Sephora V.I.B Beauty Insider Birthday Mini Makeup!

Hey guys! A new blog post is long overdue, this I know. However, it was my birthday several weeks ago and I've been dying to share the new Beauty Insider birthday mini with you guys so here we go...

Even the packaging is adorable ❤

Every year Sephora collaborates with a cosmetics company to create a mini makeup birthday gift for their Beauty Insider members. For 2013, Sephora has teamed up with Benefit Cosmetics to bring us this adorable beauty duo called "Real Birthday Turn - Ons!".


The duo includes a miniature of their very popular "They're Real" mascara and mini "Watts Up highlighter. I must also note that both of these samples are very generous at 3.0 grams for the mascara & 2.5 grams for the highlighter!

^_^ Watts Up! & They're Real! ^_^

Becoming a Beauty Insider* is really easy, really simple and best of all FREE! It also means that every year during your birth month, you're entitled to a miniature makeup item free with no purchase necessary.

Who doesn't want & love free makeup on their birthday?!

I'm extremely excited to test these little babies! Especially the mini Watts Up highlighter as I've already got the full size of They're Real (and will say it really is an amazing mascara).

Are you a Sephora Beauty Insider? Will you be signing up and getting your own birthday freebie? Let me know what you think down below ❤

*You can sign up to become a Beauty Insider here:
 https://www.sephora.com/profile/MyAccount/beautyInsider/beautyInsider.jsp

Beauty Sample Sunday: Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara

I received this sample (along with several others) in an order I made quite awhile ago & am only getting around to testing them out now. I know it's terrible but that's what happens when you "collect" makeup ^_^

The description on the Smashbox website reads:

What it is:
A volumizing and lengthening mascara.

What it does:
Inspired by Smashbox's on-set technique of layering fiber mascara over volumizing mascara for the biggest, longest lashes on camera, Full Exposure Mascara creates a 104% increase in lash volume for scene-stealing lashes at every angle without smudging, clumping, or flaking.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens

What else you need to know:
This formula contains the natural properties of olive oil to keep lashes silky soft. A combination of synthetic and natural waxes creates softer and flexible coverage and keeps lashes from becoming brittle.

The sample wand is rather short which I found rather frustrating to work with. The brush itself is basically a large spiral bristle which looks like nothing special either (in my honest opinion). For both of those reasons the application was kind of messy and difficult.

The formula definitely ran on the wet side which I'm also normally not a fan of. However, it was a nice black colour that set well on my lashes and I didn't notice much clumping or flaking which are pretty important factors when it comes to mascara!

Excuse my brows/eye area, not wearing makeup!

I was tired when I took this pic :P

You can that the mascara hasn't done much to separate my lashes or provide much volume either. There was very minimal clumping, only a teeny tiny bit on the left outer corner of my lashes. To me, this is a very natural finish, "daytime" mascara. I certainly didn't see a "104% increase in volume"!

This mascara retails for $19.50 for 0.38 oz on the Sephora website here:

http://www.sephora.com/full-exposure-mascara-P284701 


To be honest, I liked this mascara but don't think it's worth $20. Having said that, if you prefer a high end, more natural mascara than this might be the one for you.

 3.5/5 ^_^