The adorable and affordable Sonia Kashuk $14.99 Brush Couture Five-Piece Brush Set

Maaaan, Sonia and her good deals. The new bangin’ budget brushes in Sonia Kashuk’s limited edition $14.99 Brush Couture Five-Piece Brush Set work out to just $3 each, which is a great deal, even for Sonia.

A few of the brushes in this particular set also remind me of bad@ass brushes from more expensive brands…

From the left: the Powder Brush, the Foundation Brush, the Angled Contour Brush, the Fluffy Eyeshadow Brush and the Flat Shader Brush

She made her way through the marketplace with the Persian Sunset on her upper cheekbones and the scent of saffron in the air… Sonia Kashuk’s Chic Luminosity Highlighter Stick in Persian Sunset ($10.99)

I like when cream makeup comes in sticks and pencils (see: Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencil in Mushroom) 1) because they’re easy to use (especially the ones I can blend with a finger), and 2) because they make me feel like I’m back in eighth grade art class, where my biggest concerns were whether my breath smelled like the BBQ Corn Nuts I had at lunch, or whether I’m going to finish my drawing of ceramic bowls by the bell (my teacher was obsessed with us drawing bowls).

Of course, not all cream products are created equal, and some of them just don’t last.

I’m a busy woman with “important” (air quotes) things to do, like figuring out how to dress like Olivia Pope from Scandal without having to throw down the cash for all that Prada, and looking for a monocle for my cat (you know that would be awesome, right?). Having to stop whatever I’m doing every two hours to refresh a product on my lids or cheeks gets really old fast.

Sonia Kashuk’s Chic Luminosity Highlighter Stick in Persian Sunset ($10.99) will show those weak-willed, disappearing creams how it’s supposed to be done.

Sonia Kashuk Chic Luminosity Highlighter Stick in Persian Sunset ($10.99)

Sonia Kashuk Chic Luminosity Highlighter Stick in Persian Sunset ($10.99)

A swatch on my NC 42 skin

In the category of “Favorite Drugstore Lip Gloss,” I’m currently crushing on Sonia Kashuk’s Ultra Luxe Lip Gloss in Prettiest Pink ($8.99)

Lucky number nine!

That’s how many shades Sonia Kashuk crafted of her new $9 ($8.99 to be exact) Ultra Luxe Lip Gloss. Partial to pale pinks? Check. Nudes? Got ya covered. Rich plums? Right here.

Right now I’m hooked on Prettiest Pink and Polished Plum, both of which, like the other colors in the line, are unscented and unflavored. Every time I swipe one of their brush applicators across my lips, I’m blown away by how evenly they apply, and I think the pigmented, non-sticky formula feels fantastic (and lasts from 2-4 hours). It’s juiced up with papaya extract, glycerin and antioxidants to make it hella hydrating, too.

“This next-generation lip gloss formula delivers beautiful, buildable color with instant softness and multi-dimensional shine. This lightweight, gel-like texture glides on comfortably to leave lips feeling kissable and moisturized – never sticky. Shades range from subtle nude to bold brights. Infused with Glycerin, Fatty Acids and emollients to hydrate lips and Papaya Fruit Extract, a natural skin softener, this multi-tasking gloss enhances skin’s elasticity and protects lips with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.”

– target.com

Sonia Kashuk Ultra Luxe Lip Glosses in Polished Plum on the top and Prettiest Pink on the bottom ($8.99 each)

Sonia Kashuk Ultra Luxe Lip Gloss Swatches in Prettiest Pink on the left and Polished Plum on the right

Sonia Kashuk Ultra Luxe Lip Gloss in Polished Plum

That’s Sonia Kashuk’s Textured Taupe Monochrome Eye Quad on my lids ($13.69)

My fellow eye shadow junkies — if you obsess over shades like taupe, I’m talking to YOU! — once you’ve taken a whirl with one of Sonia Kashuk’s new Monochrome Eye Quads, you may be tempted to call it your new BFF.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself sending it texts while you shop for shoes (“I can’t tell if these make me look short…”), or offering to braid its hair, or inviting it over one Friday night to watch BRAVO, drink champagne and eat cake.

Each of the four new spring quads (Textured Rose, Textured Mauve, Textured Coca, and Textured Taupe) comes with four variations on a different shade, and you can find them now at Target for less than the cost of lunch at a fancy food truck.

Textured Taupe has totes been my jam as of late…

Sonia Kashuk Monochrome Eye Quad in Textured Taupe ($13.69)

Inside the sleek black matte package lives 1) a matte taupe, 2) a matte taupe with tiny flecks of golden glitter, 3) a pearly golden taupe and 4) a shiny golden taupe with big o’ pieces of glitter.

Textured Taupe swatches on my NC42 skin

I really dig this quad, and not based solely on my love for taupe.

Whenever I need a lift, I pat one or two shades on my lids to brighten my eyes, and because the shades are so closely related, they only take a few swipes to blend. I just have to remember to dust off any excess from my brush first to avoid any fallout.

You’d think that a quad with four of the same shades might be boring, but among the four finishes, I always seem to find a fresh new combo to keep it spicy.

Textured Taupe on my lids

That’s Sonia K.’s $8.99 Hint of Berry Moisture Luxe Tinted Lip Balm on my lips

The list of things Sonia Kashuk’s new Moisture Luxe Tinted Lip Balms have going for ‘em reads like a laundry list of travel makeup awesomeness.

• Sleek presentation
• They’re pretty affordable at $8.99 each
• They come in four sheer, universally flattering shades — Hint of Coral, Hint of Pink, Hint of Red and Hint of Berry
• The lightweight formula
• They’re unburdened by scents or flavors
• SPF 15
• Infused with açaí oil, essential fatty acids, cherry extract for antioxidant protection and safflower seed oil to nourish lips

I always worry about losing my (luggage, mind) makeup bag when I travel, and Sonia regularly releases such great stuff at good prices that I figured I’d bring one of these along with me on my next trip.

Except there’s one problem with that…

Sonia Kashuk Moisture Luxe Tinted Lip Balms in Hint of Coral on the left and Hint of Berry on the right ($8.99 each)

Sonia Kashuk Moisture Luxe Tinted Lip Balms in Hint of Coral on the left and Hint of Berry on the right ($8.99 each)

Moisture!

Sonia Kashuk Moisture Luxe Tinted Lip Balms ($8.99 each)

Hint of Coral on the left and Hint of Berry on the right