My Top Drugstore Beauty Products

In my last post, I spoke about some of my favourite high-end beauty products so I thought it was about time I spoke about some of my favourite cheaper alternatives. The drugstore seems to be getting better and better and there is a handful of products I couldn’t live without. I’ve rounded up my top 6 products from the drugstore that I rate to be the best out there.

Max Factor Excess Shimmer Cream Eyeshadows

I am not the biggest wearer of cream eyeshadows but these are incredible. The formula is super creamy and easy to blend as well as having amazing pigmentation. The shade range isn’t the best and I do think this is something Max Factor could work on but nevertheless the shades Copper and Bronze are two beautiful wearable colours that could work on many skin tones. I haven’t tried a lot of cream eyeshadows but I think these could rival many high end options!

L’Oreal Infallible Matte Foundation

I say it all the time but I do struggle with a lot of drugstore foundation formulations (tongue twister right there!). That was until I tried this matte offering from L’Oreal and was pretty much blown away by how good it is. This is my go-to everyday foundation and it just works so well on my skin. Matte foundations aren’t what I usually go for but this isn’t drying in the slightest and it’s not overly matte either offering a bit of natural shine to come through. It blends and applies nicely and also has such a nice finish and lasting power. What more could I need, oh and it’s affordable! Full review here.

Maybelline Colour Tattoos 

Another cream eyeshadow that I love. These Maybelline offerings come at a price under £5 and could rival the likes of Mac Paint Pots. In a similar style, these are more of stiffer consistency particularly compared to the Max Factor ones which are more creamy and whipped in texture. For an amazing price, there is a pretty decent shade range to choose from with my favourites including Metallic Pomegranate and Creamy Beige which makes a really nice base shade. These work great as a base colour or even as a one wash wonder type of eye look and they also stay put really well too!

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams 

A more recent favourite since NYX finally hit the UK. I had been desperate to try out these lip creams for such a long time and I was not disappointed when I finally got my hands on them. At £5.50 they come super cheap and the shade range is very impressive. The formula is super creamy and comfortable on the lips with a pretty decent lasting power. My favourite shade probably has to be Prague. See more here.

Max Factor Creme Puff Blushes

A product you’ve probably heard me talk about countless times! These are by far the best drugstore blushes I’ve ever tried.  These swirly effect blushes act as a strong rival to the Hourglass blushes which are stunning but super pricey! At just a fraction of the price, these are so similar with a highlighting effect on the skin and a pretty range of shades to pick from. My favourite shade has to be Lavish Mauve which is a pretty good dupe for Hourglass Mood Exposure.

The Body Shop Honey Bronzer

Last but not least, in fact probably my all time favourite drugstore product. I was never really into bronzers until I tried this Body Shop offering. As someone with pale skin I always have the problem in bronzer shades that are too dark and muddy on my complexion. Enter this range of honey bronzers from The Body Shop with a shade range perfectly suitable for fairer skin tones. Seriously, if you are a pale milk bottle like me and haven’t tried this then go try it! This bronzer adds a beautiful amount of warmth to the skin that isn’t too much as well as adding a bit of definition and sculpting the face. Amazing!

What are your favourite drugstore products?

Twitter | Pinterest | Bloglovin | Instagram

 

The Blush Tag

Blush is without a doubt one of my favourite makeup items. I love buying new blushes to add to my collection and throughout have discovered some real gems. I have seen this tag floating around blogs for a long while now and I thought I would give my input into some of my favourite and not so favourite blush picks!

1. What blush color suits you the most?

I am definitely a lover of nude-rosy mauve toned shades (you will soon grasp that!). I love the subtle look but warmth that they add and also the structural effect that many of those shades tend to offer. I find bolder shades can look a little too much on my pale complexion.

2. Pressed, cream or loose blush?

I am definitely all for pressed! I am not the biggest cream fan and I haven’t actually tried any loose powder blushes but that seems a little messy!

3. Favourite shimmery blush?

Most of my blushes are shimmery so this is a difficult one! The hourglass blushes are beautiful though! They are not overly shimmery or intense but offer more of a soft highlight effect on the cheeks. Totally gorgeous! My favourites are Diffused Heat and Mood Exposure.

4. Favourite matte blush?

As I said most of my blushes are shimmery so I don’t have many matte options to choose from however I recently got my hands on two shades from Tarte. The shade Exposed is totally beautiful and flattering on my skin. The mauve-plum shade adds the perfect amount of colour as well as adding a sculpted effect to the cheeks.

5. Favourite cream blush?

I am not the biggest fan of cream formulas however the Illamasqua blushes never fail to disappoint and I am truly obsessed with their cream blush in the shade Zygomatic. I picked this up at a bargain price but I absolutely love it, again a pretty soft nude shade that is uber flattering. The formula is perfect however and doesn’t feel slippy or greasy on the skin.

6. Favourite drugstore blush?

I tend to go for higher end options particularly for blush as the drugstore never really interests me in terms of blush however there is one blush I love. The Max Factor Creme Puff Blushes has to be the best drugstore blush range around. They are beautiful and the marble-y highlighting effect makes them great dupes of the Hourglass options. The shade Lavish Mauve is super beautiful and a great dupe for Hourglass Mood Exposure.

7. Favourite high end blush?

Such a tricky one since this basically equates to what is my favourite blush! I probably have to go with the Hourglass blushes as they feel like such a good investment however I love the Nars blushes particularly Sin!

8. Favourite bright blush?

Since I opt more for nude shades I don’t really have a lot of bold bright shades. Not necessarily a bright shade but Mac Breezy is much bolder in comparison to my other offerings and I totally adore it. The berry shade is perfect for the colder months for adding a perfect pop of colour!

9. Biggest blush disappointment/regret?

Sadly after having my heart on the Mac Ripe Peach Ombre Blush I was a little disappointed. FYI I spoke about it in detail here. The ombre design is so gorgeous but sadly the pigmentation was a real let down! It is so sheer but still workable, just not as I would have hoped for!

10. Best blush packaging?

The hourglass ones are super gorgeous but the monochromatic Nars design will always steal my heart!

11. What’s on your blush wish list?

Definitely one of the Charlotte Tilbury blushes, I actually nearly bought one recently but after already splurging on a few other blushes I held back but it is definitely still on my radar! I would also like to explore the Nars and Mac range more, any recommendations?

12. Number 1 Holy Grail Blush?

I would probably say Hourglass Mood Exposure (not surprising eh!), the shimmery finish and the flattering mauve tone is just perfect! I only have a miniature in my Hourglass palette but I can so see myself picking up the full size! Also shoutout to Nars Orgasm which is just a perfect all round blush too!

 

What is your favourite blush?

Twitter | Pinterest | Bloglovin | Instagram

Four For Fall: Blush

As October has begun, Autumn is officially in full swing. There is a crisp chill in the air and the nights appear to be getting darker. In return, my daily makeup has had a little switch up lately to adapt to the new season. One thing in particular that I have changed around is my choice of blush. Out goes the coral and peachy toned blush for something a little more rosy and plum. There are four blushes in my stash that will be on rotation throughout the season as they are all so perfect for the colder months ahead.

Probably the one that I will get the most wear out of during the season is the newbie in my collection; Nars Dolce Vita. I was desperate to get my hands on another shade from the Nars blush range after falling in love with Nars Orgasm blush. The shade ‘Dolce Vita’ was literally calling my name and the perfect choice for the new season. The shade above appears a little lighter than reality but the shade is more of a warm rosy colour. It works beautifully with my pale complexion and has that sort of English Rose look about it providing a little flushed rosy look to the cheeks. The formula is super too, really fine and long lasting.

A more budget friendly option comes from Max Factor in the form of their Creme Puff blushes in the shade Gorgeous Berries. Blush is probably one of my most cherished beauty products but if I am honest the drugstore don’t have the finest selection. I don’t really find that they offer the best and most appealing varieties. Although one of the most exciting drugstore launches this year was indeed Max Factor’s new blush range. These are simply gorgeous and with that swirly multi-toned effect they offer similarities to the much pricer Hourglass Ambient Blushes. The shade Gorgeous Berries has Fall written all over it with it’s beautiful plum and berry toned shade. The blushes also have a highlighting effect to give the skin a beautiful glow on application.

In terms of blush formulations, I always prefer powder over cream. No matter what season I am never really the biggest cream blush fan. Although I am going to mention a cream formulated blush that I really do love. The Illamasqua Velvet Blusher in Peaked is a gorgeous dusky pink shade that is a perfect match for Autumn. The formula is really nice, it isn’t in any way too creamy, it applies more like a powder which makes it a winner for me. The formula also boasts a decent longevity and that square-ish packaging is to die for!

Lastly, probably one of my favourite ever blushes, Mac Breezy. I talked about this last year (excuse really bad old post) here and instantly fell in love with it. After buying this it made me fall for those berry toned warm blushes that are now my all time favourites. Despite being part of the Sheertone Shimmer blush range, it boasts great pigmentation and with fair skin I only need to use this one lightly. The shade is very similar to the Max Factor option but a little more cooler. It still offers that beautiful glowy feel to the cheeks and is great for those days when you need to give your skin a bit of life.

What is your favourite blush for Fall? 

Twitter | Pinterest | Bloglovin | Instagram

5 Beauty Products Under £10

You may recall my 5 Beauty Products under £5 post? Well now its time for another, although this time with a slightly bigger budget at £10. The drugstore really have some gems and these particular products are favourites of mine and best of all they can be each be purchased with just one £10 note.

First up are the gorgeous Max Factor Creme Puff blushes. I have one in the shade Gorgeous Berries and gorgeous really does sum it up. These swirly baked blushes are said to be a dupe of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes which are stunning but expensive so these make a great alternative. Drugstore blushes are never really that appealing if I’m honest but Max Factor have really delivered with these blushes making them one of the best drugstore launches in a long time! Great quality, gorgeous and affordable!

Another great pick from Max Factor is their Excess Shimmer Eyeshadows. These are the perfect drugstore cream eyeshadow with a whipped like creamy texture and bold pigment. Similar to the Maybelline Colour Tattoos but with a much easier and creamier formula. I have two shades, Bronze and Copper which are two gorgeous shimmery shades. The name ‘excess shimmer’ may put people off but seriously there is nothing overly shimmery here, just the perfect amount of shimmer that can be worn on an everyday basis. A really beautiful formula worth picking up!

The Queen of Drugstore Eyebrow Products is of course Soap and Glory. They have a great selection of brow products that could easily rival Benefit and put other drugstore brands to shame. My favourite is of course the Archery pencil which is supposedly a dupe for the Anastasia Brow Wiz? This pencil comes with a pencil end (obviously) and a spoolie end. It is a super quick and easy product to use and creates a much fuller brow but still leaves your brows looking natural and soft.

I finally caved into buying one of the much hyped Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipsticks a while back and I am forever lusting after more. As liquid lipsticks really have their moment, Bourjois stole the show with their affordable but quality version. I picked up the shade Hot Pepper, a bright red which has strong pigment and superb lasting power. These have a really nice formula too which glide on smoothly without any stickiness and dry down to a smooth matte finish. Now what shade to get next…

Lastly, I couldn’t do this post without mentioning one of my favourites. The Topshop Glow Pot Highlighter in Polished. Highlighters are one thing that the drugstore has been rather slow at delivering but Topshop have set the bar high and really have produced some glowy gems. This is my favourite from the collection, a creamy based pearly coloured highlighter that gives such a fresh radiant glow. Pressed along the cheekbones, this is just perfect and one you need in your collection.

Are you a fan of any of these products?

Twitter | Pinterest | Bloglovin

 

 

 

 

The NYE Look

It’s hard to believe in a couple of days time we will be counting down the seconds til the New Year. There is no better time to get dressed up and drown yourself in glitter… yes glitter. And thats exactly what I am doing.

I fell in love with this ever so sparkly patterned jumpsuit from Topshop and just had to buy it. Its very flattering and comfortable although it has covered my floor in a blanket of glitter. It was £38 from Topshop however unfortunately it has sold out.

To match my ever so glittery attire I am going for sparkly shimmery eyes using my Max Factor Excess Shimmer eyeshadow in the shade Copper, serious good stuff here! and also my Naked 2 palette. Yup I finally have my hands on the second palette and its gorgeous! *heart-eyed emoji*

I am also going to add a touch of Benefit High Beam to my cheekbones for a glowy look and to finish off with a sweep of red on my lips. I am going to use my new fave matte red Nars Cruella which I got as part of the Nars Lip Pencil Coffret that I swatched here.

What is your NYE look?

Glitter Nails

Christmas time is my favourite time of year. Except for all the obvious reasons I love Christmas for being able to coat myself in oodles of glitter, oh yes! I really do love a bit of shimmer and glitter really at anytime but during party season at Christmas and New Years its always the best. If you are someone who is a little intimated by turning into a human glitter-ball then there is easier ways to add a little sparkle to your look. The easiest of course being Glitter nails. I do love a glitter polish, its just a little bit more fun than a basic coat of colour. Here I’ve teamed Max Factor Glossfinity in the shade Raspberry Blush and a coat of Rimmel Lasting Finish in 500 Disco Ball on top.

So are you a fan of a sparkly nail?