Category Archives: pretty for a penny

nyx wonder pencil

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NYX-Wonder-Pencil

what if i told you that for less than $5 i could solve at least three pesky beauty problems?

the new nyx wonder pencil is a nude multitasker that comes in three shades. the beauty of this pencil is that the unique hybrid formula means that it serves a variety of purposes. it’s softer than a typical eyeliner and more matte than a regular stick concealer. in short, it’s like a tiny magic wand that can be used to lighten, brighten, and conceal the different areas of your face.

for example, it serves as a perfect eyeliner at the water line to brighten my eyes. the slim pencil shape and fine point mean that i can also use it as the most precise blemish concealer ever. it’s as if i’ve got a little magic eraser and i can just dot it over any spots left peeking through after i have applied my foundation, without the need to blend – genius! it’s come in handy as a reverse lip liner to keep my bright lip shades from feathering and i’ve also used it under my arches to add shape and definition to my brows.

this is one of those products that you’ll wonder how you ever lived without. i feel as though i’m discovering new ways to use it daily, and there’s nothing better than that.

shop nyx wonder pencil ($4.50) >

almay smart shade mousse makeup

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almay smart shade mousse makeup

i consider myself a bit of a foundation naysayer. i want all of my flaws masked for a perfectly poreless finish that doesn’t look like i’m wearing makeup. oh, and i also don’t want to feel like i’m wearing makeup. it’s a constant struggle.

i’ve loved the almay line for a long time. it’s always touted by my derm as the best possible makeup brand for sensitive and breakout-prone skin. so, when i was flipping through instyle a couple of months ago and saw the new almay foundation teased, i waited patiently for it to hit drugstore shelves. after scooping it up at target a couple of weeks ago, we have become fast friends.

i’m always leery about shade matching makeup (it’s good in theory, but for some reason it never works out quite right) but the 100 shade (light) has been doing a bang-up job of matching my skin tone more perfectly than most foundations. there are four shades in this lineup, so i’m not going to be so bold as to say that there’s something for everyone but i’m definitely impressed with the match on me. this stuff is light as air, yet heavy on coverage, and it somehow goes on to feel like you’re wearing nothing at all. it gives my skin a smooth, even appearance that has been working as a great base for a variety of makeup looks without looking cakey.

there are a couple of caveats, though. the first is that since the mousse goes on white and then “transforms” into your ideal shade, it can be very easy to overdo it on coverage. i got the hang of it after one application though, and it’s been a breeze since then. second, you’ll find that the finish on this is almost powdery which leads me to believe that it might not be so friendly to those with drier skin. the rest of you light-handed, combination-oily gals will definitely enjoy the silky texture and flawless finish with a drugstore price tag.

shop almay smart shade mousse makeup ($11.89) >

flower beauty

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drew barrymore's flower line for walmart

i recently took a journey to my not-so-local walmart (oh, the things i do for you! :)) with the sole purpose of experiencing drew barrymore’s new makeup line, flower. i had been casually following the buzz on its release, but it was this interview on emily’s blog that really pushed me over the edge  to check it out. i became quickly obsessed with the philosophy on how drew built this brand and i knew i needed it in my makeup bag.

upon discovering the gorgeous tower of pretty in the beauty department, i started stocking up. here are my early favorites from the line, all priced from $5-$14.

lip service lip butter in princess & the peony, $6.98
about face foundation with primer, $13.98
ready set glow! blush/bronzer duo in shimmering goddess, $9.98
nail’d it nail lacquer in cosmo-politan, eye of tiger lily, and good bud-dy, $4.98
petite fleurs pocket triplet lip in shade 1, $6.98
petite fleurs pocket triplet concealer in combo 3, $6.98
zoom-in ultimate mascara, $7.98

as you can see, there is a lot to love here. i’m really impressed with the quality of these products, the color ranges, luxe packaging and overall cohesiveness of the line. (it’s also selling like hotcakes.) in the end, i guess i should have known that i would be in love with a makeup collection from her bohemian highness. if you like what you see, get yourself to a walmart to experience the loveliness in person!

pretty for a penny: l’oreal voluminous power volume 24 hour mascara

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loreal-voluminous-power-volume-24h-mascara-cilios_iZ1640XvZmXpZ1XfZ48212181-30440343753-1.jpgXsZ48212181xIM

the last time i was in nyc i got to chatting with stephanie johnson when i realized that i hadn’t heard a word she said because i couldn’t take my eyes off of her eyelashes. a makeup minimalist, stephanie always looks great, but she was batting some major lash and i had to know her secret. when she was deep in the middle of telling me about sourcing fabrics for the fall 2013 line in hong kong, i blurted out “i’m sorry what’s happening with your eyelashes, i have to know!” she laughed and revealed to me that she had been at a magazine event and received a tube of l’oreal mascara in her gift bag. she said it was life-changing and that she would text me a picture of the tube when she got home (is she a good friend or what?). her text message that evening revealed an unfamiliar black and white tube – i immediately set out for the closest duane reade on a mission to find one.

i’m now a couple of weeks into my love affair with said black and white tube and i could not be more hooked. my lashes are sporting some serious volume thanks to the jumbo-sized brush and they are never clumped thanks to a crazy bristle arrangement that you’ve got to experience for yourself. my lashes have always been so, so – not super dark, not super long, not super thick but one coat of l’oreal’s collagen-laced formula and they are dark and defined. it holds curl without making lashes feel heavy and it stays all day without flakes or smudges. this has quickly become my favorite mascara and at under $8, i can imagine that it’s here to stay.

l’oreal voluminous power volume 24 hour mascara is available in drugstores and online for $7.99.

pretty gifty: under $20

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pretty gifty: under $20

got a secret santa? need a stash of stocking stuffers? one (or more!) from this bunch will brighten the day of someone on your list, without lightening the load in your wallet:

1 – a luxe lotion for $14; mark very sassy body lotion
2 – a bottle of polish in an artsy box for $12.50; nookie nail polish from laqa & co
3 – airline-approved hair care for $19.50; oribe beautiful color travel set
4 – spirited and sparkling blotting linens for $5; boscia pink peppermint blotting linens
5 – a sweet and salty lip scrub for $8.95; lush popcorn
6 – balm in a ball for $18.50; this works beauty ball ornament
7 – two pastel cream shadows for $17; topshop eye cream duo
8 – a purse-sized solid perfume for $10; crazylibellule and the poppies rose a saigon

black friday beauty bargains

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(image via smashbox’s instagram feed)

  • get 20% off a $50 purchase at becca cosmetics (GIVETHANKS)
  • beauty for real is giving you $10 off $50 (SPEND50), $15 off (SPEND75) and $25 off $100 (SPEND100)
  • earn $10 in beauty bucks for every $50 you spend at beautyhabit (GRATEFUL) and free shipping on all orders (THANKFUL)
  • everything at beauty sage is 20% off (THANKS)
  • grab a beauty trio of your choice + free lip gloss + free shipping from bobbi brown
  • the body shop is offering three items for $30 site wide (whoa!)
  • on cyber monday, favorite sun care brand coola will be offering 25% off (HAPPYMONDAY)
  • coterie has sales on butter london and mor cosmetics
  • 20% savings on all products on your my favorites list at dermstore
  • duwop is offering 40% off site wide + free shipping on black friday and cyber monday
  • get a free gift with every $20 you spend at julep
  • mane message is offering 20% off all orders! (BEMERRY)
  • get $25 off a $100 purchase at murad (CYBERMONDAY)
  • sephora is celebrating with $10 wonders
  • 25% off all orders over $50 at smashbox (FRIENDS2012)
  • free palette set worth $216 with a $75 purchase at stila (BLACKFRIDAY)

samples + the safety pin

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i am on a serious treasure hunt for my next eye cream, but that’s really a story for another day. the hero of this blog post is the simple safety pin. last night while discussing said treasure hunt with my girl evan (who happens to be the manager at the still new-ish kiehl’s store in tyson’s corner – it really pays to make friends with people in high beauty places), she generously proffered two samples of kiehl’s creamy eye treatment with avocado. as i stuffed them greedily into my silvie, she gave me the most genius tip! she told me that instead of tearing the top off of these precious packs, which almost certainly speeds up the drying out process, wasting valuable product, to pierce them with a safety pin and only squeeze out a little at a time. this way, i’m sure to get the exact right dose each evening as i give the windows to my soul their delicate massage and the samples will last that much longer. best of all, i get to use every last drop and the stuff inside stays nice and fresh while i do.

i. was. dumbfounded.

is this trick new to you? have you been keeping it from me?

covergirl clump crusher mascara

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the lashblast franchise is at it again, and just when i thought there were no more formulas to add to the family, covergirl proves me wrong. i’ve been a fan of the lashblast mascaras for a long while now (the original is still the only drugstore mascara that i recommend) and i have tried them all…but, when i spied this mysterious green tube in last month’s lucky magazine, i knew something good was coming our way.

and i was correct.

this version is the first one to actually surpass the original lashblast and become my new favorite drugstore mascara. something about the curved brush and silky formula gives this insanely fluttery volume that i can’t get enough of. this is the most buildable formula that i’ve found in a mascara ever. you can coat and coat your lashes with this stuff, the brush perfectly shaped to your lid, creating crazy long perfectly defined lashes without any of them looking spidery or sticking together. (it’s actually kind of weird how perfectly it goes on.)

the results are gorgeous and super flirty for everyday – you get this beyond natural, very achievable drama that looks like you might have grown it yourself. i’ve found that it wears very well over the course of a long day without making lashes feel dry or crunchy and, best of all, it washes off with warm water, meeting and exceeding all of my criteria for pure perfection.

beauties, i’m officially crowning a new queen of casual mascara. grab your own green tube of glory at drugstores and online for $6.99.

suave kids detangling spray

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remember when you were five years old and your mom would use detangling spray to get the pesky knots out of your hair?

and, remember when you were 25 years old and still using detangler designed for children to get out said pesky knots that you’ve not yet outgrown?

for the fine maned, tangles know no age, and to this day i use suave kids double dutch apple detangling spray daily for smooth, snag-free locks. the sweet-smelling spray is made for kids but strong enough for a lady – making my post-shower comb-through perfectly painless.

and i think that, effectiveness aside, the cartoon octopus on the bottle, the one doing double dutch with an apple on its head? really adds something.

to bid tangles adieu and say hello to apple-scented smoothness, check the drugstore aisles or get it delivered here.