Mascara is one of those beauty products that I wear even on days that I don’t feel like wearing much on my face. Just a quick swipe seems to help tired eyes look bright. At any given moment, I have a handful of mascaras I rotate using.

Here are the ones currently living in my makeup bag:

• Lancôme Hypnose Drama – I’ve been using this mascara a ton lately – reaching for it nearly every morning. I’ve really grown to love it and find it adds plenty of *drama* to my lashes.
• Benefit Bad Gal Plum - Now I know reviews are mixed on the Bad Gal mascaras, but I totally love them – especially the  blue and plum. I use the plum a lot with smokey brown eyes, it gives my lashes a little something different.
• Nars Larger than Life Volumizing – I love this one too! It totally lives up to its claim and totally pumps up my lashes. It is waterproof and very difficult to fully remove — and I even remove it with Nars Cleansing Oil! For that reason, it’s my “special occasion” mascara.
• Almay Intense I-Color Bring Out Lengthening - I picked this up in Blue Sapphire on a whim. I’m very “eh” on it, and I actually think that Almay has since repackaged/reformulated/discontinued this specific mascara. It’s a beautiful shade of navy blue but it doesn’t do much for my lashes.
• L’Oreal Double Extend Lash Boosting – One side is primer infused with lash boosting serum and the other is the mascara. It’s just OK. I find it difficult to apply because the wands are basically half the size as normal and it can make application difficult. Also, I find that my lashes can get a little flaky looking at times. It’s as though the primer and mascara don’t entirely work together.

Hmm…sounds like I need to ditch the Almay and L’Oreal and bring back my Cover Girl LashBlast! Speaking of, Cover Girl is introducing a brand new mascara, LashBlast Fusion, which both volumizes and lengthens! Isn’t that thrilling?

It should arrive at stores nationwide in April, but if you look onto www.Facebook.com/COVERGIRL starting today you can find out where you can purchase it early! You can also check out its debut at Fashion Week during the Anna Sui show on You Tube.

What about you – any mascaras you’re loving (or not loving) lately? And are you also so excited for LashBlast Fusion?

Benefit’s Stay Don’t Stay is a very cool product. It’s a 360-degree primer for the under eye area and eyelids – so both your eyeshadow and concealer stay put. After three weeks of use, I’m still undecided if I love this product. Let’s pro/con it…

Pro: It does help concealer stay but…

Con: …can be a bit heavy looking with concealer over the primer. I find a luminizer works best. I’ve been having a lot of luck with Trish McEvoy’s Luminizer Pen.

Pro: On a good night’s sleep, this can serve as concealer. It’s a nude universal shade, seems to help brighten my skin a bit.

Pro: Primes the eyelid area for the first few hours but…

Con: …doesn’t pull an 8-hour shift unless layered with another base over (like a cream shadow).

I really am torn. I wish that I got better wear on my eyelids, but this is a fantastic undereye prime and can even function as a concealer for me.  Has anyone given this a try? Does it hold up for you?

Benefit’s One Hot Minute came to my rescue last week. After three days of the stomach flu, I was sallow and just plain sad looking. The flu took its toll on my body and when it was time to go back to work I needed some help looking healthy. Enter one of Product Girl’s favorites, Benefit One Hot Minute.

The rosy gold powder was just what I needed to help combat the post-flu skin. In literally a minute, I watched my face transform before my eyes. And even though I’m now flu-free, I still find myself still reaching for the One Hot Minute every morning. Sometimes you forget just how much you love certain products!

Disclosure: A product sample was provided for consideration in this review.

Meet Benefit Sugarbomb, the newest addition to Benefit’s famed Box o’ Powder lineup. She’s extra special in that she contains four beautiful shades of powder all in one box: peach, soft plum, shimmering pink and rose. When swirled together, the effect is gorgeous. We’re quite smitten with her at Product Girl headquarters. I mean, doesn’t it look good enough to eat?!

On my light skin, Sugarbomb is a beautiful shade of pink with a bit of peach.  I’d say it’s like Benefit Coralista’s younger sister. A little more shimmer, a tad more pink. I’ve used this every which way I can think of in the last few weeks and I’m in love. It looks beautiful on its own or dusted over creme blushes (like MAC Joie de Vivre). It’s not quite as pigmented as Coralista, which in my opinion is the most pigmented of the boxed powder bunch. It’s just right – more reminiscent of other Benefit face powders. Have I also mentioned that it smells amazing? It’s sweet – kind of like sugar!

Have you had a chance to see this or try this? If you like Benefit’s boxed powders, we think you’ll really love this one! Sugarbomb retails for $28 and is available at Benefit boutiques, online and at Sephora.

My obsession with lip stains is in overdrive right now with all the new lip stains coming out from different lines. With that in mind, I thought I’d go old school for a minute and mention this oldie but a goodie. Benetint is now available in this adorable new set. This Benefit’s Tinted Love set includes a full size Benetint and a Pocket Pal Benetint and Gloss duo in a cute little red pouch. Only thing that could make this little set better is adding the Benetint Lip Balm (side note to Benefit there), right?

Our favorite beauty products of the year continues with our must-haves for our faces and top-picks for palettes! We saw a lot of new foundations released this past year, with the trend no longer being just coverage but good-for-you ingredients. See what stood our for us below!

Kat Von D Tattoo Concealer was a favorite of Carla’s this year. If this multi-tasking concealer is good enough to cover up Miss Von D’s tattoos, imagine what it can hide on your complexion?

We were wowed by Benefit Hello Flawless and Benefit Erase Paste. Together, the two create a flawless (uh, pun intended!) canvas. Plus, Benefit’s packaging and marketing is top-notch, don’t you think? We always look forward to seeing what they’re bringing next.

We fell hard for Dior Nude Skin Foundation and NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, both giving excellent, buildable coverage without looking like we’re wearing foundation or irritating our sensitive skin.

The standout of MAC’s Colour Ready collection, Prep & Prime Transparent Finishing Powder Powder, is our pick for best powder of 2009. This stuff is the perfect finisher to foundation and helps set our faces without mattifying us completely. And it’s part of the permanent line, thank you MAC… a few swipes of this with a brush and our pores are instantly minimized.

TheBalm Sexy Mama helped keep Carla’s skin shine free the year before so she re-upped and kept with it in 2009.  The adorable pinup girl may reel you in but this translucent powder is bringing sexy matte without caking.

We have a major thing for highlighters here at Product Girl HQ. Major. We could probably change the name of this blog to Highlighter Girl and get along just fine. But even we have our favorites. Bobbi Brown’s Nude Shimmer Brick may just be the best Shimmer Brick of all time. This gives that “lit from within” glow and is so easy to wear. It’s love. One of our most recent favorites, Le Tissage de Lames Chanel imparts a brightening gold sheen and is our pick for most luxurious.

Benefit’s One Hot Minute has been a revelation to us this year. Take your pick, use it as a bronzer or use it as a highligher, the gorgeous rose gold shimmer can work as either on a variety of skin tones. And how cute is the tin? Loving it…

MAC’s Rose Romance collection made a dent in our wallets and included an amazing cheek stain - Just a Pinch Gel Blush. It’s a sheer rosy red that gives a natural flush to cheeks. We would so looove to see more of these released! What do you say, MAC? Will we see more?

Another MAC blush that captured hearts in ‘09 was The Perfect Cheek, released with MAC’s Fall launch, Make Up Art Cosmetics. It’s a tricky line a fair-skinned girl walks when wearing nude blushes (mud alert), but this has the right amount of pink in it to make it well, perfect. (Full of puns today, loud and proud!)

Ok, this is the last time we’ll mention the Trish McEvoy Voyager Beauty Emergency Card or Trish McEvoy… this year. We can’t help it, we really, really love it. Pictures really don’t do this little set justice, if your local counter still has it, you need to snap this up… for cuteness sake.

We made some big claims about Dior’s Smoky Crystal quint earlier this month, and we stand by them! These shadows are incredibly smooth and every color in this palette is stunning.

Bobbi Brown has had some great releases this year but one of our favorites is the Bobbi Brown Brights Eye Palette. We love seeing Bobbi show us bolder color and this palette definitely had plenty of that.

Now it’s your turn. What lit up your face in 2009? Any palettes that you can’t get enough of?  Share in the comments!

Benefit’s holiday offerings are something I look forward to each year. For a couple of reasons. One, it’s always compilations of some of their most popular products. And two, because Benefit knows how to package their products! I always love seeing what they do.

Benefit’s limited-edition Powderazzi is a perfect example. It features three of Benefit’s most popular box o ‘ powders -Coralista (major fav!), Dallas and Hoola – and is packaged in a bright colored sturdy box, not unlike the standard box o’ powder packaging, with a miniature brush.

I picked this up at Ulta a few weeks ago and I love it. Hoola is a matte bronzer – great for countouring fair skin – Dallas is a shimmery, plummy bronze and Coralista is a shimmering peachy-pink. This is a versatile cheek palette and i find it easy to dip my brush over the product I want. In other words, no Coralista creeping up on my Dallas.

This one is limited edition and exclusive to Ulta and HSN. And tis the season…this baby would make a great gift! Throw in a gossip mag subscription and you’ve got yourself a theme:)

Today receive 20% off Benefit sisters Maggie and Annie top picks! Their list is filled with some of our favorites too! Enter code GALSGIFT at checkout to snag the deals. And any over $35 (while supplies last) will receive a free Miss Popularity (no code needed!) along with two samples.

One of our favorite beauty brands, Benefit, has entered the world of blogging! If you haven’t checked it out yet, it’s a must-read. The apt named “Secret Life of a Benefit Gal” is a true behind the scenes glimpse of the ladies of Benefit. These gals have us laughing out loud (ok, LOLing) and remind us of why we love Benefit so much!

In honor of the Benefit blog, I thought I’d share with you a few of my favorite Benefit products.

Posietint – One of my favorite stains ever – it makes me look instantly happy. Yep, I said happy. People always compliment me when I wear this and, in turn, I smile which then makes me all cheery and happy. And it’s just the most flattering pink – like bubble gum. (Or pepto bismol…!)

Hello Flawless! – This powder foundation is no joke – it really does give you flawless skin. It’s multi-purposing, depending on the level of coverage you need and it never irritates my combination, breakout prone skin. Love.

Coralista – The newest addition to Benefit’s box-o’-powder lineup, Coralista is a peachy, pink blush that imparts a wonderful glow. I love Benefit’s boxed powders, and this one smells great too.

Creaseless Cream Shadow – As the name would indicate, these cream shadows/liners don’t crease. At all. I constantly wear this in the shade Skinny Jeans.

Your turn to share some Benefit faves with us! What do you love?

It’s time for a giveaway! Benefit Cosmetics has so generously offered up 5 of it’s PosieTint Lip and Cheek Stains for us to giveaway to Product Girl readers.

This giveaway is open to all US residents and to enter, all you need to do is enter your name and email address in the entry form directly below. We will be accepting entries from now until October 24th, when we will select each winner at random. While you’re at it, opt to receive updates from us for notification of future giveaways!

Please feel free to leave a comment on this entry but please note that leaving a comment does not enter you to win in this giveaway. And with that, good luck!

Benefit has introduced a new perfume called B Spot. This is their second perfume, the first being Maybe Baby (a name that I love by the way), and for now you can find it on their website until it hits stores later this summer. Their packaging it pretty clever, it features a body map to help you find your “B spot”. The notes sound interesting as well, Benefit’s B Spot features notes of mango, freesia, peony, sandlewood and amber.

What do you think? Does this sound like something you’d try? I’m certainly going to try it when it hits stores.

As a lover of all things “bling” I am a big fan of Benefit’s Miss Popularity. I am always trying to achieve that runway model makeup perfection and a little bling definitely helps get you there.

I have found Miss Popularity to be a great portable multi use product. You can use a little right under the arch of the brow to pop that brow bone, after applying blush and bronzer a little or allot depending your style applied along the top of the cheek bone will enhance and give definition. Some of the newer uses I have tried are to apply right above the cupids bow in your top lip, this will pop your pucker and with the precision brush this is pretty easy to accomplish, a little down the bridge of your nose (I like to dot it down, then soften with a brush) can give the illusion of a slimmer appearance and my favorite the inner corners of the eyes can brighten and give the feel of a wider eye.

Then there is the one usage I’m afraid to admit …yep, I have a little bit of a butt chin but if you dot, dot down the middle of the crease the light deflecting abilities in Miss Popularity will soften and blow out the always unloved butt chin on any gal.

Benefit’s new Erase Paste concealer really made me work for it. I drove to 3 different stores before I found my shade in stock. What did this mean? Is this so popular that stores couldn’t keep it stocked? I really wanted to find out.

Benefit’s new Erase Paste is a heavy duty concealer that is meant to brighten and hide imperfections all in one product. I had read that this concealer was really concentrated so I expected something hard to work with. Surprisingly, this concealer is the exact opposite. It has a really creamy texture to it to go along with how concentrated it is so it’s really easy to work with. It covered some of my more serious areas of concern with ease, lasted fairly long and didn’t dry or accentuate the area.

On the negative side, I found this concealer to be a bit much on the eyes. It settled right into the lines in my under eye area time and time again. Also, I’m not a big fan of the product’s packaging. It comes with a little spatula so you can scoop the product out of this little pot. If you lose this, you have to put your fingers in it which is a little cramped and frankly, a little unappealing. I’m starting to get more vigilant about cleanliness in my beauty products and this is a step back from my usual concealer. I’d love to see this change packaging change though.

With all that said, Benefit’s Erase Paste makes a great fuller coverage concealer for those us with areas that require a little more attention. I don’t plan on using this on my eye area but I like the coverage that this gives me everywhere else that I don’t mind having to use another concealer on my eyes. It’s worth looking at but at the very least, give this concealer a once over next time you’re perusing the Benefit display.

I have a confession to make… I don’t always have time to wear a full face of makeup. I’m always running late so during the week so my weekday face consists of whatever I have time to put on, on my way to work at stop lights. Sometimes that means nothing at all. Luckily my co-workers don’t run and hide, we have a pretty low-key office. Today is one of those days where I’m dragging and my new “quick fix” product helps me look like I’m somewhat alert.

Benefit’s Eye Bright is a great quick fix product for your eyes. It’s a big, chunky light pink pencil that you dot around your eyes to instantly perk them up. You can use it on your under eye area, inner corners or brow bone to give your eyes a more awake look. The product goes on easily without harshly tugging at the delicate skin around the eyes and it blends in nicely as well. At times, I can get away with just this on my eyes and be ready to face the day… it all depends on how much damage I’m really trying to cover up.

I’ve been using this mainly on my under eye area and inner corner of my eyes and I like how it perks me up but aside from those areas, I also really like how it looked on my brow bone. I was debating picking up Mr. Frosty as well but after I saw how this one did, I figured I could pass on it for now. This is one pink eye product that’s not a drag to use at all.

Benefit Cosmetics have introduced a few new products recently, here’s a glimpse into these products.

The first is a new face powder called Thrrrob. It is a pink powder meant to simulate the natural flush we feel when our heart races. A little Thrrrob dusted across your cheeks and you’ll look flushed and excited in an instant.

You may be wondering “how is this shade different from Dandelion?” Thrrrob gives your face a deeper flush than Dandelion does, it’s a deeper pink.

The next is You Rebel Lite, a new lighter tint on the original You Rebel tinted moisturizer. This product features SPF 15 protection, antioxidants, aloe vera, and allantoin to soften and protect skin. While the original is best for medium to deeper skintones, You Rebel Lite is meant for those who are a little bit paler than the rest of us. While I liked the product when I tried it, the tint was just a bit too dark for me. I’m looking forward to trying this new version, maybe now the tint will be just right.

Like palettes? Benefit has a new palette out as well. It’s called Pink To Please A Woman…Gold To Get The Guy Palette. What a name, right? This palette features three powder eyeshadows and three Silky Finish lipsticks in hues of pink and gold, including Sugar Rush and Candy Store.

As you can see, there’s plenty of pink to go around.