Makeup can be toys too

I picked up these two kits from this year's Friends and Family event (at Sephora). Honestly, I bought the entire Best of Basics set because I wanted to try the Josie Maran Argan Oil without splurging for an entire full-sized container. As to the mascara sampler, I realized post-ordering that they had TWO different mascara samplers, the other with a cute little eyelash curler. Oh well. I think the reason I always want to try different mascaras is because my lashes are so deficient--if I were satisfied with them, I would find that one Holy Grail product and stick with it (for base, it's Jane Iredale's Pressed Powder foundation and for lips, it's Burt's Bees lip balms, Lorac Gloss Sticks for lip gloss, and Smashbox oh crap, I just looked it up and it's been discontinued (which is when the search begins anew), but my HG product had been this but tinted for lipstick. Actually, I just searched for the LORAC gloss stick too, and apparently that has also been discontinued in the past year (because I bought some during last year's FF event). But, I don't use lip products that often--because I'm satisfied with my lips--so I'm probably safe for a little bit longer.

But mascara. My lashes are pitifully short and straight and thin. So I am always on the lookout for a mascara that will thicken and lengthen without smudging, last an entire day and not smudge (I have a huge problem with smudging which somehow does not deter me from wearing eye makeup, although perhaps it should). So I keep looking. My HG has been Fiberwig, but it always clumps. It's not perfect, so I'm still looking.

I already broke open the mascara sampler and started on the Hourglass Superficial. The brush bristles are very short, compared with other brushes, but I like it because it seems to coat my eyelashes well. Also, even though they tout the formula as moisturizing, I find it to be rather dry (not a lot of slip), which again I don't have an issue with, because it has relatively few clumps. I get smudging after a few hours though, and this isn't a crazy lengthening mascara like the Fiberwig (which has actual fibers in the mascara that adhere to your own eyelashes) so it's more of an everyday effect. But for that, I guess it's decent.