Happy Monday! Winter Wonderland Week continues today with a makeup look. To create my festive face, I grabbed some new products to get glam – Duane Reade Holiday shopping is not just for gifts! On an every day basis, I keep my makeup simple and natural, but for the holiday season it’s fun to be a bit more glamorous. If you’re a busy student, a mom on the go, or simply looking to spice up your beauty routine for a holiday party, I have a few tips for you!
My first step was going shopping for some new makeup. I headed to the Duane Reade store at 40 Wall Street here in New York City. If you’ve never been to that Duane Reade location before, definitely stop by. It has a huge beauty department called the Look Boutique, and you can even get a professional manicure right in the store! The photo below is just one section of the Look Boutique! Look at how gorgeous and bright the store is!
I had a difficult time deciding which new makeup products I wanted to purchase for my holiday makeover because there was so much from which to choose. I finally settled on some goodies from the Boots No7 line. This brand is from the UK, and is making its way into Duane Reade stores around the city. The display (shown below) featured testers so I could swatch the colors on my hand before purchasing anything. Let me show you what I picked up from No7!
The first product I picked up is the No7 Lipgloss in Number One History. I’m always hesitant to try a red lipstick, so I thought this lip gloss would be perfect for the holidays and still be in my comfort zone. Plus, the packaging is adorable and was calling my name in the store. As for the formula, it is really nice, and feels creamy on the lips (no stickiness here!). This lipgloss is quite pigmented, so I wore it alone, but you can always layer it over a lipstick if you like. The retail price of the No7 Lipgloss is $9.99.
The next product I picked up was the No7 Natural Blush Tint Powder in Spice. I was sold on this blush as soon as I tried the tester in the store –the formula is so smooth and soft, and is extremely blendable. Spice was also the perfect shade for my skin tone. For just $9.99 I had to pick it up!
The last No7 product I grabbed for my holiday makeover is the Stay Perfect Trio Eye Shadow Palette in Cappuccino. This trio comes with gorgeous neutral and shimmery shadows – a bronze, a silver, and a light highlight shade. Just like the blush, these shadows have a super soft and silky formula. I’m also impressed with how pigmented they are. The shimmer adds a bit of sparkle, which I think is great for the holidays! This trio retails for just $7.99!
I also picked up a new foundation because winter means that my skin is a bit lighter than it was just a few months ago! I’ve heard so many great things about the CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous foundation that I had to pick it up. I got the shade Classic Ivory (or 810 if you use the number system), and it matches my skin quite well. This is definitely a medium to full coverage foundation, and I’m impressed with how flawless my skin looked when I put this on. It’s also an amazing value at just $13.49. This is definitely going to be my new go to foundation!
Here is my completed holiday makeover! As someone who doesn’t wear a lot of makeup on a daily basis, I feel so glammed up! I used all of the products mentioned above, plus the Revlon Grow Luscious Lash Potion in Blackened Brown and Rimmel Stay Matte in Translucent (which can be purchased at Duane Reade as well). For my hair, I just twisted it across my head and secured it with a bow.
All in all, I’m loving my completed look! I used products that are fabulous and affordable, and went a bit outside my every day makeup routine for the special holiday season. If you like, you can spice up this makeup look by adding some eyeliner, darker lipstick, and some bronzer. It’s definitely customizable! These makeup products also make perfect gifts this holiday season, so stop be sure to stop by the 40 Wall Street Duane Reade during your holiday shopping to grab these (and many, many more) cosmetic products. Stay tuned for more holiday posts as Winter Wonderland Week continues tomorrow on Adventures in Polishland!
I shopped for the HeadBlade at the Duane Reade location on Broadway and Houston Street in New York. As soon as I headed to the store’s lower level, I found the section I needed! Let me be honest – I was a bit embarrassed to be shopping for a men’s razor and shaving cream, but I got over that and picked up the items! You can read more about my shopping experience over on my 
I’m happy to report that I had a great shaving experience using both the HeadBlade Razor and the HeadSlick Shave Cream. The razor is so easy to hold because of its rubber finger grips, and it glides easily along the leg thanks to the wheels. I love that the razor’s head is flexible as well, so it moves along the curves of the body to get all that hair. As for the shave cream, I found it had a very good consistency – not too thick, not too runny. It is more of an oily texture, and has no scent (which I really appreciated!). And, to be frank, it was a bit fun using a car to shave my legs!