fixyourlipstickblog-blog - Tumblr blog

fixyourlipstickblog-blog · 7 years ago

Photo

Since I became a mother, I am now always looking for ways I can save money and as we all know high-end products can cost an arm and a leg. Don’t get me wrong, I will splurge on certain products for myself, but when I don’t have the spare cash for some Marc Jacob’s foundation or Kat Von D liner: I always jump to my favorite drugstore brands!

Finding a great drugstore product/brand can be tricky, as they tend to be more hits than misses- but I’m here to make your next shopping trip a little bit easier.

In this list of bomb drugstore brands, I’ve also included my favorite products from that brand!

NYX Cosmetics Available at Target/Ulta Cruelty Free

Liquid Matte Liner (Retails for $7) - This is my all time favorite liner and I swear by it. I like it better than my Kat Von D tattoo liner to be honest. They also have a vinyl version available for those who don’t like a matte finish. This liner is used in the title photo.

Gel Liner And Smudger (Retails for $9) - The only potted liner I will ever use. Every potted liner I’ve tried personally has dried out really quick, especially if it’s a drug store brand. This comes in seven colors, but I prefer classic black.

Soft Matte Lip Cream (Retails for $6.50) - These are perfect for on the go because of their size. There are 46 shades to choose from, but I personally love the shade Transylvania.

Velvet Matte Lipstick (Retails for $7) - These aren’t as drying as a typical matte lipstick but they definitely hold very well! I own a few of these, but my favorite of the twelve shades is Charmed.

Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick (Retails for $7) - I love these! They aren’t drying as they aren’t a matte finish. They have 24 shades to choose from, but my favorites are: Brooklyn Thorn, Vintage, Stone Fox, and my all time favorite is Soft-Spoken!

Suede Matte Lip Liner (Retails for $4) - There are 36 shades of these lip liners! And they’re all absolutely perfect. I love love love the shade Cannes!

Glitter Primer (Retails for $6.50) - This is my go-to glitter primer! Any look I’ve ever done with glitter has used this primer! I’ve never had my glitter slip away any time I use this primer. An absolute must by if you love glitter!

Face And Body Glitter (Retails for $6.50) - I LOVE using this glitter for eye looks! A little goes a long way and I absolutely love all twelve shades.

Ultimate Eyeshadow Palette (Retails for 17.99) - I personally love the Brights version of this palette, but there are three different color schemes the choose from. The pay off is fabulous.

Maybelline - Available at Target/Walmart/Ulta Not Cruelty Free

*My reviews on these products were made before I knew they weren’t cruelty free, but I will still share honest opinions on my favorite products even though I will no longer be using them.*

The Colossal Big Shot Mascara (Retails for $8.49) - I was sent this to review for free from Influenster about a year ago, and I absolutely loved it. It made my lashes long. The mascara didn’t flake. It gave them volume. I’d still use it if the brand was cruelty free.

Fit Me Concealer (Retails for $6.49) - Another one of my favorites I had to stop using due to finding out the company wasn’t cruelty free. Blends super well and easily, and nicely covers dark under eyes. Also great for contouring.

e.l.f. Cosmetics - Available at Target/Walmart Cruelty Free

Baked Highlighter (Retails for $4) - These highlighters are BOMB. I recommended swiping your finger over it before using it to remove the top layer, which will make more product go on your brush vs. if you didn’t! I personally push my brush into this a little harder than I would a high-end highlight for even more product on my brush - it works really well. These highlighters make for a really nice soft highlight but is easily buildable. My favorite of the four shades is Moonlight Pearls and Blush Gems! - I totally recommend trying out their Highlighter brush with this. I own two of them!

Lip Exfoliator (Retails for $3) - I LIVE for this stuff! I especially like to use it before I apply any matte lipstick. It helps to remove the dead skin and leave your lips silky smooth. I recommend adding more pressure than you would when applying lipstick to really help remove the dead skin.

Hydrating Bubble Mask (Retails for $14) - If you have dry skin, or combo skin that could use a little moisture, I 100% recommend this mask. I love using it in the shower after exfoliating. Warning, it tickles!

Blush (Retails for $3) - I love love love their blush. I use it for all my every day makeup looks basically. This blush is one of my all time favorites (next to my Flowerchild by Becca - Becca is Cruelty Free btw). I absolutely recommend the shade Candid Coral, but if that’s not your taste - there is five more shades to choose from!

COVERGIRL - Available at Target/Walmart Not Cruelty Free

TruNaked Jewels Eyeshadow Palette (Retails for $9.98) - I don’t personally own this palette because of the whole not cruelty free thing, but I have played with it before (friend of mine has it). For a drugstore palette, it has an amazing amount of pay off, especially in the blue shade which I have to say is my favorite. Maybe I would’ve bought it myself, if it wasn’t tested on animals.

Wet N Wild - Available at Target/Walmart Cruelty Free

MegaLast Liquid Catsuit Matte Lipstick (Retails for $4.99) - There is so much I can say about how absolutely amazing these lipsticks are. There are so many shades to pick from (26 to be exact) but my favorite shades have to be: Rebel Rose, Give Me Mocha, and Goth Topic.

Soap And Glory - Available at Target Cruelty Free

Sexy Mother Pucker Pillow Plump XXL Lip Gloss (Retails for $14) - I LOVE this gloss. It’s perfect on it’s own or on top of your favorite lipstick. There’s six shades to choose from, but I prefer the clear gloss. I love to put it on top of a nude lipstick, I get so many compliments when I do! A plus side to this, is the gloss smells like chocolate! *drool*

Sexy Mother Pucker Lipstick (Retails for $12) - These lipsticks come in either matte or satin. They have three different lines of this also, from reds to pinks to nudes - and personally, I always run to the nude shades! My favorite nude shades: 5th Avenude (matte finish) and Nude Edition (satin finish). These are also perfect if you want to put some of that Sexy Mother Pucker gloss on top ;)

PIXI Beauty - Available at Target Cruelty Free

I personally haven’t tried this brand to tell you guys any of my favorites, but a lot of my friends swear by them! So I’ll definitely be trying them out soon.

If there are any drugstore brands you think I should try out that aren’t listed, feel free to let me know! Cruelty free brands please :)

Don’t forget to fix your lipstick,

xo K

0 notes

fixyourlipstickblog-blog · 7 years ago

Photo

If you’re reading this blog post, you’re probably having some trouble with your current skin routine: and that’s okay! Finding the perfect skin routine for your skin is a huge trail and error process, but I’m here in hopes to make it a little bit easier for you! And if you don’t have any form of skin care routine, well then that’s your first mistake if you want great skin! - Of course there are some beauties out there that are blessed with gorgeous skin naturally - and trust me, we’re all jealous.

But for those of us who weren’t blessed with perfect skin genes, we need a skin routine that works.

*For those of you with combination skin: We have the same skin type so I’ve included my personal favorites!

First things first:

The most important thing in your skin care routine, at least in my opinion, is your facial cleanser.

Personally, I love facial cleanser that has something exfoliate your skin in it.Not all face washes come with this, but it is very common. Most of these cleansers have little beads that help to remove dead skin as you massage the cleanser into your skin. I highly recommend a face wash with this for those with dry or combination skin. Those with oily skin can use them too, but they are definitely more beneficial for those with dry/combo skin.

Right now, I am absolutely LIVING for the The Deep Cleanse by Tatcha from their Balanced line. This one comes in a hefty price for a cleanser (Retails for $38): but for what it does to my skin? That’s a price I’m willing to pay. The cleanser isn’t harsh on my skin and exfoliates it very gently. I absolutely love it. And another reason to love Tatcha? They’re cruelty free.

Top Recommended Facial Cleansers:

Clinique Facial Soap (Available for ALL Skin Types - Retails for $14)

They have three different versions to cater to your specific skin type. With a five star rating, more than enough people recommend and swear by it to convince you to go buy it! However, this company is not cruelty free.

Oily Skin

Clinique Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser (Retails for $20.50)

This cleanser is a little different then the average face wash. This is a cream-mousse cleanser. This is an oil-free cleanser, so it’s great for those with oily skin. This company is not cruelty free.

Ole Henriksen Pore-Balanced Facial Scrub (Retails for $28)

This cleanser helps to control oil. It also helps to purify the skin and reduce the look of pores. This company is cruelty free.

Basis Cleaner Clean Face Wash (Retails for about $6)

Deep cleans and leaves your skin refreshed. This face wash is oil free AND a soap free gel. Contains mint, lemongrass and aloe. I can’t find anywhere that states whether they are cruelty free or not.

Dry Skin

annmarie Aloe Herb Cleanser (Retails for $29.95 for their 50mL bottle)

This is a super gentle, all natural face cleanser that will hydrate your skin. This company is cruelty free.

Murad Renewing Cleansing Cream (Retails for $39)

Known to help boost hydration and exfoliate your skin, this cleanser is great for anyone with dry skin. This is also great if you have sensitive skin. This company is cruelty free.

Estee Lauder Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser (Retails for $20)

Helps to soften skin. While protecting the natural moisture barrier our skin has, this cleanser adds hydration and conditioners to the skin. This company is not cruelty free.

Combination Skin

Clarin’s Women’s Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Cottonseed (Retails for $26)

Not sure why this company aimed this specifically for women, but anyway.. this is a non-drying cleanser, that helps to remove excess oil, and remove impurities. This brand is not cruelty free.

First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser (Retails for $10)

Fragrance free, gentle cleanser that removes grime and dirt. Leaves your skin soft. This company claims to be cruelty free, however they said they cannot guarantee that their ingredients aren’t tested on animals by some of their suppliers: so it’s your call on this one. The company however, does not test on animals themselves nor sell to China. So again- your call.

The next thing you need to worry about is a product to exfoliate, especially if you have dry skin. If you have a face wash that exfoliates, you can choose to skip this step but I highly recommend it if you find your skin flaking when you apply foundation, etc.

I personally only exfoliate extra in the winter months as my skin is extra dry. I personally recommend Freeman’s Feeling Beautiful Polishing Mask (Retails for roughly $4). I love using this after I wash my face in the shower. (After I of course moisturize or use a hydrating mask).

Products that are meant to exfoliate all do the same thing, which is exfoliate - so I won’t go into detail about them. But here are two popular ones:

Clinique Exfoliating Scrub (Retails for $22) Not cruelty free.

Clarin’s One-Step Exfoliating Cleanser (Retails for $38) Cruelty free.

Again, most face washes have a product to exfoliate your skin in them: so you can skip this step.

Now you need to think about a moisturizer. Yes, even you oily beauty gurus need to moisturize. Again, I won’t be going into details about these as they all do the same thing: hydrate.

Personally in the winter, I like to use H20+ Oasis Hydrating Booster (Retails for $38) This stuff is the absolutely BOMB and helps me so much when my skin is insanely dry! You only need a small amount and I swear I’ve had the same bottle for two years now.

Dry Skin

Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream (Retails for $11) - perfect for those with sensitive skin also! - Cruelty free.

ULTA Velvetskin Melting Moisturizer (Retails for $19.50) - Cruelty free.

Oily Skin

The key to moisturizing with oily skin is to find a non-oil based or oil-free moisturizer!

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel (Retails for $14.50) - Not cruelty free.

Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Invisible Finish Moisture Gel (Retails for $29) - Cruelty free.

Combination Skin

Biotherm Aquasoure 48H Continuous Release Hydration Gel (Retails for $38.59) - Not cruelty free.

100% Pure Moisturizer (Retails for $39) - Cruelty free.

Now that we have the basics covered: It’s time to get a key item most people don’t realize should be in their skin care routine.

Toner / Astringent

A lot of you may be asking yourselves: WTF is a toner/astringent, and why do I need it? Well, I’ll tell you why.

A toner helps clarify the skin. This is a leave-on product that you apply after you wash your face and before a moisturizer. The same goes for an astringent.

I personally use H20+ Toner, which they have more than one to cater to your specific skin type.

Believe it or not, a lot of people actually use Witch Hazel to tone their skin. If you’re not into that, and want a product actually made for toning, don’t worry: I got your back.

Before I found out Clinique wasn’t cruelty free, I used to swear by their Clarifying Lotion (Retails for $15 depending on the size bottle) . They have multiple versions for different skin types. If the company was cruelty free, I’d still be using this product.

If you have dry or combination skin, a toner is perfect for you. Specifically an alochol-free toner as alcohol will actually dry out your skin. Some popular ones are:

LANCÔME Tonique Confort Re-Hydrating Comforting Toner (Retails for $26) - Not cruelty free.

Clarin’s Toning Lotion (Retails for $26) - Cruelty free.

If you have oily skin, I recommend an astringent. Astringents work fabulously for removing excess oil from the skin.

NEUTROGENA Clear Pore Oil-Eliminating Astringent (Retails for $6) - Some products sold by this company are cruelty free. I believe however, this one is not.

Clinique Clarifying Lotion For Oily Skin (Retails for $15) - Not cruelty free.

Witch Hazel is also highly recommended for those with oily skin.

Let your skin dry naturally before applying moisturizer after applying your toner/astringent. Do not towel dry.

*Instead of a moisturizer, you can also use a face serum but that is entirely up to you. A face serum doesn’t go by skin type but more so what you want out of it. I personally use a face serum with Vitamin C and Collagen - they help to firm the skin, and reduce wrinkles.* I personally also microneedle my face, and use a Collagen cream you leave on over night. I like to switch up my skin routine.

And don’t even get me started about face masks..

*If you have lovely beauty lovers would like me to go more in depth, or add more about skin care: DM me on Instagram or Twitter!

Don’t forget to fix your lipstick,

xo K

Please remember that these are simply highly rated and recommended suggestions: what works for others, may not work for you. Also, I understand a lot of the price points are high - but like I said, this post is based off of the highest rated and recommended, not the cheapest.

0 notes

fixyourlipstickblog-blog · 7 years ago

Photo

If you’re taking the time out of your day to read any post on my blog, you most definitely love makeup. Since you’re an avid makeup lover, I’m sure you think that any good foundation will take a hefty chunk out of your wallet, right? Wrong.

Don’t get me wrong. A lot of high-end foundations have earned their price, and a lot of cheap brands have earned their space in the trash bin. But, what if I told you that you could have a bomb foundation without breaking the bank?

Now, I know I am just one person, so some may think that my opinion isn’t enough to get you to go to your local shop and buy a drugstore foundation...so I decided to ask around. I asked on facebook, twitter, instagram, and even texted a few avid makeup lovers. And for those of you who don’t know, I’m an admin (one of four) of a beauty group on Facebook with well over 18k members.. so I also decided to make a post for the best cheap/drugstore foundations and let the reviews roll in.

Here was the response:

Dry Skin:

L’Oreal Paris Infallible Pro Glow Foundation (Retails for $12.99)

Almost every single person that I spoke to with dry skin recommended this foundation. This foundation is said to be a “Lasting glow foundation. Never dull. Never Greasy”, and according to reviews: the foundation lives up to what is says on the back. The foundation has a soft dewey finish which is great for anyone with dry skin! The only problem I find with this foundation is that it comes in eleven shades, which isn’t a lot at all - and as usual, WOC (women of color) have less range than women with lighter skin tones.

Oily Skin:

L’Oreal Paris Infallible Pro Matte Foundation (Retails for $12.99)

Not to be mixed up with their Pro Glow foundation, the Pro Matte foundation has a matte finish which is perfect for those with oily skin! If you have oily skin, you NEED a matte foundation - otherwise you start looking like a hot oily mess, and no one wants that! This foundation claims to have good oil and shine control - and it totally does! If you have oily skin and haven’t tried it yet: my oily girls totally recommend!

Combination Skin:

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation (Retails for $7.99)

This foundation was an extremely popular choice among those with combination skin. This foundation comes in thirty-nine shades which is very rare for a drugstore foundation! This foundation has a matte finish, and leaves you looking poreless - according to the bottle AND the reviews. A personal friend of mine swears by both the powdered and liquid versions of this foundation. This foundation comes in 40 shades. However, If you’re an avid animal lover and against using brands that aren’t cruelty free like myself, this foundation is not for you.

Wet N Wild Photo Focus Foundation (Retails for $5.99)

Since the release of this foundation, I’ve heard nothing but good reviews on it... and for that price point, what’s not to love? I could roughly buy nine bottles of this foundation for the price of my Marc Jacobs Fabulous Moussee Foundation which retails for $55 (Marc Jacobs beauty does not test on animals for those wondering) - that to me is a STEAL for a bomb foundation! This foundation comes in 20 shades, and surprisingly has a decent amount to offer WOC. The entire point of this foundation is to avoid flashback in photos in whatever lighting you may be in and from every photo I’ve seen: this foundation does just that. I have to say the only downfall to this foundation in my opinion is the applicator - it’s a weird wand and I’m not really sure what they were thinking when they chose it.

All prices were listed from the company websites - you may be able to find the foundations cheaper at your local drugstores, Walmart, or Target.

Don’t forget to fix your lipstick,

xo Kaytee

0 notes

fixyourlipstickblog-blog · 7 years ago

Photo

It’s 2018. You’d think all makeup brands would be cruelty free right? WRONG.

There are dozens and dozens of cruelty free makeup brands in the industry. Clearly there are other ways of testing their products!

No, their quality isn’t bad compared to companies that test on animals.

No, there really is no benefit for the consumer when it comes to testing on animals.

So you’re probably asking yourself why are all these companies still testing on animals when there have been other proven ways of testing their products?

That’s right. You guessed it.

MONEY.

In 2017, a very well known cruelty free brand, NARS, had decided to change their policy. Why? MONEY.

A lot of brands opt to start selling in China in order to make money. Any brand that sells to China is not cruelty free. You see, in order to sell to China, makeup brands by law have to test on animals. A lot of brands opt out of selling to China because they don’t believe in testing on animals, and no amount of money is worth an animals suffering.

A lot of people will compare cosmetics testing with medical testing, but there is no justification for using animals to test cosmetics what-so-ever. (For the record: I don’t agree with ever using animals for any form of testing medical or cosmetic- but that’s a different subject for another day...).

There are plenty of ways to test cosmetics other than using animals. Don’t support the brands that think of their wallet over an animals well-being.

Many of these brands have cruelty free sister-brands (for example, Smashbox is cruelty free but it is owned by MAC who is not). Support those, and it shows the company you won’t buy products tested on animals!

Brands that still test on animals as of Jan 2018:

Avon

Benefit

MAC

Estée Lauder

Makeup Forever

Maybelline

Lancome

Dior

Bobbi Brown

Clinque

Sephora Brand

Givenchy

Yves Saint Laurent

NARS

Chanel

Mary Kay

Covergirl

If I am forgetting any, please feel free to DM me on Instagram and I’ll edit this list!

-xo K

0 notes