Used it!!!!

* Crazy Rumors Vanilla lip balm - good, basic stuff. I think I like Susan's new Darling Girl formula better, though.

* UDPP Sin sample decant - I really kind of want this in full size. It's perfect for a quick look that's somewhat more put together than nothing, and a little shadow in the crease makes it look like it's a lot more complicated.

* TFSI Candlelight sample decant - I'm on the fence about this - it's a bit yellowy for my taste.

* DDF mattifying oil control moisturizer spf 15 - I'm not sure how "mattiying" this was, but it was ok. If they'd ramp up the spf to at least 30, I'd be more interested.

*Cover Girl Lash Blast Luxe mascara - black platinum. Full disclosure, there was still some left, but it was dried out and yucky, and I wasn't getting my lashes coated as nicely anymore. I could either do a light coat or end up with clumps, so I gave up. It lasted about 5 months of daily use before I threw it out this morning. When it was new, it was a lot nicer. I think I like the orange tube better - I don't remember that having dried out as much.

ES project pan - 15/20
Lip project pan - 7/10

(Since Sept. 2, 2010)
166 items gone
62 full size items gone

Products I hated

1. Garnier Fructis Pure Clean conditioner. This made my hair feel sticky and tangly, and I did not like it, so it went back to CVS. I think my hard water makes it not rinse out right, but I didn't want to go through the effort of making it work.

2. Tarte Four-Day Stay lash stain. This is more a waterproof mascara than anything else. Except that it budges a lot less easily, even in the face of oil. It most certainly did not last four days, and if I'd left it on that long, I'd be eyelash-less, because the stuff it plenty crunchy. I had a trial size of it, which is now in the bathroom trash can. Every time I tried to remove it, I'd lose a few lashes from each eye. I say no more of that.

Rubric for reviewing vegan mascara

Hey all!
So due to my beeswax allergy, I can only use vegan mascara. I prefer natural products, but I'm not averse to coating my lashes with plastic, either (though I'd prefer to not have to).

But how to pick the best vegan mascara? The foundation rubric is working out so well, I'd like to propose one for mascara reviews, too.

So:

A. Clump factor.
1. Super clumpy.
2. Some small clumps, but mostly smooth.
3. No clumps! Very smooth.

B. Longevity.
1. Raccoon eyes or flakies not too long into wearing.
2. Raccoon eyes or flakies toward the end of the day.
3. No raccoon eyes or flakies!

C. Lengthening.
1. Lashes do not appear any longer.
2. Lashes appear somewhat longer.
3. Holy length!

D. Volumizing.
1. No improvement.
2. Some improvement.
3. Full, lush looking lashes.

E. Irritancy.
1. Burny eyes.
2. Some burny eyes or other mild and short-lived irritation.
3. None.

F. Natural factor.
1. Recognizable ingredients.
2. Mix of natural and synthetic.
3. Only vegan because there's no petrochemical or silicone animal.

G. Value.
1. Costs more than you'd expect.
2. Costs about what you'd expect.
3. Costs less than you'd expect.

H. Brush.
1. Difficult to use - gives poor results.
2. Okay, nothing special.
3. Pretty awesome - gives great results!

I. Customer service.
0. Bad, unhelpful, nonexistant, not tried.
1. Great company to work with.