The love story with drugstores and me is that when I wander around aimlessly before my purchase, I am almost always guaranteed to find something new. Either to the market or to just lil' me. This time around? LASplash. I saw these at a Duane Reade. Bright colored eye liquid eyeliners and equally bright colored mascaras.

If you know me, you also know that I try nearly every color mascara out there because I just adore them. The trick to getting the color to pop is to have a dark eyeliner, and/or using a primer for your lashes or a white mascara. This will make the color pop even more (think about mixing paints: a blue will pop more if added to white than if added to brown).

These babies were $6.49 each but I also found them online at CherryCulture.com. The site has a rewards program that is a bit better than Duane Reade so if you are trying to get the biggest bang for your buck you know what to do. Also - I am not sure if other drugstores carry this brand yet. I know Duane Reade has the least amount of BOGO sales out of all the drugstores I frequent (but I still love it dearly). The mascaras on the site are $4.99 each and the liners are $5.99. If you get up to free shipping, you're getting them for a bargain. Also? The brand has eyeshadows, lipglosses, lipsticks, and glitter. You can check out their main website here but be warned they sell for $6.99 (but they have a full collection of ALL colors, and a Twilight inspired glitter mascara collection), so choose your battles lol.

Check out more pictures and swatches below!

Hey kiddies! As part of the "VIPretty" at PrettyCity.com, I get to review products for the site. Since I couldn't really upload photos there, I wanted to share what I had for you guys here. You can check out my review by clicking over here. I got to review the Revlon Double Twist mascara and was surprised by what I got.

This is what the hubub is about. The innovative brush. But did it deliver?

As I mentioned in my review on PrettyCity.com, this mascara committed the epic fail with the packaging on the inside of the tube. If you take a close look at your mascara, you will see that the inside tapers in a bit so that when you pull the wand out, it kind of squeezes the remained of product away to allow optimal application.

The packaging here has it so that there are little spikes in a circle, which in thought are a good idea, but in reality they don't take off enough extra product and the wand ends up being gloppy and overstuffed with product. Just one swipe on the eyes makes for a terrible clump of a time.

I wanted to compare the Revlon Double Twist mascara to my all time fave, Chanel Inimitable mascara. Yes Chanel is a pricey bugger, but it has yet to fail me. It gives me a soft and even application that's perfect for anywhere.



Review
Packaging: 1 out of 5
Price: 4 out of 5 ($8.99 - lots of BOGO)
Quality: 3 out of 5
Overall: 2 out of 5

This is what the wands look like when pulled out of the tube as if for regular application:


I had to play around with the lighting to show the globs of mascara on the Revlon wand. See it? You can't even discern a single fragment - it all looks like one... thing. None of the double twist technology even has a chance to prove itself because there is a thicker than thick layer of mascara paste stuck on it.

I think this was a major mistake in the packaging, and that the original idea of the mascara was just the innovation in the brush. The double twist has different bristles alternating on the wand. Does it work? Not with this tube. I will revisit this mascara with a different tube and see if the wand fares any better there.


left:no mascara, right:after one coat
Maybe if Revlon revises the packaging of the mascara with a different opening, it will become a hit. Otherwise, I'd say purchase at your own risk.

Have you tried this for yourself?

Didn't I say it'd be giveaway month?

I wasn't lying y'all. Thank you all who participated in my Chickdowntown.com & Current/Elliott Denim giveaway. The winner will be announced soon. Now is the time to announce a new giveaway though.

Many of you may have heard plenty talk about vibrating mascaras. There are numerous ones out now. We have Estée Lauder TurboLash mascara, Lancôme Oscillation mascara (and now primer as well), and the Maybelline Pulse Perfection mascara. One can argue that the SpinLash started the craze - but given my lackluster experience with them, they shall go barely mentioned.

Guess what though? I'm giving one of each away! Four readers will win (one of each) Estée Lauder TurboLash mascara, Lancôme Oscillation mascara, Lancôme Oscillation Powerbooster (primer/conditioner) mascara, and the Maybelline Pulse Perfection mascara.

How to enter:

1. Comment on this post that you'd like to win.
2. Let your friends and readers know about MOJ! I will track how many clicks I get from other blogs to mine. Make sure they click over from your page to mine.
3. Subscribe to MOJ by e-mail.

Now I know not everyone has a page/blog/site. So don't worry yourselves! Two people will win for the most click-referrals (and get first pick at winnings), and two people will win by random pick through comment/subscription.

To recap: One entry - comment on this post. Two entries - comment & subscribe to e-mail feed. And more of a chance to win if you're promoting MOJ.

Let me know if you have questions!

So as I have already happily announced - Stila is back and better than ever!

I'm a little late with this post, but you won't be sorry!

First let me show you the proof - while at the Makeup Show NY, we not only got to see numerous beautiful brands, including the lovely Stila, but we also got to chat with the people that bring you those favorite brands!

Here you will see the staff for Stila giving all Yaya's readers a thumbs up. This was an exclusive photo!! :)

Remember when I posted about the Stila limited edition Pearl collection? Well it's an ongoing theme now.

As part of the prosperous and long lasting (fingers crossed) direction that Stila is heading in, it seems that the seasons come with gems and precious stones to adorn the Stila lover.

Everything in this collection contains actual 24k gold in it. Every item in the roster has little flecks of gold in it. Even the smudge pot! Oh man, the smudge pot is sooooo gorgeous!!

Review (5 highest, 1 lowest):

Packaging: 5 out of 5 (the lip gloss has a hand made bindi attached to it)

Quality: 5 out of 5

Price: 4.5 out of 5 ($22.00 for each - it IS a "recession")

Overall: 5 out of 5




This was after I wiped the gloss off with a Kleenex. The gold specs stay on your lips and look so nice.

Please note: the mascara is currently sold out on Stila's website - but keep checking back, it is worth the trouble! I also don't think this is in the Indian Summer collection, but I was too excited to wait around till another post!



Both sides on both eyes, I got a little heavy with the right side but still no clumps!


My Verdict:

First of all - the bindi is an unbelievably detailed and gorgeous addition to the design aspect. Do y'all know what a bindi is? Here's the short of it a la Wiki: A bindi (from Sanskrit bindu, meaning "a drop, small particle, dot") is a forehead decoration worn in South Asia (particularly India)^[1] and Southeast Asia.

Though I had the financial willpower to resist every darn item in the roster, I don't fault anyone who got it all. I think I will be sauntering back to get the smudge pot. The more you move every item around, the more evident the gold flecks become, and blends seamlessly together.






I think this collection is a must have!

Have any of you had the pleasure of trying it yet?

Plan to?

Let me know!

Are you on Sephora's mailing list?

Today my e-mail was full of mascara. Only, most of their "8 most popular mascaras" have not crossed my shopping wrath or I have even heard of...

Mind you - we are only talking Sephora here. Here is what they got and whatever else I have to say about it - it IS my blog y'all!

Vibrating

Lancome - ÔSCILLATION - Vibrating Infinite Powermascara
What it is: The first vibrating powermascara by Lancôme. $34

Last time yaya was in Sephora she tried this. And loved it. Her wallet didn't so they parted ways, but there is a sequel coming soon.

The only con I found with this is that the vibrations make your eyes tear so you can't do it for a long time. However, 10 seconds per eye was perfect mascara-zation for me. I'll make a whole darn post about it soon, you just watch.

Volumizing

Buxom Lash (by Bare Escentuals)
What it is: A paraben-free, lash-volumizing mascara. $18

I really like brushes like these. The rubbery texture of it is conducive to volumizing. However!!! This never did it for me in store so it never walked home with me neither. For me this is an everyday mascara, and for that price, it needs to work harder. I'd spend my pennies on the MAC Plush Lash mascara - now that is what I call volume.

Best Seller

Dior DiorShow Mascara What it is: A cult-followed mascara that leaves lashes ultra thick, long, and curled. $24

Does it seem like I only condone the high price lash-wear paint? I like all sorts of mascaras, but Dior is a classic for me. I have this in black, brown, and blue. It doesn't clump. It's pretty big, so it kind of makes up for the price, and it's effective. It gives you the right amount of volume and length for your 9a-5p and 5p-9p... and 9p-5a. Yea, I said it.

Lengthening

Sephora Lash Stretcher
What it is: A lengthening and curling mascara, infused with fibers for maximum extension. $16

I haven't personally tried this but I already have found something wrong with it. The price kiddies. Now maybe I was the only person paying attention in undergrad business classes, but the store brand is intended to be the cheapest version of what's out there. That's generally how they can afford to sell other brands and earn a small profit on them - the profit they get from people picking up their cheap alternatives. Sephora ya hear me? You failed this class.

Waterproof

BADgal Waterproof Mascara (Benefit)
What it is: A waterproof black mascara. $19

Have any of you done the waterproof test? I.e: put water on it and see what happens? Have you ever taken a shower with mascara on? Yeah... that sight was gruesome. Most mascaras can be washed off with mere warm water and lightly running a wet wipe/finger, etc over the lashes. Most of this mascara went bye bye with the test for me, but maybe I just know their kryptonite? H2O that sucker. Overall I'm not a waterproof gal anyway. I like to make sure that water can take my war paint off pretty easily...

Primer + Mascara

LORAC Special Effects Mascara
What it is: A double-ended wand that features a conditioning primer and a defining and lengthening mascara. $22

I'm going to admit to never trying this, BUT I only speak for myself when I say that I'm not a fan of these, as I often neglect to use them, and they are an extra unwanted step when getting ready in a hurry. I suppose I will try it though, since LORAC has been kind enough to create good products for a while now :).

My recommendation for a good and lengthening primer? It's none other than MAC Prep + Prime.
Curling

Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara $14

I feel like no mascara can do the curl like a curler can. The curl it gives me is just enhancing the curl in my lashes because it is essentially putting something on my lashes tokeep them in that place. Don't you think?


Faux Look

I-mju Tiny Sniper
What it is: A lash-extending mascara. $15

Now this category, I was waiting all post to comment on. This is a whole bunch of no nos for me. 1. The packaging is a little misleading in the wand being so big, and the actual pot of mascara being so small. 2. Those darn small wands are no good for your whole eye. Thus, making it necessary to buy another mascara to help you finish your one stinking eye and making it more expensive and unecessary again! excuse my huffing and puffing here.

These are the same darn two main points that left me red in the face with steam out of my ears when I got my Guerlain double ended Le 2 De mascara. Guerlain has some great, luxurious, and expensive products but this went into the I hate you category, and not many things do.

The fail proof lash fiber mascaras in yaya's purse?

1. MUFE Lash Fibers (This is like a primer, so it's white. It already elongates your lashes though, so you can have any cheapie mascara swipe over just once to change to your wanted color. This is also perfect if you want to use color mascara as it makes the color more vibrant with the white base.)
2. I-mju FiberWig. I can feel my lashes touch my eyebrows with this bad boy on. No REALLY. I-mju should've stopped with this and quit with the tiny sniper.
   

And that's how I really feel about it!

What's your mascara grade sheet like?