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!

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.

Eyes!

So, this summer I used my Cashback bonus and some birthday $$$ to buy some silly-expensive make-up, all by Stila.

I don't dislike any of it. Some of it I love. We'll get to the love bit later...

First up is Multi-Effect Mascara.

I've been using this as my daily mascara for a few weeks now.

There is nothing overly wrong with this mascara-- it's not too clumpy, good definition, good volume... but there is nothing overly right with this either.

When push comes to shove, I can't tell a difference between this and L'Oreal's Panoramic Curl, which is easier to find and much cheaper and also comes in waterproof varieties (good for weddings! if you're a crier like I am!)