Drugstore Favorites

 

Drugstore Favorites I’m Actually Loving 💄✨

Hey, crafty friends! 👋 So, we all know the drugstore aisle can be a wild ride… sometimes you hit gold, sometimes you walk away wondering why you even tried. 😅 But lately, I’ve been testing a few new goodies, and y’all—I’m here to spill the tea because some of these are absolute winners. 🏆

1. Mascara That Actually Holds a Curl – Wet ‘n Wild Big Poppa 😍

I’ve tried a bazillion mascaras that promise “all-day curl and volume” and end up giving me spider lashes instead. 🕷️ But Big Poppa? Game changer. My lashes look lifted, full, and natural-ish without the clumps. Bonus: it doesn’t flake on me by lunchtime. 🙌

2. Foundation That Doesn’t Make Me Feel Like a Cake – E.L.F. Tinted Moisturizer 🍰

Full disclosure: I hate feeling like my face is baking in makeup. This tinted moisturizer gives me light coverage that feels like nothing at all—perfect for work, errands, or, you know, crafting marathons. 🎨💁‍♀️

3. Lipstick That Survives Snacks – ColourPop Glowing Lip 💋

Raise your hand if you’ve kissed your drink goodbye because your lipstick ran off at first sip. 🙋‍♀️ Not with this one. It’s creamy, pigmented, and only needs a little touch-up after, say, a burrito. 🌯

4. Affordable Face Masks That Actually Work – Dollar Tree Picks 🧖‍♀️

Self-care doesn’t have to break the bank! These masks hydrate, brighten, and make me feel like a spa queen without emptying my wallet. And yes, I did take a selfie with the sheet mask on. Don’t judge. 😂

5. Eyeshadow Palettes That Don’t Suck – Profusion Cosmetics 🎨

Drugstore eyeshadow? Usually a gamble. These palettes? Not only do the colors pop, but they blend like a dream. Perfect for a soft daytime look or a bold night-out glam. ✨

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💖 Final Thoughts:
Honestly, I love finding gems that don’t cost an arm and a leg. These picks have become my go-to staples, and I genuinely reach for them almost daily.

Have you tried any new drugstore favorites lately? Drop them in the comments—I’m always looking for more affordable treasures! 💌

Stay crafty & fabulous,
—Amanda ✂️💄✨

What I’m Reading + Current Favorites

 Craftin' Wife's Creations Blog

📚 Friday, March 20 – What I’m Reading + Current Favorites

Happy Friday, friends! This week I’m sharing some books that have kept me hooked, whether with suspense, heartfelt moments, or just pure reading joy.

Currently enjoying (or just finished!):

• The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore – Sweet, cozy, and perfect for warm, comforting vibes.
• Found by Dave Musson – A collection of chilling short stories that’ll make you double-check the locks at night.
• Golden Hour by Rachel LaBerge – A touching tale of love, basketball, and life’s messy, beautiful moments.
• Adventures of a Bookworm by Kathleen Brooks – A fun, escapist read for anyone who loves getting lost in stories.
• 11/22/63 by Stephen King – Epic time-travel suspense, history, and twists that keep you glued to the pages.

Current favorites:

• Cozy reading nooks (bonus points if there’s sunlight!).
• A hot drink that feels like a warm hug.
• Discovering little sparks of inspiration—through books, crafts, or everyday moments.

What are you reading this week? I’d love to hear your picks—let’s swap favorites!

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If you want, I can also make a super short, scroll-ready version that’s punchy and full of cozy vibes for your readers. Do you want me to do that?

Better, now make it longer, more like a blog and less blurb.

Absolutely! Let’s expand it into a full, cozy blog post with more personality, anecdotes, and a lifestyle touch, keeping it warm and approachable for your readers:

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Craftin' Wife's Creations Blog
📚 Friday, March 20 – What I’m Reading + Current Favorites

Happy Friday, friends! There’s nothing quite like the feeling of a good book in hand, a cozy spot to sit, and maybe a warm drink nearby. Lately, I’ve been diving into a mix of stories that have kept me entertained, inspired, and sometimes a little spooked—because why not have all the feels in one reading session?

Here’s what’s been on my nightstand:

• The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore – If you’re looking for a cozy, feel-good story, this one is perfect. It’s sweet and heartwarming, the kind of book that makes you wish you could visit the cafe yourself. I found myself imagining the scents of coffee and baked goods as I read, which made me want to have a spontaneous baking session in my kitchen.
• Found by Dave Musson – Okay, full disclosure: this one is a little creepy. A collection of short stories that lean into horror, Found had me checking the door a few times! I love that thrill, though, the way a story can sneak under your skin and linger in your mind long after the last page. It’s the perfect balance of suspense and storytelling that makes you want to keep reading… even when your imagination is begging you to stop.
• Golden Hour by Rachel LaBerge – I adore stories that show life’s messy moments can be beautiful. This one is about love, basketball, and how two people can connect through all the ups and downs. It’s touching and hopeful, and reading it reminded me how important it is to notice the little, everyday moments that bring people together.
• Adventures of a Bookworm by Kathleen Brooks – Sometimes, you just want to escape into a world of stories, and this one delivered. Fun, light, and easy to get lost in, it’s a reminder of why I love reading so much—the joy of diving into someone else’s world and letting it carry you away for a while.
• 11/22/63 by Stephen King – And then, of course, there’s Stephen King. Time travel, suspense, and history all rolled into one epic story. This one grabbed me from the very first page and didn’t let go. It’s long, but worth every chapter, and I loved the way it made me think about choices, history, and how even small actions can ripple through time.

My current favorites, beyond the pages:

• Cozy reading nooks with plenty of light—bonus points if there’s a blanket involved.
• Hot drinks that feel like a hug in a mug (coffee, tea, or cocoa, I’m not picky!).
• Finding inspiration in little things: a scene in a book that sparks a craft idea, or a character’s perspective that makes me pause and think.

Reading has always been my way to slow down, recharge, and dream a little. Whether it’s a spooky short story, a heartwarming romance, or a sprawling historical adventure, I love how each book leaves a little mark on me—sometimes making me laugh, sometimes tugging at my heart, and sometimes keeping me up at night in the best (or worst!) way.

So, tell me—what’s on your nightstand right now? Any books I absolutely need to add to my list? Let’s swap favorites and share a little reading joy today.

<3 Amanda | Craftin' Wife

My Favorite Design Space Projects Right Now

  Hey Y'all,

As I mentioned in the previous blog, I haven't been able to craft with Cricut much here lately, but that doesn't mean I'm not being inspired.

I check out the creativity being shared inside the project section of Design Space often! Here are a few of my favorites:

1) A2 Envelopes, DIY Craft Tutorials

Cardmaking category- I love making cards with the Joy and these envelopes add a bit of fun! 

2) Personalized Pool Float

Vinyl- I like this idea, and can visualize may possibilities on theme vs a name if you frequent a public pool more often. 

3) Mountain Bear Layered Papercraft, Marla Dorman

Paper Craft- Such a cute little guy! I could see this or something similar as wall decor in a kids room, or cabin.

4) Laundry Room Curtains, Athena Dedrick

Iron On/HTV- These are too cute! I love the OG makers use of hiding the mechanical section of her laundry room behind the curtains. 

I could also see a version with different icons in other rooms. Fruits and veggies for example in a kitchen. Space icons in Glow- in-the-Dark Iron On for a kids room, etc.

5) Halloween Stickers, Cricut Social

Stickers- I love love love the pastel Halloween trend! I can picture these on the holographic sticker paper being amazing.

6) Infusible Ink Art Bag, Jen Goode

Infusible Ink- This bag is a cute project that's functional. I could see this being switched up to fit a gift receivers hobby/preference then fill the bag with gifts and bonus no wrapping required!

 

7) Felt Flower Headband, Craftin' Wife

I had to include one of my own! This one is quite simple, but uses a material that's not as common with Cricut crafting.

Have a great day, 

Craftin' Wife

My Favorite Sunscreen Products

 Hey Y'all!

Sunscreen is always important, but especially in Summer- since we're all outside even more. Here are a few of my favorites. Feel free to share yours in the comments below!

Body:

Coppertone Every Tone 50 SPF-

Has no white cast, but definitely has to be rubbed in, the sprayer isn't great. 

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face & Body Stick 70 SPF-

I find it a bit too greasy feeling for face, but it works great for shoulders, neck, ears, etc.

Hair/Scalp:

Sun Bum Scalp & Hair Mist 30 SPF-

A bit of SPF without the greasy feel/look. I don't immediately feel like I need to scrub my scalp/hair with this one.

Lips:

Sun Bum Sunscreen Lip Balm 30 SPF-

Comes in various scents/flavors, doesn't feel like a sunscreen product.

Face:

Sun Bum Face Mist 45 SPF-

Easy to apply, not greasy feeling, pleasant scent, holds up for hours.

Supergoop Daily Dose Bio retinol & Mineral SPF (40)-

A little glowy, but it's a fantastic product.

*Typically I just do one or the other of the above.*

Supergoop Invincible Setting Powder 45 SPF-

Love that it's easy to travel with. Comes contained with it's own dispensing brush. Sweat resistant, helps lock all the other SPF down. (New name & packaging.)

Milani Make It Last Sunscreen Setting Spray 30 SPF-

Does have a bit of a sunscreen smell, but also really has a good makeup setting spray aspect. 

What are some of your favorites?

Let me know in the comments!

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

Makeup I'm Using... and What I Haven't

 Hey Y'all!

I haven't been using much at all lately. But when I have I find I'm gravitating towards a gold eye shadow most often.

Something like this:

Too Faced Chocolate Palette, or Wet 'n Wild Alice in Wonderland shadows.

As far as face, I really haven't been doing any cream products, foundations, etc. I also haven't done much blush, bronzer or highlight recently. What have I done?

A lot of Burt's Bees Lip. like this:

One product I've tried to like, several times:

The Wet 'n Wild Alice Glitter Mascara... it's pretty, but it's also flaky. Not great when it's all over my face. It also tends to get itchy towards the end of the day. 

What are some of your favorite items right now? Let me know in the comments below.

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

Favorite Products Right Now (Hair)

 Hey Y'all!

I didn't plan for my favorites to almost all be sample sized from just two different brands, but that's the case here.

I am currently working through a few shampoos and conditioners. Nothing that's a holy grail product, but from the drug store I'm really liking the Aveeno Scalp Soothing Fresh Greens Blend Shampoo, I like that it's sulfate, paraben, and dye free. Conditioner wise I like  Herbal Essences Argan Oil Conditioner. 

Higher end picks would be NatureLab Tokyo Perfect Shine Clarifying Scalp Scrub, Amika Normcore Signature Shampoo and the corresponding conditioner, as well as Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo & Conditioner. I like this scalp scrub, and it works well, but what's your favorite?

I've yet to really find a hair mask I love. Any suggestions??

Dry shampoo, I don't use often with my hair being this short, but these are my top 2.

Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo is #1. It's been my number one for several years now. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day is a very close second. Both brush through well, smell good, don't leave a white cast, and are about the same price.

The current hair styling products I'm using in favorite(s) order:

#1, 3, and 4 are all Oribe! I just wish it wasn't so pricey!

Featherbalm Weightless Styler is great for an everyday styling cream, to keep things in place without adding much structure, and no stiffness or stickiness. A little goes a long way with this.

Dry Texturizing Spray is for the days I want more. More structure, more texture, more fun.

Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse isn't sticky or "crunchy" like a lot of the mousse products out there, it smells great too. 

#2 is the Amika Fluxxus Touchable Hairspray, I've used it for years. It's not too heavy. but still holds my hair in place. The best hairspray around.

Currently that's about all I use on my hair. Every once in awhile I'll use Davines OI All in One Milk, when my hair's feeling a bit dry, now that it's Spring and I'm out a bit more, I plan to use it more, just for the UV protection. (Is there a (better) hair sunscreen? Let me know in the comments below!)

What are some of your favorite hair care products? Let me know! I'm always looking to try new things.

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

My Favorite Things Right Now

Hey Y'all!

 Some Of My Favorite Things Right Now:

Craft Favorites:

1) Gildan Tees~  An endless assortment of colors, affordable, easy to work with, comfortable, true to size. What's not to love?

2) Craftables vinyl~ I like several others, but this is my favorite place to get vinyl. I'm in love with the glow in the dark, and the UV color changing HTV. This vinyl is insanely easy to weed and adheres like a dream! When I wanted a peach HTV that wasn't pink this is the only place that I could find it. I love that they're super affordable, and the company is in Tennessee! I wish they had a stronger social media presence (y'all hiring??) but they do have a very active private Facebook group, the admin is fantastic, but I don't see the brand posting much.

3)Dorhui Vinyl Scrap Collector~ Prior to this I was using a mini cup, and it wasn't working well. This speeds up the weeding process by leaps and bounds. It just suctions right to my work surface and the petals grip all the scraps. Game Changer!

I really miss this next one, working with just the easy press mini right now is sometimes difficult:

(It's still my favorite though, so highly recommend.)

4) Goldoro Pro 5 in 1 Heat Press(12x15)~ So much more even heat and pressure with a heat press! I love the versatility, and price, of this model.  Much larger work space 12x15, as opposed to my easy press which was 9x9. I needed something larger. It fit nicely in the space where the Cricut Easy Press was. I was afraid a heat press would be too big for the space, but it worked well there, so I know moving forward it should fit with ease.  The only negative I have with this heat press is it doesn't have an auto shut off feature, I'm used to shutting it off when I finish, but if you've relied on an auto shut off before it would take some getting used to.

Makeup Favorites:

I've broken this up into four categories; Makeup, Hair, Skin, & Nails! These are my current favorites in each category, most items are linked if still available.

Makeup:

Face- 

Flower Erase Everything Foundation in UF1. It's like a primer, but better. Like a foundation, but no shade matching required. Walmart says out of stock, and it's not available elsewhere. I was able to find it on the other beauty websites, and places like posh, mercari, etc.

I wish it still existed. I'm on my last one. Any suggestions for a similar product?

Eyes-

Y'all already know. Wet 'n Wild Big Poppa Mascara is my #1 drug store mascara. It lifts, lengthens, darkens, and curls my lashes well. Plus it lasts all day!

Lips-

IF you've seen my collection you know I have a ton of lip products, and I constantly look at what's new. Here lately I've been really loving nude, and drift towards this formula & shade the most... Dose of Colors Liquid Matte Lipstick in Nude Mood. It's the perfect pinky nude for what I'm currently liking. It dries down nicely and isn't sticky, or slippery.

*It's the only pic the website would let me save.*

Travel Product-

I love I.B.Y. Beauty, and enjoy all the products from them I've tried. If you decide to shop the brand use code CraftinWife25 at checkout for 25% off! 

For travel I like the Carry On Face Palette. It has an eyeshadow palette side, and a face quad side featuring blush, bronzer, and highlight. I don't have it with me currently, but previously I always took it with me on trips.

**The influencer program is over, but last I tried the code still works.

Hair~

I still haven't decided what I'm doing with my hair (grow, cut -medium, or short). Currently it's at a length where it will all go into a ponytail! Styling, and shampoo/conditioner wise I'm not really using anything new. It's less wavy and way way thicker than it used to be. Any of the thick haired people have suggestions? Please share in the comments below.

Currently I'm using  all the things (styling wise), until I find something I love.

Also, which style brush should I be using? HELP!

Skin~

Y'all Influenster* had been spoiling me with luxury products and I'm loving them all! Currently I'm still using Charlotte Tilbury  Charlotte's Magic Cream, and it's fantastic. My skin is more hydrated, brighter, and feels firmer after use. It's about 2 uses from empty so any other products that are this great? I need to know!

*Now I never even get a notice for potential freebies from them. I haven't in over a year...

 Nails~

I've done a Nail Polish Collection blog, and rediscovered Fresh Paint Nail Lacquer. Apparently it's available at Five Below, but I don't recall where I got mine from (in the shade Honeydew) and they only appear to have one shade, sold out. So, it looks like I better enjoy that bottle, as it seems near impossible to find. I liked it because the color was vibrant and it held up for TWO WEEKS!

I couldn't find a picture online that wasn't from another persons blog, or pre 2018.

What are your current favorites? Please share below, or tag me in a social media post!

https://linktr.ee/CraftinWife

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

Anything Goes- Friday Beauty Tag (Part 2)

 Hey Y'all,

He's part two of the Beauty Tag Q & A. Questions can be found here! (Maybe... sometimes the link works, sometimes not.)

*The number are off but this is starting at #26, not 21.

21. Do you read labels before you buy cosmetic products? Sometimes, if I'm looking for something with SPF. Otherwise not much.
22. Have you ever experienced any allergic reaction after using a certain product? Not that I recall.
23. Which product made your skin condition worse? Nothing really, other than aggravating a pimple with too much makeup or harsh scrubbing.
24. Will you ever change your night cream? I'm always changing it up, until I find something I really love that's affordable.
25. Which brand of shampoo do you use? Several. I change it up there often too.

21. Do you change your shampoo often? On occasion, for most of the past year I've been using Bath & Body Works, it's been working nicely.
22. How much active ingredients should a product have? As many active ingredients as necessary, how ever not all ingredients are active...
23. Can you read the ingredients of cosmetics? Yes... 
24. Are you comfortable with liquid foundation or powder matte foundation? Either, but am not a fan of truly liquid products.
25. Is there any product that you have been using since your childhood day? The Wet 'n Wild eyeliner I've mentioned before, but don't use it much at all anymore.
26. Which latest trend looks scary to you? No necessarily scary, I just don't get the blush all over the face look. Maybe because my skin has always had a lot of red tones naturally.
27. What’s your definition of beauty? Being true to yourself and comfortable in your own skin.
28. Are you a freaking makeup lover? Obviously.
29. Liquid lipstick or bullet lipstick? Both, but use liquid lipstick far more often.
30. Are you someone who loves to use Ayurvedic products? Never tried them.
31. Which drugstore brand is your fav? Wet 'n Wild, Colourpop..
32. Would you ever try vampire facial? Never heard of it.
33. Which Kardashian sister are you a fan of? Is none an option? Then that.
34. Have you ever bought any Kylie Jenner product? Nope.
35. Which cosmetic brand is amazing yet underrated? IBY, I think because they are small and only release new stuff rarely no one really knows about them.
36. Do you exchange lip products with anyone? Sis and niece..
37. Matte or glossy lippies? Depends, I like both.
38. Are you confident over how you look? Most days.
39. Do you love to try dupe products? I like to try new things, but am never usually impressed by the "dupe".
40. Which makeup mistake people usually make? Choosing the wrong foundation color.. You shouldn't be orange...or grey.

Thanks!

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

Beauty Tag (Part 1)

  Hey Y'all!

There are 202 Questions, so I'm going to do this similar to the other Get to Know Me series, in 25 question sections.

The questions can be found here:

https://wisledge.com/beauty-tag-questions/

As usual, because I fail to pre-plan always, I've not read the questions ahead of time.

Here we go~

1. What’s your current favorite skincare product?  Y'all know, the Dior Eye Serum. Or the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream...
2. Which essential oil do you use the most? None.
3. What’s your favorite hair pack? I don't have one. Any suggestions?
4. Do you love to use hair serum? It's short now, so I don't typically bother with hair serum.
5. How important is sunscreen? Extremely!
6. Which makeup brand is your favorite? I can't help but love Too Faced eyeshadow palettes.
7. Do you love to curl your eyelash? Love too? No, but I like the look, so I do it.
8. How difficult is to draw a Wing liner? For me? Impossible. My niece however, easy peasy.
9. Mascara or a simple eyelash curler? Both. Curl first y'all. Mascara first messes up your lashes, and the curler.
10. What’s your opinion on the world famous Becca Highlighter? Becca is bye bye.
11. Which foundation is your favorite? I don't like heavy, full coverage. Other than that I don't have a favorite.
12. Are you a BB cream, CC cream, or a foundation person? BB or CC.
13. How important do you think baking is for makeup? Not at all.
14. Subtle makeup look or a bold one, which one do you prefer to do your daily look? Depends on what I'm doing/Where I'm going.
15. What’s the trendiest look that you want to try soon? What's on trend? I haven't kept up...
16. Have you ever tried to do the curly eyebrows? Heck no. That was silly looking on everyone.
17. Which is your favorite moisturizer? The Charlotte Tilbury is nice.
18. Serum or moisturizer – what’s your first choice? You should apply serum first if doing both. Typically I just do moisturizer.
19. Do you really feel that primer is necessary before applying moisturizer? No.
20. How important is the skincare regime for you? I should be more scheduled with it.
21. Which cream do you apply at night? The CT.
22. Is it necessary to buy a night cream? They tend to have thicker formulas, and stronger ingredients.
23. What’s your favorite makeup brand? I don't think I have one.(WE did ask this already, which doesn't bode well for the future, if it's already repetitive in the first 25 questions.)
24. Which makeup item you bought first with your pocket money? (Go Grammar!) Pretty sure it was a Wet 'n Wild eyeliner pencil.
25. Which is your favorite perfume? Marc Jacobs, literally any of them.

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

Makeup Swap Out (It Was Past Time For Some New Travel Makeup!)

 Hey Y'all!

While in NE Tennessee this last time, I took the opportunity to swap out all the makeup that travels with me, I was ready to switch things up since I hadn't done it the past few times.

Here's the only picture I took of everything before:

I had purchased the Turtles palette in Ohio, and really like it! That, plus a few other purchases, did put this case at over capacity during this trip, and so I'm taking far less this go 'round.

In retrospect, I should have at least attempted to film this, especially since I haven't posted to my YouTube in several months... I didn't think about that until I finished of course. Maybe soon I'll get something posted over there.

As I was pulling things out- of both the case and my collection- I realized some of these things I'd had a really long time. Thus started my side quest to see exactly how old the things I was questioning were. So, I found an app (free, android) and got to entering batch numbers....

 Most things were okay, but that Benefit Porefessional got tossed immediately! There were a few other very old things, and they too got put in File 13.

File 13 is a euphemism for the trash can. The phrase is especially used in the U.S. military, and is less common outside of the United States.

Once my side quest was complete I returned to choosing "new" makeup to take with me. While I did fill the case, all my brushes fit in here as well, which wasn't true before.

I'm just taking one primer, powder, and setting spray, and a few lip sticks/glosses. I have 3 mascaras open, so I opted to bring them all- the Purple Colourpop, and the two from Creme. I am also bringing more highlight, and blush options, but less eyeshadow.

Far more face palettes this time, but less makeup overall:

Even though I'm not a big singles fan, I threw in these Muppets Colourpop shadows at the last minute:

The case it all fits in, this vintage green hardcase I got a a thrift shop.

It used to hold my Sizzix embossing folders, but they're packed away in the storage unit, and this case was perfect for vanlife makeup!

What's your makeup must have? Share in the comments below!

Mine is a good primer with SPF!

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife