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Thursday, August 14, 2014

BACK TO SCHOOL MAKEUP ESSENTIALS

All this cloudy, rainy weather has me thinking about how soon school will be starting. Part of me is excited to get back to the routine, but part of me wishes it could be summer forever. (Not the heat, though. I could live without that.)

Since I'm in the back-to-school spirit, I figured I would make a list of some of my favorite makeup items that are inexpensive and good for school days. Most of the items are under $10 (actually, all but one are!) and most of them can be found at drugstores.

I looked through my makeup bags and found the most inexpensive and longest-lasting products I owned. A lot of them are actually Maybelline products — I promise this post isn't sponsored by Maybelline! I guess I just tend to really like their products, especially for the prices.






(1) Maybelline Baby Skin, $6.99
This inexpensive primer fills pores and makes foundation last a lot longer. While I wouldn't recommend this product for oily skin, it can be good in small amounts. I have combination skin (oily on my nose and forehead, most blemishes are on my chin; dry spots on my cheeks) and I use this on my t-zone, where my pores are at their largest.

(2) Maybelline Fit Me Foundation in Ivory, $7.99
I have said this in many posts and I'll say it again; I am very, very fair-skinned and finding a drugstore foundation that both matches my skin AND works well is almost impossible. Then, I was introduced to this foundation. It lasts all day, even when I am working an 8-hour shift. It blends so nicely onto the skin and comes in many different colors. This foundation offers medium coverage, but it's also buildable if you find yourself needing more coverage on some days. It works especially well with the matching concealer, which is my next item:

(3) Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Fair, $6.99
I. Love. This. Concealer. I will probably never buy another drugstore concealer again. This concealer has super heavy-duty coverage (especially for the price) and like the foundation comes in many colors. I bought the lightest color available, which matches my skin perfectly in the winter, but now that my skin has a little bit of color I like to use this under my eyes to both conceal and highlight. Even when my blemishes are bright red (cute, right?) this concealer covers them right up.

(4) Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze, $6.99 
Yet another Maybelline product! I've heard all about this shadow on the internet and have been scouring around Bellingham for it and it has been sold out everywhere I have gone. Finally, I tried a new store and I found it! I am so pleased with this purchase. On its own, the color is a beautiful shimmery and bronzey taupe. You can also wear it as a base and layer powder eyeshadows on top of it, which will make the colors pop more. I notice no creases in my eyeshadow (a common problem for me) when I wear this shadow. I'm definitely considering buying more colors when I have the opportunity!

(5) City Color Be Matte Blush in Fresh Melon, $3.99
This blush is super pigmented, so you really don't need a lot! Just a quick swoop with a fluffy brush is all you need, and this blush will last all day. The color is a warm, bright pink that looks like a flush my cheeks would naturally have.

(6) Maybelline The Falsies Mascara, $6.99
Oh, lord. Where do I start with this mascara? I mentioned a few weeks ago that this is one of my favorite mascaras of all time, but it's definitely my favorite drug store mascara of all time. You can either get a very natural, wispy look with your lashes or the big, dramatic lashes that I tend to like.

(7) Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes, $5.99
Like I said, I love a big, dramatic lash look and this definitely helps. I use one coat of this after applying the Falsies mascara and it adds just a little extra oomph that I wouldn't otherwise have. The small plastic brush is perfect for getting those bottom lashes without smearing everywhere, too!

(8) Jesse's Girl Waterproof Liquid Liner, $6.99
I got this liner in my Ipsy bag a few months ago and I love it! The felt pen is super easy to use and the consistency and lasting power of this liner is excellent. You can either add a quick line over your lashes or a swoop-y cat eye easily with this eyeliner. I find the felt pens a lot easier to use than traditional liquid liners.

(9) Physician's Formula Powder Palette Mineral Glow Pearls, $13.99
This little palette works wonders! I actually use it as a highlighter, not a bronzer, since it's so shimmery. At first I didn't like the brush that comes with it, but now I find that it's perfect for highlighting cheekbones and my cupid's bow. Is it weird thatI like to accentuate my cupid's bow? Whatever.

Not pictured, but also great:

Pop Beauty Sunkissed Bronzer, $10
This bronzer doesn't have any orange undertones, which makes it perfect for contouring under your cheekbones. I am always skeptical of drugstore bronzers because they tend to be very shimmery and very orange, but this one is great and a little goes a long way.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder, $3.99
The Rimmel Stay Matte powder has been a favorite of mine since the moment I bought it. This powder is easily the best setting powder I've ever found in a drug store, and it's only $3.99! It helps your makeup stay all day, and mattifies any oily areas such as your nose and forehead.

Eos Sphere Lip Balm, $3.49
I've always got WAY too many chapsticks (I probably have about 10 hiding in my room) but the Eos ones have been my favorite lately. I tend not to wear lip color because of the constant touchups, but lip balms are an exception. Every flavor of the Eos lip balm that I have tried has been awesome, especially lemon!

NYX Butter Gloss, $4.99
When I do wear lip color, I tend to like sheer-er colors that last a while, and NYX butter gloss does just that. I was first unimpressed with this product (I'm really not a lip gloss person) but I wore it a few times and it grew on me. It's not too sticky and doesn't need to be reapplied too often. There are also a lot of different colors, from nudes to brights!


Those are just some of my favorite drugstore items that I thought would be perfect for school, whether you are just starting high school or beginning your last year of college (like me! ahhh!). These products all have excellent lasting power and don't require much — if any — touching up throughout the day.

What are your school make-up must haves?

xoxo,









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2 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Ah! I totally forgot about lips! I have a few ideas, but I'm off to work now and will update this when I get home! Thank you for pointing that out!

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