NEW!!! Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Foundation/Concealer

Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin 

PACKAGING:

-Foundation comes in a glass bottle w/a pump (Contains 1 fl oz of product)

-Concealer comes in a plastic tube with a doe shape wand (Contains 0.25 fl oz of product)

Foundation is available in 9 shades (not every place will carry all the colors)

Concealer is available in 5 shades

So far I have only seen this product at Wal-Mart and Target. You can also purchase it online from Ulta.

Depending on where you purchase these products prices will vary

Foundation $9-$11

Concealer $7-$9

FORMULATION:

I have been waiting for quite some time now for this product to be released in the States (this product has already been released in the UK). Maybelline foundations are some of the best drugstore foundations on the market today and this one is no exception.

The SuperStay Foundation not only gives you coverage (medium/medium full) but also helps improve the quality of your skin as you use it. It contains Actyl C and SPF 20 that helps dull uneven skin become radiant and glowing. The texture isn't too thin or too thick and blends flawlessly. It is great for dry skin providing a layer of hydration. It also works well with oily skin.

The staying power of this foundation is pretty impressive as well. I have wore this foundation almost all day and it still looked fresh.

I don't have too much to say about the concealer. It is decent enough and offers a reasonable amount of coverage nothing heavy. It is very light and blends effortlessly into the skin. It's perfect for days where you don't want to wear a lot of makeup but just enough to keep you from looking rachet.I personally prefer Maybelline's Master Conceal concealer. 

OVERALL

Foundation

5/5

Concealer

3/5

Top Affordable Brush Brands

A trade is only good as its tools... In the beauty industry many believe that when it comes to investing brushes are always on the top of the list and while that is somewhat true. It isn't absolute necessary to shed out hundreds of dollars. Here are a few of my favorite brands of brushes that are not only inexpensive but also work amazingly well.

1.) Eco Tools: This company has been around for quite sometime and is mostly known for their eco friendly sustainable makeup brushes. The handle of their brushes are made from bamboo and the hair is all synthetic (great for vegans).  Their line has face brushes, eye brushes and even sponges! You can purchase these brushes at drugstores like Walgreens and Rite Aid and also Walmarts. 

Price Range: All brushes under $20 (even brush sets) 

2.) Real Techniques: Designed by popular YouTube beauty guru Samantha Chapman aka Pixiwoo, these are one of the best affordable brushes out on the marked today. All the brushes have synthetic hair and are very well made. They are super sturdy and very easy to work with from beginners to experts. The line includes face brushes, eye brushes, and makeup sponges. These are mainly found at Ulta in their "drugstore" section but are also in some drugstores and Kohl's.

Price Range: Brushes by itself are all under $20, brush sets go up to $30 

3.) Sonia Kashuk: Exclusively at Target, Sonia Kashuk is not only known for her makeup line but for her brushes as well. Like the other two brands mentioned Sonia also has synthetic hair brushes. Her brush popularity comes from her brush sets which always have a beautiful design on the handles. Her line includes face brushes, eye brushes and recently beauty sponges.

Price Range: Individual brushes are all under $20 brush sets can go up to $30 + 

Physicians Formula Powder Palette Multi-Colored Custom Blush Ultra Glam Bombshell Glow

Blondes

Brunettes

PACKAGING: Comes in the classic plastic circle packaging like most of Physician Formula powders. Only difference is that it is bright pink. It also comes with a mini brush.

FORMULATION: These particular blushes are designed to match hair colors, specifically blondes and brunettes. The blondes blush comes in a pretty rosy pink color and the brunette blush comes in a pinky coral color. These blushes aren't hair color specific any hair color can use these. They just emphasize the hair colors. Pigmentation is very nice and last quite a long time. It is super easy to apply and blend and is build able from a flush of color to a pop of color.

These blushes are fairly new so finding them can be difficult. Right now I have spotted them at Walgreens and Walmart. If you live in the southern east coast they are available at some Publix grocery stores. 

You can also purchase them here

They range from $9-$12 depending on where you purchase them.

Review: Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder

Packaging: Comes in a similar plastic packaging like the Dream Matte Powder with the exception of a clear top and rather the bottom layer sliding to reveal the mirror and sponge this powder packaging opens up.

Formulation: This particular powder has a very smooth and silky texture. Compared to the other powders from Maybelline this one offers a build able medium coverage so definitely use a light hand if you don't intend to use it as a powder foundation. It leaves the skin with a semi-matte finish. It also left a rosy finish nothing too crazy but for some odd reason it made my skin pinker (very odd for an Asian with yellow skin undertones) 

Wear Time: Wear time varies with skin type. Oily skin I recommend staying away after awhile it can get greasy and oily looking. For dry skin this powder gives a natural luminosity to the skin. I have very dry skin especially with the recent temperature drop. It lasted on my skin for a good 8 hours without any touchups. If definitely won't last this long during the hotter months coming up but you can always use a setting spray on top to enhance wear time.

The color selection is very nice comes in 16 shades. If you have a darker complexion you may have a bit of trouble finding your color. 

Overall: 3.5/5
Not a bad powder overall. For me this isn't a powder I would use on an everyday business especially with the upcoming warmer months. I prefer my powders to feel light along with coverage. This powder had the coverage but not the light weight. 

$ and Where to Purchase: Since this product is brand new it can be a bit tricky to find. CVS for sure carries them and other drugstores like Walgreens are just starting to get them in. Select Targets as well as Target online have them in stock. And of course prices will vary depending on where you purchase but it will be less than $10 where ever you decide to purchase it. 

What's New At The Drugstore #1

1.) Rimmel London Exaggerate Eyeshadow Primer ($4.99 @ CVS and other drugstores nationwide as well as Target and Walmart stores)

Eye primers are used to keep eyeshadows not only lasting longer but also keep the colors more vibrant. They can be pretty pricier to come by these days because most brands who create eye primers are usually more on the higher-end side. Drugstores only recently in the last year or so have begun coming out with eye primers. I have tested pretty much all the ones out there in the drugstores and compared them to the higher- end ones and they honestly do not compare at all until now.

Packaging: Long white tube with a doe foot shape applicator

Formulation: The formula is very wet and thin but dries in a couple seconds after application. It feels very light on the lid and doesn't add anymore "weight". Works better with people that have normal to dry eyelids. Oily lids will have an issue with the wet formula. The formula is very similar to NARS Smudge-proof eye primer which retails around $26 a bottle.

Overall this product works very well. I have tested this primer wearing light eyeshadow looks as well as dark smokey looks and by the end of the day my eyeshadows still looked great and very little to no creasing. Only complaint is the wet formula. If not given some time for the primer to dry and set your eyeshadows will crease like crazy.

2.) Maybelline Color Elixir ($7-9 depending on which drugstores) 

Maybelline Elixir in the color Dashing Orchid (Plummy rose)

Packaging: A small plastic rectangular tube comes with a small doe foot applicator

Formulation: At first I thought this product would be like a liquid lipstick. The color with the first application comes out sheer but you can still see the color. The color is build able but does not go very dark like the packaging shows. The consistency is very sticky and drying on the lips. Definitely wear some kind of lip balm under it.

Overall I had high hopes for this product. Maybelline comes out with pretty great lip products so I do not know what happen with this one. The colors with this line are gorgeous and there are also many colors to choose from however the formula is just too sticky and drying on the lips. It was very uncomfortable to wear. The price is also another issue. For something this small along with the formulation it definitely isn't worth the money. I would say skip this product.