Source: makeupandbeautyblog.com

The American Academy of Dermatology suggests applying the amount equivalent to one shot glass (1 oz.) to exposed skin every day. That’s a lot of sunscreen, and you can end up spending a hefty chunk of change if you’re using high-end brands.

If you’re living on a budget then buying a 3 oz tube of $40 Skinceuticals sunscreen may not be a cost effective way to get your sun protection. So what’s a girl to do? Hit the drug store, of course!

I’ve tried many drug store sunscreens and found three that work well: Oil of Olay Complete for Sensitive Skin, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock and Alba Botanica Sea Moss Moisturizer. Here’s the skinny on each of these fab sun blockers.

Oil of Olay Complete for Sensitive Skin SPF 15
Price: $8.99 for 6 fl oz.
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A-

A dermatologist recommended this sunscreen to me and I’ve been using it for over ten years.

Pros: Subtle light scent, sinks into your skin easily (but you’ll still want to let it sit for about 10 minutes before putting on your makeup), provides great every day skin protection.

Cons: When I tan and get darker, I notice that this lotion casts a slight white sheen on my skin. During the coldest and windiest winter days it doesn’t provide enough moisture. I can’t wear it when I work out, because when sweat runs down my face this lotion goes into my eyes and makes them hurt. Ouch!

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 30
Price: $9.00 for 3 fl oz.
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A

I don’t like having a sticky neck, so I use this sunblock on my neck, shoulders and arms.

Pros: Light scent, leaves your skin feeling dry, absorbs easily. This has excellent sun protection. I went through two bottles of this a week before before my wedding day last July (I didn’t want to be too tan for the pictures) and I didn’t get too dark, even after days of surfing and swimming. I also always wear it when I run, bike or hike outside because doesn’t hurt when it runs into my yes.

Cons: Not very moisturizing, and can leave a slight greasy (yet not sticky) film on your skin after you apply it.

Alba Botanica Sea Moss Moisturizer SPF 15
Price: $14.99 for 2 fl oz
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B

This sunscreen has a strong smell – you’ll either love it or hate it. I like it, and I think the bottle is cute, too.

Pros: Smells good, non-greasy, very moisturizing.

Cons: Ample sun protection, but not as effective as Oil of Olay and Neutrogena sunscreens.

When you’re searching for your drug store sunscreens, look for ingredients which provide broad-spectrum protection like benzophenones (oxybenzone), cinnamates (octylmethyl cinnamate and cinoxate), sulisobenzone, salicylates, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and avobenzone (Parsol 1789.)

And always remember to apply your sunscreens 15-30 minutes BEFORE going outdoors.

I go through sunscreen quickly because I slather a lot of it on – while I’m rubbing what seems like a ridiculous amount on I just think of all the wrinkles I’m preventing. I’ve been using sunscreen since my teens and I’m starting to now really appreciate what it can do for your skin. I’m 31 and I still get carded. =)

Source: talkingmakeup.com

New from Shiseido is Shiseido The Makeup Enriched Loose Powder which is a  lightweight, highly-transparent loose powder evens skin tone and provides a smooth seamless finish.  The Makeup Enriched Loose Powder by Shiseido contains Multi Nutrient Factor, an advanced moisture agent, which make this powder moisture-rich and helps your skin to stay dewy and smooth.  Cost: $32. 

Also new at Shiseido is Shiseido The Makeup Hydro Liquid Compact Case And Refill which is a water-fresh foundation suitable for all skin types.  This compact foundation by Shiseido will give you a lasting moisture, dewy-fresh color, and a flawless translucent finish with medium coverage. 

The Makeup Hydro Liquid Compact Case and Refill by Shiseido contains UV ray protection with SPF 17-20 and also Shiseido’s special Multi-Nutrient Factor, an advanced moisturizer.  Cost: $10 for the The Makeup Hydro-Liquid Compact Case.  $28 for the actual foundation.  Comes in 15 natural shades. 
 

Source: talkingmakeup.com

Dr Brandt cosmetics was created by Dr. Fredric Brandt.  Dr Brandt is also the author of the top selling book, “Age-Less” The Definitive Guide to Botox, Lasers, Peels and Other Solutions for Flawless Skin.  Check out Dr Brandt Microdermabrasion with Magnesium oxide crystals that polish away dead skin cells, leaving skin radiant. 

These crystals, once only available in professional salon treatments, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, lighten skin, improve scars and clear acne-prone skin.  Dr Brandt Microdermabrasion is a quick solution to anyone who what a refined radiant skin at home yet professional quality.  Cost: $75. 

Source: makeupandbeautyblog.com

Product: MAC 182 Buffer Brush
Use: For application of loose powder, pressed powder and pigment
Price: $45.00
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+

I know, I know – $45 for one stinkin’ brush? For $45 dollars at the MAC counter you can get 3 eye shadows, or 3 Lipglasses or even 15 pencil sharpeners! If you wear powder every day, then consider investing in this brush. Save your pennies, wait until you get a gift card, or even ask a friend who is a MAC artist buy one for you and then pay her/him back, because this brush will become a staple in your collection.

I was lucky enough to get the 182 Buffer Brush as a Christmas gift from my beautiful and talented sister-in-law, who is a MAC makeup artist. The brush has a short, fat handle and a full dome made out of goat hair bristles.

And who knew that goat hair could feel so soft? The 182 bristles feel silky and dense, and when you apply product the brush feels like velvet on your skin. You can use this brush to apply loose powder, pressed powder and pigments, and I’ve found it to be pretty much a fool-proof brush. Even if I mistakenly overload it with powder, as long as I dilute the powder (by either tapping the brush or blowing off the excess) the 182 gives smooth, even application.

I use the 182 Buffer Brush with MAC Select Sheer Loose Powder in NC 30, MAC Couture Sheer Mystery Pressed Powder in Dark and MAC Blot Pressed Powder in Medium Dark.

If I use Select Sheer Loose Powder, I open up the powder jar, tap some powder onto the lid, gently dip the 182 brush into the powder on the lid, and either tap brush handle on the side of the powder jar or blow on the brush to dilute excess powder.

If I use it with Couture Sheer Mystery Pressed Powder or Blot Pressed Powder, I gently swirl the 182 in the compact, and then tap the handle or blow off the excess powder.

I like powder to look light and sheer, so I use a light touch as I apply the powdered 182 brush to my face in a circular, buffing motion.

If it weren’t for the steep price I’d give this brush an A. Plus, if you keep your brushes in a brush roll, you may have to store the 182 in a separate cosmetic case when you travel because of the short handle.

Source: makeupandbeautyblog.com

Product: MAC Green Gel Cleanser
Use: Facial cleanser
Price: $19.00 for 5 oz
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B – Update as of 3/1/07 – I’m changing this rating to a C because I accidentally got some cleanser in my eyes and it hurt like hell! Not ideal for sensitive eyes.

This morning I tried one of the samples I received from the Barbie Loves MAC seminar last week – MAC’s Green Gel Cleanser.

The website describes it as a foaming, soap-free, hydrating cleanser with extracts of cucumber and algae.

This cleanser smells good – light and fresh, like cut grass in the summer. The texture is nice too, thin without being too sticky.

I did feel like I had to use a lot of it to get a foamy consistency. And after I dried my face, my skin felt a little tight, but that could be also due to the fact that it’s been very cold and windy so my skin is drier than usual. I think my oily skin would like this cleanser during the warmer summer months though.

Green Gel Cleanser reminds me of Dermalogica’s Special Cleansing Gel, so if you are a fan of that cleanser, you might like this too.

Source: makeupandbeautyblog.com

Product: MAC Club Eye Shadow
Use: Eye shadow and liner
Price: $14.00 for a pan
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+

OH boy…I could write odes, sonnets, and volumes upon volumes on the wonders of Club, one of my favorite MAC eye shadows. But I’ll spare ya and get down to business.

Club eye shadow came into my MAC collection as one of the shadows in the Holiday 2006 Smoked Eyes Palette. At first glance it’s kind of dirty looking and scary. It reminded me of oily puddles in the middle of the road on a rainy day – black, gray, green and blue at the same time. I didn’t think I’d be able to wear it at all.

Once I got it on my eyes – wow. Club shows up on my lids as brown with flashes of green and blue. It’s a pretty, multi-dimensional, versatile color.

I wear it toned down during the day by using it in the crease with MAC’s 224 Blending Brush, or on the lid with MAC’s 252 Large Shader Brush. For nights out, I get a sultrier look by wetting the 252 brush and packing the color down on the lid, or using it as a liner with a wet 266 Small Angle Brush.

I pair it often with: MAC’s Ricepaper, Vex, Malt and Soba eye shadows.

Club is a must for any MAC addict who loves the smoky eye look!

Source: talkingmakeup.com

Do you love the look of wet lashes like you just stepped out of the water?  Now you can get that look using a Glossy Wet look Mascara Top Coat by Bourjois. 

Glossy Wet Look Mascara Top Coat by Bourjois is a light, water-based gel that glides effortlessly over your favorite mascara creating a long lasting wet-look with a high-gloss shine.  Comes in one shade Bleute 64 shimmering transparent.  Cost: $7.50.

Source: talkingmakeup.com

Cargo makeup was created by Hana Zalzal in 1996.  Now check out Cargo Limited Edition PlantLove Botanical Lipstick which is a lipstick tube made entirely out of corn.  The outer carton is made of flower paper embedded with real flower.  This environmentally friendly ingredients and packaging is designed to emit less greenhouse gases, which many scientists believe to be the major cause of global warming. 

PlantLove Botanical Lipstick by Cargo is infused with Orchid Complex and meadowfoam seed oil, jojoba and shea butter. Not only that, but it’s environmentally friendly, containing no mineral oils or petroleums.  and even more special, Cargo is donating two dollars from the sale of every shade to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  And five of these Cargo PlantLove Botanical Lipsticks were designed by your favorite celebrities: Evangeline: Evangeline Lily.  Lindsay: Lindsay Lohan.  Maria: Maria Menounos.  Mariska: Mariska Hargitay.  Sarah: Sarah Chalke.  Cost: $20. 

Also in the Cargo PlantLove Limited Edition Collection: PlantLove Pink Lip Box Set which includes: two of Cargo’s PlantLove Lipsticks in Sagamaratha sheer rosey taupe cream, Lindsay sheer pink cream.  Cargo’s award-winning lip gloss, PurseGloss in London, which has been designed to fit perfectly in your purse.  And Cargo Reversible Lip Liner.  Cost: $59. 

Source: talkingmakeup.com

New at Dior is 1 Couleur Powder Mono Eyeshadow which is a color-rich eyeshadow.  This new eye shadow by Dior come in shimmer, pearl, and matte finishes. They are Ultra smooth. Long lasting. Rich color intensity.  1 Couleur Powder Mono Eyeshadow is packaged in a jewel-like compacts.

Choose your favorite eyeshadow shade out of 12 Dior 1 Couleur Powder Mono Eyeshadow shades.  Talking Makeup favorite shades: 275 Metallic  royal blue, 535 Beige Sunshine golden beige shimmer, 445 Green Tropic vibrant green shimmer, 095 Smoking Black deep matte black.  Cost: $23.50.

Source: talkingmakeup.com

Urban Decay Cosmetics was founded by Sandy Lerner and Wende Zomnir in a search for the perfect shade of purple polish.  So what makes Urban Decay Cosmetics special? It’s their eye shadows that are packed with pigment rather than fillers so they last longer and never crease.

Urban Decay makeup brushes are made of a very soft synthetic fiber, and products like Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion which is an ultra-sheer eye shadow base or eye prep that make your favorite eyeshadow smooth, long lasting, and crease-proof $15, are industry and makeup artists favorites.   New at Urban Decay Cosmetics is Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter eye Gel which are sexy shades of glitter in a clear base and packaged in a squeeze tube. 

Simply pile on layers of glitter for a dramatic, jewel-encrusted lids, or use a brush to paint thin lines. Once dry, the feeling is weightless and the glitter will not budge and will last all night long.  You can apply as much of Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eye Gel as you want and the tube provided makes the application very easy and not at all messy.  This eye gel by Urban Decay come in 6 shades.  Talking Makeup favorites: Arena a golden bronze with a touch of opalescence, Power Ballad opalescent white, Bootleg royal blue silver blend.  Cost: $18.