Favorite Drugstore Products

hi beauties! guess what day it is... hump dayyy! aka: we're almost done with the work week :). i thought i would share my favorite tried and true drugstore products that are not only an affordable option but have quality as well. from high-end to drugstore products, i've tried just about everything when it comes to beauty and skincare products. after years i finally know what products to indulge in & which products i can save $ on and get similar results to those pricey items. all the products i mention below have been used for the past 6 months (give or take) & are reoccurring purchases once i run out. (basically, i can't get enough!)

comment below & let us know what your favorite drugstore products!
-Rasmin :)

Primer: primer is an optional product that some don't believe in and others completely rave about. i'm the latter. i was actually out of this holy grail drugstore primer for about 2 weeks and without it my sometimes oily t-zone shows. after i wash my face and apply my CeraVe moisturizer, i immediately apply my Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro Primer ($7.99) and being blending in my foundation. this primer will leave your skin unbelievably smooth and refreshed, the scent didn't bother me (its not harsh) (can be found at any drugstore)

Concealer/Highlighters: this past year i got sucked into the highlighting/contour scene and after using NARS Creamy Radiant Concealer (shade: Custard, $29), i fell in love but it can be pretty pricey to purchase every month or so and went on a hunt to find a drugstore concealer that would be similar for everyday use. ya girl found TWO. 

1. Maybelline Fit Me concealer (shade: Sand, $6.99): lasts longer than the NARS Creamy Radiant concealer and is very creamy and pigmented. The NARS and the Maybelline concealer in my shade are almost exact dupes for each other (they both blend so easily) and are perfect for any areas of the face you want to conceal or highlight. (can be found at any drugstore)

2. NYX photogenic concelar (shade: CW04, $4.99): i found this baby at Ulta and man oh, man is it pigmented. it's not as creamy as the Maybelline Fit Me concealer but its a good consistency that blends easily. If i'm going to a special event I reach for my NARS and add a little drugstore concealer whereas on routine makeup days, i reach for either my Maybelline or NYX- whichever is on hand. 

Brows: I just tried my Anastasia dip brow pomade today and I love it! I was so scared to try it because I didn't want to over do my brows (they really only need to be slightly filled in) however I still plan on using my Sonia Kashuk Brow Definer (shade: haze, $5.99) everyday & the Sonia Kashuk Brow Gel ($5.99). Both SK brow product stay on all day and the pencil has great pigmentation- perfect for those just beginning in filling in their brows! (can be found at Target or online) 

Eyes: Mascaras and eyeliners when use almost daily can run out quickly and are supposed to be thrown out after 3 months- so while i love indulging in high end products from time to time, i haven't found a product i loved except for drugstore. 

-Loreal False Fiber Lashe Waterproof Mascara ($7.19): this golden tube of blackest black mascara will seriously add length to them (esp if you curl your lashes beforehand) it's not drying or clumpy and overall a product i find myself buying over and over again for years. (can be found at ulta or any drugstore)

-Milani Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Eyeliner ($7.99): I've used inglot, MACs blacktrack (a gray gel liner compared to inglot and milani) but both kept drying out. Esp. my inglot and never had the patience of ordering gel liner online to be honest, so one day as i was moseying in CVS to pick up a waterline eyeliner (usually use Loreal) i found this milani liquid eyeliner. ohmygod you GUYS- it cuts the time it would usually take me to do a winged liner. the handle helps have control and lasts matte black for at least 6 hrs (can be found at CVS or online)

Lips: if I'm using any lipstick thats drugstore its either the Covergirl lipstick ($5.99) or the Maybelline Color Sensationals ($5.59, blushing beige is my fave). Both are creamy, pigmented and stay on your lips all day- aren't drying at all and both companies offer a broad range of color selection which is always a plus! I finally got the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cremes ($5.99) today (they were always sold out!) and as a first impression I'm liking the color payoff (will do a full review on these soon!)

Finishing Powders: I don't use finishing powders often but when i do, its my Makeup Forever HD powder or its dupe- the Sonia Kashuk Undetectable loose powder ($9.99) (target/online). I've tried both and they are very finely milled powders that don't give your face a white cast and help prevent oil throughout the day. The ELF HD powder is also a great buy but if not used lightly can leave a slight white cast; nonetheless for the price, it does the job! ($6) (Target / online)

(BEAUTY SALE: NYX products at Ulta! The SALE is Buy One Get One %50 off from 1/4/15 thru 1/24/15! Perfect time to try out some of these products!)

Indian Healing Clay Honey Mask

The mask queen in back! :) How about a nice spa day in the comfort of your own home?So ya'll know how much I love to experiment with masks and I just have to share this pretty amazing mask that contains everything found in your kitchen pantry [plus, my fav natural clay mask-Aztec Secret Healing Indian Clay Mask which can be ordered HERE]. This mask contains a few super ingredients that have been used by many women is the past for centuries[heyyy nani-ma/grandma...jk ;) although I am pretty positive she probably used many of these ingredients back in her day too]. 

Honey, apple cider vinegar, and turmeric are the new add-on ingredients in my original Aztec clay mask that I had previously posted about Here. 

Oh Honey! :) I have used honey on my face before because of its powerful and beneficial properties. Before making this mask, I used to apply plain honey to my bare face and let me tell you guys...it was amazing to my skin! According to my research, honey contains many vitamins, enzymes and anti-bacterial properties that are wonderful for the skin. It has never caused any harm to me but instead, has always left my face feeling super soft and looking radiant. I only use "raw" or "unrefined" honey on my face btw. Of course everyone has their own preferences but I have read many times that the darker the honey, the more antioxidants it contains. In my opinion, to get the best results, raw/unfiltered is usually the best way to go when looking for honey to put on your face! I use this one HERE.

Apple cider vinegar, an ingredient that I have always been a little skeptical towards due to its acidic properties is actually a pretty amazing ingredient. This super liquid is great for hair, digestion, and SKIN. According to WebMD,"Apple cider vinegar is fermented juice from crushed apples". Although I don't like eating raw apples, I do love cooking with them because of their awesome benefits. Check out my baked apple pastry recipe here. So there was no doubt that I wanted to know more about this vinegar. Apparently, apple cider vinegar is used alone or with honey for osteoporosis, weight loss, leg cramps and pain. It is also known to help upset stomach, sore throats, sinus problems, high blood pressure, arthritis. It is used to help rid the body of toxins, stimulate thinking, slow the aging process, regulate blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, and fight infection....waoh! Information overload huh? Thanks (WebMD)! My favorite benefit of apple cider vinegar is that it helps the skin by preventing acne and can also be used as a facial toner to help even out skin tone (Although I do enjoy my pure rose water toner from time to time instead...because it smells way nicer than apple cinder vinegar lol).  There is not hiding...apple cider vinegar is STINKY. My husband HATES it when I do this mask...to a point that he makes me sit far away from him as I wait for the mask to dry on my face LOL. Also, don't spill this stuff! I accidentally spilled the bottle in my bathroom and it made my bathroom stink for literally two days! 

Turmeric/Haldi is the third ingredient in this mask.  In India Turmeric is known as ‘Haldi‘.  It is a significant part of many Indian or Hindu customs and traditions including weddings. Indians LOVE their haldi! As a child, whenever I caught a cold, my parents would give me milk with turmeric mixed in it...sometimes egg yolk mixed in it too (omg YUCK but it always healed my cold!) My mom (who happens to have amazing skin btw, m'A!) and many other southeast Asian women have used this powder not only in their delightful recipes but also in their beauty routine! When I was in my teens, my mom would occasionally make me wash my face with a haldi and garam flour (chana atta) paste and I vaguely remember liking it waaaay back then. In my recent adult years when my skin became a little bipolar, I started to shy away from things such as turmeric/haldi and garam flour or basically any other natural product (except for rose water and egg whites of course). Then about a year ago, one of my best friends (waves to Zee) bounced on the DIY mask train and tried out a mask that she added haldi/turmeric to and didn't have a single negative thing to say about it. Although she naturally has pretty awesome skin (m'A!), I believed in her recommendation. I decided to give it a try about twice at that time and remember my skin feeling very soft and really liking it! It brought back my childhood memories of my mom making me "pastes" for my face lol. SO...when I got this aztec clay, I knew I HAD to add turmeric to my mask concoction. Also, just FYI, turmeric is very staining. Make sure you wear an old t-shirt and wash it off right away if any gets on your white sink. Whenever I do this mask, I literally have a light yellow toned face the next day at work (lol) but it doesn't bother me...my little kiddos probably don't even notice, ha! If this is a problem for you, make sure you do this mask on the weekend. Also, the Clarisonic face brush (which I LOVE btw...separate blogpost will come on that in the future) is a great tool to get rid of the yellow on your face pretty fast! *You CAN skip adding the  turmeric/haldi step if you would like...esp. if you have to be somewhere and don't want your skin to be a little yellow...just make sure you def put in honey, clay, and apple cinder vinegar! 

The final ingredient to this amazing mask is of course my fav natural clay, the Aztec Indian Healing Clay Mask. You can read about all the positive things I have to say about it HERE.

What'ya need: 

-Aztec Indian Healing Clay Mask. Like This. (1/2 tablespoon)

-Turmeric/Haldi. Like This. (1/2 tablespoon) *You CAN skip this step if you would like...esp. if you have to be somewhere and don't want your skin to be a little yellow*

-Raw Honey. Like This. (1/2 tablespoon-1 tablespoon)

-Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar. Like This. (1 to 1/2 tablespoon-Depending how thick or thin you want it)

*If it looks too thin, add some more clay 

-Plastic bowl & PLASTIC spoon to mix. I also like to use a brush to apply. You can buy a similar mask bowl for a great price HERE. Make sure you use plastic as metal changes something in the clay mask. 
*You CAN skip this step if you would like...esp. if you have to be somewhere and don't want your skin to be a little yellow...but it won't turn too yellow if you only add a small amount and add more honey instead*

-Apply to skin & leave on for about 20 mins or until it dries. Make sure you moisturize your skin after washing it off because it will cause your skin to be a little dry.

Mix...mix...mix it baby! :)

The first time around it turned out a little thicker so I added a little more apple cider vinegar to thin it out a little the next time I did this mask.

I really hope you love and enjoy this mask as much as I do! If you do decide to try this mask, please share your photos with us by using the hashtag #thelipstickpantry or tagging us on facebook! :) 

Motivational Monday

hi guys! hope everyone had an amazing holiday break and made it through the first day of the first work-week of the year! is it just me or did 2014 fly by? especially the last 6 months, time seriouslyyy needs to slow down. now, i don't believe in new year's resolutions but i always write down goals i want to accomplish whenever i think of one; and for the blog, i'm going to try my hardest to post 1-2 times a week. i'm hoping to pick 2 days that i will routinely post on so you guys can always expect something to read :). i have a lot of new ideas and am excited to see where the blog goes this year. forewarning, this post is just one of many ideas; now east coast its 7pm however- i feel like everyone can always use some motivation no matter what time of the day it is. am i right?

i absolutely love this quote. it's so simple yet means so much. life can get difficult and it's so very easy to give into the demons that your battling personally or the ones that surround you, remember- mind over matter. if you surround yourself with negative, small minded people, you will be influenced or become a negative, small minded individual. if you surround yourself with positive, hardworking people, it's human nature to strive to do the same. society in this day and age can be very heartbreaking- (even brutal at times) because of all the forms of bullying and many who hate to see others succeed as they break new barriers however, be the change you want to see in the world. 

be positive. step out of your comfort zone.

if you're doing what you love for yourself, don't let irrelevant opinions hinder your way to success. if you see someone being bullied in school, help them. stand up for them. talk to them. who knows, your one conversation with that person can help them from being another suicide statistic. 

not only should you keep your mindset positive, but try to promote positivity as well. even if  you think its a small gesture or compliment- trust me, it may make someone's day 10x's brighter and affect them more strongly than you think. spread love.

what does this quote mean to you? comment below- i want to get to know ya'll!

p.s: would you guys like to see a quote dissection every motivational monday? or start a discussion on certain topics that affect our society today? let me know! (feel free to e-mail us as well if you don't want to comment publicly) any & all feedback is appreciated! xo

love,

Rasmin 

Milani Lip Intense Liquid Lip Paint

Alright, so this blog post as been WAY overdue (pending since...October I think! Ouch! Sorry guys!!) I had it started, photos taken, swatches etc but never finished the blog post to publish. Life just takes over sometimes, ya know?! Well finally, here it is! 

So I grabbed these beautiful Milani Lip Intense Colors a while back when I was picking up a prescription at the pharmacy. Ok, don't even act like you guys don't grab random things from drugstores while you wait on the pharmacy to fill your prescription ;) *Bonus: These were BOGO so I paid about $6.49 for TWO...score!

My main reason to grab these was because they reminded me so much of the popular (& not so cheap) Too Faced Melted Lip Stains. Lets take a quick peek at my first impression on these little babies:

Packaging: Simple yet vibrant. Plastic flat tube. Nothing too special. I do appreciate the soft application stick which gives more control when applying instead of a tube like the Too Faced Melted.

Colors: Red Extreme, Pink Rave, Fiery Coral, Violet Addict (I didn't get Violet Addict because I already had the Too Faced Melted in Violet and the two colors looked VERY similar...and also because violet is not a color I would wear THAT often so didn't want to have two similar colors). 

Formula: Smooth, non-sticky, Drys quick. I did notice that after wearing it for about 6 hours, it faded some and I had some slight dry lines on the upper & bottom corner of my lips. In my opinion, no biggy. For the price, the formula feels identical to the Too Faced Melted and applies effortlessly. These also remind me of NYX matte lip cream but possibly slightly silkier. It's not exactly matte, but it does have a hint of shine. Also another thing, they do "bleed" a little if you don't use a lip primer and anti-feathering pencil (it's basically a clear wax pencil that you apply on the outline of your lips)...I had mine for a while now (from Sephora) but Milani also makes one to go with this lippies HERE.

Should I go buy it? If you don't want to splurge on the Too Faced Melted but still want something similar for a much cheaper price then yes, I'd say go for it. If you like a pop of color, get these! I will def use these more often than I had originally expected to...and mix it up with some of my higher-end lipsticks to change up the color/formula a bit.

Color: Pink Rave #2

*To me this sort of reminds me of "Girl About Town" by Mac. It's a beautiful bright pink.

Color: Fiery Coral #3

*To me, this color is more of a Barbie pink vs CORAL (whomp! whomp!) Not sure why they would name this "coral". Nonetheless, it's a beautiful super Reese Witherspoon type of color ;)

Color: Red Extreme #1

*This is a classic hot cherry red tone. It's bright but does fade out a little throughout the day so I like to mix it with my Dior Addict in "Pandore" during a recent outing that I wore it...went perfect with my holiday red dress! <3

xoxx- 

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and New Year!

Baked Apple Pastry *Dairy-Free+Grain-Free* [perfect for a Holiday Dessert add-on]

An apple a day...keeps the doctor away, right? Well...being married to one defiantly doesn't do that in my life ha! But truth be told about me + apples = I actually feel sick after eating [raw] apples...so I rarely ever eat an apple on any day! So screw you doctors!

Other fruits I can munch on or eat daily with my lunch or breakfast [like berries...mmmm]...but apples...oh you apples, I just can't! Why? Because after eating say...a whole apple, I will suddenly feel like gagging! LOL. Sometimes, I actually do GAG. It's insane. I really do want to love apples though because I know how great they are for my body. Apples contain both Vitamins A & C as well as COPPER, which by the way is an essential element to healthy skin! Who doesn't want that, right?

So as life has its adventures, a few weeks back, my husband & I stumbled upon picking our own apples and bringing home a bag full of good ol' apples from an apple orchard. [let me just tell you about the dreaded look on my husband's face when I told him lets just go ahead and check out the orchards before the corn maze while we waited on our friends. BUT he knows how quirky little things like this make me happy so he TOTALLY went with the flow haha]. So to make a good use out of the apples we picked, I decided to use them in a verity of ways, so I can actually eat them this time without gagging. I made the following (which I will post recipe to each soon):
- Grain-Free Apple Pastry (Recipe below)
-Almond Flour Apple Pancakes
-Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins- Dairy Free + Flour Free (Recipe HERE)
-Fresh Green Juice

*Grain-Free Apple Pastry*

What ya will need:

(For the Apple Filling)

- 3-4 apples [peel em', deseed/core em', chop into tiny pieces]

- 3 tablespoon of Coconut SUGAR [I used this kind but you can get any type...organic or not!...this one was on sale at my local grocery store one day so I grabbed it]

-1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon powder [I used McCormick, but you can you whichever kind you like]

-1/8 teaspoon of ground nutmeg powder [I used McCormick, but you can you whichever kind you like]

-Big pinch of salt 

-2 tablespoon of water 

(For the Dough)

-1/2 cup of Almond Flour [I used Bob's Red Mill]

-1/2 cup of Tapioca Flour/Stratch [I used some that I got off of Amazon Here but tell me why...I was at a Asian grocery store a few days ago and saw them selling these for only $1.00...slightly smaller in size but a buck!?!]

-1/2 teaspoon of salt 

-1 cup of canned unsweetened coconut milk [not the lite version; just regular. I used this one from Target but ANY work...I literally have 3 different brands of coconut milk in my pantry right now lol]

-1 egg made into an egg wash [add some water to your egg and mix mix mix with your fork]

What ya will need TO DO:

Step 1: [PREHEAT YOUR OVEN TO 350 F] Ok...Go ahead and make the Apple Filling by combining all of the ingredients for the filling in a pot over medium heat for about 10-15 mins or so. Once it looks good to you [should be thick and apples should be a little soft]. Turn off heat and let sit to the side while you prepare and make your crust.

Step 2: Go ahead and make the dough by combining all of the Dough Fillings (almond flour, tapioca flour, salt, & coconut milk) in a large mixing bowl. The result will be a pancake like batter.

Step 3: Put a medium sized frying pan on medium heat

Step 4: Scoop in about 1/2 cup of batter and slowly from the middle of the pan, drop in the batter. Shake the pan a little if you want the batter to spread out more, but it doesn't matter.

Step 5: Let each side cook for about 3 mins (30 secs to a min more if needed). You will have about 4-5 flatbread looking pastry sheets depending how big/small you make it.

Step 6: Using a scissor, cut off the edges of your sheets to form a square.

Step 7: Spoon in about a tablespoon of the Apple Filling into the flatbread sheet, close it up using fork.

Step 8: Using a brush, rub some egg wash (1 egg mixed up w a few drops of water and mix again) all over the outside/top. Sprinkle each triangle with some coconut sugar.

Step 9: Spread aluminum foil onto a baking trey, place each triangle on trey, pop in the oven (preheated 350 Degrees F) for about 40-45 minutes or until you can tell they look crunch...crispy from the outside. YUM! *Do not overcook them too much as my batch the 2nd time I made these had become a bit too crunchy/hard after a while. You can always re-toast it in the toaster oven when reheating. 

*These were such a hit with my husband and MYSELF. Yum yum yum. Something my husband did when reheating these was pop it in the toaster oven for like 2 minutes or so to make it extra crunchy because once they cool, they do tend to get a little bit softer.

Hope you enjoy these guilt-free sweet cravings! Xoxx-

Husby & I with our selfie game gone wrong lol

My Sisters Holiday Brunch *Baked Egg Bowls*

A few weeks ago, I went down South to visit my sister. Growing up, one thing that I always admired my sister for was her love for cooking and daring different recipes. Whenever she would visit my mom's house, she often came up with some fun things to snack on or make...and most of the time, the recipes would be something quick & easy...Like these delicious eggs in a bowl! 

These are SO quick & easy. Fool proof. Fancy "looking". And perfect for a holiday brunch add-on. Hope you enjoy this recipe! xoxx-

(serves 4-5)
What'ya NEED:

• Left over hash browned potatoes (or make your own like we did using 1 large potato: Shred potatoes into a large bowl filled with cold water. Stir until water is cloudy, drain, and cover potatoes again with fresh cold water. Stir again to dissolve excess starch. Drain potatoes well, pat dry with paper towels, and squeeze out any excess moisture. In a pan, cook potatoes until a brown crust forms on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Continue to cook and stir until potatoes are browned all over, about 5 more minutes) OR Just buy the ready-made hash brown and cook it as package directed. 
• 1 tsp butter (or olive oil/coconut oil)
• 1 Tbsp jalapeno, seeded and finely diced
• 1/2 cup sweet onion, diced
• Half Avocado (peels & sliced into thin strips)
• 1 cup of Dry spinach (chopped into tiny pieces)
• Half large Tomato (chopped into small pieces)
• 2 cloves of garlic, diced (we just used a garlic crusher)
• 1/4 cup dairy-free or regular mozzarella cheese, shredded 
• 2 eggs [for 1 serving] (we ended up using 8 eggs total since we were making it for 3 adults & 2 kids)
• salt and pepper to taste
• Seasoning salt to taste
• Paprika (sprinkled in)
• CorningWare Ramekin. Like these HERE.

What'ya Need To DO:

• Preheat oven to 350° .  
• Preheat a skillet/pan over medium high heat.
• Melt butter in the skillet and add the onion and jalapeno. Cook 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until starting to soften.
• Add the garlic and cook another minute, stirring occasionally.
• Spray the ramekin dishes with non-stick spray.  Divide the hash brown potatoes between the dishes.
• Stir the onion, chili, garlic mixture into the dishes.
• Throw in the chopped spinach.
• Top with chopped tomatoes 
• Top with cheese.
• Crack two eggs into each ramekin.  Season with seasoning salt pepper, & paprika on top (go light on that SALT btw!)
• Bake in the oven on the middle rack for 5 minutes.
• Top with two slices of Avocado 
• Broil on high for 5-6 minutes or until the eggs are set (DO NOT overcook as the eggs become too "dry")
• Rest for 5 minutes before serving.

SO Delish! <3