Save $ or Splurge $$$ Morphe Brushes

Makeup brushes make or break your makeup application. You most definitely need quality tools to get that flawless beat. Finding super inexpensive high-quality brushes are hard to come by. Outside of E.L.F., I don't know many brands that have good quality brushes at a cheap price. Well not until I came across Beili. I found out about the brand through a twitter thread and they were being compared to Morphe's brushes. And because I love a good beauty dupe I had to see for my self. So, I ordered a few brushes that I have the Morphe comparable, along with a couple others. Long story short, I probably won't be purchasing Morphe brushes any longer. Both brands have synthetic hair bristles and similar shapes throughout the range, and they both provide a flawless application. The only difference is Beili's brushes have a shorter handle, but I actually prefer that. Oh and the price, how could I forget. Beili is about a fourth cheaper than Morphe which makes it a winner in my book. 

Below are the Beili brushes that I ordered that have Morphe dupes. I also ordered 804 (my new favorite foundation brush) and 805 (great for bronzer). If you love Morphe's brushes then you'll definitely love these. 

Save: Beili Brushes

815, 817, 810, 813, 803

Splurge: Morphe Brushes

E48, E4, E7, E63, E41

Click here to sign up for Ebates or Dosh and get cash back and coupons when you shop!

Save $ or Splurge $$$ Laura Mercier Glow Brush

I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos lately; catching up on old videos, searching for new channels to subscribe to, and watching product reviews.  Recently, I was looking at a product review by MakeupShayla on the Laura Mercier Loose Setting Translucent Glow Powder and she used their brush to apply the highlighter and I just loved how it looked. I went to  Sephora to get all the details and closed the tab because I didn't really want to pay $40 for a brush, $20 is my limit lol. I'm pretty sure you know what's next....yep, you guessed it. I began searching for a dupe with that curved shape. I found a few good alternatives from Fenty, E.L.F and Shop Miss A but good ole E.L.F ended up being the best option to me. See the details and tell me what you think, SAVE or SPLURGE?!

Save: E.L.F. Sculpting Face Brush $6 ($3 at Walmart in-store)

The contoured and curved shape of this brush hugs the face to help expertly sculpt and blend product, contour cheekbones, define the nose, and minimize the look of jawline definition for precision application. This brush is ideal with foundation but also works perfectly with a variety of formulas including powders, liquids, and creams.

Splurge: Laura Mercier Glow Brush $38

A powder brush designed to allow for even, luminous application all over the face. This brush’s unique, curved shape is designed to fit the contours of the face. It applies powder evenly and smoothly all over, leaving behind a consistent, uniform veil of luminosity.

Have you tried either of these brush? Are you saving or splurging? Right now, I'm going to save. But when I get some extra money, I'll be splurging again.

Click here to sign up for Ebates or Dosh and get cash back and coupons when you shop!

Frugal Finds: Miss A

Why pay more when you can pay less is our motto. Anytime I can find a new store or website to purchase frugal finds I got a try it. I came across this website about a year ago on Twitter from @heyaprill and put it on my list of stores to try but I forgot. So no I haven’t been keeping this place from you all, we’re not stingy with our frugal finds. Anyway, Miss A is a website that sells makeup, beauty tools skincare and accessories for just $1, yes you read that correctly. They have everything from face primer to makeup brushes and more. Now everybody isn’t a fan of budget-friendly makeup if it isn’t from Sephora they don’t want it. Me myself personally am not tied to high-end cosmetic brands I like whatever is good. All cheap products aren’t bad and all luxury products good. This is a perfect store to purchase from if you are a newbie in makeup and want to practice with something inexpensive items. I recently placed an order with a few of the things pictured below but it hasn’t arrived yet so stay tuned to our Instagram for a preview. For just $1 an item, what do you have to lose? Check out shopmissa.com today and let us know what you think. Leave us a comment below if you’ve purchased something from them before. 

AOA- Go Brow Mascara $1

AOA Sculpting Brow Pencil $1

AOA Wonder Cover Concealer $1

AOA Perfect Setting Powder $1

AOA Wonder Baked Highlighter $1

AOA Wonder Matte Liquid Lipstick $1

AOA Wonder Lipliner $1

AOA Wonder Liplock $1

AOA 12-Piece PM Brush Set $10

Wonder Blender $1 

Wonder Blender Holder $1

AOA Canvas Pouch $1 

Click here to sign up for Ebates and get cash back and coupons when you shop!

Save $ or Splurge $$$ MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter

I love trying out beauty dupes. Every opportunity I get to possibly replace a higher end product with a something a little cheaper I do. Sometimes they are good, sometimes not. I suffer from hyper-pigmentation so when I'm doing my makeup color correcting is a must for me. I've done alot of trial and error to find what works the best for me. Orange concealers have me looking like an oompa loompa and yellow concealers make me look ashy. When I discovered MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter in Peach Lustre it was perfect the perfect shade. It's not too orange but just enough to cover my dark spots so I'm not giving oompa loompa vibes. It doubles as a highlighter and color corrector for medium to dark skin tones which is a plus. Recently E.L.F dropped a new color correcting product that is somewhat similar to MAC's. It claims to conceal dark circles and hide imperfections on deeper complexions with the orange corrector. I tested it out and it was cool but a little too sheer for me. The color was good however it is very light.  I don't have dark circle so I cant test out that claim, but from my trial, I think this product is better suited for dark circles and light imperfections. If that is it what you have, give the E.L.F. Flawless Color Correcting Pen a try. For only $6 what could hurt. 

See the following specs and details and tell us what you think, SAVE or SPLURGE?!

Save: E.L.F. Flawless Color Correcting Pen

Perfect for on the go, this Flawless Color Correcting Pen neutralizes imperfections leaving you with a flawless complexion. Enjoy a brighter and even skin tone with the convenient and easy to use correcting formula.

Splurge: MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter

A pen-style highlighter that efficiently brings a soft, sheer wash of color to the skin. With its precision application, it adds radiance just where you want it. Goes on smoothly for cushion-soft wear. Use over makeup for highlights, touch-ups, or under makeup to brighten, prime and correct. Benefits: Provides instant radiance, lightweight, long-wearing, and non-drying, 

Have you tried these? If so, which do you prefer? I've tried both and MAC wins hands down for me. E.L.F isn't terrible but it doesn't provide the coverage I need.  So on this item, I'll take the SPLURGE!

Click here to sign up for Ebates and get cash back and coupons when you shop!

Save $ or Splurge $$$ Beautyblender

There are hundreds, maybe even thousands off makeup sponges on the market. However, the originator is the beautyblender®. The beautyblender is a staple in many makeup kits, but for $20 some are hesitant to purchase. I was one of those people. I bought the Real Techniques Sponge and many other dupes over the years (probably more than $20 worth). The Real Techniques sponge works well and I love the flat side of the sponge. If you want to spend less, this is for you. My only problem with the dupe is that it absorbs too much product. I have also recently purchased a Beautyblender on Groupon for $12 (we shared this deal on Twitter), and after my first use I apologized for all the slander I had once shared. Now, I see what all the hype is about. 

See the details and tell us what you think, SAVE or SPLURGE. 

Save: Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

It's a 3-in-1 multi-functional makeup sponge by Real Techniques. The rounded side blends larger areas of the face. The precision tip covers blemishes/imperfections and the flat edge contours around the eyes and the nose, leaving you with a complexion that's smooth, enhanced and gorgeous!

Splurge: The Original Beautyblender® (Pink/Black)

The unique shape and exclusive material available only with beautyblender® ensures impeccable, streak-free application with minimum product waste. Use it with primers, foundations, powders, cream blushes, and any other complexion product. It features an open cell structure that fills with small amounts of water when wet. This allows the sponge to be “full” so that the makeup product sits on top of the sponge rather than being absorbed, allowing you to use less product every time. When wet, beautyblender doubles in size and becomes even softer, returning to its original size when it air dries. 

Have you tried these sponges? Which do you prefer? On this item, I’ll go with the SPLURGE!

Get the Original Beautyblender® (Pro) on Groupon for $12. Sign up for ebates and get 6% cashback!

- Christen

The Look for Less: Artis

We've been trying to do a lot more beauty related posts, so here is another one. I watch a bunch of beauty vloggers on Youtube and have been seeing these Artis makeup brushes being used and reviewed by a number of youtubers. The concept of the brushes is cool and I wanted to try them, however when I saw the price of the set I almost threw my phone. For almost $400 these brushes better apply my makeup for me. After finding out the price I went straight to eBay to see if I could find a dupe and I did. Now, I am sure that these brushes are not the same, but if you like the idea of the Artis brushes and don't want to spend the money you should check out this look for less. 

 

Artis Brush Elite Mirror 10 Brush Set $355

10pc Toothbrush Oval Makeup Brushes $22

Sign up for ebates and get cashback coupons, deals and savings at your favorite stores! See the Deals of the Week page for additional sales!

-Christen

365 of 365: Best Of 2014

Today marks the last day of the year. 2014 has been a good year for the blog as well as our personal lives. We are looking forward to what next year has in store. 

Below are our 5 most viewed blog posts this year; if you hadn't read them before do so now!

When buying wardrobe essentials, I believe you should buy quality pieces that will last for a long time which may cost more than you normally would spend. Think of them as investment pieces. The key to purchasing great quality pieces while still being frugal is shopping out of season, outlet stores and major sales. This post lists some essentials I believe every lady should have and where to buy them for the low! - See more at: 8 Wardrobe Essentials Worth the Splurge
 

I'm an advocate of not paying more for an item than its worth. A lot of these 'high end' makeup brands have good products but some are not worth the price in my opinion. Here are some inexpensive makeup products that can be purchased at a drugstore or your local beauty supply store.  - See more at: Beauty on a Budget 

A Hermes belt kit starts at about $800 and the enamel bracelet is $650. I see a lot of people with both items some real and some fake. Instead of spending all your money or buying a fake, check out this look for less. - See more at: The Look for Less: Hermes

Did you catch Beyoncé in her Double Pom Pom Beanie? If you want to make your own, I found a fairly easy DIY tutorial for the Double Pom Pom Beanie on A Pair & A Spare's blog - See more at: DIY Double Pom Pom Beanie 

UGGS aren't cheap and finding some on sale is a challange. Over the Christmas holiday I came across these cute little boot wraps by Homage, which are liners that pop onto soles of you UGGs. They come in a variety of colors and patterns. The prices range from $29.95 to $34.95. They are sold exclusively at Nordstrom. These boot covers are perfect for sprucing up an old or new pair of UGGs. - See more at: Dress Up Your UGGs

Happy New Years! Leave us a comment below and let us know what you would like to see from us in the new year! 

Save $ or Splurge $$$ MAC Studio Finish Concealer

Splurge: MAC Studio Finish Concealer

Save: Milani Secret Cover Concealer

I love finding a good dupe for beauty products. But I'll admit when I first started wearing makeup I had to have MAC everything. I wear makeup a lot and spending $20+ per product doesn't fit in my current budget. Especially when I run through certain products fast, like my concealer. My frugal alternative to the Studio Finish Concealer by MAC is Milani's Secret Cover Concealer. It's a maximum coverage concealer cream that completely covers and perfects all types of skin. If you cant find Milani try NYX Concealer in a Jar (sold at Target). 

What do you think? Splurge or Save?

- Christen
Subscribe to our blog to get the latest updates to your inbox.

Beauty on a Budget

I'm an advocate of not paying more for an item than its worth.  A lot of these "high end' makeup brands have good products but some are not worth the price in my opinion.  I'm no MUA so I can get away with buying cheaper products. Here are some of my fav inexpensive makeup products that can be purchased at a drugstore or your local beauty supply store. I use all of these products myself and they are WOC friendly!

 1. Revlon Colorstay Foundation - Buildable coverage and transfer resistant // 2. Milani Easybrow // 3. NYX Concealer // 4. E.L.F Brush Set  // 5.  LA Girl Pro Concealer    // 6. Wet n' Wild Eyeshadow  // 7. Milani Baked Blush // 8. E.L.F  Glow Bronzer - The best $1 bronzer ever! Brown girls try this in Warm Tan! // 9. Maybelline Great Lash // 10. NYX Lip Pencil // 11. Wet n Wild MegaLast Lip Color - Dupes for Mac // 12. NYX Mega Shine Gloss

-Christen