Editor's Choice Awards: Drugstore Beauty

Welcome to the Sasha Says Editor's Choice Awards! We'll be sharing with you our favorite products in many different categories.

(Please know that this is very tongue-in-cheek. "We" is just me, and it's actually just a list of *my* favorite products. There's no nomination process, voting, or scoring. Just a simple list of things I like and use myself.)

Today's category is "Drugstore Beauty". Last week before Sunday school started, a few of us were having a discussion on beauty products and how expensive they can be. I shared that I had quite a few products that I loved that were not high-end. I am all about shopping at Wags, CVS, Target, and the Walmarts.

On of my new favorite blogs is Nouveau Cheap, and her tagline is "You don't have to compromise on beauty just because you're on a budget....."

Agreed!
So here we go..... A entire look for you..... all from the drugstore.

1. Foundation. The foundation I am reaching for most days is Revlon PhotoReady. I apply it with a damp foundation brush and really like the light to medium coverage I get. I wear Shell and I believe this is about $14.

2. Powder. I am still loving Physicians Formula Happy Booster Face Powder in Translucent ($12.67 at Walmart).

3. Blush. Also still loving Physicians Formula Happy Booster Blush in Rose ($10.63 at Walmart).

4. Eye Shadow. A new find for me are these awesome, super-cheap, but high quality Wet n Wild palettes. The top 8 pan is called Comfort Zone and it retails for $5 at Walmart and Walgreens. The bottom 3 pan is called Walking on Eggshells and is $3.

5. Eyeliner. I've been using Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum lately and loving it. It's super easy to apply and the thin felt tip applicator makes it easy to get a nice fine line and even to do a wing at the end. It's about $11. This stuff doesn't budge either- it's intact even after a run!

6. Mascara. I still think Maybelline's Full N' Soft ($6.50) is one of the greatest mascaras. Full, soft, thick, just as promised.
7. Lipstick. My no-fail, been-using-it-for-years lipstick is Revlon's Colorstay Overtime Sheer ($10) in Sheer Pomegranate. It appears it might be a discontinued shade.... damn it.

Editor's Choice Awards: Nail Products

Welcome to the Sasha Says Editor's Choice Awards! We'll be sharing with you our favorite products in many different categories.

(Please know that this is very tongue-in-cheek. "We" is just me, and it's actually just a list of *my* favorite products. There's no nomination process, voting, or scoring. Just a simple list of things I like and use myself.)

So without further ado, here are my favorite nail products, shown in order of use for the perfect salon-quality mani:

1. Sally Hanson Instant Cuticle Remover. I apply this all around my cuticles, wait a bit (you can wait longer that it says), then use the thumbnail of my opposite hand to push back/scrape the cuticles. I typically do this twice.

2. Wash your hands and dry them well.

3. Orly Bonder. This is fab- it overrides any oily residue on your nails and gives your polish something to stick to. Key to a long-lasting mani.

4. Sally Hanson Nailgrowth Miracle in the gold bottle. Love this as a basecoat. Watch for CVS/Wags to have their BOGO or BOGO half off on SH products and stock up.


5. 2 coats of color. OPI polish is one of my favorite brands.

6. Seche Vite top coat. I won't use any other top coat. This is a super-fast dry topcoat with a fab shine. Expensive, but worth it!





7. Creative Nail Design Cuticle Eraser. Keeping your cuticles neat and clean is one of the keys to making your manicure last longer. This product is fabulous and I massage this into my cuticles a few times a day to prevent hangnails and prevent cuticle buildup.

Also, I love nail polish so much that I've got a separate blog just for my nail polish review and pictures! Visit me at http://www.manicuremommas.com/ if you like nail polish as much as I do!


Any other suggestions for categories for the Sasha Says Editor's Choice Awards?

Editor's Choice Awards: Mascara

Welcome to the Sasha Says Editor's Choice Awards! We'll be sharing with you our favorite products in many different categories.

(Please know that this is very tongue-in-cheek. "We" is just me, and it's actually just a list of *my* favorite products. There's no nomination process, voting, or scoring. Just a simple list of things I like and use myself.)

Maybelline Full N' Soft

Maybelline Full N' Soft ($6.50 or so) is definitely my top drugstore mascara. No clumps and it builds full, soft, thick lashes just as promised.

MAKE UP FOR EVER's Smoky Lash


For a higher-end product, I love MAKE UP FOR EVER's Smoky Lash ($22)! Thickening, lengthening, it's one fabulous package. I will say the tube doesn't last very long before it starts feeling sort of clumpy- maybe a little over a month? At any rate, there have been times that it's been worth it to me, that's how much I love this mascara.

Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash

A slightly less expensive higher-end mascara that is also love is Buxom Lash ($18 at Sephora). Absolutely no flakiness, this darkens, lengthens, and thickens just as Sephora promises.

Editor's Choice Awards: Haircare

Welcome to the Sasha Says Editor's Choice Awards! We'll be sharing with you our favorite products in many different categories, beginning with Haircare.

(Please know that this is very tongue-in-cheek. "We" is just me, and it's actually just a list of *my* favorite products. There's no nomination process, voting, or scoring. Just a simple list of things I like and use every day.)

L'Oreal EverPure Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner

I've been gradually taking my haircolor darker and darker, trying to get a little closer to my natural color (note that I'm not sure exactly what that is, but it's definitely darker than the bleach blonde I'd been sporting for years).

My stylist recommended I use a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to preserve the color. I found this L'Oreal product line (each is about $6, but there are frequently $2 off coupons in the Sunday paper) that fit the bill and settled on the Moisture formula. I absolutely love it.

John Frieda Root Awakening Strength Boosting Leave In Spray

(that's a mouthful, huh?)

My hair is pretty fine, and it gets very tangly in the shower. This spray helps gets all those wet tangles out without any breakage and smells nice too. I also use this in WC if she gets tangles, since her hair texture is a lot like mine. It's about $6, although there are frequently coupons for $1 or so off that you can find.

Right after I get out of the shower I spray a liberal amount of this in my hair (about 10 sprays) and comb it out with a wide-toothed comb. Then I wrap my hair in a towel for a few minutes to get some of the moisture out while I apply my eye cream and facial SPF moisturizer.

Dove Frizz Control Therapy Taming Cream

(sadly, Dove's website is crap and although I managed to find a pic of this product in a newer white bottle on their website, it's not possible to link to it or get more info about it, because the "get more info" link just leads you to the general product page, where you are in an endless loop of trying to find the product....)

After I unwrap my hair from the towel, I squirt some of this in my hair and spread it through before I blow dry. I have slightly frizzy hair and this really helps keep it smooth and straight. It's around $5-6 dollars, and again, you can usually find a coupon for $1 or so off in the coupon inserts.