I’ll visit makeup websites and load up my carts shopping spree style… just to abandon it. You might be thinking, “Serina, why??” Now, I’ll admit it’s a huge waste of time, but let’s be real… ya girl cannot afford it. Through the years, I’ve become accustomed to being broke, because #college. So mostly everything I use is incredibly affordable, but just because I can’t afford the luxury products my heart desires doesn’t mean I settle for mediocracy.
With that said, I’d love to share my top 5 holy grail products.
1. E.L.F INSTANT LIFT BROW PENCIL ($2) Link to product: https://bit.ly/2A6298w This is my #1 “can’t live without” product. All you do is twist and it’s ready to use. Plus, there’s a spoolie on the other end that evenly distributes product through the brows with ease. What I also like is that it isn’t too creamy. So if you’re trying to get out of the house ASAP, your brows won’t look messy or uneven. The best part? IT’S ONLY $2!! I’ve always said that price doesn’t dictate quality, and this is the perfect example. It’s affordable AND amazing. What more could you ask for? 2. VOLUM’ EXPRESS® THE MEGA PLUSH® WASHABLE MASCARA ($7.77) Link to product: https://bit.ly/29ShA3H This was the first mascara I ever purchased and though I’ve tried many others since, nothing really compares. This mascara adds great length AND tons of volume. While I wish I could wear those beautiful lashes the YouTubers wear, I can’t get the hang of them. So when I realized that I can get that falsie volume and length with just mascara… let me tell y’all… estaba shook with each use. 3. MILANI ROSE POWDER BLUSH ($9.00) Link to product: https://bit.ly/2ETfY7R This product is another favorite because it’s foolproof. I go H.A.M. when it comes to blush. But no matter how much I apply, I always look perfectly pink and NOT like a payasita. Ohh and I’m not sure about y’all, but if I go through the makeup aisle, and find cute packaging (aka glittery, flowery, etc.), it’s going in my cart. I’m not gonna lie. I bought this blush because it looks like a rose. However, this product really amazes me because it’s cute, affordable, and will make you look even more flawless than you already are! 4. NYC Matte Liquid Eyeliner ($2.99) Link to product: https://bit.ly/2cRLhmy We all know a wing sharp enough to cut a *bleep* takes practice and patience, but it also requires a good product with a good applicator. This brush is thin enough to create the sharpest lines and get into the smallest spaces. Plus, it dries matte and never cracks or peels off like other products. Lemme tell you… there have been a couple of nights where I had wayyyyy too much fun and my eyeliner was still flawless when I woke up the next morning. If that isn’t good liner, then I don’t know what is. 5. MAD FOR MATTE EYESHADOW PALETTE – SUMMER BREEZE ($10) Link to product: https://bit.ly/2OIQu2P This palette is packed with 10 blendable and highly pigmented eyeshadows. For all you beginners out there, I recommend this palette because even though there’s a lot of color payoff, it’s impossible to go overboard. The shadows require slightest effort. I’m telling y’all, it takes me 8.7 seconds to blend my eyeshadow to perfection. Whether you’re a newbie or an experienced beauty, this palette is perfect for traveling, because it’s small and has enough color variation to make many different looks. I promise you, this is a product you won’t regret purchasing.
YAY!!! We made it to the end!
Serina Martinez is a 22-year-old Mexican-American Tucson, AZ native and first-generation graduate from the University of Arizona. She loves listening to music, spending time with family and friends, volunteering, and laughing at her own jokes. She is also starting her journey to a well-rounded lifestyle, which among many aspects of her life, she looks forward to sharing with y’all.
