Late last year, I hauled a little more nail polish—and makeup— than I’d let on here. There’s no real rhyme or reason: I’m just sharing a bunch of cheapies that I picked up and haven’t yet shown to you guys!

ALMAY Lipstick, Lipgloss, Eyeshadow, Eyeliner, and Foundation! Honest to goodness, I cannot remember the last time I purchased any makeup from drugstore stalwart Almay (who, incidentally, are owned by Revlon). The brand just seems so boring, doesn’t it? I did have some Almay nail polishes way back in the 90s—they weren’t very good, but the shimmery nude shades they offered were gorgeous—and I may have tried a random product here and there, but I can’t recall any other specifics. The sole reason I hauled Almay late last year was because my local Shoppers Drug Mart was clearancing the brand! Like, crazy cheap (ahem, for Canada).

• Clear Complexion Makeup (CA$4.25) in 300 Naked
• Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm (CA$2.62) in 950 Truffle Kiss
• Eyeliner Pencil (CA$2.62) in 205 Black
• Intense i-Color All Day Wear Powder Shadows (CA$3.12) in:
  • 105 Everyday Neutrals (Brown Eyes)
  • 125 Party Brights (Brown Eyes)
  • 140 Party Brights (Green Eyes)
• Smart Shade Butter Kiss Lipsticks (CA$2.62) in:
  • 10 Berry (Light) [not pictured]
  • 20 Pink (Light) [not pictured]
  • 30 Nude (Light)
  • 50 Berry (Light/Medium)
  • 60 Pink (Light/Medium)
  • 70 Nude (Light/Medium)
  • 80 Red (Light/Medium)
  • 90 Berry (Medium)
  • 100 Pink (Medium)
  • 110 Nude (Medium)
  • 120 Red (Medium)

I despise the awkward numbering/naming systems they use for the eyeshadow and lipstick. I think this lack of imagination really contributes to Almay’s staid reputation, in my mind—not that this seems to affect the product quality! I’ve been using the Smart Shade Butter Kiss Lipstick in 80 Red (Light-Medium), and even though I’m not into the whole balmy lipstick thing, I think this is a really nice, dummy-proof red lipstick and I prefer it to the comparable Revlon and Maybelline products I’ve tried, which seem waxier to me. I feel like the Almay Butter Kiss Lipstick is just about up there with the Clinique Butter Shine Lipsticks. The Clear Complexion Makeup is also super nice—I think I might actually prefer it to my current favorite drugstore foundation, Revlon Nearly Naked in Nude! 300 Naked is a better skintone match for me, and it has a pump dispenser that the Revlon should really adopt. Ahh, thank goodness this product is still being carried by the Rexall near me. I probably won’t be able to pick it up again for $4 a bottle, though.

MAYBELLINE ExpertWear Eyeshadow Singles in Tastefully Taupe & Earthly Taupe (recommended by Stash Matters); OPI Nail Lacquers in Haven’t the Foggiest, Incognito in Sausalito, and Embarca-Dare Ya! [Maybelline $3 each and OPI $5 each from Sale Event (not affiliated)]

REVLON Nail Enamels in Plum Night, Spidey Sense, and I’m Electro; REVLON Brilliant Strength Nail Enamels in Intrigue, Tantalize, and Enthrall. [$3 each from Sale Event (not affiliated)]

REVLON Chroma Chameleon Nail Enamels in Cobalt, Aquamarine, Tanzanite, Pink Quartz, Rose Gold, and Topaz. [$3 each from Sale Event (not affiliated); Rose Gold is from a previous order]

RIMMEL 60 Seconds Nail Polishes in Glaston-Berry, Tangerine Tent, Oragina, Go Wild-er-ness, Bestival Blue, Mintilicious, Piccasilly Line, and Caramel Cupcake. [$2.87 each from Walmart, except for Mintilicious, which I previously picked up at $2.98 and have already reviewed]

WET N WILD Wild Shine Nail Colors [2015] in Yo Soy, Ready to Propose, D’oh!, Blazed, and Nuclear War. [$1.47 each, on sale at Rexall—cheaper than at Dollarama!]

WET N WILD Wild Shine Nail Colors [2015] in Putting On Airs, Be More Pacific, Black Crème, Who is Ultra Violet?, Grape Minds Think Alike, and Lavender Crème. [$1.47 each, on sale at Rexall—cheaper than at Dollarama!]

I also picked up a small pack of Kozmic Colors (I think that’s the name) nail polishes that I saw at Dollarama. I have no idea if they’re any good, but they were super cheap. I’ve misplaced them, so I guess you’ll probably see them show up as swatches someday, quite randomly…

Have you snagged any steals lately?