Drugstore Haul With 1st Impressions

Screen Shot 2016-01-04 at 7.46.13 PM

January is a big month for drugstore makeup fans-it’s the month all the big brands release their new products.  I recently went on a little shopping spree & picked up quite a few products (15!!) that I’m pretty excited about.  If you want to hear all about them and see them in action (everything on my face is from the haul) then watch the video HERE or click on the picture above.

Here’s a quick summary from the video:

FAILS
Overall, the products did really well.  But there were a few that were either outright disappointing or just nothing to get excited about.  Pssst! Sheer Finishing Dry Oil Spray left even my dry hair limp and greasy-definitely pass on that.  Also, the Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lipstick was a disappointment. The formula never set and it had almost zero lasting power. If you’re looking for a drugstore dupe for the high-end liquid matte lipstick craze, keep looking. Finally, the CoverGirl Plumpify Blast Pro mascara is nice, but I don’t really see how it’s any different from the other LashBlast options, and the brush is…well, it’s odd.

FAVES
I “liked” all the rest of the products I bought, but there were definitely a few standouts.

You like the swatches on my fingers?

I was really impressed with the texture and pigmentation of the .  While the actual colors were not my favorite (I’m going to pick up the ), I can’t believe the quality of these shadows. They are buttery soft and smooth!
IMG_4861The palette includes 3 matte shades (a brow bone highlight, a crease shade and a darker shade for lining or deepening the outer corner), plus 5 shimmery shades.

It seems like everyone’s coming out with a contour palette, and there are definitely options at the drugstore now. I am REALLY impressed by what L’Oreal has come up with-it gives you exactly what you need, and nothing that you don’t.
IMG_4871has the most neutral, cool-toned, non-orange contour shade I’ve ever seen, and the highlight color is a very close dupe for the . If you only try one thing from the drugstore this season, try this!

Another great product from L’Oreal is the . I have never, until now, been able to find an eyebrow pencil that I like as much as the , let alone at the drugstore. Well, now I have. It has a spoolie on one end, and an extremely skinny twist-up pencil on the other, and it looks exactly the same as the Anastasia Brow Wiz! I’m so excited!

Finally, Maybelline expanded their Color Tattoo products with the addition of . While they don’t have as many shades (yet) as they do in the cream shadows, the consistency is very similar and it’s MUCH easier to work with the crayons.  I have high hopes for this product! I swatched the six I picked up below, and each crayon was very creamy and pigmented. Of all the shades, the chocolate one (second from the right) has really caught my eye!
IMG_4859

IS IT PERMANENT OR LIMITED EDITION?!
I did reach out to CoverGirl, L’Oreal and Maybelline and I have great news-all of the releases that I featured in the video are going to be part of their permanent collection. As a makeup junkie, I’m really excited that the mainstream drugstore lines are upping their game and finally putting out products that are on par with my favorites from the department or specialty store. Now let’s get shopping!

Similar Posts

8 Comments

  1. Oh no!!! I already have a long list to buy from your 2015 Favourites…and now I have to buy more!!

    Thank you for the reviews Marnie x

  2. I am definitely going to look for the Maybelline Color Tattoo crayons and that L’Oreal contour palette at Target today! I don’t have high hopes, though. For some reason our Target takes forever to get new things. May have to stop in a Walgreens or CVS just to see 🙂

  3. Thanks for the great info! I am always on the look out for a Taupe Brow Wiz drug store dupe. Definitely adding to my list. Curious about the Maybelline crayons too! You are part of the reason that this year in my agenda I have a section now titled “CTBP”. Cosmetics to be purchased????????????????
    Happy 2016!

  4. Hi Marnie, Great review, just want to add my two cents….. I have three eyebrow pencils going right now and one is the L’Oreal brow stylist definer in blond, and the other two are Maybelline define-a-brow in dark blond, & NYX micro brow pencil in taupe. I find the L’Oreal one hard to use, meaning I have to press hard to get the color on. The Maybelline one is pretty good but the tip breaks alot. I think my winner is the NYX micro brow pencil. Goes on smooth and I beleive it is the best bang for your buck, more product and the price is very comparable to the L’Oreal one. So you should give the NYX a try and I have had Anastasia a couple times and for what you pay verses how long it lasts I just could not afford to keep buying it. I also don’t have large eyebrows so I don’t think I’m heavy handed with the products. You should try it. you’ll like it.
    ( ha, sounds like a commercial) Love watching you. I just had to give my opinion 🙂 I’m working on a dup right now for the hourglass gel liner. I think I found one. Happy New Year and have a fabulous day!

    1. So far I definitely like the L’Oreal better than the Maybelline option, but I’ve never tried the NYX. Now I need to find it!! Thanks!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *