Mascara Monday: Sephora Favorites Lash Stash to Go

You didn't think I'd forget about our long standing tradition, did you? Mascara Mondays are back and this week we're checking out Sephora Favorites Lash Stash to go.

 Now that my state has joined the rank of coolness and actually has Sephora (2) and Ulta (3), I can tell you all about the goodies I've tried, not just the ones I'm looking at.  This little baby caught my eye as soon as I walked in the store and I carried it around with me the whole 45 minutes or so that I was there. Ok, so I thought it was the last one and I wasn't going to let anyone else get their grimy little paws on it. Turns out there were tons left at the register (PS- how fun are those cute little displays that you just have to look at before you check out?)

Mascara minis are a weakness of mine and I had to get in on the action and get this one. I'd been dreaming about them, mentally putting them on my holiday wish-list just days before I found the summer version in stores. I never knew they did these at other times of the year. My eyes are peeled for them now.

So for the next few weeks you'll be able to read all about the mascaras in this set, that includes:

-Benefit BADgal Lash in Black
- BUXOM Lash in Blackest Black (my favorite mascara even before I bought this set)
- Korres Volcanic Minerals Voluminizing Mascara
- Lancome Définicils in Black
- Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! in Rich Black

Plus, I got a mini Benefit They're Real! from Sephora for my birthday so you'll get a review on that one too.

The best thing? The voucher for a FREE full-size mascara! Choose from the five mascaras included which range from $19-$27. This cutie pays for itself! Just hold on to that voucher and don't let it go.

In case you don't remember I've reviewed Lancome Definicils before here and Buxom here but I'll be reviewing them again for you in the coming weeks in case they've snuck in any formula changes when we weren't looking.

Urban Decay Mariposa Palette

It's that time of year again. The days are getting shorter and here in the Northeast it's starting to get cold. It seems like every day is dark and dreary and it's starting to get to me already. The dank and drenched weather not only makes it impossible to enjoy being outside but it brings in darkness at 6:00. You know the only way to spin this into a positive right? Yeah, because it's night time earlier you can bring out your night makeup before dinner.

Urban Decay always catches my eye with their palettes but the Mariposa Palette is beyond words. These colors are anything but dreary. Many of them are dark but they're not a collection of blackened colors, they are also bright. I think browns and grays are my favorite colors to wear on my eyes at night and this palette has lots of them, not to mention beautiful shades of pink-purple, smoky blue and plum. I could see this palette taking you all the way through the winter. Imagine the possibilities.

It's $39 for 10 shades of shadow and a travel brush all packed into an adorable tin case adorned with a butterfly. I could see myself keeping the tin on display in my living room but I'm a dork like that. Pick it up only at Sephora for a limited time.

Sephora Advanced Lash Booster

I should be ashamed of myself. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect from Sephora's Advanced Lash Booster but I'm sure glad I gave it a try, this mascara is super!

Let me preface this by saying I've been doing Mascara Monday for a while now and I still have plenty left to go. My needs vary greatly on a daily basis. Some days I like to look made up, others I'd rather look like I wasn't trying but still want to look great. I seriously think this mascara would kick ass for either type of day. Here's why...

While my lashes are fairly long and thick, they aren't very dark. One coat of this amazing mascara darkens them so they look like my lashes but better. You probably wouldn't even know I had mascara on, my lashes just look great. I'm not that girl, even on my laziest days one coat isn't going to cut it. I know there are girls out there that would disagree with me so I thought I'd share that tidbit.

Upon applying the second coat my lashes looked darker and longer, always a plus. It's a very subtle look but one I could live with. Makeup junkies will be able to tell you're wearing mascara, guys would not. Layer on a few more coats and my eyes look transformed, no clumps in sight, a perfect amount of curl, volume, length and color. I seriously look like I'm wearing natural looking falsies, not those over exaggerated Kim Kardashian lashes, but regular, "I need a boost" falsies. My lashes are so separated and lengthened without looking spidery.

Sephora, I will never doubt you again. I'm so glad I have two (2!) mini tubes of this mascara, I have a feeling I'll be using it all summer. Best of all, it's on sale (and hopefully not clearance) on Sephora.com for $12, not much more than my average Joe mascara at Wal-mart.

Choices, Choices, Choices

I love choices, more than anything I like a good choice. I like to choose my side dishes, my shampoo each shower and what show or movie to watch at any given time. That's why I love perfume samples. I have a Bloomingdale's Little Brown Bag 1/4 full of fragrance samples (with very little repeats) that I am slowly going through. Any given day I have at least 100 choices for fragrances, what could be better?

What's a few more? My favorite store, Sephora (of course) sells Fragrance Samplers each Holiday season that come with a gift certificate to purchase a full size bottle of the fragrance you like best in the set. This year there are two each for men and women, deluxe and collector's edition. Each set comes with scent samples, try each one and choose your favorite. Every sample contains at least five days of wear giving you a chance to really live with the scent before you make a decision. Then, redeem the gift certificate at a Sephora store for a full size bottle of the scent you like best. It's that easy. These make a great gift for your girlfriend or wife, your mother or daughter, anyone you don't exactly what to buy for the Holidays. Since fragrance is such a personal choice this is the way to go if you're not sure exactly which scent a person wants.

Just a note: You can only redeem at Sephora stores. Gift certificates cannot be used online or at Sephora in JcPenney Stores.