Drugstore Cowgirl I

As I mentioned in my bio, I used to edit and write for Allure magazine in New York. In the area of the editorial offices, we had a room that was perhaps the size of a master bedroom called the beauty closet. The space was home to every beauty product that was sent to the magazine that we either did a story on or that a company wanted us to do a story on. There were rows upon rows of every hair product you could imagine. There was every brand of sunscreen, self tanner, skincare product and makeup, including lipstick, mascara, foundation, blush, bronzer and false eyelashes. There was every color of nail polish, makeup bags, cases, compacts, brushes, tweezers, mirrors, blow dryers and flat irons. You get the idea. I didn't pay for a beauty product for two years. And I did so many stories on treatments and procedures that I didn't pay for a haircut or color or facial or massage for two years either. I was taking bottles of Creme de la Mer home for free, and even had my teeth whitened as research for a story.

Needless to say, things have changed. Since I no longer work for a beauty magazine and am a stay-at-home mom, I went from using Chanel, Shisedo and Yves Saint Laurent to wearing Covergirl, Revlon and L'Oreal. I cruise the aisles of Rite Aid and CVS, looking for my next makeup fix or the perfect shade of lipstick. And shockingly, it's kind of fun. The stores and these brands are so affordable and I've no one to impress other than Sabine and Kadin, who are very forgiving. This allows me to buy often and experiment. If it doesn't work, I toss it or give it away to my teenage neighbor. And if it does work, I just paid $7.99 for my new look.

Recently, I've discovered that the new Covergirl Lip Stain that everyone is talking about lasts about five seconds and then it looks like you have no lip color on at all. I've discovered that NOBODY makes better mascara than Maybelline (look for the pink-and-green application tube, which I promise gives you longer, thicker lashes than any department-store brand). I found that L'Oreal Paris's Infallible Never Fail Lipcolour Compact lasts FOREVER (if you don't take it off before bed, your lips will be rosy in the morning...highly recommended for an early relationship sleepover, when you want to wake up looking as good as you did the night before). And lastly, Maybelline New York makes the most wonderfully forgiving Dream Matte powder, giving the MAC powders some serious competition.

Again, no one is paying me to say any of this since I don't have any advertisers. I just feel like I need to share my secrets and let you know that having been on both ends of the beauty spectrum has taught me that you don't have to spend a million dollars to look and feel gorgeous.

L'Oreal Paris's Infallible Never Fail Lipcolour Compact
lasts forever and comes in this vintage cigarette lighter-like packaging.

Maybelline New York makes the most
wonderfully forgiving Dream Matte powder