NBR: mascara?!

LoveLee85

I'm looking for a mascara that doesn't cost 30-40$! When I was working, and not a SAHM, I spoiled myself with very expensive makeup. LOL I'm ready to find something more reasonable! I still have to keep the not cheap skincare/SPF/mineral make/microdermabrasion routine going because I have very sensitive skin. So the mascara has to go! Problem is I have tried a 8$ mascara a from the drug store. It was dry and clumpy from the first time. Now I'm scared to waste a bunch of money looking for a good one. So what is your favorite drugstore mascara and why? I just can't stand spending 37$ on a little thing of mascara anymore, but I don't want a crappy one either. LOL There has to be a 15$ Or less good one out there?!?! Help a girl out, please!

mrsbacz

I use L'Oreal Butterfly Mascara. I have really long eyelashes, I actually have to trim them because they get stuck in my eyes haha. But this thickens them nicely without any clumping. I always get asked if I'm wearing fake lashes.

chelseajeanene

I typically buy pricey mascara but my all time favorite drug store one is Mabelline's Lash Stilletto, it's just as good and I love it

strickler924

I like Clinique's High Impact mascara, but it's a little more pricey than drug store brands at $16.

susubaby

I like MAC mascara it's anywhere from $15-$20 and its water resistant and doesn't clump!

mriandabusto

I use the ulta They're Real brand. I tried a few others and my lashes would fall out, this doesn't cause that and it's maybe 18$

tlc11934

I like Laura mercier, not a drug store brand but not too bad.

callistosmile

My faves are all right around $22. Stila Huge, Urban Decay Perversion, and Benefit They're Real! are all really great. I don't really try drugstore stuff. Those are all samples I got in my Birchbox and the samples last long enough for me since I don't wear a ton every day since I wear glasses and hate streaks.

myfingerhurts

I second @kabaczewski! L'Oreal butterfly is amazing. My best friend worked at Ulta in college, so I feel like I've tried almost everything, and it's just as good as the more expensive mascara. And it's only $8.

I used to buy all prestige cosmetics, but now I opt for Neutrogena Healthy Skin + translucent powder and the L'Oreal mascara. Eyeshadow and blush are where I feel like you can't skimp.

I realized I could go on about this for hours. I really like cosmetics, haha!

KYmama9286

So while I was pregnant my sister and I did this makeup class with a local make up artist who is top in the area. It was so much fun because she goes through your makeup bag and shows you how to use stuff and suggests brands and specific items for you and the best part is some of her top recommended items are drug store brand things.

She recommended loreal voluminous mascara it comes in a grey and gold tube and it's awesome. She said mascara is one item that you definitely don't need the fancy brand for. Make sure you curl your lashes first because it makes a big difference but this mascara makes them thicker and longer without clumping or flaking off. If you're interested let me know and I can share some of the other store brands she recommended and what items she did say it was worth it to spend a little more.

LoveLee85

@klhelder I am a big product junkie! LOL I have SO many hints I probably need to toss out because they are old?! I'm going to try the butterfly L'oreal mascara! I use to be a designer shampoo and conditioner hoarder. I finally used it all up. Took forever.

LoveLee85

@KYmama9286 I'm very interested in other products! Is the L'Oreal mascara the same as the butterfly one?

KYmama9286

@LoveLee85 No I think it's different, it looks super basic and kind-of old school but it works great.

So the big things she said you didn't want to skimp on are eyeshadow, make up brushes and concealer. Reason being is store brand eyeshadow just tends to not be as true to color or show up as richly and rubs off easier. I have found this to be true. I used the urban decay naked 2 palate and love it! I have dirty blonde hair/light brown hair and blue eyes and it's all neutrals and easy to use for day or night. It also has a black shade which I use as eye liner with a make up brush (which is actually leaps and bounds easier to get a nice line than with a pencil). I once tried to color match and find a cheaper version of some of my favorite shades from the palette and it just didn't work. The colors never looked as saturated or stayed on as long as the more expensive shadow. And it lasts a while, I've had my palette for almost 2 years and haven't really had to replace any of the shades and I wear makeup probably 5 out of 7 days sometimes all 7.

The brushes you use also make a big difference. You don't need many but investing in a few mid range brushes makes a big difference when applying stuff like eye shadow. It helps the colors look more saturated and true to how they look in the compact.

Concealer- it's hard to find a good full coverage concealer that doesn't look cakey or too yellow/too pink. The higher end stuff just does a better job but again, a little goes a long way so while it's more expensive you use less and can be cheaper in the long run since it lasts so long.

Store brand recommendations:
-hard candy facial primer (only sold at Walmart. I had to look for a while to find it. The tube is silver with pink on it). This stuff is amazing and less than $5/tube. If you don't use a primer already- start! It makes a huge difference in the longevity of your makeup. Helps it stay in place longer, look better and just goes on easier. This stuff is used for all skin tones since it's not tinted and it's super glossy. It's better than the high end stuff I was using and a quarter of the price.

Under eye concealer- Garnier roller ball under eye concealer. It's freaking amazing! It comes in 2 shades I think (light and medium maybe? I use the light). It's like $5 maybe and is awesome for dark circles and puffiness. The roller ball is metal and so it has a cooling soft effect when you put it on. Works great!

I already mentioned the mascara.

A few of the higher end things she had be buy were blush (she actually has her own cosmetic line and it's one of her creme blushes and it's amazing and I've been using it for months and it looks brand new/barely used).
She highly recommended benefit brand cream shadow as an eye shadow base in color rsvp.
She recommended Laura Mercier secret camouflage for a good high coverage concealer for any blemishes.

I also bought her brand of cc cream which I highly recommend. Her stuff can be purchased online also if you're interested. I'll take a pic of her make up top pics list for you.

Her brand is called FACEing and can be purchased at brideface.com

xosisi

Check out lash stiletto! It's amazing!

BrandiLaw87

@KYmama9286 I love loreal voluminous! Whenever I get the crazy idea to stray away, I always regret it. By far my favourite drugstore mascara.

myfingerhurts

@LoveLee85 the do make Voluminous Butterfly! That is what I use.

@KYmama9286 that list is amazing! I would say after too many years of trial and error my list is very close to that!

nanako0

strickler924 said:

I like Clinique's High Impact mascara, but it's a little more pricey than drug store brands at $16.

I use this too & love it

LoveLee85

Wow! I love all the product reviews!!! Yay!!!

troopersmom

You have to do this:
The very best mascara is Benefits's "they're real!" What you do- is buy the mini/travel size for $10. It lasts a month or two- then you buy a new one. This is perfect because mascara dries up quickly and/or you need to replace mascara regularly to avoid bacteria/eye infections. I'm telling you- it's THE best.

PickledPlums

L'Oréal Butterfly for the win!

I worked in cosmetics at Walgreens and they have a policy that you can return a product with the receipt - I forget what the time limit is- for any reason, including just not liking the product so you can get another to try because once you do find the one that works you'll keep buying it.

But seriously, Butterfly. I don't have any pictures but before work I'd literally put on one swipe so I could show people what just one swipe did.

onesmallcoconut

Revlon Grow Luscious has been my go to drugstore mascara for a long time. I try others from time to time but I always come back to it. For me I have longer lashes to begin with so I needed something to add more volume primarily but of course more length is nice too. I also find a lot of drugstore mascara clumps easily on me but not this one!

imsoexcited915

I love Clinique's high impact like others said. It's awesome but j believe it's $16 or $18 but I feel it's worth it because I buy it when I get their free makeup gift. I will second the Voluminous Butterfly too though which is cheaper so you could do that as well.