Beauty Bargains

Well, if you insist....

Covergirl's Lash Blast: I used this for the first time on NYE and I really liked the volume it gives.

I have been using Smashbox primer for a couple of years, but really, it's absurdly expensive ($49 for a 2 ounce tube). When I was close to running out last fall, I did some google-fu on a few make-up blogs and review boards and found that many gals are using Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Gel as a substitute for Smashbox primer. Turns out it has the same ingredients and I did a side by side test on my face one day and I'll be darned, it works great. Smooth skin and a perfect base for my foundation. At around $7 for a 1.5 ounce tube, it's now a beauty staple in my arsenal.

I also found that Coastscents.com sells 100% silica powder for about $4 an ounce, compared to Make Up For Ever's HD powder (which is, you guessed it, 100% silica) at $30 for 0.35 ounce. The Coastalscents' silica comes in a large plastic container, so I do recommend you re-use a smaller one with a sifter lid (or you can buy one for under a buck at coastalscents too).

Coastalscents also sells some new gel liners that might be a suitable replacement for MAC's Fluidline at about half the price, but I just got new Fluidline in black and brown, so I won't be trying them any time soon to find out.

I am all about finding substitute products this year

Cheap as chips! Maybelline Full'N Soft Waterproof Mascara ( i like it in Brownish-Black)
IMO, best everyday mascara ever! I buy it in the beauty section of the supermarket when buying food And since we have to be careful with mascara not to irritate eyes, i get a new tube every 4 weeks! Good stuff!:eusa_clap

Odalisque, i also like Covergirl's Lash Blast, but Full'n Soft is my first choice

I'm in love with the Mabeline Mineral Wear line.
It's all under ten bucks,doesn't aggravate my acne (which I have worse now than as a teen) and you can get it anywhere.

Inky said:

I have been using Smashbox primer for a couple of years, but really, it's absurdly expensive ($49 for a 2 ounce tube). When I was close to running out last fall, I did some google-fu on a few make-up blogs and review boards and found that many gals are using Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Gel as a substitute for Smashbox primer. Turns out it has the same ingredients and I did a side by side test on my face one day and I'll be darned, it works great. Smooth skin and a perfect base for my foundation. At around $7 for a 1.5 ounce tube, it's now a beauty staple in my arsenal.

I also found that Coastscents.com sells 100% silica powder for about $4 an ounce, compared to Make Up For Ever's HD powder (which is, you guessed it, 100% silica) at $30 for 0.35 ounce. The Coastalscents' silica comes in a large plastic container, so I do recommend you re-use a smaller one with a sifter lid (or you can buy one for under a buck at coastalscents too).

Coastalscents also sells some new gel liners that might be a suitable replacement for MAC's Fluidline at about half the price, but I just got new Fluidline in black and brown, so I won't be trying them any time soon to find out.

I am all about finding substitute products this year

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Inky, those are FABULOUS tips! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love the silica powder in particular. That stuff is the best.
:eusa_clap


~D.

Snookie said:

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm writing it all down and going to the drugstore to see what I can find.

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lol I am sitting here with a piece of paper and pen as I go through these threads!!

For the ladies thinking of e.l.f.--I love their stuff. When I was married, I put together a little "day of" set for my bridal party. All of the girls have gone back for more. I really love their eye lash curler. It's on springs and I find it gives me a much better curl than my regular one.

Queen Helene's is such a wonderful product--and it lasts for so long! I've always loved the smell of the mint one.

Along those same lines, if you can't find QH's mask, toothpaste can be used in a pinch. If I've run out or forgotten my bottle while we're on holiday, I'll slather a dollop of (mint) toothpaste on a breakout and it's usually much smaller in the morning.

I have to say Retin-A is a bargain (my insurance covers it for about 15 or 20 bucks), it retails for about 80 or 100 bucks, but a tube lasts 4 months (I rotate it every other night with metro gel) and it's the only cream known to prevent wrinkles...a lot cheaper then when I was buying junky wrinkle creams and pore serums, that showed little to no results. I've been using this stuff for years and I don't have many lines for my age. I stopped for about a year, and didn't like my pores, so I started it again.

Coastal scents and Zinc

Inky said:

I have been using Smashbox primer for a couple of years, but really, it's absurdly expensive ($49 for a 2 ounce tube). When I was close to running out last fall, I did some google-fu on a few make-up blogs and review boards and found that many gals are using Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Gel as a substitute for Smashbox primer. Turns out it has the same ingredients and I did a side by side test on my face one day and I'll be darned, it works great. Smooth skin and a perfect base for my foundation. At around $7 for a 1.5 ounce tube, it's now a beauty staple in my arsenal.

I also found that Coastscents.com sells 100% silica powder for about $4 an ounce, compared to Make Up For Ever's HD powder (which is, you guessed it, 100% silica) at $30 for 0.35 ounce. The Coastalscents' silica comes in a large plastic container, so I do recommend you re-use a smaller one with a sifter lid (or you can buy one for under a buck at coastalscents too).

Coastalscents also sells some new gel liners that might be a suitable replacement for MAC's Fluidline at about half the price, but I just got new Fluidline in black and brown, so I won't be trying them any time soon to find out.

I am all about finding substitute products this year

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**I just got the Coastal Scents Silica powder in the mail yesterday! I love it!! A little goes a very long way and what a deal$$.
Also, picked up a small pot of clear zinc (spf45) for my face (less than $5.00), blends a little stiff but my skin feels less greasy than when I use reg sunscreen.

HadleyH said:

Cheap as chips! Maybelline Full'N Soft Waterproof Mascara ( i like it in Brownish-Black)
IMO, best everyday mascara ever! I buy it in the beauty section of the supermarket when buying food And since we have to be careful with mascara not to irritate eyes, i get a new tube every 4 weeks! Good stuff!:eusa_clap

Odalisque, i also like Covergirl's Lash Blast, but Full'n Soft is my first choice

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These are my 2 favorite mascaras too. They are also 2 of the only ones that don't smudge excessively on me. Plus neither clumps. I think the Lash Blast does give better volume though.

ITA about the retin a too. Totally HG for me. I went off it when I changed jobs and lost my insurance, but eventually started ordering it from India since I started breaking out again immediatly after stopping my dermatologist recommended regimen. It alone isn't perfect for acne. I use it with Benzaclin(a mix of BP 5% and Clindamycin gel that is also orderable from India) in the days. Thankfully I have insurance again, so when I run out, I can just go to the pharmacy to pick some up.

I picked up the Equate version of L'oreal's Extra Firming Eye Cream from Walmart for 7.00 last night and it really does work. I originally tried it back in 2004 when I was volunteering to help with the WWII photo exhibit in the Hall of State and the State Fair of Texas and whenever I was leaving I stopped by the Loreal booth and picked one up. I think I ended up with 5 or 6 and gave 2 or 3 away. I don't remember using it up more than once though, so I wonder what happened the the rest. Anyway, I remember being really surprized when it took care of the line between my brows. I think I started using that Avon Anew Eye Cream with the 2 sided container and ended up loving that one even more.

Long Story short, I bought this a few days ago and my under eye area is really smooth. It doesn't do anything for the circles, but it does do what it says it does.

Irish_Rin said:

**I just got the Coastal Scents Silica powder in the mail yesterday! I love it!! A little goes a very long way and what a deal$$.
Also, picked up a small pot of clear zinc (spf45) for my face (less than $5.00), blends a little stiff but my skin feels less greasy than when I use reg sunscreen.

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Ladies, please be careful with the silica powder! That particular powder is meant to be used as an additive to mineral based foundations and such, not as a powder on it's own. I know a lot of blogs have posted about it, but a group of us working artist are trying to get the word out about safety

http://stashswatch.blogspot.com/2009/02/coastal-scents-controversy-and-silica.html

A quote from Founder of OCC cosmetics David Klasfield "I cannot stress this enough: DO NOT USE, OR CONTINUE TO USE THIS!

What is sold to be used in formulation as is the case with this site, is often done so in presumtive accordance with appropriate manufacturing regulations (i.e. amount, concentration, method of application). This does not speak to its safety if applied directly or undiluted. For example, pure pigments that are used in formulating eyeshadows, can cause irritation, allergic reaction or dermatitis if applied directly to the skin. In this case, through continued use, you may be risking something more serious: Silicosis

Silicosis (also known as Grinder's disease and Potter's rot) is a form of occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust, and is marked by inflammation and scarring in forms of nodular lesions in the upper lobes of the lungs.

I'm going to assume that Make Up For Ever has found some way to regulate particle size, etc. to prevent this from occuring with the continued use of their powder, but I would never, ever use something that wasn't designed with this as its intended use, like the way the HD Powder evidently was.

Personally, I avoid loose silica products entirely because currently, they have not been "assessed for safety in cosmetics by (an) industry panel" in "products that may be aerosolized (airborne)". I should point out that, as noted, the term "aerosolized" is not limited to aerosol sprays, etc. as you might assume - it refers to becoming airborne in any method.

This is especially concerning to me because in every other industry where the product is micronized and becomes airborne, the potential for it to cause cancer is classified as "strong evidence".

In California, Silica fall under the list of of carcinogens on Proposition 65."

The Make Up Forever powder has gone through rigorous process to break down the silica into microspheres that are MUCH smaller in size than the coastal scents one (My very good friend KJ Bennett is Director, Pro Business Development & Artist Realtions for Make Up For Ever and researched this through the chemists for us). Similar to the silica size that is in the popular silicone based airbrush foundation Temptu S/B.

Ok, sorry to interrupt...we continue with out regularly scheduled program

My beauty deals

I'm another huge fan of Covergirl's Lash Blast. I also love the Outlast lip color. I recently got one on sale for about 9 dollars (reg. price about $11 cnd) in a wonderful shade of red (ever red-dy). It's a perfect red shade for me, and lasts forever! I grabbed my last lip liner at the dollar store, and it works really well, although I most likely will upgrade soon.

I use Trucco cosmetics liquid liner (in licorice) and eyeshadow (in dusk). I found these at a beauty supply store for $5 each. They work fantastic! The color is very strong, and they apply and last very well.

My most recent budget beauty find that I'm in love with is Kiss my Face soap- Olive Oil and Lavender. After reading on old thread on here about ocm, I decided to pick this. I paid $4 for the 8oz bar, and my skin looks and feels fantastic now. It cleared my skin up almost instantly! As well Dial's Almond and Soy body wash is great, and about $5 dollars for a fairly large bottle

Do I need to see a dermn go get Retin A? Or can I ask my regular dr. at my next appointment? Dare I say I want it for wrinkles or do I say pimples?

For the ladies who liked Full'N'Soft and Lash Blast - there is a third fantastic mascara that i found, also a bargain : Cover Girl Volume Exact Waterproof Mascara in Black Brown
It's worth trying! I am really loving it!

Any form of Vitaman E oil, the stuff works wonders for dry skin!!

Lacura Skin Care

Can any UK ladies or even some Oz girls speak on this brand? It popped up at my Aldi store a few weeks ago but I dismissed it as another dollar-store type brand.
Everything is priced 1.99 to 4.99

But when looking at the store circular this week, I decided to do some investigation and it seems that the UK is eating this stuff up, literally! Its flying off shelves, winning awards....the whole lot.

I am heading to Aldi today and plan on trying a few things. My normal moisturizer is 38 and I could buy the whole line for that price. I am not going to expect the same results but studies have shown Lacura to be up with and surpassing department store brands, but I have a serious die hard love for my Philosophy--I am just hoping to cheat a few more weeks out of my jar before I have to rebuy at 38 bucks.

Inky said:

I have been using Smashbox primer for a couple of years, but really, it's absurdly expensive ($49 for a 2 ounce tube). When I was close to running out last fall, I did some google-fu on a few make-up blogs and review boards and found that many gals are using Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Gel as a substitute for Smashbox primer. Turns out it has the same ingredients and I did a side by side test on my face one day and I'll be darned, it works great. Smooth skin and a perfect base for my foundation. At around $7 for a 1.5 ounce tube, it's now a beauty staple in my arsenal.

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I too use smashbox primer and am very interested in trying this. I read the directions and its not used for that but you tried it and it works the same? It doesnt get sticky on your face? I have a eye gel that I have to use at night because if I use it in the morning my foundation makes it gum up. Using this product in place of your primer doesnt do that?

I've been using it since last fall and it works just as well as the smashbox primer for me. It does not gum up or flake at all for me. The best part is the cost - for so little it was worth the experiment in my book - and you can always use it for its original intended purpose

Thanks!! I am going to run out today after work and look for it. Its one of those things that because I KNOW its soooo expensive I dont want to use it but for special occasions but I LOVE using it! Thanks so much!

Rosie, here's a few of the links that I found when I was learning about Monistat Chafing Gel as primer:

http://experimentsinmakeup.blogspot.com/2008/04/review-smashbox-primer-vs-monistat-anti.html

http://thebeautybrains.com/2008/04/12/is-monistat-bikini-chafing-gel-a-good-makeup-primer/

http://www.makeupalley.com/product/...f_Powder-Gel/Unlisted_Brand/Primer/_Corrector

I wanted to add that the Smashbox primer would always give me some slight redness on my cheeks near my nose, but the Chafing Gel does not do that on me, which is a real plus. I normally don't have very sensitive skin, so I don't know what ingredient in Smashbox was causing that temporary redness (no itching, just a red tone).

Thank you SO much Inky!! :eusa_clap