bettiesonabudget

[bettiesonabudget]

Hey Friends!

For years, I put a lot of work into creating my little corner of the internet and making this a space for makeup, self-love, and lifting each other up. Then I stopped super suddenly and haven’t been able to bring myself back to it. 

Until now.

This blog was created as an outlet for me during a pretty lengthy depressive period. I was in a dead end job that caused me anxiety, I had gone from living alone to living with housemates, and I wasn’t happy with myself, so I escaped into buying makeup and talking about it to the void of the internet. When it all came to a head, I completely shut down. I stopped writing, I stopped buying makeup, I stopped enjoying the things that had previously brought me joy (duh, Angeline, that’s how depression works). 

I know that all sounds dramatic, so let’s skip forward to the good stuff. My life today is so much different than the last time we chatted. I have been at a job I love for over 2.5 years, I live alone again, I have 2 kitty cats that make my world better, AND, most importantly, I SOUGHT OUT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES! I HAVE A THERAPIST AND I’M ON ANTI-DEPRESSANTS!!!

Sure, 2020 is treating me just as shitty as it’s treating everyone else, but I am finally living without the overwhelming anxiety and feelings of worthlessness. It took me 37 and a half years to get there, but I did it. It is never too late to love yourself enough to get help.

What does this mean for the blog?

Well, I don’t wear much makeup anymore because COVID, but there’s still plenty for me to review. Masks! Clothing! Sustainable period products! Sustainable products in general! Food! Charities! And, once in awhile, makeup and skincare!

If you don’t want to join me on this bigger journey, that’s totally okay! But I’m hoping you’ll give me a chance to dive into more global topics, self-discovery, and how to be a better citizen of planet Earth. 

I am so excited to be with you again. Oh, how I’ve missed you.

xoxo, angeline

[bettiesonabudget]

Ride or Die Products

Since we are nearing the end of the year, I thought it would be a good time to give you guys a list of my absolute favorite products in each category. This is a long one, so go get a tasty treat and settle in :)

Primer: I think I have to go with the The Ordinary High Spreadability Fluid Primer. Not only is it super inexpensive ($7.90 for 30 MLs), but I love the texture and performance. It is silicone based, so it’s a slippery type of primer that fills in my pores and fine lines really well. If you don’t like silicone primers, this might not be for you, but since it is a fluid (not a thick gel) you may want to give it a try.

Foundation: Though it’s a tough choice, my latest favorite (and the one I reach for most) is the Wet N Wild Photo Focus Foundation ($5.99 for 1 oz.) It is a full coverage liquid foundation that has a natural finish. It does not look cakey on the skin and gives you a flawless coverage. I just love the coverage, the finish, the texture, everything. It’s better than most high-end products.

Concealer: I’m on the Tarte Shape Tape bandwagon ($27.00 for 0.33 oz.) It is stupid expensive, but I’ve had the same tube for at least 6 months and I still have a ton left. It’s creamy, easy to blend, and high coverage. I also don’t feel like it creases in my under eye fine lines. If you want a much cheaper alternative, go with the Wet N Wild Photo Focus Concealer ($3.99 for 0.29 oz.) I really like this formula, but the shade range sucks. It also blends really well and sets into the skin beautifully. I’m actually in a total concealer rut, so I am on the hunt for a new fave. Plz send help.

Powder: Hands down the Kat Von D Lock-It Setting Powder ($30.00 for 0.67 oz.) This is one of my pricier favorites, but it is totally worth it. One jar lasts me almost a year and I am very heavy handed with loose powder. The finish is flawless and it holds all my makeup in place all day. It doesn’t give you a white-cast in photos, either, which is super important. 

Bronzer: I really love the Physician’s Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer ($14.99 for 0.38 oz.) If you have too much deeper of a skintone than I do (which is almost everyone) I don’t know that this will be dark enough for you, but if you are a pale princess, you’ll love it. It smells heavenly, first and foremost, but it also has a nice sheen to it. It doesn’t contain glitter, but the sheen gives you a healthy glow without being too shiny.

Contour: I’m not huge into contour products, as I’d rather just use a bronzer, but I really like my NYX Highlight & Contour Pro Palette ($24.99 for 0.72 oz.) Right now, through that link, the palette is actually only $17.50, so pick it up if you are interested! These contour and highlight shades are now sold individually, which is how I would recommend purchasing them. Unless you are a working artist, you will never use all 8 highlight and contour shades. I think you should pick up 2 individual pan contour colors (one for the winter when you’re fairer skinned and one for summer when you’re tan.) Each pan is $5.00 (currently $3.50 on sale) and they are a pretty decent size.

Blush: My favorite blush will always and forever be the Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso ($7.99 for 0.12 oz.) I love peachy blushes with a glow and this is perfect. It is subtle while giving your face a healthy flush. It looks good on a wide variety of skin tones and pairs well with many lip and eyeshadow combos. I love it so much.

Highlight: I have two highlights, one liquid and one powder. My liquid highlight is super pricey and is the Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in Moonlight ($42.00 for 0.5 oz.) I know, that is a HUGE price tag, but let me justify it. When I am not wearing a full face of makeup, I can put the tiniest amount of this on my cheekbones and it makes my face look absolutely radiant. A full container of this will last you an entire lifetime. I actually got a sample size with Sephora points and I still have half the bottle left. It is incredible. For powder highlight, I love the Makeup Revolution Vivid Shimmer Brick in Radiant ($7.00 for 0.24 oz.) This product is problematic, in that Makeup Revolution blatantly rips off higher end brands’ products and packaging. These are a rip off of the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks. But for less than 1/4th of the price, and allllllllll of the glow, I can’t help but love it. The glow is insane! It doesn’t have any glitter, but gives you the “wet” kind of a look. 

Eyeshadow: As far as individual eyeshadows go, my very favorite shadow, the one I throw on my lid if I’m in a hurry, is absolutely Makeup Geek’s Foiled Shadow in Grandstand ($10.00 for 0.64 oz.) The color is beautiful and the impact is incredible. It is one of those shadows I can use my finger to apply and it looks beautiful every time.  As far as eyeshadow palettes go, my most used palette is the Tarte Tartelette 2 In Bloom Palette ($46.00 for 12 shadows, 0.636 oz.). It’s a pretty basic warm palette, but I use it for everything. It’s good for beginners and for pros. It doesn’t have a lot of fallout and you can do entire eye looks with just this one palette. It’s got brow bone highlights, transition shades, crease colors, dark color, and shimmers. And it’s really compact packaging, so it’s good for travel.

Eyeliner: My favorite eyeliner is discontinued, which is a bummer. It is the Pat McGrath Labs dual ended liner that came in her limited edition eye kits. I loved it because it had a slanted end felt tip that made winged eyeliner so easy. I’ve been trying to NYX That’s The Point Liquid Liner in Super Edgy, ($10.00) which is a similar shape and concept, but I haven’t used it long enough to make it a favorite. So, I guess I’ll stick with the Kat Von D Ink Liner in Trooper ($20.00 for 0.019 oz.) I prefer the Ink Liner as opposed to the Tattoo Liner because I like a felt tip more than a brush tip.

Mascara: I think I have to go with L’Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara ($7.99 for 0.23 oz.) It’s inexpensive, it gives great volume and length, and it doesn’t transfer to my eyelids throughout the day. 

Lipstick: My two favorite lippies of late have been the NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment in Rock With You ($26.00 for 0.18 oz.) and Nudestix Magnetic Matte Lip Color in Burgundy ($24.00 for 0.05 oz.) Both are darker in color, Rock With You is a super dark purple-red and Burgundy is... well... burgundy; however, I would recommend these formulas in any color, if you are a more nude lip kind of a person. The NARS Powermatte is a very liquidy liquid lipstick, meaning that it has a very thin consistency, but it is really comfortable to wear. It’s my favorite liquid lipstick formula. The Nudestix Magnetic Matte is a pencil, but somehow, it is one of the most long lasting lipsticks I’ve ever tried. It does not budge! Again, these are pricey, but they feel great on the lips and are worth the splurge.

Lip Gloss: I’ve been really enjoying the Ulta Shiny Sheer Lip Gloss in Naked ($9.00 for 0.10 oz.) It’s a nice consistency and super shiny. It’s not too sticky and can be layered well over lipsticks for a glossy lip or worn on it’s own.

Setting Spray: Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray ($32.00 for 4.0 oz.) I don’t really know that setting sprays do all that much, but this is definitely the one that I feel keeps my makeup right and tight the longest. Do you need it? Absolutely not. But it is a nice luxury item for a special occasion. They also have it in a travel size for $15.00 for 1.0 oz., if you want to try the small size first.

Alright, friends. There you have it. If you feel like I’ve omitted anything or if you have any recommendations for new favorites, let me know!

xoxo

angeline

[bettiesonabudget]

The Ordinary

I mentioned this brand a long time ago, but I wanted to do an in-depth post about them because I am totally obsessed.

The Oridinary is a Canadian-based company that focuses on inexpensive skincare. Their parent company, Deciem, owns several different brands with their skincare brands being The Ordinary, Hylamide, and Niod. Each brand is focused toward consumers of different budgets and skincare needs. As I have yet to try products from Hylamide and Niod, I’m going to focus on the purposes of The Ordinary and why they are so inexpensive, as well as my favorites from the line.

The Ordinary’s products are all super inexpensive, ranging from about $5.00 up to around $20.00. The reason they are less expensive is because each product basically targets one skincare concern, instead of being something that combines several ingredients to improve numerous skin issues. By being a sort of one-trick pony, they are able to keep the fillers and additional ingredients to a bare minimum. They also use very plain medicinal looking bottles with droppers and plain labeling, along with little to no marketing, so you aren’t paying for advertising or fancy packaging, which I love.

I have used a number of their products so far and I’ve come up with some super favorites that I think will be a great addition to anyone’s skincare regimen.

First, the Buffet. This is one of the pricier products at $14.80 USD, but that’s because it contains a few different peptides in one serum to be used AM and PM. This is supposed to target multiple signs of aging. I like this because it absorbs quickly into my skin and I feel like it has improved my skin texture. I usually only use this in the morning and I make sure to put it all over my face, neck, and chest.

My newest love is the AHA 30% + BHA2% Peeling Solution. Once applied, this looks like you’ve slathered your face in the blood of a sacrificial animal to attain eternal beauty, but it’s really just a 10 minute facial in a bottle. It does itch a little when applied, but, once you rinse it off, your face is so smooth and soft. It is so lovely.

I also love the Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%. It’s a Vitamin C derivative, which brightens and evens the tone of your skin. I have some discoloration from acne, so I love Vitamin C products for lightening those dark spots. This formula, in particular, is a serum texture and it’s water based. It makes it easy to layer with other serums and skincare items.

I use the Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution every night. If you have super sensitive skin, this might not be for you because it is a harsher solution, as are a lot of toners. This toning solution is a pretty large bottle for only $8.70 and it goes a long way. I was never really into toners until I found this because most toners dried out my skin and left it feeling dehydrated. 

They also have a High-Spreadability Fluid Primer that I have been really enjoying. It only costs $4.90 USD, which is stupid cheap for a primer. It is a silicone primer, so if you aren’t into the slippery primers, you won’t like this. You also have to take time to pat it into your skin instead of wiping it, as it will ball up and make any makeup you put over it gross. I usually use this on days when I don’t want to wear makeup, but I want my skin to feel more mattified and even. I love that it fills in my pores enough to make my skin look smoother, without looking like I have anything on my face.

My very favorite products from The Ordinary, though, are their face oils and hydrators, which I use at night after the rest of my skincare routine is done. I have been using the 100% Plant Derived Squalane for the past month or so and I’m obsessed. Squalane is super emollient and helps restore the suppleness of dry skin... all for $7.90 USD! I can definitely tell that it has improved my skin texture and restored moisture to my face. I don’t have to use nearly as much moisturizer during the day anymore. I am also in love with their 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil, retailing for $9.80. It is a great moisturizing oil and so inexpensive! I’ve also tried their 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil for $6.80 and it’s also wonderful, especially when compared with the prices of other Argan oils on the market.

As far as the products I don’t really like, most of it has to do with a texture issue. I tried their Natural Moisturizing Factors, which is supposed to be like a moisturizer, I assume, but it’s thick and hard to spread without pulling at your face. I also didn’t notice a difference in my under eyes with the Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG, but that could be because I don’t get a ton of puffiness around my eyes and that’s what caffeine is supposed to reduce. The Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% was terrible texture-wise; I only used it twice. It was thick and balled up on my skin when I tried to spread it around. It wore horribly under my makeup and even on my bare skin. 

I have yet to try their foundations, but they look so awesome. There are actually quite a few products I’m still itching to get my hands on, but, because they are a smaller company, a lot of them are often out of stock.

Overall, though, I love The Ordinary and think they are a great company to check out if you are new to skincare or looking for inexpensive alternatives for the costly products you see in Sephora or Ulta. 

xoxo

angeline

[bettiesonabudget]

Eyebrows: The Saga Continues

Hi guys! Thank you for all your kind words and encouragement on Part 1 of this eyebrow series. I know this comes about a month later, but I wanted to make sure my brows were fully healed (and my opinions fully formed) before I wrote this post.

I had my appointment on October 5th. The salon where I went, La Di Da Beauty (http://www.ladidabeauty.com), was freaking adorable. Everything is gray, white, pink, and rose gold, which is one of my favorite color combos, and it was so well decorated. The owner, Laura Garcia, took me on a full tour, showing me everything the salon has to offer, including a gorgeous room they use for bride trial makeup and makeup classes, and explained all of the local art that adorns the walls. Laura herself is a gem. She instantly put me at ease; she had a very calming presence and reassuring smile.

We entered the microblading room and she began telling me what to expect. She let me know each step of the process and made sure I had the proper expectations of what would be achieved during my first session. 

After we discussed what I wanted out of the microblading (on the form I filled out, they asked “What are you looking to improve about your brows?” My answer: “Everything.”) I laid back on her table and she began mapping out my brows. This entailed her using a piece of string and a kohl pencil to sketch out the appropriate shape and symmetry of my brows. She had me look at them a couple of times, made some adjustments, and we finally decided on the best shape. After that, she put six different ink colors on my skin to compare and figure out which color would be best for my brows. Because she had read my previous blog, and got a feel for my personality, she allowed me to go with a pretty dark color. (Did I mention how great she is?) Once we picked the ink color, she applied some 5% Lidocaine cream to my brows for 25 minutes to numb them.

It was time to get down to business. Truthfully, I didn’t even feel the first strokes, I could only hear them. The sound is bizarre. It sounds like a mix between ripping jeans and scraping on pavement. I know that sounds dramatic, but it’s really weird! Unfortunately, my brows started to bleed more than normal, so Laura had to take it really slow, which meant the numbing started to wear off. When I could start to feel it, whoa! It was a slow, sharp scrape and it did not feel good, kind of like the shading of a tattoo after the line work has been done for awhile. But Laura was super nice and kept me calm, and persisted through my unruly bleeding. 

Finally, she told me I could look at the final product. HOLY SHIT! They were perfect! 

Day 1: My eyebrows were sore for the rest of the day, like I had gotten a good workout in my brow region. It was only really noticeable when I raised my eyebrows or when I frowned. They didn’t itch or burn or hurt. I was instructed to use sterile gauze pads and a little warm water to clean my brows at the end of the day. The most important part of cleaning your healing brows is to always pat them instead of pulling or tugging on them. Also, use very little water so you aren’t completely soaking them. After the warm water cleanse, pat them dry then apply Aquafor (or coconut oil) in a thin layer. You want to make sure that your brows are hydrated, but not too goopy. Extra goop causes them to scab more, just as letting them dry out does. The hardest part, for me, is modifying how I sleep. You should not sleep on your brows (if you are a side or stomach sleeper) as the friction between your face and the pillow can cause the ink to rub off or not heal correctly, especially if you sleep on one side more than the other. Sleeping on your back is preferable.

Day 2: Looking in the mirror first thing in the morning was a trip! For a second, I thought I hadn’t washed my makeup off! My aftercare instructions said you could wash your brows with a gentle cleanser (I use Cetaphil). Again, pat the cleanser on, splash with a little water, and pat dry with a non-abrasive washcloth or gauze pad. Then apply the Aquafor. The soreness was very mild. You can’t put anything close to your brows, including face lotion and makeup.

Day 3 and 4: Pretty much just like Day 2, but they started to scab and peel, like a regular tattoo.

Day 5: My brows were in full on healing mode and itched like crazy! Since they were scabby and healing, I couldn’t scratch them, so I had to get creative with my itch relief. I furrowed my brows and patted them with the pads of my fingers.

Day 6 and 7 not memorable. My brows did start to look even more natural as the ink faded and peeled. 

Day 8: My brows were about 95% healed so I decided to put on some makeup, finally! I was chomping at the bit to add a little definition to my brows, but I stopped myself, but it was so nice to be able to put on a full face and not have to put on brows!

Looking at the side by side comparisons of Day 1 (left) and Day 8 (right), you can see how much they changed in a week. There are a few spots that need some touch ups, but overall, I think they are amazing! They feel natural while still being bold.

Having them microbladed makes doing my eyebrows look more natural, too. You can see the hairstrokes even when I got HAM on them. (Maybe you can’t, but I can :) )

I have a follow up appointment booked for the end of this month to do some touch ups and fine tuning, but I am so happy with how they’ve healed. This is how they look completely healed. They are so natural. I can’t even express how amazing it is to wake up, throw on some mascara, and run out the door. It is honestly one of the best things to ever happen to me. Look at this before and after! LOOK AT MY EYEBROWS!!!!

Now for the important stuff:

Would I recommend microblading? ABSOLUTELY! If you struggle with your brows, microblading is an amazing solution. Yes, it’s expensive (in Reno, the average is between $500-$600) but the outcome is incredible. I will absolutely continue getting mine done for years to come.

What do I wish I’d known before microblading? Honestly, I did a ton of research before I went into it, so I wasn’t surprised by anything. I will say: it does hurt, they do heal and turn out differently than when they are first done, you do have to take extra care of them during the healing process, and the follow up appointment will be necessary.

What do I dislike about microblading? The cost? Seriously, the cost is the only downside I can find and, once you amortize it out, the cost is really not bad.

Overall, do your research before doing something so permanent to your face. Check out the work of your microblading artist via Instagram, Facebook, Yelp, etc. Make sure you are getting someone experienced and who is willing to work with you to create your perfect brows. Huge shout out to the beautiful Laura Garcia at La Di Da Beauty/Reno Microblading (find them on Instagram at @ladida_beauty and @renomicroblading, or on Facebook at La Di Da Beauty or Reno Microblading), who worked with me to achieve exactly what I wanted. She was patient and lovely and incredibly talented. I will sing her praises until the end of time because she’s an angel!

Let me know if you have any questions I didn’t address or if there’s anything else you want to know. I will do my third part after my follow-up appointment at the end of the month to let you know if the follow-up hurts more than the first time, what adjustments we make to my brows, and anything else I might think of.

xoxo

angeline

[bettiesonabudget]

Eyebrows: The Saga Begins

I have decided to bare my soul and share an in-depth look into my biggest insecurity, my eyebrows. So, if you aren’t into looking at a bunch of embarrassing pictures of me over the last 35 years of my life, see ya later. If you do stick around, you’ll find out the exciting news that led to this.

I was bald until I was two, if that tells you anything about the genetics I’m working with. Thanks to the Nordic genetics of both my mother and father, I was predisposed to have very sparse, blonde eyebrows. It’s a cute look when you’re 3, not such a cute look as you get older.

I do not remember a time before I hated my eyebrows. I do remember, however, that I felt the need to start plucking them in eighth grade. I thought that plucking my eyebrows would make me prettier and more grown up. So many of my classmates were doing it, it seemed like a very normal thing to do. The picture below is one of the last I have of my untouched, natural eyebrows.

And this was shortly after. WHERE DID MY BROWS GO??? (As you can see, my mama's brows are pretty non-existent, too)

By the time I hit high school, I had massacred my brows. It was the mid/late 90s and pencil thin brows were all the rage. At the time, I idolized Drew Barrymore and was desperate to have her barely there brows. At first, I kept some of the volume in the front of my brows.

By Senior year, my brows had no discernible shape and I was heavily dependent on my $0.99 Wet N Wild Eyebrow Pencil.

Sometime toward the end of my Senior year, I attempted to give them an arch, which resulted in a hard angle that was neither flattering or natural. Eventually, I toned the harshness down, but they became uneven and kinda wiggly.

As the years progressed, I became more and more obsessed with my brows and my need to have control over them. Around 2004-2005, I made the bold decision to pluck off the entirety of the outer half of my eyebrows. In my head, it gave me the creative freedom to choose how my brows looked each day; in reality, I had virtually no eyebrows.

I guess the non-existence of my brows gave me lots of lid space for eyeshadow?

My hair got darker, but my eyebrows stayed the same. You can really see how hard I was trying to be cool with my pencil thin brows, lip ring, brown hair, and brass knuckles ring. In my defense, I was headed to a 30 Seconds to Mars concert, so I fit in pretty well.

Finally by 2008, I’d started letting the tail ends of my eyebrows grow back, but so did the harsh angle/arch. By that time, I had plucked so vigorously for so many years that my hair grew back even more sparse. I had hair, but it did not really create a full eyebrow.

Almost 10 years later and this is as good as my eyebrows get. They are super sparse on the tails and my hair is still pretty light. As accomplished as I feel to have this much eyebrow hair, I’m still kicking my 13 year old self for maiming her brows.

Thankfully, I’ve gotten to a point where I like my drawn on eyebrows. I’ve learned techniques that make them slightly more realistic. I even ditched the Wet N Wild pencil for Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow, Benefit Precisely My Brow, and other game changing brow products. Though I will never ditch my love really dark eyebrows with blonde hair. I am a product of the 80s and my desire to be Madonna is ever present.

Sometimes they are lighter; sometimes they are darker; sometimes they are thinner; sometimes they are way too thick.

But they are always drawn on. And I am always afraid of them smudging or fading or rubbing off on someone when I hug them.

I constantly wonder what it’s like to wake up in the morning and not have to spend 10-15 minutes on my eyebrows before leaving the house. I’m so jealous of people with full, beautiful brows that need little to no effort. And lately, I’ve been stalking the Instagram pages of microblading artists who give people like me natural looking permanent brows. As much as I’ve wanted to try microblading, I’ve been too scared. When it comes to my eyebrows, I have never, ever given control to anyone else. No one has ever tweezed or filled in my brows, except me. On the rare occasion someone else does my makeup, I always do my own eyebrows because I know how I like them done. The thought of letting someone else permanently tattoo on my eyebrows fills me with anxiety. What if I don’t like them? What if they are the wrong shape? What if, what if, what if?

Then, last week, the Instagram account for a local makeup and beauty salon, LaDiDa Beauty (@RenoMicroblading on Insta) posted that they were in need of models. I have been following them since the beginning of the year and they do outstanding work, so, on a whim, I emailed them. And they emailed me back! I am getting my eyebrows microbladed in just a few days!

So, I decided to do this three part series to share with you my journey. The second part will be all the down and dirty details of the actual microblading experience. I will share with you the process, the time involved, the pain, everything. I will let you know if I recommend it or if you should stay away. Then the final part will be about the healing experience, the touch up, and my thoughts about the whole process. I want to be as open and honest as possible because I’ve learned that a lot of women have had it done, but very few talk about it.

So, I’ll get back to you next week when I’ve been outfitted with new, amazing brows! Wish me luck, friends, and thanks for reading this ridiculously long post!

xoxo

angeline

[bettiesonabudget]

Words to live by <3 

[bettiesonabudget]

Someone sent this to me in my messages and I don’t know whether to be flattered or horrified. 

Thanks?

[bettiesonabudget]

Marc Jacobs Eye-Conic Palette

I received the Marc Jacobs Eye-Conic Multi-Finish Eyeshadow Palette at the end of July in an Influenster Vox Box. If you haven’t heard of Influenster, go check it out right now. Influenster is not only a great place to get reviews on products from makeup to electronics, but they also send out periodic surveys for their members to complete to get free products in exchange for honest reviews. It’s amazing! I joined Influenster about two years ago and have since received mascara, facial cleansing wipes, lipsticks, antiperspirant, shampoo and condition, and more. These products range from drugstore to high end and I probably average one qualifying Vox Box every 2-3 months. All you have to do is create a profile and link it to your social medias (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, etc.) They give you a “social impact” score and start sending you surveys for free products.

(From top to bottom: She Was, satin finish; Infamous, matte finish; Known For, metallic finish; Seeking, matte finish; The Most, metallic Finish; Over The Top, matte finish; and Glamour, matte with glitter finish)

On to the actual palette:

Since I haven’t heard ANYONE talk about this palette, I thought it would be good to review it for you. There are six different Eye Conic Palettes: Glambition, Scandalust, Provocouture, Frivoluxe, Smartorial, and Edgitorial. Each palette has seven shadows in a combination of four different finishes. The palettes retail for $49.00 each, breaking down to $7.00 per shadow. I received the Glambition palette (swatched above) which is a mix of great every day shadows that can also achieve a killer smoky eye.

I used this palette to create both of the eye looks below.

Pros:

The shadows are nicely pigmented They blend well There is a nice mix of satins (mattes) and lames (shimmers/glitters) Beautiful packaging. Small enough to take on the go

Cons:

$49.00 is a lot of money for such a small palette The black has chunky glitter, which can be hard to work with/wear

Overall, I really enjoy this palette. It’s great for travel and the colors are very versatile. I don’t know if I would pick up any of the others, as this is the one with the colors I like the best, but it’s definitely a high quality palette that I reach for quite a bit. 

xoxo

angeline

[bettiesonabudget]

New Hair, Who Dis?

As I mentioned in my last post, I got myself a new, sassy haircut and color.

My inspos: Charlize Theron in Atomic Blonde and Laura Dern in the Twin Peaks reboot. 

What we did: My amazing hair stylist, who knows my hair better than anyone, bleached my roots twice with a processing time of 30-50 minutes both times. I do not recommend doing this unless your head, and hair, are used to this kind of processing. My hair has always pulled brassy when I bleach it, so the second round of bleach was necessary to mute the yellow tones. After the bleach, she used an opal-based toner to cancel out the rest of the brassiness, which made it a beautiful icy blonde. She, then, cut and layered my hair, giving me bangs and leaving my hair feeling super healthy. The whole process took approximately 5 and 1/2 hours and it was totally worth it to have my dream hair.

Before and after:

Also, with just a few curls, I can give it texture and volume ala Charlize.

I am so obsessed with my new hairs! I can go 2-3 days without washing my hair (a personal best) and I don’t have to do much to it to keep it cute. 10 out of 10, would recommend.

xoxo

angeline

[bettiesonabudget]

Quickies #2

Back again with another Quickie.

I just picked up the Wet N Wild Photo Focus Foundation and holy bananas! Not only is it super cheap (ranging between $4.99-$5.99, depending on where its purchased) but it gives such a lovely natural finish to the skin. There are 20 shades, which are unfortunately skewed toward lighter skin tones, but if you can find a shade that matches your skin, definitely pick it up. It’s a light-weight, medium buildable coverage with a natural finish. I love drugstore foundations (L’Oreal Infallible, Milani Conceal + Perfect, Maybelline Fit Me... just to name a few) but this is definitely my new go-to.

[bettiesonabudget]

Quckies #1

Since I’ve been largely absent from this blog, and the thought of sitting down to write longer posts is overwhelming, I’ve decided I’m going to start doing posts I’m calling “Quickies”. Each of these posts will be something that I’m loving at the moment. This way I don’t have to save up monthly favorites or wax poetic about things I love; I can just throw them out here for you to enjoy.

My first Quickie is the NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment in the color “Rock With You”. It is a liquid lipstick of sorts, but it does not dry out your lips and it layers on top of itself perfectly. I bought “Rock With You” initially because that’s the title of a Michael Jackson song, but quickly realized it is the perfect deep redish-purple I’ve always wanted. I call it my perfect Marilyn Manson lipstick; perfect for fall. It applies quite opaque and is not streaky or weird. Though the Powermattes retail for $26.00, which is steep for a liquid lipstick, the luxurious packaging and amazing product are totally worth it. You do not need to buy the entire collection, but finding a staple color that you will wear often is a good investment.

Also, I got a new haircut and I feel like a total babe now, so that’s pretty exciting, too.

[bettiesonabudget]

Before my question, I have to tell you, I just discovered your blog - I've enjoyed makeup for years, and lately, I'm *really* enjoying it - and I love you to bits. You're so kind, and informative, and witty. You're a friend in my head! My question: Do you have any tricks for widening the mouth? Weird, I know. My lips are pouty enough, but my mouth is small. I'd love it to seem more in proportion with the rest of my lower face. Thank you in advance, should you get to answering. XO, Melissa

Hi sweet Melissa!

I’m sorry I’m a terrible person and have neglected to answer your question for so long!!!

I would try highlighting around the corners of your mouth with highlighter that doesn’t contain glitter. Bringing light to the outside of your mouth will give the illusion that it’s wider. Also, using a reverse ombre technique (placing a darker color in the center of your lips and fading it toward the corners) will help lengthen the look of your mouth. Keeping your lips glossy, not matte, can also trick the eye into making the mouth look longer. 

Using contour or darker colors on the rest of the face will diminish the size of your other features to help balance out your face, too. Go super dark and smokey on your beautiful eyes, paired with a nude glossy lip, and you are going to be a showstopper! 

Hope those are some helpful tips, Melissa! I look forward to hearing from you soon

xoxo

angeline

[bettiesonabudget]

Why did I find you under Google butthole sandwich???

lolz going through my unchecked messages is the best.

[bettiesonabudget]

June Favorites and Not-So-Favorites

Yo! It’s me again, after another long hiatus. I have found a bunch of products I love (and some I hate) so I thought it was time to get back in the game. The title is sort of a misnomer, though. These are actually a bunch of favorites I’ve acquired over the last few months, so get yourself a snack and get ready for a lot of things.

I’m obsessed with the Maybelline Brow Precise Micro Brow Pencil in Soft Brown ($7.99) and L’Oreal Brow Stylist Definer in Brunette ($8.99). As you can see, they look almost identical. Maybelline only has 4 colors to choose from while L’Oreal has 5 shades. The performance of these pencils is very comparable to the Benefit Precisely My Brow pencil, but at about 1/3 of the cost. They both have a similar soft, waxy feel that defines and holds your eyebrows in place. As a person with very little eyebrow hair, it is important for me to find an inexpensive, high performing eyebrow pencil since I go through about one every month and both of these are amazing.

I haven’t been wearing full face makeup lately. Maybe once or twice a week will I take the time to put on the whole shebang and, when I do, I’ve been opting for BB/CC Creams instead of foundation. I’m living for the Supergoop CC Cream ($32 for 1.6 oz.) because it’s a great color for my skin and has a 35+ SPF. The major downside is that there are only 3 shades and I am in the second shade Light to Medium, so the range is terrible. However, if you fall into one of those three colors, you should try it. It’s light on the face and has a pretty good medium coverage.  I also just got the Flower Beauty BB Cream ($12.98 for 1 oz.) and it’s pretty damn great. It’s got a great coverage, doesn’t accentuate my pores, feels good on my skin, and you can buy it at WalMart. I just bought a few Flower Beauty products and, overall, I am really impressed! Good job, Drew Barrymore!

Another company that has been mega impressive as of late is Wet N Wild. Yes, the same Wet N Wild that you used to wear in middle school. They have blown the drugstore competition out of the water with their high quality, inexpensive products. Their Photo Focus Concealer ($3.99) has quickly become one of my favorites. It’s a medium coverage, but it’s natural enough for me to put under my eyes when I’m not wearing any other makeup. My other favorite is their MegaLast Liquid Catsuit Liquid Lipstick ($4.99). They are really pigmented, pretty comfortable, and there are 13 pretty shades to choose from. They aren’t the absolute best liquid lipstick formula, but for $4.99, they are a great addition to your makeup collection! 

One of my favorite new discoveries is the Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in Moonlight ($42.00 for 0.5 oz.) I know, I know. That is a ridiculous price for so little product, but hear me out. I got a tiny sample bottle of these from a Sephora Play Box and never really played with them until about a month ago. I use a couple of tiny drops on the tops of my cheekbones when I am not wearing foundation (and sometimes on top of foundation) and they give me the most beautiful highlight glow on my face! Because you use so little product, these will last forever. Sometimes, if I’m feeling super extra, I will “set” them with Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal ($38.00) and then I’m the most highlighted broad in the greater Reno/Sparks area.

My last makeup favorite of the month has to be the Nudestix Magnetic Matte Lip Color in Burgundy ($24.00). If you love matte, budge-proof lips, but don’t like liquid lipsticks, you’ve got to try these! I only picked it up because Burgundy is this very early 90s red-brown color and because @ssssmanthaa talks about them all the time. I am so impressed with the formula; it’s a pencil that goes on matte and will not budge! It’s comfortable and not super unnatural looking like most liquid lipsticks. I basically want to buy every color.

For my book favorite, I highly recommend Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. It is a story about two African families; each chapter is the story of a different member, different generation of each family. The writing is beautiful and, though each story is heart wrenching, it is such a gorgeous book. Yaa Gyasi spent a lot of time doing research to make sure that the book was genuine and authentic, and she exceeded every expectation I had for this book. It is an important work of art that everyone should read. I listened to it because I wanted to hear the correct pronunciations of the names and places. The narrator was lovely and did a great job bringing the book to life.

My clothing item is not really clothing, but since it’s summer, I think it is just about the most useful thing in my closet. As a fat girl, I love to wear dresses (pants are the worst!) but my thighs rub together and that’s really uncomfortable. I found these Bandalette Elastic Anti-Chaffing Thigh Bands ($17.95 per pair) on Amazon and they are a game changer! I got them in Black Onyx, which is a pretty lace pattern. They fit around the largest part of your thigh to keep your legs from rubbing together and chaffing. In the heat, they keep your thighs from sweating and actually look pretty cute, if they happen to show, unlike Spanx or other undergarments. I cannot say enough great stuff about these things! 

And now, finally, for my not-so-favorites...

I picked up the Real Techniques Dual-Ended Expert Sponge ($5.99) in my ongoing quest to find the best makeup sponge. Beautyblenders are so expensive and I’ve been using the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge almost exclusively for at least 6 months. Since this sponge was only six bucks, I eagerly added it to my cart. MISTAKE! The sponge is very stiff and does not expand or soften when it’s dampened. It’s also really small. I didn’t even use it on my face because I was already disappointed by its performance under water. I would say this is a hard pass.

The Lancome Juicy Shakers ($22 for 0.22 oz.) have been raved about all over the internet, so I picked one up in the color Piece of Cake. The purpose of these is to give you a hint of glossy color to the lips. It is a VERY light wash of color on the lips, which I don’t have a problem with. What I don’t like is that the gloss is very thin and does not have any staying power. I found myself having to reapply my lip gloss several times a day and it was annoying. My friend who isn’t big on lip products loves it, though, so it could be that it just didn’t live up to my standards.

Don’t waste your money on the Makeup Revolution Retro Luxe Matte Lip Kit ($9.00 for the liquid lipstick and lip liner). I was hoping to find a cheap alternative to the Kylie Lip Kits, but this is a bust. The formula was really thick and patchy and did not feel good on my lips. The pencil wasn’t anything to write home about either. You can find much better products elsewhere.

And, finally, the Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream ($39.00 for 1.0 oz.) was a total bust. As I told you, I’ve been really into BB/CC Creams and I was hoping this splurge purchase would be my holy grail. It was not. For $39.00, I expect to have the most beautiful skin of all time, but that was not the case. It balled up, creased, and accentuated all of my texture and pores. I hated it. Thankfully, I took this back and discovered the BB/CC Creams mentioned above. Do not waste your money on this when you can find better, cheaper alternatives.

Alright, my friends. There are some of my faves and not-so-faves. I will try not to go a million years between posts again! Especially since I’ve been trying some new stuff I’d like to share with you! Let me know if you have any requests, suggestions, or ideas you want me to try :)

xoxo,

angeline

Follow me on all the social medias: Instagram: @rangerine (my personal insta for lots of pictures of my cat) or @bettiestonabudget (my makeup insta) Twitter: @rangerine Snapchat: @angeline_marie Goodreads: @angeline_marie

[bettiesonabudget]

Spring Sales at Sephora and Ulta

If you guys are big spenders at Sephora and Ulta, go check your spam and deleted emails because you may have missed the greatest emails you’ve received all year.

Yesterday marked the beginning of the Sephora VIBRouge 15% off sale (runs through April 24th) and the Ulta Platinum Rewards 20% off sale began last week and goes until Saturday, April 22nd!!!! YAASSSSSSSSS!

With that being said, let me give you a few tips on how to maximize your savings during these sales:

1. The coupon codes can both be used multiple times, so if you can’t purchase everything at once, don’t worry! They are for use both in store and online, too, so, if there are things you don’t feel comfortable purchasing online, go to your nearest store! Easy peasy.

2. In addition to the previous tip, I encourage all of you to make multiple orders to maximize the free samples, especially from Sephora. If you are a VIBRouge member, you get free 2 day shipping anyway, so why not use it to your advantage?

3. If you are both VIBRouge and a Platinum Rewards member, use the higher discount to buy the stuff that is sold at both stores. For me, that means buying my Benefit eyebrow pencils, Philosophy Fresh Cream Lotion, Smashbox BB Cream, and Urban Decay Perversion mascara from Ulta because it was an extra 5% off. It won’t get to me as quickly (Ulta’s shipping times to the West Coast suck) but it’s cheaper. Plus, I was able to use some extra points I’d acquired, which amounted to an extra $11.00 savings.

4. Stock up on all the stuff you know you’re going to use. I use this sale and the VIBRouge 20% off sale in November to stock up on lotion, mascara, primer, shampoo and conditioner, foundation, face masks... all the stuff that you know you are going to buy any way, so you might as well save 15% or 20% on them. Make sure it’s stuff that doesn’t expire, so it won’t matter how long you store it.

4. As always, if you are shopping online, USE EBATES!!! Both Sephora and Ulta have 3% cash back right now, so that’s some extra money that winds up back in your pocket. It costs you nothing to do, but gives you money back each quarter. My Cash Back check next month is going to be over $70! You can even download a browser extension that will notify you when an online retailer is an Ebates affiliate and it will tell you the cash back percentage. It’s a no brainer. You gotta do it!

If you guys aren’t VIBRouge members, never fear. The VIB 10% off sale should start next week (I don’t know if Beauty Insiders also get the 10% off sale.)

Hope you guys found this helpful! Happy shopping, friends!

xoxo

angeline

[bettiesonabudget]

Long Time, No Post

Hey friends. Remember me? If you don’t, I don’t blame you. It’s been a really long time since I’ve posted anything. 

If you care, a lot of things went into my hiatus. Mostly, I became very dispassionate about makeup. After the election in November (ugh. That sounds so dramatic, but it’s true) I pretty much stopped wearing everything except eyebrows and mascara. It’s been a liberating experience and, truthfully, I’ve enjoyed the extra freedom that comes with not spending 45 minutes on my makeup every morning. It’s also sad, though, because I just stare at my makeup and wish I could get the energy to be creative.

Additionally, before this rut, I had created a separate Instagram (BettiesOnABudget) for all things makeup related. All of the YouTubers, makeup companies, gurus, etc. that I follow on Instagram were relegated to that account and my personal account (rangerine) is for following friends, cats, sports, and Ronan Farrow. Now that I keep them separate, I find that I never log in to BettiesOnABudget and, therefore, never see any of the new products and looks. 

As a result, I haven’t been buying a lot of new products. It’s the middle of April and I’ve only spent less than $200 at Sephora for the entire year!  I haven’t even stepped foot of an Ulta since last year. 

But in the last few weeks, I’ve found myself thinking about skincare products and things I’d like to share with you guys. Finally!

I don’t know how frequently I’ll update or if it’s all going to be strictly makeup related, but I hope you will stick with me on this new leg of my journey. I’d also like to know what you want to talk about! Give me some topics, suggestions of products, anything and we can chat!

Thanks for still being my friends and allowing me to take a much needed break. 

xoxo

angeline

[bettiesonabudget]

Sephora VIB/VIB Rouge 20% Off Sale!

It’s the best time of the year again!!!! SEPHORA’S VIB/VIB ROUGE 20% OFF FALL SALE!!! 

Depending on your level of Sephora addiction, over the next few weeks, you can save 20% off of EVERYTHING Sephora has to offer. For VIB Rouge members, the sale starts today (November 4th) and goes through Monday, November 7th. For VIB members, the sale is from November 11th through the 14th. 

In order to participate in these sales, you do have to be VIB or VIB Rouge status with Sephora. You should get an email with your discount code and dates of sale. The discount code can be used to shop online or in store and can be used as many times as you want during the sale period, so make sure to get your full use out of it!

I want to share with you the things I think you should definitely pick up during the sale, things that I’m also going to get, in case you need a little guidance during this wonderful time.

1. I always stock up on necessities. Eyebrow pencils, body lotion, face lotion... the things I know I will always repurchase no matter what. Saving 20% off on things you already love is a no-brainer. Plus, you will have a stockpile of all your most loved items, just in case you find yourself in a position where you’re running low. I’m getting back ups of the Benefit Precisely My Brow eyebrow pencil, Philosophy Fresh Cream Lotion (the giant 32 ouncer), and my Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream (even though I just got a new one a few weeks ago.)

2. Makeup brushes and tools are a must. Unless you are buying your makeup brushes from Morphe or Crown Brushes, they are stupid expensive. Worth it, but expensive. Now is the time to grow your collection and pick up some quality brushes. Sephora also has beautyblenders, tweezers, eyelashes, brush cleaner, etc. All the things that you need, but that aren’t all that fun to buy. Might as well get them on sale and be super happy about it.

3. If you need to pick up presents for your loved ones for Christmas, now is the perfect time! Check out the holiday sets from your favorite companies that are already good values and even better values with 20% off! Fragrances and skincare for men are always great gifts and women generally love any kind of gift set. The pre-teens and teens in your life will be delighted with a Tarte/Kat Von D/Too Faced holiday set. You will be the hero of your family and be saving money at the same time.

4. While you’re at it, pick up a Christmas present for YOU! I am one of those people that has a hard time not picking up gifts for myself while shopping. Some may call it “selfish”, I like to think of it as my own “Treat ya self” time of the year. What I do is save up all the little things I’ve collected for myself over the holiday season, wrap them up, and say that they are from all my famous friends. Every year, I have packages from Bill Clinton, Mark Sanchez, Ryan Gosling, Leonardo DiCaprio, Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama... you get the idea. Doing that always makes me feel better about my shopping addiction. This year, I think Bill Clinton is going to buy me a really nice candle that is more money than anyone should spend on something so frivolous. But, you know, YOLO.

5. That thing you’ve always wanted to try. What a better time to buy something you are unsure about than sale time! Pick up the red lipstick or eyeliner or perfume you’ve had your eye on, and don’t feel too bad about it because it was on sale.

(Sephora online hack: If you are VIB Rouge and get free shipping, or if you break down your order into smaller $50 increments to get free shipping, you can get 3 free samples per order. The more orders you place, the more free samples you get! Always take advantage of the free samples!)

(Online shopping hack: Register for ebates to get 4% cash back on all your Sephora purchases. So, not only are you getting the 20% off from Sephora, you can get a check at the end of the quarter for 4% of what you spent during the sale! Plus, ebates has so many other online retail partners, you can save a ton during the holiday season if you do a lot of online shopping! My last ebates check was $42.78!)

Any other questions? Holla! I am always down to help you get the most bang for your buck!

xoxo

angeline