Saturday, April 27, 2013

UK/US trip haul-Part 5-US drugstore!!

I would be lying if I said part of my mums surprise trip to New York for her birthday wasn't also the perfect opportunity for me to pick up some US drugstore make-up!!

So I managed to go through both Manchester and Heathrow airport and not buy ANY beauty products-although I did nip into Mulberry at Heathrow and buy myself a belated birthday gift! 

Once we got to the Big Apple my drugstore of choice was Duane Reade which seem to be almost on every corner.  The best ones I found included the 'Look Boutique' which has been recently introduced into larger stores and stock a huge variety of brands.  Check out the one close to Macys (one block up and apparently the biggest in Manhattan) and the one on the corner of 43rd and 8th avenue.  And it's SO cheap-brands like Essie, Opi and Revlon are so much cheaper in the US than the UK.  My poor mum, I think we went to at least 8 Duane Reade's whilst we were there-but we also stocked up on some yummy US candy as well whilst we were there!

Duane Reade haul
Physicians Formula products

I picked up the 'Sexy Booster' blusher (how amazing is that heel pattern) and the Sexy Booster glossy stain (love the heel charm on the lid) from Physicians Formula.  Both products claim to have a pheromone boosting blend and seductive scent!  I also picked up two 'Happy Booster' blushers which are adorable with their heart shaped pattern.  The compact is quite deceiving-its deep so you think you are getting loads of product but in fact it houses a mirror and brush as well inside the compact.  I picked up the shades Rose and Warm-I have used both and they're great!  I also picked up the Eye Booster liquid eyeliner after reading good reviews on it.

Physicians Formula Rose (left) and Warm (right)

Next I moved to the Wet n Wild stand where I wish I had spent more time-in the end I only picked up 2 eyeshadow palettes-Comfort Zone and Walking on Eggshells.  I can't wait to try these compacts-especially as I already own one which I reviewed here and it offers great pigmentation.

Wet n Wild eyeshadow compacts

Considering I had said to myself 'I don't really need any more eyeshadow I then picked up these palettes from Cargo, The Balm and Pop.  I read somewhere this week that Cargo is coming back to the UK-perhaps into Debenhams??


Loving the neutrals in the Cargo and Pop palette

I picked up a few nail polishes along the way-firstly the Mariah Carey Liquid Sand collection.

Mariah Carey Liquid Sand-Get Your Number, Can't Let Go, The Impossible and Stay The Night

I love mini polishes, the perfect size to try out colours you wouldn't usually wear.  I love Stay The Night-an inky burgundy shot with red particles.

Opi and Essie Sssssexy and Repstyle (snakeprint magnetic polishes)

Seche Vite and Sally Hanson Straw-ready (just seen)
Effaclar products from Le Roche Posay

I've been using the Effaclar Duo and decided to pick up these 2 complimentary products.  The serum was reviewed here by Tiffany at Will Work For Makeup (one of my favourite blogs) but I think it's a US product only as I couldn't get the exact same product here in Dubai.

Maybelline Colour Tattoos in Bad to the Bronze (called On and on bronze in the UK) and Tough as Taupe

Finally the lipsticks and glosses!

Funnily enough on the plane I read about the new Revlon Colourstay Ultimate Suede lipsticks launching in the UK.  I had a look in Manchester as they sounded quite nice but I couldn't see them in the UK.  They were however in the US so I picked up 3 of them.  I don't know if the same shades are launching in the UK but I bought High Heels, Couture and Socialite.  To me, they are packaged as drugstore lipsticks-the packaging is very simple and plastic-y, I don't think its the most alluring or attractive lipstick.  It will be interesting to see what the UK packaging is like.

Revlon Colourstay Ultimate Suede, Liptini stain and glosses and an NYC gloss

Revlon Colourstay Ultimate Suede lipstick swatches (L-R) High Heels, Socialite and Couture

I picked up 3 glosses from a brand called Liptini-these were quite expensive to be honest-about $20 each but they are super shiny as you can see from the swatches.

Themed around cocktails, SoCo Lip Liqueur is a lip and cheek stain-akin to benefit Benetint.  Topper Lip Gloss in Cherry Fizz and Strawberry Rita are super glossy and perfect alone or over SoCo.

Liptini swatches-SoCo Lip and Cheek Stain, Cherry Fizz and Strawberry Rita.  NYC gloss in Coral To The Max

NYC Big Bold Plumping Lip Gloss

The NYC gloss has quite simply the biggest applicator I have ever seen!!!  This was ridiculously cheap-like $2 I think??

Size comparison, the Revlon lipstick versus JUST the applicator of the NYC gloss!!  It's a giant!
I really enjoyed the US drugstores, I'm excited to see the quality of the products compared to my normally more costly make up.

Next up-my Sephora haul-oh yes, the big guns are out for this one-it's going to be MONSTER!!

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