Makeup 911, what is your emergency?

Well it's April 13th.
2 days til the dreaded Tax Day.
Well, dreaded if you owe in. And we did.
So, readers...you are gonna get quite the DL on deals,
cheap alternatives, and all that good stuff.
Oh who am I kidding?
I've always been cheap and I'm always prowling for a good deal.

This morning I posted on various social media networks
and took a "poll" of what you wanted to hear about.

My Favorite mascara reviews? Expensive vs cheap

or

My Favorite Makeup Review

which...when applied..looked like this:

So who won?  Well, it was pretty close.  I decided to combine the two and tell you about both.

Call me a people pleaser, I don't care.

So first things first, the mascara:

My natural hair color is blonde. Like, super blonde.

Which makes my eyebrows and eyelashes just as blonde.

I'm also very fair-skinned. So combined, I basically look like an albino in my natural state.

Mascara is a must for me. Otherwise, you can't tell I have lashes.

So I'm really quite picky and looked long and hard for mascara I liked.

I've found 2 that have rose to the occasion.

First, lets get the bad news out of the way.

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara is my TOP go-to.

I found it at Ulta for (deep breath)...$22.

Yikes.

I DO NOT PAY $22 for any kind of makeup. Foundation would be it. NOT MASCARA.

But I did.

And you got what you paid for.

It made my short blonde eyelashes look longer, thicker, and just..pretty.

I like my mascara to be a little thick, so I used one coat. Moved on to other makeup 

and came back for a second coat.

Perfect.

My cheaper alternative, the one I use around April 15th, is actually really good as well.

Conveniently, I can find it locally, whereas the other, I cannot.

Wet n' Wild MegaVolume. I know. It's the "cheap stuff." $6. AT THE DOLLAR STORE.

I stuck my nose up in the air about it too.

But readers, be convicted and converted because you will be hearing more about this brand!

My friend, Megan, actually sold me on it by gifting me some.

Free was the only way I'd try it. And now I'm hooked.

Anyway, I don't think I dare yet to go out there and say its better than smashbox,

but I do only have to use 1 coat to get the thickness to my liking. Just sayin'.

(If you're on the fence and looking for something in the middle of those two, Kmart handles Maybelline the Colossal Volum Express which is also fabulous! It's been a while since I've purchased it but I'm thinking the price range is somewhere between $8-$12.)

Moving on to my other makeup!

Something I actually get a lot of compliments on is my skin tone.

Thank you ALL, and I cross my heart, hope to die that I appreciate it,

but honey, it's all in how the right foundation works for you!

Granted, I've been very blessed and fortunate that my dermatologist solved all my acne problems

in college.  I took something that is now illegal haha but it worked! Thanks Accutane!

Anyway, beyond that, I have a red skin tone. Like, to where if I don't wear foundation, 

I'm relentlessly asked if I'm sunburned.

So another thing I'm super picky on is foundation. 

As I've mentioned before, I like the "cakey" makeup. 

I'm a big fan of Elizabeth Arden and Merle Norman.

When finances are good.

Lately, I've been using something a youth at my church introduced me to,

and I'm finding that it's actually more flattering on me.

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous. 3 in 1 foundation + spf 20 sunscreen (825 is my color)

It not only covers the red, but a huge perk is that it matches my skin perfectly.

I usually get one shade darker than what I am to cover the redness. But with this, I don't have to.

Out of a 5 star rating, I'd give it a solid 5.

Powder that I pair with this is Covergirl Trublend. Translucent fair. Hmm, must've been stuck in the wrong spot..because I grabbed one out of the medium slot. But it's okay because I apply it with (LISTEN CLOSELY.. THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT!) a makeup brush and not the included pad.

Makeup brushes are so underrated but they're the best thing since sliced bread, ya'll! 

I want a huge set of brushes but right now I'm only totin' 2.  

My eye pallet was a gift from Megan, Wet n Wild Comfort Zone. 

I wear browns in my lipstick so this pallet was perfect. And Megan put that thought into it. (high five!)

I'm a total novice at eye makeup so the fact that the shadows were labeled where to put what,

made this a breeze to use. Love it. I also apply it with an Elizabeth Arden makeup brush, angled.

I finished off my lips with (what else?) Wet n' Wild Natural Blend Chapstick.

Let me indulge in this product for a moment.

This Rite-Aid sale item lasted me a long time..so long in fact, that the name of the color has worn off the tube (the # is 103 on the bottom). But this stuff is tinted, so it goes on the color of lipstick. With the benefits of chapstick. LOVE it. However, the color is a tad off from what I'm shooting for so I grab some lipstick my sister gave me (Expert Last Lip Color NYC in 'Sugar Plum') and apply it right over my tinted chapstick. Combined, the perfect color, for me anyway.

OOH- and I lied in my picture when I added my Smashbox clear primer. I MEANT to use it and forgot, but I did want to share. I got this goody in a sample box. It's just a great base for your makeup and makes it stay put longer.  I don't use it daily, but I do like it when I know it'll be a long day and I need my makeup to last into the night.  Don't know the regular cost of this stuff, but it's good!

There ya have it.  No extravagant brands you've never heard of.

I'm pretty simple.

I'm definitely no makeup artist and if you run into me in town, I've most likely got on workout clothes.

But I do enjoy deals and I do like dolling up on occasion.

And I LOVE sharing my favorites.

Let me know if you try any of these out and what your thoughts are!

Everyone's different..my favorite may not hit the mark for you and that's okay!

But together, we can conquer this and find that true favorite--the one that gives you the same feeling that the perfect prom dress did!