The Sartorial Diaries: July 2012

Adore Dior? Mad about MAC? Beauty mavens who love ‘em are loyal to the brands’ theatrics and ability to transform a look from basic to bold. Though designer beauty products are a bit more accessible than their fashion counterparts, they can still break bank when you have to replace them every few months. The good news is, you can paint your face with affordable drugstore options and still create the dreamy, dramatic Dior or MAC effect.

DiorShow mascara is a cult favorite among the celeb set. Renowned for its ability to lengthen and condition, DiorShow offers falsies in a tube without the glue or the aggravation. Sound too good to be true? The average price for DiorShow mascara is $24.40, which can be steep for a tube you’re going to have to toss after a couple of months. A more affordable option for beauty addicts who crave the same results without cramping their cash flow is Maybelline Great Lash mascara. A beauty veteran, Great Lash has been thickening and lengthening lashes for over 35 years. Easily identifiable with its iconic pink tube and green cap, it costs only $5.00 and is sold at most drugstores. Actress Kate Beckinsale divulged to InStyle that Great Lash in Very Black is her must-have beauty buy because it doesn’t flake, cake and is “really cheap and you can get it anywhere.” With endless designer beauty products at her disposal, the fact that the Brit beauty chooses a drug store bargain makes her seem just a little more human.

Dior’s Crayon Eyeliner is a fan favorite for its ability to linger on lids. Precise, waterproof and easy to use, the product is a beauty no-brainer if you have the bucks. An affordable option that counts actress AnnaSophia Robb as a fan is Revlon’s ColorStay Eyeliner. Versatile and inexpensive, the liner glides along lids easily and can be layered to up the dramatics. Robb told Seventeen she applies the cheap find in the morning to look fresh and smudges the liner at night with a cotton swab to achieve a smoky eye.

Makeup aficionados love the confident and cheeky lineup in MAC’s beauty boudoir. The eye shadows’ rich pigments and smooth finishes are undeniable, but can cost a pretty penny to the price conscious consumer. L’Oreal HiP Studio Secrets Professional Bright Duos contends with MAC’s assorted shadows when it comes to quality and pigment, and at $7.99, all of you shadow junkies can stock up. Available in ten different cheekily named duo shades, HiP offers crease protection and easily contours and blends for a MAC worthy look.

MAC’s creamy blushes are a hit for the just-got-back-from-the-beach dewy finish they lend to faces. For a blush that has similar coverage and imparts that natural MAC flush, try CoverGirl TruCheeks. Makeup artist Craig Beaglehole tested the bargain drugstore find ($5.99!) on clients for a week and found that the blush trio worked great for highlighting and contouring cheekbones.

Head to your favorite drugstore locale with an image of the look you’re going for and an open mind. Whether you’re a Target gal or a CVS chick, you’ll be sure to find a few drugstore delights that will tickle your fancy without spending a fortune.

Brit beauty and model-turned-actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has graced magazine covers and red carpets in glamorous designer duds, but it’s her off-duty airport looks that have us wishing she’d take off more often. Always effortlessly casual and cool, Rosie’s arsenal of airport essentials usually includes a fitted leather jacket, distressed denim, an oversized scarf and a statement tote. Never one to disappoint, Rosie is ready to take flight in yet another airport-ready ensemble in a black motorcycle jacket, basic grey tee, a printed scarf and perfectly worn-in, whiskered and cuffed boyfriend jeans. We love that she grounds her look with comfortable chain-strap Yosi Samra flats, a large slouchy tote and oversized aviators. Get inspired and shop my picks to channel Rosie’s casual chic look for your own off-duty days.