Beauty doesn’t have to be expensive! These great little finds for skin, eyes and lips are all under $40!
Eyes, Lips and Cheeks
Maybelline Tattoo Studio Gel Waterproof Eyeliner, $7
If you’re 40+ this is key!
I heard about these waterproof gel eyeliners a month ago on the Today Show, from a famous celebrity make-up artist. I was attracted to the waterproof aspect because I like to line underneath my upper eyelids (known as the waterline) and need the liner to stay put without color transfer to the lower waterline, which I like to line with white liner in order to brighten and open the eyes. I immediately went online and ordered one of the pencils in “BOLD BROWN” to give it a try….I ended up loving it so much – that I ordered one in every color. I mean, when you find a good thing and it’s inexpensive – get one in every color, right?
BEAUTY NOTES:
If like me, you are over 40 – waterlining, or applying liner underneath your upper eyelid is the SECRET for making eyes look larger, more lifted, defined and giving the appearance of thicker lashes. Try it on one eye and look at the difference. You can’t see the liner – the eye just looks more defined and lifted!
To brighten the eyes, use the color Polished White to line the lower waterline. Then, apply the white pencil to the inner corners of eyes in this shape <
Why You’ll Love it:
+ Gel pencil that glides on & blends smooth and effortlessly
+ Waterproof so you can waterline the eyes without smearing or color transfer to lower waterline.
+ Very pigmented for rich color pay-off
+ Stays on all day
+ Super inexpensive, so buy every color that you love!
Anastasia Beverly Hills, Tinted Brow Gel, $22
Well-shaped brows add an immediate touch of refined, clean glamour
Well-shaped brows are so key. Proper eye brow shaping enhances facial features, accentuates the eyes and contributes to the overall proportion and balance of our entire face. Even better – it’s a quick and inexpensive way to add a clean, professional look with a touch of glamour. It’s always the details!
The Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel is the perfect way to ensure that brows stay perfectly in place, all day long. The tinted gel isn’t heavy or overpowering – and it’s not permanent, fyi. Rather, it’s light and sheer – giving brows just a slight color enhancement in addition to the staying power offered by a gel. I use both the Clear Gel and the Tinted, depending on what looks better that day. You know how sometimes your face just needs a little extra boost some days?
Why You’ll Love it:
+ Lightweight, tinted gel that sets and tints brows with flexible hold.
+ The shimmer dries to a matte finish and adds dimension to brows
+ Light-reflecting formula creates natural dimension and fullness
Kiehl’s Butterstick Lip Balm, SPF 30, $22
Moisturizing, luxurious, sheer tint
Lips need protection too! An SPF 30 protective lip balm, infused with Coconut oil and Lemon butter…. Yes please!!! Need I say more? Ok – just a little… Moisturizing and slightly tinted with buildable color. Translation, the more you rub it around your lips the more color you’ll get. That being said – it is sheer. Really gorgeous when you want just a blushing hint of color without looking like you’re going to the Oscars. I love it for the gym or bopping around on weekends. Bop.
MAC Cream Color Base, $24
Water-resistant. Luminous, sheer, dewiness for cheekbones, eyes or body
I’ve used this MAC product in the color SHELL (of course!) for a long time, and only recently noticed that it can be used on the body to highlight collarbones, shoulders, etc. I use it on the highest part of my cheekbones for a luminous, dewy look both day and night. It’s amazing and lasts a long time! I usually get about 4-months out of it.
It’s a smooth, creamy, emollient-based formula that comes in a generous sized pot. I either rub my fingers through, patting it onto the tops of my cheekbones over foundation orI’ll use a make-up brush to apply. It’s really up to you.
Why You’ll Love it
+ Blends easily
+ Water-resistant, stays on all day
+ Lot of bang-for-the-buck – use on eyes, cheeks, lip & body
Buildable color – create a sheer look for day, or more intensity for evening
How to use it
Highlight Cheekbones: Pat and blend onto the highest part of cheekbones for a dewy, luminous glow and for the appearance of more lift!
Shimmery Eyes: Apply to lids and crease with a brush for shimmery look. Add intensity by pressing more product into lid, or sweep eye-shadow over the top for a more diffused look.
Fuller, Pouty Lips: Over lipstick, take a brush and lightly pat product into the center of lower lip for sexy-pout. Or, pat product directly onto bare lips and swipe your favorite gloss over the top for a sexy-bare look. Bad girl!!
SKIN & TEETH
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha-Beta Glow-Pad for Face, $38
Patented exfoliating self-tanner that gives radiance
Maybe you feel the same, but I’ve never been big on using self-tanners on my face. I’ve found the vast majority of “self-tanners for face” to be very drying – making skin look older and more wrinkly than it is. I was also having a hard time finding something for the face that gave it a nice glow without looking like ‘Tan Mom.”
Why You’ll Love it:
I was so stoked to find this brand!! This Alpha-Beta Glow-Pad self-tanner for face, comes in a small box of 20, individually packaged towelettes and is specifically for face, neck and décolletage.
It is an exfoliating self-tanner that provides anti-aging benefits, yet gives natural, streak free color & a healthy glow. Not the flat color of other tanners.
The formula combines DHA with active vitamin D, alpha & beta hydroxyl acids as well as nourishing extracts to boost the radiance factor of the skin. Yes please!!!
After showering and applying self-tanner to the body, I lightly rub a towelette in circular motion around face, neck (don’t forget to lightly sweep the ears so you don’t get a mask-look) and décolletage. That will give a nice, blended look with the body tanner.
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I used Crest White Strips for 12-days before this shoot. -
I’m religious about applying Coola Sunscreen throughout the day to protect skin!
COOLA SPF 30, Make-up Setting Spray, $36
Sunscreen should be applied every 2-3 hours. Protect skin without ruining make-up.
Every woman knows what I’m talking about here….. You’re at the dermatologist getting an annual skin-check. As part of her “wear sun protection” schpeil, she asks if you are reapplying sunscreen every 2-3 hours throughout the day. Umm….. What’s the first thing that comes to mind? “That’s completely impractical & what the frick about my make-up?” Right!
Are we really slathering sunscreen over our make-up every 3 hours, walking into meetings with make-up that now looks like we got hit with a kaleidoscope, in the same of sunscreen application? Hell No! I’ve got a better solution ladies – COOLA SPF 30, Make-up Setting Spray that actually freshens make-up instead of ruining and gives much needed, on-going sun protection throughout the day. Bonus!
Why you’ll love it:
+ It’s a fine, weightless mist with a matte finish and SPF 30 skin protection.
+ Keeps makeup fresh throughout the day
+ Contains skin soothing cucumber and aloe vera
+ Contains hyaluronic acid which works to bind moisture, soften and rehydrate our skin.
Here’s the thing – it does have a strong “alcohol-like” smell at first. Don’t spray it, then immediately open your eyes or take a deep breath. It’s not going to harm you – it’s just not pleasant.
I hold my breath, keep my eyes closed and wave my hand in front of my face to let it dry for maybe 5 seconds, then it’s fine. Small price to pay for the benefit of skin protection & keeping make-up in tact.
Crest 3D White Strips, $29
Fresh, white teeth look healthy!
Yup – seriously. Truth is, I was sort of a snob about at-home whitening, thinking that true tooth-whitening is something you get professionally done at the Dentist’s office. Now sure, it’s probably ideal to go to the dentist every couple of years for a good, professional whitening – but honestly, these Crest White Strips are GREAT!! They really work – giving noticeable results within just 10-days!
Why You’ll Love Them
+ Really easy and convenient to use.
+ The box comes with 10 treatments. 1 treatment contains a strip for upper teeth and a strip for the lowers.
+ Apply the strips to teeth and wear them for 30-minutes. I do it at night while getting ready for bed.
They also come with (2) 1-hour express treatments, which essentially give “extra POW” if you’ve got an event or hot date that night. After 10-days, you really do see a noticeable difference with whiter teeth!
Thanks for sharing Shelli! I am going to pick up the eyeliner today – I have such a hard time with eyeliners both budget and high end and still haven’t found that “holy grail” but I’m hoping this will be perfect for my pool and beach weekend ?
Let me know how you like it Danielle 😉