Rimmel Glam'Eyes Mascara

 Today I'm taking another break from nail polish. I bought yet another tube of my favorite (completely underrated) mascara, and I felt like more people needed to know about this gem.

 There are a lot of things I love about this stuff. The brush is a bit like having two brushes in one. There are two sets of short, thick "bristles," and two sets of longer, thinner "bristles."

 It's a little tricky to photograph, but the two types of bristles give this brush a lot of versatility. The shorter, thicker bristles put a nice, thick coat of product on your lashes, giving you thick, dark lashes. The longer, thinner bristles offer a more natural look. I personally use the thinner ones for my day-to-day. For nights out, I'll start with a thicker coat, then comb over the lashes with the thinner ones to get out the clumps. The fact that the whole brush isn't very big around makes it pretty easy to maneuver. If you prefer a curved brush, all you have to do is jab it in the tube haphazardly (as I do, inevitably, every time), and it gives a nice curve.

 The other thing I like is that the brush is kind of rubbery, so it's pretty easy to use a brush shampoo and sterilize periodically without damaging it. Not everyone may be concerned about that, but I have contact lenses and allergies (and a nasty habit of getting things in my eye), so I'm pretty susceptible to pink eye if I'm not careful.

 I've used mascara from higher end brands like Stila, Lorac and Smashbox all the way to drugstore brands like Cover Girl, Maybelline and Revlon, and this is my go-to. The formula doesn't seem to flake off my lashes and into my eyes, I don't get nasty clumps, and it doesn't smudge unless I actually get water on my face or cry. Humidity doesn't seem to have much impact. Removal is still pretty easy, too. No makeup remover required, just normal face wash or cleansing wipes.

Another great feature? This stuff is like $6 at Target. Compared to brands that run $15-$20 (or more), I'll take this any day.

Multiplication of thePolishes: How the Stash Has Grown...

So, here's the funny thing about being a beauty blogger: You accumulate a lot of stuff. I've always had a fairly well-stocked vanity, and I'm not quite at the level of having closets dedicated to my goodies, but I'm getting there fast. Case in point. My first post, the polish stash looked like this:

This was everything I had for nail supplies. Everything. All in two neat little boxes. The collection of polish alone now fills two boxes completely, and the third doesn't even come close to holding the removers, creams, decals, cotton swabs, etc. I use.

This is just the polish and a few nail-specific odds and ends. I didn't even go up to the bathroom to get the removers and magic potions. And this is after my sister raided my stash and took little pieces of the collections I wouldn't wear on a regular basis, and I gave some of the unused bottles out for stocking stuffers at Christmas. My goal is to keep everything at a manageable level so my boyfriend doesn't start refusing to come to the girl den that is my apartment. Neatly organized in three little scrapbook boxes...for now...

My First Franken

If you haven't checked out my Facebook page (shame on you), I have created my very first Franken.
It seems like every time I buy a red polish, I'm disappointed. It's either too dark or too pink or something. So, I made myself a red in honor of my beloved Cornhuskers.

This one is a mix of an old Sally Hanson top coat, Rimmel Rapid Ruby, Sally Hanson Honeymoon Red, China Glaze Long Kiss, and OPI An Affair in Red Square. I have some awesomeness planned for this weekend, just in time for kickoff. Can't wait. So much football. :)

 Please excuse if the pictures aren't up to par. My Nikon insists that all reds and hot pinks are the same color, so these were taken with my phone. Yay, Thunderbolt!