The 2 for 4$ Drugstore Matte Lip Score

 It's admittedly been a while since I found anything truly exciting at the drugstore. I went through a long phase where I bought a lot of drugstore makeup and had a lot of 50/50 experiences. 

I think that's to be expected when you're shopping on a budget. In my experience the formulations, while great for some, have a much more narrow margin of success at a lower price point. Since then my beauty budget has increased a bit and so I'm more inclined to shell out for pricier products.

That said, every once in a while the drugstore gives up some really stellar surprises. 

Just a Dusting

 The one thing I seem to be able to successfully keep in my collection one at a time is face powder. I'm not sure if it's because it's less fun to buy than other base or color products or if it's because I go through it faster than any other product in my collection.

It's the one thing I always manage to show the most loyalty to as well. I find myself finding a formula I love, going back to it two or three times and then move on to something new. 

There were quite a few new to me formulas on my international "to buy" list so for the first time in months I have more than one compact to work my way through.

(Under)Cover Lover

If there is one base product that I can really get excited about it's concealer. 

For years I wasn't much of a foundation girl and since beauty blogging and YouTube have become a bigger part of my life that's changed I still always keep a wide selection of concealers, my true love, close at hand. 

While I was traveling I made sure to nab one formula I wanted to try and another that I knew I already loved. 

The Hydration Step

Guys Spring has Spring and I can take pictures outside again!!!

So the one "Hirons Approved" skincare routine step that I've always sort of...skipped (shhhh don't tell) was the hydrating toner. Generally applied post exfoliating/acid toner I had spent what felt like AGES (but what in reality was like...8 months.) looking for one that I thought really did anything.

Low and behold a little over a month ago whilst perusing the Sephora website I found something I thought might work. 

Since then I've revisited a handful of other spritzes and toners so I figured I share my thoughts and conclusions.

Ed Note: Summer Hydration

Every year as the weather starts to warm up I like to briefly reevaluate my nighttime moisturizer situation. In the colder months I love to slather as many of the emollient and creamy products on my skin as it can handle but, when the weather starts to warm up I find I like something that sinks in a little more quickly and lets me lay down with a nice hydrated and not-sticky face. 

The newest addition to the Summertime moisture lineup is the Kate Somerville Nourish Daily Moisturizer. 

My Favorite Way to Smell Like a Man

I love a really strong fragrance. Not only do I like a strong fragrance but I love a masculine scent. Nothing overly "cologne-y" just with a strong wood, moss or, spice factor. 

This could be because after trying to wear them for years I realized all of those fruity and candy-like saccharine scents just didn't work on my skin. Maybe it was because I moved to New York at 18 and decided, among many other things, that I needed a "grown up" scent. 

I'm not sure what it is but one thing is for sure for all the strong, earthy, sexy smells I love the only one I go back to time and time again is Fresh's Cannabis Santal. 

My Blush But Better

Sometimes a product comes along that is just so basic, so pretty and so easy to use that it's place in your everyday collection is immediately secured. 

Over this past weekend I stopped at a CCO on my way home from a bachelorette party and picked up an item that has been on my list for what feels like ages.

It is just as perfect and versatile as everyone said it was and it is MAC's Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul.

Morning Skin Perfected

 My skin has been a bit of a roller coaster lately. It's been dry and cranky, it's broken out and I can't quite seem to keep my makeup in place much past lunchtime. It gets to this state around this time every year. I think it gets sick of the cold and the indoor heating and it just kind of gives up. 

Despite all this, the one thing that seems to have made things ever so slightly better is the presence of a well rounded morning routine. It has never been something I've quite gotten right and for the first time I feel like I have a lineup of products that are giving me exactly what I need.

A Limited Edition 8$ Worth Spending

There was a time when my beauty obsession was so intense that if something had a "Limited Edition" label you could guarantee I would spend my money on it. Especially if it happened to be at the drugstore. 

The thought process was something like "Well if I hate it, it's only 8$ and if I don't get it now I'll surely regret it." (Don't call me Shirley.)

The problem with that line of thinking is that you inevitably wind up with a lot of product you don't really love and a collection so out of control you don't know where to reach when doing your makeup. 

So since learning my limited edition lesson I've become much more decisive about which items I'll shell out for and which ones get to stay on the shelf for other hungry collectors.

This weekend when I spotted the new Maybelline Spring Rebel Bloom Limited Edition Color Tattoo in the shade Black Orchid I knew it was coming home with me. 

Head to Head:Cleansing Water

Nothing has made a bigger splash within the community than the onslaught of the cleansing water over the last few years. 

Not only did people get excited when it was first mentioned but the obsession has had legs. 

With feature's like Into the Gloss' Top Shelf and various other "what's in your bathroom" kind of interviews being commonplace these days its hard for a week to go by without someone mentioning their micellar water of choice. 

There is definitely a front runner, Bioderma Crealine H2O has been the be all end all of models and makeup artists for years but about a year ago myself I cam across something more accessible and just as effective.

....So now that Bioderma is available (and relatively affordable) here in the states how does one measure up to the other?

Find out after the jump.

Physicians Formula: Eye Booster Instant Lash Extention Kit

The premise of a product like this just gets my heart all aflutter.

I love a big lash-y dramatic look, even when I have little else on in the way of makeup so when Physicians Formula dropped this little drugstore bomb it was all I could do to make it to the end of my "no buy" without caving.

Finally last week I picked it up and after a few positive reviews I had some pretty high expectations.

Did it measure up?

Well...

The short answer is no.

The Repurchases| Nuxe Reve De Miel

It has been quite some time since I've featured a repurchased item on the blog. 

Probably because I'm a little slutty when it comes to my products and because when you do find yourself finishing things you realize that it actually takes a long time to do. 

The Nuxe Reve De Miel Ultra Nourishing Lip Balm is a prime example of this. The pot that I just finished is the one I started nearly 18 months ago. 

Balk all you want at a 19$ lip treatment but I bet you dollars to donuts you've spent twice that much on cherry Chapstick in the last year and a half. 

Foundation Chronicles|Benefit Hello Flawless

I am a big fan of a nice light weight base product and when Benefit launched their Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow (dumbest name ever.) a few years back  I was immediately drawn in. Unfortunately on it's initial launch there was not a shade light enough for me in the lineup. Since then Benefit has added and subtracted shades one of which being the lightest of the bunch called "I'm Pure 4 Sure" Ivory.

Now purity puns aside this color is perfect for my winter pale complexion and when I made my last and only Sephora Purchase from the month of January I added this to my cart from a promo code so I could finally text the formula.

Do You Believe in Magic (Cream)?

Before I launch into my review I think it's really important I give a shout out to the AMAZING staff at Beautylish. I placed my first order with them over the pre-Holiday sales and not only did I recieve my goods in a timely and beautifully packaged manner but the staff followed up with me on my purchase and inquired about whether or not I wanted to try some samples. 

I can't say if it was because I featured them on Instagram or here on the blog but none the less the follow up was a lovely touch. 

As such I was sent a very generous sample of Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Cream and although I probably could have told you how I would feel about this before I tried it I had to satisfy my curiosity.

Good Smells| White Sandalwood

I made a point of not asking for beauty gifts for the holidays this past year. 

I don't know if it means I'm growing up but, the way I see it, I'm a big girl who can more or less buy the makeup she wants whilst still caring for herself and her expenses. So this year my list had things like a cast iron skillet, down comforter and a plant that I can't kill on it. 

While the family came through on the list front I am so glad I had one friend who saw fit to ignore me. 

The Top 14 of 2014|TheUnanimousMolly

After a year of trying, testing, buying and applying I have narrowed it down to 14* of my favorite things from the last 12 months.

Keeping Warm in Style

 I am a bath girl from way back. Not on the regular or to get clean particularly but, when it comes to taking time out to turn off having a bath is top of my list.

As an avid Lush fan and one time employee I have run the bathbombbubblemelt trend into the ground so; as I get more mature maybe bath-time should too?

I have been after some grown up bath-time luxury in the form of the Aromatherapy Associates Bath and Shower oils since they took over every YouTube holiday gift guide video three years ago. They promise insanely concentrated scent, deep hydration and, obviously, aroma therapeutic properties at a premium pricetag.

When I was poking around the Space NK post-holiday sale I found their Bath Jewels gift set for half price and immediately placed them in my cart.

The Winter Highlight

I never understand why people always champion fuller coverage and powder products in the colder months.

When my skin is feeling parched and dry I love to reach for cream products and cream highlights in particular. They just seem to make the skin come to life in a way that other products can't and highlight is my favorite beauty defense against the cold!

 It may not help with chill chapped skin but when used correctly they certainly can hide it!

Too Good To Be True

Upon finishing up my two previous under eye concealer options (Origins Plantscription and  NARS Radiant Creamy respectively) I decided it was time to branch out and try something new.

The promise of the Perricone MD cosmetic line is simply "No Makeup Makeup." 

What makeup loving lady can say no to a branding promise like that?!

No one, that's who so, when the Friends and Family sale came around at Sephora I decided it was time to dive into the Perricone range.

In Defense of Expensive Mascara

Of all the cosmetic products in all the land mascara is the only piece of the puzzle that very few people seem to shell out for. 

Even I've said it in the past: "I don't think luxury mascaras give any better lashes than one from the drugstore."

I may be prepared to eat my words.

The last few months I've been riding the department store mascara train and honestly:my eyes have never looked better.