Former beauty editor secrets - Best drugstore cosmetics

[Chalet]

Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy All-Over Brightener Concealer
I didn't know what the hell this was all about when I first tried it -- a lavender-ish pink cream that you wear on your dark circles? What? But it WORKS. And it's $2! I dab it on under my regular, flesh-toned undereye concealer, and it makes a HUGE difference. One warning: It is easy to go overboard with this product because it's so lovable, and then the effect is very pink-eyed lab rabbit. Don't do that. Just dab it on with, say, your ring finger. The instructions also say to use it OVER your undereye concealer, which I disagree with, despite knowing Carmindy is one hell of a makeup artist. But that's because I'm all Sid Vicious and do it MY WAY.

Maybelline New York Pulse Perfection Vibrating Mascara in Blackest Black
I was using a $30 French beauté-esque mascara religiously until this one came out, and then I was converted forever. It's inky-dark and super-lengthening, it vibrates ("oscillates," in less sexy beauty-copy-speak), it makes your eyes look Bambi huge, and it is AWESOME. Every person I've recommended it to winds up a convert. My technique, designed to negate the need for an eyelash curler: Hold it at the base of your lashes, let it pulse there for a second -- this lets the mascara build up a little, which makes your lashes look thicker -- and then swoop it out, more or less horizontally, as in more toward your ear than toward your mirror. Then keep layering. You can use it all day and night and it just keeps looking better. I keep one in every handbag, so I have like nine.


Wet n' Wild MegaGlo Illuminating Powder in Catwalk Pink
Let me begin by saying I am a huge, HUGE fan of Wet n' Wild, even though Googling them always gives me porny results and a few water parks. Always go check their stuff out at CVS or wherever. Okay, so here's my deal with this: My natural skin tone is meh (as opposed to, say, radiant), so I will load on anything that promises to "illuminate" me like until I look like a glittery little Olympic gymnast. The amazing thing about this particular bronzer/highlighter powder is that no matter how much I apply (with a massively fluffy brush), and though it technically has a little shimmer to it, it does not make me shimmery whatsoever -- it makes me GLOW. And "glow" is the goal. (Another FACT: You might think you want to shimmer, but you probably don't. It's very "Bad Girls Club: Miami." But no judgment!)


Prestige Cosmetics Total Intensity Eyeliner in Deepest Black
Ummm, OK. Best. Eyeliner. Ever. Even though the name of the brand has always reminded me of a goofy gentlemen's club (I know, I know; I'm weird), and you may have never even heard of it, Prestige makes the most killer eye pencils possible. Yeah, I know what brand of black eyeliner you use. I used to use that one too. This one, I think, is better. And it's $5.50! This eyeliner is designed to go on intensely BLACK-black and doesn't smudge unless you want it to; and then -- if, like me, you do choose to smudge the line out (particularly pretty at the outer corners and under the lower lashes, I always say) -- it gets smoky-pretty exactly like it should. it's also an amazing pencil for the slimy-but-sensitive inner rims of your eyes, which I know a lot of people are scared of lining: it's soft and just greasy enough to be gentle, and the color stays there.


Revlon Just Bitten Stain + Balm in Passion
Let me just say this: a lip stain on one end and a lip balm on the other. A lip stain on one end and a lip balm on the other! $9! Genius! How can you even resist that? The stain part is a really easy-to-use, felt-tipped little wonder which you can also use to frantically scribble down your online bill-payment confirmation number from Time Warner (not that that just happened). On the other side, a sheer, creamy balm that's as hydrating as anything you'd wear to go skiing (do people still go skiing? I'm out of it.) that somehow manages to be hugely curative for chapped lips and totally glossy and lovely at the same time. I wear this bright pink shade, Passion (I mean, I will say that beauty company names are getting old, but anyway) because I personally happen to be a washed-out blond that the shade flatters; YOU choose the shade you know to look good on you. One of these babies lasts like four months, and we all live happily ever after.

[McJag]

Wow! Thanks,Chalet. I am going to try all of these. Wonder where you get that eyeliner pencil?

[Laurent]

Wonder where you get that eyeliner pencil?

I buy Prestige at CVS and Walgreens.

[KrisNine]

I find with mascara, it's all in the brush and wand. I love Dior Show, but my other favorite is Loreal Voluminous. The trick I learned from a makeup artist was to slightly wipe the wand before applying. That was one of the best tricks I've learned.

[Lobelia]

What do you mean, wipe the wand? How? With what? I must know.

[SuriCruise]

I doubt we get Prestige or that funky pink stuff here
I'm going to try that mascara. I love Dr Hauschka mascara, it goes on so smoothly and is never clumpy. I always do the wipe trick too, but I've found it's not so necessary with the Dr Hauschka because the formulation and brush are just so great. It tends to become even more natural looking and kind of melt or blend as the day goes on too.

What do you mean, wipe the wand? How? With what? I must know.

Just gently wipe it on a tissue or a piece of toilet paper to remove any excess mascara. It stops too much from being applied at once and looking clumpy, gives you a more natural and soft look.

[Sylkyn]

I'm definitely going to try out that concealer, and probably the mascara, too.

[Syd]

Great post, Chalet. Thank you.

I'd add Cover Girl's Lash Blast mascara to the list. Good stuff, and has a great brush. I'm 45 and the lashes aren't what they used to be. Lash Blast has been a Godsend.

[McJag]

What do you mean, wipe the wand? How? With what? I must know.

I do this, use a paper towel piece & just dab it. Then I wave it around a second-then it goes on smooth, not clumpy. More like jet black water!

[Lobelia]

Huh. Ok, I'll try that. Thanks.

Really interested in that concealer that's first on the list up there. Gonna try it if I can find it.

Re: the vibrating mascara brush, it sounded so gimmicky to me that I changed my mind about buying it. Anybody here use it? Never heard of that Dr. something mascara but I'm always looking for a good one to try.

[KrisNine]

Huh. Ok, I'll try that. Thanks.

Really interested in that concealer that's first on the list up there. Gonna try it if I can find it.

Re: the vibrating mascara brush, it sounded so gimmicky to me that I changed my mind about buying it. Anybody here use it? Never heard of that Dr. something mascara but I'm always looking for a good one to try.

I tried the vibrating mascara brush and didn't like it. But seriously, try the wand wiping...it's great

[Voodoo Child]

thanks for posting I am defo going to try them all too if I can them here!

[Lily Bleu]

Besides my Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara I really like Cover Girls Blast Mascara,it gones on evenly and really gives a lot of length and volume to my eyelashes. I really like Prestige lip liners. I used to use Wet and Wild #666 but they changed the formula and they are not the same. For eyesadows, I like Cover Girl and Allmay. I love Burt Bees products, Radiance Body Cream, it smells fantastic,and makes my skin very soft. Just as well as their Milk and Honey body lotion.

[McJag]

I tried the vibrating mascara brush and didn't like it. But seriously, try the wand wiping...it's great

Me either. Worthless.

[witchcurlgirl]

I'd be scared to put the vibrating wand near my eye. I'd end up with a scratched cornea or something.