Best Drugstore Makeup Releases of 2015

When the Covergirl Star Wars lipstick collection came out in September, every fan girl rushed to the drugstores to grab their own. These lipstick play up fun colors, quality pigmentation, and the year of Star Wars revival. Even if you aren't a Star Wars fan, you'll easily become a fan of these lipsticks.

[caption id="attachment_3518" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Covergirl Star Wars Lipstick Collection[/caption]

Maybelline makes a lot of great eyeshadow palettes, but this totally nude palette really hits the spot. This affordable palette comes with 12 eyeshadow colors, ranging from the palest to darkest. The usual problem with drugstore use palettes is an overwhelming amount of shimmers, but Maybelline knows to play that down in this palette by giving us a fair amount of mattes.

[caption id="attachment_3520" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Maybelline the Nudes eyeshadow palette[/caption]

This last one is not quite drugstore, but are sold at H&M at prices that cannot be beat for its value. H&M had discontinued their makeup line a while back and came in September 2015 with a generous collection that won our heart.

[caption id="attachment_3516" align="aligncenter" width="600"] H&M Beauty Collection[/caption]

What were some of your favorite makeup and beauty products of 2015? Watch out for out post on the most exciting releases to anticipate for 2016!

Sigma Dry'n Shape Tower Review

Sigma Dry'n Shape Tower is Sigma's latest beauty gadget. This makeup brush gadget dries and shapes the densest brushes quickly and efficiently by removing water from the bristles while exclusive, patent-pending SigmaSnap™ technology holds each brush in place.



This Dry'n Shape Tower comes in three different sizes, ranging from $39 to $69:

• Dry’n Shape Tower® Eyes ($39) – Holds up to 48 eye brushes


• Dry’n Shape Tower® Face and Eyes ($49) – Holds up to 24 eye brushes and 20 face brushes


• Dry’n Shape Tower® Full Set ($69) – Two towers hold up to 68 brushes when combined, or 92 brushes when side-by-side

The Sigma Dry'n Shape Tower is available on sigmabeauty.com. You can take 10% off your order and get free shipping and a free gift with the Sigma coupons and deals.





Disclaimer: Handmade Reviews is affiliated with Sigma Beauty. Images are property of Sigma.

Ray-Ban sunglasses: how to spot fakes

The website prettyrb.com (update: now inactive) is an online sunglasses store that boasts the Ray-Ban: genuine since 1937 logo on their storefront. More recently, the website has been advertising Ray-Ban sunglasses on Facebook for the holiday season. We have been getting a lot of questions on the legitimacy of the product this website sells. At less than $20 a pair, people are rushing to buy their holiday gifts without checking the trustworthiness of the sellers!

[caption id="attachment_3467" align="alignright" width="300"] prettyrb.com low prices hint at knock-off Ray Bans[/caption]

We cannot recommend that you purchase from this retailer. The website makes no such disclosure, but the website is based in China, not the United States. While that does not necessarily make the products dupes or knockoffs (China hosts many legitimate Ray Ban resellers), it does bring to question the honesty of the business. For Ray-Ban deals, check your local stores and outlets. Groupon currently has legitimate ones selling at $49.99, which is at least half off the original price.

We ask that readers give us feedback if they have purchased from unknown online retailers before. At this point, we can only assume that this website sells Ray Ban knockoffs. Even at that, we do not know how reliable the product or shipping is.

Be careful with your credit card information this holiday season and stay safe.

Brightening a home with window mirrors

Mirrors give the illusion of a larger space while reflecting light and opening up a room. Window mirrors mimic the look of natural windows, giving your home an airy and open look.

Here are some of our favorite window mirrors this season:

[caption id="attachment_3446" align="alignnone" width="700"] Window-like mirrors via Desire to Inspire[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3447" align="alignnone" width="700"] Primrose and Plum Cream Arched Window Mirror via notonthehighstreet.com (sold out)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3450" align="alignnone" width="668"] full length mirror to open up a spacious room[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3449" align="alignnone" width="570"] Outdoor mirror that mimics window via etsy[/caption]

These types of mirrors can be placed inside or outside as in the last picture!