A Fine Line.

After MAC’s Penultimate eyeliner totally failed me (I’ll spare you the details), I needed a new liquid liner. When in Ulta last week, I spotted NYX Collection Noir Liquid Liner ($6), part of a new microcollection called Collection Noir. I got the impression that this mini-collection was a more upscale alternative to their traditional liners. I didn’t want to drop a ton of cash on the liner (because liquid liners rarely seem to work for me), so I figured this was a good choice.

I am SO glad I bought this liner. It has the fine brush applicator that’s so crucial to getting a precise winged eye. For some reason, I cannot replicate this look with pen-style liners, no matter how many different ways I apply it. With just one flick of my wrist, I was able to create a tapered cat-eye with whisper-thin ends. The formula is thick enough so that it didn’t run all over my lids when I applied it, but it wasn’t at all goopy or clumpy, either. The application is super smooth, and I don’t have to touch up with a cotton swab after. The tip is really thin, which makes it draw precise, even lines. And once it’s dry, it stays put; no smudging, transferring, or fading. It does take a few seconds to dry; I tried to curl my lashes right after applying it the first time, and ended up with black eyelids. But waiting a few seconds is a small price to pay for a liner this reliable.

You can see in the photo above that straight out of the tube, the brush does have a little excess product on it. I purposely took this picture to show you that one quick sweep against the lip of the tube removes the extra liner, and leaves you with the right amount of product.

If you’re looking for a liquid liner, I would absolutely recommend this one. It’s by far the best drugstore version I’ve encountered. There are certain products that are worth splurging on (for example, an amazing mascara or foundation), but for me, liquid liner isn’t one of them. This NYX liner let me draw dramatic cat-eyes that were simple to apply, and it was very easy on my wallet (yay!). This is definitely a Recession Beauty pick that rivals its pricier competitor products.

Not into liquid liner? The collection of black liners also includes Skinny Liner, Glossy Liner, Kohl Kajal Liner, Matte Liner, Satin Finish Liner, and Powder Liner (similar to an eyeshadow liner that creates soft, diffused lines that easily blend). All liners in the collection are $6.

Recession Beauty: Two New Texturized Products From Maybelline

Image via Maybelline
Two items have recently hit the market that are revolutionary in their texture and feel. Best part: they’re both available at the drugstore. Maybelline Dream Nude Airfoam ($9) and Dream Bouncy Blush ($8) are more in line with products you’d expect to see at department or specialty store counters–not your local CVS. And their wallet-friendly prices defy their high performance and quality. Since I love anything that makes applying makeup even more fun, I’m absolutely a fan of these.

Recession Beauty: e.l.f. Shimmering Facial Whip

It’s no insider secret that a luminizer is the quickest, most flattering way to get a candlelit glow and make your bone structure really pop. But if you’re a babe on a budget, you may not have extra cash for the non-essential cosmetics. Well, you’re in luck, because e.l.f. Shimmering Facial Whip is just $1. Yep, you read it right — $1!! I picked mine up at my local Target.

And guess what…it’s not bad! Really. I expected it to be a disaster because it was so cheap, but I’ve paid a lot more for products that didn’t perform nearly as well as this little gem. I grabbed Spotlight, a pearly silvery shade that will work well on all skin tones, but is especially pretty on cool tones. Other available shades: Pink Lemonade (pale light pink), Persimmon (light pink), Lilac Petal (pale lilac), Camilia (pale silvery-pink), Citrus (peachy-pink), Toasted (pale bronze), and Golden Peach (gold).

Find out more details after the break!

Recession Beauty: Aveeno Naturals Nourish + Condition Leave-In Treatment

Summer sun, heat, humidity, sand, and saltwater have wreaked havoc on my hair. In desperate need of a little extra TLC, I picked up Aveeno Naturals Nourish + Condition Leave-In Treatment (approx. $6) during a recent trip to Target.

Recession Beauty: Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge

You’ve probably heard of the beautyblender, the iconic reusable pink sponge that allows you to flawlessly apply your makeup. Its price point, to me, seems a bit high; $20 for a sponge just doesn’t fit into my budget these days. To spare my wallet major agony, I picked up Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge ($9.99, spray bottle of brush/sponge cleanser included).

I love this reusable applicator. Its curvy design fits perfectly into the palm of your hand for easy, even application. It expertly stipples on tinted moisturizer and foundation.  And the opposite end is fabulous for getting into tight spaces, like under the inner corners of the eyes.

More details and photos after the break.

Recession Beauty: Garnier Fructis Blow Dry Perfector

I admit it: I love a bargain. Beauty on a budget isn’t always the easiest thing to maintain, as really stellar products tend to have high pricetags. But occasionally, a hard-working, standout product comes along that performs almost as well as its pricier counterparts.

Garnier Fructis Blow Dry Perfector is one of those high-performance, low-cost products (I think I paid something like $3.50 for it). The thick, rich lotion is meant to straighten hair — and keep it that way. And for me, it did just that. I barely even missed my Living Proof No Frizz or my Pureology Super Smooth Smoothing Elixir (and those are 2 products I cannot live without). It also contains argan oil to nourish your tresses and help them look sleeker.

But…there’s a catch.

Recession Beauty: Maybelline Great Lash Limited-Edition Mascaras

Three fashion icons have breathed new life into Maybelline Great Lash mascara, a drugstore staple for decades. In honor of its 40th birthday, the iconic pink and green tube got a series of makeovers from fashion designers Vivienne Tam, Max Azria, and Tracey Reese. The designers brought their signature styles to the tubes (Azria’s is emblazoned in black fishnet-style lace).

Inside, the same reliable formula remains. In the kits of thousands of professional makeup artists across the globe, this formula will elongate and fatten your lashes for a full, flirty fringe. And at under $7 a pop, these fashionista gems definitely classify as Recession Beauty must-haves.

 Click through to find out where & when to find it, and how you can help celebrate the mascara’s birthday!

Recession Beauty: Cover Girl Intense Shadowblast

I saw an ad last weekend for Cover Girl Intense Shadowblast (approx. $8). In it, Drew Barrymore’s eyes looked stunning (of course). They were enough to get me to actually read what the product was they were promoting, which is rare for me; I usually skip right over CG ads entirely. (There are so many of them!)

The liquid cream shadow is waterproof, smudge-proof, and has a built-in primer. So you can skip the extra step of laying down primer on your lids before slicking on shadow, and still get the staying power. Or so CG says; I haven’t tried this product, but was intrigued enough to tell you about it. For 8 bucks a pop, a cream shadow and a primer is a seriously recession-savvy deal.

Available in 6 shades: Extreme Green (sage with a touch of light green), Forever Pink (pale baby pink), Platinum Pop (metallic silver), and (pictured above) Brown Bling (a nice light neutral brown), Beige Blaze (champagne taupe), and Blue Bomb (metallic periwinkle).

In light of the economic downturn, Recession Beauty is a SugarSocial series that features low-cost, budget-friendly products as an alternative to luxury or designer brands.

Philosophy Friends & Family

Philosophy is holding a Friends & Family sale that’ll get you 25% off goods from their website. Use code “philosophy25″ at checkout before the offer expires on June 16.

Find more Philosophy posts here, here, here, here, and here.

To the Point: Cover Girl LineExact

A few weekends ago, I needed a liquid eyeliner in a pinch. My trusty Chanel liquid liner finally ran out, and later that afternoon, I was at the drugstore. So I sought out what I thought would be a quick-fix replacement. Liquid liner isn’t usually an impulse purchase for me, because I don’t think it’s is something you can snap up without researching and/or testing. The application has a lot to do with the tip, the consistency, and the handle. If those things are off, your eyeliner is going to look crooked, uneven, and generally a mess.

I grabbed Cover Girl LineExact ($6) because it was cheap and I’d read good things about the pen-like tip. Turns out I really like it. The felt tip is firm but flexible at the very end, where you need it most. It still yields to pressure, which is key when extending the liner in a cat-eye and thickening it at the outer corners.

There’s more after the jump!