frugal beauty

To begin, I’m not writing this beauty post to preach and rave about my daily beauty routines, in fact, I’m dead tired of my products and haven’t grown out of any the past few years. Yes, I’ve been using generally the same products for years. Most of these worked wonders for me the first time around, which is why I stuck to it.

But after hanging out with some makeup wizards and having them point out my ‘beauty-nevers’, it made me take a long hard look at my long years of routine and habit. I did all sorts of horrible things: lightly brush black $2 eyeliner to my brows, flat iron my hair every day without a heat protectant, put layers of mascara on till it clumps, neglect to use body lotion, awful, awful things.

I really need something new. So here are some of my favorites, feel free to make suggestions. Who knows, maybe some of mine will be of help to you!

Bobby Brown Concealer This is probably one of my favorite concealers used to date. It’s easy to apply and doesn’t leave your skin flakey on the dry parts (which is a case for me around my t-zone). It’s clay based, so it helps absorb oil. But what makes this my favorite is how the creamy texture helps blend into my skin without leaving orange streaks. Sadly, since I only wear concealer, I can easily go through a tube in a few months, and it’s a little pricey to replace often.	Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion Love this. I don’t think I’ve ever tried a (affordable) moisturizer that works so well. I’ve been using it for years, and I don’t think that’s going to change. It moisturizes extremely well without making my skin feel greasy or clogged. My only concern is that my t-zone is extremely dry no matter how much lotion I apply to it. The consultant said I should use a specific lotion that is for combination skin; I find that when I give those a try, it doesn’t give my skin enough oomph, and I’m stuck with skin that feels stretched. Any suggestions? Though, I did use some of my mom Le Mer cream and that worked for my dry spot-treatments, but we can no longer afford that stuff.
Aveeno Foaming Cleanser I can’t even tell you how long I’ve used this as my face cleanser. I took a quick liking because it took off all traces of makeup, and that’s all I needed. It’s very gentle on the skin and after a few uses, I did notice my skin begin to glow and even out. A few years later, I’m either jaded or immune because I started to rotate between four – FOUR – different cleaners. Apparently, that’s really bad for your skin. I think my favorite cleanser I’ve used was by Clinque (a 3 step system, I think). It’s pricier than department store brands, but sort of within my price range. However, I would love to take some department store suggestions.	Big Lips, Skinny Hips I received a tube from my friend Jenna who works under Purple Lab. I was a little skeptical at first because I afraid of lipgloss: the way wind blows hair to your lips, that annoying feeling of something on your lips, and just the overdone glossy look. This however, is very light, with a natural tint and sheen to the gloss, which works better for me. Can’t say I’ll ever convert to a lip-gloss girl though, but if you are one of those girls, definitely try it.
Fekkai Coif Lifting and Texturizing Hair Gel Spray I don’t really use hair products. To make matters worse, I don’t even care what shampoo I use; if it’s on TV and in Target, it belongs in my bathroom. I got a small Coif sample that has lasted me a while and has me interested in hair products again. This one is great because it actually does what it says… lifts and texturizes! Without any products, my hair will fall flat by the end of the day, and while I used to like it, hair with body is just so much better. Now, any cheaper alternatives?	Lancome Fatale Mascara My friend Christine gave this to me since the no-brush wand scared her; it’s a comb. Personally, I like it – a lot. There’s a triangular groove that requires your own technique for efficiency. The groove holds a heap of that mascara stuff, so I rub that part on my eyelashes and then comb it out. Would I go out and buy the $24 tube for myself? Probably not. I can imitate the same lashes with the cheap mascara that comes in the infamous pink tube.
Clinique Pore Minimizer I’m convinced this is Jesus disguised as a makeup product. Being a non-believer in foundation and powder, this product is insanely perfect for evening out skin, covering pores, and diminishing shine with a natural finish. I find that this also works really well when you put it over concealer to make sure it stays put all day. Did I also mention that the tube is ever-lasting?! I’ve had it for a year and it’s still pumping.	MAC Lipstick in Cyber and Blankety In the previous post below, a lot of you asked what lip color I’m wearing. It’s CYBER! It’s so beautiful and intimidating. I assure you though, if you try it on sparingly, you will find that it’s actually a beautiful deep, berry color. The harsh black lips only comes when you apply several coats. It generally looks better on pale skin, which is why I’ve made sure to stray away from the sun this summer. Pale is the new tan. Religiously, Blankety by MAC is my favorite daily color. I can’t do without a nude lip; it’s me. Do check it out though!

P.S. I'm sorry some of the wording is cut off. I can't figure out how to fix it... for now you will just have to copy and paste the text to a notepad if you want to read it. Sorry for the trouble!