drugstore beauty – Hoots of a Night Al

Best BeautyBlender Makeup Sponge Dupe! Sonia Kashuk Makeup Blender

September 26, 2018 No Comments

Lately, I’ve been on the hunt to find a replacement for my BeautyBlender. While I love that makeup sponge, it’s hard for me to spend $20 every time I need to replace it (which means I usually end up using it for MUCH longer than you’re supposed to… 🙈). Thankfully, I stumbled upon these Sonia Kashuk Makeup Blender sponges, and they’re only $7! I loved the idea of saving 65%, but only if the quality didn’t suffer.

My first thought was that I loved the chic design. It’s a black and white marble pattern, and I actually loved it so much I resisted using it for almost a month! I didn’t want my makeup to dirty it up.😂 It has a flat base perfect for applying foundation and a pointed tip great for areas like under the eyes and around the nose. If you remember, the Flower Beauty sponge didn’t have a tapered enough tip for me to apply makeup to those areas well, so I was hoping this sponge performed better.

As you can see, this thing is HUGE. Like, comically huge. I included my (quite dirty) BeautyBlender for comparison, and I’d estimate the Sonia Kashuk sponge is almost twice as large. On the left is the sponge dry, and on the right is the sponge after I dampened it. If you aren’t familiar with beauty sponges, most of them are recommended to be used when damp. When wet, they absorb less product and allow for a more even, sheer application.

I ended up loving how huge the sponge was, since it cut down my application time by almost half! My foundation and concealer went on smoothly, and the sponge worked great with my setting powder as well. I pumped my favorite foundation directly on the sponge, and I used less product than usual but got wonderful results. Even though the tapered side was large, the shape was still perfect for using under my eyes and around my nose.

No exaggeration here, people. This is my favorite makeup sponge I have ever tried…BeautyBlender included. As far as I can tell, it’s only sold at Target, which is an added perk as I’ll take any excuse to go there! For a fraction of the cost, perfectly applied makeup, a quicker application time, and a beautiful design, I couldn’t ask for anything better! This will definitely be my new go to makeup sponge!🙌🏻 Do you have any other BeautyBlender dupes I need to try out? Comment below and let me know!

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on these links or make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small percentage of the profit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!

Beauty

Best Dewy Drugstore Foundation for Oily Skin!

July 18, 2018 No Comments

As a drugstore beauty lover with oily/combination skin, it’s often hard for me to find the perfect foundation. Good news though…I have a new recommendation for you! The Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid Foundation is AMAZING. It works great not only on my combination skin, but my mom (who has super dry skin!) loves it, too!

According to Maybelline, this foundation provides “radiant, healthy looking skin with a luxurious feel.” And is, “an oil-free formula that is non-comedogenic and won’t clog your pores for flawless natural looking coverage.” I love the emphasis on natural coverage because I would definitely consider this a medium coverage foundation. Considering I usually go for medium-full coverage foundations, I was worried this would be too sheer for me. However, the coverage is definitely buildable, and it looks flawless after I use my Maybelline Fit Me Concealer.

As you can see, I am a pretty pale gal. Thankfully, the lightest shade in this foundation is a perfect match for me! Porcelain Ivory has slightly pink undertones and applies slightly lighter than it looks in the bottle. For reference, I wear Classic Ivory in Covergirl 3-in-1 Outlast Stay Fabulous foundation (my other go-to foundation!).

My favorite way to apply it is with a damp original BeautyBlender. If you choose to use a brush, the coverage may be even better, but I find this blends perfectly when I use a sponge. I also set this foundation with Coty Airspun Extra Coverage Translucent Powder, since I have combination skin and live in a very humid climate. However, if you don’t add concealer or have drier skin, you could skip the powder all together.

The Dream Satin Liquid Foundation has a hydrating serum in it that is supposed to provide up to 12 hours of moisture. I have worn this foundation for 12+ hours, and I can attest that my skin felt moisturized and still looked flawless after all that time. If you’re oilier you may need a shine sheet or some setting powder after several hours, but otherwise this should last you perfectly all day!

At under $10, I think the Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid Foundation is a perfect choice for anyone looking for a medium coverage, dewy foundation that will last all day! You know I love my drugstore beauty items, and this foundation has quickly climbed to the top of my favorites list! Let me know below if you have any new beauty favorites!

Here is what I used for the rest of my makeup look. Please let me know if you have any questions about any of these products!

Primer: Nivea Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm

Foundation: Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid Foundation in Porcelain Ivory

Concealer: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Fair 15

Setting Powder: Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder

Eyeliner: Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner in Onyx

Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Ultimate Naked Palette

Eyeshadow Primer: Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal in Barely Branded

Mascara: Maybelline Lash Sensational

Blush: Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso

Highlighter: Wet n Wild MegaGlo Illuminating Palette in Catwalk Pink

Bronzer: Physicans Formula Bronze Booster in Medium

Brows: NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder in Blonde

Contour: Wet n Wild Megaglo Contouring Palette in Dulce de Leche

Brushes: wet n wild & Real Techniques

Sponge: BeautyBlender Original

Beauty

5 Best Drugstore Dry Shampoos

April 27, 2018 No Comments

Regardless of your hair texture, I think dry shampoo is something that everyone should take advantage of! My hair isn’t thin, but it IS stick straight, which means I can always use a little help in the volume department. On top of that, I have naturally oily hair, so dry shampoo is a lifesaver for me! As you can imagine, I’ve tried TONS of dry shampoos, so I wanted to share five of my favorites with you.

Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo (Unscented)

This is probably my most used dry shampoo! I have linked and pictured the unscented bottle, but I love the original scent as well. The price can’t be beat, especially considering that you get 7 oz. of product. It dries up all the excess oil in my hair while keeping it silky enough to run my fingers through. This is one of the first dry shampoos I ever tried, and I stay loyal to it because it works!

Not Your Mother’s Plump for Joy Bodybuilding Dry Shampoo (Orange Mango)

I tried this dry shampoo specifically for the scent, and it smells amazing! I feel like a lot of dry shampoos have a distinct smell, and while it isn’t unpleasant, sometimes I don’t want the scent of my hair to announce to the room that it’s loaded with dry shampoo! This bottle definitely added a bit more volume than the original Not Your Mother’s Dry Shampoo, and I loved the results.

Dove Refresh+Care Volume & Fullness Dry Shampoo

My mom actually bought this dry shampoo for me to try, and I’m so glad she did! According to Dove, this dry shampoo is “created especially for those with flat hair that can be oily, a little limp or weighed down between washes.” That is EXACTLY my hair type, and this dry shampoo definitely works wonders. It leaves my hair looking fresh and adds volume at my roots whenever I use it.

Batiste Dry Shampoo (Sassy & Daring Wild Scent)

Batiste has a plethora of dry shampoos including ten different scents, different tones for hair colors, and one that even claims to strengthen your hair! My favorite scents are wild, tropical, and fresh, but I’ve yet to try them all! Batiste is extremely popular and claims to work well on all hair types, so if you’re wanting to try dry shampoo for the first time, this may be a good place to start.

EvaNYC Freshen Up Dry Shampoo

EvaNYC scent me this Dry Shampoo to try about a year ago, and I love it! According to them, “natural rice starch is gentle on hair and leaves no white residue, while Vitamin C & fatty acids enhance shine, nourish and repair.” I can attest to the lack of white residue, and it has a delightful scent. Plus, the packaging is darling!

Hopefully you find this list helpful if you’re on the hunt for a new dry shampoo, and please leave me your favorites in the comments! I’m a firm believer that I can never have too many options when it comes to dry shampoo. 😉

Beauty

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick Swatches & Review

April 10, 2018 18 Comments

Who’s ready for the latest amazing drugstore lip product?? I wear drugstore brand makeup almost exclusively, so I was thrilled when Maybelline sent me some of their new SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipsticks. I had previously purchased the shade Lover about six months ago, and I loved it right away! The colors Maybelline sent me are from their new Un-Nude collection, which includes shades that are supposed to bold, unconventional and “anti-nude.” Between the original collection and this one, there are 20 shades ranging from understated to bright.

According to Maybelline, these liquid lipsticks are supposed to “ink your lips in up to 16 HR saturated liquid matte. SuperStay Matte Ink™ features a unique arrow applicator for precise application and is available in a range of super saturated shades.” I will definitely agree that these lipsticks are both VERY saturated and VERY long-lasting. This product stays on flawlessly until I use some Garnier Micellar Water to remove it! Depending on the shade, I do tend to get some flaking near the interior of my lip, but otherwise they look amazing all day. Here is an example of how Ruler looked on me after 10 hours of wear (including eating and drinking!).

While they are labeled as matte, they tend to stay slightly tacky throughout the entire wear-time on me. They are easy to apply with the arrow applicator, though the formula is slightly drippy, so be careful!

I think that covers everything “important”…on to the swatches! I have ordered them from lightest to darkest. The shades I’m sharing are: Poet, Seductress, Lover, Ruler, Huntress, and Protector. Also…please excuse my messy arm swatches…it’s the first time I’ve ever attempted those and it’s harder than I expected! Haha!

Poet

Seductress

BONUS: Seductress with Poet layered on top for a highlighting effect! I loved these two combined.

Lover (MY FAVE!)

Ruler (MY 2ND FAVE!)

Huntress (Perf for anyone cosplaying as the Tin Man)

Protector (Brown 90s vibes)

There you go! Six shades from the Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick line swatched on my arm and lips for you!

I wanted to include lip swatches because I always prefer those when trying to tell what a shade will look like on. I hope this was helpful; please leave any other questions you have below! Also, couldn’t resist including a “blooper…” 😉 Oh the things I do for y’all!

Thanks for sticking around! Have you tried the Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipsticks? Tell me your favorite color below, because I think I need to pick up a few more of these! What would you like me to review next?

Love y’all!

Primer: Nivea Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm

Foundation: Covergirl 3-in-1 Foundation

Concealer: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Setting Powder: Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder

Eyeliner: Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner in Onyx

Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Ultimate Naked Palette

Eyeshadow Primer: Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal in Barely Branded

Mascara: Maybelline Lash Sensational

Blush: Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso

Highlighter: Wet n Wild MegaGlo Illuminating Palette

Bronzer: Physicans Formula Bronze Booster

I received this product for free to review, but, as always, all opinions are my own.

Beauty

Maybelline Dream Cushion Liquid Foundation

February 16, 2017 No Comments

According to their website, Maybelline’s “Dream Cushion Fresh Face Liquid Foundation delivers complete luminous coverage for fresh-faced perfection.” I only agree with some of that statement. While it does give you a luminous, fresh-faced look, I don’t think it gives you complete coverage or perfection. I recently received the Dream Cushion Foundation to try for free from Influenster.

This is the first cushion foundation I have ever used, so I was excited to test it out. I decided to try it for the first time with the cushion applicator included in the package. According to the instructions, you’re supposed to simply slip the cushion onto your fingers, press it into the cushion foundation, and tap it onto your face to apply the foundation. I found this method gave me moderate coverage, but it took a very long time to ensure there weren’t any bare patches or streaks.

For my second application attempt, I used my damp Beauty Blender. Once again, I pressed the blender into the cushion foundation and applied it to my face using a tapping motion. This worked slightly better than the cushion method, but it made the already light coverage of the foundation even sheerer.

Finally, I tried applying the foundation with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. I dabbed my brush into the cushion foundation, stippled it onto my face, and buffed it out. This definitely seemed like the best application method to me, so consider trying different techniques if you purchase this foundation.

I found that the Maybelline Dream Cushion Foundation provided a luminous, dewy affect. However, the coverage was definitely lacking. I tried to build up the foundation some, but it didn’t provide that flawless, matte look I’m used to wearing. (Duh, I don’t think it’s meant to.)

It definitely smoothed out many of my imperfections and evened out my skin tone, but I still had to use a lot of concealer for certain areas. Also, it did not wear well at all. I have combination skin, and anywhere I generally get oily, this foundation slid right off my skin. I did wear it with a primer and setting powder, but that didn’t seem to help at all.

I don’t think this claims to be a long-wearing foundation, since Maybelline advertises how easy it is to apply this on-the-go and carry it with you at all times. However, once I apply my foundation I add concealer, setting powder, contour, bronzer, blush, and highlighter…pretty sure if my original foundation is coming off, I don’t want to apply a second layer on top of all that.

Negatives aside, I do think this is a great foundation. If you’re someone who wants to simply even out your skin tone and prefer a fresh-faced look, this could definitely be the foundation for you. I think it would work best on dry skin types. However, with the right combination of primer and setting powder, it may work for any skin type. I can see myself using the Maybelline Dream Cushion Foundation on days when I’m running errands and just want a bit of foundation and some mascara.

There are currently 8 shades (for reference, I’m wearing shade 20 Classic Ivory), and this will set you back about $16. That’s a little high for a drugstore foundation to me, so if you’re on the fence, purchase it somewhere that is good about returns like Ulta.

Have you tried the Maybelline Dream Cushion Foundation? Any tips for me to help it stay put longer?

Primer

Nivea Men’s Sensitive Post Shave Balm (Full Review)

Foundation

Maybelline Dream Cushion Foundation in 20 Classic Ivory

Concealer

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Fair 15 (Full Review)

Setting Power

Wet n Wild MegaGlo Contouring Palette in Dulce de Leche

Contour

Wet n Wild MegaGlo Contouring Palette in Dulce de Leche

Bronzer