When I was a kid, I divided makeup into three categories. Teeny bopper makeup, teenager makeup, and adult makeup. Teeny boppers wore Wet N Wild. Teenagers moved up to "higher end" drugstore brands, particularly Cover Girl. And adults? Grown up ladies wore Mary Kay. Those pink and white bottles and tubes with the little Mary Kay flower logo on them symbolized serious makeup, makeup for women with jobs, women who were beyond what could be found at Rite Aid. Mary Kay was aspiration makeup.

Fast forward a number of years, and, just before my 30th birthday, I finally start wearing makeup myself. Lots has changed, and the biggest change is Sephora. Suddenly, there is a whole world of "serious" makeup, and I am a fast addict, building a huge and expensive arsenal. One label that is missing from said arsenal? Mary Kay. Until now.

When BlogHer chose me to review a few of Mary Kay's products, I was beyond excited, both because I just plain love makeup and because I'd wanted to see what Mary Kay was offering these days. The selections I received were: a Mary Kay Compact Mini loaded with mineral eyeshadows in their hazel trio (Honey Spice, Hazelnut, and Cinneban) and a mineral blush in Shy; a tube of Ultimate Mascara in Black; and a tube of Tinted Lip Balm in Rose. Basically, they sent me everything I needed to be fully made up (on top of my base and primers). The compact is genius--it's tiny (smaller than the palm of my hand) and the eyeshadows and blush fit into it magnetically, with room underneath them for small brushes for both the shadow and the blush. The lip balm tube is also really small, and both could be shoved into a tiny clutch or even fit in a jacket pocket.

My test was to use the products all together, as if they were all I had with me (on top of my typical morning routine moisturizer, etc.) I was very happy with the look. I was more subtle than what I normally wear, but very professional and pretty. I am typically an eyeliner wearer, and I did miss my liner, but I felt like the three colors Mary Kay picked out for my hazel eyes did a great job bringing them out. I followed the directions helpfully included in the packaging to wear all three colors--the medium brown on the lid, the darker red/brown in the corners, and the champagne/honey at the brow bone. I was also very happy with the blush, which is a subtle peach-pink and warmed up my barely-tan complexion just the right amount. The mascara went on easily, gave good thickening and lengthening coverage in one coat, and didn't smudge and didn't flake all day, even though I have sensitive eyes, so it got a gold-star as well. My hands-down favorite product, though, was the lip balm. The Rose shade is neutral perfection, and I could still feel and see the color at lunchtime. Huge win.

The biggest drawback of the products I was sent was the brushes that came in the compact. In order to fit, they have to be tiny, and I just do not have the hand-eye coordination required to use tiny brushes at 7am. I tried them, but quickly switched to using my regular brushes in order to get even application of the blush and the shadows. Since portability isn't key to me, I'll likely keep using it this way, but if the portable aspect were really important, I'm sure I could learn to use the itty bitty brushes with some practice.

Trying and being so excited about these products led me to pop on over to the Mary Kay site to see what else they have on offer. Wow! There is a ton of great looking stuff! I'm fascinated by the Shadow & Liner Duo Pens, which I think would be another fantastic throw-in-your-bag-and-go option (these are a limited edition product, so they're only available while supplies last), and I'd love to try the Cream Blush. The site also has this really neat Virtual Makeover tool, where you can load your own picture and "try on" the products virtually.

Are you sold yet? How about $100 in Mary Kay products of your own, would that do it? Thanks to Mary Kay and BlogHer, I can do that! For your chance to win a Mary Kay gift pack valued at $100, leave me a comment on this post and let me know which Mary Kay product you'd most like to try. For extra entries, blog or tweet or FB about this contest and link to it in a comment.

This contest will run through August 26.

No duplicate comments. This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

To see other folks review these products and for other chances to win, visit the promotions & prizes section at BlogHer.

Visit the Official Rules.
Visit the Official site

Sorry for the delay in announcing the Birchbox winners. I was thrilled to get 51 entries! Random.org tells me the winners are

41:

Sunny | October 1, 2010 6:27 AM | Reply

I facebooked this post, but I kinda wish I hadn't, because I want to win! LOL. I'd love to try more lip products and cleansers/toners/masks.

3:

Meghan | September 29, 2010 1:57 PM | Reply

I am a total sample box fanatic. I'm so excited that you found another one. I would love to win one. :)

Sunny and Meghan, contact me with your addresses and your October boxes will soon by on the way!

A week or so ago, my friend Jenny turned me on to the Birchbox. Birchbox is simple and brilliant--for $10/month, they send you a box of beauty/makeup samples. High end, good sized samples. Could that be any more up my alley?

So I contacted the good folks at Birchbox, and they were kind enough to send me a September box to review, and host a give-away of two of the October boxes for you all! Score!

My Birchbox arrived today, and I have to tell you all, it was everything I expected and more.

The outside of the box is lovely, classy and simple.

Opening it up, I was greeted with a nice note from the company, introducing me to the month's theme, the "clean slate" of back to school. The reverse of the card gave me all the specs for the products included in this month's box.

Under the postcard, I found the products very nicely wrapped.

And after I removed the wrappings, I got to see my treats!

The box contained:

1. A very good sized (4 gram) sample of Cargo bronzer.


2. A regular perfume-sample sized sample of Marc Jacobs Lola perfume.


3. A great sized sample (.29 oz) of NARS makeup primer.


4. A 3-sheet sample package of Tatcha blotting papers.


5. A one-use collagen mask sheet from The Face Shop.

I am really excited about these products. They are all high end, and they're all large enough samples to actually be useful. None of them are things I've used before, though Cargo and NARS are both companies I like. The blotting papers are of particular interest to me, since I've been trying to find some blotting papers that I don't hate. I'll be interested to see if they work for me.

Cost analysis on this box is good, too. By my calculations (based on the cost of the regular sizes), the products are worth:
Cargo bronzer: $12.72
Marc Jacobs perfume: $3.13
NARS primer: $5.63
Tatcha blotting papers: $1.20
The Face Shop mask: $1.50
Total: $24.18

I am stunned. The products themselves are worth more than twice the cost of the box--and that's without the added awesomeness of getting to try new products, having them arrive as a surprise, the lovely packaging, etc. Definitely a good value.

So here's the best part, for y'all: I have TWO of these to give away for October. They're available for US readers only (sorry!), and you can enter as many times as you want. Here's what you need to do:
1. Leave me one comment telling me what kind of products you'd love to see in your Birchbox.
2. Leave me more comments telling me you sent someone to my blog, added it to your reader, or Tweeted or FB'd this post. One comment for each thing you do.

That's it! I'll draw winners a week from today. Good luck!

As promised, I drew two lucky numbers to win the set of goodies from Aquaphor. The winners are...

11

Revvie | September 16, 2010 5:42 AM | Reply

I am ALWAYS on the search for a new chapstick type of product. I hate thick waxy ones, but the thinner glossier ones don't have enough moisture. So, maybe ... Aquaphor?

and

12

MrsRefney | September 16, 2010 8:01 AM | Reply

I lurve Aquaphor. With dry winter coming up, it'll be good for me and my 3 year old. Her skin gets worse than mine in the winter.

Please get me your snail mail addresses, ladies, and your products will be on their way!

BlogHer is the gift that just keeps giving! I have, for two lucky readers, an Aquaphor Wonder Set! The Wonder Set includes:

Aquaphor Lip Repair: Aquaphor Lip Repair effectively relieves dryness and soothes chapped lips so you can smile comfortably. Provides immediate and long-lasting relief for dry lips, seals in moisture and prevents dryness. Fragrance-free, preservative-free, dye-free and appropriate for sensitive lips.

S.R.P. $4.49 for.35 oz tube

Aquaphor Healing Ointment: Protects extremely dry, chapped, cracked or irritated skin and helps enhance the skin's natural healing process. The multi-purpose ointment is safe to use on babies' sensitive skin; it relieves chapped cheeks, treats diaper rash and relieves dry skin associated with eczema.

S.R.P. $5.49 for 1.75 oz tube
S.R.P. $16.99 for 14 oz jar

Aquaphor Gentle Wash & Shampoo: A convenient cleanser that gently cleanses both skin and hair. Enriched with soothing chamomile and provitamin B5, it is specially designed to be gentle for baby's sensitive skin. Soap-free, fragrance-free, tear-free and pediatrician recommended.

S.R.P. $6.29 for 8.4 FL oz.

TOTAL VALUE: $33.00

I can't use Aquaphor myself--it contains the dreaded lanolin--but that is no reason you shouldn't! These are all new products--I know you want to check them out! Leave me a comment and I'll draw in a week.

These five lucky readers have won a Kissa vibe! Please email me at avengingophelia at gmail dot com with your mailing information!

42:

breadandroses | August 10, 2010 10:13 PM | Reply

yes,please.

4:

Hala | August 9, 2010 10:29 AM | Reply

Come on... can you imagine Richard's face when I say "Oh--it's from Grace!"

11:

Duchess | August 9, 2010 11:18 AM | Reply

I'd like one, Grace.

24:

Terri Torkko | August 9, 2010 2:46 PM | Reply

And I sent my friend davi over here.

AND? The vibe is named after my cat, which is awesome on so many levels.

2:

Revvie | August 9, 2010 10:28 AM | Reply

Grace, it would be so awesome to get one of these!

In my quest to find some swag at BlogHer that I could give away here at WINOW, that would speak to my audience and allow much happiness in the readership, what could be better than a nice vibrator? In specific, I have FIVE Eden Fantasys Kissa glass vibrators to give away, courtesy of the swag recycle room (no idea where they came from--a party swag bag, I would assume). They are, obviously packaged and unopened.

So, gentle readers, leave me a comment if you would like to win one of these lovely vibes. If you are too chicken to comment, you can email me for an entry as well. I'll leave this open for about a week, until next Monday morning.

For an additional entry, lead someone new to my blog and tell me you did it. They don't have to stay (though, of course, I'd love it if they did), just come and look around.

Go!

Sorry about the lag, y'all. I forgot about my Little Black Box Contest! But I ran random.org today, and it told me the winner was NUMBER 5!

The fifth comment:

Stitch. Knit. Sew!

Jenny, hit me with your mailing address and I'll get your prize right out. Thanks for playing!

For months now, I've been telling you all about my love for The Little Black Box. I reviewed it in February, March, April, May, and June. I got the July and August boxes as well, but didn't have time to review them, though I did give away a deluxe edition in June. I love these things.

And I think you'll love them too. So, this month I'm teaming up with the wonderful Kimberlee, the brilliant lady behind LBB, to give one lucky reader a September box all her own. Here's how you enter:

1. To get one entry, go over to the LBB site and look at the list of businesses participating in this month's box, then come back here and leave me a comment telling me which business you'd be most excited about receiving a sample from.

2. To get additional entries, blog on your own blog, or Tweet, or Facebook, about this month's LBB and leave me a comment letting me know you did so. As a bonus, Kimberlee is running a contest this month--whomever refers the most LBB customers gets a $25 gift card!

Finally, if you yourself are a small indie business owner who thinks her products might fit into the LBB, please contact Kimberlee! I'd love to see my friends' stuff in my future boxes!

This contest closes in one week, at 9AM on Monday, September 28, so enter right away!

As per random,org, our Sephora swag winner is:

I'm pretty dull, makeup-wise. But I do love Clinique's mascara! And lipstick. And their perfume "Happy." I need to branch out more.

This ought to help with that! The colors in this palette are NOT shy or dull. Bluestem, email me at avengingophelia at gmail dot com with your address and I'll put your goodies in the mail!