Bakeup Beauty

Bakeup Beauty is a brand started by celebrity makeup artist, Jo Baker. She sells an edit of 12 high performing staples she says we can’t live without. According to Jo Baker, "Makeup should take no longer than five minutes. It should perform, last, and make you feel like yourself - just with a bit more confidence.” Yes, I agree!

When you have a celebrity following it puts your company on the map! So what are those 12 beauty essentials? I’m linking them up here so you can check them out. Featured in Vogue, People, Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar and Instyle magazines, the colors remind me of a youthful California girl look.

So here’s what I’d buy. The neutral hues eye palette called Desert Road Trip - Micro Palm. Unlike foundation or cover stick, eye shadow is a cosmetic item you can either splurge or save on when purchasing. Makeup artists recommend having one expensive palette with rich pigments that have staying power so you don’t have to reapply the shadows as often, but for trendy colors the less expensive palettes are fine too. Tip: Maybelline is a budget-friendly eyeshadow with rich pigments as good as the luxury brands.

Once you are introduced to various beauty brands, you can watch for deals, and when you stumble upon one, you’ll know whether to snatch the products up!

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Clinique’s Black Honey Dupes

This is #6 Baisen Diary in Honey

Clinique’s Black Honey is a popular shade. First launched in 1971 as a pot of gloss, it was later reformulated and released as the "Almost Lipstick" in 1989, the form customers recognize today.

We can understand why it’s taken over the internet all these years later. Black Honey is a beautiful subtle berry color with sheen that is buildable and flattering on all skin tones! So lovely Liv Tyler wore it in her Lord of the Rings role. 

Clinique calls Black Honey almost lipstick because it is a tint that is sheer with a shine finish.

← Images of the original.

After discovering it at $25 a pop, SAVVY SHOPPERS start looking for inexpensive dupes. Below are six of them:

1) e.l.f. Cosmetics Hydrating Core Lip Shine in Delightful

2) Honest Beauty Tinted Lip Balm With Avocado Oil in Plum Drop

3)  Revlon Super Lustrous Glass Shine Moisturizing Lipstick in o12 Black Cherry

4) Maybelline’s Glaze Balm in Acai Glaze

5) Covergirl’s Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm in Bliss You Berry

6) Baisen Diary in Honey - This made BuzzFeed’s Wishful List. Fans of it like it better than the original Black Honey as it leans brownish over a more reddish tint. 👆Compare the Baisen Diary in Honey top image with Clinique's Black Honey image below.👇

Original Black Honey on 3 different skin tones.

I have linked the 2 dupes, wearers tend to be the happiest with as nearly identical to Clinique’s original Black Honey Tint, however all 6 dupes have their fans as close matches for less. Look for them on Amazon, Walmart, Target, CVS and Walgreens to find the lowest price. Feel free to highlight the brand and color names, then enter each one in the search boxes of the 5 retailers for comparison to find your honey of a deal!🍯🐝

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7 Things I Won't Buy Anymore

More and more I'm embracing minimalism. I try to buy what I need, not more than what I need. By owning less we can reduce clutter, simplify our lives, and gain freedom from having to work just to pay the bills. Living in Manhattan where apartments tend to be small helps me shop mindfully, but I too must resist temptation sometimes!

7 Things I Won't Buy Anymore Include:

1) Shoes & Clothes Like a Fashionista - Once upon a time I bought a motley of fashion-forward shoes and clothes that struck my fancy. Now I'm into a less is more mindset. I have a capsule of classic clothes that I wear over and over. Even my gala clothes I wear time and again. As long as I look polished, coordinated, and appropriate, I no longer care if I wear a dress multiple times. Outside of show business or a public person who delivers televised speeches, do people really remember what we wear? Probably not, and if so I really don't care if they do! 

2) Makeup Like A Fashion Model - When applying makeup I go for a little razzle-dazzle but overall I keep my cosmetics fairly natural. I strive to look my best, but I no longer experiment or try to create different looks. The best version of me (lines and all) is fine. Fortunately, superb drugstore brands like Maybelline, L'Oreal, Milani, and Drew Barrymore's Flower are examples of high-quality makeup that make spending on pricey luxe labels totally unnecessary today. I have more lipsticks than I remember buying so I plan to use up my lip colors before buying more.

3) Toilet Seats Like a Town & Country Socialite - I stopped overspending on a toilet seat. I keep it basic by buying the simple but adequate white wooden toilet seats from Home Depot. When workmen enter my bathroom and scratch the paint off my toilet seat by carelessly setting their toolbox on it, replacing it with a factory-new toilet seat is cheap. A basic, inexpensive wooden toilet seat looks great and lasts if you don't abuse it.

4) Sweets & Junk Food Like a 20-Something Year Old - I avoid the middle aisles of a supermarket and I rarely keep bags of my weakness -- salty food-like substances such as corn chips, tortilla chips, or potato chips at home. When out and about, I'll eat a portion of French fries or potato chips, something less likely to happen at home where family sizes of nacho tortilla chips torture me until the bag is empty!

When it comes to candy and sweets I'll have a portion outside of the home. As a rule, if I want cake or French fries at home I must make them from scratch myself. It takes more effort and you have to wait to eat them.

5) Cleaners Like a 20th Century Housekeeper - I clean mostly with white vinegar and water which I mix and keep in a spray bottle. I use the vinegar mixture to mop floors and treat most stains on rugs or upholstery. I scrub my toilet and bathroom fixtures with 3% hydrogen peroxide (which kills germs without removing the varnish off of surfaces like toilet seats). White vinegar combined with baking soda dissolves soap scum. Bleach, Ajax, and Bartenders' Friend are for periodic heavy-duty cleaning. I mix ammonia with water to make my own Windex to clean mirrors and glass. For food spots on clothes, I use dishwashing detergent containing OxiClean. These basic cleaners take care of most household jobs as effectively as more expensive commercial cleaners (which also come in fewer ounces so you must restock more often).

6) Gold Jewelry Like a Multi-Millionaire - This is more my fantasy than a former reality😁. Nonetheless in the past, I bought some fashion jewelry and was more tempted by fine jewelry than I am today. As with clothes and shoes, I have a capsule of fine jewelry and never buy fashion jewelry. The price of gold has risen so much that we no longer get enough for our money. We're charged an arm and a leg for flimsy gold chains and thin bangles. Just say no -- pass on buying expensive skimpy pieces. It's not good value for the money!

7) The Latest Gadgets Like a Techie - I keep my laptops, iPads, and cell phones until they cough and die. We'd go broke trying to keep up with updated gadgets. Every 6 months a new version comes out. As long as what I own works, I continue to use it. After it coughs and dies, I thoroughly enjoy owning the latest faster computer ... for what seems like 15 minutes before a newer model replaces it. Therefore I give up on keeping up!

I'm committed to becoming as much of a minimalist as makes sense. I like simplifying my life and capsule buying in every area of life. We only need enough, not more than enough!

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Lancome Hypnose 5 Color Eyeshadow Palette

I love Lancome Hypnose 5 Color Eyeshadow Palette in Drama Demin. You can create a smoky eye in shades of blue!! There are 6 different color palettes if Drama Demin doesn't compliment your skin tone. I prefer wearing cool eyeshadow hues such as white, silver, gray, and certain shades of blue. I don't like pink or orange or yellow eyeshadow on me (hues I sometimes see), but I like shades of pink on my lips and cheeks, which doesn't make wearing them as eyeshadow wrong for other women.

Lancome is always a pricey brand. The new palette is $60, with Macy's often offering it at $51. Beauty experts tell us to splurge on eyeshadow, as opposed to eye and lip pencils, bronzers, or mascara. The Lancome Hypnose palette is highly pigmented and long-lasting, the reason to splurge on eyeshadow. It will also take time to deplete the palette even if used daily, so once you bite the bullet you'll have it for a long time.

Colorpop in Blue Velvet

But if you'd rather not spend for Lancome I'll give you cheaper, yet still quality options from competitors to give you a similar makeup effect on a budget.

Bare Minerals in Stonewashed

 What is not linked on the blog, simply google the name of the makeup to find a retailer. I own and love Maybelline's The Rock Nudes palette, which is designer quality for less.

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Armani Beauty Lip Power Long Lasting Satin Lipstick

Let me share a portion of a conversation between Angie Smith who is always in the know about the latest makeup products and me:

Ang: If you want to indulge in any makeup in the upcoming weeks, I'd recommend investing in an Armani Lip Power Lipstick. They are an innovative formula. They stay on forever, do not dry and the colors are beautiful. It's pricey but worth it.

Me: Oh cool, just want we want in lipstick, but how can we bring the $49 price down?

Angie: The Armani Beauty private sale is coming up on March 23rd. 

Me: Fantastic timing! How can the public get in on the private sale?

Angie: They can go on the website and just sign up for access. Just register on the Armani Beauty site.

Me: That's great!

Angie: Yup, super easy.

Me: Exactly what we like.

Ang: And it's a great time to pick up Luminous Silk Foundation. It's such a splurge but oh goodness, it's such a beautiful foundation.

THE SAVVY SHOPPER is grateful to have Angie's brain to pick on makeup she has used before recommending it to others! Perhaps Armani is not a beauty brand on your radar, and because of the cost, we want to avoid having to buy it through trial and error, as well as, wait for special events to trim its expense, so a big thank you to our well-informed makeup aficionado, Angie Smith!

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All Eyes On L'Orèal's Best Mascaras

All photos: Courtesy of Target

Before our pandemic, I never left home without a dab of makeup. Nowadays with having to wear a face mask indoors, no makeup is the norm for the simple reason, I don't want to soil the inside of my mask. Yuck! But we could get away with wearing mascara, and L'Orèal makes several excellent offerings, each with a different type of brush designed to create a unique look. They are from left to right:

1) L'Orèal Paris Volume Mega Lightweight Air Mascara - As its name suggests, it gives your lashes a mega volume that's light as air. The formula is whipped, washable, and lasts for up to 24 hours. Suitable for sensitive eyes, it comes with a large cushion bristle brush to coat each lash.

2) L'Orèal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara - Creates voluptuous volume and intense lash length. You get full eyelash fringe, feathery soft eyelashes with no flaking or clumping. The brush is a soft wavy bristle for dramatic volumizing.

3) L'Orèal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara - Volume building, the brush separates and builds every lash up to 5 times fuller and thicker. Claimed to be America's #1 mascara, it has a double bristle cushion brush.

4) L'Orèal Paris Telescopic Original Mascara - For intense length, incomparable lash definition, the carbon black mascara gives you a dramatic look that is also waterproof. It's a patented small bristle brush. How cute is the pink color?!

Top-notch mascara every bit as luxe as the expensive behind-the-counter brands, yet available at Walmart, Target, drugstores, Ultra, and Amazon so you know the cost won't break the bank!👀💋

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Maybelline Nudes of New York Eyeshadow Palette

With the need to wear face masks many of us aren't thinking of makeup as we do in normal times, but I notice women are still wearing eye shadow and it's an excellent practice to look pulled together on Zoom calls. Looking your casual best helps to lift your mood as it's an area you can control! As usual, Maybelline makes it easier with top-notch shadow for less!

Maybelline launched yet another gorgeous nude palette in early 2020. Its Nudes of New York Eyeshadow Palette contains 16 creamy mix and match shades that are universally flattering on every skin tone: light, medium or dark. Luscious and rich pigments, rivaling top brands Urban Decay and Too Face, glide on smooth to last all day long. The palette makes a fabulous splurge or no-fail, holiday gift that won't break the bank! From fresh pale pink for a rosy natural gaze to subtle shimmer and browns to create a killer smoky eye, there's not a wasted dud color in the bunch!

Golly, despite having Maybelline's other nude or "mini city" palettes, these are such pretty shades, the Nudes of New York Eyeshadow Palette is a must-buy from the beauty brand! For the price, you can buy 2 and keep 1 palette for yourself! Available at Ulta, Walmart, Target and local drugstores for $11.99 - $13.99, depending on the retailer.

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Color Sensational Made For All Lipstick by Maybelline

Color Sensational® Made For All Lipstick By Maybelline

Photo: The Today Show

Here's a heads up: There will be 3 blogs published this week. Stop by on Wednesday and Friday for more!

First up is Maybelline's recent launch of a new line of lipstick called  Made For All Lipstick by Color Sensational® that is created to be universally flattering on all skin tones. So if you wear lipstick, you can wear any of the 7 new shades!

Rich pigments, the lipstick is moist and creamy and looks fabulous on everybody, regardless of skin color, or undertones. They are 7 beautiful, classic colors also! Satin and matte lipsticks, the hues are a range of nude, pink, red and plum.

Maybelline calls their Color Sensational® Made For All Lipstick a game changer that takes the guesswork out of selecting lipstick. It's a makeup item that made Allure magazine's Best Of Beauty 2019 list; and customers give the formula and colors high ratings too.

Nudes are trendy and safe, but now women can break out of their comfort zones to try new shades of pinks, plums or reds! Go wild with confidence!

Photo: thehappysloths

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5 Beauty Gift Ideas

If you have makeup loving friends -- who either wear it daily, or want to, have I got 5 thoughtful and affordable gifts for you to consider. Each one has good ingredients wrapped up in a clever presentation sure to please your recipients. The first up is:

1) The Color Workshop Brilliant Beauty Classic Glamour Makeup Palette (↑above) - 41 everything you need cosmetics: 18 eyeshadows, 12 lip glosses, 2 blushes, 1 contour, 1 lip primer, 1 eye primer, powder highlighters, 3 lipsticks -- all housed inside a fancy locking, black train case equipped with a mirror and carrying handle. $9.88.

2) The Color Workshop Nail Pail Nail Polish Gift Set - 15 essential items: 9 wearable nail polish colors,  3 tubs of fun glitter powder, 2 toe separators -- it comes in a sleek, keepsake storage pail. $9.88.

3) Real Techniques Neon Lights Brush Set -  Nearly all women have basic makeup brushes. A few extras in a set (your friend may not have) makes a lovely gift: 5 professional pieces: buffing brush, smugging brush, shadow brush, contour fan brush, plus a complexion blending sponge. These brushes are multi-taskers, so this set either supplements, or upgrades the cosmetic brushes your friend already owns. $13.99. Pretty brush handles to boot!

4) L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche La Palette Lip, $8 - $10 and Maybelline New York Lip Studio Lip Color Palette, $5 - $8 - depending on seller - The quality of L'Oréal and Maybelline lipsticks are top notch. Customers rarely do better even paying 4 to 5 times more for designer lipstick, so why do it? For much less, you can buy your friend both palettes, so she has 16 new beautiful and wearable colors to try.

5) EOS Lip Balm 3-Pack Limited Edition Collection - I bought myself this lip balm set last Christmas. This year they are back!  - Contains beeswax, Shea butter, jojoba oil, olive oil, coconut oil and other moisturizing ingredients in peppermint, ginger and holiday flavors to keep your lips smooth and conditioned during dry seasons. $10.63 for 3.

Festive, useful and affordable gift sets your makeup maven friends can enjoy all year long. Plus, you might be tempted to treat yourself! At these prices, why not?

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Who To Buy From ... On A Budget

If I decide not to pay an arm and a leg for a thing, but desire one that performs, here is my numero uno shopping rule:

Only buy goods from retailers whose expertise is in the area of the goods being sold.

Examples include: 

• Buy hair products, such as blow dryers and flat irons from companies like Conair or Revlon, who specialize in hair products. Conair or Revlon will offer a superb hair dryer for about $25 if you don't wish to fork over $100+ for a Chi brand; because that's what Conair and Revlon do, make hair gadgets. They are in the business and know what they're doing! And because they are established in the hair industry, they have a reputation to uphold.

• Buy your mattress from Beautyrest for $800 when you don't wish to pay $2,000+ for a much more expensive Sterns and Foster mattress. Beautyrest (established in 1931) makes an excellent mattress despite its lower ticket price.

• Buy a Hoover vacuum cleaner (selling since the 1930s) when you can't afford a Miele (a used Miele vacuum is $700; new ones are $1,400+). In the year 1990, I bought a Hoover vacuum cleaner at Woolworth's (the famous, now defunct variety store) for $60, which is still running strong today. In furnishing my apartment, I had to buy so many things, I was happy to find my Hoover for less. It is a brand well known for making vacuums. I think I'm getting my money's worth!😍

• I never buy shoes from retailers whose primary business is not shoes. I trust Merrell and Sorel for proper arch and heel support over Calvin Klein or Kenneth Cole. In footwear, I need more than style! I get the best shoes for my feet cheaper than what these chic, yet unskilled high fashion designers charge. Shoes aren't either seller's main focus.

• If you don't have $400 - $700 to invest in a William-Sonoma blender, you can get a durable and powerful Oysterizer blender, a prime maker of blenders. About $24, it has 10+ speeds to do everything from mixing, blending and crushing ice. Mine lasts for decades. 

• If NARS or Charlotte Tilbury luxe cosmetics are too costly, you will find beautiful colors and uncompromising quality from the likes of Maybelline (began in 1915), L'Oreal (started in 1909) and Revlon (launched in 1932), all brands with 80+ years of beauty experience, yet sold at your local drugstore. You can bet your budget, they get it right!

When on a budget, I stick with the tried and true -- businesses who have made a certain thing forever.

Established industry pros don't operate like flushes in a pan. I notice they tend to offer stellar quality items at affordable price points. You can forgo a few bells and whistles without sacrificing overall product expertise. All the essentials that make the goods worth buying tend to be there. Every purchase need not be top of the line, but articles should serve their purpose and last. Expect a brand whose name is synonymous with a specific product to deliver. Quite often for less! When having to budget, you are rarely disappointed. 

Photo: 123RF

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