Best Drugstore / Affordable Makeup Brands

Personally, I would consider myself very tight-fisted.  Rarely would I want to splurge on anything - even if it sparks my interest, such as makeup, fashion, books, even if it's books for medschool, etc.

ANY NORMAL PERSON would want to make sure that s/he is getting his/her money's worth, right? Quality over quantity; and definitely quality at the least amount spent.

Of course, brands such as Mac, Chanel, etc. are very good brands; EXCELLENT, actually; however, at our age - I'm 20 years old, btw, turning 21 in 3 months - meaning, students at professional schools, fresh out of college, young professionals, and those still very freshly starting out at work, let's face it.. we don't have a lot of money to spend on these brands, just yet.  So, here are my favorite Drugstore Brands, particularly, Watsons. :)

1. E.l.f. (eyes. face. lips)

Elf is probably my number one brand in Drugstores because it's very affordable and their products last throughout the day, as well.  I, for one, have very sensitive skin so I have to be very careful with the makeup I apply on my face. Elf has proven faithful to my skin in the countless number of times that I have been using this brand - no pimples (aside from the ones brought about by stress because of no sleep from medschool) no rashes, no skin reactions, and also very easy to remove with makeup remover.  Elf lasts long considering that I live in the Philippines where it's relatively hot all the time and I WALK under the heat of the blazing sun nearly everyday. It lasts. It really does. :) and rarely do I need to retouch during the day, which is very convenient for me especially since I'm usually in a hurry. :)

Products that I especially recommend for Elf are: 
Tinted Moisturizer (SPF 20), Two-Way Cake Foundation (SPF 15), All Over Cover Stick, Candid Coral Blush, Shy Blush, Eyelid Primer

I've tried the eyeshadows of Elf and they are pretty good; however, there are also good brands out there like Wet and Wild particularly for eyeshadows. :)

I would also recommend their brushes, especially the black ones.  Very smooth and soft, very easy to clean, and they are also very sturdy, as well.  Closest to the Mac brushes, in my opinion.

And get this! Most of Elf's products are either 129.75 pesos or 249.75 pesos! AMAZING, RIGHT!

2. Covergirl

Covergirl is also one of the brands that I enjoy using and looking at; although, for my skin, I would not really recommend the powder because my skin somehow reacted to it.  Covergirl has one of the best Mascaras I have ever tried as well as their lip gloss. For the Mascara, I would recommend Lashblast Fusion, which promises both volume and length; and although the mascara does not put in so much volume, it does give the length and the perfect curl to the eyelashes, which I really love.  Besides, I wouldn't really want my eyelashes looking so intense on an everyday look or even when I'm just having dinner with friends, right? So I would say that this Mascara is perfect for just about any occasion.  You'll definitely get your money's worth!  This cost me about 650 pesos? 

As for the lip gloss of Covergirl - most of the lip gloss offered by drugstore makeup tend to have that white line on the inner corners of the mouth after the lip gloss has been applied for quite some time, BUT NOT COVERGIRL! Their lip gloss was one of the first that I tried that did not leave any white stains / lines on lips whatsoever.  I especially like the Covergirl Natureluxe, it gives this shimmer on the lips for days when you want to look fresh and yet preppy and glamorous at the same time.  It's perfect for everyday, so easy to bring because it's small and thin, and it is also very easy to apply because it's in the form of a lipstick. :) definitely one of my favorites.

3. Maybelline

Maybelline has 2 best products for me. They have the best volumizing mascaras  and I love their Watershine Lipstick line.  

The volumizing mascara is a perfect partner to the lashblast fusion of Covergirl because it can really give that perfect black thickness that your lashes need during parties or events at night.  Not very much for lengthening, though, so I still recommend Covergirl's lashblast fusion for lengthening. :)  Together, they create magic.  It's also only about 400 pesos worth!   

I've also tried their Watershine Lipstick which is one of my favorites! Okay, I have a lot of favorites, admittedly.  But, seriously, this is one that I would love to have for my everyday simple look because it's very glossy and easy to put on, does not smudge easily or leave the lips smudged when during meals.  It also gives an image of healthy, full, lips. :) 

I've also tried Maybelline's blushes; however, I prefer the Elf blushes more - also considering the price. :) but that's just me :)

4. Marks and Spencer

I love their bronzer. Love it. It comes in the form of little balls so it's sure to last long, and it's also very light on the face and very natural (unless of course you put a generous amount of it on your face!) Sometimes, I even use this bronzer as a blush whenever I go out to the mall so it just looks like a hint of tannish-brownish on the skin which looks perfect if you don't want to look pink or peach. :)

5. Wet and Wild

I would vouch for Wet and Wild's eyeshadows, as I mentioned earlier.  Their eyeshadows are the ones that don't smudge and they really stick to the skin and blend well.  They look really really really gorgeous on the eyes.  As for their eyeliners, I would recommend trying another brand because for the one that I used it easily smudged on me; but then that could be just for me :) The eyeliner I use now is really awesome by Clinique; however, it's very pricey (and just given to me as a gift for Christmas, which I am totally grateful for!) so I'm still on the lookout for the best affordable eyeliner. :)  but for the shadows, WET AND WILD! DEFINITELY!

So those are my top 5 brands, I hope that you find the best brand for you to use. :) and remember this quote.. (an angel told this to me in a dream I had. hahaha. random.)

"Not everything that is pricey is of good quality and not everything that is of good quality is worth it."

Happy shopping! :D

Blake Lively Look For Less

BLAKE LIVELY MAKEUP FOR LESS

I was never really a fan of Gossip Girl, but I always found Blake Lively really pretty and fun and confident.  Her makeup always looks so fun and fresh; which is the look that I was aiming for that day (since I was attending a very simple lunch with my relatives).  So, this look is great for almost anything! And, sorry for the very sucky lighting but I hope that somehow you see the berry color on the eyes and the white liner as well (my favorite part). Well, here's how I did it. :)

1. Foundation. Apply your foundation; same thing with my previous look on Aria Montgomery (check this look out, as well!). For this look I used Elf's Tinted Moisturizer (with SPF 20) and Elf's Two-Way Cake Foundation (SPF 15). -- After using it for several times, now, it has not failed to stay on and keep the rest of the makeup on, as well. The look remains fresh throughout the day :)

2. Concealer. For concealer, just make sure to cover the red areas of the face (usually around the nose and in the area of the chin) and cover the dark circles around the eyes, as well - especially for this look since you want to look fun and fresh and also so that the white liner not highlight any dark spots.  I used Elf's All Over Cover Stick; however, for the eyes you would want to try their concealer made particularly for the eyes. :)

3. Powder. Make sure that you blend in everything together by using your powder.  Check your face if there are areas whiter than others; and also be sure not to put on too much because it could get really really really white and you don't necessarily want that especially since Blake Lively has a little bit of a tan and her makeup here suits that look, so keep the face looking as natural as possible. For powder I still made use of Elf's Two-Way Cake Foundation (SPF 15). 

4. Eyeshadow. Before the eyeshadow, make sure to prime your eyes first.  I make use of Elf's Eyelid Primer, but other products are good, too; for as long as you prime your eyes.  This will help keep the eyeshadow on and to help keep the same blending that you created for the look, because some eyeshadows have the tendency to melt of during the day just like any other makeup product and can make you look really really horrible so avoid buying eyeshadows that smudge easier than others and also USE THE PRIMER.  For the eyeshadow, Blake has a very berry pink kind of color on her eyes and is not very seen on the photo because her eyes are kind of smaller than mine but on the top part of the crease of the eye you can see this hint of berry pink shadow.  It's the only shadow that you need so get that berry pink color and apply it all over the eyes and while applying it on the crease of the eye, make sure to keep your eyes opened because you would want to see how high up you want to apply that eyeshadow. Apply just enough to get that berry color seen but not too much that you would look like you have a rash on your lid. I still made use of Elf's eyeshadow :) 

5. Eyeliner. Obviously, Blake used two liners - black and white. So for this look, I made use of Clinique's Black Quickliner for the Eyes (SUPER LOVE this eyeliner because it does not smudge and the line is really thin so it's very easy to work with).  For this particular look, make sure to outline only the top eye with black and keep the line really thin and close to the lash line.  You want to make it seem as if nothing is there.  When you're done with that, go to the bottom lash line and outline it with a White Eyeliner and then continue this until the inner corner of the eye and draw a small line on the side connecting the lower line to the upper line on top of the eye.  WORD OF CAUTION: do not make the white eyeliner too thick or you will look like Frosty the Snowman.  Seriously. And then for the area of the inner corner don't make the white line so obvious just enough to make the eyes pop out a little.  For this particular look, I used the Skin Food White Eyeliner, which is pretty because it has glitters on it as well so just a little line can really define the eyes already.

6. Mascara. Make sure to curl your lashes and then put mascara on both upper and lower lashes.  The lower lashes are the important ones here because you need to keep the look balanced with the white liner.  White liner always makes the eyes look a bit smaller so using mascara on the lower lashes will help make the eyes still pop out. For this look, I used Covergirl lashblast fusion.

7. Blush. The blush that Blake has on goes well with her tan.  It's of a peach-pink color.  And since I don't have a tan, I made use of a simple pink (Shy Blush from Elf) and slightly dabbed it on my cheeks with my brush to give me a fresh and spring-y look.

8. Lipstick. For the lipstick, Blake seems to have a kind of pink-orange lipstick and since I don't have the exact colour, I made use of M&Co's Crystal Shine Lipstick named Dazzling Cherry EA104. It's a beautiful shade, in my opinion. It's like a pinkish-red that really makes the lips look full. 

9. Finish off everything with powder again. and voila!

BEAUTY TIP: Remember that although we would want so much to look like our favorite idols and celebrities, always remember that we are still unique to them so not ALL the colors that they used and all the brands they used will be perfect for our skin.. so be sure to CHOOSE WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU. :) As for me, these brands that I've been mentioning are affordable and yet of very good quality.  Yes, I do recommend that you use them. :) 

That's all! Hope you find this useful. :) Leave a comment! :) Any celebrity makeup requests? Send them to ariellealvarado315@gmail.com :)

Aria Montgomery Look for Less

ARIA MONTGOMERY / LUCY HALE MAKEUP 

I am a huge fan of the Pretty Little Liars Series; and so, I decided to try to copy one of their looks, specifically, Aria Montgomery's.  Aria has such beautiful eyes.. as you can see in the photo below (taken during a scene back in Season 1 while talking with Ezra); so all emphasis goes to the eyes while the remaining parts of the face should be kept rather subtle / light.

This look is great for just about any occasion because it's really simple and is still very attractive and pleasing to the eye. So, below is a photo of me and Aria side by side and although I did not capture it EXACTLY as it is, simply because some of the brands that were used on her were either pricey or not offered in the Philippines, I will show you how to get Aria's look for less. :)

Step 1: Foundation. Always start with your foundation, first.  Actually prior to this step, I put on Elf's Tinted Moisturizer (SPF 20) which will ultimately keep your skin smooth and moist; as well as somehow help the makeup stay on.  Just apply a little amount and then spread it all over your face.  Afterwards, I used Elf's Two Way Cake Foundation (SPF 15), which is a really good foundation  and powder, as well. You can be generous with the amount that you apply on your face just not SO MUCH so as to avoid making your face look too white.  
(Beauty Tip: If you're acidic, make sure to buy shades that are a shade lighter than your skin tone because otherwise the makeup will oxidize and make your skin look darker than usual.)

Step 2: Concealer. For this particular look, you want to focus on concealing the darkness of the eyes; so apply a generous amount of concealer under the eyes and spread it outwards; do this until you observe that the skin underneath the eyes is slightly "highlighted" or white-ish.  Be careful once again to not go TOO WHITE because you wouldn't want to look scary; the point is to just highlight the eyes and make the eyes pop out.  There are a lot of good concealers out there, especially those that are made particularly for the eyes; however for this look, and if you would also want to save money, I just used Elf's All Over Cover Stick. Again, for the shades, make sure to choose one that fits your skin tone - if like me, you are acidic and you already chose a powder that is a shade lighter than your skin tone, choose a concealer that is the same shade as your skin tone because you wouldn't want to look too white. 

Step 3: Powder. Basically powder everything up; make sure that the foundation and the concealer (especially the concealer) are perfectly blended in to your face.  For this look, I used the same product Elf's Two Way Cake Foundation (SPF 15). 

Step 4: Eyeliner. Before this, make sure you prime your eyes.  Primer will help the eye makeup last longer and will also keep the makeup from smudging as well.  For this look I used Elf's Eyelid Primer.  Using a black eyeliner, basically outline your eyes.  I usually start from the outer corner inwards so that most of the thickness will be on the outer corner of the eye.  Outline the bottom of your eye, as well.  Be careful when you do this, though, don't make it too dark or too thick; otherwise you'll come off looking like you got punched in the eye (it has happened to me once or twice. haha!) Slightly smudge the top liner on the top of the eye to make the line a little bit thicker and so that we can proceed with the next step.  For this look, I made use of Clinique's Quickliner for the Eyes,  which is a really amazing eyeliner because it doesn't easily smudge and it is very easy to use.  One of the best I've tried so far.

Step 5: Eyeshadow. This is one of my favourite parts of putting on makeup in general - but also one of the trickiest.  For Aria's style, you can see that she has a sort of blackish brown thing going on - which is why in the previous step you had to smudge a little bit of the liner.  First, get black eyeshadow and then outline again the line on the top of your eye just to make it more defined.  Secondly, get a shade of brown (sort of like a Russet shade of brown) and then blend it in with the black - but be sure that more of the brown stands out rather than the black because you want to look more natural and not too smokey in this look.  So start off light and then build on the color as you go along.  Remember less is more so don't start of heavy because it's much easier to adjust to lighter shades than remove darker ones. For this look, I used Elf's Little Black BeautyBook Cool Edition, which is a palette of 48 colors and it has all the basic ones that you need. It's pretty good, actually, and it is also very easy to bring around anywhere. Plus, it is very affordable. :)  There are also other good brands you might want to try like Wet and Wild for eyeshadows. :)

Step 6: Concealer. Now that you've got the browns and the blacks on the eye, it's time to make the look pop up even more by putting concealer underneath the eyebrow and on top of the eyebrow,as well. Blend this in with the rest of the face and then put powder on top once again to make it settle.

Step 7: Brows. For the eyebrows, since mine are already rather thick, I didn't have to put anything to further darken my brows.  I simply just combed them and made them look neater.  However, if you're the type who would want to defined your eyebrows more, a tip would be to use a lighter shade of brown eyeshadow than your eyebrow and just simply follow the line to make the eyebrows look darker but not too dark.  You could also choose to check out Elf's Brow Kit, which is pretty good and is used by many women that I know. :)

Step 8: Mascara. Curl your lashes, first.  And then afterwards, put on black mascara.  This will make the eyes pop out even more. Mascara is also my favorite part of putting on makeup simply because it really emphasizes my eyes and gives me that "pretty" feeling so to speak.  Anyway, for this look I used Covergirl's Lashblast Fusion, which is quite good for both volume and length.

Step 9: Blush. Now for the blush, make sure you don't go so dark.  Just add a little amount on your cheeks, particularly the apple of your cheeks going outward.  For this look, I made use of Elf's Shy Blush.  Now, powder everything up just so that everything is blended in well and perfectly. Again, you may choose whatever shade of blush suits your skin tone.

Step 10. Lipstick. Finally, for the lipstick, I made use of Maybelline's Watershine Pure BC11 shade because it is perfect for this look.  Aria has a very natural color to her lips sort of orange-y pink, and this lipstick is the closest shade that I had to hers.  It's also very glossy and very easy to put on so no worries about smudging it or for messy looking lips, either. :)

There you go! :D Hope this helps out.. This is my Aria's Look for Less. :)