currently craving: clogs

a few years back the idea of owning a pair of clogs would have sounded insane to me. who do I think I am, Heidi? but after seeing an oh-so-stylish friend of mine rock them basically on the daily (with socks during the winter even- gasp!), I was sold. I picked up a pair last winter on serious sale at DSW, but they've seen better days. I've been online window shopping for the perfect pair of classic swedish style clogs for a hot minute, but haven't been able to pull the trigger on the perfect pair. in case you're in the market, I've rounded up a couple of my favorites and hopefully one of these pretty (and practical) babies will be making their way into my wardrobe soon.

what's your take on clog sandals? too fugly for your taste? maybe you're a reformed hater like me, or are you one of those über cool girls that liked them before they were trendy? 

xx, marissa 

drugstore faves

now I love a splurge worthy beauty item as much as the next gal, but there are some products that take the cake and have a budget friendly price tag. and while I'm never one to say no to a trip to sephora or a beauty counter, the convenience of popping into a CVS can't be beat. I've rounded up a few of my favorite beauty products (hair & skin care, makeup, brushes, and nail products) that stand up to, and in some cases, blow their high priced counter parts out of the water.

cetaphil daily facial cleanser: this gentle cleanser has been my go-to for years. as someone with super sensitive skin, I seem to have the best luck when I use basic products and don't fuss with it too much. this cleanser is perfect at cleaning my skin, without removing too much oil and leaving it tight and dry. it works great with my clarisonic, getting nice and foamy for a deep clean. good enough for pharrell and naomi campbell, good enough for me.

wet n wild color icon eyedshadow: regardless of if they're in the 99 cent singles, the trios, six pan shadows, or limited edition pallets, these shadows are amazing. the colors are gorgeous, the formula is super pigmented and creamy, and the shades blend like a dream. in their line you can basically fine a dupe for any and every expensive eyeshadow on the market, and not only in tone, but in quality as well. while I tend to steer clear of the super sparkly versions, it's hard to find a color that isn't amazing. a few of my personal favorites would be brûlée (the perfect blending and transition color), nutty (the best color for an easy one shadow look), and the comfort zone pallet.

elf eyebrow kit: I've blogged about my love of this product before (check it out here), but it is definitely worth mentioning again. spot on dupe for the benefit brow zings (besides the mini tweezers) and for a fraction of the cost. helps keep my brows looking more audrey and less frida.

l'oréal oleo therapy perfecting oil: ridiculous name, amazing product. this hair oil is perfect for keeping my thick and curly/wavy hair from looking like a frizzy mess. while it didn't totally beat out the high end version (check out that post here), it was pretty close. and if we're being honest, this is the product that I continue to repurchase, not the expensive paul mitchell version.

maybelline dream bouncy blush: I love a cream product for the summer, blends more naturally into the skin, and this line of blushes is great. I remember when the dream bouncy formula was first introduced it was super blogged about in the beauty community. for a product where you're looking for full coverage (like foundation) I don't think it's the best, but for blushes it's perfect. my favorite is coffee cake, I love the brown with a touch of coral against sunkissed skin, but the bright pinks and hot corals are also great. applied to the apples of the cheeks and blended up towards the temple with a dual fibered stipple brush (I love this one) gives a perfectly natural look. for a bit more pigmented look, and to up the staying power, top with a powder blush in a similar tone and you're good to go.

out the door super fast dry top coat: when you paint your nails as much as I do, you come up with a system of what works best for you (products, technique, tools, etc). I've blogged about my love for this product before (check it out here), and it still is a necessity when it comes to doing my nails. not only does it not have as many scary chemicals as other fast dry top coats out there (I'm looking at you seché vite), it doesn't give you shrinkage around the edges, doesn't leave pillow lines in your nails if you just so happen to paint them right before bed, and doesn't get gooey halfway through the bottle causing you to throw it away and waste what should be perfectly good product. for nails that are super shiny & look like a gel manicure, try this top coat. even over cheapie drugstore polishes, the results are amazing.

wet n wild megalast lipsticks: hands down, the best drugstore lipsticks; and the greatest part? you could try the entire line for less than the cost of one YSL lipstick. super opaque, amazing staying power, and you can find dupes for just about any lip color you're searching for. whether you're looking for a perfect nude (bare it all), a bright coral red (purty persimmon), a deep wine (sugar plum fairy), or a bright peach (just peachy), they are all amazing.

e.l.f. studio makeup brushes: while there are absolutely pros to investing some serious money in expensive makeup brushes, I have no problem achieving great results with these inexpensive alternative mixed in with my expensive brushes. they've gone through countless washes and still manage to look great. with any line there are of course the duds (steer clear of the foundation,  concealer, and angeled eyeliner brushes), there are MVP brushes that I use on the daily (countouring, eyebrow duo, flat topped powder, stipple, and crease brushes). don't be fooled by the cheaper grey/silver essential line of brushes, the matte black studio line is where it's at.

it's easy to walk into sephora and spend a small fortune outfitting yourself with an amazing makeup collection, but these products work great, have a budget friendly price tag, and are available at just about any drugstores- win, win! what are some of your favorite drugstore beauty products? any cult favorites that you can't bear to live without?

xx, marissa