Hello Makeup Geeks! Today I have another review for you all of a drug store product that I love. I featured these in my “Summer Tag” video as well so please feel free to take at that. I love these so much I wanted to do a full review of them for you. These are the “Revlon Lip Balm Stains”. I am usually not a fan of regular lip-stains simply because all the ones I have tried feel drying on the lips. Revlon Balm Stains are different in that they apply with a glossy look and feel, but when you wipe them away or they fade over time you are left with a beautiful soft, stained effect to the lips. These last a very long time and are very highly pigmented.

What I like about these is that it is a balm that has been infused with color that comes in a crayon form and are retractable so they need no sharpening. These retail for about $6.00 depending on where you purchase them at. Many drugstores will have sales so keep an eye out for those! I got these at Ulta who was having a sale also. I want to share with you the colors I got.

• “Rendezvous” – Soft Orange Color
• “Cherish” – Girly Pale Pink
• “Darling” – Cool Toned Pink with a Hint of Lilac
• “Lovesick” – True Bright Pink
• “Sweetheart” – Medium Warm Pink

The other shades that are in this line are:

• “Honey” – Rosy/Natural Color
• “Crush” – Deep Berry Red
• “Smitten” – Plum with a Touch of Fuchsia
• “Charm” - Light Warm Nude/Peach
• “Romantic” – Warm Red with a Touch of Orange
• “Precious” – Nude/Natural
• “Adore” – Brown Toned Red

These retail at most drugstores, Target, Ulta, Amazon and eBay for around $6.00 – $8.99 depending on where you purchase them. Be sure and look for BOGO sales.

These are like a lipgloss but not sticky in any way. They are very sheer, shiny and still have a good amount of pigmentation. Ideal for the summer, these would be perfect to toss in your beach bag and take along with you for an added pop of color. The only thing I don’t like about these is that you really do have to rub them on because they are a buildable color. So you really have layer the color by putting a little extra on. What I love is that they aren’t tacky in any way like many lipglosses and have great color payoff.

ADVANTAGES

• Highly pigmented
• Feels Smooth without being sticky
• Leaves a soft stain on the lip
• Last a long time
• Buildable color
• Great for summer
• Nice color range (12 to be exact)
• Good price
• Easy to find

DISADVATAGES

• You do have to build the color

So these are a definite 2 thumbs up from me on these amazing Lip Balm Stains! These will be great for the upcoming hot summer months. If you have tried these or if you plan on trying these, let me know what you think of them in the comments below. Stay happy and healthy!

XOXO,

Marlena

Hello my wonderful Makeup Geeks! Today I have a review for you of the NARS Satin Lip Pencils. I am not usually a huge fan of lip pencils just because they can be drying, but I really like these. The come in typical crayon fashion, are available in 13 shades and are really good. The one I am wearing now is “Yu”.

These are on the higher-end price wise which is typical for NARS as it is a high-end cosmetics company. These sell for $25.00 and contain .07 ounces of product. I do love that these are very moisturizing and even after they start to come off and have worn for a while they appear as a lip stain and not just a regular lipstick or pencil. The great thing about this is if you want to wear one of the brighter shades, but you are leery of bolder shades, you can simply apply the lip pencil and blot your lips for a more muted stained effect. These are very creamy and glide on smoothly and are very highly pigmented. I was actually very surprised at how much I liked them. The only downside was the price.

As for the packaging, I have never really like the “crayon” type lip pencils simply because I feel like a kid drawing on my face, but that’s my personal preference. The one complaint I do have about the packaging is with the lids. They are easy to remove, but unfortunately the lid doesn’t want to stay on very well. Because of this I have had the lid fall off a couple of mine and it messed up the lip color. For the price the lids should be better quality and remain on.

NARS Satin Lip Pencils

• Floralies – Light Apricot (Amazon) (Sephora) (NARS)
• Biscayne Park – Pink Guava (Amazon) (Sephora) (NARS)
• Lodhi – Vibrant Coral (Amazon) (Sephora) (NARS)
• Palais Royal – Sangria (Amazon) (Sephora) (NARS)
• Majella – Garnet (Amazon) (Sephora) (NARS)
• Luxembourg – Vivid Watermelon (Amazon) (Sephora) (NARS)
• Yu – Shocking Pink (Amazon) (Sephora) (NARS)
• Isola Bella – Peach Beige (Amazon) (Sephora) (NARS)
• Rikugien – Rose Pink (Amazon) (Sephora) (NARS)
• Het Loo – Cognac (Amazon) (Sephora) (NARS)
• Golshan – Spiced Wine (Amazon) (Sephora) (NARS)
• Hyde Park – Cardinal Red (Amazon) (Sephora) (NARS)
• Jardin de Plante – Fuchsia (NARS)

Advantages

• Non Drying
• Creamy
• Moisturizing
• Give a Nice Stained Effect
• Very Highly Pigmented

DISADVANTAGES

• Price
• Packaging

So let me know what you all think of these new lip pencils if you already have them or if you buy a few for yourself. And I hope each and everyone of you are staying happy and healthy!

XOXO,

Marlena

Today I have another review for you all and this time it’s for NARS concealers. I recently reviewed the NARS Lip Pencils, but I also picked up some NARS concealers at the same time and wanted to share them with all my wonderful Muggies!

These are the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealers. They come in a wand type packaging much like the Maybelline Fit Me Concealers. They are very similar in size with the Maybelline being .23 ounces and the NARS being .22 ounces. I really like the packaging on these. They have a  sleek see through container that allows you to see the product and a matte finish handle on the wand. The matte finish not only looks great but is easy to clean as well. The wand inside is a flat doe-foot wand which I really like a lot. When you apply the concealer the flat part of the wand allows you to put it on the skin effortlessly.

The formula is very creamy and very pigmented so you don’t have to apply a lot to get the desired amount of coverage. This means a little will go a long way. I like the way it feels as it is super silky, smooth and it has no odor to it. These concealers would be best for under the eyes or for light touch-ups. If you have blemishes the concealers that come with this type of wand are to thin, you want this for more for delicate areas and that’s why under the eyes is best.

The best way to apply it is to sweep it on under the eye and take a fluffy dome brush like the Makeup Geek Soft Dome Brush and gently blend it into the skin. This hides the eye bags and brightens the area a little as well. The price on these is $28.00 which I think is far to expensive for what they are. They are good products if you want a good concealer and don’t mind spending the money or just want a high-end product.

These come in 10 different shades so there is a good range of colors for everyone. These do run on the warm side with the only cooler toned one being “Honey”. The lightest color here will be great for you porcelain skinned gals, it’s “Chantilly” and the darkest shade is “Cacao”. For reference my shade is “Biscuit”.

1. Chantilly – True Ivory for Fair Complexions (Amazon) (Sephora)
2. Vanilla – Tiny Cast of Pink for Fair Complexions (Amazon) (Sephora)
3. Honey – Warm Peach Toned for Light to Medium Complexions (Amazon) (Sephora)
4. Custard – Yellow Toned for Light to Medium Complexions (Amazon) (Sephora)
5. Ginger – Golden Undertone for Medium Complexions (Amazon) (Sephora)
6. Biscuit – Medium Dark Natural Balance of Pink and Yellow Undertones (Amazon) (Sephora)
7. Carmel – Medium Dark Yellow and Golden Undertones (Amazon) (Sephora)
8. Amande – Medium Dark with Golden Olive Undertones (Amazon) (Sephora)
9. Cafe – Dark with Warm Red Undertones (Amazon) (Sephora)
10. Cacao – Dark with Deep Gold to Brown Undertones (Amazon) (Sephora)

These claim to be “Long wearing and crease-proof. Paraben-free, Alcohol free, Synthetic fragrance free, Non commedogenic” which means it’s great for those of you with sensitive skin.

ADVANTAGES

• Smooth
• Covers Great
• Great Color Range
• Good Packaging
• Highly Pigmented

DISADVANTAGES

• Price

These are good products if you are willing to pay the price but for me personally, I am going to stick with the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer as it is pretty much the same product at a fraction of the cost.

So I hope that help you all out and gives you and idea of what you will be getting if you have one of these or are planning to pick one up. Be sure let me know in the comments what you all think. And I really do hope you all are staying both happy and healthy!

XOXO,

Marlena

OK Makeup Geeks, I have a super fun video of some hot new products that I really wanted to share with you. I recently went to Sephora and got some new goodies and I wanted to show them to you and let you know what I think of them and if they are worth trying.

Cover FX Natural Finish Oil Free Foundation

I have been wearing this for over a week now and I can’t tell you how much I love this foundation. This foundation is paraben free, mineral oil free and talc free. This is great for me because my skin breaks out easily. This comes in a convenient squeeze tube and retails for $40.00 for 1 ounce of product. I wear the color G40. This will last a while though as a little goes a long way. The feeling is very silicon like and it feels amazing on the skin as it doesn’t cake up or feel heavy. This comes in a wide range of colors (24 to be exact). The water-resistant formula has Vitamins C and E which soothe inflammation and reduce redness.

Price: $40.00

Where To Buy:  Amazon, eBay, Sephora

Cover FX Cream Concealer

This concealer comes in a squeeze tube and is easy to access. Mine is the color medium/deep simply because I need something darker for under my eyes to cover the dark circles. This has the ideal silky consistency for under the eyes. It glides on smoothly and evenly and doesn’t get cakey like many under eye concealers do. You get 0.33 ounces for $27.00 which will last a while as a little goes a long way. This also does not contain gluten, mineral oil or talc. This comes in 12 shades so you are sure to find one that works for you.

Price: $27.00

Where to Buy:  Amazon, eBay, Sephora

Cover FX Blotting Powder

I really wanted to check out this brand since are really trying hard not to use bad ingredients. This is their powder in the color Light, which I got for use under my eyes to brighten up the area. It also is available in medium and deep. The formula is very smooth and silky and doesn’t feel heavy at all. I love the sleek compact as it’s convenient for putting in your purse and taking it with you for touch-ups wherever you go. You get 0.4 ounces of mineral, paraben and talc free product which is great for the skin.

Price: $24.00

Where to Buy: Amazon, Sephora

Korres Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Concealer

This is a lot like the Cover FX concealer, this is the color tan which great for under my eyes. This has a gel like consistency and doesn’t cake up, crease or get into the fine lines under my eyes which can make you look older. This aids and protects the skin around the eye and contains the natural antioxidants, Quercetin & Oak, which aids in minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This comes in four shades; fair, light, medium beige and medium tan.

Price: $22.00

Where to Buy:  Amazon, eBay, Sephora

Kat Von D Everlasting Blushes

These blushes are perfection! What I love about them is they are completely talc free but they are so smooth. I am very impressed by these. I love the packaging on these. They have a sleek black design with textured flowers on the front, perfect for a blush compact. I do feel like there could have been a wider range of colors but for the ones she did have they were really nice.

• Shady Business 1 – Pearlized brown with a slight gold shimmer. This will be great for light to medium skin, if you have darker skin you might be able to use this as a highlight. They also make a #2 which is better for darker skintones. This is a nice tan color that isn’t to orange and won’t make you look like an Oompa-Loompa.
• Truth – A natural flush pink shade with a matte finish. Very creamy and smooth.
• Wish – Nude peach with a subtle shimmer to it. This is ideal for light to medium skin; you dark skin girls can use this as a beautiful highlight. I got it because I am trying to incorporate more peach colors for the spring and summer.
• Essex – This is a cool rose shade that will look best or medium skin tones.

Price: $25.00

Where to Buy: Amazon, eBay, Sephora

Illamasqua Gleam Cream

This lightweight cream adds lifts and adds highlights to wherever you apply it. This has a creamy consistency that is perfect since my skin can be dry sometimes; this gives a dewy finish to the skin. It’s very smooth and non-greasy and non-glittery, which I love.

• Aurora – This has a golden under-base which won’t make me look pink at all it will just add a nice warm glow to the skin. Perfect for the summer.

Price: $26.00

Where to Buy:  Sephora

Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance 12 Hour Lipstick

These are pricey but I absolutely love these! I love the packaging with the bamboo at the bottom and the colored designed top; it’s amazing. These have amazing pigmentation and glide on smoothly for a stunning finish. These are long-lasting, creamy and don’t feel drying on the lips.

• Foxy – A true deep pink, fuchsia shade. This is great for all skintones but you darker skinned girls will look absolutely stunning in this color.
• Playful – This is a cool tones purple/rose shade that will look great on everyone.
• Whimsy – A bright medium cool pink color that will look amazing on every skin color. This is a fun, girly color to have for the summer.
• Fierce – This red has orange undertones that will look best on medium to dark skintones. I prefer cool toned reds for fair skin.
• Wild – This is a cool red that is almost a berry color. This color will look great on every skintone whether it’s light, medium or dark.

Price: $26.00

Where to Buy: Amazon, eBay, Sephora

Nars Lipstick in Scarlett Empress

This is a stunning plum shade that will be perfect for the fall months. This would be ideal on those days when you want to do minimal eye makeup and have stunning plum colored lipst to play up. This color will work for every skintone.

Price: $26.00

Where to Buy: Amazon, eBay, Sephora

Bare Escentuals in Swinger

This is a vivid magenta/purple shade with a satin finish.

Price: $21.00

Where to Buy: Amazon, Sephora

And that’s it for my Sephora haul. I hope you found something in here you are going to try and if you do leave me a comment and let me know what you think of it.

XOXO,

Marlena

You all know I love to try new makeup products, so I’ve compiled my “Best Of” series stating my favorite makeup products of all time!  My top picks are completely unbiased- I simply want to help you spend your money on only the products I know are amazing.  Trust me, I have tested, swatched, and worn just about every makeup product out there

Enough blabbing…. On to the best eye primers!

xoxo,
Marlena

Stila Prime Pot

These come in two shades, a lighter and darker depending on your skintone. Since they are nude in color, they can double as a concealer and eyeshadow base.  These are super creamy and blend easily into the skin, and are great for hiding any imperfections on your lids.

Price:  $20

Where to Buy:   Amazon  .   eBay   .   Sephora

Urban Decay Primer Potion

The holy grail of primer potions, this has definitley lived up to the hype. This remarkable formula comes in 4 different shades:  Original,  Eden (a matte tawny color), Sin (a shimmery champagne), and Greed (gold). These melt into the skin and leave a flawless finish that extends the wear of your eyeshadows for hours.

Price:  $20

Where to Buy:  Amazon. Ebay. Sephora

MAC Paint Pot

These little pots of magnificent colors come in 16 different shades. What makes these so great is they can be worn alone for a soft wash of color onto the lids as well as a primer underneath your eyeshadows. Used as a base these allow the shadow and pigments to adhere to the eye with little fallout. They blend smoothly into the skin and leave a flawless finish.

Price:  $18.50

Where to Buy:  Amazon. Ebay

Palladio Eye Primer

This remarkable product has the same texture and quality as the Urban Decay Primer Potion and is rumored to made by the same company. This  blends easily and goes on evenly and smoothly to prevent creasing. The best part of this primer is the price! It is definitely budget friendly without sacrificing quality.

Price:  $7.89

Where to Buy:  Makeup Geek Store

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

This primer prevents fading, creasing,  fallout and fading. Since this is a silicone based primer, it creates a barrier between the oil in your skin and your makeup, making this ideal for oily eyelids. This allows the color to blend smoothly and evenly and gives your eyeshadow better color payoff.

Price:  $18

Where to Buy: Amazon. Ebay. Sephora

OK Makeup Geeks, today I have my new FAVORITE foundation to share with you all. I love when I find new products that I absolutely love and then I can share them with you. I recently went to Sephora to find a foundation that was talc-free, paraben-free, and mineral-oil free. This is a must for me since I have gotten older because my skin has become more sensitive. I was thrilled to find the Cover FX foundation.

Cover FX tries to be as organic as they possibly can and keep their ingredients simple. I have been using this for the last week and I love this foundation. This last all day and dries to a nice satin finish so it doesn’t appear to flat or look overly shiny on my skin. I find that I don’t have to use much powder with this as the foundation alone gives such a flawless finish to the skin. The big test for me was when I wore this to San Fransisco all day long in the wind and heat. The Cover FX foundation lasted all day and didn’t fade or oxidise or turning my skin orange.

This retails for $40.00 for 1 fl.oz. of product. The color I am in is G40. The colors are broke down into three separate categories, P (pink undertones), N (neutral skintones), G (golden undertones). The neutral shades range from N10 – N110, with the fairest shade being N10 and the darkest being N110. The pink undertones range in shades from P20 – P50 with the lightest at the bottom and moving up in color. For the golden undertones the shades are G20 to G80 with the lightest at G20 and the darkest at G80. The best way to find your perfect shade is to visit your local Sephora and have them color match you.

I love the packaging on this and that the product is in a handy squeeze tube. This makes accessing the product as simple as it gets. The texture on this is wonderful, it has a silicon feeling but it’s not. It is very silky and glides on smoothly and evenly without caking up or feeling heavy. This foundation really does feel amazing on the skin. They key to using this is knowing that a little goes a long way, so it doesn’t take much when applying it. There are no harsh chemical smells or anything that would aggravate anyone’s allergies or anyone sensitive to strong smells.

I also got the Cover FX Blotting Powder that I love as well but I don’t have to use it much because the foundation is just that good. They also have a cream foundation which I haven’t tried yet so if any of you have used it let me know in the comments below what you think of it..:-)

HOW TO APPLY

• Use a good primer, I am using the Clinique Pore Minimizer and apply with clean fingers.
• For my eye bags I have to apply a darker, peach colored concealer to counteract the darkness. Here I am using  MAC Studio Sculpt in NW35.
• Now for the foundation, you only need a little bit because the formula is thick. I dab small dots on face and then take a Beauty Blender and wet it and squeeze the excess water out really well, and use patting motions to work the foundation into the skin.

This covers so well, even the redness around my eyes. To set the under eye are I sweep on a small amount of the Cover FX Blotting Powder with a fluffy brush. I got my shade in Light (it’s also available in Medium and Deep) so I could use it under my eyes to brighten them. From here on you can apply your makeup the way you want to. For this video I used the Tarte Blush in “Tipsy”, a lipgloss by Smashbox in the color “Infinity”, and of course my L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara and that’s easy. Really easy, really simple!

ADVANTAGES

• Covers amazingly
• Takes very little
• Great packaging
• Applies smoothly and evenly
• No harsh odor
• Leaves a soft, satin finish to the skin

DISADVANTAGES

• Price, It does run on the expensive side with it being $40.00 for 1 ounce but it is worth every penny!

PRODUCTS USED

• Clinique Pore Minimizer – (Amazon) (eBay)
• MAC Studio Sculpt in NW35 – (Amazon) (eBay)
• Cover FX Natural Finish Oil Free Foundation – (Amazon) (Sephora)
• Cover FX Blotting Powder – (Amazon) (Sephora)
• Tarte Blush in “Tipsy” – (Amazon) (eBay)
• Smashbox Lipgloss in “Infinite” -(Amazon) (eBay)
• L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara – (Amazon) (eBay)

I really love this foundation and if have already tried it, or you do try it, let me know what you all think of it. I can’t wait to see if you all love it as much as I do.

XOXO,

Marlena

OK Makeup Geeks, today I have a review for you of one of my most favorite brands out there…TARTE! You all know I love their blushes and I am really liking their lipsticks right now as well. This was sent to me but I do honest reviews regardless of that. Tarte has come out with a new collection named “Aqualillies” and it’s so cute. The one thing I am really loving about this collection is the packaging. They are really playing up to the must have colors of spring, mint and coral/peach.

All the products come in this handy makeup bag which is great for putting in your purse or at your desk at work for quick touch-ups.

Palette

I love the packaging on this and the touch of gold. This has 8 eyeshadows and a matte finish peach blush in the middle that can also be used as a eyeshadow. As always with Tarte, these are great quality like many of Tarte’s powdered products. They are very smoothly and highly pigmented. The only downside to this palette was the two tan colors look identical. So I definitely feel there could have been a little more variety to the palette by adding a shimmery peach or a dark teal color. The price on this palette is $38.00 which isn’t  bad at all for all you get. I just wish there were more variety.

Price: $38.00

Tarte’s Light’s, Camera, Flashes Mascara

I like the wand on this, it is small but it gets into the lashes and makes them look super big. This mascara is formulated without parabens, mineral oil, petrolatum, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate & synthetic fragrance which makes it better to use around the eyes. The packaging is great and it doesn’t smudge or flake.

Price: $19.00

Where to Buy: Amazon, eBay, Sephora

Tarte Lipstick in Timeless

I am actually wearing this color right now and it’s a very pretty deep coral color. This will look great on every skin tone from fair to dark skin. These are very highly pigmented, creamy and very smooth. They wear a long time and aren’t dry, they are actually quite moisturizing. I am very impressed with Tarte’s lipsticks. These are really good even though they are on the more expensive side, they are worth it.

Gel Liners

These gel liners are smudge proof, highly pigmented and water resistant which makes them ideal to use in the waterlines. This collection has a black one and a shimmery teal color that is stunning. The teal shade would look beautiful as a base for an eyeshadow. The eyeliners also come with a  brush that is dual ended. It has a bent liner end and a regular straight brush on the other end. (NOTE: only the black liner is available as of now as it is part of their normal line)

Price: $26.00

Where to Buy: Amazon, Sephora

Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder

This is very similar to the Makeup Forever HD Powder. The only thing I don’t like about these types of powder is the white color. It does turn transparent on the skin but if you have dark skin this can actually make you look ashen. It is very smooth and doesn’t cake up and gives a nice matte finish to the skin.

Price: $29.00

Lipglosses

OK, I could not get these to work. These come in a tube that you “click” to get the product out of the brush end. I am not a huge fan of these types of applicators as it just seems rather cheap to me. The formula on these is sticky and doesn’t hold up as well in quality and packaging compared to their other products.

GIVEAWAY RULES

THIS IS A INSTAGRAM GIVEAWAY!!!!! You must be subscribed to makeupgeektv on instagram. We will post a picture of Tarte items that will be included in the giveaway. Leave a comment letting us know what you would use the tote bag for and you are entered. The contest will remain open for two weeks and a winner will be chosen at random. Easy to enter, easy to win! GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!

While I’ve been using Makeup Geek shadows more often in my tutorials, I don’t expect all Makeup Geek viewers to have all the shades at their disposal — and even those that have bought some of the Makeup Geek shadows may still have some suitible colors in their MAC collection.

This list is for those of you coming from the MAC world and either want to migrate your collection to Makeup Geek, those that want cheap alteratives to MAC, or those that want to find alternatives to the colors I used in a video.

I think we did a pretty good job of listing dupes I was aware of, but if you see some that MAC dupes that are missing, please feel free to list them in the comments below and we’ll try to update this list.   Also, if you think the dupe listed isn’t close enough, or if you know of a better one, let us know as well   Thanks!

Makeup Geek Appletini :  MAC One Off    (see swatch comparison)

Makeup Geek Bada Bing : none

Makeup Geek Bleached Blonde : MAC Gorgeous Gold 

Makeup Geek Bling: MAC Mylar

Makeup Geek Brown Sugar : MAC Mulch  or MUFE 312

Makeup Geek Burlesque: non

Makeup Geek Chickadee : MAC Rule    (see swatch comparison)

Makeup Geek Cinderella :   MAC Jest    (see swatch comparison)

Makeup Geek Cocoa Bear : MAC Brown Script

Makeup Geek Corrupt : MAC Carbon   (see swatch comparison)

Makeup Geek Country Girl : none

Makeup Geek Cupcake : MAC Perky or Soft Flower  or MUFE 112

Makeup Geek Dirty Martini :  MAC Velvet Moss  (see swatch comparison)

Makeup Geek Duchess : none

Makeup Geek Envy : none

Makeup Geek Fairytale : MAC Purple Haze

Makeup Geek Fuji : MAC Bitter  or MUFE 171

Makeup Geek Galaxy : MAC Charred  (see swatch comparison)

Makeup Geek Glamorous : none

Makeup Geek Gold Digger : none

Makeup Geek Goddess : MAC Coppering

Makeup Geek Homecoming : none

Makeup Geek Ice Queen : MAC White Frost 

Makeup Geek Last Dance: MAC Folie

Makeup Geek Latte:  MAC Saddle

Makeup Geek Mandarine: none

Makeup Geek Mango Tango : MAC Firecracker (see swatch comparison)

Makeup Geek Mercury : MAC Electra

Makeup Geek Mermaid :  MAC Steamy

Makeup Geek Mocha : MAC Ground Brown   (see swatch comparison)

Makeup Geek Moondust :  MAC Patina  (see swatch comparison)

Makeup Geek Neptune : MAC Cobalt   or MUFE 159

Makeup Geek Ocean Breeze :  none

 Makeup Geek Peacock : MAC Plumage

Makeup Geek Poison Ivy : MAC Sumptuous Olive

Makeup Geek Poolside : MAC Cool Heat  (see swatch comparison)

Makeup Geek Preppy: none

Makeup Geek Pretentious : MAC Romp

Makeup Geek Purely Naked : MAC Arena (see swatch comparison)

Makeup Geek Purple Rain : MAC Indian Ink (see swatch comparison)

Makeup Geek Razzleberry : none

Makeup Geek Sea Mist :  none

Makeup Geek Sensuous :  none

Makeup Geek Shimma Shimma :   MAC Shroom  (see swatch comparison)

Makeup Geek Shimmermint :  MAC Warm Chill   (see swatch comparison)

Makeup Geek Stealth : MAC Print

Makeup Geek Taupe Notch: none

Makeup Geek Twilight : MAC Illegal Cargo (see swatch comparison)

Makeup Geek Unexpected :

Makeup Geek Unicorn : MAC Parfait Amour

Makeup Geek Vanilla Bean: Mac Blank Type

Makeup Geek White Lies : MAC Gesso   (see swatch comparison)

Makeup Geek Wisteria : MAC Red Violet   (see swatch comparison)

Makeup Geek Yellow Brick Road : none

Hi Makeup Geeks!

You all know I love to try new makeup products, so I’ve compiled my “Best Of” series stating my favorite makeup products of all time!  My top picks are completely unbiased- I simply want to help you spend your money on only the products I know are amazing.  Trust me, I have tested, swatched, and worn just about every makeup product out there.

Enough blabbing…. On to the best blushes ever!

xoxo,
Marlena

1.  Illamasqua Powder Blusher – Naked Rose

My favorite products by Illamasqua are their blushes as they’re super pigmented, creamy, and last a long time.  I especially love the color “Naked Rose” as it’s a muted pink color that is easy to apply without looking too bright or clownish.

Price:  $26.00

Where to Buy:   Sephora  .  Amazon

2.  NARS Powder Blush – Amour

NARS is known for having the best high end blushes. Their color “Orgasm” has won an award every year for several years now. BUT, I chose the color Amour as it is a beautiful matte finish warm pink that is flattering on every skin color.

Price:  $28.00

Where to Buy:   Sephora  .  Amazon  .  eBay .  Nordstrom

3.  Inglot Powder Blush – #20

Inglot is also known for having smooth, creamy, and pigmented blushes but without the high price tag that other makeup companies charge.  This color #20 is the perfect matte pink that brightens your cheeks without being overpowering.

Price:  $12.00

Where to Buy:   Inglot

4.  MAC Powder Blush – Melba

To warm up the skin, this color Melba is perfect as it’s a muted peach color.  It doesn’t look too orange, and the matte finish doesn’t emphasize acne scars or pores like some shimmery ones do.

Price:  $12.99 – $20.00

Where to Buy:   Amazon  .  eBay  .  Nordstrom

5.  Milani Mineral Blush – Luminous

This Milani blush is the perfect dupe for the popular NARS “Orgasm”- a slightly shimmery peachy pink color.  It adds a beautiful glow to the skin without coming across glittery or too shiny. Plus the cheap pricetag will save you some money.

Price:  $5.00

Where to Buy:   Most Drugstores  .  Amazon

6.  NYX Powder Blush – Peach

Yes, yes, I know I have a lot of matte finish blushes on this list.  But shimmery blushes can sometimes accentuate things you don’t want anyone seeing! This matte pink blush (not sure why NYX named it “peach”?) is a great way to brighten your cheeks and add just the right amount of color.  Price is great too…

Price:  $6.99

Where to Buy:   Makeup Geek Store

7.  Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush – Tipsy

I own almost every single one of Tarte’s blushes. Why? Because many of them are matte finish, they come in lots of colors, and the formula is very pigmented and smooth.  This color Tipsy looks amazing on medium to dark skin as the coral color adds lots of warmth to your cheeks.

Price:  $25.00

Where to Buy:   Sephora  .  Amazon  .  eBay

8.  Illamasqua Cream Blusher – Rude

I am currently in love with cream blushes.  I’ve noticed that the older I get, the drier my skin gets (yay). So I have to add back in the dewiness to my skin by using cream blushes and cheek highlighters.  This Illamasqua one is very creamy, yet not oily looking.  And this color “Rude” is the perfect true peach color that warms up my complexion beautifully!

Price:  $26.00

Where to Buy:   Sephora   .   Amazon

9.  NYX Cream Blush – Rose Petal

NYX also makes some amazing cream blushes, but without the hefty price tags of other makeup lines.  I love this color “Rose Petal” as it’s a muted warm pink color.  It looks great on every skin color- from fair to dark.

Price:  $6.50

Where to Buy:  Amazon  .  eBay

10.  Stila Convertible Color – Petunia

I’m not sure why I didn’t discover these cream blushes sooner as they’re amazing!  I just wish Stila made more colors of them.  This color “Petunia” is a brighter warm pink that looks great on medium to dark skin. It adds a youthful glow to the cheeks and doesn’t look oily or feel sticky.  The best part:  you can use this on your lips too for a lipgloss.

Price:  $19

Where to Buy:   Sephora  .  Amazon  .  eBay  .  Nordstrom

Because so many blushes are aimed at medium skin, I wanted to share a few of my favorites for both fair skin and dark skin.

Fair Skin:

• Benefit Powder Blush in Georgia
• Illamasqua Powder Blusher in Tremble
• Stila Convertible Color in Peony

No one wants to spend a ton of money on makeup if there’s less expensive options out there.   So…. I’ve gone through a massive, heaping pile of drugstore makeup to pick out the best products of all time.  Now you can save some money and buy some extra shoes

Face

Revlon Colorstay Foundation
This full coverage foundation gives an amazing finish to the skin.  The matte formula is great for oily skin, but work quickly in applying as it dries fast.  The best part of this foundation is there’s tons of shades to choose from!

Price: $9.98
Where to Buy:   Most Drugstores  (Amazon) (eBay)

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Foundation
For a dewy finish to the skin, this Neutrogena foundation works amazing!  It covers really well while still looking fresh and doesn’t cake up like some foundations do.  The only downside is the limited range of colors.

Price: $11.37
Where to Buy:   Most Drugstores (Amazon) (eBay)

Maybelline Fit Concealer
I have been using this concealer for months now and absolutely love it!  I apply it under my eyes to hide my dark circles- it doesn’t cake up, but still covers really well.  Here’s my full review on it:  The Best Drugstore Concealer Ever

Price: $4.99
Where to Buy:   Most Drugstores  (Amazon) (eBay)

Milani Minerals Blush 
If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to the NARS blushes, these Milani ones are almost identical but less than 1/3 the price!  The color “Luminous” is a beautiful shimmery peachy pink color that adds a nice glow to the cheeks.

Price: $8.99
Where to Buy:   Most Drugstores  (Amazon) (eBay)

NYX Powder Blush
I’ve been using NYX blushes for years as they’re the best inexpensive ones I’ve found.  The color “Peach” looks great on everyone, and the matte finish adds color to the cheeks without the extra shimmer.

Price: $6.99
Where to Buy:   (Makeup Geek Store)

NYX Rouge Cream Blush
If you want dewy cheeks, using cream blushes adds the perfect shine without looking oily.  Not many drugstore makeup companies make cream blushes, but these NYX ones are really great quality!

Price: $6.50
Where to Buy:   (Makeup Geek Store)  (Amazon) (eBay)

Eyes

Maybelline Gel Liner

These amazing gel liners are great quality and glide on smoothly and evenly. The are water resistant and have great color payoff and don’t flake or smudge. They work great in the waterline as well. They are very high quality at a very low price! See my Smackdown between the Bobbi Brown and the Maybelline Gel Liner here. http://www.makeupgeek.com/reviews/product-smackdown-bobbi-brown-gel-eyeliner-vs-maybelline-eye-studio-gel-eyeliner/

• Price: $9.00
• Where to Buy: (Amazon) (eBay)

Rimmel London Eyebrow Pencil

This eyebrow pencil is great for filling in and enhancing your brows. It glides on smoothly and blends effortlessly to keep your brows looking great all day.

• Price: $10.00
• Where to Buy: (Amazon) (eBay)

Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow

The color Tattoo’s have changed the way many people view cream eyeshadows. These are very reminiscent of MAC’s paint pots. They don’t feel sticky, apply easily and come in a variety of highly pigmented shades. See my full review for the Maybelline Color Tattoos here: http://www.makeupgeek.com/reviews/review-maybelline-color-tattoo-cream-eyeshadows/

• Price: $6.99
• Where to Buy: (Amazon) (eBay)

Loreal Infallible Eye Shadow

These unique eyeshadows are exact duplicates for the Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill. They are intensely pigmented and come in 17 shades to choose from. They glide on smooth, have a velvety texture and last all day! See my smackdown of these two products here: http://www.makeupgeek.com/reviews/product-smackdown-giorgio-armani-eyeshadow-vs-loreal-infallible-eye-shadow/

• Price: $7.00
• Where to Buy: (Amazon) (eBay)

Loreal Hip Eyeliner

These highly pigmented liners glide on smoothly and evenly for a great finish that last all day. They are a great inexpensive alternative to the Urban Decay 24/7 liners.

• Price: $3.99
• Where to Buy: (Amazon) (eBay)

Loreal Voluminous Mascara

This mascara is very highly pigmented and makes your lashes look thicker and fuller while adding length as well. The wand is the ideal size for reaching all your lashes, especially the shorter ones in the inner corner.

• Price: $5.84
• Where to Buy:  (Amazon) (eBay)

Ardell Invisiband False Lashes

Quite possibly the best false lashes on the market, these are lightweight and easy to apply and come in a huge variety of styles and shapes. The Invisiband gives a especially natural look to the eyes.

• Price: $3.99
• Where to Buy: (Makeup Geek Store)

Lips

Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain

These are by far the best lipstains you can find at the drugstore today. The only downside is they can be quite drying even with the lip balm provided. They are highly pigmented and come in a good variety of shades to choose from. See a full review of these Lipstains here: http://www.makeupgeek.com/reviews/revlon-just-bitten-lipstain-review/

• Price: $7.43
• Where to Buy: (Amazon) (eBay)

NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss

This has been my favorite lipgloss for years and still is. These are richly pigmented and are glossy without being sticky. They have a creamy texture to them and come in a wide variety of colors.

• Price: $5.59
• Where to Buy: (Makeup Geek Store)

Palladio Herbal Tinted Lip Balm

These slightly tinted lip balms are ideal for a no makeup kind of day or when your lips just need hydration. This is moisturizing enough to be considered a true balm and give a great tint to the lips. They wear a long time and leave a slight stain to the lips.

• Price : $3.89
• Where to Buy:  (Makeup Geek Store)

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick

Revlon has some of the best lipsticks on the market. These are highly pigmented and glide on with ease. They are creamy and smooth and feel great on the lips. These have several matte shades that won’t leave your lips feeling dried out.

• Price: $6.69
• Where to Buy: (Amazon) (eBay)

And there you have it, my list of the best drugstore makeup of all time! Be sure to check out some of these great finds and let me know what you think of them.