I ♥ Drugstore Tag

I know this is a YouTube tag, but, seeing as I don't make videos, I've decided to do it as a blog post.  (Am I allowed to do that?)  Anyway, I saw this tag on Beauty Broadcast and Emily says it's okay, so here we go.

1. What is your favorite drugstore makeup brand?
I think I use a ton of Revlon because it's so readily available (and I do love me some Revlon), but if it didn't involve a thirty minute drive I'd see myself having a lot more NYX.  Its quality and color selection really are unbeatable.

2. What are your favorite face, cheek and lip products?
Honestly I typically use mid-high end face makeup (because it's the first thing that touches your skin and it can be hard for me to find a good color match in the drugstore), but if I absolutely have to pick a face product I'll say Revlon PhotoReady Concealer.
For cheeks, you really can't beat Milani Baked Blushes, although I also really enjoy the e.l.f. Studio Blushes at $3.
Aquaphor Lip Repair + Protect is the end-all, holy grail lip product.  It moisturizes like no other, has spf, and even looks like a gloss on the lips.

3. Least favorite product?
Undoubtedly, EOS Lip Balm (although this easily could've gone as number 8, not worth the hype).  Although these come in cute, colorful little spheres and smell pretty, the balm just kind of sits on top of lips and doesn't deliver any kind of hydration.

4. What is the best makeup bargain?
I would say the e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing powder, if the blush worked better on my skintone, but, since it barely shows up, I have to go with Wet n Wild Color Icon eyeshadow palettes.

5. What is your favorite underdog product? (Something you love that often gets overlooked?)
Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume Mascara is insane.  I have never seen this kind of volume from a drugstore mascara.  This product deserves way more attention than it seems to receive.

6. A drugstore product that is overpriced?
Has to be nail polish.  OPI and Essie are absolutely ridiculous (Do they count as "drugstore?"), but even Revlon ColorStay costs like $8.

7. Show your best drugstore dupe(s)!!
It should come as no surprise to anyone who reads my blog that I'm going with Boots No7 High Lights Illuminating Lotion.  I didn't quite believe Liz when she first told me this is an exact dupe for Benefit High Beam, but I became a believer at first swipe.  Boots High Lights retails for $12.99 for 1 oz.of product, while High Beam costs $26 for a mere 0.45 oz.  I'm no physicist, but that makes High Lights half the price for (slightly more than) twice the product.  Side by side, High Lights is a bit less watery than High Beam, but they're pretty much identical once blended out.  (High Lights looks really reflective in my picture; I might have inadvertently swatched it a bit thicker than High Beam.)

Benefit High Beam (left) & Boots High Lights (right)

8. Drugstore product that isn't worth the hype?
Revlon PhotoReady Whipped Creme Makeup.  I'll admit the texture feels kind of nice (if a bit heavy), but it's near impossible to guess a color match in those clunky glass jars.  Revlon might be able to change my mind about this product if they'd step up their game and provide testers, but until that happens I have to dub PhotoReady Whipped as vastly overrated.

What do you think of my picks?  Do you agree/disagree with any of my answers?

I tag everyone, but, specifically:

April of April, Maybe

Bre of (Skinny) Arm Wars

Krystal of Beauty By Krystal

lovenailpolish of Addicted to OPI-yum

Rose of One Unique Queen

Sophie of Born to Buy

If you do this tag, please leave your link below so I can read your post.

XOXO, T

Collective Beauty & Random Target Haul

 I typically go to Target at least 1-2 times a week.  I mean, seriously, it's out of control.  Here's the random stuff I got on my last trip to Target (clockwise from top): green Glow Necklaces (which I typically wear as headbands), a super necessary Little Miss Princess notepad, Sharpie Pens, a six pack of assorted stud earrings (which I'll probably be allergic to), a three pack of small purple baskets (for makeup storage), Krazy Straws, and a little cardboard book called Pinkie Pie Throws a Party (for my cousin's little girl, who is almost as obsessed with My Little Ponies as I was as a kid still am.)

Then we have the beauty products and toiletries I've amassed over the past few days, mostly from Target (though a couple things are from Walgreens).  I have (from left to right): Schick Hydro Silk blades (which I got for crazy cheap--printed out Target coupon + manufacturer's coupon), gud by Burt's Bees Natural Body Wash in Vanilla Flame (smells amazing), BioreTrial Pack Deep Cleansing Pore Strips,  e.l.f. Studio Small Angled Brush, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Darling, Boots No7 High Lights Illuminating Lotion (which Liz swears is a dupe for Benefit High Beam), Yes to Carrots C Me Shine Lip Gloss in Cocoa Loco, Sinful Colors Professional Nail Enamel in Neon Melon, Sonia Kashuk Nail Colour in Purparazzi, NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny, and Pixi Sheer Cheek Gel in Natural.

What do you think of my haul(s)?  Do you want/have any of these items?

XOXO, T