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Drug store challenge!
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It's time for a forum game. Suppose you're traveling to some sort of big event; maybe it's a big business meeting or maybe it's a wedding. Somehow, all of your makeup gets lost. This isn't hard to imagine if you're flying. If you're driving, just pretend you forgot to put your makeup bag in your suitcase. You need to replace everything but don't want to spend a fortune so off you go to the drugstore to replace everything. EVERYTHING. Tell us what the occasion is, what you'd normally use and what you'd replace it with. Whoever comes up with reasonable replacements for all their products wins! There's no prize or anything, just the satisfaction of knowing that the next time you fly and your luggage doesn't arrive, you won't have to hide in your hotel room because there's no Nordstrom nearby.
1. Identify your destination. (No fair saying you're going to the beach and don't need any makeup.)
2. List the products you'd normally use. It's not necessary match colors but the entire look should should be appropriate for the event and something you would actually wear.
3. List the products you'd replace them with. If you're already using a drug store product, you don't have to replace it with a different drug store product.
4. List the products you can't replace and the rest of us will help you fill in the blanks.
You can have two entries going at once, just be sure to keep the lists separate and clearly labeled.
Hopefully, we'll all end up with some new (inexpensive!) products to try out. If you don't have the time or inclination to play, but you've got a favorite drug store product, you can just share that here too.
Me first:
I'm going to an evening wedding.
I would normally use/I'd replace it with:
Smashbox primer/Carmindy's new primer for Sally Hansen
Laura Mercier tinted foundation/Carmindy's new foundation for Sally Hansen
Stila perfecting concealer/???
NARS blush/Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blends Sheer highlighting Blush (???)
Chanticaille lipstick and Laura Mercier clear gloss/Revlon lipstick and Revlon gloss
Laura Mercier flawless fix pencil/???
Paula Dorf brow trio/???
Smashbox gel eyeliner/l'Oreal HIP cream eyeliner
Laura Mercier metallic creme eye color/L'Oreal HIP cream shadow paints
Neutrogena healthy volume mascara
I'm missing three or four products.
The Paula dorf brow product has a wax and two colored powders. It's similar to Benefit's Brow Zings. I could get by with a pencil but prefer the wax/powder combination.
The Stila concealer comes in a tube and blends really easily. It's not opaque but it's easier to work with then a creme.
The flawless fix pencil is a flesh colored pencil. It's great for tidying up you lip line but can also be used as an all over concealer. If I could replace this, then I could do with out the concealer.
The Neutrogena blush is sheerer than the NARS blush. You can build it up but it gets opaque and cakey. It would do in a pinch but I'd prefer something a little more pigmented. I can't imagine there's anything in a drug store that compares to a NARS blush but maybe I'm wrong. -
Wow, I'm awfully intimidated by this challenge. I have nooo idea how I would replace all my makeup with drugstore makeup in that predicament. But I will say I second L'Oreal HIP cream eyeliner for replacing any high end gel eyeliner and that Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer/Highlighter would replace my Origins concealer (though it already pretty much has done that, I love it!). I've also read some good things about Milani blush and eyeshadows from makeupalley.com, though I haven't tried them. Other than that, I'd be stuck in a pretty bad situation! I've never tried a drugstore foundation/tinted moisturizer or blush in my life!
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Oooh, fun Purple!!! Ok, after I get over my horror at the thought of all my makeup being lost (especially since I'm about to go on a 6 week trip!), let me give this a try.
I'm going to a party at home where I can see friends that I haven't seen in 2 years (aka, must look hot).
So, everything I use and possible replacements:
Tarte Primer: Biore Pore-Minimizing Lightweight Moisturizer, I think this would work to provide a nice, oil absorbing base
Bare Minerals foundation (yes, finally got it and LOVE it): Milani Loose Minerals makeup (tried this too, very similar to BM, like it a lot)
Bare Minerals concealer: would pack the Milani foundation a bit thicker on trouble spots, works pretty well
LORAC blush in pink: L'Oreal True Match, but probably not the color that "matches" me, which is a slightly brownish color, I like sheer brights
Urban Decay Primer Potion: I have no idea. I am so addicted to this stuff, I might have to skip eyeshadow without it!!!
Eyeshadow could be Bare Minerals, Stila, Urban Decay, MAC, or Too Faced: I would replace with Covergirl single shadows, which are pretty good quality
MAC or Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner: Almay's eyeliners that are meant to make your eyecolor pop, these are pretty good and the one for green eyes is really pretty
MAC Plushlash: I would use Covergirl's LashBlast or Fantastic Lash (I use these two more anyway, I really believe that CG makes the best mascaras EVER, even better than all department store mascaras)
The eyebrow pencil I use is already Covergirl
And that's it! The only thing that I would be devastated about is the UDPP. I still haven't had to open my bottle up, either. I use it about 5 times a week and am still on the same bottle since November. I think it's because I use my finger, not the brush and consequently use less.
Anyone have an idea for the UDPP replacement? -
I realized after I posted my list that I left off eye primer. I use the UDPP or the Trish McEvoy but I don't have a drugstore replacement.
Browneyedgirl, list some of your favorites. Maybe we can suggest some drugstore options.
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Thanks for the help PurpleRules,
I just bought a L'Oreal HiP Cream Eyeshadow which I've been liking, and there's a nude color, which, according to a few folks on makeupalley.com, works really well as a eye primer/base!
NARS Orgasm blush is pretty much my everyday, can't-live-without-it blush, so I don't know what I'd replace for that. I'd need a drugstore replacement for my Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer too. I actually haven't seen any of the Carmindy products by Sally Hansen, they don't seem to be in my area, but I have been hearing good things about them.
For eyeshadow, I like Stila and Prescriptives (though ONLY with UDPP, Prescriptives eyeshadows don't last long at all without it), ones that apply easily and are more on the sheer side. Though now that I've discovered L'Oreal HiP Cream Eyeshadows, I'd probably just pick up a couple of those.
For lipgloss, I love Bobbi Brown in Brown 7. I prefer sticky lipglosses with some staying power. -
Glosses.. Hmm.. what about one of Covergirl's long lasting glosses?
I LOVE Drugstore shopping!! I go to this bagel shop by my house after work sometimes, and I almost always go to the CVS next to it all the time. There's also a Rite-Aid a block away from my gym, and the clerk there knows me quite well if that's saying anything.
Primer - I don't use primer all the time, but when I do, I use either Smashbox's primer, or one by this Korean brand Missha. I'd either not use it, or use Sally Hansen Natural Beauty inspired by Carmindy's primer. I actually bought it, but I haven't opened it.
Foundation - NARS Oil-Free Foundation in Santa Fe or ZA (Shiseido Brand) Two-Way Powder Foundation. I'd replace it with L'Oreal True Match Foundation. I actually have this one and I love it.
Powder - Normally don't use it, but when I do, I use L'Oreal True Match Powder!
Blush - NARS Orgasm and Sin. Replace it probably with 1 from L'Oreal True Match collection. These products rock! It's silky and smooth. I saw a girl with one on a while back.. actually I stopped her and asked what blush she was wearing, and she said L'Oreal True Match!
Liner - Stila's Smudge Pot. Replace with Style-Style liquid liner. It's awesome. Felt tip pen. If not, Welt and Wild's liquid liner. They stay on. I bought a turquoise one to play with - applied it on at the gym (see above, Rite-Aid close to gym), worked out, and no smudges!
Eyeshadow - various MAC, NARS, and everything in between. replace with Wet n Wild. I actually just bought 2 palletes recently. Haven't opened 1 yet, but the 1 I did open stayed on sooo well. Pigment isn't as strong as MACs or NARS, but it is so creamy and smooth. Minimal creasing (I don't use UDPP or anything.. if anything, I use a MAC Paint), even after working 8 hours AND going to the gym afterwards.
Brows - Smashbox powder/wax thingy. Replace with a Maybelleine eye liner. My sister actually used that trick years and years ago, and my hair stylist recommended that to us. The brown works. Use very very sparingly.
Mascara - department store wise, I use Clinique Lash Powder, Dejavu Fiberwig, Benefit Bad Gal Lash, MAC Zoomlash, and I don't remember what else I have sitting around. BUT, I love my drugstore mascars, from Prestige's Lash Matrix (#1!!!), CG's Lash/Volume Exact and LashBlast, and L'Oreal Voluminous (awesome!!!).
Lips - I love this Dior lipstick in a dark berry red. Drugstore - Max Factor Lip Gloss in Vegas Nights.. SOO bold and cute! Very very very sexy.
SOooooo.. basically, I'll be A-OK because I go drugstore diving every other day. =P -
Hmmm...I never go anywhere.. LOL. How about to England to visit relatives I haven't seen? (that was actually really fun)
I don't wear a lot of make-up but here goes:
1. UDPP with L'Oreal's primer
2. I use Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch sunblock or Oil of Olay's moisturizer with sunblock.
3. Prescriptives "Virtual Skin" foundation/ I have no idea. No foundation/mineral powder has even come close to the shade I really need except this line. I do have some L'Oreal mineral powder. It's the wrong color but would cover the redness my face has.
4. MAC and Prescriptives eyeshadow/ Revlon or L'Oreal makes some nice colors
5. Prescriptive's Blush/ Any brand would do
6. Hmm..most of the lipsticks I have are free samples from gift sets. Revlon and L'Oreal make some really nice shades though.
7. Same as above with mascara.
I could replace anything with something else except the foundation. Unless you know of a drugstore brand that makes a B/R "Real Rose" pinky foundation color instead of the usual brown, yellow or orange tinted. -
try L'oreal True Match.. they have a Cool color selection for people with pinkish/rosy/bluish undertones..
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I checked out the L'Oreal True Match stuff. It shouldn't be divided into Cool, Neutral and Warm; it should be divided into Neutral, Warm and Warmer. I think if you're warm toned, it's great. If you're cool toned, not so much. They did have a blush that looked like a good dupe for NARS Sin, but I didn't have the NARs blush with me at the time so I couldn't compare. Carmindy has some nice rosy/pinky blushes. I don't know how her foundation compares with the Prescriptives "Virtual Skin" foundation because I've never tried it. Does it do a good job covering ruddiness?
I picked up one of the lL'Oreal HIP eye shadow duos and realized when I got home that it's an exact dupe of two of the Laura Mercier eye shadows I bought when I had my makeover in April. Am I the only one here who buys the same colors over and over again? -
It seems like there are a lot of new drugstore mascaras out right now that are getting a lot of hype (like Lash Blast, for example). I've been using L'Oreal Voluminous mascara for years, and I'm started to get bugged by how sometimes my lashes have the tendency to stick together way too much when I use it... so I'm wondering if there's another good cheapo drugstore mascara in the bunch that'll give me thick, long and separated lashes. Does anyone have a good, recent experience with a drugstore mascara they'd like to share?
Oh no, you are not alone PurpleRules. For eyeshadows, I have major trouble with branching out from plums, greys and browns (I'm really not so adventurous with my makeup, sadly), and as a result, I keep buying the same colors over and over, while trying to convince myself they are actually different (but they never are, at least by much). I also think part of the problem is my lack of photographic memory- sometimes I really do just forget about what I already have! -
browneyedgirl: Have you tried using an eyelash comb in combination with your favorite mascara? I use one made by Tweezerman. If I'm applying mascara and I see a wet clump, I immediately comb it out. I clean the comb daily with a toothbrush so there's never any buildup on it for the next day. You also need a steady hand: It has metal teeth that are quite sharp. I might not want to use it if I lived in an earthquake zone!
But for anyone who saw Julia Robert's character in the movie "Charlie Wilson's War" using an open safety pin to accomplish the same mission..........and could relate, an eyelash comb could be a the better option!
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PR,
I think most of us probably buy the same colors over and over again. We stick to what we like. I've looked at the HIP eye shadow duos several times, but they are sooo dark. I wish they would come out with some lighter shadows. I do love the HIP High Intensity Pigments in Exciting (#102) Its great for high lighting. I bought two others, but gave them to my daughter. They were just too intense.
B.E.G. (Sorry about the initials!)
I love CG Lash Blast. Another good drug store mascara is Max Factor Lash Perfection. -
This is a great and fun topic but I can't really weigh in with this either because ALL the stuff I wear is from the drugstore or from the Benefit shop. However i have enjoyed reading everyone else's entries. New ideas for me.
I haven't been to a makeup counter for YEARS...oh yeah...I did buy the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer from Nordie's last year but I can't say the salesperson was all that helpful. They are very nice at Benefit in Berkeley.
I definitely need new mascara...I used to love Great Lash by Mabelline but it seems clumpy lately. -
I went to Target today and found Lash Blast on clearance for $1.98 plus a free black eyeliner included. So obviously, I had to try it, especially given what you people have to say about it. And I'm quite happy with Lash Blast, even though I found the big handle hard to get used to. As I tried to spin the brush, I ended up dropping it into my hair! But the results are great, I have L'Oreal Voluminous length and volume, but without the clumping I've had trouble with. Really great separation. Thanks for the recommendation.
Judy- you should give Last Blast a try, as long as you don't think a gigantic wand would bother you too much.
Oh, and advice for everyone else on what NOT to get from the drugstore- Revlon Pinch Me gel blush. I decided, as a recent graduate of college with no job secured as of yet, I should experiment with drugstore makeup more. I thought Pinch Me would be a good drugstore replacement for Tarte or Benefit's gel blushes. I was wrong... it looks more like I have a rash than anything else, and the consistency reminds me exactly of raspberry jam. It's impossible to apply evenly. -
I was rummaging in my makeup box and found an Almay gloss that Ibought a while ago but I never really used. It turns out to be a really nice gloss. Just the right amount of color and sparkle and it really stays put. The downside is it tastes awful. But if you can suffer through those first few minutes (I popped a breath mint) you won't have to reapply for a good long time.
Another product NOT to get -- Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain. It's hard to apply evenly and then it's gone in about 5 minutes.
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yay!! another for truematch.. =D
I just got this in the e-mail from Carmindy (TLC's What Not to Wear):
Hi everyone, if your in the L.A. area this weekend come to the following locations to meet me and get a personalized shopping list of all your favorite Natural Beauty inspired by Carmindy products.
Friday July 11th from
11:30AM to 1:30PM
I'll be at CVS
12015 Wilshire Blvd, LA
From 3PM to 5PM
I'll be at Ulta
7100 Santa Monica Blvd.
W. Hollywood
Saturday July 12th from
10AM to 12PM
I'll be at Longs
3202 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica
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Karen, I think when you buy a new product, you have a very specific set of expectations for it. You're looking for a certain color or you want to achieve a certain effect. If the product doesn't deliver, you put it aside and try a different product. Then somewhere down the road, you try it again and you think "hey, this isn't bad" because you're not really expecting anything at all from it. Maybe it wasn't the particular shade you were looking for when you bought it but it's still a nice color. Sometimes what you're looking for has changed. When you bought it, you wanted something really pigmented but now you're looking for something sheerer and more natural. Sometimes you just need to play around with it to find a way to make it work for you.
I think people who say they "love" makeup like to play and experiment. I don't mind messing around and trying different things. People who regard applying makeup as a chore are more likely to wind up with a drawer full of products that they think don't work for them because they try it once, don't like it and never try it again. My mother tends to be that way. I'm going to visit my parents this weekend; my sister will be there as well. I can guarantee that, at some point this weekend, my mother will offer my sister and me a bunch of makeup that's "wrong" for her. Then we'll say "try this" or "use this with that" and my mother will end up keeping most of it. She'll complain that the woman who sold her the product "didn't tell her that" or something. Then we'll all go shopping and buy more makeup! What fun!
Also, I tried Carmindy's primer and like it very much. I used it when I took my kids to a carnival last weekend and it passed the sweat test. -
Hola Everyone... long time no talk!!! Things have been absolutely nuts for months!
Great thread... will try to think this over, but wanted to say something regarding Karen's post about the lash comb.
Since I "try" to recycle, I use an old toothbrush that has been boiled to do my lashes and brows. I HATE spider web lashes!! I want lashes that do not clump and look real.
So do not toss those toothbrushes after six months. They are great for your eyes!! Safety pin???? OMG...
buenos dias,
Lynnette -
I totally missed out on Carmindy's visit to LA. I totally crashed after my graveyard shift and missed everything. =*( BUT, she's visiting Miami, Dallas, and Chicago! Here are the dates:
Miami Dates:
Friday, July 18th
11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
CVS # 5924
8765 S. Dixie Highway
Miami, FL 33143
305-740-6840
3 PM to 5 PM
Ulta # 160
12054 SW 88th Street
Kendallgate Shopping Center
305-598-2440
Saturday, July 19th
11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
CVS #866
9031 SW 107th Avenue
Miami, FL 33176
305-274-6776
Dallas Dates:
Friday, July 25th
11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
CVS # 7740
10455 North Central Expressway
Dallas, TX 75231
Store Manager, Antoan Casey
214-369-3872
Friday, July 25th
3PM to 5PM
Ulta
5301 Beltline Road #114
Prestonwood Town Center
Store Manager, Pamela VeraCruz
972-788-4071
Saturday, July 26th
11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
CVS #7824
5702 Lavon Drive
Garland, TX 75040
Store Manager, Jack Mitchell
972-495-5595
Chicago Dates:
August 15-17
**Email newsletter@carmindy.com, Subject: "Appearance Reminder" and I will send you the Chicago locations and times.
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