Where are all my drugstore makeup loving girls at? This week I’m doing a ton o’ testing, testing one-two-three on products from drugstore lines like Rimmel, Physician’s Formula, Cover Girl, N.Y.C. New York Color and Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy (what a mouthful!).
Bring on the budget reviews!
I’m in the thick of testing and will post more extensive reviews of these products over the next couple days, but I couldn’t wait to show you a few pictures of the Carmindy stuff I swatched today.
Making a good first impression
Check out the intense color of the Forever Stay Eye Pencils in Blue Indigo (matte royal blue) and Prue (matte violet).
I couldn’t believe how smoothly the tips glided across the back of my hand…
Now, those of you with a highlighter addiction, please stand up. I’m right there with you, girl. I sure hope Carmindy’s Natural Higlighters deliver. I’ll let you know soon, but for now…
…each pan comes with two shimmery cream highlighters. Pink Luster (shimmery pink and white) looks like a fab match for cool-toned ladies; Gold Luster might be good for warmer skin.
Will they be good enough to shimmer me timbers? LOL! Sorry, I couldn’t resist a bad pun.
Last in line for testing are the Ultra Soothing Lip Tints in Cranberry, Pomegranate and Melon.
All three applied surprisingly sheer on my hand, which would have normally set off my lipgloss alarm, but I’ll reserve judgment for the end of my testing.
Swatches from left to right starting from the top row: Cranberry, Pomegranate and Melon Ultra Soothing Lip Tint. Middle Row: Gold Luster and Pink Luster highlighter duos. Last row: Prune and Indigo Blue.
I’ve tried a few Carmindy products before and liked them. Do you think the Forever Stay Eye Pencils look like winners from these swatches?
Here comes the sun
Finally, a sunny day!
For the first time in what feels like eons the sun returned to the Bay Area. It’s still a little chilly outside, but I think it’s warm enough for me to bundle up and go for a run.
When I get back I have to tackle a shizz load of reading for school, sigh. How’s your Tuesday shaping up? Are you busy or just chillin’?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Briana says
February 24th, 2009 at 5:17 pmI so wish I could get the Carmindy stuff in Canada!
My tuesday has been pretty good so far, haircut this morning, packing and loading the trailer to move all afternoon. Its been pretty chill.
Good luck with your reading Karen!
Briana´s last blog post..Cats…
Heidi says
February 24th, 2009 at 5:48 pmThe Carmindy products look great and I want to try it out soon. I’ve had a busy day today. After class, I hung out with my friend for awhile and came home and did lots of chores. I washed my car (inside and out) and did laundry. Now i’m just resting before I go to target for some car accessories.
Karen says
February 24th, 2009 at 5:58 pmHi Briana,
Oh, lucky you! I’ve been dying for a haircut but just haven’t gotten around to it. Did you get a trim, or did you go for a big change?
Karen says
February 24th, 2009 at 5:59 pmHi Heidi,
They are pretty great for drugstore makeup. If you do end up trying some of her stuff, definitely go for the lipsticks — they’re tops. 🙂
I have to do a few chores today, too: laundry (blah) and some grocery shopping.
What class did you have today?
CecilyT says
February 24th, 2009 at 6:06 pmToday is okay. Mostly chillin’ with my little girl. Also, I think I have pink eye (ewww) or maybe just insanely irritated eyes from the hot dry air spewing from my heater, so I’ll be making a trip to the eye doctor tomorrow.
I really like the Carmindy powder blush; there’s a deep pink/brown that is great on my skin. Please report on the lippies b/c I tried some combo between a lipstick and a gloss (a tinted balm maybe). Anyway, I couldn’t find it on CVS.com, but I’m leery now b/c 1) the pigment was WAY stronger than I’d anticipated and 2) the scent was overpowering. Who wants to smell their lipstick when they’re eating?
CecilyT´s last blog post..Too Much TV
Audrey says
February 24th, 2009 at 6:11 pmFun! Do you buy the products on your own or do the vendors give you products to review?
Audrey´s last blog post..Product Review: Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box
JK says
February 24th, 2009 at 6:20 pmHey Karen,
Ooh I’m glad you’re doing drugstore reviews! I’ve gotta bring my spending down a little and I’m really curious about good drugstore buys.
Those eyeliners look HOT…I’ve been wondering about some of these products. There are a couple of Sally Hansesn lipglosses I really like and I’ve heard good things about the foundation.
I have a lot of reading too! Some of it’s fun but some of it’s pretty dry…wish me luck!
Indian Girl says
February 24th, 2009 at 6:22 pmThose highlighters are amazing ! I’ve had them for a while now and absolutely love them. The quality is really good for the price…even the eye pencils are pretty good ! I would have liked some color in the soothing lip tints but the pomegranate flavor is yumm. Wish they made green apple
Indian Girl´s last blog post..Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Collection
Karen says
February 24th, 2009 at 6:30 pmHi Audrey,
It’s a mix of both. Some companies send me products to review, but I end up buying a lot myself (much to El Hub’s dismay).
Oh, I just checked your blog and I enjoyed your UD Deluxe Shadow Box post. I started drooling over all the yummy colors!
Karen says
February 24th, 2009 at 6:30 pmHi JK,
Sally Hansen makes some great stuff. Have you tried the ones called Diamond Lipglosses? They are AWESOME!
What’s on your reading menu tonight? I have to do some textbook stuff, along with reading some newspaper articles.
Karen says
February 24th, 2009 at 6:30 pmHi Indian Girl,
I’m looking forward to playing with the highlighters. How do you usually apply them ? Do you use fingers or a brush?
charlene says
February 24th, 2009 at 6:51 pmi love carmindy and i wish i cud try those products…all i got was a lipstick in sunburst which is really pretty! i love it..it’s really moisturizing…i know she loves the Urban Decay 24/7 pencils so i’m glad to see she made them include some like those in her line! 🙂 YAY! thanks for sharing KAREN!!
Karen says
February 25th, 2009 at 7:32 amHi Charlene,
Sure! These pencils bear a strong resemblance to the UD pencils. 🙂 I can see where Carmindy got her inspiration!
What do you usually wear Sunburst with?
Vampy Varnish says
February 24th, 2009 at 7:10 pmHi Karen,
I am loving the eyeliners, I will definitely be trying those. I have tried some of her stuff before and it was good, but not great for me. I tried her glowy primer and foundation but I didn’t get that great of coverage and it wasn’t glowy enough. But I am still open to her because she rocks!
Vampy Varnish´s last blog post..Misa Living On The Fast Lane Spring 2009
Karen says
February 25th, 2009 at 7:52 amHi Vampy Varnish,
Did you ever work out the glow situation between the Laura Mercier and the Smashbox products you bought? Which one did you end up liking more?
Briana says
February 24th, 2009 at 7:11 pmHey Karen, I just got a trim, I’m too wimpy to go for a big style change! I came home and my boyfriend said it didn’t look like I’d gotten anything done haha. I love my long hair way to much to do something drastic. 🙂
Briana´s last blog post..Cats…
Karen says
February 25th, 2009 at 7:56 amHi Briana,
That’s such a guy thing to say! They seem to just not notice unless you chop it all off, LOL!
Camellia says
February 24th, 2009 at 7:56 pmAh I want to try this stuff! haha just when I was about to start saving money! I’ll probably get one thing though..what would you suggest if I were to get just one item from the Carmindy collection?
Camellia´s last blog post..Downtown
Catherine says
February 24th, 2009 at 11:16 pmThanks so much for the drugstore reviews! I love finding good drugstore products. 😀
Those liners look gorgeous! Will you let us know about wear time? A lot of people on MUA really like the Prestige WP liners, but even they smudge on me after 5-6hrs, and my day is usually longer than that… =/
I look forward to seeing your review for those highlighters, they look gorgeous.
Karen B says
February 24th, 2009 at 11:38 pmThose pencils do look like a good deal.
You are sooooo lucky! It’s still -7°C here and I want the snow to just disappear!!!!
Lehea says
February 25th, 2009 at 2:31 amThat indigo liner is calling me out! I’m going to have to run over to Ulta and see if they have it.
Eru says
February 25th, 2009 at 6:55 amThe pencils sure look lovely! 😀 Can’t wait to see how they look on your eyes.
We have a sunny day here too!! ^-^
cloudburst says
February 25th, 2009 at 8:22 amThose eyeliners look very nice – the other products don’t wow me from the swatches. But I agree the Diamond lip glosses are to die for! When they first came out I scoured the city’s drugstores trying to buy all the colours I wanted.
Judy says
February 25th, 2009 at 8:23 amThis looks like El Cerrito, where my brother lives. Do you also live around there? I love the Bay area!
Karen says
February 25th, 2009 at 8:29 amHi Camellia,
Definitely get a tube of lipstick! They have a lot of pigmentation, feel smooth on the lips and last a long time. You can check out a few colors in this face of the day post I did a while back.
Karen says
February 25th, 2009 at 8:32 amHi Catherine,
Sure! From their performance on the back of my hand (LOL) they seem to last a really long time. I had the swatches on for at least six hours. But I’ll let you know how long they last on my lids. 🙂
Karen says
February 25th, 2009 at 8:32 amHi Karen B.,
Okay, you win! It’s officially colder where you are, LOL!
Karen says
February 25th, 2009 at 8:33 amHi Lehea,
I hope they have it! 🙂 Lemme know if you get it!
Karen says
February 25th, 2009 at 8:33 amHi Eru,
They are really pretty. I hope they last a long time.
Enjoy the sunshine!
Chris says
February 25th, 2009 at 9:37 amLiking in the Carmindy line so far:
foundation, cream blush, sheer lip balms and e/s.
The one lipstick I have is nice (something Plum. But it is too hard to see shades in the store so never picked up more).
Not liking: those new lipgloss tubes (way too sheer although the tube is so cute), concealer and cream pink highlighter and bronzer.
Can’t wait to try those new liners and the powder highlighter. There is a new spray foundation but haven’t heard much about it.
YadiQ says
February 25th, 2009 at 10:14 ami cannot find this stuff anywhere for the life of me 🙁
the eyeliners look awesome!
my knee is doing better – apparently from so much lifting weights and the street fighting classes my muscles were really tight my trainer did some pressure therapy and deep tissue massage on my quads hamstrings and calves can i tell you that hurt like sin !! she passes me a small towel and tells me bite this your will need it i look at her like shes nuts and then i saw why as she went deep into my tissues dear lord i nearly screamed out loud! i toughed out the pain and i feel way better my trigger points are a bit sore but all in all i am a new woman!
charlene says
February 25th, 2009 at 10:32 amoh Karen have u seen the airbrush spray makeup she has in her line now too…i wear the sunburst with victoria’s secret lipgloss in fuzzy navel…or some mac ones…that are kinda corally.
Karen B says
February 25th, 2009 at 12:07 pmHehe :p What’s the temp at SF these days?
Nadrah says
February 25th, 2009 at 1:01 pmHey Karen, I’m so glad you’re doing drugstore reviews 😀 Sometimes I really can’t dish out the department store prices! I love a good bargain. Those eyeliners seem really nice! How much are they?
Lilan says
February 25th, 2009 at 3:16 pmI recently discovered this line and I love all of it! I haven’t tried the liners, but they look like the MAC Pearlglide liners that I drool over so I might get some of those – beauty on a budget baby! AND they’re not LE, woohoo!
Hope your Wednesday is a good one so far 🙂
Lilan´s last blog post..Pretty Elizabeth Arden Fragrance & Contest
Jennifer says
February 26th, 2009 at 1:38 pmooh.. im feeling those eyeliners. love the colors. and theyre actually quite similar to prestige and also N.Y.C. eye liners.
Karen says
February 26th, 2009 at 10:09 pmHi Jennifer,
I’ve tried the Prestige liners a few years ago, and I remember liking them. One day I went to Walgreen’s and they were having a killer sale. I walked out with a handful of ’em! 🙂
I haven’t tried the N.Y.C. liners, though. How do you like them?
Tanya says
February 26th, 2009 at 8:42 pmSigh!!!!! Those eyeliners look fantastic! Are there going to be other colors? I don’t have too many products from the line- but I’m hardcore in love with the all-over brightener, I use it everyday under my eyes 🙂
Tanya´s last blog post..Taupe Tuesdays (Better Late Than Never)! – Cargo Yukon
Karen says
February 26th, 2009 at 9:39 pmHi Tanya,
Yup, there’s a green, black and brown shade.
I dunno if they’re matte or shimmery, though. I’m guessing that they’re shimmer.
I haven’t tried the all-over brightener. Does it have a very strong pink tint?
Gloria says
March 1st, 2009 at 10:04 pmI checked out my local CVS and couldn’t find the eyeliner. I’m looking for a good black smudgeproof eyeliner. I look great with black pencil eyeliners on, so far no luck.
Gloria´s last blog post..15% Off Sephora
Shannon says
April 6th, 2009 at 8:06 pmI’m having trouble finding the pencil liners. I don’t see them on the website… any tips? Or am I just blind, lol? 🙂
Lori says
February 25th, 2010 at 5:18 pmI can’t find it either. I’m outside of Philadelphia PA. Our CVS’s don’t have them. Our Rite Aid’s don’t have them. Our Ulta’s don’t have them. WHERE CAN I FIND THEM!!/???? HELP!