10 Classic Drugstore Makeup Buys You Need to Try

Hey y'all! I was strolling down the aisles of the drugstore recently (this happens more often than I'd like to admit) and instead of being drawn to all of the NEW stuff, I decided revist some classics. You know, those makeup products you always hear about or maybe even forgot about. I thought I'd share 10 of my tried-and-true classic drugstore makeup buys you need to try:

FOUNDATIONS

For foundations, I chose two from L'Oreal. First up is a dry skin fave, L'Oreal True Match Lumi. It's a gorgeous luminous makeup that is very similar to the $64 Armani one. I even tested it for a dupe here.

For combo and slightly oily skin, I always recommend L'Oreal True Match. The shade range is really impressive--I love that it comes in neutral undertones (me) as well.

MASCARA

If I'm ever in a mascara rut and can't find one to wear (#beautybloggerprobs) I always go back to L'Oreal Voluminous. Pictured is a waterproof, Carbon Black version, but the original is my fave. It gives nice volume and is easy to wear.

For my friends who don't really wear makeup or mascara, or those who want something a little more natural looking, I recommend to them Maybelline Full N' Soft. It really is a classic mascara and can be hard to find sometimes, but it's stuck around for a reason--nice, fluffy lashes with no clumps.

Note: I didn't mention Maybelline Great Lash--the pink and green tube--it was the first mascara I ever used, and so many tubes are sold every minute, but I've never liked it. Do you?

EYELINER

Wet N Wild Megaliner is a classic opaque liner that removes easily with water. It's $3.99 and it's great for winged liner.

If you just can't figure out eyeliner, gel liner in a pot, like Maybelline Gel Liner. It's easy to use. Beauty Tip: I store mine upside down so it won't dry out.

WIPES + DRY SHAMPOO

There are cheaper options available, but when it doubt, I've been a long time fan of the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes. They've never aggrivated my skin and remove makeup very well.

I've tried just about every dry shampoo under the sun (seriously, check posts here and here) and Batiste Dry Shampoo will always be under my counter. Beauty Tip: Love dry shampoo but hate the white cast it can leave? Try this tip! It works (Batiste has brunette versions btw).

REVIEW: OUAI FOAM DRY SHAMPOO

BLUSH + POLISH

For that one blush you need to own, that looks good on just about everyone, Milani Luminoso is at the top of the list. It's peachy-pink shade has the slightest kiss of a glow. It's so pretty on skin. 

There's a reason you'll always see Essie Ballet Slippers on every "best of" list: it's a neutral polish that just works.

We're just scratching the surface here!

Which classic drugstore products are must-haves for you?

Extra Elle:

Random fact, but I love the movie Donnie Darko--never saw it in theatres, so when a local one was showing it for the 15 anniversary, I had to! It was worth it.

Went on a mask-buying spree at Urban Oufitters! I've been trying them out here and there.

Check out these drugstore-exclusive brands--lots of goodies for less than their name brand counterparts.

Ouai Dry Shampoo Foam Review

Y'all know I am all about the newest beauty gadget or technology--did you see my post on what's new in the beauty world? The product I'm sharing today was on that list!

Celeb hair stylist, Jen Atkin, released her hair care line Ouai last year. It's been mentioned a few times on here. But her Dry Shampoo Foam is what recently caught my attention. Dry? Foam? What? After some testing, I'm here to share what I think.

OUAI Dry Shampoo Foam

Where to get it?

Sephora

How much?

$28

Which hair type is it good for?
✔ Straight
✔ Wavy
✔ Curly

What it is:
A waterless cleansing foam to remove oil and product buildup from dry hair.

Key benefits:
- Refreshes hair between washes
- Gently cleanses
- Detangles strands

If you want to know more…
This quick-drying, waterless cleansing foam removes oil, product excess, and buildup. Perfect for second, third, or fourth day hair, it leaves strands feeling cleansed, conditioned, and ready to be re-styled as desired.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens

What else you need to know:
Cruelty-free

How to use it:

Use a pingpong sized amount of foam. The foam itself is waterless and more like shaving cream than a mousse. 

Apply to roots and throughout the hair. This will look crazy (see pic above) but it will work.

Rub in the foam throughout hair to disperse it, kind of like you are washing your hair with shampoo. It takes just a minute or so. Let hair dry--this was only in the areas where I put a little too much. It gives some volume once it dries.

My thoughts: the scent is very strong. I smelled it all day. This is a love or hate it scent. I didn't mind it but I was told by others they didn't like the scent. I did apply it throughout my hair, so maybe that's why I could really smell it.

I felt that it really did work, but for my hair type, I didn't really like it. I think if you had oily hair or fine hair it would work better. But for me, I love the idea but will stay with my dry shampoo, sans foam. 3 out of 5 stars

Would you try this dry shampoo foam?

Extra Elle:
I got to be a guest of Pure Taqueria Roswell and celebrated National Margarita Day. Had an excellent night of fun and amazing food.

Physician's Formula featured me (say that three times fast) on their Instagram for National Lash Day!

Braids, Buns, Blow Outs & More: The Best Trick

Today's post is sponsored by Lunchbox but all opinions are my own. Like so many of us, I like to style my hair in different ways to mix it up. And I've figured out a few tricks that help keep styles in place and get them to last longer.

But my favorite trick? Dry shampoo. You just can't beat it, y'all!

And the one I'm using here is from Suave, which I purchased at Walmart. I chose this one because it's part of their Keratin Infusion line. Have you tried this one yet? It's very light and doesn't leave a heavy white cast.

Suave's smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner contains keratin and gently cleanses and seals your hair cuticles for frizz control for up to 48 hours and smooth, manageable hair. To enhance smoothness, try Keratin Infusion Leave-In Conditioner. Salon-proven to prevent frizz as well as Kérastase® Oléo-Relax.

So let's get into the tricks! My first trick is to spray a little dry shampoo on bobby pins. This helps give them some grip when placing in hair. Just spray with dry shampoo and then use. It really works!

For braids, sometimes I will spray a little dry shampoo on my hair to give it some texture to help to keep braids in place. And since my hair is layered, I'll use my bobby pins (I use bumpy side down) to hide those pieces that fall out. This makes braids so much easier.

And for buns, Suave Keratin Infusion dry shampoo is a must. I'm a nanny and one of the girls is taking ballet, so every Monday I put her hair in a bun for class. She has very fine, straight hair, so I use the dry shampoo for volume and to give the hair some hold, and for the bobby pins again. I love to rock all types of buns, like a low bun. Twist and pin. Done!

And finally, dry shampoo is a must for extending blow outs--I get easily get a week if needed. Sometimes it goes into my roots--be sure to use a towel to help disperse. Sometimes into my ends for volume. By the way, Suave has more than the Keratin Infusion line--check out more options below:

With Suave you can get a salon look at home with salon-quality products--they're in new packaging too, but the same great products such as:

• Coconut Oil Infusion
• Biotin Infusion
• Sea Mineral Infusion
• Moroccan Infusion
• Keratin Infusion

Click here to watch easy step-by-step hair tutorials from beauty influencers Kristie of BlushingBasics.com and Kristin from BonBonRoseGirls.com

What's your best hair trick?

Do you use dry shampoo? Have you tried Suave's products?

Best Dry Shampoos For Brown Hair

Dry shampoo is one of my must-have beauty products that I use occasionally. I have nearly a dozen uses for it. But the white cast I get from certain brands? I can do without that. After testing over 20 dry shampoos over the past 6 months, I've got my faves for the best dry shampoos for brown hair. Check Sephora and ULTA for these.

See also: How to Stop White Residue in Dry Shampoo

1-Batiste

• Versions for light and dark brown
• My drugstore fave

2- Moroccan Oil Dark Tones

• UV-protecting, argan oil-infused formula leaves no dull residue 

3-Klorane With Oat Milk Natural Tint

• Just like the original hit product, but with a slight tint

4-Living Proof Perfect Hair Day

• Actually works to clean your hair--be sure to brush out

5-Detox for Brunettes

• New version of the Drybar original
• Great at giving texture to hair

6-Bumble & Bumble Pret A Powder

• An all-in-one hair powder featuring dry shampoo, style extending, and volume benefits

7-Oscar Blandi Invisible

• A clear dry shampoo

See also: Dry Shampoo Tips, Tricks, Tutorials

What's your favorite dry shampoo?

NYE Hair in 5 Minutes

Story time: So this one time I was going out later that night, and I decided to nap for a few minutes. That "disco nap" ended up being 3 hours. I had just a few minutes to get ready. My hair was a disaster. I quickly whipped it up into this 5 minute hairstyle and received compliments on it all night long. It lasted a whole night of dancing and singing at the top of my lungs (you know how it is when your song comes on).

It's been my go-to for a quick updo since it can be worn for formal events, like a wedding, night out with the girls, or dressed down with jeans.

Since New Year's Eve is this week (I can't believe it either), I'm sharing this effortless 5 minute hairstyle with you.

You'll need:

• hair elastic
• bobby pins
• texturizing spray or dry shampoo
• preferably curled/waved hair

I prefer hair that has already been curled or is wavy--this just gives more texture to work with. I had used a flat iron on mine for waves a couple of days prior.

Spray roots with a texturizing spray, like this one from Oribe. Dry shampoo is another option, but I love the volume with the Oribe. You can also tease your roots but that takes more time, and this spray cuts out that step.

See also: NYE makeup, hair, nails ideas

Part your hair on the side. Leave a section out, as pictured, and draw the rest into a loose ponytail at the nape of the neck. Secure with an elastic. You can leave it like this if you'd like.

Take half of hair and twist it into a bun. Pin. Then take small pieces of hair, fold them in half (or more if you have longer hair) and pin them into the bun. This gives it a piecey and messy look. Pictured is the hairstyle in progress.

You can secure loose ends or let them fall as they may. I like this hairstyle the longer it is more "lived in." I check my work in a mirror to see if I like the shape as I'm pinning. Spray with hairspray if desired to set.

And that's it!

Extra Elle:

• I had a lovely and quick Christmas. It was tough but full of fun, thanks to my nieces and nephews. I bought my sis Japanese candy and we filmed a video of us trying some of it out. It's on my Youtube if you'd like to see.
• There's more: NYE hair, makeup, nails ideas

linking up with tutu tuesday's 

MORE Allure Magazine Best of Beauty: Hits & Misses

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. I tried to stay off social media (minus Snapchat--ellesees) and really enjoy the day. I spent mine at my brother's house in a tiny town (pop. 800) out in the country. Minus me getting stung by a yellow jacket, it was a good day. And now I'm writing this from my childhood bedroom, which has been taken over by kid stuff from my nieces and nephews.

I recently shared a post here on the Allure Magazine Best of Beauty Winners, and you all enjoyed it so much that I'm back with a round 2! Find out if these "best of" winners are really worth the hype:

Top Row:

• Living Proof Dry Shampoo--Everyone I've gotten to try this has been hooked instantly. And they try to steal my can of it!
• First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask--I think this is ridiculously over-priced, but it really does work. Wonderful for dry skin.
• Sally Hansen 18K Cuticle Eraser--I was really disappointed in this one--it's just grit with gold flecks. Didn't do anything for my cuticles.
• Dove Dry Spray--Great for when you want antiperspirant applied quickly with no white marks on your clothes. 
• Tweezerman Tweezers--My favorite brand of tweezers.
• MAC 263--While this is a great eyeliner brush, I don't think it's worth $20.

Bottom Row:

• Benefit Gimme Brow--I love this small wand--my favorite brow wand of any I've tried.
• Maybelline Master Graphic Liner--This was just too large for me and difficult to use. It's like a large magic marker!
• Wet N Wild Shine Nail Color in Grasping at Strawberries--This polish is 3-free, in a pretty color, and is only 99 cents. Love it.
• Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer--While skin is still damp, apply for extra moisture. Don't rinse. You will love this in the winter.
• CoverGirl The Super Sizer Mascara--Gives great volume and is a wet mascara. I enjoyed it.
• John Freida Frizz Ease Recovery--I was really disappointed in this one. It didn't deliver me from frizziness. See what I liked instead, here.

Which of these have you tried?

Extra Elle:

• I had also had Thanksgiving at my Grandmother's house. It was the first without my Daddy there. It was tough--every time I heard the door open, I would think it was gonna be him. But I saw a rainbow yesterday, which cheered me up instantly. 

How To: Stop Whitecast in Hair from Dry Shampoo

When it comes to hair product must-haves, dry shampoo is right up there. It is awesome. But the biggest complaint I hear about it is that it gives white cast--when your roots look like you're ready to be cast in a school play about George Washington. If you have brown hair, you know the struggle!

But no worries! Today I'm sharing my best tips to stop white cast from dry shampoo:

How To: Twisted Rosette Half-Updo

"Make my hair a little rose like you do to your hair," demanded the 5 year old, while taking down her ballerina bun, post-class. I immediately went through my mental catalog of hair styles I wear at work, with "wearing my hair up in clip away from the death-grip of 10 month old" being the dominant style. I pressed her for more detail and finally figured out the "little rose" hairstyle she meant. I am sharing it today because it's easy, it's fast, and thanks to her, makes me forever think of roses--perfect for Valentine's Day...or just because.

You'll need--

• bobby pins--I used these mini ones from Sally Beauty, but regular ones will work too.
• optional: curling wand--I wanted soft waves so I used one, but this looks fine on straight hair, too.
• optional: dry shampoo or volumizing powder--I'm including these in case you need texture on your hair to hold the hairstyle or to to add texture to the waves.

1--To create the waves, I did the standard of taking various sections and curling them away from the face and towards the face. I have several tutorials and videos on this, like this one: (how to loose, beauty waves). I held each section for about 10 seconds before releasing from the curling wand. The waves you are seeing are about 12 hours after I had curled my hair, after a full day at work, so let's just say those waves were loose!

Optional: before beginning, feel free to use dry shampoo  or volumizing powder on your hands and then dispersed through the hair. This will give texture to the waves and texture to the hair to hold the style in place. BONUS TIP: I also like spraying the bobby pins with dry shampoo before placing in hair.

2--Choose a section of hair from each side of the face. I think these were about half an inch to an inch. The thickness will later determine how big your "rosette" is. Twist each section, as pictured above.

3--Join the twisted sections of hair at the back of your head, right in the middle, and twist them together. It will make forming the "rosette" easier.

4--Wrap the section around itself clockwise to form the rose. Try keeping it as flat as possible as you wind it around to avoid a big bun. Secure with bobby pins as needed. I check it in the mirror to see where the extra pins need to go. I used 2 or 3 here.

Here's the hair from the back and the front. This takes me 10-15 min. to curl my hair and then about 3 min. to twist, wrap, and pin. I can't wait to see you try this! Be sure to tag me to see your recreations!

Extra Elle:

• So much for that great weather! Monday was dreary and rainy. Just a few more days until that Florida sunshine!
• I picked up some tulips from Trader Joes (in the pic above) last week that are still going strong. They have such affordable flowers--just a little thing that makes me happy!
• Giveaway time because I LOVE y'all! Click the links to head to the giveaways.

• 5 $50 Walgreens gift cards up for grabs!
• $25 ULTA gift card giveaway
• $100 Visa gift card giveaway

Beauty Stocking Stuffers $45 and Under!

Y'all--we are getting closer and closer to Christmas...and I still don't have everything completed on my list. Are you in the same boat? Well, today I've got some ideas that make excellent stocking stuffers or gifts that won't take up too much room in Santa's sleigh.

Here's what sets this list apart from others: I didn't just randomly choose kits I saw online for a roundup--these have all been thoroughly reviewed by me, so you know they're good! Check 'em out and let me know your faves:

For the Socialite--I thought I'd start off with the the most expensive item, but trust me, it's a good one. Sephora has this Glitz & Glam kit for $45 that seriously has everything she needs for all of those holiday parties, especially New Years Eve. Bonus idea--If $45 is too pricey, try making your own DIY version using drugstore makeup!

First, you get a clutch and everything fits in it! There's a dry shampoo (it's a lighter one from drybar). Next is a Deborah Lippmann polish in a dark sparkly aubergine shade. For the eyes would be the Laura Mercier shadow stick in a champage shade, Stila foil finish shadow (very sparkly), Sephora false lashes, MUFE HD setting powder, and Lancome eyeliner. There's also a Watts Up highlighter from Benefit and a gorgeous Smashbox matte red. I'm wearing it in my latest Chit Chat video. It's an easy red to transform, based on lip liner and lip color.

For the Girl on the Go--Keep this Deck the Eyes kit in your purse or desk at work to transform day eyes to dramatic night eyes. This Pur Minerals kit includes a felt tip liner for that dramatic cat eye and a mascara that really defines the lashes. AND it's only $12. Get it at purminerals.com*

For The Woman Who Never Splurges on Herself--Um, put my Mama in this category! She never spends money on herself--it all goes to the kids and grandbabies--and this kit from Ole Henricksen is perfect for her. Inside the Mini 3 Little Wonders Kit are excellent products for her to treat her skin, like Truth Serum® Collagen Booster, Sheer Transformation® Brightening Moisturizer and Invigorating Night Gel™. This kit is $22.50 but there's a larger size for $70.

For The Girl Who Doesn't Like Clutter--As much as I wish my love for makeup would rub off on my friends, there are some who want just the basics, and this kit of great for that. Pop this in your purse and you'll be ready for the party in no time.

Inside the Pur Minerals Let it Glow kit has exactly what is needed to glow for the holidays. You'll find a creamy highlighter, blush, and bronzer. Use them all together or pick the ones that work for you. $24 at purminerals.com*

For The One Who Organizes Girls' Night Out--If I had to pick one of my faves, it's this kit for $20. Kat Von D The Star Studded Look has everything needed for that special night out.

Inside is a waterproof Tattoo felt tip liner (amazing), mascara, and the cutest mini version of her famous studded lipsticks in a matte fire engine red. $20 at Sephora. LOVE this kit.

For the Morning After--Whether you were out late celebrating or up late wrapping presents, everyone could use this Peter Thomas Roth Mini Mask Magic Kit. For $20, you get 3 mini masks that are so, so good. There's a cucumber gel mask--great for puffy eyes (I keep it in the fridge), irritated skin, or right after a brow wax. There's a rose stem cell mask to repair and give youthful-looking skin. And there's a pumpkin enzyme mask that exfoliates. These are wonderful for travel, too! FYI--there's a $45 version too with bigger sizes.

For Those Who Love a Little Sparkle--This is for all the ladies on your list! SinfulColors has released their 2014 Holiday Collection. There are 22 shades that come in four different cartgeories: Holiday Faves, Decked with Glitter Flakes, Blues & Hints of Gold, and Opalescent Toppers. I got a chance to try out 4 of them and I'm in love.

From left to right: Decadent (dazzling red metallic flakes), Twilight Twinkles (brilliant flakes of gold), Sugar Sugar (candy cane, red-hot red), Galax-Sea (magical green flakes).  Sugar Sugar is a gorgeous, slightly shimmery red, and the others make excellent top coats. The best part? These SinfulColors polishes are $1.99 each at Walgreens.*
* denotes sent for consideration

Want more holiday beauty kit ideas? Click here!