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Budget Beauty

Beauty Favorites Budget Beauty

Favorite Holiday Long-Wear Makeup Essentials

December 22, 2020

Best Longwear Makeup Staples

So many of you have asked for long-wear makeup recommendations that are budget-friendly. Today I have the best of both with a holiday makeup round up! I’ve partnered with Walmart to share a few of my go-to makeup staples that can take you from a daytime to a more dressy look.

Day to Night Holiday Makeup Staples

Base Essentials

Base Essentials Estee Lauder, NARS, Laura Mercier

For a long-lasting base the Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation has been one of the best long-wearing matte finish foundations I’ve tried. My match is 3W1 Tawny. It has full coverage but doesn’t look flat. To brighten or conceal dark under eye circles the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is probably my most-used concealer! It’s creamy, easy to blend, doesn’t crease on me and once set with a powder, stays put and looks fresh for hours. To set my makeup I have quite a few loves, but the Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder is my holy grail no-fuss powder to keep everything in place.

Bronzer + Blush

Milani Powder Blush in Coral Cove

For a good bronzer, I have raved about the ones from L’Oreal so many times. I think they’re easy to use and they have a good range of shades to pick from. I reach for the L’Oreal Summer Belle Bronzer in 03 Amalfi the most for a budget-friendly option. For blushes I’ve been really impressed with the ones from Milani and love the Powder Blush in Coral Cove. It’s a really bright coral pink and you only need a tiny sweep of color to brighten the complexion and make you look more alive. The powder is easy to blend and layer, plus it has very good lasting power.

Lips

Budget Friendly Liquid Lipstick and Lip Gloss

I have SO many loves for lips! The L’Oreal Rouge Signature Matte Lip Stain has been one of my absolute favorite liquid lipsticks with a soft matte finish. They’re not drying and they have a pretty satin matte dry down so they look soft and pretty. The formula comes in a wide range of colors, I love I Create for a soft everyday pink rose and I Empower is an easy to wear peach nude beige. They feel weightless on the lips and have excellent coverage and lasting power. (Colors swatched top to bottom: I Empower, I Create, I Rule, I Choose, I Represent.)

L'Oreal Matte Lip Stain in 416

L'Oreal Liquid Lip 418

One of my newest tries is the L’Oreal Infallible Matte Lip Crayon. It’s an opaque twist up style lipstick in a slim tube. It has smooth opaque coverage with intense color payoff. I bought a few of the shades to try and love 500 Caramel Blondie with the Maybelline Lifter Lip Gloss in Ice layered on top for a pretty pink look. For a brighter holiday lip look 502 Sweet and Salty is a really pretty berry pink.

L'Oreal Matte Lip Crayons

L'Oreal Matte Lip Crayon 500

L'Oreal Matte Lip Crayon Sweet Salty

I swatched a number of the Maybelline Lifter Lip Glosses in my post here. If you’re looking for a good plumping gloss with high shine I highly recommend checking them out! (Colors shown Ice, Topaz and Opal.)

Eye Makeup Staples

L'Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara Primer and Waterproof Mascara

For eye makeup, I have a soft spot for L’Oreal. The L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara Base is one of the few lash primers I have used, loved and repurchased many times. It has a pale pink tint to it so you can make sure you’ve coated all the lashes. I apply and then follow with the L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara Waterproof when the base is still wet for a lot of volume and definition. This combo gives me the best look for my super straight lashes – and it holds the curl! For a good long lasting eyeliner you can’t go wrong with the L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof Eyeliner. It’s easy to apply and truly does stay put.

For eyeshadows I have been so impressed with the Wet N’Wild Icon Eyeshadow 10 Pan Palette in Nude Awakening. It is a great palette of wearable basics and has everything you need for a complete eye look. Every color has good color payoff and the darker matte shades have really intense pigments that are easy to blend.

Wet n Wild Eyeshadow Palette Nude Awakening

Budget Beauty Staples | The Beauty Lookbook

If you’re looking for some easy to wear long-wear makeup for the holiday I hope this gives you some ideas of what to try! You can find all the beauty items available at Walmart.

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Many thanks to Walmart for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions are my own.

Beauty Favorites Budget Beauty Holiday Gift Guide

Cute Budget Beauty Holiday Gift Ideas

November 23, 2020

Best Budget Beauty Gift Ideas | The Beauty Look Book

So many of you have asked for more budget beauty features and I’m thrilled to share a Budget Beauty Gift Guide with some cute stocking stuffer ideas! I’m partnering with Walmart to share some of my latest finds. I have a roundup of some new discoveries along with a couple tried and true favorites.

My Favorite Lash Duo

L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara and Primer Holiday Kit

The L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara has been my favorite for several years. I love both the regular and waterproof version. They have a cute Lash Paradise Mascara and Primer Holiday Kit at a value price. I use the primer almost daily (it’s one of the few mascara bases I really like and have repurchased countless times).

Best Plumping Lip Gloss

Maybelline Lifter Lip Gloss Review and Swatches

The Maybelline Lifter Glosses are my latest budget beauty discovery. I love the sleek simple packaging and these are some of the prettiest plumping lip glosses I’ve tried. They have a sweet cookie like scent and give the lips a plumping look and feel without an intense sting (they will tingle a little). They have Hyaluronic Acid and make the lips look super glossy. I cannot pick a favorite! I’m wearing Moon in this post which is a sheer smooth shimmery pink. There are some cream colors without shimmer too. A few more swatches below.

Maybelline Lifter Lip Gloss Swatches

Maybelline Lifter Lip Gloss Makeup Look

Best Bronzers

L'Oreal Bronzing Powders

L'Oreal Bronzing Powder Amalfi Medium

The best budget-friendly bronzers I’ve tried are from L’Oreal. I love the Summer Belle Bronze Please! in the shade Amalfi (Medium). I recently bought the darkest color in Taormina (Dark) which is a good non-orangey deeper bronze. If you want a softer look the True Match Lumi Bronzers are also nice for a luminous glow.

Favorite Affordable Brushes + Tools

Best Affordable Makeup Brushes Real Techniques

So many friends and family members ask what the best affordable makeup brushes are. Many of them have teens or younger ones just starting to get into makeup and want to know what a good brush set is to start. Real Techniques Brushes are my favorite. They’re well made and functional. They have several cute sets or you can buy them individually. Sometime last year I discovered the Everyday Essentials Makeup Brush Set and use all the brushes in the kit. Brush 200 is perfect for foundation, 401 is a great multi-tasking brush and I love the other two for highlighting or blending.

I just bought the Artist Essentials Brush Set (one featured in this post) and think it’s a great addition to my current lineup. They’re soft and gentle on the skin but effective in picking up product. I also picked up another Concealer Brush because it’s one of the best I have tried and super versatile for both concealer or cream eyeshadow.

For beauty sponges the Elf Blending Sponge is hands down the best drugstore sponge I’ve tried!

Best Drugstore Beauty Tools Elf and Real Techniques

Cute Stocking Stuffers

Elf Bite Size Palettes

Elf Bite Size Palettes make for super cute stocking stuffers! I think they’re super cute – the Bite Size Eyeshadow Palettes have 4 shades for a complete look and I bought a few extras to keep for myself. The Bite Size Face Duos have a mini blush and highlighter in the same size compact in easy to wear colors.

Best Nail Care Picks

Best Budget Beauty Gift Ideas

Cute Nail Gift Ideas Tweezerman OPI

For nail care Tweezerman makes the some of the best nail tools. I swear by their Pushy Nail Cleaner to push back cuticles and also their Cuticle Clippers. This Mini Manicure Kit is a great buy – they have a few variations and I think they’re one of the most underrated accessories.

OPI nail polishes are perfect for any beauty lover. Out of all the gifts I’ve given, any OPI nail polish seems to get more excitement than anything else! I’ll sometimes put together a mini nail kit basket or tie a couple up in a cello bag for gifting. A few of my favorite neutrals swatched below.

OPI Neutral Swatches

Best Budget Beauty Finds

That wraps up my Budget Beauty Holiday Gift Ideas roundup! It’s super easy to take a couple of items and make a cute gift with a pretty bow or tiny ornament. I hope this gives you some ideas in case you need some quick and easy ideas for stocking stuffers!

You can find all of my beauty picks available at Walmart. They have their holiday beauty shop by different categories which makes it easy to filter and find things like Gifts for Mindful Beauty, Self Gifting, Beauty Gift Sets, Beauty Tech and Tools, Nails, Hair Tools and more!

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Many thanks to Walmart for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions are my own.

Budget Beauty

Best New Budget Beauty Buys

July 26, 2019

Best Budget Beauty Buys | The Beauty Look Book

I can’t believe another month has flown by! It has been a busy summer for us with the move and we’ve had lots of company visiting us from out of town to take advantage of the summer beach weather in Florida. Today I have an updated budget beauty post for you! There are several things I bought recently that I’ve promised an update on and I’ve teamed up with Walmart to share the latest with you. I have a round up of my best beauty buys and added to my top shelf.

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Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss Solar Coral and Blissed Out | The Beauty Look Book

I’ve always been a gloss girl and the Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Glosses are my lastest discovery! I love that they have a smooth glossy shine and no scent. As much as I love a good budget lip buy, sometimes they’re too heavily fragranced with either a strong lipstick or plastic kind of scent. These have been going through a repackaging (same style tube, just slightly different exterior so the tube may look different. I bought a couple to try in Solar Coral 243 (bright peach cream) and Blissed Out 246 (shimmery peachy gold rose) and am obsessed! I need to try more colors. I’m wearing Solar Coral in this post.

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L’Oreal Summer Belle

L'Oreal Summer Belle Bronzer 01

L’Oreal is one of my favorite budget beauty brands and the Summer Belle collection is exclusive to Walmart. It took me a while to track these down because they kept selling out but it was worth the extra effort and searching! The stand outs to me are the two cheek products. I think the bronzers are a must.

L'Oreal Bronzers, Bronze Please! Walmart Exclusive vs True Match Lumi Bronze It

The Bronze Please! La Terra Sun Powder is for Face and Body and has a soft almost creamy feel. They’re very natural and you can build it for more color. I can wear either 01 Portofino or 03 Amalfi. They are softly scented with a sweet summer like scent but it’s not overpowering. There’s a tiny bit of gold shimmer mixed throughout but it’s a sparse kind of shimmer so the bronzer is not overly frosted. It gives the skin an almost airbrushed bronze effect. I swatched it next to the True Match Lumi Bronzer in 02 Medium for reference. I find the True Match option a little more red based and a little more powdery.

L'Oreal Blush Please! Summer belle highlighter blushes

I also picked up both shades of the Blush Please! Shimmering Blush in 11 Blushin In Riviera (peach gold shimmer) and 12 Blushin In Saint-Tropez (shimmery brown rose pink). Both are on the high shimmer side and they give the skin a very luminous glow. For me they are more highlighter material but I think they’re really fun and beautiful on the skin. Pigment is incredible and intense but you can easily blend and buff out.

Adding the peachy Blushin In Riviera below

L'Oreal Blush Please! Summer belle highlighter blushes

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Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter

Maybelline Master Chrome Highlighters Molton Gold, Molton Peach and Molton Topaz

I discovered the Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in the Molton Gold formula in the spring and loved it so much I bought a few more. They’re amazing. If you want the best budget highlighter with a smooth buttery texture and extreme glow, the Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter is IT! I love the Peach and Topaz shade.

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Real Techniques Brushes

Real Techniques Brushes

Last but not least are the Real Techniques Brushes. I bought the Everyday Essentials Makeup Brush Set and think the brushes are excellent quality! They’re super soft and sturdy. I also bought the fluffy Ultra Plush Powder Brush and it’s made the top of my list for powder or bronzer. My niece has asked me for some brush recommendations. I’ve given her a few over the past year but am going to order her a few of these sets. I also recently bought the Brush Cleanser Set which I’m still testing and will keep you posted as I try other similar types of silicone pads.

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Budget Beauty Shelfie Favorites

That wraps up some of my favorite new budget buys and tries! In case you missed past posts, you can check out some of my go-to staples here and here. Do you have any recent budget beauty favorites or new tries? I still swear by the L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara and love that they now stock Bioderma which I always keep on hand. Let me know if you’ve tried anything new! If you have any good budget lip glosses you love that don’t have a heavy scent let me know what I should check out next 🙂

 

Many thanks to Walmart for partnering to sponsor this post.

Budget Beauty

Budget Beauty Staples + Summer Haul Picks

June 28, 2019

Best Budget Beauty Buys | The Beauty Look Book

I have another budget beauty roundup today and a peek at a new shelfie in our new place! I’m still in the process of getting everything organized and setup. I’ll be sure to show you the beauty room/closet as soon as I can. The recent budget beauty roundups have been a hit with so many of you and I’ve written down all of your personal recommendations to add to my shopping list! I’ve partnered with Walmart again to share my budget beauty shelfie with go-to’s and a few things I’ve hauled. I’m always amazed at how much they stock when I go into a store, I always find something new!

My top 6 budget beauty staples I always like to keep in stock in my beauty stash (in other words my most repurchased items):

  1. Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Gel is my go-to for reducing the swelling from acne that is just staring to surface. There are different kinds and stages of acne which require different kinds of ingredients and acids to treat. (More on what we’ve tried coming soon.) This one has 10% benzoyl peroxide but doesn’t leave a red mark on the skin like some other treatments do. Andrew uses this as well! We’ve gone through around a dozen tubes.
  2. Almay Eye Makeup Remover Pads for Longwear and Waterproof Makeup is a recommendation thanks to many of you! I had such a hard time removing waterproof mascara, this was the most recommended and it is hands down the best I’ve tried. There is also a larger size but I like to buy the smaller one because it’s more travel friendly.
  3. Dove Body Wash Mousse is one of the most fun shower products I’ve tried and also hydrates dry skin. The winter and spring can be harsh on the skin, even in Florida. The shower creams and gels from Dove never fail me. I like the Rose Oil one the best, but have also tried the Argan Oil and Coconut Oil ones. It has the best foaming action!
  4. philosophy Amazing Grace Shower Gel is an amazing shower gel, but I actually use as a bubble bath. I have used this since my college days. It has such a clean and relaxing scent that melts any and all stress away.
  5. Bioderma Sensibio H20 is always on hand in my beauty cabinet, it never stings or irritates, even on super sensitive skin days.
  6. L’Oreal Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara is still the best for me. It holds the curl, lengthens, doesn’t clump and holds up to Florida heat. My bestie asked me recently if I had any other new favorites in the mascara world since I test a lot. This is still my favorite!

Some new beauty haul picks:

  1. Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in Molten Peach is a recent beauty buy. I was so impressed by the Molten Gold I went back to check out the other shades. I haven’t had a chance to open it yet but will keep you posted!
  2. Beautyblender Nude is now carried at Walmart and I could not be more excited. It’s discounted from the full price which is a huge plus for me because I’ve never been able to find a good dupe.
  3. Elf Blending Sponge is something I just bought in hopes of a cheaper beautyblender alternative. Most of the other sponges I’ve tried just aren’t soft or bouncy enough, but this one seems to have a good amount of squish. I’m going to start testing it this weekend.
  4. Real Techniques has been highly recommended so I bought the Everyday Essentials Makeup Set and the brushes feel super soft and plush. I also hauled one of the Powder Brushes and will be trying them out soon.
  5. Essie Speed Setter Ultra Fast Dry Top Coat caught my eye in store. My go-to fast dry top coat has hit near the end of it’s life and has also been discontinued so I’ve been on the hunt for another option. This one does indeed dry the nails fast, but I have to make sure the polish underneath is fully dry/set. I’ve had this one on my fingers since Monday with no chips or tip wear so it’s promising! Will need to test it some more with other formulas.
  6. Milani Strobelight Instant Glow Powder in Sunglow also caught my eye in store. I just played with it a little and it has a super soft texture with a really impressive multi-dimensional glow. For those who’ve been asking for a budget-friendly highlighter option, I think these are great!
  7. Revlon Kiss Coconut Balm because I can’t resist anything coconut scented.

 

 

I hope you enjoyed this budget beauty shelfie! I can’t wait to share more of our home as we decorate and get everything setup. Have you found any new budget beauty loves recently? Let me know in the comments!

Sponsored by Walmart. As always all opinions are my own.

 

Budget Beauty

Best Budget Beauty Picks to Prep for Summer

May 27, 2019

Budget Beauty for Summer | The Beauty Look Book

It feels like it’s the start of summer here! We are blessed to have warm sunshine most of the year but if you’re still in transition spring to summer mode I have a roundup of some affordable beauty picks to help you prep for summer. I’ve partnered with Walmart to share some of my budget beauty staples and a few new summer tries.

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Bronze and Glow

Summer Bronzer and Highlighter | The Beauty Look Book

I’m normally on the tan side since because we get so much sun but a lot of you have asked for recommendations for a sunless option. I’ve recently discovered the L’oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Serum in Medium Natural Tan. It’s a great self-tanner to help even out my short tan lines and bronze up areas like my stomach that don’t get as much sun in the winter/early spring. One application darkened and evened out my tan in one evening. I didn’t have any transfer to my sheets or clothes and had no streaking. A little goes a long way, I waited around 10 minutes for it to dry. Do make sure you wash your hands thoroughly (they can stain). One application lasted me around 4 days, I was seriously impressed!

L'oreal True Match Lumi Bronze It Medium and Maybelline Master Chrome in Molten Gold

For a nice soft bronzer to tan up your complexion the L’Oreal True Match Lumi Bronze It in 02 Medium is a great natural option. It has a very pretty soft satiny bronze with a subtle glow. There’s also a lighter shade and a deeper option as well. It has a soft texture, blends easily and looks so natural. It had seriously impressive lasting power. I wore it to the beach and it stayed on my face all day! I think this is a great way to fake a tan on the face but still have it look natural. This is something you can also apply on the body as well.

As much as I love high-end highlighters I think there are quite a few good budget alternatives. The Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in Molten Gold has a gorgeous pretty shine in a golden glow with very slight peach tones. It’s ultra pigmented but blends out for a softer finish. This one has a creamy feel and adheres well to the skin. It doesn’t emphasize my pores or fine lines even though it’s metallic. I want to try the peach shade next! If you want a cream version the Neutrogena Glow On Face Liquid is also excellent.

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Natural Radiance

L'oreal True Match Lumi Glotions

I’ve written about the L’Oreal True Match Lumi Glotions before and they remain on my favorites list. They’re a great all over luminizer you can wear under foundation, alone or on top of foundation to add the most natural looking glow. There’s enough shimmer in it to add a a glow to your complexion but aren’t frosty. I can wear it all over without it getting greasy looking. It has good lasting power and comes in four shades. I wear 902 the most. You can go one shade deeper than your natural skin tone to add a bit of natural warmth to the skin.

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Lips

L'Oreal Color Riche Shine Luminous Coral

Hands down the best budget shine lipsticks are the L’Oreal Color Riche Shine Lipsticks. My favorites are Luminous Coral and Sparkling Rose. If you like bold shades they have the best reds and oranges too. They’re quite pigmented even though they’re shiny. I sometimes layer/mix colors together. Luminous Coral is the best shade for summer (in my opinion).

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Nails

Essie Topless and Barefoot Nail Polish

I think my readers are split between loving OPI or Essie for a good budget affordable color. So many of you swear by Essie and I’ve been exploring more of the opaque options. There are so many great colors to pick from! One of my go-to’s has been Topless and Barefoot for the most flattering neutral pink cream. I recently bought a few more colors and was pleased to find some pretty pinks and neutrals! Let It Glow looks so fun for the summer season it glows and has a pretty pink rose gold look. Eternal Optimist turned out to be the prettiest neutral rose pink that pulls neutral-cool (love this on the toes). I swatched a few other recent buys including Bare With Me and Lighten the Mood. I think these are go-with everything kinds of colors. Each one is applied with two coats.

Essie Neutral Polishes, Lighten the Mood, Topless Barefoot, Eternal Optimist, Bare with Me and Let It Glow

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Eyes

L'Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara and Primer

For eyes my go-to has been the L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara in both the Waterproof and Regular formulas. For the humid months the waterproof is essential. A number of you have said you really don’t like waterproof mascara because it’s so hard to remove. I’ve also tried the regular version in Black and it’s also excellent. I pair either with the Lash Paradise Primer for added volume. For a good metallic wash of color the Infallible Metallic Paints in Rose Chrome or Brass Knuckles. Both add a natural sheen that makes the eyes glow with a sunkissed summery shimmer.

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Staples

Original Beautyblender and Bioderma Sensibio

Last but not least are two staples I just discovered are available at Walmart. The best foundation sponge is the original beautyblender and they carry it online! They also started stocking Bioderma and the Sensibio H2o is one of the best for a gentle face makeup remover. I use this as a first pass cleanser sometimes before washing my face with regular cleanser. It helps remove makeup more effectively when I double cleanse.

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That wraps up on my budget beauty favorites for the upcoming summer season! I’ve been trying out more affordable sunscreens on my test-list and have another self-tanner to try out this upcoming week. For now these are some beauty products I recommend checking out to fake a nice summer glow if you want to go sunless! As always let me know what your budget beauty favorites are! I love checking out your recommendations 🙂

 

 

Thanks to Walmart for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions my own.

 

Budget Beauty

Cute Budget Beauty Gift Ideas for Galentine’s Day

February 5, 2019

Galentine's Day Budget Beauty Gifting Ideas

Valentine’s Day is approaching and I’m rounding up some of my favorite budget beauty items I think are perfect for gifting your girlfriends. When it comes to gifting for special holidays like Valentine’s Day (or Galentine’s Day) sometimes the simple little things are the best! A cute nail polish or lipstick paired with some candy never fails to bring joy. I’ve teamed up with Walmart today to share some of my favorite budget-beauty finds that I’ve been loving recently that I think others will love as well. Everything in this post is under $15. They also have a wide range of options available from skincare, tools, nails, eyes, lips and more on their Galentine’s Day Beauty Gifting section.

Right now my besties are all living on opposite coasts from me but we still keep in touch and chat on a weekly basis. I feel like as life progresses and we age sometimes friendships are hard to keep. I feel truly blessed to have my gal pals in my life and thankful that they make time during their busy weeks to call or chat! I’m putting together little goody bags to ship their way this week.

Galentine's Day Budget Beauty Gifting Ideas

Cute nail polishes are something I gift frequently. Essie Nail Polish is hands down the most loved among my friends. There’s something about the classic creams and sheers that everyone loves. Finding a good shade is pretty easy, there are lots to choose from like the Classic Sheers in Ballet Slippers or Tuck it in my Tux. There are also some amazing Classic Reds in every undertone like Forever Yummy and Double Breasted Jacket. The Gel Couture line is also fairly popular among my friends. I think their corals like On the List and Sizzling Hot are really pretty (I think I might keep this one for myself).

Essie Nail Polish Galentine's Day Colors

L’Oreal is one brand that keeps impressing me for the price and quality. I love their Colour Riche Shine Lipsticks for the best glossy lip. I picked up a few of the new Rouge Signature Matte High Pigment Lip Inks and they’re not your typical liquid lipstick. They don’t dry super matte or make your lips look shriveled. They have a soft matte finish and really smooth coverage. I liked them so much I went back and bought more to gift away. I think even my niece who is in her teens will like these too. They’re very much on-trend but not too trendy. They’re not kiss proof but the lasting power is still fairly impressive for a soft finish lip.

L'Oreal Rouge Signature Matte Lip Ink

Galentine's Day Budget Beauty Gifting Ideas

A few more budget beauty favorites include the L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara Waterproof. I like pairing this with the Lash Paradise Primer, but the mascara is so good it works on its own too. For those looking for a good glow that’s affordable the True Match Lumi Glow Nude Palette in Moonkissed is one of the best ones I’ve tried. It’s also available in a warmer Sunkissed Palette color option. Readers recommended I try the Infallible Paints as well and they were all right! The pigment is quite impressive. I kinda wish they had more colors available!

L'Oreal Makeup Favorite Lash Paradise

Cute gifting ideas are to fill mini clear treat bags with heart shaped candies and add them to a small gift bag I found some cute mini red and white mail boxes at Walmart that you can fill with a few small items. Small heart shaped bowls are always cute. When in doubt the larger clear treat bags are SO simple and always work to fill with a few things. Just tie with a ribbon or a twist tie and you’re set. You really can’t go wrong with chocolates, jelly beans or M&Ms or any kind of gummy candy. I had some Swedish Fish for my gift bags but none of them survived. It’s been a while since I’ve eaten any and I forgot how good they are. The entire bag disappeared within a couple hours. LOL!

Galentine's Day Gifting Ideas

Galentine's Day Budget Beauty Gifting Ideas

If you’re looking for some cute gift options whether it’s for girlfriends, nieces, coworkers or to treat yourself, I hope this gives you a few affordable ideas! Lots more to find at Walmart.com. Do you have any fun Valentine’s Day things you do with your girl friends? When I lived in California sometimes we’d get together for a fun high tea date or just a simple lunch the first week of February. I really miss them! If you have any fun cute traditions I’d love to hear about them!

 

 

Many thanks to Walmart for sponsoring this post. As always all opinions are my own.

 

Beauty Favorites Budget Beauty

Affordable Budget Beauty Favorites No. 1

September 17, 2018

Affordable Budget Beauty Favorites Under $20, L'Oreal, OPI, Garnier

By popular request I’m going to start covering some of my favorite budget beauty tries and buys! For my beauty blogging life I’ve primarily focused on mid to high-end luxury brands but every week I get questions about more affordable options or dupes. I’ve been experimenting more with different brands based on feedback and started testing things I think look interesting. I have some budget beauty items to share with you today of items I feel are worth trying. Prices vary depending on retailer and promos you can find, but at the full retail price, everything is under $20.

1. L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara is hands down my favorite drugstore mascara. It lengthens, volumizes, defines, holds the curl and does not smudge on me. I’ve gone through quite a few tubes of this! Several of you have commented it’s prone to clumping after a few uses. To solve this I take the wand once every other week and run it through a folded piece of paper in the crease to clean it. It does waste a lot of product but I do this with most of my mascaras but it’s the only way I can remove buildup. I have actually tried both the non-waterproof and waterproof versions. I think both are really good. Given the fact that I live in Florida where the humidity is intense, I prefer the waterproof version as a better smudge-proof option.

L'Oreal Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara

2. After the success I had with the mascara, I bought the L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Primer as soon as it launched with high hopes. It was a hit! It works well to prime and condition the lashes. It’s pink tinted so you can see how much you’ve actually applied. The trick with this is to not let it dry down all the way before you add mascara. I apply a coat of mascara almost immediately after I apply the primer and it works like a charm. If I let it dry completely it almost becomes crunchy and mascara doesn’t adhere well.

Loreal Lash Paradise Primer Review

2. OPI Nail Polishes are my go-to for favorite affordable nail polish brand. I know many others love Essie or Zoya, but for me OPI is the best for lasting power and color. My favorite neutrals are from OPI including Tiramisu for Two, Samoan Sand, Let Me Bayou a Drink and more. I’m going to be putting together an updated neutral nail polish post, but you can see my Favorite Neutrals in this roundup here. I also really like the Natural Nail Base Coat to help protect the nails, prime them for polish and prevent yellowing.

Best OPI Neutrals Tiramisu for Two, Samoan Sand, Let Me Bayou a Drink

3. Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water and Makeup Remover Sensitive and Waterproof are great micellar cleansing waters. I really love the ones from Lancome and Koh Gen Do, but I needed to find a budget friendly option as I go through a lot of remover with my swatching. I tried both the Sensitive Option and Waterproof Version and think they are both great. The waterproof version is stronger and better for removing darker lipsticks or eyeliner. For my long-wear waterproof mascara it’s not strong enough in which case I recommend you try the Almay Longwear & Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover Pads. It’s the only thing remover that has enough power to actually removes my waterproof mascara these days. I bought this based on reader recommendations and they were 100% right at how effective it is.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Waters

4. L’Oreal Color Riche Shine Lipsticks are a close dupe for the YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Oil in Stick. When I read others claiming this I was skeptical. I did not think it was possible! I bought a few shades and really like them. I was then sent the entire lineup for review. After testing them I do not think they are 100% identical but they make for an impressive cheaper alternative. The L’Oreal Color Riche Shine Lipsticks have the same balmy feel, comfortable wear and nice shine. I actually like them a little bit more because there’s less slip to them so they adhere better to the lips. They do have a completely different scent, the L’Oreal ones have that super sweet candy like scent. There are a couple colors that apply patchy because of how pale they are in comparison to my natural lip color, but most of them are solid wins. The only two iffy colors are Shining Peach and Dewey Petal for me – they run really pale.

L'Oreal Color Riche Shine Lipsticks Review

L'Oreal Color Riche Shine Lipstick Swatches

L'Oreal Color Riche Shine Lipstick Swatches Lips

L'Oreal Color Riche Shine Lipstick Swatches Deeper Brights

L'Oreal Color Riche Shine Lipstick Swatches Deeper Bright Shades

5. L’Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion is something I would call a dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter. This comes in four color options, Fair Glow, Light Glow, Medium Glow and Deep Glow. This is similar in concept to the Charlotte Tilbury product because the Lumi Glotion can also be worn alone, under makeup, to highlight or bronze. It has a subtle luminous glow that you can see on the skin but it’s not overly shimmery or frosted. I do think the color range differs for the deeper shades. If you’re fair to medium the colors are close. I like either Light or Medium to highlight and Deep works as a slightly deeper bronze shimmer.

L'Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion Review + Swatches

L'Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion Swatches

That wraps up my first Budget Beauty Buys and Tries roundup! I’ll be incorporating 1-2 roundups per month. Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any of these and what your thoughts were. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Also if you have any dupe requests please leave a note in the comments and I’ll try to do some research for the next round.

I buy these brands primarily at Target, Ulta Beauty or CVS. If you have a go-to destination for budget beauty shopping I’d love to hear in the comments!

L’Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion and Color Riche Shines provided as press samples. L’Oreal Lash Paradise initially provided as a sample, but I’ve since repurchased it on my own many times.