L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara: Swatches + Review!

I couldn't do it you guys... 

I just COULDN'T bear with that Revlon FabuCrap or the lilac scented h*** that Lancome created any longer. 

So, the other day when I was picking up some goodies at Target (Summer's Eve Cleansing Wash and wet cat food... gawd, my life is exciting) I stepped into the ever-dangerous isles of cosmetics (a dirt-poor beauty lover's death trap) to nab a new mascara.

I had remembered really loving the L'Oreal Voluminous Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara (why do some brands make their product names so darn long, confusing, and just plain impossible to remember???) this past summer so I figured I would give another L'Oreal mascara a shot. 

Enter the L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes mascara:

 This is apparently code for "Blackest Black Waterproof"

The sleek gold packaging, mongo wand, and promises of no clumps and maximized volume had me hook, line, and sinker (or should I say heart, wallet, and register?).

I only just started trying this out this week but i'm already in love; the L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes mascara is absolutely clump free, beautifully separates your lashes, and doesn't flake or feel brittle throughout the day.

While I didn't really see much volume action with this mascara, I really love the look that it gives through lengthening and separation of my lashes. It looks gorgeous for everyday and doesn't make your lashes feel weighed down or heavy with product.

Overall I am just tickled with this mascara!!

For a little less than $7, L'Oreal has made another winning mascara in my book.

Have you tried the L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara?

Love it? Hate it?

What's your favorite drug store mascara at the moment?

Do share!!

xoxo - Cassie

Another Quickie!!

I'm just full of quickies lately... good for some, not for others?

I just want to go to bed so a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am is just what I need right now; the video is linked, as always, down below if you haven't seen my most recent OOTW video yet! :)

Enjoy!!

xoxo - Cassie

NOTD: essie "bikini so teeny" (+ I Made A Blog Button!)

Really quick post today people!!

Just another NOTD... and I'm not too sure how I feel about it. 

The summer essie released "bikini so teeny" was the first summer that I really went wild with cosmetics; I wanted to get my hands on everything available, ESPECIALLY the limited edition/super hyped products. 

"bikini so teeny" fit right into this category... I searched for weeks on end before finally nabbing this little guy for myself and, true to my nature, didn't end up trying it out until this past week hahahah. 

Essentially, "bikini so teeny" is what I would imagine the love child of Sally Hansen's "Pacific Blue" and Revlon's "Cloud" to look like. It's a nice color, don't get me wrong, but I really wasn't too wowed by it (especially under the hyped facade it wore so well). 

True to most essie polishes, this took 3-4 coats for full opacity and lasted about a day before starting to show wear and tear.

Do you have essie's "bikini so teeny"?

Love it? Hate it?

Do you ever get your hands on a hyped/limited edition product and then neglect to use it?

Do share!!

xoxo - Cassie

PS: I finally made a blog button!! So if you want to nab it and put it in your blog's sidebar (I'd be absolutely touched, really) then you are free to do so :)

50 Random Things About Me!!

As per usual I forgot to upload this video onto my blog the other day... whoops!!

So if you haven't seen it already/if you want to get to know me (quite) a bit better then have a gander at my "50 Random Things About Me!!" tag video! 

It was a lot of fun to film and take multiple trips down memory lane so I hope you all enjoy it as well :)

xoxo - Cassie

My Winter Skin Saviors

I'm not sure if it's been the weather in general this winter or merely just the difference between Minnesota and Massachusetts air but, either way, my skin has been all sorts of patchy and dry as of late.

Thankfully my mom has really good taste (without even really knowing it in this case) and gave me two of these products over the holiday season; she hadn't tried either of them but gifted them to me anyways and I couldn't be happier!!

I hope I'm that magically intuitive if/when I'm a mother someday...

Take the jump for more information on these three winter wonder products!!

Newest Obsession: Layering Lip Products

I'm not exactly sure why but lately I have been absolutely enamored with layering lip products.

Okay okay I take it back I think I know why... it's because I've been really freaking amazing at not buying myself excessive and fanciful products this year (clearly I'm not bitter at all) and instead have been trying to get creative with the cosmetics that I already have.

Thankfully my thriftiness with my makeup drawers has been a fruitful endeavor so I figured I should share my findings with you all today!!

Take the usual jump for details :D  

Lancome Hypnose Star: Swatches + Review!!

This post may not be long in length but don't be alarmed!! There is no correlation between blog post length and this mascara's performance; it really goes the distance (and I stand by that pun, in case you were wondering #ITWASGOOD).

I got this little sample from Sephora a few months back and finally remembered to try it out after my current Revlon Fabulash mascara accidentally fell into the garbage can... oh what would you know, you weren't there!!

Anyways, I got around to trying this mascara out this week and I have some mixed feelings.

Let's go with the bad first, shall we?

1.) I can't figure out the wand of this mascara for the life of me. I get it to work just fine but how the heck are you supposed to use a flat triangle to get up into your lashes??? I say we should keep the flat triangles to pizza and leave mascara wands round (but hey, what do I know).

2.) Clumps are a reality of this mascara, though, if you're willing to work with it, they can be sorted out.

3.) This mascara smells like lilacs. And no, not like the nice wafting scent that fills your nostrils when walking by a lilac bush. It's more like if Satan were growing a lilac field in hell and he's using you as the scarecrow hung on his trident left to forever breathe in the rotting lilac fumes.

Enough negativity, onto the positive:

Boom.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!

Lancome's Hypnose Star mascara makes me feel like I'm wearing falsies without actually having to do so. You KNOW a mascara is fantastic when you feel inappropriate walking out of the house with two coats of this on (scandal!!).

I'm so happy to have been able to try out this mascara (I've never used a high end mascara before this!) and definitely am happy with the results. Sadly though I just can't justify ever purchasing the full-size when there are great drugstore alternatives on the market (see here, here, or here). 

If I'm about to fork over $28 for a product there had better be no downsides (and maybe some cat stickers thrown in) but this has at least three too many (and no delightful stickers to be found).

Have you tried Lancome's Hypnose Star mascara?

Love it? Hate it?

What's your favorite mascara (high-end or drugstore)?

Do share!!

xoxo - Cassie

NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder: Swatches + Review!!

Get ready for a picture heavy post folks; this product deserves to be pimped to the fullest extent (and I have no shame putting on my pink faux fur coat and grill made of gum wrappers to do so).

Take the jump to read and see what the NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder is all about (which is everything, by the way; if Aphrodite and Narcissus were to have a love child this would be it).

tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush "natural beauty": Swatches + Review!!

I feel like I've been saying this a decent amount lately but I'm going to be keeping this post short and sweet; all I ever seem to talk about now days is this stupidly beautiful blush (here, here, and basically in real life to anyone who is victim to my beauty gushings #I'mkindofsorryTorey) so I'm just going to limit this post to slight gushing and then some cosmetic p0rn.

Let me sum it up for you:

Arguably some of the best packaging ever (fits oh-so-perfectly in the hand, sturdy, and colored to match the blush perfectly so there's no extra confusion in the morning [or night, I don't judge]), extremely pigmented so your dollar feels well spent (this should last you a lifetime unless you start using it fresh out of the womb), and just an overall delight to apply to your cheeks.

True to its name, this blush will last on your face for 12+ hours and really can make you look like a "natural beauty"; this muted strawberry red blush is surprising versatile so you can apply lightly for that 'blushing bride' look or really pile it on for more of a drunken glow.

Have you tried tarte's "natural beauty"?
Love it? Hate it?
What's your favorite blush at the moment?
Do share!!

xoxo - Cassie

M.A.C. Plumful Dupes Right Under My Nose...!??!?

After publishing my post on M.A.C.'s "Plumful" the other day, Lauren (of Peachy Curves) suggested that Revlon's Kissable Balm Stain "Honey" may be worth a comparison. 

I choked back tears; did I have a dupe for the lovely Plumful in my (disgustingly large) collection already??? 

Furthermore, as I dug through my bags to find Honey (I've got the bad habit of leaving 10+ lipsticks in my backpack and purse from previous outings #girlproblems) I came across my Revlon Lip Butter "Berry Smoothie"... SON OF A--- did I have TWO possible dupes for Plumful???

The mystery had to be solved.

New Video... A "Tutorial" This Time!!

It took long enough (three times to get it uploaded correctly, oofta) but here it is!!

I've gotten some requests to do my current everyday makeup routine so, while I feel really strange calling this a "tutorial" (it's so unbelievably basic), that's pretty much what it is.

It's really nothing special but I think the dark, muted eyes allow my new tarte blush "Natural Beauty" (hauled here) to really shine!!

And yes, it is where I got my new profile picture from haha (how embarrassing).

I hope you enjoy and let me know if you have any other requests!! :)

xoxo - Cassie

M.A.C. "Plumful": Swatches + Review!!

I don't think I've been this excited about a lipstick since... erm... I have no comparison (worst. writer. EVER #mybad).

Maybe it was the long awaited anticipation of the purchase (I was a good girl and held off for months before caving [currently accepting virtual back pats]).

Maybe it was the thousands of swatches of this lipstick I put onto my hand over said months (historically accurate reenactment here).  

MAYBE IT'S JUST BECAUSE THIS LIPSTICK IS BEAUTIFUL IN EVERY WAY SHAPE AND FORM.

Can't fault the facts, folks.

Plumful is a Lustre finish lipstick in M.A.C.'s permanent collection (aka you will NEVER have to shed a tear when your bullet runs out... not even for parting with your cash because it is THAT worth it).

It's the most gorgeous (and dare I venture to say universally flattering?) shade of sheer pinky-plum that'll give you about three hours of wear. While that number isn't very impressive, it's kind of what I expect from M.A.C. lipsticks (I've tried many different finishes and none last more than 3-4 hours on me). 

Also, because this is a Lustre finish, I find that even though the wear time is quite short, it fades extremely evenly so you won't have to worry about the dreaded lip-liner-no-lipstick effect that many lipsticks are notorious for leaving (I'm looking at you Matte finishes).

Boom.

*fist pound explosions galore*

I can't imagine anyone would regret purchasing this lipstick.

Have you tried M.A.C.'s Plumful?

Love it? Hate it (don't make me cry)?

What's your favorite lipstick at the moment?

Do share!

xoxo - Cassie

New Video + Galileo Picture Dump + Update!!

Hello hello my dear readers!!

I just wanted to do a really quick post for you to share my latest YouTube video (if you haven't already seen it, it's linked above as usual), which happens to be an OOTW quickie, and also let you know that I survived the North East coast blizzard... huzzah!

Here's a little picture dump of Galileo and myself to show you my rather uneventful and cold (I didn't have power, heat, etc. for most of it) last couple of days during the blizzard:

The first huge chunks of snowfall really freaked Galileo out... he kept attacking the windows haha.

I like to think that Galileo put his little paw on my head to tell me it was all going to be okay even though we were hanging out by flashlight/candlelight and getting chilled to the bone.

 We basically spent all day today cuddled in my already warm bed with all of the blankets I own piled on top... Galileo was a good little heater!!

As the day rolled on though Galileo started shaking (broke my heart!!) so I wrapped blankets around him as best as I could and after a couple of minutes he stopped shivering and dreamt nice catnip filled dreams.

So that's it people!! 

I just got power back a few hours ago so my apartment is nice and cozy warm again I'm all caught up with things (doing dishes, folding blankets, responding to emails/comments, etc.); I hope you all are doing well and, if you braved the storm with me, stayed as warm and safe as possible! :)

xoxo - Cassie

February '13 Birchbox!!

Dare I say this is one of my favorite Birchboxes ever?

DARE I???

*shrug* It's been done.

Take the jump to see why!!

Revlon Fabulash Mascara: Swatches + Review!

I feel like such a horrible person for posting so many negative (read: honest) product reviews lately but I feel like it's better than lying to you all!! 

So hopefully it's not too dreadfully painful to read through another downer of a post but I really want you all to steer clear of this one (which I think you have to as this is discontinued?). 

My lashes are are one of my more stellar (if I do say so myself) genetic gifts so when a mascara fails to make my lashes look nice then that's saying a LOT... makes me feel pretty confident in saying that if it didn't work for me it probably won't work for you; though you can obviously prove me wrong if you can must.

Take the jump for the usual deets!

Video Up On YouTube!

Here you are lovely people of the internet!!

I've got a good mix of beauty and clothing (and books... hoorah!) in here so click the above video or head on over to my channel to watch :)

Enjoy!

xoxo - Cassie

Sonia Kashuk 'Shimmering Sands' Eye Shadow Quad: Swatches + Review!

When it comes to drugstore makeup, it seems Sonia Kashuk is often seen as queen (sorry Latifah).

That said, I've actually never purchased a product of hers since, while I always hear wonderful things about the brand, I actually don't really hear too much about individual products and their performance. 

Cut scene to the other day at Target: I was walking through the makeup isles with absolutely no intention of purchasing anything (and honestly, I get a gold star for the month of January when it comes to curbing my spending). Now pan camera to Sonia Kashuk's 'Shimmering Sands' palette; cue pounding of my heart and close-up of the drool running down my chin.

A beautiful and relatable scene, am I right?

Right.

Take the jump for the verdict; is this documentary an uplifting rom-com or tear inducing tragedy?

NOTD: T.G.I.F.

I know I know I know I know I know: it's not Friday.

But I have class all day on Saturdays so it feels like my weekend starts tonight...

I had a long week, can we just leave it at that?

What better way to celebrate its end than with super glittery nails?

I honestly can think of nothing (except cookies for dinner and a kitty purring loudly in your lap... which is happening right now *bliss*).

 NYC - Lincoln Center / H&M Nail Polish - Confetti time / Delia*s Nail Polish - Gold Shimmer

I know this is going to sound like a complicated procedure, but I promise this nail art is anything but:

1.) Over your base coat, start out with two coats of your base color (or one, if that's all it takes for opacity).

2.) Once dry, take your gold polish and put a dot/glob at the base of your nail; using a cheap eye-makeup sponge feather it upwards to create a gradient about a third of the way up your nail.

3.) Once that's dry, apply your glitter over the base of your nail (where the gold is most opaque); then feather that upwards like before and repeat two or three times until of desired glitter opacity.

Et voilà!!

You've now got yourself a manicure worth celebrating (regardless of what day of the week it is).

Let me know if you try this out!

What's your favorite way to unwind after a long hard week at work/school (or, like in my case, both)?

Do you ever take the time to do fancy-shmancy nail art?

Do share!

xoxo - Cassie