Beauty Low-Buy Update: Month Two

Well…I’m pretty much sucking at this whole low-buy thing.  You’d think, a gal who could give up buying cosmetics altogether during Lent last year could do a silly low-buy that consequently enables her to ALSO buy up to 5 nail polish a month and 3 LE items per season?  Er, no.  Seems I can’t.  I am simply struggling to finish enough products in order to justify the amount I’ve purchased!!  I tell you, it’s becoming impossible.  There are just too many awesome products out there, it’s *sooo* not my fault!~Boo Hoo~ Enough with the whining I guess…you want to see the damage, I take it?  Check out what I bought/swapped for in the last month (reviews for products will be eventually forthcoming):

1) Olay Foaming Face Wash Sensitive Skin (bought)

2) Neutrogena Moisture Oil Free Sensitive Skin (bought)

3) Le Metier de Beaute True Color Eyeshadow in Corinthian (bought)

4) Milani Liquif’Eye Metallic Eye Liner Pencil in Aqua (bought)

5) Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation in Warm Beige (bought)

6) Laura Mercier Full-Blown Volume Mascara (bought)

6) MAC Refined Golden bronzer (swapped for*)

7) MAC Pigment in Melon (swapped for*)

8) Bobbi Brown Shimmerbrick in Nectar (swapped for*)

9) Estee Lauder Illuminating Powder Gelee in Shimmering Sands (LE) (bought)

10) Zoya Cho (bought)

11) Nfu-Oh #51 (bought)

12) Nfu-Oh Aqua Base (bought)

*For the swapped items, I exchanged for my MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot, MAC Electra and Strike a Pose eyeshadows, Urban Decay Zero 24/7 eyeliner, the Fyrinnae Shinkirou eyeshadow, and a Marc Jacobs perfume and a handful of perfume samples.  So that totals to 5 makeup items.

OK.  So I am at a surplus with my polish allowance – all good.  I’m already down one for my Summer LE quota (which I can already forsee is going to be a HUGE problem with all the amazing items coming out!!!).  Otherwise I picked up 2 skincare products and 7 makeup items.  Hmmm…let’s see how I did in the *purge* category.Last month I was kickin’ butt at using up my makeup, but this month hasn’t been so successful.  I did get rid of a couple of straggler products overall, but still…I’m disappointed.  Take a look:

Skintimate Signature Scents Moisturizing Shave Gel

Suddenly, this was finished this weekend – I had no idea I was on my last pump, but I am SO happy about it!  Shave gel = useless product.

Live Clean Moisturizing Body Wash

I used this to soak my feet in after realizing I wasn’t a fan of the generic soap-scent.  Worked well in that area, at least!  It foamed up really nicely.

Redken Real Control Crema Care (50mL)

This is a great styling lotion if you’re looking for a travel product – it holds and softens hair at the same time, but it’s a bit sticky feeling.  I wouldn’t buy the full size version.

butter London Nail Foundation ($20CAD)

I enjoyed this for the first couple months, loving how *flawless* it made my bare nails look, and how it helped eliminate VNL, but it didn’t adhere my polish any better than any other base coat, and it got thick fast.  I added thinner to no avail.  For that price tag – bye bye!

Clinique Clarifying Lotion #3 (200mL) ($15CAD)

I know a lot of people have issues with the Clarifying Lotion.  I don’t dislike it, but I’m not necessarily a fan, and if you have sensitive skin it can be a pretty harsh exfoliant.  I’d recommend the mild version for most skins, which I may try some day.  For now, I’m glad this is gone.  I got it for free, so you know I *had* to use it.

Ole Henriksen Truth To Go Wipes ($10CAD)

I have yet to have luck with any wipes which don’t seem to harm my skin in some way.  The first time I used these, I loved how soft they made my face feel (and still with that lovely orange-y scent, yum!).  But then the next day my face seemed to be extra-reactive, and I think these may have been the culprit.  There were only 10 wipes, so I just used them on the nights when I was just TOO lazy to wash my face.  All done now 🙂

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser (50mL) ($17.50CAD)

Travel size of this cleanser.  I bought it to check it out, and when I realized it wasn’t much of anything, I used it to travel with.  However, I’ve been slowly running out of cleansers and I am trying to use them all up before buying more, so I started using this in the shower daily.  It’s pretty fragrant so I worry about the effect it has on my skin – seems OK but I’m always suspicious.  I wouldn’t buy this again.

Josie Maran Argan Oil (15mL) ($18CAD)

I sadly can’t get behind the hype of this product; it didn’t do anything amazing for my skin, and I was SO prepared for it to!  I might be great in the warmer months for a nighttime product, but during the Winter days and nights, it was both greasy and yet not quite moisturizing enough some how.  Fail.

NARS Sheer Glow in Syracuse ($55CAD)

I finished a foundation!!  I can’t remember the last time I did that 🙂  I’ve spoken of this one before – I really liked it; the color match was superb, the coverage just right (sheer to medium) and it didn’t irritate my skin in the least.  I could use this on the sensitive skin around my mouth and it never caused any problems, and actually hydrated it a bit.  I can’t use this in the Summer because it’s a bit too much for my oily skin, but in the cold Winter month it was just what the doctor ordered.  I’d even potentially buy this again next year!

Clinique All About Eyes Concealer in Medium Honey ($20CAD)

– This used to seem like the perfect shade for me…but lately I found it to be a bit grey, for whatever reason.  So it was a good thing that it was nearing it’s end.  It’s pretty old too, probably 4 years+, and the sides are cracking so that I’d get concealer on my fingers when I squeezed too hard.  How annoying.  Time to go!

Maybelline One by One Volum’ Express Mascara in Blackest Black

– I know some people really enjoy this mascara, and the first time I used it I LOVED how long it made my lashes look – but it quickly got dry and super-clumpy, and I never felt like I had enough product on the brush since it comes in the package with the brush separate from the mascara tube to begin with.  I dunno.  It got old quick, literally 😛

Buxom Mascara in Blackest Black (sample)

– I received this back during the Sephora opening, and only started using it about two months ago.  Could be because it was older, but it just never gave enough *oomph* for me.  It was absolutely AMAZING for getting every lash and for not clumping, ever, but it almost somehow faded throughout the day and my lashes seemed to get more and more puny as the hours wore on.  I’m not into the au naturale look with lashes so this is not for me.  And NOT Buxom by any means!

Clinique Surge of Color Lipstick Palette

– I got this in a gratis or through a school or something…and it’s SO not for me!  Not only am I not a huge lipstick wearer, I don’t wear ANY of these shades, and I get irritated having to use a lip brush every time I want to apply it.  No thanks man!  I had this in a drawer at work just collecting dust – it’s time it kicked the bucket.

Annabelle Lipliner in Spice and Smashbox Sheer Lip Pencil in Smashing Content

– I think I picked up the Annabelle liner looking for a recreation of MAC’s Spice liner, which I heard a lot about.  Whether or not they’re dupes, I dunno…I barely used this because a) I just don’t use liner, and b) it was a muddy color on my lips.  Boo.  I’ve had this for like, 10 years – why am I keeping this kind of crap!  BEGONE.

The Smashbox lip pencil, well…it’s sheer, and its a lip pencil.  Not. For. Me.  TOSS.

MAC Gleam Lipstick ($17.50CAD)

– I went through this kick a few years back where I wanted that pale nude-lavender lip look (see my post with Keri Hilson’s look) and this was the shade I picked up thinking it could help create it.  Uh, no.  This is like a pale silvery-beige-purple sheer lippie that makes me look dead.  I tried mixing it with other shades to make it work, and I could, but good gosh – I don’t want to have to work so darn hard!  It’s going, I can’t deal with it any longer.  And it looks ugly in the tube.  I hate when my makeup gets ugly-looking. GET OUT OF MY LIFE.

MAC Venetian Lustreglass ($17.50CAD)

– A couple years ago I had my makeup done at MAC for a Christmas party, and this was part of the look.  It looks fantastic then, and then…never again.  It’s too much of a blue-based red, and because it’s more on the sheer side, it looked weak as well.  I am the most proud of this getting tossed – I mixed this with every friggin’ lippie I could to get rid of it, and hallelujah – success!!  I could probably get a couple more uses out of it, but NO.  NO, I REFUSE.  I AM DONE WITH YOU.

So….yea.  Getting a bit angry there, sorry!  It’s just that those items that were long overdue to get the boot and it was driving me insane that they were hanging around forever.  I hardly have any of those kinds of items left now though, sa-weet!  …Except that means that I have very few products that are going to get used up any time soon, which means…very little allowable purchases for awhile (supposedly – hopefully I get some willpower this coming month).  DANG.

Anyway, lets do the tally:

Limited Edition (Summer) – 1 of 3

Acquired – 9 (2 skincare, 7 makeup)

Got Rid Of – 22 (7 skincare, 1 hair, 14 makeup)

Skin- and haircare don’t even really warrant discussing – I think I’m always going to have more going out than coming in (although…how is that even possible?  Hmm…eventually it’ll be one to one I guess) – but on the makeup side, I managed to achieve my use 2, buy 1 guideline by the skin of my teeth.  I’m going to be up-front – I pretty much ransacked my stash to see if there were any items I didn’t want or even like and got rid of them just so I could ring in on the level.  I know I need to strap down and really take this more seriously; the whole point of engaging in this challenge was to use and appreciate what I have…and lately I feel like I’m just chasing after the next thing and the next, and barely even registering what I’ve gotten.  Which is a terrible habit to get into, and more than anything else I want to stop that cycle.

Next month, I PROMISE to do better!  And hold me to it – there’s no point in engaging in another 9 months of this if I’m just going to continue on the same way I always have.  My arse needs a good kick sometimes!

How do you keep your purchases in check?  What are your suggestions on how to truly slow down and appreciate what you already have, and resist the siren call of new products?

Favorite Product of the Month: Clinique High Lengths Mascara

Despite my less than stellar experience with Bare Escentuals mascara last week, I thankfully have another offering in my stash that I can turn to in a pinch – Clinique’s High Lengths mascara ($18CAD).  I got this as a gift from Clinique at our school last month, but just opened it recently as I was trying to use up some of my other mascaras first.The brush looks pretty funky – a bright neon green, rubber wand that has a slight curve and tiny teeth on one side to easily bend around and comb through the lashes.  Somehow the formula and this combination work to create crazy long lashes with great separation.  Don’t let its bizarre look scare you away – it’s actually quite easy to wield.I’ve used High Lengths before, but oh my goodness I had forgotten how insanely amazing this mascara is for lengthening the lashes!!  It’s kind of ridiculous really.  My lashes, while very curly, aren’t terribly long, and this stretches them out and makes them stand out so much more than usual.  I can almost fake being one of ‘those’ girls…you know who I mean.  The ones whose lashes you can’t help but stare at because they’re just so goshdarn LONG.

Bare lashes

Even though the length this mascara imparts is fairly dramatic, I would still call this a daytime mascara as it offers very little in the way of volume or thickness (nor does it claim to).  I prefer to have a day- and nighttime mascara anyway so this isn’t really a problem.  And from tips and tricks I’ve gathered over time, it sounds like my best bet is to layer mascaras anyway to get the effect closest to what I’m looking for.  So, now I just need to find that perfect volumizing mascara and I’ll be set!

Do you prefer length or volume when choosing a mascara? 

Review: Bare Escentual’s Flawless Definition Volumizing Mascara

I had mentioned earlier in the month (or maybe even last month) that I was in the market for a mascara, and Bare Escentual’s Flawless Definition Volumizing Mascara has been on my list for ages to try, so it’s time had come.  Its supposed to be gentle and non-irritating on the eyes, all while still giving the lashes a serious dose of volume, so I was pretty excited to try it.  The brush is nice and dense with medium-sized bristles, which is the kind of brush I like.  This is what I picture a mascara wand to look like – rather than all high-tech with their rubberized, pointy (re: ouchy) bristles, and all the other fancy doo-dads they have nowadays (wowza I just made myself sound MUCH older than my 29 years!).  ANYWAY, I had high hopes that this mascara was going to rock my WORLD.However, from the very first application, I became apprehensive.  I found the formula to already feel dried up, like I had owned the mascara for a couple months already.  NOT cool.  It applied somewhat clumpy due to the drier nature of the formula, and took an extra bit of attention to coat every lash and get the volume and definition I was hoping for.  I added a touch of water to the brush (I know, this is a bad beauty move, but it just had to happen), and it improved it somewhat, but still not to my liking.  It just looked like…mascara.  Is that being wayyy too hard to please?   I just want my lashes to have some seriously length and a bit of volume, without looking like I applied several coats of mascara (in the shots below, there is only one coat).  Also?  The scent.  OMG its really strong, and not in a fragrance kind of way, just a strong…I don’t know, odor, that when I first lift the wand to my lashes, as it passes my nose I get a bit repulsed.  The mascara doesn’t irritate my eyesat all which indicates to me that it’s not truly fragrance, but nonetheless – yuk!  Thankfully once you’ve got the mascara on the lashes it’s entirely unnoticeable – but still worthy of note.  However.  Moving on…

I dunno.  Do all these mascaras start to look the same on me after a while?  This one in pics kind of reminds me of Benefit’s They’re Real – which I find more and more I appreciate as I think it’s the best higher priced mascara I’ve come across in a while.

I’m a bit disappointed in this mascara to tell the truth.  The fact that it was a bit dry from the get-go turns me off, and it’s just not as good as the hype made it sound.  It bugs me that it looks a touch clumpy and mascara-y, and that it just doesn’t give me instantly fabulous lashes, which is – let’s face it – what I’m really looking for in a mascara.  Achievable?  Perhaps not, but stubbornly that’s what I’m holding out for.  The only mascara’s I’ve ever come across that do what I want them to are Clinique’s; honest to goodness, that’s not a bias, it’s just the fact of the matter – they perform as I want them to, which is mainly in part to the fact that Clinique’s mascaras are practically WET.  They go on super-easily and take forever to dry up, because they are so moist (I hope that word doesn’t bother anyone….I know some gals who HATE it…don’t ask).  So, don’t ask me why I stray if I’ve seemed to find something that works.  I just get bored is all.  And since I work for Clinique, it’s even more boring to use a product when you have such easy access to it.  Twisted, I know, but that’s how this flighty Gemini rolls 😛

So now tell me – what is your HG mascara….so I can TAKE IT FOR ME!! 😉 

Update Time! Beauty Low-Buy Update: Month One

Well, we’ve successfully finished month one of the low/no-buys to which myself and several other fantabulous beauty bloggers have chained dedicated ourselves!  I have to admit, when it started, I thought it would be a piece of cake – my guidelines felt tough but reasonable, and left me a fair bit of leeway so that I wouldn’t go out of my mind from the challenge.  However, once I was well into week two, I found myself becoming maniacal with respect to listing all the products I was *going* to buy as well as figuring out what products I could get rid of so I could make said purchases.  I spent hours daily planning what I would do in order to be able to buy a new lippie or blush, in a way that would allow me to stick to the plan but get my ~fix~  Crazy, right?  Thankfully, the feeling passed near the end of week three, and now as I move into the second month, I feel stabilized and am spending more time enjoying what I have rather than obsessively plotting my next purchase.  Just like any craving, it passes if you don’t give into it I guess!

I’m going to combine my usual ‘downsizing’ post with my new ‘monthly purchases’ posts, since one directly affects the other.  No shady business here!  I promise to be truthful about what I pick up each month – if I slip, I’ll let you know about that too.  Keeps me on the straight and narrow 🙂

So, here are the products that I managed to finish/part with since my low-buy began:

Clinique Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturizer
Good hydrator for dry to combination-oily skin, but honestly I wasn’t wowed by this.  I find the Turnaround Concentrate, a serum, far out-performs this moisturizer, and I would recommend going for that plus your favorite basic moisturizer, rather than using this alone.  Just didn’t exfoliate as well as I wanted it to!

Clinique Superdefense Age Defense Moisturizer SPF25 (Combination Oily to Oily)
I really loved this moisturizer with SPF, until I started learning about how any beneficial ingredients in products get lost when exposed to open air.  Jars have got to be the worst packaging anyway, majorly unhygenic!  So, while the idea of this product is AWESOME (helps to repair the moisture barrier so skin stays hydrated; helps treat and prevent fine lines and wrinkles via antioxidants and sun protection), I suspect a lot of the good-for-you ingredients are gone within days.  Boo.  But, if you’re looking for a nice moisturizer with sunscreen, this is a pretty good choice!  It keeps skin feeling supple – though unless your very oily/do not need extra hydration, I’d probably opt for the dry to combination version as I found I could have used it this Winter.Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Foaming Facial Cleanser (travel size)
I liked this cleanser – it smelled lovely and rinsed away nicely without stripping the skin – but I always wondered if it was causing a bit of sensitivity in my skin.  I think the fragrance, while enjoyable, made me nervous.  It certainly didn’t soothe my skin at all.  For ladies with less sensitive skin, I think you’ll enjoy this – though it requires a second wash (or a makeup remover) to get rid of all traces of heavier makeup.  I’m not a fan of self-foaming cleansers as I find they run out more quickly, so that’s something to consider as the full size of this product is $38CAD.

B.Kamins Bio-Maple Suncar Sunscreen SPF30 (sample)
I used this while I was camping last year in Gros Morne, and didn’t experience any problems, it absorbed easily and a little went a long way – as I still had some left after 10 days!  I used it up the past few days just to get rid of it.  Nothing special, just seems like a basic physical SPF (it’s tinted pink and opaque and reminds me of Pepto Bismol…hmm), and shielded my skin from the sun.  Would be a good product for ladies with oily skin as it imparts no hydration or greasiness whatsover. Complex 15 Face Lotion/Complex 15 Body Lotion
Super basic face and body lotions that would be ideal for someone with sensitive, oily skin, or for really hot, humid days.  They both contain humectants such as glycerin to bind water to the skin, without being greasy AT ALL, but for me I need to also have products which act as a barrier so that I can retain that moisture.  Neither of these were enough for my eczema-prone skin, but I could see them working in a pinch for those who don’t have those issues.L’Oreal Nutri-Shimmer Shine Detangling Spray
I liked this leave-in spray – it detangled my hair and left it very soft without being weighed down – but I noticed that my scalp itched a whole lot less once I ran out of it.  Odd, because perfume was the last ingredient listed, but I have read studies that say that linalool (which is sort of in the middle of the ingredient list) can cause allergic reactions and inflame eczema, so I’m thinking that’s the culprit.  Soo…I won’t be buying this again.  But it was a good, light-weight leave-in all the same – and did make my hair quite shiny!Chanel Eclat Lumiere Highlighter Face Pen in 04 Beige Moyen
So. Glad. This. Is. Gone.  Remember how I said last week that I don’t believe in undereye illluminators?  Yeah.  I paid upwards of $40CAD to learn that lesson!  I tried to use this every which way – under concealer, over concealer, without concealer…the only real use I found for it was a subtle brightening of the inner eye area.  Other than that, it was a total bust and just didn’t do it for me at all.  If you have hardly any undereye darkness, by all means, give this a shot – I’m sure it’ll brighten the area just enough and its sheer enough that it looks quite natural.  But if dark circles are an issue for you, don’t waste your money.  Also – shade range is kinda crappy, this is the darkest they had and it’s still a touch light for my skin, and would be entirely useless once I’m getting sunshine on the regular.MUFE Smoky Lash mascara
I honestly don’t know how I feel about this mascara.  There were times when I really liked it, and then times when I REALLY didn’t.  I think the issue was that it was kind of dry to begin with, which makes avoiding clumps and flakes much more difficult.  I think the brush itself was pretty decent, so really it was the formula they need to tinker with.  All in all, I was glad to put it in the ‘finished’ pile.

Wet N Wild Color Icon Eye & Brow Pencil in Dark Brown
I got this from Walmart for like, $1.99, and it was a great pencil – just the right shade and was quite a large size to begin with, so it lasted ages.  I can’t comment on the lasting power because I never really pay attention to whether my brows are still looking good at the end of the day – I guess because my brows don’t *need* to be filled in, just polished up a bit.  I’d buy it again if I came across it, but it wasn’t so good that I’m going to seek it out, either.MAC Lustre Lipstick in Freckletone
Ugh.  Worst nude lippie (on my skintone) ever.  It was much too peach and looked far from nude on me.  I’ve had this for several years now, and I’m sooo happy it’s finished (though I just realized you can’t tell from the photo – oops!).  I had to mix this with a ton of other shades in order for it to work.  I like the lustre formulation, just not this color. 

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstain in In the Buff
This product isn’t ‘finished’, because I’ve only used it a handful of times, but it seems like it is bone-dry – to get any color from this (which is supposed to be a muted berry) is damn-near impossible.  It barely gives off anything at all.  So today I decided I’m done with this.  What’s the point of keeping something that doesn’t do anything?

Helena Rubenstein Stellars Gloss in Star Camellia
When I did my ‘Beauty Stash’ list, it was a process for me to find the actual name of this gloss, let me tell you.  The name on the end of the product is impossible to read, and I bought this about 8 years ago in Portugal, so I couldn’t for the life of me remember what it was.  I found a picture and a swatch online that seemed to match, but I could be wrong.  In any case, I don’t think they even make this anymore so no worries!  In the package you can see that there is still product left, but the wand simply won’t get at any of it!  The brush on the end of the wand is itty-bitty, first of all, and the way the tube is shaped you just can’t get at what’s left.  Oh well, after 8 years I’m totally over this bright sparkly coral shade!  It was fun while it lasted 😛

Fresh Sugar Plum Lip Treatment SPF15
I’m embarrassed, yet sort of proud, to say that even though this was essentially done in December (as Liz can attest to – she took photos!), I scraped and scooped out every last bit before officially calling it quits.  It wasn’t just that I liked the product – which I very much do, as well as loving the deep berry color this time of year – but for $22.50CAD, I just felt like I should make sure I get every bit of my money out of the product.  Which I did 😛  I still have the Sugar Honey and the original Sugar Lip Treatments to enjoy – but don’t expect to see them finished any time soon!Clinique Glow Crazy Powder Highlighter in 03 Gold Dust (sample size)
GAH.  I don’t know how old this sample is – Glow Crazy powder has been gone for some time now – but finally! I finished it!  It’s too bad it was a sample size (of which I kind of have issue with as a general rule), because this was actually a beautiful highlighter (or eyeshadow!), but it had to go.

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey (sample size)
I got this in one of my free GWP’s from Clinique.  Black Honey is our 2nd most sold product on the counter; the subtle reddish-berry looks good on everyone! ….Everyone except me.  On me, this shade is god-awful.  That sounds dramatic for a sheer lipstick, I know, but honestly, I can’t get down with this tone on my lips in any way, shape or form.  I’ve had this for so long just because there was nothing wrong with it.  Then, a couple weeks ago, I pulled it out to try it out again after the resurgence of the Almost Lipsticks, and it broke right at the base.  Woohoo, out it goes!  Bye BYE!!

So – yay!  Managed to get some makeup items in there, woohoo!  And I wasn’t just trying to get rid of stuff in order to buy more (I know you were thinking it! :P); either they finished or they were products I really didn’t care for in the least and was hanging on to them for no good reason.  Out you go!

Now, lets look at the purchases I made in the past month, and see if I stuck to my guns:

1) Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel $74
I bought this the very next day after the low-buy began.  See how I started out strong?  I’m still very much in love with it, and I’ve never had a moment of doubt about the cost.  I am nervous to see if it’ll still show up once I’m tanned, but here’s hoping it’ll make a great highlighter if nothing else!  If not, then – till next Winter, my dear 🙂

2) Simple Sensitive Skin Experts Exfoliating Facial Wipes (25 wipes) $8.59
Since I tend to run on most of my lunch breaks, I was starting to feel like I really should be removing and reapplying my makeup on those days.  Though I leave my run till later in the afternoon, I still feel uncomfortable at the thought of my makeup mingling with sweat and possibly causing clogged pores and irritation, even in the two hours before I get home and can properly cleanse.  So, I picked up these wipes on a whim, as they contain aloe, vitamins, and no perfumes or dyes – while also being safe for sensitive eyes, hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic.  Bonus!  The ingredient list is shorter than most as well, which always gives me comfort.  I’ve used them a handful of times to no negative effects – I’m not sure how effective they are at cleansing, but I still feel better at putting in an effort.

3) Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Blush in #12 First Kiss $29
Newly minted blush fiend that I am, I saw a photoshoot in the recent issue of Glow which showcased a delicate redhead with a gorgeous peachy flush.  The look I was hoping for with Torrid just doesn’t cut it, as it’s more pink-based than orange.  This bright apricot shade seems to do the trick, and I’m often partial to cream/liquid formulas because I find they give a more believable glow. 

4) Clinique After Sun Rescue Balm $24
I picked this up in anticipation of our Jamaica trip.  It’s supposed to help soothe and hydrate sun exposed skin and help prevent any damage that the UV rays cause.  I have wanted to try this product for AGES as I’ve heard so, so many good things about it – but amazingly, I’ve never had the opportunity!  I find it difficult to actually *purchase* Clinique when I get so many for free, but the time was right so I finally gave in.  I’ll be sure to report back once I’ve given it a go!

5) OPI ‘A Roll in the Hague’, and ‘Dutch’Ya Just Love OPI?‘ $9.99 ea.
I had long planned to grab ‘Hague’ once OPI’s Holland collection came to town, but I was pleasantly surprized to find that I ended up enjoying ‘Dutch’Ya’ as well! 

6) Boscia Restorative Day Moisture Cream SPF15 $58
This will replace my Superdefense as my daily moisturizer with SPF.  I bought it because my skin’s been tempermental with the Winter weather lately, though after the past week or so with unseasonably warm temperatures, I’m hoping this isn’t too heavy.  The cool thing I’m excited about is the inclusion of Magnolia Bark extract, which apparently has cortizone-like effects.  I’m hoping this will help with any eczema issues I have on my face and help keep any irritation under control.  Fingers crossed!

7) Bare Escentuals Flawless Definition Volumizing Mascara in Black $22.50
I’ve been meaning to buy this for ages but just haven’t taken the plunge for one reason or another.  It has great reviews on MUA and sounds like the perfect formula for my sensitive eyes.  I hope its as volumizing as it claims!

8) MAC Tendertone Lip Balm in Purring $18
I fell for all the hype about these Tendertones returning, and not wanting to miss out, I scooped up this sheer orange one this past weekend.  So far, I’m not terribly impressed, but I’m going to give it a fair shake before making my final judgement.  It’s not the sheerness I’m disappointed with (though it is very sheer), but the moisturization.  We’ll see how it fares in the end.

Not too shabby, eh??  If you recall, my guidelines were use one-buy one for skincare/haircare/essentials like foundation and concealer, and use two-buy one for everything else (ie. makeup).  Note that sample sizes are considered a half-one, so two = one in the ‘use one’ category.  Also, remember that I’m allowed 5 nail polish purchases a month.  Here are my totals for this month:

USED – 4 full-size skincare, 2 travel-size skincare, 1 full-size haircare, 1 concealer, 6 full-size makeup items, and 2 sample-size makeup items.

ALLOWANCE – 4 skincare items, 1 haircare, 1 concealer, 3.5 makeup items; 5 nail polish + 2 brought over from January.

BOUGHT – 3 skincare items, 4 makeup items; 2 nail polish.

So…let’s count the MAC balm as a .5 product, eh?? LOL.  I came pretty close!  All in all, not too bad.  It’s certainly gotten easier as time has passed – most of those purchases were made in the first two weeks LOL.  I will admit, there is a lot of things to remember, but thankfully I have lists upon lists just about everywhere I go reminding me, so it’s been doable for the most part.  Gotta keep on keepin’ on!

Have you put any restrictions on your own shopping habits?  If you have, how are you making out?  If you haven’t, what’s your secret to keeping yourself in check??

A Proud Moment: Downsizing at it’s Best

This post has been a long time coming, as I’ve got quite a few empties to show you that have been piling up over the past weeks.  I kept putting it off as I had a handful of makeup items that were nearing completion and I wanted them to be included.  Even still, I have about three more that are thisclose to being finished, but I couldn’t wait any longer.  This is gonna be a doozy, so let’s get right to it.  Note: In an effort to keep my inherent wordiness down, I won’t be giving my usual lengthy descriptions of each – otherwise you’ll be here till Christmas 😛  But, if you do want further details on any product mentioned, don’t hesitate to ask!

First up, we have the hair products.  From left to right: Joico Moisture Recovery Treatment Balm, Phyto Phytolactum+ Intelligent Shampoo, Paul Mitchell Smoothing Super Skinny Relaxing Balm (sample), Alterna Bamboo Kendi Oil Dry Oil Mist (sample), and Aveda Smooth Infusion Style-Prep Smoother (sample).

Joico Moisture Recovery:  I bought this at Chatters for something like $17CAD.  It has good reviews on MUA and I wanted something to hydrate my parched hair.  I don’t heat style for the most part, or do any coloring or other treatments to my hair, so it’s pretty healthy but bone-dry.  I don’t like Joico much but this worked fairly well – though I wouldn’t repurchase.

Phyto Phytolactum+ Intelligent Shampoo: I picked this up from Sephora last March (see how often I shampoo?) and had high hopes it would sooth my dry scalp and not strip my hair.  Mistakenly I thought this wouldn’t contain sulfates (it does) – though it was pretty gentle nonetheless.  But it did nothing for my dry scalp, so I wouldn’t repurchase.

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Relaxing Balm: I was in a buying mood when I picked up this travel size sample at Chatters – I don’t know why I get these ‘smoothing’ products because it’s really meant for people who blow out their hair, which isn’t me.  I know you’d like that smoothing might be helpful to tame my curly hair, but I really find it doesn’t do much of anything.  This product smelled lovely but that made me nervous (due to my eczema) so I was glad when it was finished.

Alterna Bamboo Kendi Oil: I had just read a couple good reviews on this and then they offer this as a 100-point perk at Sephora so I got it to try out.  Again, pointless product for my hair type.  Also contained fragrance so I was happy to finish it and be done with it.  Can’t comment on it’s effectiveness, unfortunately!

Aveda Smooth Infusion Style-Prep: ANOTHER smoother.  I know.  Anyway, this actually ended up being quite a gem – if I used this after I applied my usual styling creme, it really kept my hair soft and frizz-free.  I’m not a huge fan of the herbal Aveda scent, but it’s also not a deterrent either.  I probably wouldn’t buy the full size though; I find Aveda products so expensive!Next – Hand and body creams.  Left to right: Aveeno Eczema Care Cream, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream (frag. free), Eucerin Aquaphor.  I’ve discussed all these in length here and here respectively.  I’m using a different body lotion right now and I can’t wait till it’s done, it doesn’t measure up to Aveeno’s cream at all.  Sometimes you should just stick with what works.  I have a new tube of the Norwegian Formula at work – I really like this a lot – but I don’t think I’ll buy the Aquaphor again, it was a bit too thick and contained …. so I’d just rather not.Facial products.  Left to right: Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus (sample), Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream SPF15, Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild (sample).

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus: I extolled the virtues of this product here, and I still stand by my view – it was a great serum that make my skin feel uber soft and look radiant.  However, now I’m onto Ole’s Truth Serum (though it’s almost finished, waaaah!) and I think I’d opt for that over this just because 1) I LOVE the scent of the Truth Serum, 2) Ole’s is slightly cheaper (by about $3CAD), and 3) I think Ole’s serum is more targeted for my age, whereas I was really using Clinique’s serum prematurely.  I still think it’s great though!

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle: I’ve used this a few times in the past, and while I really like it – it leaves the skin really smooth – I think my sensitized skin can’t handle the retinol any more, which is pretty bad considering this is a very low dosage.  But, for some one with hardier skin who’s looking for a great, cost-effective (it’s around $24CAD) moisturizer with SPF and anti-aging benefits, I highly recommend this.

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild: I got this in a GWP or something I’m sure, and hung on to it because it’s great for travel.  But then I realized I had all these samples and they were starting to annoy me so I began the ‘war on samples’ to mega-reduce my stash.  This isn’t really the best formula for my skin, as I’m more oily, but it does the trick for an AM wash, especially in the cooler months.  It contains emollients so that it doesn’t leave the skin feeling dry, so that’s a nice perk.

Now, get excited…here comes the makeup portion!!!!Mascaras etc. Top to bottom: Benefit They’re Real!, Clinique High Impact, Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill, Diorshow Maximizer Base (sample), and Clinique Bottom Lash.

Benefit They’re Real!: See my initial review here.  I really enjoyed this mascara and may even repurchase in the future.  It was easy to use and gave me nice looking lashes.  ‘Nuff said.

Clinique High Impact: Still one of my favorite mascaras – lots of volume and some length, and makes my lashes stand out.  Also very easy to use.  I wouldn’t recommend to those who want a really natural look however, as I’ve heard complaints of it getting clumpy (though personally I’ve never experienced this).  And the $18CAD price point is much more reasonable than any other department store brand!

Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill: I have been waiting to re-review this, as I have some sad news – this is the root cause of all my eye sensitivities and irritation!  I’m makes me slightly disappointed (since it was great….but tres expensive, hence why I’m only slightly disappointed), but mostly really pissed off, because my eyes have been a trial ever since I used this.  I blamed it on the cat (as I’m allergic), and while I am still very careful of Vegas (the cat – yeah baby!), this mascara is the real reason my eyes aren’t like they used to be.  I had stopped using it in August because I fell in love with Benefit’s They’re Real, and my eyes improved – then I realized that it was going to dry up and be wasted, so I started using it again, only to find my eyes get totally itchy and messed up!  I stopped using it immediately, and while my eyes aren’t as bad, they still get irritated pretty easily ever since.  SO not cool.  I couldn’t find the ingredients online anywhere so I don’t know the offending irritant, unfortunately.  In any case, all I’m saying is that I recommend trying this out somehow first before fully committing!!

Diorshow Maximizer Base: I got this via a coupon code at Sephora.com.  Meh.  It made my mascara harder to apply and I didn’t see any maximizing whatsoever.  I wouldn’t waste the $$.

Clinique Bottom Lash: Awesome.  Seemed like the most gimmicky thing in the world, but ended up being really great.  For $12CAD, you get this mascara with a mini brush that makes it ridiculously easy to apply mascara to your bottom lashes.  It only removes with warm water, so you can cry your heart out with it on (or swim, or sweat) and it won’t budge.  It lasted for AGES too (I know you’re not supposed to use mascara for longer than 3-4 months, but this seemed like an exception :P).Lips and cheeks! Left to right: Clinique Superbalm in Currant, Lancome Juicy Tube in Simmer (sample), Cover Girl Wetslicks in Guava Splash, Clinique Blushwear Cream Stick in Rosy.

Clinique Superbalm in Currant: I love these balms!  They’re a bit thick and very glossy, and wear pretty well while keeping my lips mega-hydrated.  I’ve had this for like, 4 years now so while I’m a little sad to see it go (the shade is neutral and goes with everything!), I’m mostly glad it’s finally done!  Having anything for more than like, two years just seems like too much to me!

Lancome Juicy Tube in Simmer: I read once that Denise Richards liked this lip gloss in this shade…she commented that it ‘looks good on everyone.’  While that may be true, I didn’t particularly like this shade for some reason.  I used to love Juicy Tubes but thankfully grew out of that stage – it seems like one of those things to buy when you’re just getting into high end makeup so I guess the memory of being a newbie turns me off a bit lol.  Nonetheless, these are nice glosses that wear well, but for me their time has come and gone.  And this one in particular has had it’s time – I’m sure I’ve had this for well over 7 years!  Yikes!

Cover Girl Wetslicks in Guava Splash: I bought this after seeing a makeup shot in Allure in which they suggested this gloss to re-create the look.  It was pretty close, so good call by them – but I really didn’t like the formula of this at all.  It was soo thin and slippery, I had to reapply it constantly!  Blah.  I’ve only had this gloss a year so the fact that it’s already gone is a testament to how quickly it wears off.  Good riddance to bad rubbish!

Clinique Blushwear Cream Stick in Rosy: I got this as a gift from Clinique a couple years ago, and wasn’t enamoured with it as it seemed too light for my skin.  However, I reintroduced it in my rotation this Fall and realized I was missing out!  It gave me cheeks the best natural flush ever.  I am partial to cream formulas because I like the way they leave the skin glowing, and this one was nice because it wasn’t greasy at all.  It had OK wear time – nothing terrible but not spectacular either – so I wouldn’t repurchase, but I sure did enjoy it while it lasted.  It went with every makeup look I’d try – can’t beat that!Unfinished but still must go.  Clockwise from left: Revlon Streetwear Double-Ended Liner (discontinued), Revlon Luxurious Color Eyeliner in Blackened Sapphire, Lancome Color Focus Eye Shadow Quad (sample), Rimmel Metallic Eye Gloss in Equinox (discontinued).

Revlon Streewear Double-Ended Liner: I brought this product up in my eyeliner post, and committed to tossing it, so here goes!  I’ve definitely had this for over 10 years, I don’t know what I was waiting for!

Revlon Luxurious Color Eyeliner: Also discussed this in the eyeliner post.  My mother has this too, and when she wears it (usually on her bottom lash line),  it looks awesome – but since I’m too ~fragile~ to wear liners on my bottom lashes now, I just don’t get a good effect from this liner.  On my top lashes its just kinda blah.  So, time to go!

Lancome Color Focus Eyeshadow Quad: The shades are Daylight (the pale cream), Contrast (deep purple), Blink (khaki shimmer), and Peep (pale pink).  I’ve also had this for way longer than I want to admit, and I never use it, so it’s really gotta go.  I’m not really a fan of sample eyeshadow palettes anyway, they annoy me – when I get them from Clinique I always give them away.  I want the real thing, darn it!

Rimmel Metallic Eye Gloss: Do you remember when eye gloss was a ‘big thing’ back in the day – around 8-10 years ago?  Yeah, this was bought then.  Oops!  I couldn’t get it to work without creasing like crazy so I may have only tried it a handful of times.  Fun idea, but just not easy to translate into real life.  Toss!Honorable Mention.  Seche Vite’s Dry Fast Top Coat.  This bottle isn’t finished, though you can’t really tell from the photo.  There’s about 40% left, but you KNOW how goopy and impossible it gets around that time!!!  I kept it in my drawer, hoping for a miracle, but it’s time has come.  Begone, you most-awesome-of-top-coats-until-that-time-when-you-become-absolutely-NOT-awesome-and-in-fact-a-total-nightmare top coat!!

PHEW!!!!!  OMG I’m so sorry to submit all of you to that uber-lengthy post, but it had to be done.  25 items (though 8 were samples, to clarify)!  Are you proud of me or what?!  I have been chomping at the bit to get this out so you can all revel in my awesome downsizing abilities.  What’s that you say?  I have in fact replaced many of these products with new ones?!  Oh, well, forget that part then, will you?  The whole purpose to reduce is to buy more, is it not??  No?  Huh.   Well, I will keep trying, in any case.  Looking at this post alleviates some of my guilt at least. ‘Till next time!! 😀

Wild & Chic Best of Make Up For Ever Kit, Part Two: Smoky Lash Mascara

Mascara has got to be one of the most frustrating beauty products – I’m sure many of us spend more time looking for the perfect mascara than most other cosmetics.  Its the easiest way to beautify the face, I think – it opens up the eye, which is often our best feature, and makes us look more awake and youthful.  Personally, it’s not my end-all, be-all; I love when it’s effective but I have bigger fish to fry (concealer, anyone?).  Nonetheless, I am constantly on the look-out for a newer, better version – so join me in checking out the mascara Make Up For Ever offers up in their Wild & Chic Best Of Kit: Smoky Lash ($24CDN).The back of the product notes that the color is ‘Extra Black’ and that the mascara provides ‘volume, length, and curl.’My initial thoughts were tentative at best – the brush looks kinda wonky, which had me wondering just how this mascara would apply – would it be haphazard, and make my lashes go every-which-way?  The description on Sephora notes that the brush is ‘tough and dense,’ which allows the wand to ‘penetrate into the roots of the lash to ensure the lash is completely coated with mascara.’  Uh, okey dokey!Thankfully, any fears I had were unfounded.  Here’s what I did find: while not terribly dramatic, this mascara does give nice length to the lashes (which always seems like a funny claim to me, because – you’re coating your lashes with product, don’t they ALL lengthen?), and I do notice an increase in volume – as in, it looks like it catches every lash I have to that it looks like I have more than usual.  It sort of makes them look feathery, which I haven’t had in a mascara much.  I think I like it!Again, sadly, I cannot report on it’s curling power, as my lashes are just so darn curly as it is, that the effect is totally lost on me.  I read the description after wearing it a few times, and I think the brush does get into the base of the lashes well, as it’s not too flexible – though not so rough that it jabs at your lash line (I hate that!!).  It is nice and black – no charcoal formula here (which I also hate) – and wears all day without flaking.  It wasn’t too hard to remove; your regular cleanser that you normally would use does the trick.

My overall opinion of this mascara is a good one – it’s more of a basic mascara than anything ground-breaking, but sometimes its nice to have a mascara without a ton of bells and whistles and tricks to using it.  Certainly if you’re interested in purchasing it, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

*This product was provided to me for consideration by the brand/PR company.

Make Up For Ever: Green Color Flash for Fall!

*MAKE UP FOR EVER Press Release*

“Fall 2011’s hottest hues come straight from the international runways.  Make up artists embraced deep jewel tone palettes to create glamorous make up looks with a subtle hint of edginess.  Emerald green has emerged as one of the season’s most wearable shades, and it will surely become a make up bag staple for Fall and Winter.

From subtle to striking and smoky to shimmery, MAKE UP FOR EVER offers a wide range of eye popping green shadows, liners, and even mascara, to get you through the season in style.”

Make Up For Ever has a variety of green shades that will help you achieve this edgy look.  Some to try are:

Aqua Liner #3 – an iridescent emerald green.

Smoky Lash #4 mascara, a deep green.

Khol Pencil #4, also a deep green.

Aqua Cream #22 – an emerald green shadow with a golden sheen.

I gotta say, these shades look amazing and green does tend to look good on everyone!!  Whether worn subtly or bold, I think green is a fabulous shade for Fall.  It seems MAKE UP FOR EVER has got this one covered 🙂

All of these products are currently in-store at Sephora.

What do you think of green eye makeup?  Have you tried it before?  What are some ways you like to wear it?

Review: Benefit They’re Real! Mascara

Soo…I’m totally a sheep (Eh? Does that sound weird to you?  What’s the singular of sheep? Strange…).  I doggedly follow various blogs online, reading all about the newest and best cosmetics out there, and then – I go get ‘em!  More often than not I base my purchases according to the reviews I read, and discard those products which sound subpar.  I trust my fellow beauty bloggers to steer me in the right direction, and usually they’re right on the money.  At least, with the items they rate well.  It’s rare that I’ll still forge ahead and grab something that meets a generally unfavorable consensus, because I just don’t want to waste my money and chance hating it too.  This behavior, while reasonable, makes me a sheep.  Sometimes I’m OK with that, other times I feel like I need to be more of a pioneer…but I think I’d need to be making a lot more money for that 😛

Anyway, to the point!  I saw online several reviews for Benefit’s new mascara, They’re Real!, and despite the eagerness which people seemed to be buying this product, it was getting somewhat mediocre reviews.  It sounded O.K., and looked decent, but certainly nothing to write home about.  Those products, I usually skip.  But in the excitement of the moment, during the Sephora opening earlier this month, I scooped it up on a whim.

Now, of course, the day I bought it I then went camping for a week +, so I did not get a chance to test this baby out.  As soon as I returned however, it was game on.  And in the end, I wasn’t disappointed!

This mascara is up there with some of my faves.  After going through a slew of mascaras that just didn’t do it for me in any capacity, it seems my luck has turned lately – first with G.A.’s ‘Eyes to Kill’ and now with Benefit’s new offering.  Jet-black and long-wearing, ‘They’re Real!’ claims to lengthen, curl, volumize, lift, AND separate, and offers a specially designed brush to reveal “lashes you never knew you had!”.  So, basically it does it all.  Now, let’s get ‘real’ for a minute.  While I love this mascara, it’s no superhero.  All mascaras lengthen and volumize to some degree – it’s pretty much impossible to coat your lashes in product and miss the boat there.  So, point by point, let me rate the actual abilities of this product:

Lengthening: I’d give it an 8/10.  It does make my shorter lashes look noticeably longer, but by no means do I look like I have fake eyelashes on (which I think is the claim they’re subtly trying to convey with the title ‘They’re Real!’).

Volumizing: A disclaimer – when I think ‘volume’ in reference to lashes, I think actual density of lashes, as in, you look like you have a million lush lash hairs and create a breeze when you bat an eye.  I do not think that volume means the thickness of each lash hair, because to me that seems like a silly goal to have – why would you want to look like each hair is really fat?  I know the ‘spider’ mascara look is back this season, but it’s never been my preference and I can’t imagine that that is what the companies mean by ‘volume.’  But what do I know?
Anyway, in this regard, I can only give ‘They’re Real!’ a 6/10.  I already have somewhat voluminous lashes so take that info as you will, but I could definitely use more thickness, and this doesn’t really do the trick. I always find it sort of contradictory for a mascara to claim that it volumizes AND separates – personally I think it can only do one or the other.  Which leads me to…

Separation:  Here is where this mascara takes top marks – 9/10.  While it may not pump up the lashes as it claims, it does separate well and makes the lashes really stand out, which in turn makes my eyes the focus of attention very easily.  As is typical for rubberized brushes like this one, because the bristles are stiff, they can glide through the lashes and help minimize clumping.  Normally, I dislike these kinds of brushes; even though they do the job well, I always feel like I’m jabbing my lash lines and it feels uncomfortable.  For whatever reason, this brush doesn’t do that – and it’s just as stiff as any other.  Whatever, I’m OK with it.

Curling: Sorry dudes, I can never accurately rate this feature because – like my hair – my lashes are already majorly curly so I’d never know if this was doing the job or not.  No comment.

Lifting: Isn’t this the same as curling?  I guess this lifting claim is supposed to be due to the formulation, which holds well throughout the day and keeps lashes in check.  Again, I can’t really rate this as my lashes are always perky, but I can say the formula is excellent in terms of wear – no smudging or flaking the entire day.  It takes a bit more work to get off in the evenings (as compared to Clinique’s, for example), but nothing that your normal makeup remover can’t take off.

So, as you can see from my (incomplete) review, this mascara has mostly strong features, and is a good option if you’re looking to lengthen and separate lashes.  You probably could find something comparable at a drugstore price – this isn’t cheap at $29CDN – but then again, I didn’t have much luck going that route so it’s hard to say.  I hadn’t read how to apply the product, but after looking at the description on Benefit’s website, I’m intrigued by the suggestion to “fan the corner lashes outward with the custom-domed tip” to achieve a “big, doe-eyed look.”  Something I’ll have to try!

Which mascaras have you tried and loved/hated?  What features are you most concerned with when choosing a mascara?  Are you willing to pay more if the product does what it claims?

Hump Day everyone!  I hope you’re all making it through OK 🙂

Thanks for reading!

Review: Giorgio Armani’s Eyes to Kill Mascara

In Part II of my G.A. haul, I bring you the illustrious Eyes to Kill mascara that is pretty much the holy grail of mascara’s as of late.  Despite the fact that I’ve been swayed to the dark side to spend ridiculous amounts on money on products I could get for much, much less, I haven’t been converted to spending much on mascara.  Since the rule of thumb is to only hang onto mascara for 3-4 months, the thought of spending $30+ on something I won’t even have for very long hasn’t appealed to me so much.  But I’ve heard so many amazing things about this mascara, and since I haven’t given in to a $$$ mascara yet, I thought I would give myself a pass just this once to try out the best of the best.

Let me tell you – this could spell disaster for me and my wallet in the future.  This mascara is pretty darn awesome.  It gives length and fullness with so much ease!  I’m used to applying lash primer, then working with my mascara for 5 minutes alone to get that fabulous lash look that everyone wants to achieve.  With this product, I could just throw it on and be done with it in less than a minute.  While it doesn’t give a lash look soo above and beyond any other mascara (after I’ve worked with them), just the fact that I don’t have to fool around with it impresses me a lot.The brush doesn’t look like anything fancy – which actually I appreciate, as I’m not a huge fan of the spiky rubber bristles on some mascaras, even though I know the purpose is to provide serious definition to the lash.  Here, they use a typical bristle brush but achieve a similar look.  My lashes are lengthened, fuller, and without even trying I find I get that flirty look where the lashes on the outer ends are well-defined.  The trick I find that works best with this mascara is to apply one coat, leave it for 20-30 seconds, then apply another.  That keeps it from getting tiny lil clumps at the ends of lashes and really enhances the length.Overall, I really like this mascara and would buy it again – if I were near a store that sold G.A. products.  Unless I’m ordering other items, I wouldn’t call Holt’s just to buy this or purchase it online.  Regardless of how nice it is, the $36CDN price tag is still quite steep for my liking.  I’m not a fan of having to fool around with my mascara every day, but if it saves me a bunch of cash every 3 months, I’ll just have to live with it.

What are your thoughts on this product?  Have you tried it, or been hoping to?  Or are you like me and find it hard to justify high prices for mascara?  What mascaras in general would you recommend?  We’re always on a hunt for the ‘best,’ aren’t we?

That’s all for now, thanks for reading 🙂