In my ultimate quest to find the best drugstore cosmetics, I decided to chat with Lauren Iavarone, cosmetic industry guru who owns her own studio, Expert Makeup Artistry in Bergen County, NJ. She has worked with some of the biggies (Urban Decay, Toni and Tina, MAC, Mario Badescu & Too Faced) and was even an educator for both Mario Badescu and Too Faced. She has traveled the world learning as much as she can about the cosmetics industry and it definitely shows - she now teaches, does bridal trials and special occasion makeup all out of her studio. I was so appreciative she was able to take the time to answer my questions and wanted to be sure and share my Q&A with all of you. Enjoy!
Is there any cosmetic product you would absolutely always buy at a drugstore instead of at a department store?
Mascara. There are so many to choose from and their price point cannot be beat. There is a mascara out there for EVERYONE.
Is there any cosmetic product you would absolutely avoid at a drugstore (worth the money to buy at a department store)?
Not necessarily. In all honesty there is nothing at a department store that you cannot get at the cosmetics section of a drug store (TARGET, CVS are best). The average woman is better off going to a drugstore. She just needs to be sure to educate herself on what products are good for her. As someone who started in a department store I made sure to educate myself on everything in the department.
This is a biggie for most women! What is the best way to choose a drugstore foundation to match your skintone?
First I suggest discovering your undertone. Most people are yellow while a slight percentage are red. If someone is "olive toned" they fall into the yellow category. Ultimately you want foundation to DISAPPEAR into your complexion. Is should not be noticeable. That being said in order to choose the correct foundation in a drugstore I suggest either a) going to a drugstore where the testers are readily available OR 2) choose 2 and color match yourself at home. DO NOT use your hand to match the color on, your hands are a different color than your face. Apply it to the left side of your jaw bone and whichever one disappears into your complexion is the one to go with. Also, remember concealer and foundation are 2 different things. Foundation is for your face, concealer on the other hand is to CONCEAL things. For dark circles under the eyes, use a red base. The pinkish red masks out darkness, yellow will turn your undereyes gray. For blemishes use a yellow base, yellow will cancel out the red.
There are so many different foundation formulas on the market - how do you choose one to fit your skin type? Any ingredients to look for or avoid?
Depending on your skin type should determine your formula. First are you DRY, OILY, ACNE PRONE, NORMAL. If you are DRY, a hydrating formula such as a tinted moisturizer is the way to go. Powder formulas are not suitable for DRY skin. The powder sits in the dryness of the skin. Especially mineral powders, as you buff it in, your skin can become more flaky. For OILY skin a good rule of thumb is to first use an oil-free formula and set it with an oil-absorbing powder. Do not use a mainly water-based formula for OILY skin because water and oil do not mix and therefore the foundation will separate from the skin. (Those with) ACNE PRONE skin should speak with their doctor prior to putting anything on the outbreak, however, I suggest a cream to powder compact. ALSO remember to get extra sponges because you do not want bacteria to transfer back on the area of concern.
When choosing lipstick or lipgloss, are there any ingredients you should stay away from? I ask because so many drugstore lipsticks really dry out the lips.
- Lead: is a commonly used lipstick ingredient, but can be very harmful if ingested. It can cause health hazards like infertility, anemia and cancer, as well as learning disabilities, mental retardation and behavioral problems. The FDA has laid strict regulations regarding the use of lead as a lipstick ingredient.
- Coal Tar Derived FD&C Coloring: Pigments used to make red lipstick, especially Red #40, are derived from coal tar. Coal Tar is a toxic mixture, which if ingested, can cause nausea, attention deficit, headaches, skin irritation, etc.
- Carmine: This is a natural food coloring agent which is obtained by the boiling of pigmented beetles, and is known to cause skin irritations and allergies.
- Lake Colors: These are highly toxic, artificial coloring agents that are obtained from carcinogenic sources, and can cause cancer, skin irritation and allergies.
- Fragrance: The fragrance used as a lipstick ingredient can also be harmful, and can cause dry, chapped lips and dermatitis.
Buying blush at a drugstore can be tricky – what’s a good neutral color that would work on most skintones?
The Physicians Formulas are great! Peachy colors are a good go to.
Please give me your fave drugstore product for each category.
Mascara: COVER GIRL LASH BLAST - It does what it says it should. The black is the blackest black! There are several formulas so there is one for everyone.
Foundation:
- LIQUID Revlon Color Stay goes on smooth medium - full coverage, various colors
- MINERAL- MAYBELLINE MINERAL does not goe on powdery, melts into skin
- TINTED NEUTROGENA GLOW SHEERS SPF 30- like a second skin!
Eye Shadow: L'Oreal HIP Bright Duos Shadow - heavy pigments and staying power
Blush: Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Rose Petal - Velvety with a nice finish. It blends right in, is a nice texture to wear and reflects light
Lip Color: Neutrogena MoistureShine Lipstick
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