Makeup Monday: Cheap Thrills and Quick Changes

(Revlon lipsticks - all purchased at CVS)


When it comes to drugstore brands, I'm a bit of a Revlon fan girl. I'm particularly fond of their lipsticks, which come in a bajillion (give or take a few) shades and finishes. I'm a lipstick girl for more than one reason, but mostly, I love that it can change your look in just one step! Since becoming a CVS Beauty Board member, I've probably been spending a little too much time in their makeup aisle. I only recommend products I actually use and stand by, so naturally I have to try everything out. I've found a slew of new favorites (and a couple of misses, which I promptly returned) in the Revlon lipstick section alone, which I have showcased in the pictures above.

Isn't it crazy how just one swipe of lipstick can completely change your look? I'm wearing the same face and eye makeup in each (though the lighting is different in a few). What's your favorite lipstick of the moment?

Win three products of your choice, courtesy of Nuance Salma Hayek!

As a member of the CVS Beauty Club Beauty Board, I had the pleasure of meeting and having lunch with Salma Hayek, the creator of Nuance (see my post on Nuance here). Though I already read how involved Salma was in developing her line of cosmetics, haircare and skincare, it became even clearer to me how much of her heart and soul she poured into this collection. When I say this lady knows her stuff, I mean she knows every ingredient that goes into each product and what its benefits are - and might even have a personal story to go along with it. I was blown away and incredibly inspired. She could have just slapped her name on it and called it a day but instead, she spent years ensuring that everything was just so.

When one of the attendees asked her what product she would recommend for every woman, she answered very honestly that it completely depends on the woman's needs and preferences. There were no one-size-fits-all products, and that's why she offered such an expansive variety. When CVS and Nuance offered to hold a giveaway for my readers, I took her sentiment to heart and decided, what better way than to let you decide on your own three favorite products?


THREE of my lucky winners will get to choose their three favorite products!


To enter, check out the Nuance tab on the CVS Beauty Club Facebook and pick out your three favorite products. Then, leave a comment here with the three choices you would like to win!

If you need help picking out your products, browse Salma's videos on the collection, her inspiration and her favorite products!

Entries will be accepted until this Friday, September 30th, 9 pm EST. Winners will be contacted directly and announced in this post. Good luck!

Makeup Monday: Steely Nuance

Nuance Mineral Cheek Trio, Nuance smokey eyes quad, Nuance lipstick in My Favorite, Nuance Ultra-Defining Mascara, Nuance Lights, Camera, Action Trio

While in San Diego for the CVS Beauty Club luncheon with the rest of the Beauty Board, I had a chance to check out Salma Hayek's new CVS/Pharmacy exclusive line, Nuance. That was a little while back, so you might have already heard about this. Why didn't I break the news earlier? Because I won't ever recommend anything without testing it out on myself, first. I wanted to make sure I actually liked these products before even suggesting you try them out. Now, to be fair, this is a *huge* collection (over 100 products) and I've only tried out a fraction of those - so I can only attest to the quality of what I've sampled.

Here, I created a look with some of my favorites in the collection. I used the directions straight off the box of the Nuance smokey eyes quad and added in a couple of my own steps, because you know I don't wear my eyeshadow without a base underneath. It keeps your eyeshadow in place and makes the colors pop. After hours of wear, I had no creasing. Don't skip this step!

Keep reading after the jump for the step by step tutorial:

That's it - you're done!

A couple of notes about the makeup:
- The lipstick is already semi-sheer, and I blotted it to give just a hint of color. The final product will be more pigmented than what you see on me.
- The mineral cheek trio can be used all together for a pigment color (swirl your brush on the trio for even color) or individually. The darker color is great for contouring. This and the eye shadow quad are the best bang for your buck, in my opinion.

Please take a chance to check out the CVS Beauty Club Beauty Board on Facebook for more tips and product suggestions from Mickey, Nichelle and me. I'll also be hosting a live chat on Thursday, August 25th from 12-1:30 PM.




Full disclosure: I am a paid spokesperson of CVS/pharmacy Beauty Club Beauty Board. My opinions are my own.

Makeup Monday: Summer Lovin'

Makeup Details (all from CVS):
Ardell Fashion Lashes
Physicians Formula Healthy Wear SPF 50 Tinted Moisturizer
Physicians Formula Happy Booster blush in Rose Revlon Just Bitten Lips Stain in PassionMilani eye pencil (upper lashline)NYC white eyeliner (lower waterline) Revlon grow luscious mascara (not pictured)  
True story: I went to CVS at midnight last night, so I could try out this tinted moisturizer. A couple of readers asked for a recommendation for tinted moisturizer they could get at the drug store, and since I have none in my kit and hate making recommendations without personal experience, I went and checked it out.

I love tinted moisturizers, especially in the summer. I most often use Laura Mercier - which I love - but it is very pricey (over $40). This one (by Physicians Formula) was on sale for just over $11. While very different from my usual TM (that's what we call it on the streets), I like it quite a bit. It has SPF 50 and is oil, fragrance and paraben free. It's also non comedogenic, which is something I look for (even though it's kind of a broad term that doesn't always have to deliver). While I can't attest to its sun protection as of yet, here are the pros: it's not greasy at all, blends really well and feels lightweight. The con: it comes in very few shades. It also isn't moisturizing enough on its own for me, so I still used moisturizer underneath - but I also do that with my Laura Mercier. Also keep in mind that tinted moisturizers won't provide much coverage - they just even out your complexion. Any problem spots will require concealer. Final verdict: for around $11, it's a really great buy.

While at the store, I also picked up some fun, full lashes (since I have really sad, little lashes), a shimmery blush, a Revlon lipstain that my little sister's friend convinced me to try (I love it), some eyeliners and a whole bunch of other stuff (lipsticks, bobby pins, dry shampoo, sugar-free Redbull for my friend who was catching a red-eye). "Research for the CVS Beauty Club," I told myself. Research.

To justify my purchases, I made this look entirely from drug-store products (save for my brows). I even did a hair tutorial with the bobby pins and dry shampoo I picked up, which I will be posting tomorrow! Money well spent.

Please don't forget to check out the CVS Beauty Board facebook tab and let Mickey, Nichelle and me know if you have any beauty related questions or need product suggestions!


Full disclosure: I am a paid spokesperson of CVS/pharmacy Beauty Club Beauty Board.