UDPP's New Look

The new tubes are a soft, squeezable kind, like toothpaste. This means no more wasted product which is a plus for something that costs nearly $20 per tube. Nevertheless, you can tell I enjoy the product enough to purchase it again!

Last night I stumbled across a review of some mineral makeup company which offers super cheap 5 pack samplers. It’s great for trying it out but even better for people like me who just cannot commit to their eye makeup. Since then, I’ve been on the hunt for similar deals and samples and, although I posted this in a list on Lavish, I figured it really would be at home on my shopping blog.

Thus far, I have found these shops which offers samples at a steep discount (or even for free!):

• Detrivore Eyeshadow – Individual sample bags for $1
• EcoGlo Eyeshadow Matte and Shimmer Samples in 1/2gram samples of your 5 colour choices for $1.75
• TKB Trading – Several kits and samples from $7.50 and up
• Evil Shades – Choose individual samples for $.75 or get a sample of all 15 shades for $9.50
• Karma Naturals – Choose 15 colours in 1/8tbsp samples for $1
• The All Natural Face 10 colours of yuor choice in sample bags for $1.50
• Dash Minerals – Up to 5 bagged samples in your choice of colour for free, just pay shipping (mine came to $3 for 5)
• Sheer Miracle – Individually potted samples (around 5 applications) for $1.50
• Aromaleigh – 1/16tbsp individual samples in your choice of colour for $1
• Pur Element – 3 sample colours of your theme choice (Blacks, Greens, Pinks, etc) for $5
• Divine Nature – sample with 8 different pinks and browns for $1.99
• PaintFX Individual colours in 1/4tsp jars for $1.75, others for $.75 or $1.25
• Cleopatra’s Choice – Individual .07g samples for $.79 or less
• Heavenly Natural Beauty – Sample sets from $9 – $35, individual 1/4tsp samples for $1.75 or $3

I don’t know which, if any, I’ll be trying but I do plan to look into it more. If you know of any companies with similar sample deals, let me know in the comments so I can add it to the list. If you sell samples and/or would like to see a review of your eyeshadow, feel free to comment, too!

With shipping, it was still less than the original amount. The only downside is this message on the site:

Due to high order volume, all orders will be delayed up to 5 days. We apologize for any inconvenience

I guess I’m just used to super fast shipping.

The code is good until November 20: FNFW1

Volum’eyes, which I believe also to be known as Extreme Volume Mascara (they have the same tube design and brush) is the first Rimmel mascara I’d tried. I had had success with other Rimmel products previously and was looking to step up from the drug store brands I had been using for mascara. I choose “001 Black” because, honestly, who needs any other colour?! I digress.

Both of these mascarars take a different approach to the mascara brush tool and with the Volum’Eyes mascara, this is a mistake. The tube claims that Volum’eyes is an “instant full volume comb mascara” that will create “volume & separation for dramatic false lash effect.” Instead I found the brush to be awkward and extremely large and bulky, as the picture illustrates. Also, rather than fine volume and separation, I found myself with sickly looking lashes that many would call “spider” eyelashes. I was not impressed. To top it off, my spider lashed were extremely clumpy probably due to the fact that the large brush collects far too much product to allow a smooth application.

I was open to a new brush style in hopes that it would create a dramatic effect as Volum’Eyes promises. Unfortunately, the promises are empty. Sure, I did get a dramatic effect but it was not the effect anyone would want on their eyelashes. Because of this, I’ve only used Volum’Eyes by Rimmel a handful of times.

On the other hand, Rimmel’s Lash Maxxx Mascara really impressed me with it’s refined brush tool, smooth product consistancy, slick packaging and overall performance. Again I chose black in the waterproof formula.

Where the brush of Volum’Eyes was thick and bulky creating a scary mess, the Lash Maxxx brush is the finely tuned grandchild providing true separation and holding true to its claim of providing “3X multiplying effect.” I was definitely impressed by how gorgeous my lashes looked because of this mascara and where Volum’Eyes left horrible clumps, there were virtually none using Lash Maxxx.

Furthermore, I was equally impressed by just how waterproof this mascara is! I sweat frequently so I was looking for a mascara that would hold up to that without smearing and Lash Maxxx does just that! Unlike other mascaras that may or may not claim to be water proof, including Volum’Eyes, Lash Maxxx has very little if any smearing under wet conditions.

I was also unexpectedly delighted to find that this mascara hold curls fairly well. It far outperforms any other mascara I have ever used in this aspect.

Overall, Lash Maxxx mascara by Rimmel created a dramatic yet clean look with little clumping, a high degree of water resistance all the while holding curl in my lashes. I would definitely recommend it.

The winner of this battle, hands down is Rimmel’s Lash Maxxx mascara – a make up which delivers on its promise to create a dramatic multiplying effect with its unique tool.

When all my packages arrived, I was pleasantly surprised with the lip gloss. The 4 scents – Cherry Bomb, Sugar High, Grapefruit Blast and Toasty Almond – were cute .28 Oz tubes nestled snugly inside a very sleek looking box that remind me of a Christmas present! With the box – a shiny pink lid printed with LIP CANDY (in a very disco-esque fashion, might I add) over a shiny silver tray which lines with a glittery pink foil which can be seen through the clear plastic tray holding the glosses – so impressive, I couldn’t wait to try the glosses themselves!

I’m happy to say I absolutely adore 3 of these scents: Cherry Bomb, Sugar High and Grapefruit Blast. I was shocked by the last one; I’m usually not a fan of grapefruit.
What can I say? I love scents but not all scents.

Overall, the 4 glosses have strong scents to appeal to any discerning nose and a sweet flavour for those compulsive lip-lickers like myself. The glosses are thick and slightly sticky which might be a turn off for anyone you are kissing and will certainly attract any hair blowing in the wind.

To break it down, both Grapefruit Blast and Cherry Bomb – a pretty pink and deep red, respectively – had delicious scents that were sweeter than the natural counterparts are without losing the fruity origins. Sugar High, a glittery white like snow, is a tantalizing scent reminiscent of homemade sugar cookies. I found these glosses absolutely addicting!

However, something went wrong with Toasty Almond. I must not be the only one to think so as it’s no longer listed on the Victorias Secret site. I wasn’t sure about it from its golden brown colour to its a-little-too strong nutty/coffee scent but gave it a go anyway. I wish I hadn’t. Once on the lips, all I could smell was something not-quite-like-horribly-burned-almonds. This was definitely I didn’t want myself or anyone else tasting or smelling on my lips and I quickly removed it. A second try revealed it to be not quite as offensive but still far from pleasant.

All the glosses are sheer with just a tiny hint of colour and lots of glitter to make your lips sparkly! Because the glosses are sheer, I thin they’d be great for daytime wear. Yet, because they are sparkly, they would also turn your lips up a notch for a night on the town.

Like most glosses, they don’t seem to last very long and will rub off on food, glasses, other people et cetera. I would recommend reapplying rather frequently but the alluring scent will be enough to do that anyway!

I would recommend most of these scents to anyone looking for a fun, flirty lip gloss. I would try out most of the fruity glosses Victoria’s Secret has in its collection in the future; I was definitely impressed!