REVIEW: Glossier Lash Slick

Like many people, I've been waiting for Glossier to release the barely-there mascara of my dreams. Given that they registered a trademark for Lash Slick quite a while ago, I expected it to release much sooner. The company insists that it took so long because they went through 248 formulations before settling on this fiber mascara version; that might be true, but holding off was also savvy marketing that ensured consumers would be ecstatic when a mascara inevitably dropped. Now Glossier can post advertisements rhapsodizing that your eye makeup is "finally complete."

Lash Slick is described as "the perfect everyday mascara." It promises to curl, lengthen, and define your lashes with a smudge-proof, flake-free fiber formula that's water-resistant, all for the reasonable price of $16 a tube. Founder Emily Weiss said that she basically wanted to remake the Kevyn Aucoin tubing mascara without "the tubes" (girl, what?), but really, this reminds me of Japanese mascaras like Kiss Me Heroine Make Long and Curl. Fibers are designed to cling to the tips of your lashes and provide the fluttery, feathery, lengthened look so favored in Japan; the intent seems to be the same with Lash Slick, which will supposedly give you a "lash extension effect."

To give you that effect, Glossier chose a rubber wand with stubby bristles that comb through the lashes and deposit the tiniest amount of product at a time. Frankly, I hate most rubber bristle wands because they tend to be so pokey and never give me the effect I want. This one doesn't bother me, though, in large part because the bristles aren't sharp at all. Also, they put a damn good stopper in the tube; it pulls off every bit of excess product barring the teeniest dab on the tip. I hate having to spend 30 seconds wiping my wand off on the lip of the tube, so I appreciate a good stopper.

My mom also likes being able to go straight from the tube to her lashes, but beyond that, we have rather different preferences for our lashes. My mom has very short and straight lashes that are decently thick. Because she likes a quick, barely-there makeup look, she usually goes for a defining mascara in a brown-black shade that's easy to remove. My lashes are the complete opposite: long and curly yet fine. Hence, I tend to go for a rich, creamy formula that will plump them up and provide tons of volume. I like an easy-to-remove mascara, but I'm more concerned with flaking and smudging, which is something almost every mascara does on me. That's a lot to take in, I know, so here's a handy dandy Me vs. Mom chart:

Why do I mention my mom? Well, friends, she also wanted a tube of Glossier Lash Slick. And since I love overly detailed reviews almost as much as my mother, I had to get her some and ask her to test it, too.

The above photos show my lashes before and after two layers of Glossier Lash Slick; I apply by wiggling the wand at the roots of my lashes, then working my way up. The formula is very thin, but it's not watery or messy, so I don't make quite as much of a mess on my lids during application. As you can see, Lash Slick definitely makes a difference, providing a bit of length and a rich black color. I don't think you get actual volume from this mascara, per se, but if you press the wand in to the roots like I did, it does give the illusion of slightly thicker lashes.

This seemed to hold my curl just fine as well, but to be fair, my lashes hold their curl most of the time. (Is that because the hair on my head is curly? Can anyone with a better grasp on genetics weigh in there?)

To further test Lash Slick, I did something I normally avoid: I put mascara on my lower lashes. Guys, I have very dark undereyes--see the above concealer-free photo for proof. And everything freaking smears on me! The last thing I want to do is draw attention to the area or make it darker. But I know most people don't have those hang ups, so I gave it a shot, and it actually looks pretty damn good. I'm too lazy to do it on the regular, but if I want a bottom lash mascara, I'll reach for Lash Slick now.

 Holy macro fine lines, Batman!

My initial application looked a bit more "made up" and obvious than what I've come to expect from Glossier products. So the next time I applied it, I did just one coat. As you can see in the photo above, this will give you more of a "tinted lash" sort of effect. You get slightly less length and "oomph" in exchange for a more defined, natural look. Overall, two coats works well, but I think I prefer this one coat look.

Now, my eyes are deep set, and macro shots make the clear tips of my naked lashes more visible than they really are. Photos shot from beneath my eye do a slightly better job of demonstrating the effect, as you can see how close my lashes are to my brows. So here's one of those:

Broadly speaking, I'm not getting my usual look here: there's some length and decent definition, but very little volume. That said, it's a look I like, especially for light makeup days, and I appreciate that I can slap this mascara on in less than a minute.

My mom also did one coat of this mascara, but unlike me, she avoids wiggling the wand in to the roots of her lashes and instead just swipes the brush up as quickly as she can. She still got darker, more defined, slightly lengthened lashes, they just don't look any thicker. Again, this isn't really a volumizing mascara, so I'm not shocked.

While my mom liked that Lash Slick wasn't clumpy or goopy, she was sad to see that they didn't release a dark brown shade. That's probably my biggest critique of Lash Slick as well; I never wear brown mascara, but a lot of my blonde friends prefer it over stark black. She also told me that while it didn't make her lashes droop, it didn't make her curl last longer than it normally does. I've said it before and I'll say it again: if you want a mascara that will hold your curl, you'll probably want something waterproof, and/or you should check out the Japanese mascara market.

Both my mother and I were impressed by the wear of this mascara. Everything seems to flake and smudge on my watery eyes, and technically speaking, Glossier Lash Slick wasn't all that different. Around the 8 hour mark, I noticed some flakes. In comparison to the usual giant black dots I get, however, these were minute, barely-there flakes and the occasional stray fiber; I boxed them in in the above photo so you could see them better, and you'll still probably have to enlarge the picture. These flakes were easy to remove with a swipe of a brush or a finger. I got even less flaking when I stuck to one coat. I've yet to experience any smudging, and that's pretty impressive given how humid it is in Pennsylvania right now.

So did I get zero flaking or smudging? No. But I'd say this is about as little as I'll ever see with lashes and eyes like mine.

Last, but most certainly not least, there's the removal. Because I deal with black specks on my cheeks and gray smears around my eyes so much, I usually favor waterproof formulas, since their waxier base tends to give them a longer wear time. As a result, I often have to soak my eyes with a bit of oil to remove all of my mascara, which has never really bothered me. I find my skincare routine relaxing. My mom, by contrast, considers skincare a tedious but necessary part of good grooming akin to putting on deodorant. The faster she can get her makeup off at the end of the night, the more she likes it.

Glossier promises that you can remove Lash Slick with warm water, and that held true for us. I tested both a Makeup Eraser and micellar water on this, and they removed the mascara entirely with minimal tugging. My mother just used her usual Cerave face wash with some warm water, spending all of five seconds rubbing at her moistened lashes, and again, it came off easily.

My verdict: Lash Slick was worth the wait. It's a solid mascara that does what it says on the tube: lengthens, defines, doesn't make a mess, and comes off easily. If that's the look you're going for, then Lash Slick could be the mascara for you.

RATING: 5 out of 5

Glossier products are available at their website. If you would like to support small beauty bloggers, consider using their Glossier affiliate link for your first purchase; the affiliate link I used here is from Auxiliary Beauty.

I purchased these two tubes of Glossier Lash Slick using store credit earned via affiliate link purchases. I am not a Glossier Rep and my reviews are always honest.

Sample Rundown #12

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know that I'm trying to use up as many samples as possible in 2017, and I'm using my feed to document my progress. Unfortunately, I'm a bit of a dipstick, so I haven't been saving said samples for these posts. I'm trying to correct that now! Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time in seven months...it's Sample Rundown!

DevaCurl No-Poo Decadence -- I've had this sample for nearly a year, but I've only just now worked up the courage to try it. I'm old-fashioned when it comes to haircare; I like a sudsy shampoo and a rich conditioner. This product is very different: it does not lather and, according to many reviews, is meant to take the place of both shampoo and conditioner. This felt like a thick lotion to me, which was fine, but it was a little difficult for me to work it in to my hair. I also felt like I couldn't completely rinse it out, as if it were leaving behind a slight film. No-Poo Decadence left my hair feeling decently soft and not-too-frizzy, but honestly, I think it's a bit much for me. The Decadence line is probably best left to those with a much tighter curl pattern. Side note: these samples are super generous. I was able to wash my hair with this about three times before this review, and there was still a bunch of product in the packet.

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream -- Like many skincare junkies, I was instantly drawn to this fragrance-free, alcohol-free, ceramide-and-hyaluronic-loaded moisturizer. It seems great in theory: 72 hours of hydration with a lightweight feel! Wow! In practice, though, this is hum-drum. A lot of the Sephora reviews rave about how this cream makes your skin "feel sooooo soft instantly!," but that immediate smooth feeling is actually from the large amount of silicone. I enjoyed the lightly-hydrating, non-sticky gel texture, and it worked well under makeup. That said, I'm not about spending $52 for a moisturizer that behaves more like a primer on my skin. If you're more normal-to-oily, you might love this as a day cream.

Perfekt Beauty Lash Perfection Gel -- I have a love-hate relationship with this mascara. On the one hand, it makes my lashes look AMAZING. It provides plenty of volume, some length, and the perfect amount of inky-black color. The flaking and smearing are very minimal; I mostly experienced these problems after 6+ hours of wear. On the other hand, applying this mascara is the shit of my nightmares. The formula isn't watery, but it still manages to be as messy and slow-drying as a mascara can be. I can only use this product if I'm not wearing eyeshadow because I have to completely wipe down my eyelids after application. I'll finish the tube, but I definitely won't repurchase it.

Giorgio Armani Lip Magnet #400 (Four Hundred For All) -- Despite their cool names, sleek packaging, and generally photogenic qualities, I can never seem to find an Armani lip product I love. These liquid lipsticks are no exception. Four Hundred For All really is a lovely neutral red that will likely flatter most people. The finish is a beautiful soft matte, and while the formula is very watery, it applies smoothly and without streaking. The doe foot applicator was easy to control. This doesn't dry down completely--you'll get some lipstick on your fingers if you pat your lips--but it isn't especially prone to smearing, either. I only seemed to have an issue when my niece made a sudden grab for my mouth (and received red-lipstick-coated fingers for her efforts). But while a lightweight, not-so-apolocalypse-proof formula usually means you have a less drying liquid lipstick, I found the Lip Magnet formula as drying as a lot of other brands. Is it the worst? Of course not! A little lip balm at the end of the day fixed all ills. But it's definitely lacking the unique quality I'd need to justify $38 for a single lipstick.

REVIEW: Milk Makeup

Milk Makeup first appeared on Sephora's website last month, apparating like a fun and funky makeup genie from a bottle. The brand caught my eye immediately with its minimalist packaging and promises of unique, easy-to-use products for on-the-go hipsters. Because as much as I enjoy spending a lazy weekend hour applying my makeup, I am always pressed for time when I wake up 20 minutes late on a work day and need to get myself together before I hit the bus stop.

I was interested in a lot of the Milk Makeup range, but I decided to start with products that might fill gaps in my collection (and were available at the time, since they seem to be rolling the line out over the course of the spring season). I grabbed the Coverage Duo in Fair, the Weekend Lash Stain in 8-Ball, and the Gel Brow pencil in Pilsner.

Let's start with the Coverage Duo, because I wasn't actually able to wear it: my skin responded badly during patch testing. Milk promotes this product as a multipurpose base product, with 0.33 ounces of liquid concealer and 0.08 ounces of cream concealer, housed in super-portable packaging. Now, they call it a liquid concealer, but if you watch their tutorial videos, the models who use this product often apply it in a thin layer over most of their face like a foundation. And the idea of a grab-and-go concealer and foundation drew me in.

But when you think about it, this is rather pricey. Most foundations are a full fluid ounce, while you get a third of an ounce in the Milk Makeup Coverage Duo. (Again, they promote it as a concealer, but it behaves as, and is demoed like, a foundation.) The cream concealer is also super tiny, especially compared to my NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (0.22 ounces) and my Urban Decay Naked Skin concealer (0.16 ounces). I put a dime on the cream concealer and placed the pod next to a Becca Beach Tint for a visual size comparison.

So yes, it's very portable and small, and it'd easily fit in your purse. But if you break it down to dollars-and-ounces, you're definitely paying for the cutesy packaging and portability.

Here's the Coverage Duo swatched up against the OCC Tinted Moisturizer in Y0, Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint in Light, and Buxom Show Some Skin in Tickle the Ivory. This is too dark for me by about a shade, but it's also very very very pink. I'd peg it at about NW15. So even if I had gotten past the patch testing phase, this product would not have worked on my skin tone.

Despite the fact that I couldn't give these concealers a full test run, I was able to feel the texture and get an idea of the coverage and performance. The liquid concealer is incredibly thin and provides light coverage; it's also easy to blend in to the skin. The cream concealer has an interesting and pleasant texture, kind of like a marshmallow that turns to liquid under your fingers (no, really!). It provides medium coverage. Both feel very emollient, though the liquid stays a little dewy on my skin and the cream dries down to a satin finish.

I also wanted to talk about this liquid concealer applicator for a moment. The Milk Makeup line seems to be quite fond of these rollerball applicators, probably because the idea is that you can just swipe the product where it's needed, smear it out with your fingers, and go. In theory, it's a nice idea, but I have three major problems with it:

1. It's messy. As soon as you start rolling the liquid concealer, you're going to get product all over the packaging, and it can actually smear in to the cap.
2. Sometimes the rollerball puts out a ton of product, and other times you have to roll it for almost a minute to get the liquid out.
3. This isn't very sanitary if you're using it the way it's advertised--the only way you can really clean the rollerball is to rub it on a makeup wipe, and then you're wasting some of the concealer in the process.

Next up is the Weekend Lash Stain in 8-Ball, a jet black mascara that's designed to give you a natural look while lasting for days at a time. This is the product I was the most excited about, because while I don't sleep in my makeup (guys, please don't do that), I do sometimes work for 12+ hours or run around in 95 degree, 85% humidity weather, and a long-wearing, not-makeup-y mascara would be a homerun for me. I'm also a huge fan of mascaras in squeeze tube packaging because it makes it easier to manipulate the product and get every last drop out of there.

Unfortunately, this mascara did not wow me. As soon as you pull the thin, slightly-slanted wand out of the tube, you'll notice it is absolutely dripping with mascara. Wipe it off on the rim of the mascara tube and you'll make a mess; wipe it off on a tissue and you'll be getting rid of half of your mascara.

Even after dabbing off the wand, this product is a nightmare to apply. The formula is so, so liquidy that it clumps your lashes together and smears all over your eyelid. I had to use a lash comb immediately after applying to separate my lashes, scrub my lids with my ELF Makeup Remover Pen, and make sure I applied eyeshadow after mascara so it didn't get ruined. I'm completely baffled by a product range that claims to be low-maintenance, then puts out a mascara that's this much work.

To be fair, you don't have to fuss with this much after it's actually on your eyes. It lengthens a bit and looks very black, but is overall quite natural, which is what a lash stain should be. It doesn't smear or flake throughout the day, and as long as you use an oil-based makeup remover, getting it off of your face isn't that hard. But quite frankly, I don't think the 10 minutes of faffing around is worth it when I can get similar results from a quick coat of Maybelline Full n' Soft. I'm still not sure if I want to keep this product or not, but I'm leaning towards "return."

Natural light on top, flash on the bottom.

The product I expected to feel the most "meh" about, the Gel Brow pencil, actually ended up being my favorite of the bunch. I got the middle shade, Pilsner, which is a dead-on-balls accurate color dupe for the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown. (The Shu Uemura Hard Formula pencil in Seal Brown applies a bit lighter to my brows than the other two, but it swatches really red/purple on my hand...I need to just give up swatching that pencil, cause it never works.) There's also a taupe blonde shade called Pale Ale and a darker brown called Dark Brew. I love that the shades are named after beer, but I wish they had a good option for redheads.

The spoolie on the end of the pencil is very serviceable, though not the softest of the bunch, and the lids don't snap on quite as tightly as I'd like. Beyond that, I'm loving this pencil. It definitely has a gel-like texture that smooths over the brows easily without looking flaky or chalky. I can get my brows done in a minute with this pencil because it's so pigmented and soft: brush brow, apply pencil in soft strokes, brush again, repeat process on other brow. The one caveat is that the soft formulation makes it impossible to draw on individual brow hairs, so if that super duper natural brow look is your game, I don't think this product will work for you; it's always going to apply like a "smear" of color. A nice smear! ...but still a smear.

In the above photos, I'm wearing the Gel Brow pencil and the Weekend Lash Stain on the left and am bare-eyed (man, that sounds funny to me) on the right side. I think the done-up brow looks faboosh: emphasized, strong, and appropriately ashy-colored without looking very fake or drawn-on. The stained lashes are definitely black and noticeable, but the amount of work I had to do to get them that way was not entirely worth it.

Milk likes to promote their products as "high concept and low maintenance," designed for cool, young urban people on the go. But "high concept" doesn't necessarily mean "smart concept." It's fine to have some gimmicks, like fun video tutorials and a quirky little paper that can blot your t-zone and roll your weed, but you can't rest on those laurels--at the end of the day, products need to work.

Dear Milk Makeup: if you start focusing more on products that really are fast and functional, and less on products that just look neat in pictures, let me know. I'll give them another shot.

RATING -- GEL BROW: 4 out of 5

RATING -- WEEKEND LASH STAIN: 2 out of 5

RATING -- COVERAGE DUO: ???

Milk Makeup is available at MilkMakeup.com and Sephora.com.

Sample Rundown #9

The more I do these Sample Rundown posts, the more I think I'm getting unbearably picky. Does anybody agree? Am I refining my tastes as I mature, or getting bitchier as I age? I can never tell. ANYWAY!

Buxom Full & Fabulous mascara -- This is one of the mascaras from Buxom's "Mascara Bar," which lets you choose the wand that best works for you. The wand on this tube was actually nice for separation: it was rubberized and had stiff, short bristles that really combed through my lashes. But that's about where my praise ends. The Full & Fabulous variety is supposed to give you "lush volume," but I found the effect overall very "meh." Also, this flaked like crazy on me. Not a keeper.

Omorovicza Queen of Hungary mist -- I'd be lying if I said I wasn't dying to try this stuff. Ever since Ruth from A Model Recommends talked it up, I've been sniffing around different sites, hoping for a sample or a cheaper mini-bottle. I finally obtained a sample, annnnd...it's nice? But nothing new or special. It had the same effect on my skin as cheaper rose water sprays, like the Heritage Rosewater and Glycerin, though it admittedly felt a little lighter and more "refined." That effect? Light hydration. That's it. I did check out the ingredients for this, and I can't find anything unique enough or wonderful enough to justify the $90-for-a-full-bottle cost.

Bite Lush Lip Wipes -- This is another product with a slightly absurd cost: $12 for a pack of 10 with a little mirror. Honestly, they should just skip the mirror (it's not even a compact) and charge a little less for a 10 pack. That aside, I have to admit that these are pretty impressive wipes: they can remove the most stubborn lipsticks, including MAC Ruby Woo, without leaving the lips feeling dry or parched. I personally don't have much use for them, but if you are a blogger who does tons of lip swatches on the same day and/or you like to switch your lip color when you transition from day to night, these could be very useful.

Supergoop Forever Young SPF40 Hand Cream -- For the most part, this is a pretty beautiful product. I find it very hard to locate a hydrating, but not too greasy, handcream with SPF in it, and the Supergoop definitely fits the bill. It's lightweight, soothing, and provides good moisturization with a high level of sun protection. It also spreads very easily; I could see a full tube of this stuff lasting quite a while. My only complaint with this product? The smell is quite strong. It's not a bad smell, but I like wearing perfume, and I don't want that covered up by a citrus sunscreen scent. If Supergoop could get rid of that smell or make a fragrance-free version, I'd be all up on that full tube.

Sample Rundown #8 + Duping a Highlighter? Maybe?

We're back for 2016, and we're back with another edition of Sample Rundown! This particular rundown is going to feature a mixture of Korean and western beauty, makeup and skincare, "this is pretty sweet shit" and "why the Hell would you pay that much for this nonsense?" Also, there will be a "is this a dupe?" swatch comparison at the end, because this is my blog and I do what I want. ONWARD!

Skinfood Royal Honey Eye Cream -- This is a creamy, smooth eye cream with a bit of a gel texture. It provides light moisture and a hint of glow, and the formula feels weightless under the eyes, so it should work well for people with normal, slightly dry, or slightly oily skin who want a basic eye cream. With that said, it's also a tad sticky, so I wouldn't recommend it for under makeup. This made me break out, unfortunately, but I really did like the texture and how a little goes a long way. Purchase directly from a reputable Korean seller, like RoseRoseShop.com, unless you want to deal with major price gouging.

Clarins Super Restorative Night Cream -- Sweet God, can you believe that this things costs over $100 retail?! This cream feels thick and rich on your fingers, but when you actually rub it in to your skin, it provides only moderate hydration. It's also lacking in the kind of active ingredients and antioxidants that would make the price seem reasonable; in fact, the formula is extremely basic. Overpriced and did little for my dry skin.

 Wearing the Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint and ELF Shimmering Facial Whip.

Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint in PK001 Pink -- A soft, semi-sheer lip tint that applies smoothly and easily. Out the tube (packet?), this product looks and smells like strawberry milk. It's less pastel on the lips, however, and is very wearable. Just make sure you don't smear your lips together for a good minute, or it'll all settle in the center of your mouth. I'm torn on this one: I like how it looks on the lips and how easy it is to apply, but it's a smidge drying and it doesn't last as long as other stains. Maybe I'll grab a full tube if I can get it for the right price.

Too Cool For School Pumpkin Sleeping Pack -- Korean sleeping packs come in a range of formulas, but in my experience, most are like a moisturizer and a mask having a baby. The popular TCFS Pumpkin Sleeping Pack doesn't smell a thing like pumpkins--it actually has a bit of a sweet, floral fragrance--but it does have a light, smooth texture and a clear color going for it; this means it won't feel heavy or look creepy on your face. I wear a thin layer of this over most of my face (I skip my nose), let it sink in for 10 minutes, then go to sleep. The next day, I wake up and my skin is slightly more moisturized and quite soft. Makeup applies a bit better after I use this as well. The results are not dramatic, though, so I think I'll use up my sample sachets before deciding whether or not I want a full size.

Guerlain Maxi Lash So Volume! mascara -- Most high-end mascaras strike me as "meh" for the price, and this one is no different. While it claims to be a volumizing mascara, I found that it gave me only a little volume. I definitely got a lot of length from it, though, which may be due to the rubberized wand bristles. It was easy to remove at the end of the night, which is a bonus, but it flaked a good bit throughout the day. Definitely not worth purchasing a full size, in my opinion.

Now I want to talk about a supposed dupe that's been mentioned in the rumor mill! A few people mentioned that the ELF Shimmering Facial Whip in Spotlight is a dupe for the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Pearl, and one of my acquaintances mentioned that Spotlight replaced their MAC Cream Color Base in Luna. I own all three products, so I figured I'd test them out and do some swatching.

The above swatches are Becca on the left, ELF in the middle, MAC on the right. As you can hopefully see, Luna has a more opaque white base than the other two, and Pearl has the most refined Shimmer. Spotlight will certainly give you a glow--see the full face picture above--but I would not say it's comparable to these two at all. It's heavily fragranced, a bit difficult to blend out, and nowhere near as adjustable.

Is it a bad highlighter? No, especially not for $1. But I would never consider it a dupe.

Sample Rundown #7

It's time for a new Sample Rundown! Guest starring, yes, an earbud to keep the mascara tube from rolling away. You're welcome.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in Dark Brown -- Beyond the fact that these shades are definitely too warm for me (Ash Brown is probably a better fit), this is a pretty impressive product. A little goes a long way, so I'll actually be giving the leftovers from this sample to a friend of mine. The powder is very, very pigmented and applies quite smoothly with the ABH #12 brush. This has pretty good staying power, though it isn't entirely sweatproof, so I'd save it for cooler weather. The darker shade was a little less tricky to apply, which I think is obvious in the picture below. I still find a pencil better suited to my needs, but this is good stuff; I'd recommend it for people with heavier brows who just need to fill in the gaps.

Hourglass Film Noir Mascara -- Another really good product! The formula is very creamy, and you can layer it for a minute straight without getting chunky, clumpy lashes. The mascara gives good amounts of both length and volume, and it's jet black. I wore this to work for 12 hours and experienced minimal flaking or smudging--just a few spots right around the eyes at the very end of the day. Film Noir is relatively easy to take off with an oil-based makeup remover. Unfortunately, this one carries an Hourglass price tag at $28 a tube and doesn't impress me as much as NARS Audacious. If, however, you want something gentler than the NARS, this could be a good option, because the brush is soft and the formula is smooth.

Moroccanoil Body Souffle in Fleur de Rose -- The disappointment of the bunch is this body moisturizer. It promises "intense hydration" and "immediate smoothness," which is what I've come to expect from body butters. But the formula is actually really thin and has a powdery texture. I used the entire sample packet on my legs; compare that the performance of a similar amount of Haus of Gloi Pumpkin Butter, which can cover my entire body. The moisturization level was very, very light, and I had to apply another lotion to my legs the next morning. The scent is decent--a powdery tea rose--but nothing special, especially for the $56 price tag.

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream -- I've used samples of this eye cream before. It's never wowed me, to be honest, but no eye cream has. However, I'm trying to be more careful with my eyes as I age and to add some extra moisture to the area. And if extra moisture is your main goal, it's hard to top the Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream. A tiny amount of this thick cream goes a very long way; I used this sample packet over the course of two weeks. While the cream is intensely moisturizing and insanely rich, it doesn't leave my eye area feeling heavy or filmy. I'm sure there are similar creams at a lower price point, but I can't deny that I enjoy every sample packet of this stuff I get.

REVIEW: NARS Audacious Mascara

If a store is offering free mascara samples, I'm pretty much there. I'm not entirely sure what prompts this, because I've yet to meet a mascara that tops ye olde Maybelline Full n' Soft. If I had to guess, though, it probably has something to do with my belief that a tiny tube of mascara is more substantial and fun than most foil packet skincare samples.

But because, again, few mascaras work as well for me as Full n' Soft and they cost more, I'm usually disappointed. I'm glad to say that the NARS Audacious Mascara in Black Moon is a rare exception.

The NARS Audacious Mascara retails at $26 for the full 0.32oz size, which is relatively standard for a high-end mascara. To the best of my knowledge, Black Moon is the only shade available, although I'm sure some cool bright shades will come out for fall.

The packaging is NARS's typical black rubberized stuff, which most people have mixed feelings about. On the one hand, it's really elegant and beautiful; I feel classy pulling this stuff out of my makeup bag. It also makes it easier to grip the tube. On the other hand, it gets dirty freakishly easily and is a pain in the arse to clean up. So it's pretty and functional, but probably best left on your vanity.

The wand has rubber bristles. These are not my favorite thing because they tend to be really freaking pointy and painful. Luckily, this brush is minimally pointy: it definitely isn't as soft as a traditional fiber brush, but it doesn't cause me immense pain like that horrendous Kat von D mascara. I can wiggle it in to the roots of the lashes without making my eyes water. If you have very sensitive eyes, you may want to check out the brush on a sample tube at your nearest retailer.

While I usually hate rubber bristle brushes, I have to say that this one does the mascara a lot of favors. The formula is thick, creamy, and slightly on the dry side, which tends to lead to plenty of volume and inky goodness (yay!), but also major clumps (eek). I didn't really have this problem with the NARS mascara because the brush separated the lashes well while still coating them. The result is great volume, good length, and minimal clumps.

The wear on this mascara is also almost-perfect. I didn't have any problems with smudging. I did see a very tiny amount of flaking, but that was at the 5-6 hour mark, and it was just a few itty bitty flakes on each cheek.

One of the best things about Audacious is that you can easily "amp it up" by adding eyeliner or doing an extra coat. This may seem like a silly thing to get excited about, but it's been my experience that a lot of mascaras do not layer well and/or do not look all that different when you tightline. I'm especially wowed by how voluminous and thick my lashes look with just two coats of the mascara: there's tons of volume, but the clumping is still minimal.

Removing those two layers, though, is a little tricky. Audacious is by no means the most tenacious mascara I've ever used, but I do have to hold my baby oil-soaked cotton square on to my lashes for a good 30 seconds per eye to remove the stuff. I can't imagine micellar waters or especially gentle cleansers removing it.

Overall, this mascara is pretty damn impressive. I'm hesitant to give it a perfect score because of the slightly pokey brush, the less-than-optimal removal, and the little bit o' flaking...but I'll be tempted to buy a full tube when this sample runs out. And considering how adverse I am to paying high-end prices for mascara, I think that deserves a 5.

RATING: 5 out of 5

Sephora in JC Penny Lash Out Kit Results

And now for a different sort of Sample Rundown: the Sephora in JC Penny (SiJCP) Lash Out Kit! This limited edition kit costs $25 and is only available at SiJCP--you will not find it at full-sized Sephoras or on the Sephora website. It comes with deluxe samples of 5 premium mascaras: Bare Minerals Lash Domination, Too Faced Better Than Sex, Tarte Lights Camera Lashes, Kat von D Immortal Lash, and Buxom Lash. Prices and product amounts for the full sizes are detailed in a chart at the end of this post.

The Lash Out is one of those "try it and buy it" deals. You test out the samples, figure out which mascara is your favorite, then take the included voucher back to the store for a "free" full-size tube. I put "free" in quotes because, technically, you've already paid $25 for that mascara. Regardless, I think this is a great deal: you're likely to find at least one tube you truly love, and if you like more than one, well, you've got several sample tubes to keep you going as well!

I will note that you should probably take the box with you to the store when you make your choice, but keep it in your purse and just hand over the voucher. Sephora associates who are not in the know may try to take the box with all of the samples back from you when you, even though they're not supposed to. It's not the end of the world, but why give up something you already paid for?

Also, the voucher only counts for the exact products in this set--you cannot get a different color or the waterproof version.

Now, on to the reviews for each of the mascaras! Each of these mini-reviews includes three pictures: my naked lashes, the mascara on one eye, and the mascara on both eyes. In all of the images, my lashes have been curled. I know it's a bit weird to include a picture of my naked lashes each time, but I have mild trichotillomania and I sleep on my side, which can change how they look on a day-to-day basis.

Bare Minerals Lash Domination

I've tried, and liked, this mascara before. The rubber bristles are twisted around the wand in a swirl pattern, and they deposit a decent amount of product to your lashes. The formula is on the thin side, though it's not as watery as, say, Maybelline Great Lash.

This mascara gives good length and some volume without too much clumping. You can layer it some for more drama without too much trouble. This mascara is also the best "dollar per ounce" value; you pay $18 for 0.37 ounces of product.

I did not experience any noticeable flaking. There was some mild smearing (and that was at the corners of my eyes when they watered heavily), but beyond that, Lash Domination stayed on pretty well. It was not difficult to remove.

My main gripe with this product is the packaging makes it uncomfortable to hold the tube. The twisted tube sure looks pretty, but it can be hard to grip the wand, and despite the texture, it still rolls all over the table. I'm funny about mascara tubes: if they're not going to be round, fine, but the design should make it easy to hold and prevent it from rolling off of my desk.  Lash Domination can also be a bit messy because it takes a little longer than usual to dry down.

Overall, this is a nice mascara, but it doesn't provide enough volume for me, personally, to go for a full size.

Too Faced Better Than Sex

This mascara has mad hype surrounding it, so I was REALLY excited to try it. The brush is supposedly designed to "mimic the curves of a woman's body," but really, it's just a traditional wand that gets thinner in the middle. The formula is incredibly thick, wet, and creamy.

It's obvious why this mascara is so popular. It provides a ton of volume and a decent amount of length, giving me a great false lash effect. If you don't mind having slightly clumped or "fake-looking" lashes, you can layer this stuff on for even more volume. As these pictures show, it really does bring the drama.

Unfortunately, Better Than Sex wears terribly on my eyes. The formula is one of the messiest I've ever used; even when I was being careful, I made a mess out of my eyelids applying this stuff. It begins flaking after 2-3 hours, and it smears like crazy. This is also the most expensive product per ounce, costing $23 for 0.27 ounces of product.

People who love done-up lashes and don't mind some flaking and smearing, or use lash primers extensively, may like this more than I did. As it stands, I was disappointed.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes

This mascara has the most interesting packaging out of the whole set: an almost flat, snake-printed, purple cardboard tube with gold lettering. It's a bit garish compared to the sleek black tubes and compacts I'm normally attracted to, but I appreciate that it's easy to hold, kinda eco-friendly, and--ding ding ding!--it won't roll off of my desk.

The brush on this one is the most basic and classic out of the entire set. It also has the driest formula out of the bunch, though it's by no means "crunchy." I'd say it's got a faint powderiness to it, if that makes sense.

Lights, Camera, Lashes is an all-rounder: it gives plenty of length and volume. You can also layer it for more drama, though I recommend doing one eye at a time as quickly as possible: the dry formula means that adding layers when your lashes are already dry will result in a super-spidery look.

This mascara did flake a little, but only a little--I found maybe 2-3 miniscule flakes under each eye at the end of the day. Also, because this is a classic brush, it doesn't do the best job of separating your lashes, so you can get a lot of clumping if you aren't careful. Overall, though, I found this to be an incredibly versatile and long-wearing product. I used my voucher to get a full tube of this one (though I was a bit sad that I couldn't get the waterproof version, since I love waterproof mascaras).

Kat von D Immortal Lash

I only used this stuff once because it was AWFUL. The brush looks like a torture device, and that was an apt design choice: it's one of the scratchiest, most painful things I've ever put near my eye.

The formula is incredibly thin and gives minimal results. I don't mind a natural mascara (as the last mini-review in this series will show), but the Kat Von D really just seemed to tint my lashes black and provide minimal length. I mean, maybe I would've gotten more volume if I'd really rubbed it in to the base of my lashes, but OW, that stupid brush! The only thing that brush was good for was getting in to the corners of my eyes.

I experienced some flaking and smearing with this product, albeit not to the level of Too Faced Better Than Sex. Just a disappointment of a product, really.

Buxom Lash

This is another mascara I've tried before. The brush has evenly dispersed rubber bristles, but thankfully, they're relatively soft and painless. The brush gets slightly thinner in the center. The formula is very standard: neither thin nor thick, neither wet nor dry, just overall well-balanced and easy to apply.

Buxom Lash is definitely best for those who like length and separation, because it provides plenty of that. I didn't have a bit of clumping with this one. You can't really layer this one for more drama, but on the bright side, that means it's difficult to overdo. Buxom Lash is also really easy to remove. I'd say it's a great choice for people who like low-maintenance makeup.

Unfortunately, this product does smear easily, particularly around the corners of my eyes where they tend to water. There's no flaking, though, and it's not as messy as Too Faced.

It's a nice day-to-day mascara, but because it doesn't add volume and smears, it doesn't suit my needs.

Last but not least, the comparison chart!

That Marc Jacobs 500 Point Perk at Sephora is 500% Worth It

I'm a notorious Sephora Points hoarder. I may toss out 100 points on a nice mascara sample or a small tube of a hydrating face mask, but dropping 500 points on a kit of minis has never melted my butter. That's because, quite frankly, none of the Sephora 500 point kits have impressed me over the past year.

Until now. Sephora is currently offering the Marc Jacobs Blacquer and More kit for 500 points. It's all makeup, and it's all makeup I would use (no bronzers, no lipglosses, etc.), so I jumped right on it. And if you have any interest in Marc Jacobs products, I suggest you do the same.

Before I get too engrossed, please note that all of these products are deluxe sample sizes. They're generous samples, no doubt, but don't expect full-sized goodies in your box.

First up, the eye products. There are two eyeliners in this kit: the Highliner Gel Eye Crayon in Blacquer and the Magic Marc'er Precision Pen Waterproof Eyeliner (squee, cute name!). The Highliner is, as the name suggests, a creamy gel formula. It absolutely glides on to my waterline and sets quickly, so if you're in to smoked liner, you'll have to work quickly with this one. The pigmentation and formula of this remind me so much of my beloved Milani Liquid Eyes liner, but the Marc Jacobs product is a twist-up. That's better with a super-creamy pencil like this because otherwise, they need sharpened constantly. I'll stick with my Milani because I don't wear pencil liner that often, but this is absolutely worth it for the more liner-enthused folks.

The pen eyeliner is also fantastic. It has a long marker tip that's thin enough to make precise lines, firm enough to prevent wobbling, but soft enough that it doesn't scratch. This formula is also a rich, pigmented black. Unlike many liquid eyeliners, the Marc Jacobs Magic Marc'er has a distinctly glossy finish to it. I love my Wet n' Wild liquid eyeliner to bits, but it's matte...so this one tempts me.

The mascara is the O!Mega Lash formula. I've tried it before; I kinda liked it then and I kinda like it now. It clumps like no tomorrow, and if you aren't careful, the ends of your lashes can look bent and spidery. However, it's a very rich black that provides plenty of volume, and I dig that. I've also experienced next to no fallout with this mascara. I'm not tempted to buy a full size tube because the formula is more wet than what I normally like, but trust and believe I'll use up my sample for nights on the town.

The only "meh" part of this kit, for me, is the Le Marc Lip Creme in Magenta. The color--a satiny purple with a hint of blue iridescence--is really gorgeous and will flatter a lot of skintones. The formula is nice as well: the lipstick applies opaquely and easily with one quick stroke. I did find this formula slightly drying, however, and the staying power wasn't up to par with other satin/matte lipstick formulations. Keep in mind, however, that I wear mostly satin/matte lipsticks and I like my rouge to wear like car paint, so my tastes may not match up to yours.

The shiny black-and-metal tubes get smudged up easily, but that's a minor gripe. Overall, this is probably the best 500 point perk Sephora has released thus far. And as of this posting, it's still available on Sephora.com!

Sample Rundown #6

Can you believe it's already time for another Sample Rundown?! I can, because I'm a derp: I've mostly focused on sample packets that I've finished, but of course, deluxe sample sizes that take far longer to finish still count. I mean, you get 2 uses of something out of a sample packet and dozens out of the deluxe guys...so aren't you better able to assess the deluxe samples?

Moving right along! Here are my thoughts.

Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy balm --This balm is nice enough that, when I exchanged several products and ordered a few new ones in their stead, I decided to throw another tube in to my cart. (The code "FRESHLIPS" should still work for Sephora orders!) It has an incredibly slick formula that reminds me of Blistex, and it tastes a bit like lemon and honey--very pleasant. It provides decent moisturization, roughly on par with Jack Black's popular balm, but not quite as intense as pure lanolin. Also, because it applies in such thin, slippery layers, it's good under lipstick if you use a small amount. I don't think I'd pop out the money for a full size tube because the Jack Black is so much cheaper and it has sunscreen, but this is still an effective balm.

Dior DiorShow Maximizer lash primer -- I almost feel silly posting about this, since I've mentioned it a few times in the past. But it's been a while since I've had a tube of this marvelous, marvelous stuff. One layer of this lash primer under two layers of Maybelline Full n' Soft mascara gives me the thickest, fullest, most dramatic lashes you've ever seen; people actually ask me if I'm wearing false lashes when I use this stuff. Of course, it doesn't work under every mascara: because it tends to thicken the lashes, it won't work well under stuff like CoverGirl Clump Crusher (which is designed to separate), and it made Eyeko Black Magic look more spidery. But if you can find the right combo, this is a real winner for volume lovers like me.

Living Proof Instant Texture Mist -- Ignore the fact that I look a smidgen too shiny in the above picture and look at my hair instead. It's looking decent, right, with lots of texture and healthy shine? That's because I spritzed it with this texture mist. My hair is baby fine and very curly, and this spray manages to bring some life back to my second-day hair. It enhancers my curls and makes it look like I deliberately mussed myself. Weirdly enough, I don't like how this sits on freshly-washed hair: it gets really crispy and gives me that 90s scrunched look. I dislike resembling a poodle, so I save this for days when my hair is slightly dirty and I want to do more than pull it up in a ponytail. That doesn't happen too too often, especially in the summer, but I might buy a full size of this stuff anyway. Side note: this is specifically designed for layered styles, so if you only have 1 or 2 lengths in your hair, give it a pass.

NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien -- I wore this in a recent FOTD and spoke about it briefly. Since then, I've worn it a few more times and have come to the conclusion that I like the formula, but don't love it. It's comfortable, pigmented, and it fades evenly...but unfortunately, it does fade quickly. That's fine for neutral shades like this, but I like a lot of brights, and I don't want them fading off of my mouth whilst I drink coffee. I'll keep this pencil because it's a great shade for work and the size makes it perfect for travel, but for now, I don't think I'm going to purchase anything else from the range.

Sample Rundown #5

Can you believe I'm still doing these freaking posts?! I guess the beauty world is good for that: slews and slews of samples, usually of stuff you'd never normally try, but it's there, so ehhhhhhh okay. I didn't have a ton of luck this round, unfortunately, but maybe some of these will appeal to you!

Kate Somerville RetASphere 2-in-1 Retinol Night Cream -- I know retinol is supposed to be an incredible anti-aging ingredient, but if it is, this cream doesn't serve it well. While it's labeled as a night cream, it's not particularly moisturizing, and I woke up feeling dry and tight the next day. It also has an unpleasant sticky texture that stays around for a few hours. Because I didn't are for this as an all-over face cream, I tested it as an eye cream. To that end, it provided some moisture and softened my skin up a bit...but that's it. Either I need a bigger sample to get more realistic results, or this cream isn't worth the price tag.

Le Couvent de Minimes Baume d'Amour -- I used this body cream on my hands for about a week and was reasonably impressed. It's lightweight and feels very smooth (almost powdery) to the touch, but it provides decent moisture.  It's also fast-absorbing, so you're never left with sticky hands. The best thing about it? It smells like new shoes! You know, that weird rubbery smell? That's probably a turn-off for most people, but I kinda liked it. I have other hand creams I like better, so I won't purchase a full bottle of this, but it's a nice enough product.

Jack Black Supreme Cream Triple Cushion Shave Lather -- A small amount of this stuff goes a long way! Although the name suggests that this stuff will lather up, it actually goes on almost clear and feels like an oil. It helped me get a perfect shave on my legs, and the cream was so silky that I almost skipped lotion afterwards. Weirdly enough, it didn't work as well on my underarms (where the hair is coarser), which makes me wonder how it would work on a face. Maybe I'll get another sample and ask my heavy-bearded boyfriend to try it out.

Haus of Gloi Pumpkin Butters in Satyr and Plotter's Breakfast -- I've already reviewed the actual formula of the HoG PBs here; to summarize, this is my all-time favorite body butter. Fragrances tend to change when they're added to skincare, however, and I've noticed that that's especially true with Pumpkin Butters. In this formulation, Satyr is almost predominantly blood orange: tart, citrusy, and a bit sticky sweet. The Plotter's Breakfast Pumpkin Butter has stronger spice notes than the regular perfume oil; my mother actually said it smelt like "baking spices for a pie."

MAC False Lashes mascara -- I'm always delighted to get mascara samples because...well, mascara and brow pencil are the only eye makeup I wear on a regular basis. But I was especially excited for this one because, ahhhh, false lashes in a tube!...but not really. This is a decent mascara: it provides plenty of length, a bit of volume, and lots of separation. If you already have decent lashes, this will give you the look of extensions. Unfortunately, it doesn't give much "oomph," and it flakes and smears like CRAZY. Once, I put this stuff on at 6:30am and had raccoon eyes by 10:30. Perturbing.

Josie Maran Slew o' Reviews!

A few months back, Sephora had their yearly VIB 20% off sale. I was a good girl (aka, somebody who doesn't make a lot of money), and I held off buying anything in the hopes that many of the winter kits and clearance items would go on a deep discount later on. Sure enough, Sephora reduced the price of many-a-sample-set AND added a 20% discount on all clearance items. I was able to get the Josie Maran Winter Dreams kit for $28, plus 20% off, instead of the original $34.

Here's the original packaging for the Winter Dreams kit. It contained the following items:

• Coconut Watercolor Eye Shadow in Rose Gold, 0.16oz (full size); retails for $18.
• Argan Black Oil mascara, 0.17oz (deluxe sample); full size is 0.27 and retails for $22.
• 100% Pure Argan Oil Light, 0.5oz (full size); retails for $16.
• Argan Illuminizer, 0.5oz (deluxe sample); full size is 1oz and retails for $28.
• Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Oil in Limitless Pink, 0.16oz (deluxe sample); full size is 0.5oz and retails for $18, OR you can get a box of 2 deluxe samples for $16.

Straight off the bat, I think this set was great value for money. Any two of these products would equal well over the original $34 purchase cost, and considering I got this thing for roughly ~$20? Talk about a steal!

You probably noticed a ton of coconut and argan in Josie Maran's product names. This is because her line is famous for containing "nourishing oils," primarily--you guessed it--coconut oil and argan oil. In fact, the line got famous for its original Argan Oil, which a lot of people use on their skin, hair, and cuticles. I, however, am not particularly interested in Argan Oil; at the time of this posting, I actually have the bottle from this set up for sale.

The header image also includes a deluxe sample of the Infinity Lip and Cheek Oil in Timeless Coral, which is not included in this set. I actually purchased it in aforementioned deluxe sample duo several months back. (The other shade in the duo, Everlasting Honey, is part of my current giveaway prize!)

Because these products are all quite liquidy and contain oils in the base, you'll want to shake up or knead the bottles/tubes before usage. Otherwise, the pigment may separate from the rest of the formulation.

Enough of the technicalities--let's get on to the products!

Argan Illuminizer -- This is an incredibly creamy and pigmented liquid highlighter. It has a distinct gold color--compare it to the slightly pink MUFE Uplight #11 and the outright white Becca Pearl--and plenty of luminosity. Despite the fact that it looks very opaque and kind of scary in this swatch, it's actually very easy to sheer this product out: just use the tiiiiiiniest amount, or mix it with a bit of foundation. That can be a bit hard to do, however, because the pump is difficult to control, and even the half-a-pea size drop of product it produces on each pump is way too much. This is definitely a "sheeny" highlighter, with some very faint sparkle that can be detected in bright sunlight. I think it's GORGEOUS...but unfortunately, that warm gold color never looks quite right on my pale skin. :( This shade is more suited to medium to dark skintones. If they make more shades of this product, I'll definitely consider purchasing a full bottle. 5 out of 5.

Coconut Watercolor Eyeshadow in Rose Gold -- Holy crap, where have these been all my life?! Granted, I have a weakness for liquid and cream shadows, but these are particularly phenomenal. Rose Gold is more of a coppery shade on me than an actual rose gold, but it's still very beautiful, and I could see it working on a lot of skintones. The product takes about 30 seconds to set. On the bright side, this gives you time to get in there with a brush and blend out the shade. On the bad side, if you blink too soon, the product can crease. Even after drying, this product maintains a wet, foiled look that photographs never do justice to. This is a great product for people like me who like "one eyeshadow looks" and a glossy sheen. Just one word of caution: people with oily eyelids will want to use a primer. 5 out of 5.

Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Oils in Timeless Coral and Limitless Pink -- These got a lot of bad press when they were first released. Reviewers claimed that they had zero lasting power and faded quickly from both the lips and cheeks. Some people also stated that they were incredibly greasy. I have to disagree on two of those three counts. First of all, the texture of these is really beautiful: they're similar to the newer Becca Beach Tints, but even creamier and smoother. A small dab goes a long way, and they apply to my lips and cheeks with incredible ease. I think that a lot of the initial reviewers had oilier skin types, and this is definitely a product for normal to dry skin: even though my lips and skin are even dryer than usual in the winter, these sit comfortably on my skin and maintain a bit of a glow. They do not parch my lips or emphasize the dryness of my cheeks. That being said, I get a good 6 hours of wear out of these on my cheeks...and maybe 2 hours on my lips, if I'm lucky. Bonus points, though, for being one of the few products designed for lips and cheeks that actually works for both. 4 out of 5.

Argan Black Oil mascara -- I was incredibly excited to try this mascara because it promised a creamy, pitch black formula, and that's my favorite kind of mascara. And the formula is, indeed, quite creamy and dark; it feels luxurious to apply it to my lashes, and it makes them incredibly black. I get some length and volume out of this product, and it does hold a curl. However, I think most of the volume is a bit of an optical illusion, ie, "My lashes look thicker because they're so dark." Still, it's a really beautiful look, and I'd gladly continue wearing this mascara if I could. Unfortunately, this thing flakes like crazy. I have no idea why, because it isn't a dry formulation, but the Black Oil mascara starts to flake while I'm applying it. I have to dust off the fallout with a powder brush. Within 4 hours, I have black smudges all around the corners of my eyes and plenty of dark, dark flakes. So sad. 2 out of 5.

Here's a photo of me wearing one layer of the Coconut Watercolor Eyeshadow in Rose Gold, the Lip and Cheek Oil in Limitless Pink on my lips and cheeks, the Black Oil mascara, and the Argan Illuminizer on my cheekbones and under my brow. As you can hopefully see, these products all sit very nicely on my dry skin. None of them dried me out or emphasized my parched skin, which is absolutely phenomenal. They're very effortless, natural products, the "easy" stuff I'd wear on a day-to-day basis. The only disappointment for me is the Black Oil mascara, but I have plenty of other mascaras I adore, so that's not a total loss.

I will note that I think the Josie Maran line is geared more towards dry-skinned people. This is great news for me, of course, but oily-skinned people may want to look elsewhere for their "natural look" products. (Pssst: I would suggest trying Becca or Bobbi Brown.) That being said, the liquid eyeshadows will probably impress plenty of people with their great texture and beautiful finish, and anybody who wants a glow could try out the highlighter.

Josie Maran products are available at Sephora.

Sample Rundown #4

It's time for another Sample Rundown! I've got plenty of skin stuff here...and unfortunately, plenty of disappointments. While some of these products just didn't suit my tastes, I honestly think that a good half of them are just crap. Let's get on to the mini-reviews!

Becca Ever Matte Poreless Priming Perfector -- While my skin is 95% dry, my nose is incredibly oily. This means that products that look good on the dryer parts of my face are almost always going to melt in to nothingness on my nose. I was therefore inspired to test this cult classic primer on my nose, as I heard it was one of the most mattifying things on the market. Can I just say...wow, what a crock! First of all, you get hardly any product in the sample product: I was barely able to get 3 uses out of it, using this JUST on my nose. I also got zero oil control out of it; instead, it made my foundation pool in to my pores. And I don't even have big pores! A total fail for me.

NARS Sheer Glow in Siberia -- I received several samples of this product, plus a fabulous full bottle, from very kind people. The good news: it was a great match for my neck. The bad news: this formulation didn't work great on my skin. It melted off of my nose, and it looked a bit dry and cakey on the rest of my face. I had to do a LOT of doctoring to get this product to work on my face for more than a couple of others. I'm always upset when something people kindly gave me doesn't work for me, and I'm doubly upset that this was such a great shade for me, but otherwise unusable. :(

Armani Luminesscence CC Cream in #1 -- I labeled this post with "product: BB cream" because I refuse to make a new tag for CC creams. I'm sure you all still love me. ANYWAY! I'm on the fence about this product. On the one hand, it gave me light, slightly glowy coverage, was a good N10-15ish shade, and sat comfortably on my skin. It also photographs nicely, despite the SPF35. On the other hand, it seemed to lack staying power on most parts of my face. I found that this product transferred very easily if I didn't powder or spray it down. In the end, it's a nice CC cream, but it's not worth the huge price tag.

Urban Decay Perversion mascara -- Talk about a divisive mascara! I know some people really adore this, and I can see way. It gives some length and absolutely crazy volume. It's also one of the blackest mascaras I've ever seen. Unfortunately, it's waaaaaay too wet and messy for me. Every time I applied it, my lashline and lids were a total mess, and I had to do major clean-up. Also, if I didn't let it sit for 5 minutes before I touched my lashes, they'd clump together and get spidery. I just don't have the patience for this product.

Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Resist 24 Eye Cream -- In all fairness, I don't think most eye creams are worth it. Next to nothing will actually get rid of undereye circles, caffeine will only reduce puffiness for a brief period of time, and I get plenty of moisture from my face cream. That said, I enjoy the indulgence from time to time; I've been nursing a sample of the Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream for almost 2 years now. This particular cream just didn't impress me. It had a slightly tacky feel on my eyelids, it smelt strongly, and it made my eyes water. On the bright side, I got a week's worth of usage out of this sample packet. Very generous!

Paula's Choice Resist Weekly Resurfacing Treatment (10% AHA) -- I've been using this chemical exfoliant once a week for almost 3 months now, and I'm pretty much in love with it. It's made my skin smoother, more glowing, and less red. First, let's get the bad out of the way: it smells awful, and it feels incredibly sticky and gross on my skin. I rinse it off after about 15 minutes, then apply my moisturizer, in part because my skin is sensitive and I don't like to leave an active on it for too long. But even if my hide was tougher than leather, I'd remove this AHA, because I just hate hate hate the way it feels. So grippy! So sticky! It also makes my skin look a bit worse (see above image) for a few hours, which is why I would never use it before a big event. My skin feels incredibly soft to the touch, however, after just an hour, and I wake up looking fantastic. Some people use this more than once a week, but honestly, "every Friday night" has worked just fine for me!