Cult of Pretty

You know the expression “If you love something, set it free?” This really has nothing to do with that. It’s just about things that come in sets - only in sets - and are not free. But are amazing!

I’ve been using a pan mystery product from Benefit for months now that goes on like a dream to create a majorly refreshed eye with no annoying glimmer, and/or acts as an amazing base for eye shadow.  It’s sort of an ultra pale purple-pink that counteracts all evil, and it seems to have been designed by the makeup deities to work perfectly with the Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush, which is the dreamiest undereye and upper-eye base coat apply-er ever (also great for concealer).

I just brush it all over the product and then apply over my lids, in the inner corners, and even under my eyes. Copiously. And it looks amazing. The above image is for dramatic purposes only, k?

I finally got around to looking these up to share them with you and lo and behold:

The pan is actually a product called Eye Bright that comes in a stick. But how could I use the brush with the stick?!  Forget it.  Get the pan version that comes in these (you can see it on the far right and far left) - both sets are awesome anyway.  Peek-a-Bright-Eyes is that great all-you-need eye set for travel and the Perk-Up Artist concealer set is cool, assuming the main shade is the right one for your skin (it isn’t for mine, boo).

And the brush?  It only comes in the Real Techniques Starter Kit!  But that’s OK, because the set is so cheap and the brushes are so good.  It’s worth it.

I mean, if you love something …

Does this: Eye brightener and base in the ideal (in my opinion) format + a great brush for application
Is this: Benefit Eye Bright in pan form only available in the Peek-a-Bright-Eyes and Perk-Up Artist and Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush, only available in the Starter Kit 
Get this: Above
Price: $32, $30, $17.99 respectively

Image: via F Yeah Fashion Pics. Product c/o the brands.

New Year’s Eve headgear inspiration.

Image: Madame Figaro

Whether you’re stocking up on last minute toilet wrapping paper, cashing in gift cards, or want nothing to do with the holidays and everything to do with good, cheap cult beauty finds … this drugstory’s for you.

1. Sally Hansen Complete Care 4-in-1 Extra Moisturizing Treatment is a base coat, nail moisturizer and vitamin-infuser, nail strengthener and top coat in one very pretty pink glass bottle.  If you hoard nail colors, save space on the other essentials with this guy ($12.49)!

2. Wet n Wild Brandywine Lip Pencil & White Eye Liner.  Since this is a cult beauty products blog, I’d be remiss not to round up these classics that are so nice in price, you can buy them … both. Brandywine is an infamous neutral reddish brown that a large portion of the U.S. population wears as a lipstick (and looks darn good doing it) … while the white reminds us that you need not spend more than 99 cents on a dream highlighter for the inside corners of your thrifty eyes ($0.99 each).

3. EcoTools Bamboo Bristle Bath Brush is ideal for the dry brushing, wet brushing, and repentance brushing I will do to my body after this holiday period of indulgence.  Detox yourself - and the Earth while you’re at it ($5.99).

4. Maybelline SuperStay 10Hr Stain Gloss is a surprisingly good alternative to the YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain - what you give up in flavor (this guy is a little cough drop-fruity), you make up in about $23 in your pocket and really pretty staying power ($8.99).

5. L’Oreal Clean Artiste Eye Makeup Remover is the only one I’ve found (and I’ve tried a zill) that removes waterproof makeup but never stings or dries my eyes. I hate using anything else ($4.89).

Today’s virtual basket adds up to $34.34!  Happy holidays to those of you that celebrate … see you guys back here in a few days. XOX

P.S. Click here to see all the Drugstories.

And the giveaway love continues! For me, the holidays have several distinct stages … eating … family snuggling … sentimental movie watching … and then right before the New Year, a thorough cleansing and refreshing of cabinet, hair, skin, self etc.  I like to kick things off with a fresh start.

The folks at DDF thoughtfully sent me two beautifully wrapped Revolve 400x Micro-Polishing Systems - one for me to try and one for a friend. But since my whole beauty jam *revolves* around you all, of course that lucky friend is going to be ONE OF YOU.

The DDF 400X Revolve Micro-Polishing System offers gentle cleansing that’s 8x more effective than a scrub alone.  It comes with self-warming polishing crystals and both a cleansing brush and a soft polishing pad (which I really liked for applying the scrub).  It’s small and battery operated, which I think is a major plus for travel when you simply aren’t going to lug a charger around.

It’s valued at $98 and you can win it by entering as follows:

1. Do ONE of the following…. follow Cult of Pretty on Bloglovin’ OR be follower of Cult of Pretty on tumblr OR subscribe via email.

2. Leave a DISQUS comment below [click through if you’re reading this in tumblr] and tell me, what’s your favorite holiday ritual?  Watching Love Actually?  Egg nog by the fire?  Taking a walk after an early dinner?  Don’t comment in “Ask Me Anything” OR in the “FAN NOTE” area of tumblr <—- guys, click through please, leave a comment on the blog not inside tumblr!

3. You must be 18 or older to enter. (You can ask someone to enter on your behalf if you like, up to you, but the prize will be sent to their attention).

Contest ends next Friday December 28, 2012 at 11.59pm Eastern.  If you subscribe or follow to enter, you must be subscribed or following at the time of the drawing. Multiple comments DO NOT increase your chances of winning but love ya. Winner is drawn at random.

Good luck!  And click here to enter all the current giveaways!

Image: Via TFS