New series: Reader Spotlight

In my ongoing efforts to give back to you, the Nouveau Cheap readers, for making this little community such a great resource for all of us, I've created a new series where I will be interviewing longtime readers. Not only do I want to thank longtime readers for their continued support, but I also think this will be a nice way for all of us to get know each other a bit better!

So for the first edition of Reader Spotlight, I interviewed longtime reader Donna. If you've been reading the comments on this blog for a while, you know that Donna is an invaluable resource when it comes to insights and information, and the tone of her fun, conversational comments always leave me feeling like I'm chatting with a real-life girlfriend over coffee. I love Donna, and I'm delighted to share her interview with you today:

Q. How long have you been reading Nouveau Cheap?

I've been a reader for two years now. Nouveau Cheap is my favorite blog, and even when I wander off because of other obligations and interests, I always come back, and then I have to read everything I missed!

Q. Do you remember how you initially found this blog?

Yes, I had been a stay at home mom for some years, and didn't use much makeup. So when I started working again, I had to start my collection from square one. That is so difficult to do on a budget, because you don't even want to waste a single dollar on a product that doesn't work. I did a Google search for budget makeup and landed at Nouveau Cheap. Your blog was a Godsend! We have similar skin and hair types, so your reviews were incredibly useful for me. And to top it all off, your blog would let me know when and where to get the best deals for the products on my wishlist.

Q. Have you ever purchased a drugstore product because of a review on this blog? If so, how did it work for you?

I could spend hours listing the products that I have bought because of your reviews and sales information! I have also avoided products when they didn't work for you. The only product that "didn't work for me", is your holy grail foundation, the Physicians Formula powder foundation. I put that in quotations only because it may actually work for me, but I feel naked when I use a powder, I am so used to a liquid or cream foundation. So instead I use the PF powder to set my foundation and appreciate the extra SPF and coverage. What I am using and is working out wonderfully is the Covergirl/Olay Tone Rehab foundation, which I bought because of your review. So it's fantastic that you continue to review products, even after you have found your holy grail, so that there are alternatives for your readers.

Q. Name your top five drugstore beauty brands.

Wet n Wild has to top the list! So many great products at a price that can't be beat. I also love all things Revlon and L'Oreal. Milani has to be mentioned since they love duping high end products but at a much more reasonable price, and their blushes are to die for. And for nails, Sally Hansen. I just wish that SH would bring back some of their best loved polishes, like the Magicals, Nail Prisms, and Lacquer Shines. I also didn't find out that many of the products in the Carmindy makeup line are excellent until it was too late. I bought them on clearance. I wish SH had done a better job marketing that line and offering sales and special deals to keep competitive with the many other cosmetic companies that do.

Q. What are some of your Holy Grail drugstore beauty products?

I don't think I have any. I'm too fickle and love to try the next thing that comes around! In fact, I plan on 'cheating on' Tone Rehab when it runs out. I really want to try the Natureluxe foundation since you also gave it high marks. There are certain products that are favorites though, I already mentioned Milani for blushes, those also were purchased after your reviews, by the way.  I adore the Revlon lip butters and the L'Oreal infallible eyeshadows. My favorite mascara is Prestige My Biggest Lashes and I love Maybelline's cream eyeliners.

Q. What's your go-to lip color shade?

Medium anything! lol What I mean is that I look like a corpse when I wear very light shades, and to my eye, dark or super bright colors look odd on me. So while I love to experiment with rosy colors, pinks, reds, plum, coral, anything really, I try to avoid the extremes of pale, neon brights, or dark.

Q. Approximately how many bottles of nail polish do you own?

Oh how embarrassing! At last count, there were over 300 bottles. I haven't counted in nearly a year, so I must have more than 400 by now. This is the one product I go crazy over and it's also one of the most inexpensive makeup products so it's easier to justify in my mind. lol

Q. What was your most recent drugstore beauty purchase?

I bought a L'Oreal infallible eyeshadow in Bottomless Java and a color caresse in Silky Java at CVS today. I must have coffee on my mind!

Q. What are some drugstore beauty products that haven't worked for you (and why)?

The first thing I thought of is Maybelline Great Lash mascara, it's horrendous, and gives me raccoon eyes in about an hour. I have oily eyelids, so there are a lot of mascaras that do this to me, but that one was the worst. I also should avoid mousse or cream foundations. I thought my skin could handle it in the winter when it's drier, but no, I need oil control all year around. I do not like any of the Organix shampoos and conditioners I have tried. They leave my hair dry as straw and totally unmanageable.

Q. If you could create a limited edition drugstore beauty collection, what would it contain?

Nail polishes! I would want a collection of holographic, multichrome, flakies, glass fleck, and glitter polishes in wild shades. No prim and proper pink cremes!

 Q. Would you like to share a picture with us (of you, your makeup stash, a pet, etc.)?

 I am enclosing one of my favorite pictures, it is of me with my husband when we got engaged. We have now been married for 22 years, so it's an old one. My husband is just so adorable in this picture! He still is, most of the time... I also have two sons, and a cat, and we live in New Hampshire.

Thanks so much, Donna, for taking the time to answer these questions and for sharing a bit about yourself. As always, your responses were a joy to read, and I'm so thrilled to have you as part of this community.

Longtime readers: get your answers to the above questions ready, because I'll be coming for you in the weeks and months to come!