Makeup Empties and Reviews

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If you are a blogger or a collector of makeup and beauty products like me, you may know how hard it is to actually finish a beauty product. I am constantly trying new products, I receive products from Ipsy and I change it up because I want to see what else is out there. Often times it’s rare that I find a product I like so much I finish it! It’s also rather rare that I finish the product and want to buy it again.

So today I want to talk about my empties and whether or not I would buy them again.

I’d like to start out by saying that I am all about affordable makeup products. There are some products, like eyeshadow palettes, that I will splurge on. But for products I use every single day, I am much more likely to gravitate towards the drug-store brands and drug-store prices. While I love makeup products, they can get pretty expensive and I’m not about that life right now.

Face

Hi Definition Photo Concealer Wand in Green

$4.99 at Ulta

I don’t know what I was thinking before I used this product. Well, actually, I thought that if I had a good coverage foundation and the right primer I wouldn’t need a product like this. I’d used one in the past that was a concealer stick and I hated the consistency so I stayed away. But I’m so glad I tried this because it’s such an effective color correcting face product. Even though it’s liquid,  it dries quickly so it doesn’t move around when I apply foundation over it. I use it on red spots on my cheeks and nose and then on any blemishes I might have.

Would I buy this again? I actually just did! I don’t think I could ever go back to not using a green color correcting product. I like NYX because they don’t test on animals and I always have a good turnout with their products.

NYX Stay Matte Not Flat

$7.49 at Ulta

I have struggled for years with oily skin – which I think is mostly from the terrible humidity in Florida – so all of my foundations felt incredibly dewy on my face. For most of my adult and makeup-wearing life, I have been on the hunt for the right foundation. It was last year when I tried NYX’s Stay Matte Not Flat for this reason. I think I had seen in a youtube video to try a matte foundation. This product has great coverage, I’d say medium to buildable. It’s smooth and long-lasting. And best of all my face no longer feels so dewy and moist all the time.

Would I buy this again? I have actually bought this product over 3 times and I highly recommend it for anyone with oily skin or skin prone to humidity reactions.

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 e.l.f. Flawless Foundation

$6 at elfcostmetics.com

As you read above, I was already in love with a foundation, so why did I buy this? I had heard from multiple sources that it was a great product for all different skin types, so I thought why not give it a try? It’s only $6 and it’s a brand that I already love and trust. And I was not disappointed. First of all, it smells so good. Second, it matches my skin tone better than any foundation I’ve ever used. It applies almost velvety, it’s such a soft application with really great coverage. It doesn’t feel dewy at all but it’s also not super mattifying.

Would I buy this again? Yes! Even though I love NYX’s above foundation, I can’t beat this price or the fact that it matches my skin tone so well.

 NYX HD Finishing Powder in Banana

$9.99 at Target

This is the first time I’ve ever tried a “finishing powder.” I know, I’m behind. I’d always just used a powder foundation to set my liquid foundation if I used any at all. This has been another one of those times where I don’t know what I was thinking before I used this. I’ll never go back to not using a finishing powder. It’s a lighter finish that actually sets my makeup versus the powder foundation that feels cakey.  The application is almost that same velvety feeling except in a powder.

Would I buy it again? I just did a few days ago and until I find either something cheaper or something I’ve just got to try, I’m going to keep buying this product.

Eyes

e.l.f. Waterproof Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara

$3 at elfcostmetics.com

Up until about a year ago, when I decided I was only going to buy products not tested on animals, I had always used the same Maybelline mascara. Then I started experimenting with different brands. I’ve tried a few different brands but e.l.f. is a go to. As I get out of old makeup habits, I wanted to try a brand at least I know I like. And have I mentioned that e.l.f. is cheap? This mascara is only $3. While I was using it I liked it, I was content with it. It wasn’t until I tried another drugstore brand that I realized it wasn’t all that great. The application was super light, hardly anything came out, and it didn’t do much for lengthening and volumizing.

Would I buy this again? No. While it’s cheap and not terrible, it’s also not great and not worth the $3.

Related: Why I Buy Cruelty-Free

 Wet N Wild Max Volume Waterproof Mascara

$4.99 at Ulta

This was the product I tried directly after the e.l.f. mascara and it made such a difference in both lengthening and volumizing my lashes. It’s not heavy but definitely thicker and volumizing. I also really like the longer plastic brush application. So far, it’s been the best mascara I’ve tried in my quest for makeup not tested on animals.

Would I buy this again? I think I would. I liked it and it worked. However, it’s not my favorite mascara, so, for now, I’m going to keep looking.

Hard Candy Eyeshadow Primer

$5 at Walmart

Before I bought this product I had never tried Hard Candy before. It’s a fairly new Wal-Mart/drugstore brand (at least in my neck of the woods). I needed more eyeshadow primer and I wanted to try this brand. So I bought it. That was months ago because the container is so big and has lasted forever. It’s got a velvet finish but that makes it dry faster so as soon as I apply it I have to start eyeshadow application right away. But it works. It lasts all day and well into the evening.

Would I buy it again? Yes! I haven’t bought another one yet, but in the future, I definitely would. It’s a fairly cheap price point and you get a lot of product that actually works.

Related:Drugstore Makeup Haul

While I would purchase most of these products again, that doesn’t mean I will. I love to try new makeup products and different brands but it does help to have a go-to at the end of the day.

I hope these reviews have given you some insight into the different products I like and use. Let me know if you have any recommendations or if you’ve used any of these products. What did you think of them? Let me know in the comments below!

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