Because we are going to Curacao for three weeks in May I thought it would be a good idea to bring only drugstore make-up. That way I won’thave to worry about my make-up getting lost, stolen or messed up by the heat. One problem with this idea: I haven’t owned any drugstore make-up since I was seventeen. Apart from the occasional Milani product I didn’t have any drugstore products in my make-up collection. That changed when I bought two NYX palettes on a whim and ending up liking them. It made me curious about other drugstore products, which led to my idea to bring only drugstore make-up on our trip. The past couple of weeks I’ve tried them all out: most I like (to my complete surprise I must add) and some are nah. If you are curious about my reviews and the look I created with these products, then keep on reading!

Primer/Setting Spray: NYX

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According to Influencer this NYX setting spray is everyones favorite. There is a dewy and a matte finish spray; I went for the dewy. I used it before I put on my makeup and afterwards, to set my makeup. It has a disinfectant smell, which I associate with hospitals. But I love everything else about this spray! The way the mist comes out is perfect. This may sound random but the spraying mechanism is just amazing. And it does what my MAC prep & prime Fix + does: make my makeup look less powdery, set my makeup so it stays in place all day and make me feel refreshed.

Eyes: NYX

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I bought a concealer stick from L’Oreal: Le Crayon Correcteur. I did not like it at all. It’s probably the worst concealer I have ever tried. So I’ve been using it as a lid primer. For my eyes I used the NYX Dream Catcher Palette: Dusk till Dawn.

• I used the lightest shade in the middle as a setting powder/base.
• The coppery shade on the right is my eyelid shade.
• I’ve mixed the shades on the bottom row (except the black on the right) to deepen out the crease.
• I used the matte brown shade on the upper right as a transition/blending shade.
• Then I used the golden shade on the top (left) to intensify my lids.
• And then I went back in with the ivory shade I used to prime my eyes, to highlight my brow bone.
• The dark shade in the upper left corner is a very pretty dark purple. I put a very thin line just above my upper lash line.

I did my eyes before I did my face make-up, because this palette has a lot of fall out. After I did my foundation I went back in with the coppery shade and the dark purple on my lower lash line, to complete the look.

Foundation: L’Oreal Paris

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I was the most nervous about finding a foundation. I have been married to Charlotte Tilbury and been loving the YSL Touche Eclat, when it comes to foundations. So I was extremely surprised by the fact that this L’Oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation is so amazing! It is very natural, yet buildable. It looks like second skin, it lasts all day and it doesn’t crease. It feels vey light weight, even if you build it up! You do want to use a beauty blender with this product because the sponge it comes with is useless.

Concealer: Maybelline

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I have heard everybody rave about this concealer. So when the L’oreal concealer turned out to be a bust I went online and ordered the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer. And everything I’ve heard about it is true: it is amazing. I even prefer it over my Urban Decay Naked Skin concealers! For this look I’ve put it underneath my eyes and a little bit around my nose.

Powder: LA Girl

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I had practically no expectations when it came to this powder. I believe it was six euro’s or something, so I thought my face was going to cake up in two seconds. But the LA Girl PRO face HD high definition matte pressed powder is actually a very nice, soft setting powder.  It does a great job getting rid of shine and making your make-up stay in place all day. I’ve put this powder all over my face and neck.

Bronzer: Barry M

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This Barry M After Glow Light Bronzer is a nice buildable bronzer. It is a little bit on the reddish side, but that’s okay since I will be using it when I have a tan. It gives you a lovely sun kissed look. This bronzer is not muddy, but it’s not really a great contour shade. I put it in the hollows of my cheeks, around my forehead, underneath my chin and a little down my neck to match my fake tan.

Blush: NYX

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The NYX  Sweet Cheeks Blush Palette has an adorable variety of shades, both matte and shiny. I am definitely bringing this on our trip, also because the eyeshadow palette doesn’t have many warm toned colors. The blushes are very pigmented, which is something I don’t prefer, but I’ve learned to work with them. I love (and used for this look) the light pink colour on the upper left side. It has a nice sheen to it, which makes it basically a highlighter. I’ve put this colour on the apples of my cheeks.

Highlighter: Milani

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I don’t think there is a better highlighter then the Mary Lou Manizer, from the Balm. Even my Charlotte Tilbury and MAC highlighters can’t keep up with that one. But this Milani Strobelight isn’t too bad. It doesn’t have that ‘wow’ factor, but it gets the job done. And it because it’s a more golden highlighter it ads to the sun kissed look.

Brows & Lashes: L’Oreal & Sleek

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I didn’t do any research on drugstore brow products before I went shopping and I regret this a lot, because both products I picked up for my brows are completely useless. I got the L’Oreal Brow Artis Designer and the Sleek clear brow gel.The brow pencil is hard to work with and very time consuming. The brow gel is going straight into the bin: it doesn’t only not work, it actually makes things worse. For Mascara I got the L’Oreal Mega Volume Miss Manga Mascara. This is actually an amazing product. Very black, not clumpy and also perfect for your lower lashes.

Lips: L’Oreal

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I am very happy with this lipstick. It’s the L’Oreal Color Riche lipstick in the shade 630 Beige a Nu. It’s a lovely nude lipstick. A little on the darker side, so perfect for day and nighttime. It’s not too pink, not to corally, not too brown. The formula is soft and creamy. It’s very easy to apply and it lasts a good couple of hours before I need to reapply.

The Finished Look

 

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So, this is the finished look. The products I recommend, from this look, are the NYX setting spray, the L’Oreal Cushion Foundation, the Maybelline concealer, the LA girl pressed powder, the NYX Blush Palette, the L’Oreal Miss Manga Mascara and the L’Oreal Color Riche Lipstick.