More Mascara Testing, a Little Foundation and a Crappy Nail Corrector Pen

Let's talk mascara, shall we? Now, I can tell you that, for a big day tomorrow where I have a presentation to give and makeup/skin care is of the utmost importance, I will be using the following mascara ritual: Lancome base primer, Anastasia Lash Lifting Mascara, and a final coat of Dior Black Lashout. I will not, obviously, ordinarily spend that much time on my eyes. Again, though, it's a big day. One needs big lashes on a big day!

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes ($18):

Pros: Great basic brush that seems to really separate each lash, but coat enough to get the product on nice and thick and the volume is definitely noticeable. It also did give good curl and wasn't too difficult to place on the bottom lashes.

Cons: I wouldn't say it really lengthens the lashes, but it does give good coverage so it gets to the ends of each of your lashes.

The Verdict: An excellent mascara for everyday use. It is quite comparable to the Anastasia mascara that is my current fav. It did take a few more strokes than I would have liked and, for that reason, even though it is cheaper, it did not beat Anastasia.

Benefit Bad Girl Lash ($19):

Pros: Great basic brush that seems to really separate each lash, but coat enough to get the product on nice and thick and the volume is definitely noticeable. It also did give good curl and wasn't too difficult to place on the bottom lashes.

Cons: Way too basic. Didn't coat well at all and the black wasn't that black. The brush didn't seem to pick up the product. It's fine for a weekend when you don't want that much mascara or if you are a person who is not used to it and it came off super easily, but I really didn't care for it.

The Verdict: It didn't work for me at all. The product says it is like a sexy set of false lashes without the glue. Um ... not really. It's a must miss.

Aside from mascara, I did try a complete Stila regimen today, which included Stila's Natural Finish Oil-Free Makeup. I quite enjoyed the matte, natural look that it gave me. I would have preferred it better had I used a concealer for some acne spots I am experiencing, but it lasted well throughout the day. It's no China Doll from Napoleon Perdis, but it is included in the Stila Made In Your Shade Foundation kit and I liked it.

Incidentally, I also used Stila Hydrating Primer. It is definitely not as good as Bare Vitamins or Smashbox, but it did keep the foundation from settling too badly and that really is the key. With so many primers out there, though, I recommend against this one, especially at $38. It just doesn't do enough.

Again, given the importance of the day tomorrow, it won't be too much of a sample deviation. But, I haven't washed my face yet tonight and tried some of the new nighttime samples I've been anxious to get into. But do let me leave you with a money saver ... do NOT bother with the Ulta Polish Corrector Pen. It's only $5.50 and it completely sucks. I recommend just dipping a basic stick or q-tip in polish for boo-boos because this one sucks! I might try Sephora's, since it has so many positive comments and is $6. We'll see.

See you later in the week and thanks for blogging with me!