New Traveling Mascara (but not "traveling" in a bad way)

A quick update before dinner:

So, I'm at a three-day-long conference, a mere two hours from my home. I pack my suitcase the night before I have to go, and leave out my makeup and toothbrush where I can find them in the morning to use in the morning and then throw in my bag. Of course, when I wake up late and have to dash out the door, I completely forget all of it. Because I'm awesome.

Unfortunately, I have to make a detour to a mechanic when I near my destination, and one new muffler pipe later, I realize that... aha! the mechanic is next to the drug store! I run into the friendly local Rite Aid, grab a toothbrush, figure that I should at least wear some mascara to go along with my suit-separates and the lipstick that, just for occasions like this, never leaves my purse. Mascara is a must-wear for me, because my eyelashes are so blond they're practically transparent. I do want to look like a professional adult at this conference, not a ghost.

I'm pretty loyal to my simple Neutrogena Weightless Volume wax-free mascara, but this particular Rite Aid didn't have any Neutrogena makeup. I decided this was my opportunity to try something I wouldn't normally use day-to-day. Plus, I didn't have my eyelash curler and wasn't about to buy a new one just for this weekend, so I made the foray into the self-curling mascara department.

I think I totally lucked out. Not only does Maybelline's Sky High Curves mascara actually curl your lashes -- and keep them curled all day -- even when you have to walk across a college campus in the rain to get to the dining hall or your dorm room! BUT it also was on sale for $1.79. There was no sale sign, it just rang up that way at the register. A $7 mascara for less than $2! Sure! Also, did I mention that it works? Because it does! Really well! Not clumpy, not obnoxiously "lengthening" or "voluminizing" (both code words for "clumpy but you pay extra for it"), just a nice clean black mascara... that works in a pinch when you don't have a lash curler.

Guess my travel bag has one more permanent fixture!

Benetint

Well, I've been using Benefit's Benetint lately for blush. It's a red liquid that comes with a nail-polish like brush. You brush it on your cheeks and then blend before it dries. It's subtle but there and I really like it. It looks completely natural.

I can't decide if I like it $28 worth though. The big draw for me is that it's also lip stain. I had just been applying it with the brush, even though I just see that it's supposed to go on under my lipstick and applying with a cotton swab (won't I then get a mouth full of cotton?) Anyway... I'm not a fan of it plain. It dries my lips and worse yet, makes them look dry. Red, but dry. And it doesn't last. I'll have to try it as a lipstick base. Hmmmm.

But, it does smell and taste like roses. Yum.

Great Skin!

And... in a Puffery first we have a post that isn't a product review, but rather a link to another article. I saw this on my Yahoo! news feed and thought it worth reposting:

The 6 Biggest Skin Care Mistakes

Really simple things we can all avoid for better skin. I know I tend to wash my face while my conditioner is sitting in my hair, and there are a lot of oils in the conditioner, so I'll be changing when I wash my face!

Happy New Year!

Love at First Sight

This fall, I blogged about mascara, mainly my sadness that I couldn't tell the difference between Stila multi-effect and L'Oreal Panoramic Curl.

I have a new love in my life. It's only been, like, 2 days, but I think this may be forever. Love at first sight!

I got a sample of Bare Escentuals new Buxom mascara. Va-Va-Voom. Barely half a coat and my lashes are almost too obscene for day wear. No clumps, amazing definition, and lashes that go on for miles. I haven't noticed much volumizing (which is fine, I have thick lashes, if I added too much volume I'd just have a solid mass of lash, and that's not good) but seriously, the length is amazing. Also it wears really well.

I highly recommend.

Foundation

Has anyone out there tried the L'Oreal True Match foundation yet? I saw it in the store the other day and nearly passed out due to the excitement that it looks like it has shades that are too pale for me. This never happens. Usually I buy the lightest shade available and hope it's not too dark. (My complexion is rather pasty white.)

Basically, it has divides the collection into cool/warm/neutral and offers six shades in each category, including several versions of deathly pale. Sadly, it doesn't look like there are as many options for darker skin--I think if they had gone for eight shades in each category than the collection really would be complete.

But, I don't need new foundation right now, so I haven't tried it yet. Have you?

Eyes! part 3

And now unto the best of Stila...

I could write a love poem to Stila's eyeshadow in the shade of Kitten. Perfect for all shades of skin and just... yummy... not that I've eaten it but...

I have NEVER been in love with an eye shadow like this. Well worth the $$$-- check it out as soon as possible. Great on its own, or as a base shade for an excellent smoke eye.

I'm seriously lusting after Silk Eye Shadow Wash in the same shade--that looks truly spectacular.

Eyes! part 2

So, next up of the Stila mix pack is the Smudge Pot.

These are really popular. Maybe I just need more practice. The one I got is in black. I put it on as thinly as possible, and for someone who usually only lines in powder shadow, it was vampire-goth-scary looking. And then I couldn't get it all off when I took my makeup off.

But then? When I woke up the next morning? After trying to remove it and sleeping in the left overs?

PERFECT. ABSOLUTELY AMAZINGLY PERFECT!

So... I just need to learn how to apply that before bedtime...