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

like it, love it, gotta have it: hair oils

during my teenage years, my thick curly/wavy hair was one of the biggest banes of my existence (#teenagegirlproblems). it seemed that everyone I knew had long, sleek straight hair- and I was willing to do whatever it took to have that same look. my friends and I went to extremes, lining up on our knees to have our hair literally ironed with our mother's clothing irons and our necks pressed against the ironing board, to achieve our dream hair. now that I'm a bit older, and a heck of a lot wiser, I've learned the importance of working with your natural texture- and not against it. for me, the best way to achieve smooth and frizz free hair without heat is to use an oil product on damp hair and let it air dry. I've tried quite a few products, both high end and drugstore, and have rounded up three of my favorites.

Like It: Organix Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy Anti Breakage Serum. I picked up this product after I tried, and loved, the shampoo and condition from the same line. The oil worked fine at keeping the frizz at bay, but I found that the oil was way too heavy for my hair, and weighed it down. as someone who doesn't wash their hair everyday, I tend to steer clear of products that require frequent washings, and this was definitely one of them. while the price point is great, and the availability at the drug store is even better, it's just an alright product for me.

Love It: L'Oréal Oleo Therapy Perfecting Oil-Essence.  It was quite a difficult decision choosing between Love It and Like It for this product. If we're being fair, both are tied for times repurchased , which to me is the true test of loving a product. But the other just manages to squeak past and take the title. But this oil, was a gift to me from my former boss when it didn't quite work for her. She found it wasn't quite heavy enough to tame her very curly hair (if you're blessed with truly kinky, curly hair this may not be the best for you), but it provided the perfect weight without totally weighing down mine. Unlike the Organix version, which was way too much to use on dry hair for a slight touch up/to smooth flyaways, this product can be used on both damp and dry hair, without feeling heavy or leaving you looking like you haven't washed your hair in days (ie grease ball status). While I love the luxurious feeling of a glass bottle, it made traveling with the product a bit more difficult (but two thumbs up on the pump design). And being able to pop into a drug store and repurchase is always better than having to schlep all the way to a salon when you realize you've run out.

Gotta Have It: Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Styling Treatment Oil. This oil takes the cake- I love the packing (plastic for the win), the pump top, (which makes knowing the exact amount you need/not wasting product possible) and the amazing smell, but besides that the results are holy grail status. It leaves my hair smooth and silky, and my curls frizz free even in the hot, summer weather (including the annoying kinky curls around my temples). I've always had a soft spot for Paul Mitchell products (The Conditioner was the only thing I used on my hair as a little girl), so when my hair dresser used this product on me during a cut years ago, I knew it would be good stuff. His products can be a bit pricey, and not always easily available (even in the "Salon Section" of drugstores), but if you can find it/swing the price point, try it- you will love the results.

what are some of your favorite hair products to create your flawless looks? I always love experimenting with new products, and discovering new holy grails.

xx, marissa

essentials: hair care

besides my love of makeup, nail polish and beautiful things- I consider myself to be a pretty low-maintenance girl when it comes to hair. as someone who has had insanely thick hair pretty much since birth, the idea of spending hours everyday taming this mane just isn't my idea of a good time. I try and take good care of my hair (not exposing it to heat as much as possible, only washing it every couple days, and never dying it #virginhair), and have rounded up the products that I use to keep it in tip top shape.

1. & 2. Organix Brazilian Keratin Therapy Shampoo & Conditioner: these two products have been my favorite for years. I love that it leaves my hair smooth, without weighing it down with too much product. I also love that they're available at the drugstore, so much easier than having to schlep out to the salon to buy product.

3. Pssssst Instant Dry Shampoo & 4. batiste Dry Shampoo: I switch back and forth between these two products, and can't be sure which one I love more. after trying what seemed like a million different options that always left my hair looking and feeling worse than it started (how frustrating is that?!), these two soak up oil, add volume, and leave your hair looking and smelling clean. I love that the batiste version is colored, it makes it easier to load up on product without looking like an extra from Marie Antoinette.

5. Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Styling Oil: since my hair is curly, super thick and prone to frizziness, I always use an oil product when it's wet to tame it down. this oil is amazing because it leaves your hair silky and frizz free, without making it look greasy or weighed down. a stylist that has been cutting my hair since I was a little girl recommended it, and I've never looked back since.

6. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle: this is my go-to product if I've been in chlorine, salt water, or have been using a blow dryer a bit too much. it leaves your hair super silky and soft, without looking like you're dunked your head in lotion. it's also a great product to use during the winter when the cold, dry hair has zapped your poor strands of all of their moisture. super inexpensive, and available at the drug store- win, win!

how do you keep your tresses in tip top shape?

xx, marissa