If you're new to my blog, last month I began a new series called
Currently Digging, where I give quick reviews on beauty products. I'm new to product reviews so these quick reviews give me practice with review writing. All the products in the reviews are chosen by me and are items that I am currently using almost daily; therefore, the reviews are usually positive, though I do point out the flaws I notice. The point of Currently Digging segments are to share beauty products that I like with my readers. Most of the products are drugstore products, but if they aren't, I try to share a cheaper alternative that I've tried and liked to fit your budget.
Products Above:
1.
Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Treatment by Organix, $7.99
2.
Get in Shape Eyebrow Shapers by Sally Hansen, $4.39
3.
A Cut Above by Essie, $8.00
4.
Vampsterdam by OPI, $5.35
5.
Turquoise and Caicos by Essie, $8.00
6.
Pink Lemonade Lip Gloss by Lip Smacker, $1.75
7.
Opaque Lipstick in Coquette by Lime Crime, $15.99
8.
Lip Perfection Lipstick in Spellbound by Cover Girl, $6.99
9.
Eye Shadow Quad in Good Girl by ULTA, $6.00
10.
Cheek Color in Flush by ULTA, $7.00
11.
Super Shiny Lip Gloss in Poppy by ULTA, $5.00
12.
Studio Stipple Brush by e.l.f., $3.00
13.
Lash Stiletto Mascara in Very Black by Maybelline, $3.95
14.
Natureluxe Foundation in Sandstone 325 by Cover Girl, under $10.00
15.
Studio Brow Kit in Light by e.l.f., $3.00
16.
Cocoa Butter Hand and Body Lotion by Queen Helene, under $4.00
In Depth:
1.
Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Treatment by Organix:
I color my hair every 6-12 weeks, and I heat style it often, completely straightening my hair once or twice a week and touching it up daily. I'm trying to grow out my hair, and I was getting frustrated that my hair remains damaged even after getting trims and giving it a break from heat. I felt like I was getting no where with growth! I chose this product because I began using Organix Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner, and I really like what they do for my hair. The formula has a light, pleasant scent, and it doesn't take much to go a long way. Since I only wash my hair every two to four days, I pretty much use this as my conditioner every time I shampoo. I work it in, starting at the tips, and put on my shower cap and leave it on for anywhere from five to ten minutes. I don't always put on my shower cap though. It depends how much of a hurry I'm in! I'd definitely recommend this product to someone who has damaged hair and wants to try a new in shower deep conditioner.
2.
Get in Shape Eyebrow Shapers by Sally Hansen:
I tweeze my eyebrows, but when I'm in a hurry or just feeling lazy, I like to use eyebrow shapers. These are by far the best ones I've tried! Two shapers come in a package. The shaver edge is sharp enough to easily remove the hair without having to tug too hard (like some of the other shavers I have tried). On the other side is a comb, which really convenient while you're shaping your eyebrows. The shavers also come with a protector cap which has a little brush on the edge. I don't use the brush too much because the bristles aren't firm enough for my preferences, but I do like the concept.
3.
A Cut Above by Essie:
This polish is a pink glitter with a clear base. The texture is somewhat thick, but I have no real problems applying. I'm a sucker for glitters, and pink is one of my favorite colors so this is just perfect for me! I've worn it over
Turquoise & Caicos (
as seen here) as well as
A Crewed Interest (as seen on instagram)
; I like applying it to the base of my nail rather than all over the entire nail to create a gradient-like effect. I love all of the polishes from Essie's luxeeffects line, and I would definitely suggest buying one if you're looking for a fun layering polish.
Need a cheaper glitter fix? Try
Milani's Jewel FX line!
4.
Vampsterdam by OPI:
This is a warm, rich purple. It looks almost black in the bottle, but it is definitely purple when applied. I really love this color because it has a bit of shimmer which is different than many of the deep purples I've seen. Though I love the color, I'm not a huge fan of the formula. I found it somewhat streaky for a dark polish. Check it out in
this post.
Too expensive? Try
Plum by e.l.f. for only $2!
5.
Turquoise & Caicos by Essie:
I've been wearing this polish nonstop since I bought it! It's a perfect turquoise that reminds me of the ocean. Many of the other polishes I have that are similar to this have more green tones in them, but not this one. It's one of my favorite polishes for spring/summer.
6.
Pink Lemonade Lip Gloss by Lip Smacker*:
I received a tube of this from An Old Story from a giveaway, and I love it! I used to wear Lip Smackers all of the time as a kid. Just the smell of this makes me want to put it on my lips. It's moisturizing and gives my lips a nice sheen. Tastes great too! Not too bad for less than $2.
7.
Opaque Lipstick in Coquette by Lime Crime:
I added both
Coquette and
D'Lilac lipsticks by Lime Crime to
a previous Lust List. I ended up purchasing both lipsticks with my tax refund. These were my very first professional quality lipsticks I've tried. I am very impressed! The shipping was quick and the mail packaging was cute. They even threw in a sample of their eyeshadow primer (which I like!) and a Lime Crime sticker. Coquette is a perfect nude; I have never tried a lipstick exactly like it. I prefer
Coquette over
D'Lilac simply because it's easier for daily wear, but I like to wear
D'Lilac when I want to give my outfit an extra edge or if I want to feel more visible. Both lipsticks have great pigmentation and last for hours. I really like the scent of the lipsticks; it's a light, vanilla scent that reminds me of my childhood trying on my grandmother's pretty lip shades. I also love the packaging of the lipsticks themselves! Very cute and very femme. My only complaint is that I find the lipsticks don't have enough moisture for my taste. I like the put a layer of my Burt's Bees
Mango Butter lip balm underneath them to make up for the dryness. For the price of this lipstick, I feel like it should be more moisturizing.
See me wearing
Coquette and
D'Lilac.
Too expensive? Try
Cover Girl's Lip Perfection Lipstick in Delish. It's a similar shade with a bit more peachiness to it.
8.
Lip Perfection Lipstick in Spellbound by Cover Girl:
This is my current favorite lipstick! My friend had a tube of this, and I tried it on and fell in love. It's a bright hot pink with a bit of a purple undertone. It has great pigmentation and stays on my lips for hours; almost a whole shift at work. This lipstick is all around great quality for a drugstore lipstic, and the color is perfect. I also really like Cover Girl's packaging in this line because it shows the color of the lipstick on the bottom of the tube so it's very easy to find the shade you're looking for if you have multiple colors.
See me wearing
Spellbound here and
here.
9.
Eye Shadow Quad in Good Girl by ULTA:
I pretty much only wear neutral eyeshadow colors -- browns, beiges, coppers. I picked up this quad one day at ULTA just to try it out. I had never tried ULTA brand cosmetics, and I can always use more eyeshadows. I love all the colors in this quad. The top shade is great highlight; I don't like too pearlized shadows so I really liked the matte finish of this one. The second color is a more coppery, shimmery color. The third is a dark chocolate that is perfect for your crease. The bottom shade is a great base; I wear this color the most often, even by itself for a very simple, natural look. The shadows are easy to blend. Though they are nicely pigmented, their color disappears throughout the day so I would recommend using a primer beneath them.
10.
Cheek Color in Flush by ULTA:
I got this blush with a gift set I received last month. As in the previous review, this is my first time trying ULTA brand cosmetics. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I like this blush. It is a nice everyday color for my skin that gives me a rosy flush without a bronze or glitter. An all over great daily blush.
11.
Super Shiny Lip Gloss in Poppy by ULTA:
I'm rather picky with my lip glosses so I don't wear them very often. I don't like a gloss that's too sticky or gummy nor do I like a gloss that is too creamy. This gloss is the perfect mix. It's a bright pink that goes on about the same color as in the tube. It has a light scent and is super shiny (hence the name!). I really like layering this gloss over my lipstick to change up the look. Downside, it doesn't last very long, but I never had good luck with a long lasting gloss.
12.
Studio Stipple Brush by e.l.f.:
I had always wanted to try a stipple brush, but I didn't want to spend a lot of money so I decided to order this $3 one from e.l.f. If you're new to stipple brushes just think about the
stippling art technique. In a stippled piece, an artist used various sized dots to create a larger picture -- a stipple brush is very similar to that! You put your liquid foundation on the back of your hand, pick up some of the liquid with the white brush tips, and dab, or 'stipple,' it over your face. It creates an even, almost airbrushed look. For the first time trying a stipple brush, I really like the application. I usually use the e.l.f. powder brush to blend in my foundation, but this is a nice, different alternative. I really like the price point of this brush, and I think it gets the job done. However, I wish the brush was fuller. It's a bit too flimsy for my liking. For now, I'll stick with my powder brush simply because I have my technique down, and it's much quicker for me to stick with what I know. I would definitely suggest trying this brush out though if you want to try the stippled look; for only $3, you can't go wrong!
13.
Lash Stiletto Mascara in Very Black by Maybelline:
I keep trying different drugstore mascaras, and I keep going back to this one. It's just so perfect! Though the brush isn't as full as other mascaras, don't be fooled. It gives great length! I usually do two coats for an every day look and three coats and a curl for an evening look. I like that the brush and the formula actually defines my lashes -- not even my bottom lashes clump up! Great drugstore mascara.
14.
Natureluxe Foundation in Sandstone 325 by Cover Girl:
I just bought this foundation last week, and I'm already in love. I like lightweight foundation so I usually stick with a powder, but I've been having more break outs lately so I needed a little extra coverage. This is one of the only drugstore liquid foundations I have found that actually has a match for my skin tone. My favorite part is that it's very easy to blend and is lightweight so I don't feel it. I apply by dabbing some of the liquid on my face then blending it in a circular motion with my handy e.l.f. powder brush.
15.
Studio Brow Kit in Light by e.l.f.:
I typically use a light brown pencil when filling in my brows, but sometimes I have a problem with feeling like they're too dramatic and unrealistic looking when using a pencil. Instead of trying a high end brow kit, I went with e.l.f. for trying something new because of the great quality for the price. This kit comes with a darker colored wax, a light color powder, and a two tipped applicator -- one side has an angled brush and the other has a blending brush. I don't use the blending brush because it's not firm enough, and I don't quite understand how it's helpful honestly. To use this kit, I pick up some of the darker wax with the angled brush and then dip it into the powder and apply to my brows. The powder is very easy to blend. I really like the clean, crisp look I get with this kit without them looking ridiculous and fake. I will say, I had a hard time deciding which kit to get. My brows have always been a few shades darker than my blonde hair so I with
Light, even though I thought the powder would be too light for my brows. I'm very glad I did though because it matches perfectly, and the darker kit would have been too much. I'd definitely recommend this brow kit if you've been thinking about trying a high end brow kit or want to make a switch from using pencils.
16.
Cocoa Butter Hand and Body Lotion by Queen Helene:
I battle dry scaly skin on my legs and elbows so I wanted to try something new. I've heard really good things about this lotion, but I always overlooked it at the drugstore. Let's face it, this lotion doesn't just jump out at you begging you to try it. The packaging is generic, and it's always on the lowest shelf for really cheap. I'm a sucker for cute packaging so I didn't think it would be as great as it is. I finally decided to try it out, and I'm loving it. I apply it thickly all over my body after my shower. Believe it or not, I can really tell a difference in my skin -- especially my elbows and legs! I have some pink stretchmarks, and they've faded a lot since using this product. If you don't like strong smells, you may not like this lotion because it definitely has a cocoa butter scent (though I'm not bothered by it at all). I also wish the packaging was better. The bottle is large and is awkward, in my opinion, but for less than $5, I don't have many complaints.
Let me know if you like these Currently Digging segments! I have a few products that I've tried and don't actually like very much, would you like me to share them with you all as well? I think they could be helpful so you'd know not to waste your time (and money!). I can also do in depth reviews focusing on one or a few products in the same collection (such as nail polishes or hair products!).
Let me know what kind of products you're interested in the comments, and I'll take them into consideration when I shop.
As always, thanks for reading!
*c/o An Old Story
