Prompted by a purchase on a naughty-lunch-break-make-up-binge, i decided to write a post dedicated to all the great products i've purchased in one the high-street counters. As much as i adore popping another Laura Mercier blush in my make-up bag, i'm no snob when it comes to finding a great bargain. Clearly, the high-street brands aren't going to have the most award-winning ingredients, but the sheer pigmentation, formula and colour range around now has seriously upped it's game. Dowdy and dull No7 has been completely revamped by MUA Lisa Elderidge their new summer collection, and has topped numerous skin care polls for its amazing skin care line, with one of their famous skin creams selling out in minutes.
Here are some of my favourite drug-store products, i haven't included products such as foundations or concealers, because frankly i haven't found any outstanding ones!
Limited Edition Bourjois Blusher in shade 16, Rose Coup - Boots (£7.00)
I remember buying a Bourjois blusher when i was 14 years old, it smelt horribly of roses and the pigmentation was poor, so bad in fact i hadn't looked since. Somewhat a few years later, they have clearly taken this onboard and boy is it a whole other story.
They have created the perfect pink/peach shade with a slight gold shimmer shot through, that actually translates on to your skin. This is everything that i wanted from Nars Orgasm, but without the chunks of glitter. Albeit, it still stinks of roses, i can ignore the smell for the beautiful flush of summer peach flush it gives. I really do urge you to swatch this in-store! The shade on the skin is bloody amazing, where as the pan colour looks like your bog-standard pink blush.
No7 Make-up Brushes - Boots (£6.75+)
Every time i get a £5 off voucher i frog march straight to the No7 brushes, for £1.75 the eyeshadow brushes are simply amazing. They are fluffy and light, perfect for packing on colour or blending out. Even so, i reach for these over the Mac brushes i received last year as a present. They can easily double up as a tool for blending concealer, and i definitely prefer to use the large foundation brush for putting on cream blush. And the fact of the matter is the more i buy, the less i have to wash. Savvy.
L'Oreal Super Liner - Boots (£6.19)
The only eyeliner i have ever been able to master. The blackest pigmentation, it has a long-lasting staying power, with the actual brush it's self being a dream to handle. I don't think i'll ever stray.
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Peach Petal - Boots (£6.99)
This is everything i wanted from Mac Underage nude lipgloss, but wasn't. Its creamy, opaque and highly moisturising. It literally pairs it's self with every lipstick i own, from corals to nudes to pinks. Theres no need to use a lipbalm underneath, its that moisturising, so subtle and creamy! No nasty streaks here. Even when i haven't got a lipbalm to hand, i wack this on to plump my lips. I adore the shade too, nudey pink, but not concealer lips.
17 Wild Curls Mascara - Boots (£6.29)
This is the mascara i purchase when i'm near the end of the month and i can't stretch to my overpriced disgusting mascara habit. It never fails to amaze me. Sod the curl, it gives the lashes serious va-va-voom and so much length, it leaves my Diorshow quivering in its empty tube
(as seen here). 17 is also a brand that always has a fantastic range of products, especially blushers, varnishes and eyeshadows. I also have a fascination with a pink lipstick i bought years back called 'Candy Pink,' which makes an appearance in the summer.
All in all, its obvious that the drug store make-up still has many flaws; limited skin-type shades and crap staying power to name a few. And most shockingly the prices have sky-rocketed recently, questioning whether its worth splashing out that extra few quid for a high-end item. But never the less, there are some real gems in the drugstore to be found, it really is worth hunting out.
Whats your favourite drugstore item?
