FEBRUARY 2016 FAVORITES

Ok, I know February is a short month, but geez! It breezed right by!

I’ve really been trying to incorporate some new or ‘under-loved’ products into my regular routine, because they’re either close to empty and I want to use them up, or they’re ‘rediscovered faves’.

Let’s get started!


BITE BEAUTY SMASHED AGAVE LIP MASK ($26)

img_0248I swear the weather up here in New England has reached a whole new level of crazy. Like ‘Britney Spears when she shaved her head’ crazy. And with that has come parched lips. This lip mask is a God send. So much so that despite it’s $26 price tag, I ordered three of them. One for my vanity, one for my purse, and one as a backup. I know. I’m nuts, right? But it’s that good. It’s got a gorgeous universal red-wine tint, and it’s packed full of high quality ingredients like Lanolin, vanilla extract, natural olive fruit, and jojoba oil. It comes in an un-tinted formula, as well as one thats a rosy champagne-y color, but this sheer red just spoke to me. And it’s freakin’ amazing.

MAYBELLINE FACESTUDIO MASTER CONCEAL ($9)

img_9710This is one of those ‘rediscovered favorites’. It kinda got buried in my collection, and recently while I was searching for something to conceal my ‘mommy hasn’t slept in a week’ dark circles, this all but jumped out of the drawer at me. It’s thick and creamy, but blendable, and has amazing coverage. I use the shade ‘Light’ under my eyes, and ‘Fair’ to conceal any blemishes, and it does the job without fail. Because it’s so creamy, though, this is one of those concealers that you must set with a powder, or it will absolutely crease. But it’s awesome.

SALON PERFECT BROW DEFINING KIT ($9)

 

 Since running out of my trusty NYX Micro Brow Pencil, I’ve been filling in my brows with powder, and I’ve been loving it! This kit comes with three brow shades, a highlight shade, an angled brush/spoolie duo, and a wax pencil (which I don’t really use). I find that my brows look more natural than ever, which is great for those minimal makeup days where I don’t want my brows to overtake my face, but I definitely want them filled in. When set with a good brow gel, the color stays put all day! One thing I like to do to ensure it doesn’t fade at all is run a little bit of my eyeshadow primer through my brows, and then fill them in. Those babies aren’t goin’ nowhere!

COVERGIRL LASH BLAST CLUMP CRUSHER EXTENSIONS MASCARA ($8)

 

 I have pretty much every ‘Lash Blast’ mascara out there, and ‘Clump Crusher’ is by far my fave. Until I found this in my local CVS one day. I actually applied it in my truck in the parking lot, with no other makeup on, because I was so excited. And it totally delivered! My lashes were defined, slightly volumized, noticeably longer, and it seemed to even curl them a little as well! My eyes looked wide open and awake, and even though I had no powder under my lower lash line, which guarantees a smudge-fest, it didn’t transfer! It applied easily to both my top and bottom lashes, which is uncommon – I usually have to use a different mascara with a smaller brush for my bottom lashes – and it made them long and gorgeous! I’m in lash heaven!

ARDELL DEMI WISPIES ($10 for 4 pairs) 

 

 I’m not a regular wearer of false lashes – I mean, c’mon, I’m a stay at home mom; I barely put regular clothes on during the week! False lashes are typically a ‘special occasion’ thing for me, but a couple weeks ago I was feeling especially sassy, and decided to throw a pair on, and I find myself wearing them more often than not now! It’s to the point where it’s almost easier to throw on a pair of Demi Wispies than it is to try to achieve a similar look using three different mascaras. And far less time consuming. What I love about these is that while, yes, they can be quite full and glamorous, they also work well for day to day wear, to really enhance the eyes and open them up. They work well with a blown out smokey eye, or how I’ve been wearing them, with a dusting of a neutral matte brown in the crease, and that’s it. With the literally thousands of styles of false lashes on the market, it amazes me how truly versatile one particular style can be! If you’ve been wanting to try false lashes but can’t decide where to start, start with these!

ESTEE LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR STAY-IN-PLACE POWDER MAKEUP ($40)

 

 Yet another product that seemed to get lost in my ‘black hole’ drawer of pressed powders, I pulled this out recently when I was battling a few blemishes. The reason behind it, and how I have been using it? To spot-set my concealer, and just provide the teeniest bit of extra coverage to particularly angry blemishes. This is also great if you’re someone who doesn’t wear foundation on a regular basis, but gravitate more towards concealer, and want just that touch of coverage and oil control without looking like you have anything on your skin. Basically the way I use it to spot conceal is to apply my regular concealer (or heavy duty, depending on the job) and take a pointed eyeshadow brush, like a pencil brush, and dab it right over the concealed blemish. It helps to set it in place so your concealer doesn’t slide around, even if you aren’t in the mood for a full coverage face. It’s also great with a flat top powder brush to just even out your skin tone. And for the record, because I know it’s a pricey powder, Revlon ColorStay Pressed Powder does essentially the same thing. I just happened to have this floating around, and it’s more than half gone, so I’d like to use it up. I hate waste.

MILANI BAKED BLUSH IN ‘LUMINOSO’ ($8)

img_9426Almost everyone here knows about Milani Baked Blush in ‘Luminoso’ – and if you don’t, crawl out from under your rock, run to your nearest CVS, and buy it! All of the Milani Baked Blushes are nice, but most I find to have chunky glitter in. This one though….*le sigh*….not only is it a drugstore dupe for a high end brand, but it’s got this incredibly natural peachy pink glow with the slightest champagne shimmer in it. It’s like having your blush and highlight all in one. It’s like heaven shined down on your cheeks, from a little round, golden compact. This is one of those staples that absolutely everyone needs in their collection, whether you’re a drugstore goddess or high-end hoarder.

BUXOM FULL ON LIP CREAM IN ‘ROSE JULEP’ ($20)

 

 This is a new purchase, which I really struggled with before committing and placing my order, for a few reasons; #1. $20 for a lip gloss? Really? #2. It’s hard to pick a shade online – but thanks to a swatch by Kathleen Lights on YouTube, I took the plunge, and I’m glad I did. I do enjoy Buxom’s lip products; they have a wonderful, refreshing, cool, tingly feel on the lips, which I can’t wait to use during the warm brutally hot summer months. The colors really are gorgeous, this shade in particular being a rosy pink shade that is very close to my own lip shade, so it’s perfect for a minimal makeup day. And they last. They’re sticky, but not uncomfortably so, which helps them stay put, which in turn means you’re not reapplying every hour and zipping through a tube of this stuff in a month.
Really, go buy one. They’re awesome.


There you have it guys!! What are some of the things you’ve been loving this month? Have you tried any of these? Leave me a comment and let me know! I love to hear from you!

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LOTS OF LOVE!!
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IS IT A DUPE? ESTEE LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR STAY IN PLACE MAKEUP vs. REVLON COLORSTAY MAKEUP

 Hey guys! I’m back today with another installment of “Is It A Dupe?”!

This is one that I’ve seen floating around for a little while, and I briefly mentioned it in the recent “My Favorite Dupes” post, but I felt like this deserved a little more time in the spotlight.

Back over the summer, I picked up some of the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Liquid Foundation, on the recommendation from the saleswoman at the counter in Macy’s when I went in looking for MAC Face and Body. They were out, but she turned me in the direction of this product. “Ok, I’ll try it, why not?”

At this point I already owned and loved the Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation. And naturally, if it’s thought to be a potential dupe, I want to test it for myself!

So let’s get started!


ESTEE LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR STAY-IN-PLACE MAKEUP

 

 Now I only had a sample size of this product, so while I would typically wear something for about a week to compare it to another product, I just didn’t have the amount of product necessary to pull that off. So bear with me here.

This foundation retails for $38 at Macy’s, Sephora, and esteelauder.com, and comes in 28 shades. I have mine in the shade 2C3 Fresco.

Here’s what it claims :

Long-wearing makeup with 15-hour staying power. Looks flawless and natural. Lasts through heat, humidity, non-stop activity. Won’t change color, smudge or come off on clothes. Feels lightweight and comfortable. For a look that lasts all day, without touchups.

BENEFITS

LONG-WEAR: 15 HOURS. MEDIUM COVERAGE. OUR #1 MAKEUP.

COVERAGE

MEDIUM, BUILDABLE

FINISH

NATURAL, SEMI-MATTE

FORMULA FACTS
  • OIL-FREE
  • DERMATOLOGIST-TESTED
  • NON-ACNEGENIC; WON’T CLOG PORES
  • FRAGRANCE-FREE

Now, I have some pretty high expectations when it comes to a foundation that costs more than say, $10. So I put it to the test.

I will say that it applies nicely, with a brush or a sponge. I would absolutely recommend applying this over a primer though – not for staying power necessarily, but if you have fine lines or large pores like I do, this foundation will accentuate them.

I don’t think I’ve ever worn ANY foundation for more than maybe 10 hours, and that’s a stretch, so I can’t vouch for the “15 hour wear” claim. I noticed that this particular formula started to break up on my skin around the 8-9 hour mark, and that was with no touching up or powdering throughout the day. And while it claims to not change color, I noticed that it did slightly oxidize on me…so, yeah….

Even though it started to break apart in the areas I tend to get oily, I didn’t notice any oil peeking through, if that makes sense. It almost looks dry as it broke apart. Like cobblestones. To be fair, I did wear it on some of the most humid days of the year, but it claims it can withstand heat and humidity. The one thing I can definitely say is that it didn’t break me out, which is a major fear of mine when it comes to trying new foundations or concealers.

All in all I didn’t hate it, but I just don’t think I was as wowed as I had expected to be. So let’s move on.

REVLON COLORSTAY LIQUID FOUNDATION

 

 I have both the liquid and the whipped creme versions of this particular foundation line, and I love them both for different reasons and different occasions. But let’s stay on track here.

This foundation retails for about $13 at ULTA and various drugstores, give or take a few cents here and there, and it comes in formulas for Normal/Dry skin, and Combination/Oily skin. The Combo/Oily formula offers 20 shades, which is pretty great for drugstore, however, and I’m not sure why, the Normal/Dry skin formula only offers 12 shades…okey dokey then. I use the Combo/Oily formula, and I wear the shade Nude.

Here’s what Revlon claims:

Longwearing coverage with Time Release Technology and a lightweight formula that won’t cake, fade, or rub off. Specifically made for combination or oily skin to control oil absorption and shine. Your look stays flawless throughout the day.

Comfortable, shine-free finish for up to 24 hours
• 20 beautiful, longwearing shades
• Buildable to full coverage

Again, these are pretty extraordinary claims, but this time from a drugstore product. Now don’t get me wrong, drugstore makeup has really stepped up it’s game in the last few years. So let’t talk about it, shall we?

This foundation, I feel, is probably best applied with a damp sponge, and here’s why – it can be a little clingy if you have any dryness on your face, and because it’s so full coverage, I honestly feel like it’s best to work in light layers with a damp sponge so you don’t feel like you have heavy, cakey makeup on all day. Now it is possible that it appears it’s clinging to dryness more on me because I buy about 2 shades lighter (because I oxidize EVERYTHING) but anytime you apply foundation with a damp sponge, you can still build up the coverage, but that extra hydration can make a world of difference in the comfort of your makeup. Trust me.

As for wear time, I can get a solid 10+ hours (usually busy days or a holiday) without any breakdown at all. I see no shine come through at all. It doesn’t start to crack up around the sides of my nose or my smile lines or anywhere like that. Again, I’d recommend using a primer underneath, because this is a foundation that can accentuate large pores. But it definitely stays matte. Not like an overly dry matte, but a natural matte finish. And again, this foundation did not break me out, which I’ve noticed to be claimed by many when trying Revlon foundations – and let me tell you, I have super sensitive, breakout prone skin, and this did NOTHING to me. I promise you’ll be fine. Overall, I really like this foundation and reach for it quite frequently over all my others.


So I feel like I can say with confidence that

  

These are both fantastic foundations, but you guys know me – if I can find an affordable alternative that can truly hold it’s weight, I’m sold! If anything, I think I like the Revlon Colorstay better, simply because it held up better in my T-zone without breaking down like the Estee Lauder did. Perhaps I didn’t moisturize enough, and maybe if I had used a primer with it, I would have had a different result. Regardless, like any other product, it may work wonderfully for you even if was a little sub par for me!

Have you guys tried either of these foundations? What are your thoughts/opinions? Leave me a comment below and let me know!

And don’t forget to go follow me on Twitter and Instagram @dlynnesposito, and go like the Affordable Gorgeous page on Facebook!

LOTS OF LOVE!

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MY FAVORITE DUPES!

 I think we all know by now that I’m a sucker for a dupe. I’m a couponer. I’m a bargain hunter. I love sales. I shop clearance like it’s nobody’s business. So when I find a great dupe, you know I have to bring it to you!

But instead of one great dupe, I thought today I would round up several! Let’s get started!


 

 BEAUTYBLENDER vs. REAL TECHNIQUES MIRACLE COMPLEXION SPONGE

 

 The original Beautyblender retails for $20 at Sephora. That’s a lot of money for a sponge that, let’s face it, has to be replaced pretty often no matter how clean you think you’re getting it. They harbor bacteria like nobody’s business. But the Real Techniques sponge is $7 at ULTA, comes in a two-pack for $11, and has both a pointed side and a FLAT edge, making it great for getting up against your lower lash line and right along the sides of your nose when you’re blending out concealer.

 

 ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS BROW WIZ vs. NYX MICRO BROW

 

 Let’s be real – Anastasia knows what she’s doing when it comes to brows. The Brow Wiz retails for $21 though – a little rich for my blood. NYX released the Micro Brow pencil, and at $9.99 it’s a STEAL! And to further dupe the dupe, they’re both made in South Korea, and because of the almost identical formula and packaging, I’d venture to guess that they’re made in the same plant! And NYX is almost always running a ‘Buy One Get One 50% off’ sale at ULTA so you can get 2 of them for LESS than the price of one! Save your money for the Anastasia Dip Brow, because I’ve yet to see THAT duped, although Milani has a pretty close formula out now!!

KAT VON D EVERLASTING LIQUID LIPSTICK in LOLITA vs. MILANI AMORE MATTE LIP CREME in BELOVED & NYX LIQUID SUEDE LIPSTICK in SOFTSPOKEN

 

 Here we have a double-dupe! ‘Lolita’ is a gorgeous shade (provided you didn’t get one from the ‘bad batch’) but it’s pricey! $20 at Sephora. But back around late summer/early fall Milani released their limited edition Amore Matte Lip Creme line, and the shade ‘Beloved’ is a fantastic shade dupe for ‘Lolita’! They’ve since been taken off the shelves, but are still available on milanicosmetics.com. NYX also recently released their ‘Liquid Suede’ line, and the shade ‘Softspoken’ is a great dupe as well! Both dry matte, are super long lasting, and most importantly, you don’t get the (forgive me) butt-hole lip look after a few hours of wear!

NARS DOLCE VITA LIP GLOSS vs. L’OREAL COLOR RICHE LE GLOSS in REALLY ROSE

 

 NARS Dolce Vita is said to be the perfect ‘your-lips-but-better’ shade. And it’s absolutely beautiful. It wears well, has great color payoff, and it’s universally flattering. But it’s $26 at Nordstrom. Whoa. I actually grabbed one in an eBay auction recently for $15, but even that was a little steep for me. But why you ask? Because I just had to try it for myself. And I wanted to compare it to a favorite drugstore gloss that I already owned, the L’Oreal Le Gloss in Really Rose. And they’re basically identical! The L’Oreal is by far less sticky, so it doesn’t last more than maybe 2 hours tops. But if you’re looking for a great Dolce Vita dupe and don’t want to shell out $26 bucks, you’ll love the L’Oreal!

URBAN DECAY NAKED SKIN CONCEALER vs.MAYBELLINE FIT ME CONCEALER

 

 I actually did a full review on these products (which you can read here), but the long and short of it is while I loved the consistency, coverage, and application of the UD concealer, I hated that within 10 minutes it had oxidized, leaving me with orange splotches all over my face. Could it have been because it was summer and I was oily? Maybe. But while others live and die by it, it left a bad taste in my mouth, so to speak. But Maybelline’s Fit Me concealer is the same consistency, amazing coverage (medium, and buildable) and very long wearing. It doesn’t oxidize on me at all, and because they’re so inexpensive, I like to use these for cream contouring as well!

ESTEE LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR STAY IN PLACE MAKEUP vs. REVLON COLORSTAY LIQUID FOUNDATION

 

 I picked up a sample of this (Estee Lauder) foundation specifically for the purpose of testing this dupe – I already owned and loved the Revlon Colorstay, both the whipped and liquid versions. I actually did a split wear test one day (half Estee Lauder, half Revlon) and found that they performed pretty much identical. They both kept me pretty matte, stayed in place, and didn’t oxidize on me. And I put these to the test on one of the hottest, most humid days of the summer. I was super impressed that Revlon held it’s weight against the Estee Lauder, and while I did like the high end version, if you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg, why would you? I’ll be repurchasing the Revlon over and over and hoping that they don’t discontinue the Colorstay line anywhere in the near future!

MAC LIP PENCIL in WHIRL vs. NYX SLIM LIP PENCIL in MAUVE

 

 Ahhh, the coveted ‘Kylie Jenner’ lip pencil – probably the most sought after lip color in a long time. But really? Over $16 for a lip liner? I can’t. I just can’t. So to find a $3.49 dupe, I was sold. I actually found this one on Pinterest, and ran to ULTA to grab it. NYX makes great lip pencils – they’re creamy, pigmented, and long wearing. If you’re looking to duplicate the ‘Kylie Jenner’ lip, look no further – this is it!

MAC LIP PENCIL in BOLDLY BARE vs. NYX SLIM LIP PENCIL in PEEK-A-BOO NATURAL

 

 Another fantastic dupe – again, creamy and pigmented, super long wearing, this is a go-to on those ‘no makeup makeup’ days. It caught my eye in a Jaclyn Hill video one day and Lord knows I love me a neutral lip! But she used the MAC pencil, so I thought I would take to the internet in search of a dupe, so if you’re looking for a good nude lip pencil but can’t justify (or afford) to pay the MAC price, grab this – you won’t be disappointed!

NARS BLUSH in ORGASM vs. MILANI BAKED BLUSH in LUMINOSO

 

 I think NARS Orgasm was my very first high end beauty purchase – I read about it in a magazine, and had to have it. So I ran to Nordstrom and scooped it up, along with the Orgasm lip gloss. Of course this was back before dupes were everywhere, and I had any real financial responsibilities besides gas money to get to work and back! Now that I’m a mom, my priorities are way different, but I still like to look like a million bucks without actually spending that much – enter Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso. It’s the same universally flattering, peachy-pink sheen, that’s shimmery without being glittery. If there’s anything I hate it’s looking like I’m wearing chunky glitter (except on my eyes – sometimes). Another great option is NYX Powder Blush in Pinched, though that one is a little more pink in tone.

GERARD COSMETICS  LIP GLOSS in ROSE HILL vs.ULTA MINERAL LIP GLOSS in ROSE GARNET

 

 This isn’t necessarily a total dupe in the way of formulation, but more so in color. They’re both a bright, pinky red shade, and very highly pigmented. But the GC gloss is super sticky, helping it last far longer than the ULTA gloss. Additionally the ULTA gloss has the slightest touch of shimmer in it, though it’s not super noticeable on the lips. I picked up the GC on eBay at the end of summer for around $12 with free shipping, which is a steal considering one of these retails for a whopping $24 on the Gerard Cosmetics website. The ULTA gloss was only $8, and they regularly go on sale, so you can stock up!

THE BALM MARY-LOU MANIZER vs. WET N’ WILD COLOR ICON BRONZER in RESERVE YOUR CABANA

 

 I had seen this particular dupe mentioned a lot, both online and on YouTube. I was hesitant to bother trying it because honestly, it didn’t look like much in the way of a highlight – it looked more like a regular pressed powder – nothing terribly special. But after a recommendation from Jessica Braun (jambeauty89 on YouTube) and a sale at my local Walgreens, I decided to try it. And boy am I glad I did! As I said, it doesn’t really look like anything special in the pan, but once it’s on the skin, it just…..does something. It makes you look like you’re naturally glowing from within, like you’ve been eating your fruits and veggies. If you’re looking for a nice, natural, not overly glowy, everyday highlight that’s office or school appropriate, try this product – it really delivers, and for under $5, you get a massive amount of product that will last you a really long time!


Do you guys have any favorite dupes for high end products? Maybe something I didn’t mention? Leave me a comment below, I love to hear from you, and I’m always on the hunt for great new dupes!

And don’t forget to go follow me on Twitter and Instagram @dlynnesposito, and go like the Affordable Gorgeous page on Facebook!

LOTS OF LOVE!

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MOTD 12/2/15 – WEARABLE ‘KYLIE JENNER’ INSPIRED MAKEUP LOOK

I actually posted this look on Instagram and Twitter this morning – @dlynnesposito if you’re not following me, which you should be! 🙂 – and thought ‘well, I’ve never done a MOTD (makeup of the day) post’ – so here’s my first one! Let me know what you think in the comments! Let’s get started!

 

 FACE

Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer $14 – ULTA

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in Buff $8 – ULTA

Hard Candy Glamoflague Heavy Duty Concealer in Medium Light $6 – Walmart

NYX HD Blush in Nude’Tude $7 – ULTA

NYX HD Blush in Taupe $7 – ULTA

Wet N Wild Color Icon Bronzer in Reserve Your Cabana $4 – Walgreens

NYX Powder Blush in Peach $5 – nyxcosmetics.com

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Powder Makeup in 1N2 Ecru $40 – Macy’s

NYX Dewy Finish Makeup Setting Spray $8 – ULTA

EYES

L’Oreal Color Riche La Palette Nude 1 $20 – ULTA

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara in Black $8 – Walmart

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara in Very Black $6 – Walmart

BROWS

NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Taupe $10 – ULTA

Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel $22 – ULTA

LIPS

NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Mauve $3.49 – ULTA

Gerard Cosmetics Lipstick in 1995 $19 – gerardcosmetics.com


What do you guys like to wear on a daily basis? This definitely isn’t an every day look for me, but I was actually inspired by the lipstick itself and kinda built my look around that!

Leave me comments and let me know if you’d like to see more MOTD posts!

And don’t forget to go follow me on Twitter and Instagram @dlynnesposito, and like the Affordable Gorgeous page on Facebook!

HAVE A GORGEOUS DAY!

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