Thursday, February 28, 2013

February 2013 Favorites

     Happy last day of February everyone! The products featured in this months post are a little different. Since I have been trying tons of new drugstore makeup I haven't really had any favorites this month in that department. This lack of makeup favorites has given me a chance to realize some of the clothing items and hair produces that I love! Here are my favorite products for February 2013...


Johnson's Baby Shampoo ($3.99): This takes some explaining so I'll try to keep it short. Years ago I developed a form of dermatitis (inflammation of the skin) around my eyes. This caused slight burning, scaly skin, and redness that was hard to combat. We made an appointment with a dermatologist to have it checked out and this is what she prescribed! She said the ingredients in shampoos rid of this inflammation and encouraged me to use baby shampoo because it was tear-free. I only dealt with this irritation during the winter months because ultraviolet rays took care of the problem in the summer. This clears my dermatitis while removing any makeup (even eyeliner and mascara) while being very gentle. Even though the irritation has been gone for a few years, I still continue to use this in the shower about three times a week.

SunSilk Hydra TLC 24/7 Creme ($18.99): This has been a staple hair product of mine since freshman year of high school. I remember when this line came out and it didn't seem to stay around for very long. However, I found a winner in this product- I also have only had to repurchase it once in 6 years! I don't know how readily available this is but if your looking for a smoothing creme that doesn't leave your hair feeling crunchy or greasy I'd give this a try! I use it when I'm letting my hair air dry and when I blow dry it with great results.

J. Crew Black Pixi Pants ($98.00 but I paid $83.00): This is definitely my most worn clothing item for the month- hands down. They are the most comfortable legging type pants that I own. They are much thicker than typical leggings and are very form fitting. I wear them with everything from hoodies to blouses. Dressing them up with flats and down with boots. They are so versatile that I even wore them to an interview! They come in black, navy, and heather grey and don't forget that J. Crew also offers a 15% off student discount!

Turbie Twist ($15.75): These were a Christmas stocking stuffer from my parents a few years ago and I love them! I use one every time I take a shower and they are so comfortable to wear! Much lighter than your typical bath towel, they really help soak up the excess moisture. They are particularly handy when I am plan to blow drying my hair. I like to keep my hair up in one of these for about 30 minutes after showering and applying any products to let the extra moisture evaporate before using heat.

American Eagle Heart Studs ($10-15): These are my most worn earrings because they go with absolutely everything! You cannot go wrong with silver studs. I can't find the link to the particular ones I own because I purchased them awhile ago but many stores sell similar versions. *I will have a more detailed pictures at the bottom of this post*

Tangle Teezer ($12.99): I came across this brush after seeing Nicole Guerriero using it in a hair tutorial. Since my hair has been getting longer I noticed that my regular brushes just pulled on my hair causing breakage. I purchased this tool at Sally's Beauty Supply and it was the best purchase I've ever made hair wise! It gently untangles my fine, thin, long hair and leaves it shiny and soft. Don't ask me how it works because it seems as though the teeth of this brush would make things worse! The sounds it makes is a little weird (that sounds odd I know) but other than that it works wonders.

Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes ($5.00): I tried these after using the Meijer brand makeup wipes for some time. I wanted to try a better quality product and heard these were really good! They remove my makeup quickly and efficiently. I can't say how these fair against water proof makeup because I don't wear it, but these do a great job at removing everyday foundation and eye makeup. They are very soft and that was my main problem with the Meijer off brand. They have a nice, natural, light scent and I will continue to purchase them for the time being!




Love, Lacey

Monday, February 25, 2013

CVS Haul 2/24/13

     Yesterday was an easy Sunday full of family and spending time with my boyfriend. Jerome and I headed to lunch with my parents then were off to CVS and the car wash. He was so sweet and let me take my time while he watched the Lakers game in the car on his phone! Guess I shouldn't complain right?! I picked up a few things on my list and some that weren't- that always seems to happen. Here is what I ended up getting...


Physicians Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash Mascara ($9.99): CVS was having a great sale on Physicians Formula (PF) cosmetics this week and I decided to try some new things. When you spent $10.00 on this brand you received $7.00 in CVS bucks! I bought this mascara because I remember Fleur from FleurDeForce raving about it a few months back- plus I have never tried a PF mascara!

Physicians Formula Glow-Boosting Bronze Booster Deluxe Edition ($16.29): I actually had the PF Bronze Booster on my list after seeing Judy from ItsJudyTime using it in a recent video. I couldn't choose between the two shades of the Bronze Booster so I opted for this. The packaging sold me and I liked the idea that it was a glowy bronzer but not a shimmery one. I figured this would be perfect for summer.

Physicians Formula Organic Wear Fake Out Mascara ($9.99): I also purchased this version of the PF Organic Wear mascara because I couldn't choose between the two. Plus, I thought that I could do a blog post comparing the two!

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Liner in Nude ($4.49): This was written on my "what to get at the drugstore" list after Emily from Beauty Broadcast used it in her 5 Quick Makeup Game-Changers video. I own a white eyeliner to brighten up my waterline but don't find myself reaching for it all that often. I loved the idea of using a nude shade rather than white so decided to give this a try! I tried it out in the car and loved the effect! It was so creamy and glided on easily.

Essie Nail Color in Avenue Maintain ($8.00): The Essie display ALWAYS catches me as I walk in the doors- it never fails! I picked this shade just simply because I thought it was pretty! It was also part of Essie's new Spring 2013 collection. I won't mention the amount of blue nail polishes I already own but I found this shade particularly pretty and a little more subtle than the others.


Essie Nail Color in Muchi, Muchi ($8.00): What do you know... another nail polish! I gravitated towards this shade because I do not own any light pink colors. I went through a phase where I hated sheer nail polishes but I think I'm ready to give them another try. This was a brighter shade than some of those light pinks but still natural looking and girly. I can't wait to try it!


Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in Muse ($9.99): This was one of those impulse buys... yes, I'm admitting it. I own Finale from the same line and really like it- it's what made me love matte red lips! I was curious to see if the other colors in the line were matte as well so I picked up this bright pink shade. This was the original color that I gravitated towards months back when the line first came out. I actually ended up purchasing Finale instead to get me out of my fuchsia lip comfort zone. I will say, I'm torn with this formula. They can be uncomfortable to wear but last for ages on the lips. A review will be coming soon!

Are there any reviews or comparisons you want to see? If so please let me know in the comments below!

Love, Lacey

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Lazy Sunday FOTD

     Today will consist of family and a lot of food! Every Sunday my family and I head to lunch and the grocery store. After that we head over to my Nana's house around five to spend a few hours with my grandparents and cousins. It's a day that I always look forward to and it's a great start to the week. Today I wanted to break out some of the makeup that I had forgotten about and even some I had never used before! I love doing these posts because it forces me to switch up my daily makeup and keeps me away from just applying some simple mascara. Without further ado here is my face of the day...





Face:
-CevaVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
-CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation in 805
-Clinque Advanced Concealer in 01 Matte Light
-MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light
-Physicians Formula Magic Mosaic Light Bronzer
-ELF Blush in Candid Coral

Eyebrows:
-Laura Mercier Eyebrow Pencil in Brunette
-ELF Eyebrow Lifter and Filler in Ivory/Light

Eyes:
-Wet N Wild Take on the Day Primer
-Wet N Wild Color Icon Trio in Silent Treatment Brow Bone color (lid)
-Wet N Wild Color Icon Trio in Silent Treatment Eyelid Color (crease)
-Wet N Wild Color Icon Trio in Silent Treatment Crease Color (outer V)
-Eyeko London Skinny Mini Black Liquid Eyeliner
-Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Black Mascara (upper lashes)
-L'Oreal Voluminous Original Black Brown Mascara (lower lashes)

Lips:
-L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick in Blushing Sequin

* Later in the day I switched my lip color to Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in Muse*
Which lip option do you prefer?

     It ended up being a wonderful day and I couldn't be happier. Right now I am watching the Academy Awards- I've been looking forward to them all day! The Amazing Race was also on tonight so it was hard choosing what to watch first.

Here's to a great week!
Love, Lacey

Saturday, February 23, 2013

A High and Low End Eyeshadow Primer

     I used eyeshadow primer for the first time a few years ago and haven't put it down since. Well, maybe that's a little dramatic but I love the stuff! It is essentially meant to extend the life of your eye makeup, prevent creasing, and improve the color vibrancy of your eyeshadow. I have only tried the two most popular brands (Urban Decay and Too Faced) but as soon as I found out about a drugstore version I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.

     Wet N Wild just released their new line featuring Fergie called Center Stage. It includes everything from eyeshadow and mascara to lip products and nail polish- not to mention a new eye shadow primer! For the sake of this post I mainly will be reviewing the product but also will be comparing it to the formula of the very popular Urban Decay Primer Potion.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion:
Price: $20
Size: Full Size is 0.37 OZ and the sample size (pictured above) is 0.13 OZ.
ShadeOriginal 
Shade Selection: 4
Marketed As: "Urban Decay's #1 best selling product. Apply before your eyeshadow for more vibrant crease-free color that lasts for 24 hours".

Wet N Wild Take on the Day Primer:
Price: $4.99
Size: 0.34 OZ.
Shade: For My Primas
Shade Selection: 1
Marketed As: "This revolutionary shade-adjusting technology starts out white and adjusts to match your exact skin tone. Unique primer properties smooth skin texture for perfect application".

Product Photos:


Urban Decay Primer Potion contains a doe foot applicator.
I use this to apply the product to my eyelid and blend with my finger.
*Urban Decay has since changed their packaging- it's now very similar to the Wet N Wild product. Please check out Urban Decay's link, which is provided above to view the new packaging*

The Wet N Wild Take on the Day Primer has very simple, yet effective packaging. You easily squeeze some product out onto your finger then apply it to your eyelid and blend.

-Urban Decay (left) and Wet N Wild (right)-

Application Photos:

-Urban Decay Primer Potion-
It cancels out any discoloration and redness creating the perfect canvas for eyeshadow.

-Wet N Wild's Take on the Day Primer-
This formula is less opaque so it does't leave the eyelid completely flawless.

Here is a photo showing the overall look after applying eyeshadow
Wet N Wild (left) and Urban Decay (right)
*I used the CoverGirl Shimmering Sands palette*

     I was very impressed with how this drugstore formula faired against it's very popular competitor. Here are my overall thoughts...

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion:
Overall Application: There are die hard fans out there for this stuff and I understand why! It's great- just that simple. The application is very smooth and it blends out easily. I would be careful though because it does set pretty quickly. If you don't blend it out within 30 seconds it hardly budges. That happened to me when I was taking these photos!
Overall Color: I have gotten the chance to also try one of their new shades- Greed. It was very nice but I seem to prefer the original color. To me, I don't feel the need to have multiple shades of primer because I'm just going to cover them with eyeshadow. I want the true color of my shadow to show, not a mix of shadow and primer. I do commend Urban Decay for coming out with different shades though. They would be pretty worn alone and would also cater to a wider range of skin tones.
Overall Formula: It is blendable but not too silky. It absorbs quickly and does a great job of canceling out any discoloration on the eyelid. 
Overall Packaging: I was a fan of the doe foot applicator but since they have changed the packaging, I see why they did. Many customers were complaining that they could not get all of the product out of the curves of the tube with the doe foot applicator. Once I need to repurchase this product I am sure I will enjoy the newer packaging.
Overall Wear: This product is at the center of every eyeshadow primer conversation and for a reason, it does exactly what it is supposed to do. It boosts the color of the eyeshadow and made the overall eye look last all day without creasing.  

Wet N Wild Take On The Day Primer:
Overall Application: Application for this primer was great. I actually found my self applying too much product so a little goes a long way. It also blends nicely.
Overall Color: The product doesn't come out white like it claims- it is more of a very light, flesh tone color. I also don't think it "adjusted" to my particular skin tone but it did blend in without being noticeable.
Overall FormulaThis product is more watery and liquidy than its competitor. It actually has a very similar consistency to Too Faced Shadow Insurance- the other most popular eyeshadow primer. Even though it didn't leave my eyelid flawless, it did combat most of the redness and discoloration. For me, the finish of this primer was totally acceptable.
Overall Packaging: I liked this packaging but I did have one complaint. The opening where the product comes out is fairly big. It didn't cause too many problems but the product does come out fast when you squeeze the tube. 
Overall Wear: I was very pleased with the wear of this product! It held up great and just as well as a high-end formula. When I wore them side by side I noticed no differences in color vibrancy, creasing, or wear.

Bottom Line: If you are a fan of wearing eyeshadow and don't own a primer, you should! It is an extra step that takes only a few seconds but makes a huge impact. With this new Wet N Wild product being the first drugstore eyeshadow primer that I have tried, I am very happy! If you are in need or are wanting to try an eyeshadow primer than this drugstore one is perfect for the job. It is readily available at any drugstore where Wet N Wild is sold and is a forth of the price of both popular high-end brands. I will be sticking with the Wet N Wild drugstore formula and will be reaching it for it when my samples of high-end primers run out for two reasons...
1. PRICE
2. It gives the same result as a high-end formula.


Love, Lacey

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Lunch With A Friend FOTD

     I can't believe I am uploading another one of these already but why not?! I met a friend who I haven't seen in a while for lunch this afternoon and it was so much fun catching up. I decided to wear a more natural look with a bolder lip which is my usual go to daytime makeup. I used a lot of products so I apologize in advance... Who knew going natural could be so much work?!

Face:
-CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
-Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup in 150 Buff
-Clinque Advanced Concealer in 01 Matte Light
-Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer (under eyes)
-MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light
-ELF Shimmer Palette (highlight for cheek bones, center of nose, and cupids bow)
-Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer
-Milani Baked Blush in 01 Dolce Pink

Eyebrows:
-Laura Mercier Eyebrow Pencil in Brunette
-ELF Eyebrow Lifter and Filler in Ivory/Light

Eyes:
-Urban Decay Eyeshadow Original Primer Potion
-Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in 13 (eyeshadow base)
- Too Faced Glamor To Go Catwalk Collection Shimmery Taupe shade (bottom right corner in palette: outer 2/3 of lid) *Photo Below*
-MAC Omega (crease)
-Too Faced Glamor To Go Catwalk Collection Taupe Brown shades mixed together (first and third color in top row: lower lash line) *Photo Below*
-Urban Decay Naked Palette Creep and Darkhorse (mixed together for liner and applied with angled brush)
-CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara

Lips:
-Nivea Lip Butter in Raspberry Rose Kiss
-Maybelline Color Whisper Lip Color in Who Wore It Red-er



     I received this palette from Sephora years ago when I reached 500 points. It also came with a sample size of their shadow insurance primer and mascara. I have recently pulled it out and have been loving the shadows. Unfortunately, they aren't named and I realized that after using it for this blog post. Even though it made things a lot more complicated I liked the final result!

     So, that was my overall "face of the day" for this cold and overcast Thursday. Maybe I was feeling a natural, simple look today because I was secretly wanting it to be summer!


Hope everyone is having a great day!
Love, Lacey

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Dinner Date FOTN

     I am so excited for my first "face of the night" aka FOTN post! My boyfriend Jerome and I headed out to one of our favorite places tonight... Red Robin! I rarely get a chance to sit down, relax, and play with my makeup. Since I had about an hour and a half before I needed to leave I decided to go to town! I used a lot of new makeup and wanted to share what I came up with...

Face:
-Clinque Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
- CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation in 805
-Clinque Advanced Concealer in 01 Matte Light
-MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Light
-Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer
-Mary Kay Blush in Shy Blush

Eyebrows:
-Laura Mercier Eyebrow Pencil in Brunette
-ELF Eyebrow Lifter and Filler in Ivory/Light

Eyes:
-Wet N Wild Take On The Day Eyeshadow Primer
-MAC Paint Pot in Chilled on Ice (lid)
-MAC All That Glitters (lid)
-MAC Satin Taupe (crease)
-MAC Omega (blending color)
-CoverGirl Shimmering Sands (highlight)
-Maybelline Line Stiletto
-Maybelline The Rocket Mascara

Lips:
-MAC Ronnie Red


 We had a great night- I seriously couldn't stop laughing. Can't wait to do it again!

Love, Lacey

Maybelline Color Whisper Lip Color

     I finally came around and decided to try this new line of Maybelline lip products. Being a HUGE fan of the Revlon Lip Butters which came out last August, I was a little hesitant to try a similar product from a rival company. I have been wearing these for a few days and have found some pros and cons that I'd like to share with you. I tend to go for the darker shades in lines like these that are marketed as sheer products with washes of color. Here are the three shades that I purchased...

Size: 0.11 OZ.
Shades Purchased: Who Wore It Red-er, Rose of Attraction, and A Plum Prospect.
Shade Selection: 20
Marketed As: " Get truly translucent gel color. Sexy, soft, see through color with no heavy waxes or oils, just a kiss of shine".
Directions: "Apply lipcolor starting in the center of your upper lip. Work from the center to the outer edges following the contours of your mouth. Then glide across the entire bottom lip".
Product Photos:



Here are photos on the lips as well as swatches.
The swatches show what the product looks like built up and sheered out.
-Who Wore It Red-er-
-Rose of Attraction-
-A Plum Prospect-

     I really enjoyed the colors that I ended up purchsing. For me, Rose of Attraction (the lightest of the three) was a really nice neutral that I wore with minimal makeup to class. The amount of shine these give off is wonderful and really makes the lips pop without being too overbearing. I would pair the other two colors that I purchased with a flawless face and winged liner- you can never go wrong there! Here are my overall throughts of this line...

Overall Application: These apply very smoothly and are also the glossiest lipstick product that I own! I enjoy big, bold lip colors so I found myself layering the product on.
Overall Color: The colors are amazing once on the lips, but I have some problems... The names and packaging of these products are very misleading. The Who Wore It Red-er shade is essentially a magenta pink! With that being said the shade range is phenomenal. Not only do they have a crazy amount of shades for every skin tone but they are all beautiful! These definitely have the upper hand on the Revlon lip butter's in this category and I can't believe I'm saying that! I will say though that the shade numbers DO NOT go in order. In the display the colors do not range from lightest to darkest so keep that in mind.
Overall Formula: If you love very thin lip products than these are for you! Personally, I enjoy a thicker lip product that stays put because I am always blotting my lips together. These moved around too much on my lips and I found myself having to wipe around my lip line to rid of the extra product. All in all, these were very comfortable and not drying but a little too thin for my taste.
Overall Packaging: This was definitely something that bothered me. The color of the packaging doesn't reflect the shade of the actual product inside at all. I would say the best represented shade by the packaging out of the three that I purchased was Who Wore It Red-er. Of course this particular shades name didn't accurately describe the product but at least the packaging came close! Other than that Rose of Attraction looks like a bright, watermelon pink shade by the packaging and A Plum Prospect looks like it would be an overly purple color on the lips. The packaging is also very thin and doesn't seem durable enough to last in a makeup or travel bag.
Overall Scent: These smell wonderful! It took me a second to really put my finger on it but they smell like fruit loops! Very fruity and refreshing.
Overall Wear: Comparing these to the lip butters from Revlon the wear is not great. On me, they didn't even last an hour- and that was without eating or drinking! Since the formula is so light it doesn't set into the lips- and honestly I think that is what Maybelline was going for. So for me, it was just a matter of personal preference. 

Bottom Line: This is truly a great, new Maybelline line that I'm sure will be very popular. For me in particular they didn't meet what I wanted or needed in a lip product. These would be great for people who want a sheer wash of color because they are easy to wear and easy to apply in a rush! Being the bold lip person that I am, I need a thicker lip product that doesn't stray outside of my lip line. I will be keeping Rose of Attraction for more laid back days and the Who Wore It Red-er shade because out of the three that was my favorite- and the boldest...go figure!  

Love, Lacey

Monday, February 18, 2013

Maybelline New York Mascara

     Maybelline has come out with two new mascaras that are very popular recently. Being the mascara junkie that I am I had to try them. Someone once told me that you should never waste your money on a  high-end mascara because drugstore formulas are just as good! I don't know about you but lately I'm finding that statement true! Here is a comparison of the two latest Maybelline mascaras thatI have purchased...

The Mega Plush Volum' Express Mascara

Price: $7.49
Size0.30 FL. OZ.
Shade: Very Black- not waterproof.
Marketed As: "Introducing Maybelline's first gel-mousse mascara. It contains 40% less waxes for massive, yet supple lashes. The patented Flexor Brush gently coats every lash with mega volume that's never stiff and never brittle. Opthamologist tested and contact lens safe".
Directions: "For best results place the Flexor Brush against lashes and sweep from root to tip until a plush look is achieved. Removes easily with Maybelline New York Expert Eyes Oil Free Makeup Remover."

Price: $7.49
Size0.30 FL. OZ.
Shade: Very Black- not waterproof.
Marketed As: "Introducing our revolutionary, patented rocket brush. It's hard core and evenly spaced soft bristles give 8x the volume from root to tip, in rocket time! Opthamologist tested. Contact lens safe. Safe for sensitive eyes. Made in the USA."
Directions: "For best results, apply the rocket brush against your lashes from root to tip, until your lashes take off to an explosive level of volume. Removes easily with soap and water or 100% oil-free eye makeup remover".

Product and Brush Photos:







Applicator Details
     The Mega Plush Volum' Express (left): This mascara has a longer, soft, natural bristled brush. It has a pivot point on the wand which makes it very flexible. It has a mix of short, medium, and long bristles that are fuller in the middle and get shorter toward both ends.

     The Rocket Volum' Express (right): This mascara brush lacks the pivot point and natural bristles of the Mega Plush mascara. It has a plastic, short bristled brush that is much stiffer when applying product. This brush contains the same size, medium bristles around the middle. The top one third and bottom two rows of this brush contain smaller bristles (which you can see in the photo above).

Application Photos: Natural lashes with no mascara- three coats. 

NOTE: My eyelashes are not curled.

      -The Rocket Mascara-                                                                           -The Mega Plush Mascara-

     Sorry the photos don't exactly line up. Doing a side by side comparison was really important to me and I am still getting used to this blogging site! I took all of these pictures on the same day and at the same time so I don't know why the lighting is different.




     Both of these mascaras were impressive but one product came out on top. Here are my overall thoughts...

The Mega Plush Volum' Express Mascara:
Overall Application/Brush: I was definitely in favor of this brush before even trying these two products. I have always been a fan of natural bristled brushes (not the plastic wands). This brush is VERY flexible though, almost too flexible for my taste. I like to really coat my lashes with mascara and after the first one or two coats, this brush wasn't sturdy enough to get into my lashes. Being a soft bristled brush and having the pivotal wand makes it too flexible for multiple coats of mascara.
Overall Color: I always go for black mascaras and this time was no different. I found the "very black" shade and decided to purchase it. Little did I know that there was an even darker shade! I don't know if they carried the darker color at my CVS but I wish they could be a little more up front with naming their shades. I mean come on, very black and blackest black?! How was I supposed to know! With that being said, this color is black enough for my taste.
Overall First Impression: This mascara literally blew me away after using it for the first time. I actually had my mom take pictures of my lashes- which inspired me to start this blog! The length was incredible and it didn't compare to any other mascara that I own. I LOVED it. Unfortunately, after that application I couldn't get those same results. It was the weirdest thing.
Overall Formula: The formula is nice with this product. It does not leave your lashes feeling brittle or stiff, just like it claims! I would agree that it gave my lashes a plush look the first time I applied it but I wasn't able to achieve the same results in further uses and these photos. I want a formula that I can rely on and this definitely doesn't give me that. It also doesn't do too much volume wise. I tend to have longer, fine lashes- so to me volume is more important than length. I like directing my lashes and fanning them out evenly across my eye and this mascara wasn't great for that. Maybe because of the "plushness" of this mascara it doesn't have much hold. With that begin said I'd be cautious if you need this mascara to hold a curl.
Overall Packaging: I love the color of this packaging. The teal and pink looks so cute together! It would be great for keeping in a makeup bag or purse because it would be easily found due to the bright colors.
Overall Wear: This mascara didn't smudge, fade, or flake. The wear of this mascara was great!

The Rocket Volum' Express Mascara:
Overall Application/Brush: I must say that this brush made me love plastic brushes. I always found them scary and hard to use- but not this one! I loved that it was stiff enough to separate my lashes even when they already had product on them! 
Overall Color: Same as above. I bought "very black" thinking it was the darkest shade. Please Maybelline make this problem a little easier for consumers! 
Overall First Impression: I liked this mascara after the first application. I did not like it as much Mega Plush after the first use but as you know, Mega Plush was very inconsistent. I was surprised that I liked this wand and brush as much as I did and was happy with the end result.
Overall Formula: This formula is a little brittle compared to Mega Plush but it was nothing that bothered me. I placed my lashes by fanning them out during the application and that small amount of "brittleness" I believe helped hold them in place. This was marketed and said to be a very volumizing mascara, so when I tried this I was a little taken back. I would say that this added more volume to my lashes than Mega Plush, but for the "8x the volume" claim, I was a little let down.
Overall Packaging: Even though I love the color of the Mega Plush packaging, I love this one even more! It is sleeker than its competitor and still has those fun bold colors. I will say that the rubber stopper (which cleans off the extra mascara on the wand before application) at the opening of the product was slightly loose with the one I purchased. I can see it pull up, away from the packaging as I remove the wand. This doesn't cause much of a problem, I just thought I'd let you know!
Overall Wear: This mascara also wore well and there was no problem with smudging, flaking, or fading!

Bottom Line: After using these mascaras for about a week I have chosen to keep the Maybelline Rocket Volum' Express Mascara and to return the Maybelline Mega Plush Volum' Express Mascara for four reasons...
1. Hold
2. Application Consistency
3. Seperation
4. Fullness

Love, Lacey