and they don't cost an arm and a leg... thank you very much Nike.
Target has a great line called C9 by Champion, and I've now bought two pairs of these beauties.
So head on down to your nearest Target and pick up a pair, along with a million other things that you probably don't need but somehow magically appear in your cart.

These are one of the patterns I bought. They also have plain black or grey if you're not into flashy prints. 

Here's the link if you're interested:
Target Leggings

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

XOXO,
Gill

Smokey Eye with the Lorac Mego Pro

I've always loved the smokey eye look on other people, but never on myself.  For one, I never go out anywhere fancy enough for a smokey eye.  For two, I feel like with my dark features, it looks a little over-dramatic.  BUT I figured I had nothing else to do on a Friday night when my hubster was working late.  So I tried it out just for fun.  :) 

Lorac Mego pro-for reference to the shades I used

I started out with just a little primer on my eyes.  I used the Lorac eye primer that came in my original Lorac Pro palette. It does a great job of helping your shadow applying smoothly, keeping your eye makeup in place and prevents creasing. I also filled my  brows in with Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade in shade medium brown.

I started out with the shade Fawn all over my lid up and into my crease.

I blended a mixture of Camel and Sepia and blended that into my crease.

I added Espresso into the outer V of my eye and then deepened it with Caviar.

I took a blending brush with no product on it and blended for what seemed like eternity.  You can never blend enough...the last thing you want I harsh lines and look like you were socked in the eye.

Now, I rarely use eye liner so I'm not the best at it...but I tried my best to add some winged liner.  I used an angeled eye liner brush with black Elf cream liner (seriously good stuff for only $3!) and then sharpened it up with my Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner.  Not pictured because I'm a makeup tutorial ameatur: I added a combo of Sepia and a tiny bit of Espresso onto my lower lash line. 

I added Cream under my brow bone with a little Opal added on the outer brow bone and a touch of Opal in the inner corner of my eye for a highlight.  Then added some mascara (a combo of Makeup Forever and Loreal Butterfly) to both my top and bottom lashes. I then tapped a tiny bit of the shade Champagne onto the center of my lids with my finger.

I finished off my face with foundation, concealer, some cream contouring, blush and setting powder and setting spray.

AND the end result with some awkward posing.

All ready for a night out somewhere fancy.  But I instead washed it all off and went to bed. :)

The smokey look is definitely not something I will use often, if ever, but it was fun to try out! 

Allow me to introduce myself.... and Stitchfix

Hi, I'm Gilly... the other Gilly... This may get a little confusing, so I'll go by Gill.
A little background on the Gilly's: the two of us grew up living a block a part and spending literally everyday joined at the hip. We are more like sisters as opposed to aunt and niece. We are BFF's who have the same sense of humor, same anti-social traits, and same unconditional love for our family.

Anywho, when Gilly mentioned doing this blog I was a little hesitant, because unlike her, I am NOT good at applying makeup, or doing my hair, or doing consistent workouts... I sound like a gem dont I? But I thought it would be a fun way for us to do something together, and maybe I'll learn a few things along the way as well.

A little back ground on me: I work in healthcare, recently married (9/20/14), and have two dogs that I love beyond words... Stop with the judgy eyes, dogs are family too. :) I just recently turned 30, and with that have acquired a new diagnosis of acne rosacea (yay), change in my hair texture, and a lovely extra 15 pounds added to my waistline.

For me, this blog will be a way to review products, workouts, recipes and just day to day living experiences for someone who is fumbling through being an adult woman, when my brain is insisting that I am still a child.

My first review is going to be on a monthly clothing subscription that I have been using for a little over a year now, called Stitchfix. I have done quite a few monthly mail subscriptions (ie. Birchbox, ipsy, Le Tote, etc.) but found I never used 75% of the products I was sent. Stitchfix is great because you get to specify your style, taste, and shape; and if you dont like the items sent, you get to return them instead of things piling up in your bathroom drawers (::ahem:: ipsy). The subscription is $20 every time they send you a set of items. You can specify how often you would like these shipments (every 2-3 weeks, monthly, or every other month). Each shipment comes with 5 pieces. I choose to have a mix of shirts, pants, jewelry and outerwear, but if you have specific needs you can always let them know what types of things you'd like to receive. When you first sign up they will have you complete a VERY detailed style profile, and you can even add a link to your Pinterest page for the Stitchfix stylists to use for inspiration. I have been getting monthly Stitchfix shipments since last September, and have only had one shipment where I returned all 5 items. Here is a review of this month's 'Fix'





Its like Christmas once a month!







Each month your stylist sends you a litte note going over all the things they picked for you and why.



It also comes with a style card, showing you how to incorporate these pieces into your current wardrobe



 

Like I said.... just like Christmas

 

ITEM 1: Cosmo Mixed Chain Fringe Pendant Necklace- $28
This necklace is not really my style, and to be honest I could buy a lot more jewelry at Charming Charlie or Target for $28
VERDICT: RETURN

  

ITEM 2: Coredelia Striped Boat Neck Sweater- $58
At first glance I wasn't in love with the idea of stripes. But after trying it on, I really liked the fit and the material. Its thick enough to be a warm winter sweater but not bulky to where you feel like you're wearing a snow suit around. And the boat neck with unstructured hem was perfect for a gal with a larger chest.
VERDICT: KEEP

  

I hate selfies (unless they involve my dogs), so I felt the decapitated look was fitting

 

Item 3: Neville Floral Print Blouse- $68
I know floral is a big trend right now... but when I saw this all I could think of was my great grandmother's dress shirts. Dont get me wrong, it is a nice material, but I was not a fan of the print. And after trying it on, despite the comfy fit, I decided I couldn't justify spending that much for a print I wasn't crazy about. If I ever decide to join the floral bandwagon I'll go to Forever 21 or Kohls and do a test drive on a cheaper version. 

VERDICT: RETURN



Disregard my messy bedroom behind me, aint nobody got time to clean their room.



Item 4: Brenden French Terry Leather Trim Blazer- $74
 I really liked this one when I pulled it out of the box. It is a SUPER soft material, and an easy piece to dress up any outfit. After trying it on though I didn't like how short it appeared with my chest (these ladies aint small), and also the shoulder pads were giving me a little 80's vibe.
VERDICT: RETURN
Item 5: Lana Lace Detail Blouse- $58
I loved the vibrant blue color of this top, but lets be real... $58 for a glorified tank top, no way. After trying it on I wasn't wow'ed either.
VERDICT: RETURN
PS- I had to sneak in a picture of my Chile girl <3

 

You can kind of see how its a little bunched up in the chest area... Eh not a keeper.





Once you've decided what you want to keep, you simply place the return items in a pre-paid USPS envelope and drop it in the mailbox.

From there you just need to log in and check out online. With each piece they not only want to know whether you're keeping or returning it, but they are also wanting feedback on each individual item.

 Remember that $20 fee I mentioned before, well if you keep anything, that fee is automatically applied towards your purchase. Bonus!

If you're like me and avoid malls like the plague, but still want to update your wardrobe, give Stitchfix a try. You can use the link below to start the process!



https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3229144

XOXO,

Gill

October 2014 IPSY Review

I am an IPSY subscriber.  IPSY is a monthly beauty subscription where you receive beauty samples-many of which are full-sized products and all included in a cute makeup bag.  It's $10 a month and you definitely get way more than $10 worth.  I've had it for a little over a year and I enjoy it.  I love trying out new products and it's so fun to open a small gift every month!  There are definitely months that are better than others.  This month's glam bag was just ok in my opinion.  Here's what I got...

1. Epice Purifying Exfoliant: This is a great facial exfoliant.  The texture reminds me of a microdermabrasion scrub.  It claims to remove excess dirt and dead skin cells while also activating collagen production.  My skin felt noticeably smoother after using this as my skin does after using any sort of scrub.  I do love how fine the scrub is.  This is great to use a couple times a week for fresh, smooth skin. I liked this product.

2. ECRU New York Acacia Protein BB Cream for hair: a beauty balm for the hair that moisturizes, repairs, smooths, adds body and shine.  All these claims sound wonderful, but I didn't notice anything different after using this product.  Not a fan.

3. Jesse's Girl Mineralized Baked Shadow Powder:  First off...this is what happened when I first opened this product:

Not a good impression right?

The formula of the shadow is alright.  It had great pigment.  The color is not for me.  Way too shimmery and purple.  I did however, use it on my daughter for her witch halloween makeup.  :)  I did not like this product for me.

4.Figs and Rouge Hand Cream:  There was nothing special about this hand cream. I'm not the type of person that needs or uses a separate lotion for my hands.  Whatever I have on hand (pun-intended) at home is what I will use.  I will say that it's convenient to keep in my purse but I could definitely live without this product.   

5. City Color Be Matte Lipstick: The matte lip trend that's happening right now is something that I actually really love.  The problem with a lot of matte lip products is that they are very drying and uncomfortable on the lips.  This one wasn't too bad, not overly drying and creamy.  The color was pretty good, a tad too peachy for my skin tone, but definitely a product that I will put to use.  I liked this product.

You can earn what's called "IPSY points" by referring people to IPSY, reviewing your products that you received, sharing your glam bag on social media, etc.  I finally found something that I wanted to use all my hard-earned IPSY points on.  These Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Trio.  I love bronzy, neutral shadows so these will be put to good use.  They are very pigmented and blendable.  I'm a big fan of Milani products.  I think it's a drugstore brand that has a lot of products that are high-end comparable.  

If you are interested in trying out IPSY, click this link and join!