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Love it or leave it.A buyer’s guide to drugstore products that waste your money and those worth the dough. Who doesn’t love a bargain? But when it comes to the dizzying array of beauty products now available to consumers, drugstore brand cosmetics and toiletries can be huge life changers or big time money wasters. And since drugstores typically don’t offer testers, you’ll have to pucker up to quite a few frogs before finding your beauty soul mate. Not to worry dolls, consider me your official frog kisser. From the “Split-Ender” to the newest bargain priced mascara, I’ve tried it, tested it and I’m ready to dish. Here’s my roundup of the products you’ll love and the ones you should leave at the counter.
This retractable lip liner offers up the staying power of more expensive brands. As a real test to its durability, I tried the Easyliner in a shade of true red called “Cherry Pie.” It goes on smooth—no smudging or feathering—and lasts for hours without bleeding into lip lines.
Leave it: Split-Ender Being a beauty columnist does occasionally have its downside, such as spending $24.99 on a disappointing hair product called the Split-Ender. The Split-Ender promises to trim away only the damaged ends of hair, where split ends reside, without affecting the length or style of your locks. In reality, the Spit-Ender was difficult to use and the results were disappointing.
At about thirteen bucks, Revlon’s Molten Metal liquid eye shadow in not cheap by drugstore standards but is worth every penny, as the quality rivals many department store makeup brands. Ultra easy to apply, just stroke on the liquid shadow using the provided wand, and your lids are ready to dazzle. Molten Metal Liquid Shadow doesn’t streak or smear and the results, shimmering shadow in shades ranging from gunmetal grey to bronze, are virtually fail proof.
Leave it: Maybelline Intense XXL Volume & Length Washable Microfiber Mascara Finding a good mascara is like finding a good man—after years and years of trying, you may just get lucky. For me, the search continues. At around $8, the price of Maybelline’s Intense XXL Volume & Length Washable Microfiber Mascara is right. Appealing packaging paired with the implied promise of “XXL Volume” sucked me right in. But I found the mascara itself to be clumpy with an awkward application wand prone to leaving large chunks of mascara on my lashes. Deceived by good looks and flash once more, next time I vow to value substance over style.
While the idea of using Sea Breeze products made me feel a bit juvenile, I swallowed my pride and swore to give the collection a chance… all in the name of beauty of course. To my surprise, I loved the Sea Breeze Naturals collection from application to results. The cleansers have a fresh scent, not that minty Sea Breeze smell of years past, that doesn’t dry skin, leaving it soft and supple to the touch. Best of all, I noticed less break-outs within days and my combination complexion became instantly brighter.
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Love it: Milani Easyliner for Lips ($3.49 at Walgreens)
Love it: Revlon Molten Metal Liquid Shadow ($12.99 at Walgreens)
Love it: Sea Breeze Naturals Skin Care Collection ($3.49 to $6.99 at local drugstores)
