Jae Raids the Drugstore: Best (and Worst) Beauty Buys

It's that time again: Time when my latest beauty buy purchases have taken over my vanity and are begging for me to review them. They're a little clingy. I and I have some doozies for you, including some seriously life-changing stuff here.

It takes very little to change my life, apparently. As always, click pics for links to buy. YAY!

First up:



 L'oreal Infalliable Le Rouge in Unending Kiss

OMG makeup companies are torturing me with their long names. BUT! Know how I'm always looking for that magical lipstick that will convert me from being a hardcore gloss-wearer? This might just be the one. I love the creamy texture (ew) and the color is just pink enough without be bubble-gummy. I'm very happy with this random grocery store my-family-is-waiting-in-the-car purchase.






Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Body Butter

This stuff basically smells like sweet baby angels on vacation and I'm a total convert. I tend to want lotion at my desk because my hands feel dry when I first sit down to work in the morning and this has been my go-to. Word on the street that the other Pacifica scents are just as good. I will make it my personal mission to investigate them all because I'm selfless and stuff. 

                Rimmel Moisture Renew in As You Want Victoria (!?)

OK, so Rimmel sent me some of their new Moisture Renew lipstick to try out. And I will say the color was gorgeous and the color saturation was out of this world on my lips. HOWEVER, the formula was really, really slippery. Like, one false move and you look like a kid getting ahold of lipstick for the first time. And, since I'm generally suspicious of lipstick anyway, it made this a miss for me. If the same color came in a matte formula, I'd be all over it.





Diorshow Iconic Overcurl

I am a diehard Diorshow fan, so when a reader suggested I try this (and after my nightmare of a "try every Maybelline mascara to disastrous results bender" I was on board. And I'm super glad I did. While I don't think this makes your lashes as fat as the original stuff, I also don't have to use an eyelash curler when I use this. That is a game-changer, people! The curved brush lifts the lashes up and away and I have 30 precious seconds given back to me every morning.






                     ELF Makeup Mist and Set

I did a big ELF order because I was out of my fave undereye concealer (The HD Lifting) and ended up buying like $30 of stuff because that's how they getcha. Anyway, I took a chance on this stuff. I can't really tell if it sets my makeup any better than like, my face skin, but I do like how it refreshes half day-old makeup in the late afternoon. It's not a must-have, but it'll stick around and I'll use it for reviving old makeup.




 Glycolix Treatment Pads

Speaking of life-changers, I love this stuff. If you have sensitive skin, just walk away. Right now. This is not for you. But if you have skin that can take it like a man, these might be your new fave. They're basically straight glycolic acid. Actually, 20 percent. And do they burn like a motherfletcher? YES. But have my pores gotten smaller and has my aggressive forehead wrinkle become more passive? YES. Plus, it's easy. A swipe before you go to bed. One jar lasts two months. Which reminds me -- I need to reorder.

 City Color Be Matte Blush in Fresh Melon

I got this blush in my ipsy bag and I was like "Holy bright Batman!" Like, I actually said that. To myself. But guess what? I LOVE THIS BLUSH. A little goes a long way.This one compact will last forever and it's just right for a natural flush. And I love the matte when I'm tired of everything being so glittery all the time.





Clairol Shimmer Lights Shampoo & Conditioner (I use both)

You guys. YOU. GUYS. Of all of the products I've wasted my money on this month, this stuff has been the best by far. So, you know when you're not actually blonde but you dye your hair lighter and it looks good for the first couple of weeks and then goes brassy? This stuff cuts all of the yellow out of your hair. So for me, who HATES brass and loves a beige tone to her fake blonde hair, it's everything. The caveat? It can dry out your hair a bit. I only use it twice a week and it's plenty to keep brass away. Also, if you have highlights, it makes them really stand out. Love love love so much. I had to buy it at Sally's and it was around $8 -- way better than paying to have my color redone again.





ELF Angled Foundation Brush

Here's another thing I ordered with my last ELF haul. I was super pleasantly surprised to find out how much I love their Studio line of brushes -- the powder brush has replaced my old kabuki for foundation. I've been using this little guy for bronzer, since the angle is perfect for faking cheekbones and what not. And it's three bucks so win forever.


Nair Spa Clay Wax Strips

So I've waxed my own eyebrows since I was like, 16 (and I used to wax my brothers' eyebrows too which was fun because it helped me work through a lot of brother-related aggression). I love prepped wax strips because I can literally just cut them into the shape I want and don't have to mess with application. And I've used Nair strips before... but they were blue? And were meant to be less hurty? And they weren't. My kids would rush into the bathroom to see me wax my brows because they thought it was funny that I would shriek and say bad words. But these clay-based ones actually hurt less! And my kids were disappointed, but they need to learn to deal.


I'm not gonna lie, sometimes it grosses me out that I buy so many beauty products. It's a sickness. I lip gloss here, a mascara there and my vanity is buried in random eyeshadow palettes that I will never use. Ah well. There are worse thing to be addicted to right?

Mostly crack.