The Results are IN!

In my last post I shared with y'all some makeup that I completely broke the bank purchasing. Not because the makeup itself was expensive, but because I bought SO much. I researched and bought all of the best drugstore makeup I could find. That being said, I have had a couple weeks to try everything and I have reviews to share with y'all.

Maybelline Colorburst Lipstick in "Brazen Berry"
THIS LIPSTICK ROCKS. Seriously, I was looking for a good purple that could compete with Mac's "Heroine." I was referred to this color by another beauty blog and I could not be more thankful. This has become my go-to lip color. Even though it appears purple it looks more magenta on the lips and doesn't clash with whatever colors you're wearing. You will have to reapply it a couple times throughout the day, but the color is highly pigmented, non-drying, and completely matte. I paired it with NYX butter gloss in "Strawberries and Cream" which made it into a really pretty bright pink.

NYX Dark Circle Corrector, Under-eye Concealer
There is not a whole lot I can say about this other than it is a good concealer. It covers up redness and lightens dark under-eye circles. The container is actually much smaller than the box so it is a little deceiving as far as how much you're getting.  But at $6 you can't really go wrong.


Pixi Mesmorizing Mineral Palette-Plum Quartz
I LOVE THIS PALETTE. For someone who has not worn make up for very long, I am still learning how to apply eye shadow and blend it correctly. This palette features shadows that are not only so pretty, but also blend super easily. They are relatively light so don't be afraid to put on a couple of layers. I use this palette with my Maybelline "Nudes" palette and have come up with some really pretty combinations.


NYC Bronzer "Sunny"
Sunny is a bronzer I have seen on literally every beauty blog. It is under $3 which is great for a bronzer that is supposed to be just like benefit's Hoola bronzer. I am not sure exactly how to contour or use bronzer yet, but I like the color and how pigmented it looks on skin. If you are very fair-skinned I wouldn't recommend this bronzer just because it is pretty dark and works better on olive skin tones in my opinion.


Wet n Wild "Walking on Eggshells" Eye Shadow Trio
Best eye shadow trio on the market. I had read that before but it really is true. The colors are so neutral that this has become my every day eye shadow. You can use the bottom color as an all-over shadow if you're running quickly out the door, or use the trio to blend and create the perfect neutral eye look. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the colors showed up and blended together. The quality was every bit as good if not better than any Clinique or Estee Lauder eye shadows I have owned. All in all for $2 this eye shadow can't be beat.

Maybelline Rocket Volum' Mascara
This mascara is great. It stays on all day without smudging and worked just as well on my lashes as benefit's They're Real. My eyelashes are already pretty long and thick (blessed in this area) so I am not sure how they compare to someone who needs a lot of lengthening and volumizing in their mascara. But all in all I really like this mascara and the packaging makes it really easy to find in a makeup bag because of how bright it is.

So there you have it, those are reviews of some of my favorite new products I have tried. Hopefully next I will be able to post some pictures of me wearing some of these products. Until then, what awesome products have y'all tried lately?

XOXO, Natalie

The Beginning

Hey there makeup divas. Or maybe you're not such a makeup diva. Until recently I wasn't one either. I could fit every piece of makeup I owned into my tiny J.Crew makeup bag. This was until I started working at a boutique among some of the most beautiful (inside and out) people that I had ever met. I realized that if I wanted to keep up I should probably learn about all the fuss over makeup. I am almost twenty years old, and the only makeup I had owned had been bought for me (usually by my mother) in an attempt to get me to become one of those "put together" girls. It took a while for me to come around to the idea of adding an extra fifteen minutes to my usual 5 minute (contacts, brush teeth, put clothes on) morning routine. Eventually I realized that I actually like playing around with makeup. The only thing that really bothered me was how much it costs. Urban Decay's NAKED palettes are usually around $50. There was no way I was going to pay that much for eyeshadow.

Enter "dupes."

I learned what a dupe was when my older sister bought me NYX "pinched" blush which is supposed to be a direct dupe of NARS "orgasm." I started to research other dupes and drugstore favorites to figure out how I could spend less money but still get awesome quality products. After much research (5 hours and staying up until 2am), I came up with a list of the best drugstore products and dupes. Then I proceeded to break the bank at Target and Ulta to buy every last one. Here's what I found:

1. Maybelline Volum'Express "Rocket" mascara, supposed dupe for benefit "they're Real." Now this one is going to be hard to believe considering benefit's product is the best on the market according to every beauty blogger and makeup artist I've talked to. However, benefit's product runs at about $23 whereas Maybelline's is only $6.

2. e.l.f Conturing Blush & Bronzing Powder "St. Lucia," dupe for NARS "Orgasm" and "Laguna." This is a set of two powders that runs for only $3 at Target. Worth a try considering I would never, ever spend money on NARS.

3. Maybelline New Vivids Lipstick in "Brazen Berry," dupe for MAC "Heroine." I paid $5 for Brazen Berry, whereas MAC lipsticks run at around $16 a tube. This is just crazy to me honestly. I know from experience that MAC is a great product, but I would much rather pay a fraction of the price and have to reapply once or twice. I have been wearing the Maybelline product for a couple of hours now, the color is still perfect and my lips have not dried out. Not bad for $5.

4. Maybelline "Nudes" eye shadow palette, dupe for Urban Decay "NAKED." There is not a whole lot to say about this product. It is $10 for ten colors that are almost exact dupes of UD. I am so pleased with the pigmentation and creamy finish of these shadows. There are both matte and shimmer shadows, all of which blend really well together. The applicator is no good, but then again when are they? This palette is a dream, not to mention it is much more compact in size than UD and can actually fit in my every day makeup bag.

Besides dupes, I bought some products that I have heard nothing but great things about on multiple sites.

5. e.l.f HD blush in "superstar" $3

6. Wet n Wild coloricon eye shadow "Walking on Eggshells" $3

7. Pixi Mesmerizing Mineral Palette "Plum Quartz" $12 (a bit of a splurge...but the colors are phenomenal)

8. NYX Dark Circle Concealer "Light" $6

9. NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder "Sunny" $2.50

10. NYX Butter Gloss "Strawberry Parfait" $5

So there you have it. As soon as I am able to try these products out I will be sure to post pictures. Until then, what are your favorite drugstore dupes and products?