My Drugstore Top 10

Hey, ladies! Here’s a fun little change of scenery for you—a makeup post! Lately, I’ve been exploring how and when I can spend time on things that refresh me (and as a mom, that is a LOT harder than it sounds!) One of the ways I’ve been exploring my time flexibility and “me-time”  is by doing a month-long makeup challenge, trying new and different ways to apply products and colors that I usually skip over in my hurry-up-and-get-ready-so-I-can-get-everyone else-ready routine.  I’ll admit, it’s been much as I expected—some days have been easy and fun, and others have been harder (for instance, my daughter had a high fever one day—a makeover wasn’t on my radar). But overall, I’m happy with the daily little something that I am doing just for me, even if it’s only an extra five minutes in the grand scheme of things!

So, since I have been thinking about fun makeup products almost every day this month, I thought I would share some of my drugstore makeup favs! Part of what made this challenge do-able for me was the rule that I had to use what I already owned—no buying new makeup to meet any of the daily challenges. I wanted to learn new skills that I could keep using and not need to spend extra money going forward. So most of what I have is from drugstore brands (or Ulta brand, which is basically drugstore quality/price). 

Let’s get started! Here's my Top 10:

1. Anything Burt’s Bees. I am regularly reaching for the Radiance Day Moisturizer, the Intense Hydration Eye Cream, and the Radiance Facial Cleanser as the mainstays of my skincare routine. (I waited and got all of these on sale, budget-conscious moms!)

2. EcoTools makeup brushes. I mean…guys. These are so good. I have the Fresh and Flawless five piece travel brush set, and I just use those for my everyday applications, rather than saving them for my purse or travel times. They blend all of my products amazingly well. Every time. And you can buy them anywhere…Target, Walmart, pharmacies, Ulta…I just can’t say enough here!

3.  Maybelline FIT Me Shine-Free Foundation Sticks. These apply smoothly and quickly and allow me to spend the bulk of my get-ready time TRYING to perfect the different eyeshadow/eyeliner techniques that I somehow have no natural talent for…here’s looking at you, cat-eye liner. :) 

4. BB Creams/CC Creams. I love these and will love them forever. It’s like old me (no makeup whatsoever) somehow sent wishful notes about sunscreen and skin perfecting and anti-aging and LIGHTWEIGHT coverage to future me (makeup for fun—almost daily), and I discovered the perfect makeup for me. It’s all of those amazing things, but it doesn’t feel heavy (which I cannot tolerate, even for SPF--gasp!). The ones I have pictured here are from Physicians Formula and Ulta brands. Both are awesome. But basically every drugstore brand carries these formulas now.

5. Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powders. They cost like $3 and work like a charm. I consistently repurchase. Enough said!

6. Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hr Wear Cream Eyeshadow. I only have this one shade (creamy beige) and it’s pretty close to my natural skin tone, but here’s the magic. It works as an eyeshadow primer, keeping my eye makeup on ALL DAY without creasing or fading or smudging. It’s awesome, and WAY cheaper than those expensive brand eyeshadow primers!

7. Physicians Formula Powder Finish Concealer Stick. They have colorful ones to eliminate redness or dark spots, but I just have a light tone one for my under-eye area. It applies smoothly and gets the job done! Also, for those of you who are looking for a bargain, I happened to see a Walgreens ad for this week, and they are on sale for $3.77! WHAT?!? Check out the Walgreens website!

8. Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Kohl Kajal Eyeliner (the formula for Brown Eyes). Is it obvious yet that I really like this brand? Haha.

9. Revlon CustomEyes Eyeshadow palette in Naturally Glamorous (020). Love how pigmented these shadows are, and the palette includes all the shades necessary for adding dimension to a neutral everyday eye look, even a nice highlighting shade. It’s getting to be my go-to option, especially if I am doing my makeup in the car (from the passenger side, people!). It’s super portable, conveniently sized, and even includes a tutorial graphic on the back.

10. Model Co. Cosmetics Blush in Peach Bellini (02). It’s highly pigmented, blends nicely, and is a pretty universally flattering shade.

I’ll stop here—I don’t want to put so much information on here that it ceases being helpful. Basically, I wanted to make some products accessible, just in case some of you only have five minutes in CVS and that wall of cosmetics is alluring but too overwhelming. I’m finding a lot of fun playtime in this lately, and I definitely want to share it with other moms! Sometimes the things we do in our spare moments as moms don’t actually reflect self-care any more than our busy moments do—we are tidying up or planning out tomorrow rather than relaxing or taking care of ourselves. I picked a challenge that would actually require me to pamper myself a little everyday, and maybe when the challenge is over, I won’t have to give myself permission to keep it up.

Join me in allowing yourself time for self-care? Even just five minutes/day?

Have any good ideas or ways that you practice self-care as a mom? Leave me a comment! I’m always open to new ideas. :)

<3, Courtlandt