
Totes on a budget beauty kick right now, and everything in this navy and orange look is drugstore.

I’ve been slowly but surely mining my makeup collection lately and rediscovering old loves. Also finding new faves…
Budget brow wow
Case in point: Maybelline’s brow pencil. It’s the one in peach packaging with the angled applicator, and it’s just as good as the $$$ Anastasia brow pencils at Sephora IMO. It has the perfect amount of pigment — enough, but not so much that it makes you look like you’re plotting someone’s demise. Plus, it doesn’t budge! It stays put through long runs, planks and burpie push-ups (so fun…NOT). You’ll find it in four shades for $5.99 each — Blonde, Soft Brown, Deep Brown and Medium Brown. I wear the Deep Brown one. It’s a beautiful ashy brown with a hint of gray.
The ace of budget base
Speaking of affordable, can we talk about this base combo for a second? — Neutrogena Hydro Tint plus Maybelline’s Age Rewind Concealer equals magic?
I’ve been a fan of both products for a while, but I never realized they could be such a great budget-friendly combo for no-makeup makeup.
Hydro Tint ever-so-slightly evens everything out while keeping your skin looking natural, and then I dab and blend a little Maybelline Age Rewind where I want a little more coverage (like on the hyperpigmentation on my cheeks and dark areas underneath my eyes).
The end result looks natural and even (and doesn’t look thick). The two products layer perfectly.
Long-lasting liner for under ten bucks
I’ve also recently discovered some new-to-me things that totally deserve the spotlight, including these Coverigrl twist-up eyeliners, which are available in six $7.99 shades (and currently on BOGO for 50% at Ulta!).

I’m also wearing a shimmery deep blue here on my upper lash lines, and I love that glimmer. I had to do a few layers (like three), but once it’s on, it doesn’t transfer into the crease or creep into the lower lash line.
The black shade is on my waterline, and it’s much more pigmented than the blue (I only had to use a single layer). It, too, is smudge-proof and long-wearing.

I have feelings about the Falsies
One last thing — I’m wearing Maybelline the Falsies in the blue shade on my lashes, and although I know a lot of people love this mascara, my feelings are like a Dairy Queen Blizzard… Totally mixed. Yes, I can load up my lashes with lashings of layers for a massively big lash look, but then my fringe feels and looks totally crunchy.
Eh. It’s alright.
Makeup in this look
- Eyes: Maybelline Total Temptation Brow Definer in Deep Brown (brows), Revlon Colorstay Cream Eye shadows in 720 (outer half), 715 (inner half), 710 (inner corner), CovergirlFull Spectrum Defining Moment All Day Eyeliner in Deep Blue (upper lash line) and Blackest Black (waterline), Maybelline the Falsies Mascara in Navy Glam
- Base: Neutrogena Hydro Boost in Honey, Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer in Golden
- Cheeks: Covergirl Cream Blush in 360 Flushed, Covergirl Cooling Glow Stick in So Gilty
- Lips: Honest Beauty Tinted Lip Balm in Blood Orange, Neutrogena lipgloss in Flushed Coral
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Hydro Boost Tint?!? You’ve got to stop finding this stuff; you’re going to bankrupt me. I love me some Hydro Boost!!
I saw the Instagram post that went with this. I so related to your early drugstore foundation struggles. Except, of course, mine were on the other end of the color spectrum. (They lovingly call me porcelain now.)
Back in the day none of the colors on shelves worked for anyone, apparently! It really wasn’t until recently that I feel like drugstore has finally caught up.
You won’t regret the Hydro Boost Tint!
On the opposite end of the spectrum have you tried the reformulated Chanel loose powder Karen? I first purchased it after hearing you rave about it and would love to know your thoughts on the new version
Hi Jenna,
No, I haven’t yet. Believe it or not I still have my ancient jar of Chanel loose powder… It has lasted forever (might as well bury me with it in my pyramid with all my cats, ha ha ha). I just read the product description of the reformulated version and it sounds very Hourglass-esque. I also wonder if there’s any sheen to it at all. How interesting!
I’m so tempted to buy from the states that tint, but I’m still on the fence.
That brow pencil is my HG one, and sadly it isn’t easily available here (only Amazon carries it), but at least I can buy it here now. I was so heartbroken I didn’t buy four when coming back from Germany.
About your Instagram post, I still remember the mess of buying drugstore foundation, even though here it isn’t as good as in the US.
Gorgeous! How do you like the CG cream blush? I’ve been switching to creams but haven’t pulled the trigger on a blush yet. ☺️