Total Beauty: Low-Rated Drugstore Makeup

while drugstore makeup can be amazing, and has improved tremendously over the last couple of years, there are still products on the market that aren't so loved. Total Beauty has gathered a list of low-rated products that site members have had bad experiences with.

check out this helpful list, then let me know if you agree with the picks!

Cheap Makeup Gone Wrong

See which low-rated makeup products you should avoid

This is a TotalBeauty.com cheap makeup article Total Beauty readers give us the lowdown on 16 low-rated drugstore makeup products. See products

No. 16: Maybelline New York Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length Mascara, $6.94

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 5.9

"I know hate is a strong word but ... I hate this mascara! …"

No. 15: Milani Loose Makeup, $7.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 5.6

"The coverage is horrible: it looks patchy and uneven …"

No. 14: CoverGirl Trublend Microminerals Foundation, $10.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 5.6

"It clogged my pores …"

Want to see what other products made the list? Click here!

xo

beauty on a budget: Maybelline SuperStay 24HR Makeup

long-wearing foundation is a great option for me because i have oily skin. some formulas just slide off of my face no matter how well i prep before applying them. Maybelline's new SuperStay 24HR Makeup promises 24 hour wear and no rub off. so how does it compare to my HG makes-me-look-flawless-no-matter-what-and-doesn't-go-anywhere-until-i-take-it-off foundation, Double Wear by Estee Lauder?

here's the scoop:

i was a bit sceptical, and not really looking forward to using this foundation, but i had to get over myself and just do it (and i did spend my own money on it!). to really put it to the test, i decided to take it through one of my 1 1/2 hour workouts (hey, it says right on the bottle that it lasts through heat, sweat and humidity, i had to do it!).

so, i ran for 30 minutes then took a 1 hour spin class. by the end of both, i was impressed with what i saw. there was foundation on my towel, but my "face" didn't look like it was melting off. of course, the makeup wasn't perfect if you looked at it really close, but i thought it held up well considering what i had just put it through.

following my extreme experiment, i decided to be fair and wear it for a week under normal conditions-- just everyday life. the formula has a buildable coverage, and is a bit thicker in consistency compared to DW. i noticed it didn't always look great by the end of the day, but overall, it kept decent coverage, held up well and removed easily at the end of the day.

one thing i really am not happy about is the lack of shades available (only 12). my shade, Caramel, is the lighter of the only two dark shades. i realize this is a typical issue with drugstore foundations, but this could always change.

have you tried Maybelline SuperStay 24HR Makeup? what do you think?

xo
pic taken by me :)

beauty steal: LORAC Perfectly Lit Luminizing Powder in 'Spotlight'

who loves a fabulous deal? i know i do, so i had to share this-- it's too good to miss!

today through august 10, 2010, LORAC Perfectly Lit Luminizing Powder in Spotlight will be offered for only $9 (originally priced at $32!) exclusively at Sephora stores and online at sephora.com.

if you love an illuminated look, this powder offers users a radiant glow, making it look like you are glowing from within. it also optimizes the effect of the light to diminish imperfections, even your skin tone and brighten your complexion.

happy shopping!

xo

Get a Flawless, Glowing Look Like Jennifer Hudson

when Jennifer Hudson got together with Sam Fine, celebrity makeup artist and creator of The Basics of Beauty, for a shoot showing off her gorgeous new, slimmed down physique, he gave her a gorgeous, glowing makeup look. below, Sam shares his insider advice on how you, too, can achieve the same flawless and glowing face at home in just a few easy steps.

begin with coverage.

Sam says: "every great look begins great coverage. Jennifer has beautiful skin, but like many women of color, she has varied tones. i use foundation to unify those varying tones. one of my favorites is the (CoverGirl) Queen Collection Natural Hue Compact Foundation because it's cream- to- powder, so it dries down to a powdery finish and looks really natural."




use a bronzer.

"bronzer is always a must for all women to illuminate their complexion. it's important to choose a bronzer that's one shade darker than your natural skin tone and apply it to the outer perimeter of your face to warm the skin and create a halo of glow. after applying bronzer, you can go back and layer over blush to give the skin a pop of color. on Jennifer, i used CoverGirl Natural Hue Mineral Bronzer and Cargo's Matte Blush in Laguna.

the eyes have it.

"to create Jennifer's classic, natural eye, i used a brown shadow. Shu Uemura makes a great pressed eye shadow in an array of shades – in this case, their Matte Taupe with Golden Flakes Eyeshadow works perfectly. for this look, i didn't use a ton of liner, and totally avoided lining underneath her eyes to keep them soft. we used tons of mascara to enhance her look – my favorite is CoverGirl LashBlast. i always like to apply a coat of mascara, and then move on to something else to let the first coat dry. i'll come back a few minutes later, curl the lashes, and then layer on a few more coats of mascara to really build the lashes. this makes them much more dramatic and makes the curl hold well. it's like spraying your hair with a coat of hairspray before using a curling iron."



finish with a pretty nude lip.

"to complete her look, i gave Jennifer a beautiful nude lip. the key to a nude lip is to begin by lining the lips with liner that is one shade darker than your natural lip color. don't worry about matching the liner to your lipstick-- if you match it to your lips, it will look great with any shade of lipstick. after lining the lips, feather the liner towards the center of the mouth to great a base for the lipstick. next, apply your lipstick. on Jennifer, i chose IMAN Cosmetics' Luxury Moisturizing Lipstick in Citron. i finished by slicking on a golden gloss add dimension and shine. CoverGirl Shine Blast Lip Gloss is perfect!"

she looks fabulous, don't you think? if you want to learn more from Sam Fine, check out his best-selling dvd, The Basics of Beauty.

xo

Natasha Bedingfield Shares Her Beauty Must-Haves

the fabulous Natasha Bedingfield visited the west hollywood Serge Normant at John Frieda Salon for an US Magazine shoot (featured in the current issue-- get it, quick!). post-shoot, beauty director Gwen Flamberg met up with the singer to find out about products Natasha can't live without.




for her blonde tresses, John Frieda Sheer Blonde products are her faves. the Color Renew Tone Restoring Shampoo and Go Blonder Shampoo keep her tone just the way she likes it, bright and more on the ash-beige side.

when it comes to makeup, Cle de Peau Beaute Foundation and Concealer are her picks for giving her skin an even finish. Natasha says, "it's just so good, and it's a little more expensive, but if you're going to splurge on something, i would say...if you're skin looks good, you don't have to wear anything else."

Guerlain My Insolence Eau de Toilette Spray is her pick for keeping herself smelling fabulous!


great products, wouldn't you say? i have never smelled My Insolence, but now i am intrigued. :)


xo
source: US Magazine; image source: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images

Scarlett Johansson at the 2010 Tony Awards

first of all, i have to say congrats to Scarlett Johansson! if you didn't already know, the actress accepted the Tony for best performance by a featured actress on sunday night. she was wearing a deep green embroidered Elie Saab gown (isn't it gorgeous?!), and her makeup look complimented it by being both romantic and sultry.

Scarlett's makeup artist, Gianpaolo Ceciliato, created the look-- dewy, fresh skin and a fierce pink and purple smoky eye using products from the Dolce & Gabanna The Makeup line.

first, Ceciliato lined Johansson's inner and outer eyelids with the Dahlia Crayon Intense Eyeliner. he then blended the purple shadow from the Eyeshadow Duo in Dazzling and the pink shadow from the the Eyeshadow Duo in Guilty on her eyelids. completing the eyes, Ceciliato applied several coats of black mascara on the top and bottom lashes.

Ceciliato kept the rest of the face natural, key to accentuating the dramatic eyes, by applying a bit of Luminous Cheek Color in Provocative to the upper portion of Scarlett's cheeks. the final touch was a nude lip using The Classic Cream Lipstick in Nude.

what do you think of Scarlett's look?

xo
images: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

Katy Perry at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards

CoverGirl celebrity makeup artist Jake Bailey created an uber-fun look for Katy Perry at the MTV Movies awards this year. i don't know about you, but i thought her makeup was amazing and her blue wig was fabulous (seriously, who knew blue hair could look so good?)!

since the wig was definitely the focal point of the look, Jake wanted to create a look to balance the bright color out. the result was a dramatic, glamorous eye with the rest of the face more muted. Katy really wanted everything to look polished and chic.

on the face, Jake used Makeup For Ever HD Foundation followed by CoverGirl Simply Ageless Sculpting Blush in Plush Peach to give her cheeks a warm glow.

on Katy's eyes CoverGirl Line Exact in Black was used. Jake says, "i love liquid liner because it allows you to change the shape of an eye, and we wanted to create a more almond shape for Katy." above the black liner, he applied the white shade of the CoverGirl Smoky ShadowBlast in Onyx Smoke. the new LiquiLine Blast in Silver Spark was lined on the waterline to make the eyes pop.

"women tend to be afraid to use liner in the inner eye but it actually balances out a dramatic eye look." -Jake Bailey

to finish the eye, multiple coats of CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion in Very Black was used. to finish the look, the lips were stained with Outlast Lipstain in Flirty Nude and given a touch of shine with LaMer Lip Balm .

before her performance Jake punched up the look a bit by adding LiquiLineBlast in Blue Bloom for a pop of color and Outlast Lipstain in Everbloom Kiss.

Jake shares that "Katy loves the Outlast Lipstains because they are great for when she performs; they don't stick to her hair or microphone and never smudge." i will add that i love them as well, and the new Flirty Nude shade is my newest favorite shade!

great job Jake!

xo
images: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Summer Beauty 2010: Bobbi Brown Beach Club Collection

"i’m always inspired by how happy and healthy people look on the beach. nothing says summer to me like pretty, glowing skin and shimmering lids." – Bobbi Brown

it's summer and Bobbi Brown has released her fabulous Beach Club Collection, featuring everything we beauty-loving girls need to get gleaming skin and iridescent lids.



Beach Shimmer Brick, limited edition

shimmer bricks are one of Bobbi's signature products, and this new one is gorgeous! i bought one today at Nordstrom, and i have to say, i'm very happy with my purchase. hand-made in italy, the Beach Shimmer Brick compact features five bars of warm, pearlized shimmer to create a beautiful seaside glow. i love that it has multi-tasking qualities-- wear one or two shades at a time on your lids, run a big fluffy powder brush over it to give your face the perfect hint of shimmer, or just highlight your cheek and brow bones.


the rest of the collection includes...

Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadows
the award-winning, crease-free formula now comes in glistening pastels in colors ranging from ocean blue to oyster pink. new shades include: Moonstone, Opal, Surf and Pink Oyster.

Shore Long-Wear Cream Shadow
this soft matte beige shade gives a perfect look-- just one notch up from natural, it stays color-true and crease-free all day.

Clear Treatment Lip Shine SPF 15
lightweight, soft shine lipstick also doubles as a rejuvenating treatment. it comforts dry, chapped lips and provides long-term moisturization with natural cocoa and shea butters, jojoba, apricot kernel and avocado oils. peptides, along with vitamin C and paracress, stimulate collagen production to reduce fine lines and wrinkles while spf 15 helps prevent sun damage.


the Bobbi Brown Beach Collection is available now on counter and online at bobbibrown.com

xo
Shimmer Brick pic taken by me :) ;other image courtesy of Bobbi Brown cosmetics.

Get Her Look: Christina Ricci Wearing NARS

Christina Ricci attended the closing celebration of Marina Abramovic’s "The Artist Is Present" at the Museum of Modern Art in nyc looking classic, but with an edgy twist. newly appointed NARS national makeup artist Francelle Daly creaated the look.

Francelle says of the look: "i wanted Christina's look to exude edgy, classic noir. it's all about the eyes. we kept them classic but infused edginess by adding green tones."

check out which products were used to achieve Christina's fabulous look:


face:



PRO-PRIME Skin Smoothing Face Prep

Siberia Sheer Matte Foundation


eyes:



PRO-PRIME Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

Galapagos Eyeshadow

Misfit Duo Eyeshadow

Aigle Noir Soft Touch Shadow Pencil


lips:



Harlow Lip Gloss


tell me: what do you think of Christina's look?

xo
info and first image courtesy of NARS

Beauty on a Budget: Rimmel London Max Volume Flash Mascara and Royal Gloss

two products from Rimmel London that i have been enjoying a lot lately are their new The Max Volume Flash Mascara and one of their Royal Gloss shades, Berry Crush.

first The Max Volume Flash...



this is touted as a volume-building mascara, but i found it did give a decent amount of length. the brush is huge (which seems to be the trend with most volumizing mascaras these days), but the handle is a manageable size, so it's not difficult to maneuver through your lashes. the formula is good, not too thin of thick, and, as you can see in the pics (below), gives great volume (i think i was in a hurry, as i seem to missed the inner lashes on my right eye, LOL) with minimal clumping. ps- no flakes to be found as the day wears on! :)






Royal Gloss...





this lipgloss is silky smooth and so moisturizing on lips! enriched with vitamins A, C and E as well as royal jelly, it leaves a shiny finish without being sticky. Royal Gloss comes in 10 fabulous pearly shades, each enhanced with the sweet scents of bubble gum, chocolate and peach (Berry Crush has a bubble gum scent).

you can find Rimmel The Max Volume Flash Mascara and Royal Gloss in drugstores and mass retailers nationwide.

xo
all pics taken by me :)

Beauty on a Budget: L'Oreal True Match Roller Foundation

drugstore brand foundations have come a long way in terms of formulations and color range. so when they want to make a "better" foundation, i suppose it's in their thinking to come up with a new way of applying it. case in point, the L'Oreal True Match Roller Foundation. this cream foundation was released months ago, and when it it was, i was naturally intrigued to try it for myself. i used a few times before coming to my final thoughts about it...

pros of this foundation:

*the roller applicator feels like a nice massage on the face when applying the foundation.

*the formula is lightweight but offers buildable coverage.

*spf 25

*the shade i bought matched my skin perfectly.

cons of this foundation:

*the roller can be a bit tricky to maneuver around areas around the nose and eyes but is manageable.

*the foundation doesn't last more than a few hours before it starts to look unflattering and needs to be touched up.

*if not careful, you can apply too much product, leaving a cakey look.

*blending is still necessary after application.

*only 12 shades are offered-- this was disappointing since the True Match range of liquid foundations offers twice as many.

while i found the coverage and color match to be good, the fact that this foundation doesn't wear all day makes it a fail for me. sorry L'Oreal, but i need my foundation to last. i love many of your products, just not this particular foundation.

find L'Oreal True Match Roller Foundation at a drugstore near you. visit lorealparis.com for more info.

tell me: have you tried L'Oreal True Match Roller Foundation? did you love it or leave it?

xo
pic taken by me :)

MAC Pret-A-Papier

MAC, as you already know, puts out many (many) collections per season. i myself can barely keep up, LOL!. their newest collection, Pret-a-Papier, is full of neutral tones with a few splashes of fun color, and i picked up a lipstick (Kraft) and nail lacquer (Brown Bag) last week.



Kraft is creamy and a great better-than-nude-on-me lip shade. i love that i can apply this without a mirror! Brown Bag is a pretty brown nail lacquer that has a hint of shimmer. i love that it almost gives me a mannequin hands look. overall, this is a great group of products sure to keep your look polished and fresh this season.





take a look at the entire collection:




Chromagraphic Pencil (sold out online)
NC15/NW20
NW25/NC30




Impeccable Brow Pencil
Dirty Blonde-- blackened dark-neutral brown
Taupe-- mid-tone dirty taupe



Studio Fix Lash
Black Fix-- black




Sheertone Blush
Instant Chic-- mid-tone muted coral
Garb-- light golden suntan




Mineralize Blush
Light Over Dark-- light yellow brown/dark peach (frost)




Paint Pot
Coral Crepe-- soft coral
Groundwork (out of stock online, but will be available again soon)-- mid-tone neutral taupe




Lipstick
Archetype-- sheer light gold (lustre)
Dressmaker, Dressmaker-- creamy-light peach-coral (lustre)
Made to Order-- creamy mid-tone dirty coral (lustre)
Kraft- creamy mid-tone warm brown (amplified)




Lipglass
C-Thru-- peachy-beige with shimmer
Fold and Tuck-- mid-tone bright coral w/soft pearl
Prêt-à-Papier-- dark reddened bronze w/pearl





Eyeshadow
Gazette Grey-- dark green-grey with gold pearl (velvet)
Memorabilia-- dirty purple (matte)
Tissueweight-- frosted pale peach (frost)
Bamboo-- light beige with peach (matte)
Cut to Fit-- frosted red-bronze (frost)



Nail Lacquer
Brown Bag-- mid-tone warm-dirty beige (cream)
Originality-- sparkly copper bronze (frost)


as noted, some products are sold out or on back order online. my suggestion to you, if those are products you're looking to buy, is to call your local MAC store (or counter) and ask if they have what you're looking for in stock. :)

Pret-a-Papier is available until july 2010. visit maccosmetics.com for more info.


xo
info courtesy of MAC; images, unless marked otherwise, courtesy of MAC

My New Favorite Gloss: Avon Glazewear Lip Gloss

i have been introduced to my new favorite lipgloss...

and it comes from a brand i haven't used in years.

i admit, i didn't expect too much from it, but as it turns out, it's america's #1 best-selling lipgloss-- and for good reason!

since it's in the title (and, well, there's a picture), you already know i'm talking about Avon Glazewear Lip Glosses.

when i applied this to my lips, they became oh-so happy (as in a Carrie Bradshaw, "hello, lovah" kind of way). the formula is silky smooth, glossy and not sticky in the slightest. they come in Intense, Sparkle and Shine shades as well as Clear. the sparkly, nude shade of Mirage (a Sparkle shade) looks fab alone and over any lipstick, and Intense Plum (part of the Intense range of shades) is the perfect color for giving my lips the perfect berry tint.

fyi, until the end of this month (may 2010) you can snag your own Glazewear Lipglosses for less than $2 each! trust me, you will not be disappointed. to find your very own Avon rep, visit avon.com.

xo
products featured were provided by representatives of the brand for review.

Robyn Cosio of Sally Hershberger Shares Some Helpful Beauty Tips

makeup artist and eyebrow specialist Robyn Cosio, of the Sally Hershberger salons in los angeles and new york, has amazing skills that set her apart in the world of beauty. she has not only worked with some of the most recognizable faces in hollywood (including Nicole Kidman, Kate Bosworth, Marisa Tomei, Christina Applegate and Cat Deeley), but she makes "everyday" women look amazing as well (and she's even written a book!).

Robyn has shared some fab tips with me that i just had to pass along. hopefully you'll adopt one, or all, of these easy-to-do tidbits to ensure you maintain your best look throughout this spring season and beyond.

take a look...

tip #1: never tweeze nude

"before you tweeze your brows, make sure you use a pencil to fill your desired shape. without a guide in place, you will always over tweeze! once you have the shape in place, simply pluck the hairs outside the line for perfect brows."

tip #2: let your lips speak

"bright red is hot for lips this spring and will command attention all on its own. adding eyeliner into the mix will make you look over the top and drown out your lip color. a gorgeous summer lip color and great brows are all you need to frame your face and stay on trend this spring!"

tip #3: add color to brows

"if your brows are looking pale, fill them in using a brow powder. avoid using a pencil as they can make your brows look fake and one dimensional. brow powders are softer and applied with a small brush (look for one that is stiff and angled) and help to give your eyes that extra pop. blondes should go one shade darker than their natural color to avoid looking monochromatic."

tip #4: sun, surf and mascara don't mix

"avoid applying mascara in summer when you spend more time outdoors and at the beach. the humid weather and water will cause your mascara to run. try having your lashes tinted – this is an easy way to keep eyes looking beautiful and eliminates the need to reapply waterproof mascara."

xo

NARS Summer 2010 Collection

created and photographed by Nars founder and creative director Francois Nars, the NARS Summer 2010 campaign was inspired by Catherine Deneuve's character Severine in the movie Belle de Jour. as with the Spring 2010 collection, Amber Valletta is the face of the collection.




i personally am loving the glamour of this collection even though it's for summer. take a look...


Enchanted
a soft-peach cream blush with a hint of shimmer; leaves skin luminous with smooth and silky color. the vitamin-enriched formula is long-lasting and blends easily for a sheer flush and healthy, glowing summertime skin.

Burn It Blue
an iridescent ocean-blue and turquoise duo cream eyeshadow. the soft cream formula can be applied with fingertips or a brush for more precision. swipe on alone or layer one on the other-- the final look is delicate, yet striking.




Cayenne
spicy, deep brown cream eyeshadow; the weightless texture makes it a versatile summer option. use it to line eyes or swipe it across the entire lid. can be applied sheer or layered for more color, intensity and pop.

Love Devotion
sheer guava lipstick delivers a subtle and glistening color, and lips are left looking soft and sumptuously in season.

Coup de Coeur
like the french phrase it's named after, this apple-brandy tinted lip gloss is shiny and sheer. convenient wand application is perfect for adding gloss throughout the day for ultra-tempting fullness.

Lamu
a fresh, glazed-apricot shade with gold sparkles to create shimmering accents. gives a glowing complexion, is lightweight, foolproof, quick and easy.

Versailles
a regal, opalescent, champagne-gold nail hue with shimmer that creates a sophisticated, light-catching tint.


NARS Summer 2010 Collection is available april 15, 2010 on counter and at narscosmetics.com

xo
info and images courtesy of NARS

Chanel Summer 2010 Makeup Collection

spring is in full swing-- isn't it fabulous? i am loving all the vibrant colors and the cool breezes that compliment the warmer temps. with this time of year also comes the introduction of summer goodies. Chanel has a new collection available soon, and i am already liking what i see...

bold and audacious, Gabrielle Chanel pushed the boundaries of style...

to continue that tradition, Peter Philips has create a gorgeously free-spirited makeup collection. inspired by an idyllic seaside vista, the new collection, Les Pop-Up De Chanel, includes vibrant and fresh new hues for lips and nails that are sure to end up with a cult status. these energetic pops of color (including neon pink, sunny coral and brilliant turquoise) will be the perfect compliment to bronzed, glowing skin...not to mention will be the standout shades of summer. :)

Les Pop-Up De Chanel on counter in may 2010.

xo