I grew up a Cover Girl. My favorite go to foundation is still Cover Girl Outlast. Only recently have I been dabbling in the world of high end cosmetics. Like a lot of women, I'm all about the bargain and if I can find something at the drugstore that gives me the same tingly feelings, I'm going to use it.
My beautiful friend Meg has been having similar feelings lately and asked me to give her a "make under". I was tasked with finding her a similar look on a budget. This was the most fun I've had in awhile and I hope she's happy with my recommendations.
If you'd like me to find alternatives for your favorite high-ends, send me an email, find me on facebook or twitter, or message me on KIK and I'll get right to work.
Here are Meg's favorites:
Her Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish $36
My Primer: Rimmel Fix and Perfect ($7.49) or ELF Mineral Primer ($6.00)
Meg doesn't have any special needs from a primer other than prolonging her foundation wear. This makes both the Rimmel and the ELF perfect candidates for her. They both give her a nice smooth canvas to apply her foundation and will keep her looking flawless throughout the day.
Her Foundation: Smashbox Studio Skin 1.1 $42
My Foundation: Revlon Color Stay ($9.99) or Cover Girl Outlast Stay Fabulous ($12.99)
The Smashbox Studio Skin foundation boasts medium to full coverage 15 hours of sweat-free, transfer-proof, humidity-resistant and shine free wear. The Revlon Color Stay says it lasts for 16 hours. I wore this foundation bar hopping in Las Vegas in the middle of summer for about 24 hours and it looked just as flawless the next morning as it did when I first applied. It's a pretty solid full coverage. While the Cover Girl Outlast Stay Fabulous does not give an exact amount of time, in my experience it lasts just as long as the Revlon Color Stay. I constantly find myself reaching for this foundation. The coverage and finish is beautiful and it stays shine free on my super oily skin.
Her Concealer: Makeup Forever Full Cover Concealer $32
My Concealer: Hard Candy Glamoflauge $6.00; Maybelline Instant Age Rewind $8.99
The Makeup Forever Full Cover Concealer is designed to cover up major imperfections such as scars and can also cover tattoos. It is highly pigmented with staying powder. Glamoflauge by Hard Candy does exactly the same thing. It is super thick and creamy but still sits comfortably on the skin. For the under eye area, I'm a big fan of the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind. This is soothing and moisturizing without creasing throughout the day.
Her powder/highlight: Too Faced Absolutely Invisible Candlelight $30
My powder/highlight: Nyx Illuminator in Narcissistic $8.99
This was a difficult one for me as I share her affection for the Too Faced highlighter. The powder is so finely milled it feels like silk on the skin and looks very natural. However, Nyx does a good job of replicating the glowing effect of the Candlelight. It's a touch more on the shimmery side.
Her Blush: Smashbox Blush Rush $24
My Blush: Nyx $5-$15; Maybelline Fit Me $4.99; ELF Studio Blush $3.00
I have yet to find a super special blush, drugstore or not. All of my drugstore favorites have beautiful shade ranges, great pigmentation, and are long wearing. Some of my favorites are Nyx powder in Mocha or Tickled from their cream line. ELF Studio in Candid Coral is a go to. Recently I've become a fan of the ELF baked blushes in Peachy Cheeky, Rich Rose, and Pinktastic. These are shimmery enough they can double as a highlight.
Her Mascara: Blinc $26
My Mascara: L'Oreal Double Extend $9.99
Meg has very sensitive eyes so any mascara that runs or smudges will not work for her. Blinc is a tubing mascara so instead of simply painting pigment on her natural lashes, it encases them. It will not budge, smudge, run or move until she removes it. Even then it will pull off with the tube in tact. Not many drugstore mascaras will do this. L'Oreal Double Extend is the only one I know of currently on the market.
Her eyeliner: Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner $19
My eyeliner: Rimmel London Soft Kohl Kajal Pencil $3.99
These Rimmel Kohl pencils are the only drugstore ones I've found that don't smudge or fade as the day goes on. I haven't tried the Scandaleyes ones yet, but if they're like these they'll be fantastic.
Lips: Nyx Buttergloss $4.99; Rimmel Lasting Finish $2.49; Maybelline Vivids $7.49; NYC 8HR City Proof Gloss $3.49
Meg was looking for lip product recommendations in general. She wanted to venture into reds. The Nyx Butterglosses are highly pigmented glosses from nude pink to orange red. I almost exclusively wear these now. They're very comfortable, moisturizing and not sticky. Rimmel Lasting Finish hosts my favorite red lipstick in the Kate Moss Collection shade 06. Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids collection is gorgeous. The shades are eye catching.
Do you have any alternatives for these high end products? Anything you want me to research? Let me know!
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I use the Hard Candy Lash Ink for mascara- even the best waterproof mascara I've tried smudges under my eyes (I blame the oily skin)and this stuff basically pigments your lashes for up to 4 days. I find that it doesn't actually last that long for me but I never find flakes or smudge under my eyes from it and it's a nice subtle every day look.
ReplyDeleteOh, and for lips, my newest favorite is the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter :) I have it in Cherry Tart and it's an excellent bright red/fuschia color.
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ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you, thank you! Here's what I'm LOVING so far!
ReplyDelete-ELF Mineral Primer (!!!) This works just as well for me as the SmashBox stuff.
-ELF Studio Blush (the peachy cheeky shade you recommended is PERFECT)
-L'Oreal Double Extend Mascara ************** SO GOOD. I can't even believe how perfect this stuff is. It looks GREAT, it's cheap (mine was $8.99 at Target + 5% back on the RED card!), and it doesn't irritate my eyes. I could seriously hug you a thousand times for finding this for me.
-NYC CityProof Gloss
I'm hitting Ulta this week for the Hard Candy concealer and the Nyx Illuminator, and I'll hit up the new foundation options when I'm out of my current stuff (probably next week - conveniently after payday). I can't wait!
Yay! I'm so happy these are working out for you! People overlook ELF a lot because they are SO cheap and selection in stores is limited, but they really are fantastic.
DeleteI was fairly confident the L'Oreal Double Extend would be a hit. I go back to that one fairly often. Yay Yay Yay!