Tag Archives: makeup

What’s In My Makeup Drawer – Buxom, Givenchy, Covergirl, & More

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Like most women, I have a drawer (or two) full of makeup.  I recently threw away any makeup products that I haven’t used in over 6 months and this is what was left.. plus a few items I come across recently.  🙂

My morning makeup routine usually starts with Covergirl foundation.  I used to wear the Laura Mercier foundation (#6 below) every day but I really like the feel of the Covergirl foundation and realized that each foundation is great for its own purpose which is for special occasions now. I love the way the Laura Mercier Oil-Free Foundation feels on my skin but it doesn’t stay on as long as the Covergirl foundation.

Here are a reviews of some of my favorite cosmetics items and things in my makeup drawer.  Please share your can’t-live-without makeup products with us in the comments below.

What's in my makeup drawer

 

 

1. Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation – $10 at Amazon.com or local store
This is my new-ish go-to foundation for days when I am going to be outdoors or in situations when I might break a little bit of a sweat.  It stays on great, as the name implies.  Despite that this foundation has a built-in primer, I still use my Sephora primer.  I don’t know if I’ll ever not use primer now that I’ve started.

2. Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer – $28 for .02 oz or $42 for .5 oz
I have massive under-eye circles, so much so that my daughter asked me recently why the skin under my eyes was purple.  This highly pigmented, super-emollient, water-resistant formula blends seamlessly into my skin, looks and feels natural, and stays on all day.

3. Buxom Full-On Lip Cream – $19 at Sephora
I have very sensitive lips.  They look outlined in lip liner the second I put traditional lipstick on.  Buxom is one brand of lip cream/ lipstick that doesn’t freak my lips out.   I’m not crazy about their menthol-y tingle but since the lip cream goes on so smooth and doesn’t make my lips go into instant lip liner mode, I can easily say that Buxom is my new (for the past two years) favorite lip color brand.

4. GIVENCHY Hydra Sparkling Magic Lip & Cheek Balm – $31 at Sephora
I love this lip & cheek balm.  The first time I put it on I thought that it looked sheer and I was a little disappointed.  It felt great on my lips and like Buxom lip cream I mentioned earlier, it did not make the edges of my lips turn bright red.   When I looked in the mirror again a few minutes later I was surprised to see that my lips were covered in a beautiful shade of pink.  My sister got the same lip balm and because GIVENCHY Hydra Sparkling Magic Lip & Cheek Balm contains pigments that react with the skin’s humidity to create a personalized hint of color to the lips, it looks different on her than it does me.  How cool is that?

5. Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara – $10 at Amazon.com
If I have to choose just a few cosmetics to wear in a day, mascara is one of them.  I don’t usually do much to make my eyes stand out so much of the time mascara is it.  This mascara has proven to be great for me, sliding on smoothly and not coming off easily, even on days when I’m on the hot soccer or lacrosse field watching the kids practice. I have experienced less clumping with this mascara than any I’ve tried.  That doesn’t mean that I haven’t had any issues with clumping though.  Given the nature of mascara I think clumping is naturally going to happen occasionally but not in such a severe way as with some other mascaras.

6. LAURA MERCIER Oil Free Suprême Foundation – $45 at Sephora

7. Benefit Cosmetics Eye Brightener – $20 at Sephora

8. BENEFIT COSMETICS Sugarbomb – $28

9. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer – $36
This is on my face everyday.  That is one thing you can count on. I have some scarring from when I was a teenager and am self-conscious about it enough to wear a primer everyday.  No matter what.  This primer feels like silk and goes on smoothly to fill in fine lines and even out skin texture.

What's in my makeup drawer

As you can see, there are plenty more items (and even more than in the photo above) in my makeup drawer than just what I listed above.  More of my favorite makeup products are Kiehl’s Eye Alert, Olay Regenerist, Covergirl Olay powder, Bobbi Brown foundation stick, Sephora eye primer, and then to take it all off I use Neutrogena makeup remover wipes.

I’d love to hear from you!

What makeup products can you not live without using everyday?  What is your favorite foundation, concealer or lip balm?

Alicia, The Mommy Insider blog author

8 Busy Moms Beauty Tips and One of my Favorite Beauty Products!

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If you’re a busy mom who has little to no time on her hands but you still want to look fresh-faced and bright eyed with a flawless face, I recommend that you look into Laura Mercier’s cosmetics.   I love Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturizer and most recently, their lip gloss, which you will find online at stores like Beautique UK.

busy mom beauty tips

Love! – Tinter Moisturizer

Laura Mercier is known for it’s signature trademark, a flawless face.  The brand excels in creating perfect-looking skin in the matter of minutes with easy to use products. Busy moms who use this brand will have beautiful glowing skin that others will be envious of.  One of the most popular items for mom’s of all ages is the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer.  Not only is this item a great multi-tasker, it provides just enough coverage and moisture to leave skin looking smooth with a natural dewy finish.  This moisturizer also contains SPF 20 which is ideal for mom’s who enjoy taking their little ones out on play dates in the park. You won’t have to worry about your skin or reapply sunscreen while chasing your little ones.

Worried about aging skin?

Prevention of aging and damaged skin is also key when it comes to saving time on a beauty routine. By using products to prevent wrinkles and to repair skin, busy moms can save time when they do apply their makeup since they will not have to pile on foundation and concealer to mask imperfections. Laura Mercier offers an array of skin products that range from eye serums to decadent smelling body butters. By incorporating some of these items into a nightly routine before bed, you can wake up with a smooth, soft feeling face that will provide a smooth canvas for your makeup in the morning.

Laura Mercier also provides bright, fun colors for moms who want to brighten their day with makeup.   There are assorted shades of lipsticks to choose from as well as beautiful baked shadows that are crease-proof and pigmented at the same time.   Due to the quality of the brand’s items, a busy mom won’t have to waste time with constant reapplication of lipstick or worry if her mascara is running.

8 Busy Mom Beauty Tips From Alicia

  • Apply a tinter moisturizer or lotion with sunscreen on your face every morning.
  • Carry an extra supply of cosmetics in your purse.  We’re busy and we never know if we’re going to be out all day and need to switch up our colors for the evening.
  • Keep dry shampoo on hand!  Dry shampoo is great for times when an unexpected event pops up and you don’t have time to wash, dry, and style your hair.  Just spray the dry shampoo on, style, and go!
  • Have makeup remover wipes on your nightstand.  I have been known to forget to wash my face some nights.  Now I just pull a makeup remover wipe out, use it, and toss it – in the garbage of course.
  • Keep nail polish remover wipes in the car, pull them out and use them to remove chipped nail polish while waiting in the carpool line.
  • If you have time to only apply 3 things, choose tinted moisturizer with sunscreen, lipstick or gloss, and blush.
  • Get a manicure once a month or so.  It will make you feel good about your hands and nails for a couple of weeks; well worth the investment.
  • Get a good under-eye concealer.  Parents don’t get sleep.  Period.

You don’t have to let your beauty routine fall to the wayside to take care of your kids.   All these items from Laura Mercier will help a busy mom achieve a flawless face without spending an hour in the mirror. With the proper skincare and a few select, quality products to use, you can be out of the door within minutes.

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My Makeup Is Staying Fabulous All Day Long With COVERGIRL® Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation #StayFabulous

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As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have some issues with skin imperfections as a result of teen acne (left some scaring) and lack of sleep (under-eye darkness) for 13 years since I had my first child.

About a week ago I received COVERGIRL® Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation to review.   For more than 5 years, every bottle of foundation that I’ve had cost at least $30 and was purchased at a specialty store and I’ll be honest; I assumed that foundation that cost at least $30 must be better than makeup that costs less than $10.   Since using this foundation everyday for 5 days straight, I have to retract my assumption.  I am very pleased with this foundation.

I love COVERGIRL’s Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation!  I chose it over my other foundations for my vacation that I’m on this week which says a lot.

COVERGIRL® Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation reviewMy Experience with COVERGIRL® Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation

How is the coverage?
The coverage of this foundation is medium to full.   This foundation has proven to last through even my most active days.  I feel that this foundation provided very good and even coverage.  I always apply a primer before foundation but because this foundation says it is a “Primer, concealer, and foundation in one”, I tried it without using a primer.  I have been very impressed with how smooth this foundation applies to my skin.
I am very happy with the coverage this foundation provides for the dark circles under my eyes.  I usually use a concealer under my eyes or an eye brightening stick but I haven’t been since using this foundation.
How long does it last?
I usually apply foundation around 10am and leave it on until about 9pm.  I have found that this foundation lasts all day (from 9am-10pm) and what I really appreciate is that I don’t feel like I have to use a setting power or touch-up during the day.   I have been in a couple of situations when I broke a bit of a sweat and didn’t notice a decline or ‘melting’ of the foundation during or after those times.
Will it match your skin color?
Like I mentioned earlier, my skin has a yellow-ish tone to it which makes it difficult to color-match perfectly.  While in the bottle, this foundation looked a little pink for my skin, but once I applied it, that’s when I really got excited because it matches my skin color perfectly!   I recommend that you purchase a shade that looks one shade lighter than your skin color as based on what I’ve seen with my skin, it darkens a tad once it has oxidized.  COVERGIRL® Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation is available in 14 shades so you are sure to find one that works for you.

Before photo (around 9am)

COVERGIRL® Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation

After photo (around 5pm)

 

COVERGIRL® Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation

Disclosure: I am a compensated P&G Blogger and received these products for review purposes. All statements are my honest opinions.

Trying Out New Neutrogena Cosmetics: MoistureSmooth Color Stick, Crease Proof Eye Shadow, and Healthy Lengths Mascara

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With spring arriving, it’s time get back to beauty basics or beauty at all.. for me!

Ultimately, I am a low-maintenance girl and I don’t want to carry around an entire beauty shop to keep my  look going; the products I received to review helped me create and maintain the perfect Spring look.   Whether I’m in my office, out with friends, or spending the day with my family, I loved these  items for keeping me covered and I think you will too.

neutrogena makeup review

Here are the 4 items shown in the photo above:

Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick

Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick

I didn’t need lipstick on top of lip liner on top of lip balm – the Color Stick’s twist construction provides a sharp enough point to define your lips, and the formula is buttery enough to make them supple.  The best part about the Neutrogena MoisureSmooth Color Sticks is that they are not sticky!   I have very sensitive lips – they turn bright red when I eat certain foods or use lipstick that does not apply softly or smoothly.  I usually opt for a liquid gloss instead of a  lipstick, but I was very pleased to find that Neutrogena’s MoistureSmooth Color Stick did not irritate my lips and was a breeze to apply.

Out of the eight available shades, I received the Sweet Watermelon.

I was immediately attracted to the natural ingredients in the Color Stick: Mango butter, shea butter, and fruit extract, which explains why it’s so nice and moisturizing.

All-in-all, the Color Stick was great.  The only drawback to this product is that it started to wear off  a few hours into a busy, active day.  After the first couple of hours or so, the color and moisture had soaked into my lips, leaving only that sweet taste.  So re-application was necessary, but I accomplished it quickly, without missing a beat.

Neutrogena Crease Proof Eye Shadow

The subtle, pearly colors give an exceptionally nice contrast to browner skin tones.  I received the Taupe and Copper shades.  The shadow glided onto my eyelids smoothly and I did not notice any fading or crumbling, unlike with some other eye shadow creams I have used in the past, so Neutrogena came through on the promise of long-wear. As another plus, it also came off rather easily.

Here’s a quick tutorial on an easy swipe-on application for a pretty look:

Swipe the cream stick onto clean eyelids, completely covering the lower part of the lid, near lashes. Using a clean finger, gently fade the cream towards the eyebrows.

Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara

I have been known to allow mascara to intimidate me.   Since I tried Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara applying mascara has become a habit and one that I don’t mind as much as I used to.  Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara allowed me to finish my look without leaving a skyscraper forest resting on my lashes.  Compared to other Neutrogena mascara I have used in the past, this one is much lighter and cleaner; my lashes felt separated and just defined enough for me to tell a difference.  I received the black shade, which carried a subtle saturation.

All three of these looks, with or without blush or foundation, generated a smooth, simple daytime look.

Hooray for simple makeup!  Stay tuned for a review of one of the best foundations I’ve ever tried!

Disclosure: BzzAgent sent me complimentary Neutrogena Cosmetic products to test and review.


Disclosure: I received complimentary products in exchange for my honest opinion and a review of my experience with the products. I did not receive any other compensation nor was I required to write a positive review. Individual results or experiences may vary. You may obtain more detailed information from the company’s website.

My Quick Run to Sephora Turned into an ‘Experience’

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I ran out of my favorite tinted moisturizer a couple of months ago and decided that I would go to Sephora at the mall after I took my mom to the airport and dropped a tent of at my friend Stacie’s house this morning.   Since I was out that way, I thought I’d go to the Sephora at Perimeter Mall.. near Stacie, not so close to my house, but that didn’t work out seeing as how I got way lost. So, I drove on to my neck of the woods.. Kennessaw, GA and thought I’d be in and out of the mall (not one of my favorite places to be) in a few minutes. Well, that didn’t happen but I’m glad!

Smashbox Radiant Lip Enhancing Gloss
Smashbox Radiant Lip Enhancing Gloss - $18

Once I got to the Sephora store in the mall, I went to the Laura Mercier counter and grabbed my favorite tinted moisturizer.  Then I thought that while I was there I might as well take a look at some eyeshadow and lipgloss.   After about 15 minutes of browsing and swiping at least a dozen lig gloss colors on the back of my hand, a store employee asked if I needed help.  I may have scared him a little when I replied with “Yes, I’m desperate!” and  told him that I needed to find a lip color that would provide good coverage, but not require a lot of swiping on my lips.  You see, my lips are very sensitive and more than two swipes of a lipgloss makes my lips bright red and puffy.  Not pretty.  Well, this wonderful employee (who’s name I’m sad to say I don’t remember) said that I gave him a challenge he’s never experienced before! Score for Alicia!

After seriously pondering (I could see it in his eyes) my predicament for a few moments, he walked me to the Smashbox section of the store where he excitedly said “a brush applicator is what you need”! A brush applicator!  Why didn’t I think of that?  He proceeded to try a few colors on my hand, adding to the dozen I had already tried, and wahlah.. we found a delightful color that applied smoothly and matched my skin tone.  It’s a miracle!

Sephora Makeup Purchase
Next thing you know he and I were talking about the eyeshadow color palette I picked out (above) and when he had to go to the register to tend to a customer, another talented Sephora employee talked to me about less expensive tinted moisturizer options.   I went in to Sephora thinking I would buy my usual $42 tinted moisturizer and thanks to this helpful employee, I left with Sephora’s own tinted moisturizer, saving me $21!

That wasn’t the end of my trip to Sephora.. not at all! As I was about to check out, an employee asked me if I had a few minutes to spare to get a free hand massage and eye treatment. By this time, they knew me by name and I couldn’t turn down a free hand massage from Sephora employees who referred to me by name.  Even if they called me Bob I wouldn’t have turned down a free hand massage. The wonderful employee in the photo below, gave me an amazing hand massage and used the fabulous Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion System ($245) on my eyes.  I’m not sure when my eyes will look as vibrant and non-puffy as they do since the treatment.  It really has an instant effect on the puffiness and dark circles.. love it!

Sephora eye treatment and hand massage
Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion System - $245

I don’t think I’ll be so hesitant to visit Sephora at the mall again.  It’s not Sephora.. it’s the mall.  I just don’t like going to the mall really.  I usually buy makeup products online but the service and personal makeup and beauty advice that the employees at Sephora provided me made it 110% worth the drive and time to go to the actual store.

Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this post.

Alicia Hagan, Mom Blog editor