Product Review- Maybelline Volum' Express Pumped Up! Colossal Mascara

Confession: I rarely buy mascara. For the past several years, I've managed to get by mostly on various Clinique mascara samples given to me by my grandma. They're not bad, either! But when my last sample was up--this time a freebie of Benefit's 'They're Real!"--I knew I had to get down to the drugstore, stat. I was aimlessly wandering the beauty aisles of my local Target when I came across the Maybelline Volum' Express Pumped Up! Mascara (whatta mouthful) on sale for $5.99. Despite the fact that I hadn't even read any reviews on the product, I grabbed it and bought it. I had purchased the original Volum' Express Colossal before and vaguely remembered that I'd liked it (remember, I hadn't purchased drug store mascara in at least three years), so I figured this one would be just as good, if not better.

Here it is, in its pristine, still-packaged glory:

On initial use, I was not impressed. Having gotten used to the tiny wand brushes of sample sizes, this one felt oversized and awkward. I ended up with mascara on the underside of my eyelid, which was definitely not attractive. Not to mention uneven, clumpy eyelashes.

Despite that unsuccessful first attempt, I decided to give the product another chance. A couple weeks later, and while I'm still not in love, it's an OK mascara: one that I'm willing to use up, but won't be repurchasing afterwards.
 
       

Urban Decay Naked 3 Monolid Looks

After almost a whole year on hiatus, (!) I'm back for yet another attempt on this blog.

I managed to get my hands on the Urban Decay Naked 3 a few months back, after seeing and hearing multiple raves about it. My first run-in with this palette happened when I stopped by the UD counter at Macy's, and the MUA on duty insisted on giving me a new look! Le result:

Wish I could remember which colors the MUA used! The only one I can remember is Blackheart.

I was actually sold on the palette that day, but, being broke, that didn't happen. It wasn't until Sephora had a sale a few months later that I finally caved. I know Naked 3 has been out for some time now, so everyone and their mom has probably seen it, but here it is again:

I still consider myself a total eyeshadow newb, so although I loved the romantic, sensual color scheme, I had no idea how to wear them. Enter YouTube tutorials, specifically those geared towards monolids. Here were my favorites:

 blushmepinkk. Concise and to the point. Nice!

ahreum17. Sometimes vloggers get a little too chatty for my taste, so tutorials set to music are A-OK with me. Plus this look is smokinnnn'!

From Head to Toe. One of my favorite beauty vloggers- how could I not include a tutorial from her?   

 I've been told this isn't the most versatile of the Naked collection, but I'm liking it so far. However, I'm debating getting one of the other ones. Out of all the palettes in the collection, which is your favorite and why?