September Beauty Buys…All For Just a Buck!

I love makeup and experimenting with new colors and shades but I don’t like spending a ton of money on items that may or may not look great on me. I often buy eye shadow, lip gloss, and nail polish at the Dollar Tree because I personally love the selections, colors, and most of all, the price. But what about the creams, blushes, and even foundations? I mean, how good could some of those be for just a dollar? So I decided to widen my selections and tried to buy everything I would typically put on my face for a casual, everyday look. 

Except for a facial moisturizer, I used only products from the Dollar Tree and then went out for lunch with friends and ran errands, feeling as confident in the dollar brands as I do with my regular everyday makeup. I was complimented on my eyes at lunch and everyone was quite amazed when I said everything was from the dollar store. 

Now don’t get me wrong, these products aren’t going to measure up to Chanel or Estee Lauder, but compared to drugstore brands…well, I was quite surprised with my results. And even if you don’t want to put dollar products on your face, the eye shadows can be fun for trendy looks or just to try something new and they always have great selections of nail polishes. 

Here are my favorite beauty buys this month from the Dollar Tree…

 

Love all these eye shadow colors! The Dollar Tree had these L.A. 12 Color Eyeshadow Palettes in several different color collections. I bought the “Traditional,” which is filled with nude shades and “Chic,” which had more bold tones. Twelve rich, beautifully color-coordinated color combinations that glided on evenly and had a soft, satin finish. A few of the colors weren’t as intense as I wanted but with an extra application I was able to get just the right look I wanted. 

Eyebrows frame the face and as I’ve aged (just a bit!) my eyebrows have faded and without brow color, my entire face looks washed-out. For years I’ve used Urban Decay gel and color which costs $30. It works great and lasts a long time but still, it’s $30. And while this COLORMATES Brow Powder  didn’t come with gel, the colors went on just as well. Two colors, dark and medium, which you can use alone or mix together for your perfect look. I personally found the brush a bit too stiff so I used my own. To get the stray hairs in place I sprayed a tiny amount of hairspray on my brush after adding the color and slicked them in place. This kit gave me perfectly natural looking brows, making them look fuller and thicker. 

And I was surprisingly delighted in how great this wet n wild MegaWear mascara worked. No clumping, loved the brush applicator, and no smudging. It didn’t make my lashes quite as thick as my usual but the color and length were great. I would give this a 4 out of 5 star rating. 

Cosmetic brushes can really be expensive but they make such a difference when applying various cosmetics to your face and eyes. Both the wet n wild Small Eyeshadow Brush and the wet n wild Contour Brush worked just as fab as my way more pricey ones. And they are cruelty-free, gluten-free, and vegan…just FYI. And I always pick up a pack of these Sassy + Chic Eyeshadow Applicators. (20 for a buck!)

I’m a lazy person when it comes to taking my makeup off before going to bed. If it’s not something I can do quickly, I have a tendency to skip it sometimes. I know, it’s a very bad habit! But when I have cleansing wipes I always manage to find the energy to remove the makeup and dirt from the day. The Global Beauty Care Collagen Makeup Cleansing Wipes not only removed my makeup easily and gently, it also removed every trace of mascara without pulling or tugging. I don’t know that I noticed any “collagen” benefits but it cleaned my face in under a minute so I loved them. 

I’m still not sure how I feel about the skin NUTRITIONS Age Defy Dark Circle & Puffiness Serum. The package says it’s an “Instant 3 in 1 Treatment,” that targets dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines and wrinkles. It did help quite a bit with the puffiness but I didn’t notice and difference with my dark circles, which I’ve had my entire life. But I’ve only been using it for three days so perhaps? I will continue to use it till it’s gone, especially on days when I’m not wearing anything but moisturizer since it did help with the puffiness. I did really like the soothing, cool feeling I felt under my eyes as I applied it. Made with green tea extract.

I honestly didn’t think this SASSY + CHIC Beauty Benefit Cream would give me the foundation coverage I like but since it was just a dollar, I had to try it. It’s a multi-tasking formula that proclaims to blur imperfections and moisturize the skin. And once again, I was pleasantly surprised. There weren’t a ton of colors to choose from but the “medium 1” worked great for me. The color was good, it did provide coverage, and for me personally, I thought it worked as well as the more expensive drugstore brands I’ve tried…but it was only a dollar. I did have to use moisturizer under it but I have very dry skin and even with more pricey B.B. creams, I use additional moisturizer. This doesn’t take the place of my more expensive foundation that I use for special occasions but for everyday use, it totally works!

And I can’t say enough good things about the beautybenefits Silky Blush! I tried the merlot color and loved it. Long-lasting, lightweight, and no streaking. Worked as well as any powder blush I’ve used.

I actually buy the majority of my lip products at the Dollar Tree because there are so many choices when it comes to lipstick, gloss and lip balm. They also have a good selection of liners. The L.A. LIPSTICK was hydrating, creamy, and long-lasting without having to keep reapplying. The e.l.f. Shimmer Lip Gloss was perfect for a quick swipe of shine and the revo lip balm was super soothing and moisturizing for my dry, chapped lips. Loved all three of these products. 

My skin is dry. Extremely dry. Which is why I have lotions and creams tucked in drawers, on counters, and in every purse. I’ve always been a fan of UDDERLY SMOOTH HAND CREAM so when I found this at Dollar Tree I snatched up several. It’s non-greasy, deeply moisturizes dry, cracked skin, and left my hands so soft and smooth. I also really liked the Spa Naturals Coconut Oil Moisturizing Cream. Super creamy and hydrating. Made with coconut oil and vitamin E, this is perfect for all body parts but I especially liked using it on my feet and elbows. And if you like the scent of coconuts, you’ll love how this smells!

Basic hair accessories for less. Bobby pins, hair elastics, clips…why pay more when you can pick these up for just a buck? And I absolutely loved the SALON SELECTIVES FRIZZ CONTROL. It’s a leave-in smoothing cream made with Argan Oil and it’s sulfate free. It really left my hair soft and smooth without weighing it down.

Whether you’re on a seriously tight budget or just want to experiment with some new colors, you’ll find plenty of great selections at the Dollar Tree.