Drugstore Makeup Haul/Review
My Favorite Drugstore Products:
- Prestige Waterproof Eyeliners
- Maybelline Dream Mousse Blushes
- Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation
- Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eyeliner
- Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara
- Milani Eyeshadow Quads
- Sally Hansen Lipnotic Lipglosses- similar to MAC’s Dazzleglasses!
Great review…But why don’t you like Loreal?
Hi Marlena,
How about some Milani in the store? I’d love to try them. But they’re nowhere in Canada.
Loreal Voluminous Mascara has been my #1 drugstore mascara for years. I’ve recommended it to so many people on a budget and they love it. Thanks for recommending it to everyone.
How come you dont like Loreal? I agree with the eye shadows. I have tried Jane. and thought they worked the best for drug store brands. i got them to do the barbie loves mac look, and i thought the color pay off was good. Oh and also there cheap! i got a 4 eye shadow, and a 1 eye shadow for 2$ each! What do others think about those products?
i would luv to try the mousse blushes but have no idea how to go about applying it?? please help me:)
Enjoyed the review, I didn’t see any Sally Hansen Lipnotic Lipglosses or comments on them? Curious, what colors are your favorites? Anything like Bare Necessity Dazzleglass?? Thanks!
great tips! thanks!
Great review girl, thanks! You wanted to know about any great products on the market. TIGI Bed Head makes really awesome eye shadows. They are pressed pigments with really great payoff. They come in singles or in palettes. They come highly recommended. Again thanks for all the info:)
Ok so I live in Canada and I am dying to get my hands on Maybelline Dream Matte Mouse Blush. I went to my two local drugstores and that same day they had taken them off the shelves because it was spring. (That’s what the lady told me). It seems like they are still being sold, and I havn’t checked other stores in my city because I havn’t gotten the chance to roam around further. Why aren’t they selling them in these two drugstores then? Please help, I want some so badly!
Thanks alot,
Mel
Can you tell us why you don’t like Loreal?
Cute hair! How did you do it?
I love Loreal’s quality- great pigmentation and range of products, but they are horrible with animal testing
It’s just my personal opinion not to invest in Loreal’s products even though i do like them- I don’t have anything against the products themselves…
I’m sure other companies test on animals also, but the research I’ve read about Loreal was awful
That’s one advantage of MAC. They have a clear policy to not test their products on animals.
Thanks for speaking out against animal testing Marlena. It is possible for companies to make great products without testing on animals. That way we can enjoy our beauty products guilt-free!
hello Marlena, I really like the prestige eyeliner. My mom bought it for me but do you know where I can buy it? She doesn’t remember
Thanks for this review! its great especially in times like these!
My 20 yr old daughter has got me HOOKED on makeupgeek. I appreciate the product ratings and how to videos. I will soon be 40 and doing makeup flawlessly makes a girl look younger. Thanks for doing drug store brands. It lets us know that sometimes it is better to save up and get something of quality. THANKS MAKEUPGEEK:)
What a great review! I also have some of the Dream Mousse blushes and am in LOVE with them!!! Looking forward to your next reviews!
Marlena – what are you wearing on your lips? Sooo pretty!
Thanks for all the great tips and THANKS for letting everyone know about animal testing!!
Hey thanks for the review Marlena. Also I would love to see a hair and makeup tutorial on your look today in this video.
Marlena, how do you apply the Dream Mousse blushes? do you just use your fingers?
Thanks =]
Thanks for giving us your opinions of likes and dislikes. I trust your taste and judgement. Your hair and makeup is fabulous when you have some spare time show us all the way you style your hair. I can’t wait to try those moose blushes. They look really nice. Again thank you for telling us about the drugstores cosmetics!
Hello Marlena,
Thanx a lot for your opinions! When do you do the same thing for Sephora, Mac stores ( pro or not ), Urban Decay???
I’ve learn so much technics from you, you’re a master!!!
May the Force of the make-up be with you!
Lisa from France
Very helpful Marlena, thanks. How does it blend over powder, I imagine it becoming a almost a paste. If you could post a response I would greatly appreciate it.
Also thank you, thank you , thank you for being an advocate for helpless animals!!!!!! You get my utmost respect.
Kitten
Hi Marlena! On your recommendation, I snagged a couple of Dream Mousse blushes today at CVS (they’re currently buy one, get one free). They are just as gorgeous as you said.
So, quick follow-up question: do you think that they’re safe to use as shadows (like a quasi-paintpot)? They’re so nicely glimmery that I think they’d be pretty as a sheer wash of color on lids. Thanks for all that you do – I love your videos
Marlena, aqui en las vegas CVS tiene buy one get one free en todo los productos de Maybeline no se si el store circular es de todo el pais pero puedes checarlo en CVS online, esta semana tine un Beauty sale. Saludos
Marlena – CVS is having the buy 1 get 1 promo this week on the Dream Mousse Blushes. I just went there today and got Soft Plum which you will LOVE. This is my second jar of this color as it was the 1st color I ever bought of this blush & loved it so much I had to go back for another. For my freebie, I got Cloud Wine based on your video reccomendation as a color i can wear this summer when I get some tan on this winter skin of mine. Great video! Thanks for all you do for us Makeup Geeks
Has anyone tried the Dream Mousse Bronzer Blush? I saw this at CVS but was scared to try it out for some silly reason. The blush is awesome so my guess is the bronzer blush would be too, no?
i love the dream mousse blush! i just got one the other day because ive been scared to try macs blushcremes now i am planning on getting four blushcremes and like the rest of the dream mousse blushes! the one that i got was the lightest it is called pink frosting its a bright light pink color i stippled it on with a 187 brush and it looks amazing alone and even better under my newly aquired moonriver blush duo!
thanx marlena i will go and get the mousse blush…few days ago i got L’oreal kohl..it’s reall nice i took 2 of them all i have to do it’s apply on my eyes and i have the smokey look…i really hope you try it and do a tutorial on it…yes something else>> i have maybelline define-a-lash (masscara) and define-a- line (eyeliner) it’s really deffrent from the other brands..
I just bought the Dream Mousse Blush today and used it for the first time, per your recommendation. I absolutely LOVE it! The peach one is the perfect shade for me! For everyone asking how to apply it…. I just lightly swept some on with my fingers. Just do a little at a time until you get the color you’re going for. I don’t think a brush would work well with it. It was perfect!
Oh, I also purchased the foundation, eyeliner, lip gloss, and mascara that you recommended above. Love them all! It’s amazing what a difference the right makeup can make!
What’s the best way to apply the Maybelline Dream Mousse Blushes?
marlena i love the blushes you were talking about.. they’re currently by one get one 50% off at my cvs
thanks so much
Ana,
Best way to apply these mousse blushes, in my opinion, would be with your fingers. They really are that easily blendable. However, if you are anti-fingers, I’ve seen some people say they stipple it on their cheeks with the 187 AKA Skunk Brush. Either will have you feeling very happy you tried this blush!
Ugh, ive been using the lash stiletto, and while it may look good when you first put it on, it dries out like CRAZY and crumbles horribly, leaving black spots of dried mascara under your eye half way through the day. DONT BUY IT!
I have peach satin blush too! It has been sitting under my cabinet.. I should pull it out again for summer!
Hi Marlena could you please show us how to apply the dream matte mousse blushes please because I have no idea
thank you
omg thanks for doing this because i cant afford any of the mac makeup or the expensive ones
so this was really helpful i hope i can remeber next time i go to the drug store ..
u tlked about one brush can u give me other drugstores where they less real cheap eye brushes?
Ooohhh good one! Im frugal enough to want to buy drugstore brands but cheap enough to feel the waste of my money if they happen to suck, and in my experience alot have, so thanks!!!!! I second the question as to how you go about applying the dream mousse blushes. I bought one a few years ago when they first came out and I liked it but couldnt figure out HOW to apply it, its super slick and was hard to manuever. tell me how you got it to look so good!!!!!!!!
I use all your favorites (minus the Milani, which I have never seen in Canada) Especially the Lipnotic!!!
Your hair is gorgeous! Is that your natural hair or a clip in? If it is a clip in, where do you get them?
I LOVE Covergirl Fantastic Lash! I have really long lashes and this stuff really plumps them up! Not to mention seperates them nicely too!
Those dream mousse blushes always seem to make my skin look drier. But maybe it was the foundation. Have you tried the new dream liquid mousse? I had a sample, but of course it was only enough to figure out what color I needed, but it seemed really nice, I might try that. I got clinique’s superfit makeup, but it seems to make my skin drier than it already is, so I’m wanting to try the new stuff.
You should do a tutorial on your makeup in this video. I really like it for every day.
I LOVE Covergirl Fantastic Lash! I have really long eyelashes! This not only plumps them up it also seperates them really well also!
great video, so informative, Thanks girlie. I am always curious about the drugstore brand products but so hesitant to buy them as most of them do not take products back if they are open unlike MAC, this really helps. I am wondering what shadows do you have on in this video, i love your natural look but see a little shimmer, can u tell pls or do a nude/shimmery look video. Thanks!
YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY DO MAKE OVER ON PEOPLE AND SHOW US. I LOVE SEEING BEFORE AND AFTERS AND SEEING THE DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE!
I would love to see you do a hair tut on your look in this vid
Hi Marlena…iv’e notice that you have sonia kashuk brushes, but do you have any sonia kashuk cosmetics? Can you do a review or make-up tutorial on them. I happen to love Sonia Kashuk and i want to know your opinion =)
Thanks
Thank you for speaking out against animal testing. I used to use L’oreal until I learned that they did indeed test on animals. After your review for Spell Cosmetics, I fell in love with those colors you used.
I went to their website and was thrilled to learn they were a cruelty free company. So happily I bought a ton of stuff including the mineral eye shadows you were showing.
Thank you Marlena for a super cool site!
You’re good people!
Sincerely,
Vanessa
good job i like review , do 1 more time with more cosmetics kisssssssssssss lili byaaaa
I love your makeup review Haul!!
Another thing I also loved are your earrings? WHo and where did you get them from! Theyre Beautiful !!! Compliments you Greatly!!
Can you please tell us how you did you hair and the steps you did to create that look? I really like it…If you can please do a tutorial….
Marlena,
They sell the Maybelline Dream Mousse Blushes at Target also. Thanks for all the time you put into your videos!
i like the voluminous mascara as well,but it tends to flake
Look at rite aid they have BOGO all the time!!! I think they have it going on right now.
I think I heard you mention something about Bourjois mascara but you didn’t elaborate on it. Is this your favorite mascara? If so, why?
Hi Marlena,
Good Tutorial. Now for a dumb question. Sorry:-) With the mousse blush what is the best way to apply it?
Marlena,
Thanks so much for this video.
Marlena ERES LA MEJOR GRACIAS DESDE PUERTO RICO!!!!!!!
Hey Marlena what MAC brush do you recommend to use with the Maybelline blushes?? Also can you do a review on the new costal scents hot pots?? Im really interested in knowing if the mattes have good color payoff before I buy them. Thanks so much, Jenelle
Good call on the animal testing Marline. I wont buy anything form proctor & gamble because they animal test like mad. So, no Cover Girl or Max Factor for me!
check out http://www.pandgkills.com/ or http://www.iamscruelty.com (yes dog food by P&G involves torturing dogs ironic and Horrible!)
hi marlena
i was wondering what you think about avon i get catalogs all the time but i never buy anything
the best mascara that i’ve tried by far is max factor 2000 calorie extreme waterproof lash plumper. it makes lashes so long and beautiful!
I have the same question. i want to try that new mousse blush but how would you apply it??:)
Just an FYI … Maybelline is owned by L’Oreal. They also own Garnier and Lancome (and probably more lines that I can’t remember). A lot of the mass market brands are still associated with animal testing, but I’m pretty sure that Revlon, NYX, e.l.f., Almay and Physicians Formula do not test on animals. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem like most people care whether a company is cruelty-free.
Hello,
Love the tutorials…I bought the dream mousse blushes today at CVS which was buy one get one FREE. After applying it I noticed just how sparkly they are which would be great for a “going out” night on the weekend but not for every day. Any suggestions on how to tone down the sparkles?? Otherwise I just love the colors.
Thanks!!
Hey Marlena,
Absolutely helpful for mascara. I am a mascara fiend and I found that the yellow xxl mascara works best when followed by a metal lash comb.
How do you apply the Mousse blush , with your fingers or a sponge? I think the way you are wearing in the video is GORGEOUS! I have the same coloring as you, I am just much paler. The lightest Revlon color stay color is still a little dark for me the foundation.
Aloha Marlena,
Im kaulana i saw ur website from a good friend of mines who does fabulous make-up but she tend to apply darker foundation on me which tends to looked cacked on and show. so i wanted to know what would be the best foundation from the drugstore that ill be able to use or from MAC. im a medium tan skin, oily and shiny. so if u have any suggestions that would be nice. i want a full make over with highlight and contour but with the best products. ur opinion would be greatly appreciated.
the CVS in new york have buy one get one free for all Maybelline this week~~:)
Hi Marlena!!
I’m still shocked because i’m a great stupid!!! l’oreal test products on animals???my God my house is full of l’oreal products!!How they can…i mean why??I love animals like you and I hate those things. on internet i’ve found that a lot od industries test on animals, also cover girl!!!!that’s orrible!!!
anyway, thanks for your new video….your hair looks great!!! p.s i’ve see a mug’s life video……your babies are so adorable!!!!a lot of kisses
I Marlena I’m still here!!!I’ve a request…..how to remedy (???? i don’t know the right word in english) when you do a mistake? Blur on your eyes with eye shadows or too much blush etc. How to correct mistakes without wash away everything!!!And what product you think are better for oily skin?
Thanks so much Silvy
I disagree with a lot of these reviews. I like the Revlon Matte Shadows and my 2 favorite drugstore mascaras are Lash Stiletto and Colossal. Also, almost every shadow that she swatched looked pretty vibrant….
hi marlena! I love your makeup review haul! What color is that
Thanks 4 the vídeo
Hi Marlena!
Thank you sooo much for bringing up the animal testing. I know you and many other MUGs want to be conscious consumers , knowledge is power. If we all purchased cosmetics from cruelty free companies the world would truly be more beautiful.
hello dear its the first time im posting a comment here but im a hugeeee fan of your work .. i totally envy your make up collection lol
i can’t find some of the brands you mention (i’m from portugal) but i loved the l’oreal and maybelline products…. the blushes OMG i love it! i have one in the color 06 brown bronze féerique and i use it almost every single day! try that colour 
kisses * you’re a very tallented make up artist 
I just wanted to tell you that I love watching your tutorials…I am a big makeup junkie and stumbled on this website a few months ago and told everyone I know with a makeup obsession to come to this site…I am in love with all your tips and videos. Keep up the great work….oh and umm Ulta is having a buy 2 get one free on Maybelline (the sale starts April 19 to May 10) I know its not as good as a buy one get one free but its still a good deal. Oh and your furbabies are sooo adorable!
Could you do a video about brush?
Hi Marlena
what do you think of Maybelline eyeshadows?
hey marlena! first i just wanted to say that i am totally hooked on your website and youtube. you have definitely taught me alot of things that nobody ever did in my 29 years. lol i don’t know if you have ever used physician’s formula, but i wanted your opinion on them. i have also used the jane mineral collection and i love them! i use the blush every day. i also have the baked smokes from physician’s and the eye enhancer one (green). i started using the foundation from physician’s b/c my clinique seemed to be drying me out but now it’s too oily.(go figure) i am thinking about trying the revlon that you wear and see how it works out for me.
saludos gracias por todo los consejos eres la mejor….saludos desde puerto rico
Revlon also has really good quality nail color.
Just wanted to share!!
OMG i loooove your hair. Can you please in the near future have a tutorial on how to do it.
Hi, i have this powder palette 0836 4c and its beige plus i have this medium dark skin i think lol.. and i dont know wat to do wit it .. LIKE HOW CAN USE IT?
A great drugstore brand eye shadow quad is Maybelline’s Expert Wear Eye Shadow. I’m not sure about all of them, but I have this quad in Chai Latte, and it consists of a barely-shimmery highlight color, a very-shimmery color, a light matte color, and a dark matte color. The pigmentation on them is great and even better if used over a creme shadow base such as Revlon’s Illuminance Creme Shadows. Just a thought for you and anyone else reading this who can’t seem to find good drugstore brand eye shadows. =)
hi Marlena,
would you be able to have a review on sephora and Holt Renfrew cosmetics too? I know that will be alot of stuff that you probably like but some basic stuff like liquid eye liner, pink blush, black eyepencil, mascara.my skin tone is very close (or same) as you so anything which worked for you.
Hi Marlena – love the website. How about a video on how to organize our cosmetics. I didn’t think anyone in the world had as much as me but I guess I might be wrong. I spend too much time digging through drawer and cabinets looking for all my products.
hi girl!! i just wanted to recommend u l’oreal’s lash architect carbon gloss (long lasting false lash effect) i was also quite skeptical about this one, but it really worked out. most mascaras fade and leave nasty racoon eyes, but i gave a shot to this one, the waterproof version & i gotta say it works out well. out of l’oreal’s mascaras, this is the best one i’ve tried.
grettings girls, read/see you later
Hi Marlena!
I loved this review!! I’d just like to say that the Milani line is amazingg! I love it! The quads are so worth buying for their quality …but I also wanted to recommend trying their Sunset Duos which are bronzer and blushes… I use 01 Sunset City because my skin is light.. but it goes on so smooth and gives off a really nice glow!
I have tried the covergirl ones in black before. Another problem with them is they break super easy. I was maybe half way done with mine and it broke and i couldn’t use it. Made a mess >.<
i just bought some new eye pencil that my friend recommended and it is sold at some drugstores but mostly at ulta it is :
Prestige Waterproof Eye Contour in Black
I like it mostly because it is very creamy and holds its own on my combination skin.
The mousse blush is definitely a ‘dream’. I purchased 2 colors at the Walgreens next to my house in Puerto Rico, and I felt in love IMMEDIATELY. I use my fingers just as you showed in this blush application tutorial. It is just a matter of applying little by little, until you get the desired tone.Sometimes I just dab a little on the apple of my cheeks, when I am in a hurry.
On th other hand, I just received the NYX White Pearl Eye Shadow from the MUG Store (great and speedy service, by the way!) and I am looking forward to use it as a highlighter. I tend to take notes and/or write down the tips you show on your tutorials; it has been helpful at the time of my make up application. My daughter uses her laptop to access Make Up Geek.com, and lets you be her guide, while she puts on her make up. We both have become true “Make Up Geeks’…hurrayyyyyy!
Your so pretty & you are great at everything you do ; can you please send me all of the make-up names & their brands so that i can run out and buy them becuz i love those lol thxx
Juliaaa
I think Revlon is trying to be like MAC, and other high end makeup brands.
First they come out with pigments, then they come out with brushes.
I think their ok, but if your going to buy pigments and brushes, just don’t waste money on the “decent” ones, I would reccomend going ahead and buying MAC because you KNOW it will deliver well.
Milani is great! That product is made with african americans in mind! It’s hard to find shadow pigments that actually show up on dark skin from a drugstore.
i love the blushes too !
what color would be best for medium to dark and how and what do you apply with
(:
you awesome.
I LOVE THE MAYBELLINE BLUSH!!!! your review on that wa dead on spot. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!:)
Regarding Loreal…I had a feeling that your issue with them had to do with animal testing. I so agree with you and applaud your stance.
By the way, I have been a makeup geek since I was allowed to start wearing makeup as a teen, and have even had folks occasionally ask for my tips, etc. But I have to say, it was not until your how-to-apply-blush tutorial that I finally got it right! I’m too excited! That is really a testament to your gift as an educator (I am a fellow musician/educator too). Thanks so much!
Angela in MIchigan
Help!
I don’t know where to post this question, but I am looking for a colorless finishing powder. My mom had some that she gave me, and I just loved it, especially for dusting under my eyes after putting on my concealer. Did wonders for my semi-dark circles! But now that I am down to my last little bit, I am ready to purchase more. The problem is that all the powder I see has color (“fair”, medium”, etc.). Is there still a such thing as colorless these days? And if so, can anyone recommend a brand that you think is really good.
Thanks everyone!
I love all of your great ideas!!
Thanks a lot dear for all your ideas…
love them all
I have one of the Maybelline Dream Mousse Blushes it called Coffee cake 60.. I love it it’s a bronze color
I may buy a pinky one soon..
Hey Marlena!!! I loved this tutorial and I applaud that you do not like how Loreal tests their products on animals!!! I am a firm animal lover and I also love make-up. I hate it that Loreal tests their makeup on poor, innocent animals in the lab. But overall, you are an amazing makeup artist and I love your tutorials!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks
I’m so happy to find a good drugstore brand make up review! There are no brand- name stores where I live and my mom has issues with ordering over the internet, so this is a big help. Could you look into the Jane brand of cosmetics though? I use some of their prodeucts and they work quite good. Avon reveiws would be helpful too, because most people that I talk to have different opinions on them, and the pictures aren’t exactly true to color or texture.
Dear Makeup Geek,
Did you know that Maybelline, L’Oreal, and Sally Hansen (PLUS MANY OTHER COMPANIES) TEST ON ANIMALS! Please stop animal cruelty & purchase CRUELTY-FREE products! Visit http://www.caringconsumer.com/index.asp to see which products are cruelty-free.
P.S. Your videos really helped me a lot. Keep up the awesome videos and please please please purchase cruelty-free items. BOYCOTT Procter & Gamble (Pantene, Olay, Herbal Essences, Pringles, etc.) It’ll really help the animals! I don’t think you’ll want your foundation to be the cause of death of a rabbit. Pledge to be CRUELTY-FREE!~
PLEASE & THANK YOU
Marlena….thank you!
are great!
now my mom and i love Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation.
The Maybelline Dream Mousse Blushes….
great review…
I was watching this video, and I wanted to add about the Dream Matte Mousse Foundation by Maybeline NY. I have dry/acne prone skin, and my breakouts are worse in the cold months. I discovered the Dream Matte Mousse a few years back, and it is the only foundation that covered my bad breakouts during the winter when my skin is most dry. It doesn’t have full coverage, but if you pair it with a good concealer and/or setting powder it works wonders on dry/acne prone skin. I also have extremely pale skin, and that is one of the few drugstore brand foundations that caters to extremely pale skin tones with yellow undertones versus typical pink.
First off, I’d just love to say THANK YOU for doing a review on some popular drug store finds. I really hope you do more, since for most us of, they are not only readily available but also reasonably priced. I happen to really like Milani products, and I’ve just purchased 2 of their Runway eye shadow series in “Couture In Purples ” & ” Beauty In Blues ” Haven’t worn them yet, but I’ve been playing with them, they texture and pigment is pretty good for the money.
Second, I have to say, I adore your hair! The up-do with the head band is SO cute. Any possibility we could see it in an upcoming tutorial??
Are there any drugstore or more affordable eye shadow primers available??
Heyy Marlena I like those makeup choices next time i go 2 a drugstore I’ll try them out.
I discovered the Voluminous Mascara a couple months ago, and I love it too!!!