Revlon Balm Stain vs Jordana Twist and Shine

This post will be a side by side comparison and review of the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Lovesick and the Jordana Twist & Shine Moisturizing Balm Stain in Tropical Frenzy. Clinique introduced us to chubby pencil or or lip crayon with their Chubby Stick. However, they are moisturizing and sheer. Then Revlon introduced their Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains which quickly became favorites due to their bold pigmentation and great staying power. For many, the Just Bitten Balm Stains were the first long wearing product that felt comfortable on the lips. While it's not truly moisturizing, it didn't leave your lips feeling as dry as a desert. 

Many other companies came out with their variation of the chubby pencil, none of them could outlast Revlon. Fast Forward a year and Jordana is bringing us their version, Twist & Shine which also claims to be long wearing. Could Jordana possibly win a place in our hearts?  Truthfully, Jordana was hardly on anyone's radar aside from their Best Lash Extreme Mascara which had caught the attention of some popular YouTubers. However, Jordana is backed by quality as they are owned by the same company as Milani.  

The packaging is similar. Hot pink with silver lettering with the biggest difference being the twist part at the bottom. Revlon chose silver whereas Jordana chose to keep it the same color as the rest of the tube. 

Jordana Tropical Frenzy (top) Revlon Lovesick (bottom)

They do swatch a bit differently with Revlon being a tad darker than the Jordana. Once placed on the lips the color difference is negligible at best. So will Jordana be able to shove it's way into the limelight of comfortably long lasting stains? Let's find out. I applied the Revlon on the left side and I applied Jordana to the right. As you can clearly see the transition is seamless from one side to the next. 

Revlon (L) vs Jordana (R) 1 hour 

When applied to the lips they look and feel quite the same. I don't notice that one feels lighter or has more gloss. It's feels like I am wearing one solid product rather than two different products. After one hour of wear you can clearly see that they seem to be wearing evenly.

Revlon (L) vs Jordana (R) 2 hours 

Again after two hours both sides still appear to be opaque and glossy. It doesn't seem that either side is is wearing more quickly than the other.

Revlon (L) vs Jordana (R) 3 hours 

I will admit that between hour 2 and 3 I ate some pasta and garlic bread. As you can see it has lost some of it's gloss and it's worn off a bit on the inside. However, both sides are still wearing equally well.

Revlon (L) vs Jordana (R) 4 hours

Again, it's clear that both sides are wearing equally well and the stain is still quite evident. I am honestly surprised that Jordana is hanging tight with Revlon.

Revlon (L) vs Jordana (R) 6 hours 

 After six hours I think it's safe to say that Revlon and Jordana wear equally well. They both have great  staying power, provide great color and feel nice on the lips. The are two main differences between the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain and the Jordana Twist and Shine Moisturizing Balm Stain. The first of which is that Revlon offers 12 shades and Jordana offers 8 shades. The second is the price. Revlon costs $8.99 at several drugstores. Jordana is cheaper priced at $2.99 and is available only at Walgreens.

Not all of these are mine. My sister allowed me to borrow some of hers for a photo shoot and swatch fest. I will say that of all of these colors the one matte is Tarte Envy. I would also say that between Revlon Sweetheart and Lovesick and Jordana Sweet Pink and Tropical Frenzy there is no need to have all four. They are all so similar that it's just a waste to have all of them.

Although not tested in this experiment I find that the Tarte Lipsurgence wear as well as the Revlon and the Jordana; but, I don't find that Tarte wears any longer than the other two. Tarte retails for $24.00 each. So unless you are looking for a matte formula there is no reason that I can think of to splurge for Tarte unless it's just something you truly want. 

Wrap Up Shop My Stash September

Shop My Stash September was a month long event designed to help me dig those products out of the back of my drawers and reacquaint myself with them once again. The premise was easy to follow and I really enjoyed challenging myself to use these products. Each week I was to pick three items from a different category and commit myself to using them. The weeks were categorized as follows: 

Week One - 3 Face Products

Primer, Foundation, Powder, Bronzer, Blush or Anything for the Face

Week Two - 3 Eye Products

Eye Primer, Mascara, Eyeliner, Eye Shadow, Brow Kit or Anything for the Eyes

Week Three - 3 Lip Products

Lipstick, Lip Gloss, Lip Liner or Anything for the Lips

Week Four - 3 Beauty Products
Your Choice or Any Beauty Products You Wish

So here are the highlights and the lowlights of Shop My Stash September. 

MAC Breezy blush I love this blush. It's a shame that I had put it away. It's a gorgeous, rich rose with a beautiful plum sheen to it. It is absolutely perfect for this time of year. I have officially fallen in love with this blush all over again. 

This setting powder by Mirabella has a fair amount of glitter, not shimmer, glitter. It doesn't feel silky smooth and it's just not the right powder for me. I much prefer the ELF High Definition Powder. Mirabella will get passed along to someone else who will love her more than I do. 

These MAC pigments are so beautiful. I realize that it can be a hassle to apply pigments; but, when I use Koren's Mixing Medium they go on beautifully and stay all day. These are no longer going into the cavernous abyss in the back of the drawer. They are staying front and center! 

ELF Plumping Lip Gloss just doesn't work for me. Thankfully I bought them at 50% off so they were only $0.50 each. So I am just going to retire them permanently. The plumping side doesn't do anything to plump and I can't stand the taste. The gloss side is so small that it takes 3 or 4 dips back into the tube to get enough product to cover my lips. 

The darker 'Brow 2' color in the Milani Brow Fix is a fantastic match for my new darker hair and I prefer powder over a brow pencil. This little gem is now getting daily use. Plus I love that it comes with tweezers for managing those stray hairs and these are quality tweezers only smaller. 

What Shop My Stash September really did was to get me out of my habit of reaching for only the newer products in my collection. It taught me that I have some really great items in my collection which I should be using. It also reminded me that if I don't love something I should just move it out of my collection. I should not be hanging onto things that just don't work for me. The greatest thing I truly learned is to get out of my comfort zone and try new things which I did. I am pleased to report that I am enjoying wearing bolder lip colors. I have yet to wear purple as I am not sure I can pull it off; but Cella from For the Love of Beauty is encouraging me to try it. New goal for October, try purple lipstick. 

The Autumn Tag

My oh so adorable blogger friend, Jackie from Five Two Certified, tagged me for the Autumn Tag! I truly enjoy reading Jackie's beauty adventures with great posts that are clear and concise. She's absolutely gorgeous and I am so blessed to be getting to know her through the magic that is the internet. This is where I will also admit that another reason I adore Jackie is that she is also Filipino, like my darling husband.

Favorite Thing About Autumn

Cooler weather after a hot summer, I love we have four distinct seasons

Football games snuggled up under a blanket

Big pots of homemade soup or beans

Of course, the leaves changing color especially in eastern Oklahoma

Source:TravelOK

Favorite Drink

Coconut Chai Green Tea
Hot Spiced Cider

Favorite Scent/ Candle

Spiced Cider
Fall Berries like Cranberry or Mulberry
Cinnamon, Cloves and Nutmeg

Best Lipstick

Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Crush
Tarte Lipsurgence in Moody
But those that know me realize this is a stretch! I'm usually a nude girl.

Go-to Moisturizer

Currently testing out Eclos Regenerative Cream
otherwise L'Oreal Revitalift Day Cream

Favorite Go-to Color for the Eyes

Rich plums like L'Oreal Infallible Smoldering Plum
Deep Reds like MAC Cranberry
Both look great paired with a neutral like MAC Satin Taupe

Favorite Music to listen to
Boyce Avenue, a cover band that do soulful renditions of top 40
They are also family friendly for little ears 

But I also listen to Train, Lady Gaga, Norah Jones, Jason Mraz, Edwin McCain, Bowling for Soup, MIKA, Christina Perri, Sara Barielles.
Ok, I admit it .... I'm all over the place muscially

Favorite Outfit to Wear

Layers! Plenty of layers! Jackets, light scarves, leggings with shorter skirts, boots.
In Oklahoma you could need the heater in the morning and the AC in the afternoon.

Autum Treat

Pecan Pie, the old fashioned Karo syrup recipe with fresh local pecans!

Favorite Place to Be

It's a toss up between
My back patio

and Lake Eufaula

I am Tagging
Saffron from Saffy Style
Cella from For the Love of Beauty
Louise from Kinder Health and Beauty
Shannel from A Little Over Thirty

Erica from Reviews Until You Drop
Crazi-About-Beauty

What If You Got Sick and Everything Changed?

Imagine you woke up tomorrow and everything you knew about your average life had changed. When you woke, you discovered you were in pain, dizzy and couldn't think clearly. You take it easy for a few days hoping that things will get better; but, they don't. You discover you have some rare brain condition that requires brain surgery. After a bit to prepare, you have brain surgery hoping to finally be rid of these crazy symptoms. Once you heal from surgery, you realize that you have not been cured. Actually, it's quite the opposite. You are now worse.

Welcome to my life. I am not seeking your sympathy. I am not looking for pity. I merely want you to understand a bit more about what it's like to live with a chronic, invisible illness. This post will explain some of the weirder symptoms I cope with on a daily basis. I hope you finish this post with a smile on your face, a deeper understanding of chronic illness, and a greater appreciation for your health. 

TROUBLESOME TASKS:

As a general rule, you wash your hands after using the toilet. Imagine you get confused while washing your hands and when your done instead of turning off the water you turn off the lights. You stand there wondering why the water is running and why you're in the dark. Let's not forget the time the you put the milk in the pantry and the Cheerios in the fridge after making a bowl of cereal. How many times now have you made yourself a bowl of ice cream or a glass of tea only to watch it slip out of your hand. It falls to the floor with a loud crash and you haven't the slightest idea of what just happened. Then there was the time that you brushed your teeth and spit on the floor instead of the sink. You then sat there wondering who was going to clean that up. Just another day in your life.

SLEEP:

We've all had that dream where we fall off of something really high and we wake with a start before hitting the ground. Imagine waking with a start, thinking your going to die without the dream. You try to collect your wits; but, that feeling does not immediately dissipate. As a matter of fact, your thoughts are still racing, you want to crawl out of your own skin and you can't slow anything down. You just want to it to stop. Hopefully, you could just run away from yourself; but, you'd settle for death because it would end this waking nightmare. Welcome to a sleep related panic attack. Your one of the lucky ones, you're blessed with 2 or 3 of these a week. 

Then there are the nights that you can't sleep at all. You're exhausted; yet, you can't sleep? You can feel the anxiety beginning to creep up inside you like little insects making their way from your feet to your brain. You try reading, watching tv, watching boring documentaries, taking a cold shower or a warm bath or anything else you can think of just to avoid the panic. Nothing works. On a good night you avoid the panic but get not one wink of sleep. Other nights it's a repeat of the paragraph above.   

FOOD: 

Imagine you've scheduled a dinner date with friends weeks in advance at an upscale restaurant. You get seated at the table the waiter brings the drinks and a few rolls which you enjoy. After the waiter has taken your order and you are enjoying pleasant conversation when out of the blue you begin visibly shaking uncontrollably. You now find that everything is confusing. You realize your in a restaurant but your not sure of anything else. The waiter returns to find your shaking and generally looking terrified. You are unable to eat but you are able to allow your friends to eat while you continue to visibly shake. Yep, you've now become the perfect dinner date. 

GOING OUT:

You've planned on going to the mall with your girlfriends for a couple of days now. Even though you're not feeling your best, you decide getting out and meeting your friends at the mall will do you some good. You're struggling a bit but you're enjoying the afternoon with your friends. You're walking through the mall when suddenly you pass out cold. Yep, that's you laid out in the middle of the mall on the cold tile floor. You come around after about 30 seconds or so but it's been long enough to cause a scene. You look around to realize your friends are all completely freaked out and the ambulance is on its way. Great shopping trip, enjoy the embarrassment.

WEEKEND GETAWAYS:

You and your friends have decided to go to a neighboring town where your meeting up with more friends for a film festival, an art exhibit or music festival. Your set to leave tomorrow afternoon, your bags are packed and you are anxious to get out of town for some fun. You wake that next morning to discover you have a raging migraine. One of the worst you have ever experienced. The medications you normally take fail you. While your friends are leaving town for a great weekend, you are sitting in the ER waiting room desperately seeking Dr. Kevorkian. 

DATE NIGHT:

This really cute guy has taken you to a lovely and medically uneventful dinner. Then you settle into your seats at the theater to see the latest box office smash hit. He reaches over to hold your hand and you smile to yourself thinking what a great guy he is. After a bit, the nerves in your arm begin acting up. You know it's not real; but, it feels like there are bugs crawling up and down your arms. You begin to twitch just enough that he begins to wonder if holding hands is making you uncomfortable. This sensation continues to get stronger and continue up your arm to your neck. Once it reaches the bottom of your head your whole body twitches and you let out a loud grunt. The entire theater turns to look at you. "Hi everyone. Just me and my crazy neuro condition." 

THE BIG CONCERT:

You've been anxiously awaiting the concert for months. You've heard that the singer gives an amazing performance and you can't wait to see it all from the third row. The lame opening act has finished their performance and they have brought the house lights up for a short intermission before the big act. Suddenly, you head begins pounding and you know that you have to do something to avoid the ER after the concert. Luckily your doctor has prescribed you these fantastic shots that are aces at relieving major migraines. There's just one problem, you don't want to miss one second of the concert. Instead you decide to have your friend give you a shot in the ass right there in your third row seat where everyone in the theater will have a bird's eye view of your ass. She pulls out the needle just in time for the curtain to rise. 

All of these are situations which I have experienced as a result of my condition, Chiari Malformation. These stories are endless and will continue you until my body finally gives out. I'm exhausted from dealing with these constant idiosyncrasies. The thing that you have to remember about a chronic illness is that it's, well, chronic. It never goes away and you never get a vacation from it. This is going to sound harsh; but sometimes I'm jealous of other diseases such as cancer. Most cancer patients either go into remission or, sadly, they pass away. Either way, there is a definitive end to the condition.  No matter the length of my life I will live with this condition. I will live with all these frustrations, irritations, confusions and abnormalities. Now, I'm not saying that I wish I was dead or that I feel cheated out of a normal life. I've learned a lot from being sick. I know more about how to live happily than most healthy people even realize. I just hope that the next time your having a rough day stop for a second to be grateful. Your bad day will pass soon enough and your life will return to it's healthy and blissfully unaware state of grace. While your bucket list reads like a wild adventure, my bucket list is full of things I can never accomplish for fear that doing those things will make me kick the 'bucket.' I'm not sour about the things I can't do, I just live my life by a set of rules that's a lot more complicated than you can imagine. Please, I'm asking that you take a few moments to really appreciate the ease with which your health allows you to enjoy your life. The next time your out with friends having a drink, raise a glass to me (even silently) for I've just shown you the true meaning of gratitude for a live well lived. 

Week 4 Shop My Stash September

Shop My Stash Week 3 update can be found at the bottom of this post.

In the first week we used face products, the second week was eye products, the third week was lips and the forth and final week can be any products you choose. I have decided to go for the gusto and choose 6 products from my collection that have not been getting any love. 

The first item I have chosen is the Milani Brow Fix Brow Kit. Lately I have been using a pencil; but I really think I prefer powder. I love that this kit has two shades as I have dyed my hair a darker color since fall is quickly approaching. Now that my hair is darker I will be using the darker shade of powder in this kit. The highlight shade in this kit is absolutely beautiful! This kit comes with a sponge tipped applicator, an angled brush and a pair of tweezers. While these tools are small they are actually really good! 

Some how this ELF powder blush in mellow wine just hasn't been getting any attention. It's been sitting in my collection waiting patiently. It's a beautiful color which is perfect for transitioning into fall. If you have never tried any ELF blushes, you should. They are actually quite good. If you are looking to try a color that you're not really comfortable with ELF is a great way to give it a go without breaking the bank. 

Last year I found a few Philosophy makeup items at Big Lots for only three dollars each. One of the items I bought is a beautiful highlighter that looks pink in the pan but looks almost white on the skin. Now, since I am so fair it is hard to photograph but it looks fantastic on the skin. 

This Physician's Formula Plump Palette comes with four glosses this handy compact. I will admit that I am not fond of pot style glosses which is why this palette gets very little attention. These colors are perfect for fall so I am going to grab my retractable lip brush and start using this palette.

This Laura Geller Dream Creams Lip Palette in Apricot Berry is a fun palette with gorgeous colors that are perfect for this time of year. The product in this palette is more of a shiny lipstick than a gloss. I normally fill my lips in with a lipliner then put this over the top to increase the wear time. The shades are absolutely stunning and it feels smooth and creamy on the lips. 

The final item is the MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base. There is just the slightest bit left and then I will have six empties to take back to MAC in order to receive a free lipstick. We only have an in-store counter rather than a freestanding store so I don't have the option to get any except a lipstick. I'm not complaining, I will gladly accept a free lipstick. I like the MAC Prep + Prime but it's not my favorite primer which is why it's sitting unused in my collection. 

Now, onto my Week 3 update! In the picture on the left I am wearing the Jordana lipliner in Tawny, Milani Plumrose and one of the ELF glosses. I have discovered that I really do not like this formula of the ELF glosses. I managed to wear them all week but I won't be wearing them again. The plumping side of the gloss just doesn't work for me and the gloss side isn't my cup of tea either. First thing, you have to dip into the gloss three times to get enough product to put on your lips and they aren't shiny which is why I like to wear gloss. So these guys will be retired permanently. 

Look Ma, I did it! In the middle picture, I am wearing the tinted lip balm from Cailyn that I received in my September Ipsy bag. Since my hair is a bit darker I am more comfortable wearing brighter colors. This is honestly the first red I have ever worn that doesn't pull either pink or orange. This shade appears as a true red on me. Forgive the quality of that photo it was taken with my phone. In the photo on the right I am wearing the new Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Anarchy. I am pleasantly surprised. I am actually comfortable wearing this bright pink! I can't believe I am finally wearing big girl lipstick and I'm really enjoying it!

Rimmel Scandaleyes VS Jordana 12 Hr Made to Last

This post is going to be head to head showdown between the Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner and the Jordana 12 Hr Made to Last Liquid Eye Liner Pencil. I had heard such great things about the Rimmel Scandaleyes that I was inspired to purchase a few even though I typically don't wear pencil eyeliner as I have weepy eyes. The colors are stunning and I kept hearing how when they set they don't budge.

I had gotten adventurous enough to wear the darker shades on my upper lashline and to wear the nude shade on my water line. I was pleasantly surprised that Rimmel performed really well on my upper lash line and I really enjoy the way the nude one looks on my water line. 

Then one day I stumbled across the Jordana 12 Hr Made to Last Liner. I figured for $2.49 even it was a mess that slides all over my eyes, it wouldn't be much of a loss. 

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the Jordana liner didn't slide around. Again I just put it on my upper lash line. I wasn't quite ready to commit to going out in public with it on my upper and lower waterline. I know my eyes all too well.

One day when I didn't have to go to work, so I decided to put the Rimmel and the Jordana liners to the test. I wanted to see which one of the two performed better than the other. 

Jordana 12Hr VS Rimmel Scandaleyes

First and foremost, I wanted to make sure that they both had super black pigmentation. As you can clearly see both liners are equally dark black. 

No Liner and No Mascara

Jordana (left) vs Rimmel (right) on the upper & lower lashline

Both liners slide on easily and are very creamy. So far the two liners are completely tied. They are both super dark and easy to apply. 

Jordana (left) vs Rimmel (right) on my upper and lower waterline

Lining my upper and lower waterline looks and feels heavy to me. Since I have such weepy eyes I never line my upper and lower waterline. I know it will become a huge mess within hours. 

Jordana (left) vs Rimmel (right) after 1 Hour

So far so good. Both are doing equally well both on the lash line and the waterline. I am pleasantly surprised that as of now nothing as has slid around. I will admit that I am surprised. with most liners (including super poplular high end liners like MAC and Urban Decay) they have slid around or just left altogether within 15 minutes. 

Jordana (left) vs Rimmel (right) after 2 Hours

And there it is!!!! I'm surprised that it took two hours. Now you can clearly see why I don't use anything that isn't cement as eyeliner. I have yet to find any pencil that does not move around on my eyes. You can also see that there is some transfer from my top lash line onto my eyelid. While the Rimmel pencil obviously took a walk the Jordana one is doing really well. 

Jordana (left) vs Rimmel (right) after 3 Hours

I did a quick clean up of the Rimmel underneath my eye and the transfer on both eyelids.  You can see that the Rimmel is starting to disappear on the outside of my waterline. While the Jordana is still going strong. 

Jordana (left) vs Rimmel (right) after 5 Hours

The Rimmel has once again starting transferring from my top lash line to my eyelid. You can also see that the Rimmel is almost completely gone from my waterline. The Jordana, on the other hand, has just started leaving from the outside corner of my eye. 

While lining my waterline with a color other than nude will never be something I do on a regular basis, I can clearly say that I would only use the Jordana. This experiment clearly shows that for my eyes Jordana is the clear winner. Now from what I understand Milani and Jordana are made by the same company. I expected to them both to perform equally. I can honestly say that I am truly impressed by the staying power of the Jordana liner. I am shocked that one of the cheapest pencil liners on the market out performs even high end pencils. 

Top 10 Under $10 Plus Top 5 Under $5

MAKEUP EDITION
I absolutely love reading 10 Under $10 and 5 Under $5 blog posts; as well, as watching videos. So it really got me to thinking about what my choices would be. I decided to post them both together but then do four different categories. I figured I would start with makeup; then, work my way through skin care, hair and nail products. Even though I love to coupon for beauty products all the prices listed below are full price from CVS.com, Walgreens.com or CherryCulture.com.  These are in no particular order other than the order in which my brain thought of them.

Top 10 Under $10

1. Maybelline Color Tattoos - $6.99

These little guys are dual purpose gems. They are fantastic eyeshadow bases, as well as, stand alone eye shadows. They are so creamy, blend easily and come in a wide array of shades. The shades swatched are Too Cool and Inked in Pink. I didn't swatch Barely Branded because it's hanging around as backup to my MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study. 

2. L'Oreal True Match Crayon Concealer - $8.99

This fancy little crayon is the most convenient way to carry concealer with you in your purse. It's a twist up crayon of super blendable full coverage concealer. To the right of the heavy swatch in the photo above you can clearly see that shade W1-2-3 is a perfect match for my super fair skin. 

3. CoverGirl Clump Crusher Extensions - $8.99

This is easily my favorite drug store mascara. You can find my full review and comparison against the original formula here. The brush does a great job of separating lashes and preventing clumps while the formula that's not too wet or not too dry does a nice job of holding a curl. The new 'Extensions' formula does a great job of extending lashes. 

4. Milani Color Statment Lipsticks - $5.49

These lipsticks provide full on color and perform like a high end lipstick at a phenomenal price. Milani Color Statment Lipsticks offer a wide range of shades suitable for all skin tones. You can read my review here. The formula is creamy and smooth while the color is completely opaque. These are definitely one of the best bargains at the drugstore! 

5. ELF Mineral Lipsticks - $5.00

The ELF Mineral Lipsticks are creamy, smooth, moisturizing and so comfortable on the lips. The color isn't completely opaque but they are buildable to provide great coverage. I love the creaminess of these lipsticks and with 18 shades there is something for everyone. 

6. Milani Infinite Liquid Eyeliner - $7.99

This liquid eyeliner is absolutely budge proof which is perfect for my weepy eyes. If you need eyeliner that stays put all day and provides bold color, Milani Infinite Liquid Eye Liner will not fail. Available in five stunning shades. This is an absolute must in my makeup collection. 

7. NYX Blush - $5.50

EEK! The dangers of being a beauty blogger. I was photographing this blush when a gust of wind came along causing this fantastic blush to go flying, breaking off a corner. The NYX Blushes are creamy and soft for a powder blush. They provide fantastic pigmentation at an amazing price. They offer a wide selection of colors, offering something for every skin tone. 

8. ELF Cream Blush - $6.00

The ELF Cream Blushes aren't creamy in the traditional sense of the word. They feel more like playdough but they provide excellent color payoff. To be completely honest, I am not really great at applying cream blush but this is more of a cream-to-powder formula which applies easily and evenly with a stipple brush. These are perfect for layering under powder blush to increase the vibrancy or staying power of weaker blushes. ELF frequently offers 50% sales making these guys an absolute steal at $3.00 each. 

9. Revlon Colorstay Creme Eyeliner - $9.99

This is at the top end of the 'under $10' but it's definitely worth it. I love the creamy formula of this ultra black eyeliner. It's easy to apply and it wears all day. This formula seems to stay soft and moist for the duration of it's shelf life. While I am not overly fond of the built in brush, the eyeliner is absolutely amazing. 

10. Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss - $7.99

The Revlon Super Lustrous glosses are super shiny and smooth. They look great over the top of any lipstick. They wear well on their own too. They come in fantastic colors and naturally I am drawn to the nude shades. These glosses feel great and aren't too sticky.

Top 5 Under $5

Yes, there are actually 10. I figured why stop at just 5 when I could easily find 10.

1. Jordana 12 hr Liquid Eye Liner Pencil - $2.49

I don't normally wear pencil eye liner due to the weepy nature of my eyes; however, this is one that I will wear. This is the only pencil with which I will line my water line or tight line. This is easily the longest wearing pencil on my terribly fussy eyes. Although it comes in 6 shades, I currently only have black. At such a bargain price I really need to go pick up the other colors. 

2. Jordana Twist & Shine - $2.99

These gems pushed my beloved Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains right off the 10 under $10 list. The Jordana Twist & Shine are full on color with gloss and stain built right in. I put them to a side by side comparison and Jordana came out on top. I will be posting the full review and comparison soon on my blog.

3. WnW Eyeshadow Pallettes - $2.99 to $4.99

This list would simply not be complete without Wet n Wild eyeshadow palettes. These shadows are creamy, buttery and packed with color. These shadows would put up a good fight against any shadow at any price. Matte shadows can be a bit challenging and often either lack pigmentation or have plenty of fall out. The Wet n Wild matte shades provide opaque color with minimal fall out.  

4. NYX Eyeshadow Singles - $4.50

NYX offers a vast shade selection in a variety of shades. They offer plenty of unique shades that are sure to please everyone. While I own a few NYX palettes I much prefer their single shadows as they seem to be more pigmented. They blend easily and have amazing color choices. 

5. ELF Matte Lip Color - $3.00

The ELF Matte Lip Color could easily be considered one of the most underrated beauty products. I rarely hear anyone singing their praises. They are absolutely amazing. For a 'matte' formula they are not drying and remain creamy and smooth. Plus, they smell and taste divine. This could easily be my favorite ELF product. 

6. NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder - $2.99

This bronzer is a cult classic for good reason. It's a matte bronzer which works well for a lot of different skin tones. It works well as an all over bronzer; as well as, a contour on my fair skin. This bronzer contains absolutely no shimmer and has no fall out. It's a fantastic bronzer at any price. 

7. Rimmel Show Offs - $4.99

The Rimmel Show Offs are an extremely pigmented lip lacquer. The doe foot applicator has a reservoir which contains the perfect amount of product to deliver opaque coverage with one swipe. These colors are rich, saturated colors with a shiny, glossy finish  

8. Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - $4.99

The Rimmel Stay Matte powder is a silky powder offering just the right amount of covering. It's not too sheer or too opaque. For the price there isn't a better powder on the market. While it's a matte powder it doesn't leave your face chalky or flat. 

9. ELF Eyeshadow Primer - $1.00

This is truly a bargain! For only $1.00 the ELF Eyelid Primer does a great job of helping your eyeshadow last without creasing or fading. The tinted matte formula provides a smooth, even surface upon which you can create any eyeshadow look you desire. For those on a budget this primer is a must in your collection. 

10. ELF Essential Lipstick -  $1.00

ELF has done it again. This isn't a case of for a buck you can't find a better lipstick. This is a great lipstick at any price. Classy is a great dupe of MAC's Angel. To be completely honest, I prefer the ELF lipstick over MAC. I find the ELF one to have a tad more pigmentation and it's creamier and smoother. 

There you have it for $5.00 and $10.00 these are the items that will always have a home in my cosmetic collection.  Now, I realize that not all of these products will work for everyone; but, they are definitely worth trying since they won't break the bank.  Hopefully, I have intrigued you enough to try something that you would probably have passed over before. So what would your top 10 under $10 and your top 5 under $5 include?