April Favorites | MakeupByAundi

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @makeupbyaundi for a bonus favorite!

As the end of the months draw near, I always find myself giddy with excitement! Not only do I love sharing my monthly favorites, I love seeing everyone else's favorites. Let me know what your go-to items have been for this month! :)

                                      

I have a few new items to share for the month of April, but I also rediscovered some old favorites that I have fallen in love with all over again... 

                                   

Revlon Photo Ready BB Cream | $9.99 at Target

This has been my go-to in my everyday makeup routine. As the weather warms up, I love the idea that less is more. If I'm being totally honest, there have been several times this month when I've slapped on some moisturizer, thrown on some mascara and called it a day. This is the perfect product for me because it's lightweight, gives light coverage, and has SPF 30. Is this long-wearing? No. Would I wear this for a special occasion? Definitely not. But it's perfect for spring & summer to wear everyday. If you're unfamiliar with BB Creams, most claim to work miracles, but it's essentially your run of the mill tinted moisturizer. This one in particular can get a teeny bit shiny by the end of the day, so if you tend to get oily, you may want to find another one that suits your skin.

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation | $11.99 at Ulta

On the days I need a little more coverage, I have been all about some Revlon Colorstay. I have loved this foundation for years, and it's still one of my all time favorites from the drugstore. It's also great for the warmer months because it gives great coverage (medium to full) with a demi-matte/satin finish without being cakey. 

Watch me ramble on about why I love this foundation and other drugstore favorites in my latest video HERE! :)

                                   

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer | $6.99 at Ulta

My favorite drugstore concealer is a toss up between this one and Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser, but the Fit Me is my current go-to. It sets so well and gives me little to no creasing in my fine lines around my eyes. I use shade 15 to give me the highlighted look I'm always obsessed with. This concealer is also light and creamy enough to be used to highlight the rest of my face. It's basically everything I look for in a concealer and it's affordable. Love. 

The Balm Cosmetics Blush in Down Boy | $21 at The Balm

I ordered this blush and two others from Hautelook... While I love the other two products, this one has been a standout this month. It's the perfect baby pink - my dream shade! The formula is long-wearing but not chalky. The Balm can be a little on the expensive side, but if you can find it on sale (often on Hautelook), snatch up some goodies while you can! 

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Rose Amour | $7.99 at Amazon 

(I bought mine at CVS)

Milani Brilliant Shine Lip Gloss in Pink Lady | $5.99 at Walgreens

I must admit that I was hesitant to jump on the Milani bandwagon, although I'm not sure why. This was my first lipstick from their Color Statement line and I am officially obsessed! I regret waiting so long to give Milani a go. The formula is so smooth and creamy and the pigmentation is gorgeous. I cannot wait to try other colors from the line. To make it even more amazing, I have been topping the lipstick with this Brilliant Shine gloss. The gloss has enough pigmentation to wear on its own, but applying it over this color makes it absolutely magical! ;)

Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Speak Your Mind | $18 at Ulta

One of the many reasons I love Ulta - samples! This adorable miniature sample was a free gift from one of my Ulta purchases. This is my first experience with any Bare Minerals lipstick, and I may be hooked! This color 'Speak Your Mind' is my perfect shade; it's a gorgeous nudey-pink. My favorite thing about this lippy is the formula. Much like the Milani one, it's formula is so creamy and smooth - it glides on like a dream. I could never choose one lipstick as a favorite, but if I'm being honest, this one would certainly be in the running. 

Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Mist | $22.00 at Ulta

I am the worst at consistency when it comes to hair products. I have never been good about using a heat protectant, but this spray smells sooo good, I always remember to use it! It's a little pricey, but I can actually tell a difference when I use this before blow-drying. I feel like it makes my hair soft and shiny. I used to use the Tresemme spray, but I could never tell a difference in my hair. I have read some reviews and some say it reduces the time it takes to dry their hair, but that hasn't been the case for me. Overall, I am loving this new hair product!

I hope you get the chance to try some of these goodies. If you do, let me know your thoughts! I'm sure you'll love them as much as I do! 

xo's

March Favorites

Happy April! 

Am I the only one who thinks these months are flying by? I have been so busy this past month. I have been quite the minimalist in regards to makeup, but I have added some new skincare products to my regimen that I'm excited to share. Let's jump right in to this month's faves!

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser | $10.99 at Target
I am loving this cleanser lately. It's a gentle facial wash for normal to dry skin. I love the clean feeling it gives my skin without sucking the life natural oils out of my pores. It doesn't give my skin that overly tight feeling that most cleansers do. The 12 oz bottle is a great deal for the price. Sometimes I use my Neutrogena Makeup Remover wipes before cleansing, but other times I will skip that step and go straight for this cleanser. It removes every bit of my makeup - even my waterproof mascara!

If you saw my February Faves, you will know I have been obsessed with the Mario Badescu Ceramide Herbal Eye Cream. I have two new products from the line to add to my obsession!

Mario Badescu Whitening Mask | $24 at Ulta
I am really big on smells, so I had to smell the tester at Ulta. The smell is not bad, but it is a little strange. It reminds me of the vitamins I took as a child. The consistency is that of a thick paste and it hardens rather quickly. It's hydrating and gentle, perfect for all skin types - even sensitive! While this may not be a necessity in the skin care regimen of some, I love the result of this mask. It makes my skin feel soft and smooth, but even better than that, it really does even the tone of my skin and reduce the redness! This is a huge deal for me, as my skin has a lot of hyper-pigmentation. I had another bout with hormonal breakouts around my chin and mouth. I used this a couple times to spot treat (once overnight) and it really did take away the redness of the blemishes and sped up the healing process.

Mario Badescu Caviar Night Cream | | $20 at Ulta
Between the caviar, collagen, and cocoa butter, this night cream feels so luxurious. I can honestly say this product has helped my dry skin tremendously this month. It is very thick and heavy, so I try to apply it at least an hour before I go to bed (after I remove my makeup and cleanse) so it won't transfer onto my pillow. You blessed oily skinned gals may not like this product as it is very hydrating. But if you have flaky, dry skin like myself, you are missing out on life if you don't have this product!

I guess I could have cleaned the brush before I took a photo...

Real Techniques Blush Brush | $8.99 at Ulta
I don't know why I was so hesitant to jump on the Real Techniques bandwagon. These brushes were designed by YouTube beauty guru, Sam Chapman. They are all the rage in the online beauty community, and if the rest of the line is anything like this brush, I now understand why! This brush is incredibly soft and fluffy enough that it deposits just the right amount of product. I actually prefer using this brush to set my undereye concealer as opposed to using it for blush. I love it and can't wait to try more of her brushes!

NYX Butter Glosses | Creme Brûlée & Vanilla Cream Pie | $4.99 at Ulta
I talked about my first butter gloss in Eclair (read my thoughts here) . I purchased two more colors to add to my collection. I won't ramble on about these anymore, but they are amazing. I never considered myself a lip gloss kinda girl until these came into my life. Uhhb-sessed.

If you saw my Radiant Orchid Faves, then you will have seen the next few products. While I love all of these products, these were the ones I could not stop using! Watch my video to see my thoughts on these products and more.

Milani Lip Intense Liquid Color | Violet Addict | $6.49 at Milani
This lip color has been my jam this month. I love to throw on some liner and mascara and rock this bold, intense lip. It's so easy and super glamorous. This product is very bright and tends to act more as a lip stain because of the insane pigmentation. I don't exactly love the wand because it makes it more difficult to get a clean line, but I can work with it.

Maybelline Color Whisper | Oh La Lilac | $7.49 at Ulta
This is a basically a colored lip balm with a little something special. It's so easy to wear, and I got tons of compliments when I wore it!

Essie 'Play Date' | $8.50 at Ulta
LOVE this color and formula - I wore the same manicure for five days with no chipping! (I used my favorite Out the Door topcoat.)

It's a 10 Miracle Leave In Plus Keratin | $19.99 for 4 fl oz at Target
I received this sample size as a gift with purchase - another one of the many reasons I love Ulta. I've heard so many great things about It's a 10, but it's always seemed a bit pricey to me. The product claims to do 10 things (see what they did there?) instantly:

"1. Maintenance of keratin straightening treatments
2. Increases styling & manageability
3. Perfect for all hair types
4. Replaces lost protein
5. Protects the natural keratin in hair
6. Protects against heat
7. Restores hydration balance
8. Detangles, defrizzes & adds shine
9. Strengthens hair structure
10. Seals cuticles for extra silky hair"

I can't say that I've used it enough to see all 10 of these benefits, but it definitely leaves my hair silky, shiny, and smooth. It's a bit thicker than I was expecting, so I used way too much on my first try. I have quite fine hair, so I just spray a couple pumps into my hands and run it through the lengths of my hair, avoiding the roots. I love how soft it leaves my hair and I'm excited to see if my hair appears healthier after I use it some more. I have two samples to work my way through, but I can certainly see myself repurchasing when they are empty!


I believe that does it for my monthly favorites! What have you been loving this month?

PS. Follow me on Instagram for a bonus fave! @makeupbyaundi

xoxo.

February Favorites

It's that time again! Monthly Faves! I filmed my February Favorites video yesterday, not realizing that my camera was out of focus the whole time! Ugh. Sooo, this blog is dedicated to all the stand-out products that I could not stop using for the month of February! And I am still using most, if not all, of my January Faves. You can watch that video here.

Mario Badescu Ceramide Herbal Eye Cream, $18 at Ulta

I had been on the hunt for a new eye cream for some time. I had heard so many wonderful things about this line, so I was dying to try one of the eye creams. I decided to go with this one because it helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles (never too early to start!) and leave a youthful glow around the eye area. It's super moisturizing but not greasy. It's practically non-fragrant, if anything it just smells clean. I love smelly goodness (you know what I mean) as much as the next gal, but I can be sensitive to strong smells, so when I'm going to bed at night I definitely prefer the clean scent over anything else. If you are on the market for a new eye cream or any skincare product for that matter, I highly recommend the Mario Badescu line!

Stila Eyeshadow in Kitten, $18 at Ulta

Kitten is Stila's award-winning eyeshadow, and now I know why! I've debated on this shadow for a long time. I originally thought the color was nothing special. I have so many nude/champagne colors, so how could this one be any different? Well, it is! The formula is so smooth and creamy. It literally feels like butter! This eyeshadow can also double as a brow bone or cheek bone highlight. If you have been on the fence about whether or not to get this eyeshadow, stop what you are doing and GO GET IT! One word of caution, one of the reasons this shadow is so amazing is that it is so finely milled. That means if you drop this shadow, even from a foot above ground, it will shatter everywhere! Just be extremely careful. This product is worth every penny! I can't say enough good things about it (obviously!). 

MAC Eyeshadow in Brown Script, $15 at MAC 

Brown Script is a stunningly unique, burnt brown with a hint of orange that will look great on all eye colors, but it will especially amazing on blue eyes. Although this is a matte shade, it is very creamy and blendable. This is a perfect transition color or you can you use it all over the lid and through the crease as I did in my GRWM here. Warm shadows are so flattering and this one in particular is so versatile. I have found myself reaching for it all month!

Elf Studio Blush in Mellow Mauve, $3 at ELF (I bought mine at Target for the same price)

This blush is a beautiful every day color. It has the perfect hint of pink (but not overpowering) to give the most natural flush. I've heard others complain that it doesn't last long on them. While it's not the most long-wearing, it does last through my work day, which is all I really want from a day-to-day product. And it's $3. You really can't beat that the price! I've used it my last couple videos, including my Valentine's tutorial here. 

NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna, $38 at Sephora

I finally understand what all the hype is about. Although this bronzer swatches with tiny golden flecks, don't be scared! The slight shimmer (which cannot be detected on the face when applied with a large powder brush) gives more of a satin finish making it super easy to blend. It's versatile enough to give a sun-kissed effect or to sculpt your cheekbones and contours of your face. While the ELF version may be often referred to as a dupe for Laguna, there is definitely a difference in quality. If you have the extra cash, I'd recommend Laguna for sure!

Essence Match 2 Cover Cream Concealer, $3.49 at Ulta

This concealer was my savior this month when I had a rare hormonal breakout. The breakout came out of nowhere while I was out and about. I stopped by Ulta and snatched this baby up to hopefully mask the awful blemishes. Is this the best concealer I've ever used? No. But, it gets the job done and it's the perfect size to throw in your purse to reapply as needed. I also used the lighter shade to brighten up the undereye area if I started looking tired throughout the day. The only drawback is this is the only shade. If you're outside of the NC/NW 15-30ish range, you probably want to skip out on this product. 

NYX Butter Lipstick in Fun Size, $5.99 at Ulta 

I am a huge fan of NYX lippies, so of course my interest was peaked when they released their new Butter Lipsticks. My Ulta was very picked over, so this was the only shade that was super appealing to me. I love the formula; it's super moisturizing and gives a nice wash of color. I have really enjoyed pairing it with my next favorite... Can't wait to pick up more shades!

NYX Butter Gloss in Eclair, $4.99 at Ulta

If you have watched any of my previous videos, you know I am not the biggest lip gloss fan. I heard that the Butter Glosses were amazing, so I had to try one myself. I am officially obsessed! It smells so sweet and delicious, and it looks good on top of any nude or pink lipstick. The best part? It goes on sooo smoothly! It feels so comfortable on the lips, not sticky like some drugstore glosses. I've been pairing it often with MAC's Creme Cup. It's the perfect soft, nudey-pink. I can't wait to try other shades!

Anastasia of Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Soft Brown, $21 at Sephora (also available at Ulta)

I have never been a huge believer in brow products. If you've seen any of my videos, you will know I used to use eyeshadows to fill in my brows. Occasionally, I would use the Rimmel London Professional Eyebrow Pencils in Hazel and Dark Brown. While those are fine, there is no comparison to Anastasia's Brow Wiz. This pencil is seriously life-changing! It's a double-ended product with a handy-dandy spoolie on one end. The pencil is so tiny that it effortlessly mocks the effect of tiny hairs. It's so easy to fill in any sparse areas for a natural brow or define the edges for a more dramatic look. I love this product and will definitely be trying some of her other brow products (I have my eye on the dipbrow). 

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish in In Prompt Blue, (price varies) at Target or any drugstore

I have been eyeing Essie's Butler Please for quite some time, but I just haven't been impressed with Essie's formula. What do you think? This color is a nearly exact dupe (from what I can tell in the bottle) and it is gorgeous! It goes on so smoothly and pigmented. I used two coats and a top coat. My only complaint? It is not long-wearing. At all. You can see that after 48 hours, there is already substantial chipping. Is Butler Please worth the $8.50? Let me know what you think? I still love the color!!

L'Oreal Volume Filler Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner, Volume Filler, & Boost It High Lift Creation Spray, (price varies) at Target (usually the cheaper option) or any drugstore

This line is made specifically for thin, fine hair (yes, please!) so obviously I wanted to try every product I could find. The shampoo & conditioner claim to give you the feeling of 2x more hair. Hate to burst your bubble, but not so much. It is somewhat volumizing, especially when you use the volume filler. The box comes with three volume filler tubes to use in combination with the conditioner once a week for three weeks. It says to mix the entire tube with conditioner, but I have found that it's too much for my hair length. I use half of the tube one day and the other half the next. The conditioner is super lightweight so as not to weigh down your hair, so you'll definitely need to deep condition once or twice a week to make sure to rehydrate your hair. 

The Boost It High Lift Creation Spray is supposed to give instant lift and fullness, while giving the backcombing (teasing) effect without actually having to backcomb. While it does give volume, I still find that I need to tease my crown area to achieve the lift I want. This is a great affordable option to my CHI Magnified Volume Finishing Spray that I featured in my January Favorites.

Overall, I'm really enjoying the line (at least these products), and the added volume I get, especially from the Boost It spray. 

What have you been loving this month?

xoxo.

January Favorites

Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder
Freeman Beautiful Clay Mask in Avocado & Oatmeal
Juicy Coutoure Viva La Juicy La Fleur
Mac Fix+
I Need Mascara Makeup Bag from Forever 21
Revlon Photoready BB Cream in Light/Medium
Naked 3 Palette by Urban Decay
NYX Butter Balm in Brownie
Essence Blush in Babydoll
Real Techniques Miracle Completion Sponge
Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in 920 Nude Lust
Rimmel Lipliner in East End Snob
Jordana 12 Hour Made to Last Eyeliners
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
Wet n Wild Megalast Polish in Haze of Love
CHI Magnified Volume Finishing Spray
Kardashian Khroma Joystick in Babydoll
Revlon Lipstick in Black Cherry
Neutrogena Body Oil
Maybelline Baby Skin Pore Eraser
OPI Lincoln After Dark Nail Polish

I hope you'll give some of these products a try. Let me know what your favorites have been this month!

xo's.

2012 Drugstore Favorites

I know we're already two weeks into 2013, but I thought it would be fun to share my drugstore favorites from the last year. These have been staples in my makeup bag, some for years, and I'm finding it hard to branch out.  I mean, if ain't broke, don't fix it. Right? I've tried high-end department store products, but these drugstore items take the cake. One of my resolutions this year is to experiment with different products. I'm in the process of trying a few, so reviews will be coming soon!

Foundation:

L'oreal True Match Lumi

L'oreal released this formula in 2012, and I love it! It's perfect for someone with dry skin like myself. It gives the perfect natural, radiant glow. It is super light weight, offering light to medium buildable coverage. Because of my dry skin, I don't often feel the need to set my foundations with powder, but I do with this one. If I don't, it does give my face a bit too much shine by the end of the day. If you have oily skin, you may want to skip the Lumi and opt for a more matte finish.

Face Powder:

Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder

I am currently obsessed with this powder. I use the color 001 Transparent, so that it doesn't offer anymore color, just gives me the bit of shine control I need in my t-zone and sets my foundation all day long. It's around $3.99 for .49 oz of product. I mean, seriously. It doesn't get much better than that.

Concealer:

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind

This product has been raved about all over YouTube, so I thought I'd give it a go. And I'm so glad I did! I use the color Light for more of a heavily highlighted under eye look (a la Kim Kardashian). I love the formula. It's lightweight enough that it doesn't cake up under the eye, but gives great coverage - even on those days when I'm running on very little sleep. The sponge tip applicator is not my personal favorite, although some really like it.

Revlon PhotoReady Concealer

This concealer I use for the rest of my face to cover any breakouts or redness. I also like to use the lightest color, 002 Pale, to highlight my cheekbones on days when I'm not really feeling a shimmery highlight. This is probably the best drugstore formula I've tried when it comes to a cream concealer. Once I apply it, I set it with my Rimmel Stay Matte, and it doesn't budge!

Bronzer:

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder 

This is the perfect bronzer for pale skin during the winter months. It has a warmer tone, so it doesn't look extremely obvious that I've bronzed my face. I can use it to contour my face or for an all over sun-kissed glow. Not only is it ridiculously inexpensive, it's also matte! Yay for matte drugstore bronzers! They are so hard to come by. I think they may have recently changed the packaging on these, but hopefully the formula is still the same. 

Elf Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder Duo

This has been a favorite of mine for almost two years now. I love to use the bronzer during the warmer months. It does contain a slight shimmer, but it's bearable. The blush is the perfect coral/peachy shade. It's not matte, but I like a little shimmer in my blush every once in a while. Some have called the duo the perfect dupes for Nars Orgasm and Laguna. I don't know that I'd take it that far, but for $3.00, you really can't beat it.

Eyes:

Wet n Wild Eyeshadow Palettes

I heard about these on YouTube as well, so I bought a few palettes to try. These bad boys are amazing. Wet n Wild has come a looong way since I used them when I was younger. The shadows have stunning color payoff, and rich, blendable textures. Seriously, if you haven't tried one yet, you should. They have so many dupes for different MAC shadows, which cost $15 a pop, but these palettes are $5.99 for six shadows. Boom.

L'oreal Lineur Intense Liquid Eyeliner in Carbon Black

... at least that's what I think it's called. I've used this guy so much, I've worn the label slap off. It's definitely time for a new one. I'm not sure if it's a waterproof formula, but I've not had a single problem with it smudging. I like the formula a lot, but I'm not so in love that I would be opposed to trying another formula. 

L'oreal Extra-Intense Liquid Pencil Eyeliner

Super confusing name, right? It's a creamy blackest of the black pencil liner. I can use it to line my tight line or water line, and it doesn't move. It's also soft enough to blend and use as a shadow base. I would use this over Smolder or even Feline by MAC any day of the week. I just love it. Period.

Covergirl Lashblast Mascara

This mascara has had my heart for longer than I can remember. To have such dry skin, I have grossly oily eyelids. And with hooded eyes, it's super important for me to use a waterproof mascara, and one that doesn't transfer to my eyelids or under eye area. And that's what Lashblast does. It adds some length, but also gives my lashes a ton of volume. It's my holy grail. I don't know if I can ever part ways...

Lips:

These are my go to lipsticks for basic looks - 

Nude - L'oreal Colour Riche lipstick in 800 Fairest Nude. Perfect "my lips, but better" kinda color.

Pink - Maybelline 135 Make Me Pink. Been a favorite of mine for years. Always loved it. Always will.

Red - Maybelline 645 Red Revival. A great blue-toned red. The perfect color to throw on when you're having a crappy day and need a little boost.

And of course, the product I never leave home without!

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm in Original. I keep ones of these bad boys stashed everywhere so I never have to go without.

I hope you guys have enjoyed this post. Let me know what some of your drugstore favorites are!

xoxo.