Maybelline

Maybelline Dream Cushion Fresh Face Liquid Foundation Is a Sweet Drugstore Dream

December 22nd, 2016 by Karen 13 Comments

maybelline dream cushion review — New for spring 2017: Maybelline Dream Cushion

I can’t remember the last time I had a makeup-related dream.

Or a dream where I even realized I was wearing makeup.

Can you? Have you ever had a dream where you’re putting on your makeup? I wish I did. Dream makeup… I think I’d like that.

New Maybelline Dream Cushion Fresh Face Liquid Foundation, which is coming in January in eight shades that are $16 each, has the word “dream” right in the name.

maybelline dream cushion swatches — Maybelline Dream Cushion swatches (seven of eight shades): 10 Porcelain, 15 Ivory, 20 Classic Ivory, 30 Warm Nude, 45 Medium Beige, 55 Caramel, 60 Cocoa

maybelline dream cushion 45 Medium Beige — I wear shade 45 Medium Beige

Cushion compacts like this one have been over the place lately! When you open the compact, instead of there being a pan of cream or powder, there’s a sponge pre-soaked with liquid foundation. You take a puff applicator, a Beauty Blender or a brush, dab it on the sponge, and then apply that to your face.

I haven’t tried many of them yet, but MAC Matchmaster Shade Intelligence Compact is my cushion compact holy grail at the moment. It’s $38 though. It’s lightweight, medium coverage, and it beautifully blurs my pores. And it doesn’t budge on my skin.

But I like Maybelline Dream Cushion as well.

maybelline dream cushion before after — Before (left) and after (right), wearing shade 45 Medium Beige

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Sneak Peek: New From Maybelline for Spring 2017

December 8th, 2016 by Karen 24 Comments

Um…yes, I realize that we’re talking about spring, even though it isn’t even Christmas yet.

I know! It’s weird to me too, but that’s the makeup world. Lots of weird.

Here’s a quick peek at new products from Maybelline coming to drugstores next month. Does anything here strike your fancy?

New from Maybelline for Spring 2017

Colossal Big Shot Mascara ($8.49) — Has wavy bristles for boosting volume
Brow Precise Perfecting Highlighter ($7.99) — A full-coverage highlighter for brow arches
Expertwear Eye Shadow ($3.99 each) — Powder eye shadow singles with jet-milled pigments in bold and satin finishes, available in 20 shades
24Karat Nudes Palette ($11.99) — A palette with a gold theme and 12 new shimmery shadows
Color Sensational Inti-Matte Nudes ($7.49 each) — Warm creamy matte nudes in 10 shades
Lip Studio Color Contour Lip Palettes ($13.99 each) — Lip palettes with six lipstick shades, available in Blushed Bombshell (nudes and pinks) and Vamp Fatale (reds and plums)
Maybelline New York Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquids ($7.99 each) — Liquid lipsticks in statement shades available in 10 new colors
Color Sensational Shaping Lip Liner ($7.99 each) — Twist-up skinny lip liners in 14 new shades
Baby Lips Color Balm Crayon ($6.99 each) — Balm-like crayon for bright, juicy color
Dream Cushion Foundation ($15.99 each) — Luminous, lightweight coverage for a smooth fresh glow, available in 8 shades
Dream Brightening Creamy Concealer ($7.99 each) — Has light reflecting pearls for brightening, available in 6 shades
Face Studio Master Camo Color Correcting Kit ($12.99 each) — Color-correcting palettes with highlighters, concealers and color correctors for light, medium and deep skin tones
Face Studio Master Blush Color & Highlighting Kit ($12.99) — Gel-based blush kit with three blushes and a highlighter
Face Studio Master Strobing Liquid Illuminating Highlighter ($9.99) — Two shades with various levels of shine for a dewy glow

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How I Wear Nude Lipstick (A Collaboration With Anna)

May 12th, 2016 by Marcella Yakalis 11 Comments

From the top, clockwise: Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in Hickory Smoked ($3.49), Colourpop Lippie Stix in Lumiere ($5), and Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lipstick in Nude Thrill ($6.99)

When I first started wearing lipstick, I was a sucker for a red lip, particularly matte red lips, and I still am. If I had to wear the same lip color for the rest of my life, it would probably be something red.

But my tastes have grown over the years to include many other colors, including nudes. A change of pace is nice sometimes, and some nudes are just too good to pass up.

I tend to go for the bolder nudes, like pink nudes, or a nude with brownish red undertones.

To go along with Anna’s favorite nude lippies, here are three of my favorite nudes that I’ve been wearing on the regular (when I’m not going for my signature red).

The first one is one of the Maybelline Vivid Mattes, and Adia did an amazing review of these a little while back, so I’m not going to spend too much time on the particulars. I will say that it’s one of my favorite everyday liquid lipsticks for a few reasons. The color lasts, it’s not overly drying, and it’s truly a universally flattering shade.

Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lipstick in Nude Thrill

It can easily be worn with just a bit of mascara for a daytime look or something like a smoky eye for night.

My second favorite nude is my go-to pink for when I feel like wearing something other than red, but don’t want to wear anything particularly bright. It’s Colourpop Lippie Stix in Lumiere, a dusty mauve.

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My Favorite Nude Lipsticks for Every Occasion and Budget

May 2nd, 2016 by Anna Oh 22 Comments

ysl rouge volupte 3 beige ultimate maybelline nude lust — An old favorite nude lipstick, and a new favorite nude lipstick: YSL Rouge Volupte, and Maybelline Color Sensational

I’m going to guess that you’re like me and LOVE peeking into someone else’s makeup bag. Well, no need to ask, because today I’m going to share my go-to nude lipsticks. I always have these on hand. They’re my good luck charms, like my Tide to Go (because I’m too lazy to reapply dark lip colors after eating), and these will work for beauty lovers of every budget, yay!

Marcella will also be sharing her nude lipstick favorites in another post, and I can’t wait to see what she picks for hers.

For work: YSL Rouge Volupte “3 Beige Ultimate”

So this one is actually a good luck charm for me. I’ve worn this to every job interview, and so far I’ve had a 100% success rate with it!

I’m half-kidding because I haven’t had THAT many full-time job interviews, but I usually wear a long fitted black blazer with some smart pleated pants with this beauty of a lipstick in my pocket. It’s the YSL Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick in Beige Ultimate ($37). Even at that price point, I don’t think this lipstick disappoints. Heavy golden metal, not-too-sweet-watermelon scent, and amazing pigmentation in one swipe.

Infused with oils, it sits comfortably on my lips, and I barely notice I’m wearing it while talking to friends and interviewers alike. YSL wins the award for my top luxury lip choice.

For play: Maybelline The Buffs “Nude Lust”

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Blur the Line Between Drugstore and High End with Maybelline’s Master Contour Kits

April 19th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 23 Comments

Maybelline Master Contour Kit in Light to Medium 10 — Mid-application of Maybelline’s Master Contour Kit in Light to Medium 10

I seriously love me some Maybelline. The first palettes I gravitated to as a tween makeup lover were Maybelline, and, as an adult makeup lover, the brand continues to be, by far, the most purchased affordable makeup in my collection. At their price point, I often find their quality to be unrivaled — finely milled powders, fabulous cream shadows that apply like By Terry’s Ombre Blackstars and long-lasting pigment for days.

First time I saw the new Master Contour Palette in Light to Medium 10, which goes for $12.99 (available in Medium to Deep 20, as well), I was immediately reminded of Estée Lauder’s 2016 Bronze Goddess Summer Glow Multi Palette, which retails for over four times as much!

Comprised of a contour shade, a coordinating classic pink blush and a champagne highlighter, this gem poses as an excellent and wallet-friendly substitute to some similar, considerably more expensive summer 2016 releases.

Maybelline Master Contour Kit in Light to Medium 10

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3 of My Favorite Affordable Unsung Makeup Heroes

April 19th, 2016 by Jen Clark 34 Comments

The long-running Unsung Heroes series here on Makeup and Beauty Blog features some of our all-time favorite permanent collection products.

When I was looking through all of my makeup, trying to decide what I should write about for a Makeup Unsung Heroes post, I realized that most of what I have are things that everyone else loves, and that’s probably why I bought them. Rarely do I just go out and buy a product because I think it looks good. But sometimes those are the best ones!

Here are three products that I sort of took a chance on and ended up loving, and I think you might like them, too. 🙂

Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder

When I heard about Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder, it was only about $7 bucks, and I was using a super expensive Makeup Forever powder at the time. I wanted to find something cheaper, and I was really loving how loose powders worked, especially for baking under the eyes.

The first time I tried it, I used my beautyblender and pressed it into my concealer under my eyes. The soft formula made my under-eye area feel like silk, ’cause it kind of absorbed the concealer. It made everything look perfect under my eyes, and that’s mostly why I love it.

I also use it to set the rest of my face, and here’s a trick. If you put a little bit more than you normally would where you’re going to be putting your contour, that helps your contour not go all patchy, like mine tends to do sometimes. It just helps everything blend so much better on top.

If you’re really sensitive to scented makeup, this is probably the strongest smelling makeup item I have. It literally smells like the strongest synthetic floral scent in the word, and it reminds me of how my mom’s makeup used to smell in the ’90s. Good thing I can only smell it when I’m applying it, and I don’t smell it on my face the rest of the day.

But just a fair warning if you’re super sensitive to fragrances.

unsung makeup heroes coty airspun powder — Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder ($7)

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The Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24HR Concentrated Crayons: An Amazing Drugstore Find

April 14th, 2016 by Adia Goss 33 Comments

I’ve talked about how much I love eyeshadow sticks, so I was already primed and ready to like these Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24HR Concentrated Crayons.

I was not, however, expecting to LOVE ❤ them!

Here’s just a quick look at all 10 of these incredibly smooth and crazy pigmented eyeshadow sticks. Plus, they have major staying power. The packaging says up to 24 hours…but I didn’t test them for that long. Suffice to say, they last a full workday with no fading at all. I am so impressed with these shadows that I won’t be disrespectful and say that they’re only “good for a drugstore brand.” They’re just awesome period, and the icing on the cake is that you can get them at Target for $6 each.

Since there are 10 shades in the line, I broke them down by color family.

The pinks and purples…

maybelline eye studio color tattoo 24 hr concentrated crayon — Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24HR Concentrated Crayons in Pink Parfait, Lilac Lust and Lavish Lavender

As you can see, these are very sparkly, but still very pigmented. I find Pink Parfait to be very similar to Pink Pearl by Boots No. 7, and Lilac Lust and Lavish Lavender seem more unique to me, especially among the world of eyeshadow sticks.

Of this group, my favorite is Lilac Lust.

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Everyday Makeup Look: All Drugstore Products!

April 6th, 2016 by Adia Goss 32 Comments

When I was re-organizing my makeup collection, I realized that I have a fair amount of drugstore products. Most of my makeup is from Sephora or Nordstrom, but I’ve always mixed in drugstore buys into my everyday makeup routine. So, I wanted to challenge myself to see if I could do a full face of makeup only using my drugstore products. Turns out, I can! I actually really love all of the products that I used, so I’ll need to make a point to reach for them more often.

Foundation

drugstore makeup — Two great drugstore foundations: L’oreal True Match Lumi Cushion and L’oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation

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