TotalBeauty.com: 20 Best Drugstore Products

I definitely love Maybelline's Full+Soft Mascara, Revlon's Colorstay Makeup and always have a tube of Cetaphil moisturizer in my purse.What do you think about this list?

 
Save money on beauty product essentials with these reader-tested and approved goods.

20 Best Drugstore Products
This is a TotalBeauty.com beauty products article
You see, drugstore-aisle enthusiasts like us believe, and for good reason, that it is possible to improve your look and trim your budget at the same time.
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.3

No. 20: Arm & Hammer Essentials Natural Deodorant, $3.49
"I have tried just about all of them and this is the first one that works."
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.8

No. 19: Olay Regenerist Thermal Contour and Lift, $25.72
"Short of an expensive spa treatment, this product cannot be beat."
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.8

No. 18: Maybelline New York Full 'N Soft Washable Mascara, $5.99
"I've spent top dollar on mascaras -- but I keep coming back to this."


¡Vivan, amen y rían!

LOOK: Blues + Greens w/ MAC E/S

So these past days I've been busy with what some people call "shopping my stash". There are colors I have not used in a while, more like months. Now I want to make different looks mixing all of them, hehehe.  Today's turn was Humid, Freshwater and Steamy. Great combo. I love the combination of green and blue shades.


(NO FLASH)





FACE
ELF Mineral Face Primer
MAC Pro Longwear Makeup in NC 40 mixed with a drop of REVLON Color Stay Makeup in Caramel (N/D formula)--I applied it with my Sigma F82 Round Top Kabuki brush --love how it helps my skin to looks flawless
MAC Select Moisture Cover Concealer in NC35 -- applied with the MAC 188 brush for a perfect finish
BENEFIT Powderflage Powder Concealer-- awesome product!
NARS Laguna Bronzer
MAC Beauty Powder Blush in Shy Beauty
BEN NYE Banana Visage Powder (my new love!)

EYES
TFSI
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk -- great quality at a great price
MAC E/S:  Steamy (inner half of lid & lower lash line); Humid (outer half of lid & lower lash line); Freshwater (outer 'V' and crease & lower lash line); Shroom mixed with Vanilla (browbone); Ricepaper (inner eye area, near tearducts)
MAC Feline E/L on both waterlines and top lashline (I smudged it and then apply some Humid+Freshwater on top)
MAYBELLINE The Big Falsies Mascara in Black
MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Stud

LIPS
SALLY HANSEN Healing Butter for Lips --This product has been discontinued; I bought it on Ebay
L'OREAL HIP l/s in Effervescent mixed with Colour Riche l/s in Mica


I had fun doing this look, I like 'playing' with colors again.


¡Vivan, amen y rían!


LOOK: MAC's Swish+Nocturnelle

It's been a long time since I've used these two colors. I wore this look during the day, so that's why I didn't apply eyeliner. To make it a night look, just add eyeliner and more coats of mascara!

On a sad note, I finally realized my eyes are allergic to some MAC e/s like Nocturnelle, Sketch and some others that (I think) have the red dye.  I love those colors so much, specially Sketch, but my eyes get all red and infected and teary along other symptoms, signs of allergic conjunctivitis. I basically can't use eye make up for a few days.  Boo!!!  So this is the last time I'm using so much qty of these shades in a look, maybe as an accent but still have to be careful. I love my eyes more than the e/s, of course, lol.

++Yes, my hair is wet because I'd just got out of the shower and wanted to let it air-dry++
(AS always, click on all pics for enlarged versions)
 







FACE
ELF Mineral Face Primer -- great product
MAC Select Cover-Up concealer -- NC 35 (love it)
MAC Beauty Powder Blushes -- Shy Beauty mixed with True Romantic (LE)

EYES
TFSI
MAC Painterly PP as base
MAC Swish e/s on eyelids; Nocturnell on the crease on outer 'V', also lower lash line
MAC Brule as highlighter under the eyebrows
MAYBELLINE The Big Falsies Mascara in Black
MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Stud


LIPS
SALLY HANSEN Healing Butter for Lips
L'OREAL HIP Lipstick in Effervescent (I think it's discontinued--I love this color)
MAC Hello Kitty Collection Lipglass in Fast Friends (LE)


Are you having a nice weekend?


¡Vivan, amen y rían!

I lost Eversun...

The other day I lost one of my all-time fave blushes from MAC when it fell from my bathroom counter...MAC Eversun Beauty Powder.  =(

Yes, yes, I know. It's just a blush, but what a blush. So beautiful. Gave my skin a healthy bronzy look without too much shimmer and I just love the beauty powder formula, so silky and pigmented.  I think I bought it when MAC released the Beauty Powders collection in 2008. 

Sure gonna miss it.  Some looks with MAC's Eversun BP.


¡Vivan, amen y rían!


Pssst...Yes, I'm a makeup addict in case you hadn't noticed.

TotalBeauty: Finally Figure Out Your Face Shape -- We'll Show You How

An interesting Beauty Bubble.

All your hair and makeup conundrums will unravel once you understand what your face shape really is.
Finally Figure Out Your Face Shape -- We'll Show You How
This is a TotalBeauty.com hairstyles by face shape article
So, are you ready to unlock the mystery of your face shape once and for all and begin to reap the haircut and makeup benefits that finally knowing it will surely bring?
Find your shape

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

REVIEW: Estee Lauder's Nutritious Vita-Mineral Loose Powder Makeup SPF 15 (swatches+pics)

I had the chance to try Estee Lauder's Nutritious Vita-Mineral Loose Powder Makeup SPF 15 ($34 USD for 15g) when I received a sample of it a few months ago with an order I placed at the EL website.




"Nutritious creates a healthy, radiant look.
  • Erases signs of fatigue.
  • Enhances the beauty of your skin with a natural, vibrant finish.
  • Oil-free.
  • Controls and absorbs oil, without drying skin.
  • Is gentle enough for sensitive skin."
I haven't given mineral foundation a chance since my makeup addiction started in 2007, mainly because my skin can't stand bismuth very well. I decided to check this one out since it mentions it's 'gentle enough for sensitive skin'. Though I knew it probably had bismuth (and it does), I thought maybe it wasn't in big quantities, or I should say, in a concentration that affects my skin as soon as I apply it.  I guess I was right. I consider my skin looks great with this foundation and really believe EL's claims about it enhancing my skin with a radiant finish. I wouldn't say it's very sparkly (sadly, many companies equate radiant finish with sparkly ingredients and/or glitter!), but my skin looks...wow. Very refreshed.

I apply it using the method explained by EnkoreMakeup in this VIDEO. I use my Sigma 197 brush or my Coastal Scents Bionic Flat Top Buffer Brush. I pick some product, spray the brush with MAC's FIX+ Spray and then apply first by stippling the product on my face, then buffing it in. My skin then Iooks almost poreless! I think it does a decent job controlling oil, not top of the notch, but good.  Intensity 3.0 works nice for my NC37 skin and IMO, it provides medium coverage at most.

But sadly, now comes the 'bad things about it' part:
--It tends to oxidize: my skin gets darker (and I have used it with/without primers, different primers, etc)
--My skin does start to itch a little if I begin to sweat a lot--and remember, I work at a construction site...so yeah.  Sometimes I'm in my Site Office, sometimes I need to be walking around the whole site...
--I find it to be long lasting if I stay in a cool environment, but the foundation does transfer and rubs/off as soon as I start to sweat. So I have to be careful not to touch my face specially at work...which is kinda impossible.

All in all, I REALLY like it.  I usually wear it on weekends. My skin has not reacted to it badly (i.e., pimples) except for the itching if I get hot.  Though it never feels like the mineral powder I once tried from Physician's Formula. The horror, lol.

RATING: 4/5
+++ALL PICS ARE CLICKABLE+++



The amount they sent is good enough for 10 applications, 
I find I don't need too much of this product on my skin
 
.
This is a look I did the other day using this product; sorry I can't remember what else I used... =(


Hope you find this review helpful!


¡Vivan, amen y rían!

SAG Award Winners

tks


See the full list of winners HERE.


Blog News: New template =)

Hi guys! Just wanted to mention that I changed the blog's template. It's a very simple one, but as always with colors.  It has some new features, like you can mark at the end of a post if you liked it or hated it.  Still dealing with some stuff, but the posts and pics are up and running. 

Hope you like it.  Have a nice week!


¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Sacha Baron Cohen's The Dictator

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Paramount Pictures announced today that Sacha Baron Cohen’s new comedy The Dictator will be released worldwide on May 11, 2012. The studio also announced that Larry Charles (Borat, Bruno) has come aboard to direct.


As the press releases states: "The film tells the heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed. It is inspired by the best selling novel Zabibah and The King by Saddam Hussein."


Uh-oh. Sounds like this film is going to be offensively funny. But, then again, we've come to expect that from Mr. Cohen.


TotalBeauty.com: Great eyeliners you can actually afford

Our readers say a great eyeliner doesn't always have to have a hefty price tag

Great Eyeliners You Can Actually Afford
This is a TotalBeauty.com eye makeup article
Smudged and smeared (in a bad way) eyes are a beauty disaster that needs to be avoided at all costs -- but how much are you willing to spend for a liner that doesn't budge? If your answer is $10 or less, this list is for you.
See products
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8

Readers call this the "liner with ease," a "staple in my makeup diet" and "great for first time liquid liner users."
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.1

One reader says, "this is simply the best eyeliner ever made. I have used this brand for over 20 years."
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.3

One woman says, "these babies go on super smoothly and evenly distribute A LOT of color. You can't do better for the buck, believe me."

Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipcolor: E190--Royal Red

I've blogged before about these lippies. I really like them and I'm sad to see them go, as Maybelline has discontinued them.  Many drugstores have them on sale and I got this gorgeous red ('Royal Red') the other day for less than a $3 USD.  

I haven't tried the new Color Sensational, so I wonder what shade will be similar to this one?












¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Swatches: My black eyeliners (pencil)

Every January I like to check my makeup stash to see which product stay and which one wins a trip to the nearest trash can or the 'Don't like them anymore' drawer.  I did that the other day with foundations, now it's my black pencil eyeliners turn. In this case, eyeliner that I don't like, eyeliner that I throw away.

I decided to make some swatches, I always find swatches very helpful when comparing products.

++All pics are clickable++

From Top to Bottom (Brand--Shade):  MAC Khol Power--Feline; MAC Eye Khol--Smolder;
NYC Waterproof--Black; Urban Decay 24/7--Zero; Milani Liquif'Eye--Black; L'oreal HIP--Black; Prestige Waterproof--Black
 


 All eyeliners, swiped just once (from left to right):
Feline, Smolder, NYC, UD, Milani, L'oreal, Prestige

 MAC Feline (top) and Smolder



UD Zero, Milani Liquif'Eye, Prestige Waterproof
(Zero is NOT glittery, I just applied it over a shimmery e/s;
forgot to clean it b4 taking the pic, sorry!  =/  )

Swatches (left to right): UD, Milani and Prestige


NYC Waterproof (top) and L'oreal HIP

NYC and L'oreal

Quick thoughts about them:
MAC Feline:  Very soft, a little more opaque than Smolder hence it looks darker (IMH); not great for waterlines (well, it's a khol e/l after all; I do use it on waterlines when doing smokey eyes look); awesome for blending and smudging.
MAC Smolder:  Very soft, also great for smokey eyes. A classic.
NYC Waterproof:  Feel very 'waxy', hard to blend--okay, I understand: it is wp after all); it barely shows on my waterline (I bought it to use it there). Honestly, I think it's pretty bad.
Urband Decay Zero:  Not as black as I would like but excellent on the lash lines and waterlines; last a pretty long time, be sure to work with it fast before it sets.
Milani Liquif'Eye: Love how deep this shade is; a dream to work with, glides  very smoothly on the eyelids, lash lines and waterlines; lasts a long time; the only thing is I can't use it on my waterline, makes them feel dry--to be fair, I don't know if Milani indicates it can be used on the waterlines).
L'oreal HIP: Terrible; Super waxy; I think it is discontinued, glad if it is.
Prestige Waterproof:  Average; doesn't show much on my waterline but works okay on the lash line.

I kept the MAC ones, the UD, and Milani and throw all the 3 others to the trash.  I do have gel eyeliners (maybe 2?), a formula I really like.  Will check them soon.


Have a great weekend.



¡Vivan, amen y rían!


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