Have you ever used a product so long that it seems almost unnatural to have a makeup case without it? That's how I feel about this eyeliner, one of my first makeup purchases ever as recommended by the now-defunct YM magazine.

Although over the years, I've splurged on pricier liquid liners that I love as well, I have to give credit to this standout. Just as many of you love the ColorStay pencil, this is another amazingly longwearing product by Revlon. No matter if my day includes a trip to the gym, night of dancing, or just the day of work, there's always still a visible line on my eye when I get home to wash it off.

When I want a dramatic line on my eyes, I trust this one to let me get super close to my lash line with the tiny point I've mastered so well over the years (the one negative for beginners, I'd say) and don't think you can get anything better for this price – do you agree?

Have you planned your New Year's Eve hair yet? I'm no stranger to procrastination (or impulse buys), but spotting this product left me imagining myself ringing in 2009 with cascading waves. The set was on sale and small enough that I could bring it anywhere – if NYE had me jetting off to LA for the night, I could pop this in my carry-on and go!

I got home fingers crossed and went for a trial run. Even though it says instant heat, I gave them about 10 minutes (hunger called). Picking up the rollers found them hot to the touch – don't wrap your hand around them and squeeze – but far less hot than I expected. I liked the large and small sizes for different sections and went all out, adding the entire set of 12 to my head.

Find out what happened next when you

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What's a girl to do when she wakes up already stressed out and overwhelmed? It's the situation I faced this morning, and made a counterintuitive choice that turned out perfectly – I picked up a bottle of EO Nighty Night Bubble Bath ($7.99).

I admit that conjuring up bedtime is not exactly the best start to a work day, but the main ingredients of blue chamomile and lavender promised to soothe, and soothe they did. The mildly floral scent lingered in my bathroom to make me feel like I was wandering through a field of lavender, not putting on concealer and brushing my teeth.

Hours later, I'm still mellow but not sleepy (I'm thinking the coffee helped with that). I may just try this again tonight while sipping some chamomile tea for sleepy time. After all, this product had some of the longest-lasting bubbles of any I've reviewed, making me want to linger way longer than my AM routine allowed.

I love the festive look of false eyelashes but have trouble swallowing the price. Many times I've passed by this lash line in my local drugstore, and decided to pick up the Andrea Modlash Starter Kit ($5.79) for a holiday party.

I was most intrigued by the applicator – I've used tweezers before but this fits the entire length of the lashes and looked to me like I could get quite the grip, but did I? Below you'll find a photo with eyeshadow and liner but no mascara . . .

See the after shot (and pictures of the application process) when you

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Faced with similar products and similar promises, what's a bargain hunter to do? For the sake of comparing apples to apples (instead of a splurge with a steal), I picked up both the Almay and Revlon long-wear eye liners each promising to last 16 hours. I planned a couple days to test these out but, at the end, I'm still undecided. Since everyone has different expectations with makeup, I noted key points about each. To hear my thoughts,

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Falling temps bring on rosy cheeks and yet another reason to keep moisturized since the cold weather can do a number on your skin! If you're working in lunchtime workouts this Winter (kudos to you!), a tinted moisturizer with SPF not only keeps your skin protected, it leaves fewer products to sweat off or reapply after the shower.

Always looking for inspiration from my pal Fit, I picked up a tube of Boots Tinted Moisturizer on a more successful trip to Target, telling myself that it would be better to be out $12 if it didn't work out than out $32 for my higher-end choice. So did it? Find out when you

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I may be pinching pennies 'til my next island getaway, but this Softsoap Body Butter Coconut Scrub let me fly away there by simply closing my eyes. I loved the tropical aroma straight from the container, as I put it on, and after I toweled dry! I tested it both as a body scrub and as an alternate shave lather – it was easy to use just one product to clean my skin, and then shave it off.

Rich with jojoba extract, this helps retain natural moisture but doesn't really add any if you've got oily skin – and you'll need to properly moisturize afterwards if your skin is already on the dry side. My fave part: the little nubbies of crushed coconut providing an exfoliating massage gentle enough to not irritate with daily use and at around $4 (for 18 ounces), it's gentle on your wallet, too.

I never thought I had overly dry or overly oily skin, but when my tinted moisturizer kept leaving grease pits (and often a dreaded patch of acne) on my face by end of day, I knew I needed to reconsider.

With all of the prepping and priming I do to get my face ready for foundation, all I really wanted was a non-complicated, stay-put, inexpensive, go-to foundation. That's all. So, after a lot of internet research (seriously, it became an obsession) and some visits to the Product Reviews page, I narrowed down my choices to the following two.

Let's call it the "battle of the drugstore foundations" between Revlon Colorstay for Combo/Oily Skin Makeup with SoftFlex SPF 6 ($11.69) and Max Factor Lasting Performance Stay Put Makeup ($7.99). To see my comparison chart and the winning choice,

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When YSL Touche Éclat debuted in 1992, beauty editors began raving about the highlighter's ability to brighten a dull complexion. Sixteen years later, it's still a best-selling item, even spawning a version for men last month. It's one of the few makeup items I'll splurge on, but after my most recent pen started to smell bad after a few weeks, I resented having paid $39.50 for it.

Off to the drugstore, then. Clearly angling for the Touche Éclat market, Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Double Face Perfector ($6.38) combines a concealer and highlighter in one double-ended wand. First things first: The concealer is just so-so. It's not as though I'm Uncle Fester or anything, but I need a bit more spackle than what this creamy, light coverage provides. But the highlighter is pretty great; you brush it on underneath your eyes, along the bridge of the nose, along cheekbones, and bam! Subtly brighter, less tired-looking skin. Will I give up Touche Éclat? No, but especially while the economy is rough, I'll pick up Maybelline again.

An oldie but goodie, this Burt's Bees lip balm blasts me back to Winter trips with friends and family where there was always a chill in the air. Now that I'm planning to head up to Tahoe this season, I picked up a tube at my local drugstore and put it right in my parka pocket so I'd be certain to remember it.

If you're wondering about the connection between water rescue and wintertime, I find the weatherproof Lifeguard's Choice to stand up to wind and water whether your own holiday travels take you to sun or snow. It uses nearly the same formula as their popular beeswax balm but with titanium dioxide for a bit of UV protection. After all, I can't be fumbling to reapply before every run.

For Halloween, I was supposed to be the crafty prom dress-sewing Molly Ringwald from Pretty in PInk, but plans fell through. Although I was kinda bummed, at least I'm all set for Halloween 2009, right? When I was browsing for the perfect shade of lipstick to complete my '80s ensemble, I also didn't want to break the bank in the process. So when I came across N.Y.C, I was a little skeptical, but the price was right.

I made a quick purchase of the brand's Ultra Last Lip Wear in Mauve Gold (412B) ($1.99), and wouldn't you know? It's now one of my new go-to shades.

Is it long wearing? No. Do I think it would be flattering to many? You bet. While the shade's name might suggest purple tones, this one is more of a pink, but not in bubblegum kind of way. With a hint of gold glimmer and a touch of neutral brown, this cheapie lip color is great on its own, or layered under a nude liner. To see part of my costume and a clip from my favorite part of the movie,

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Even though I know that months of painting (and repainting) toes can do a number on my nails, much to my chagrin, my surfaces have ridges I swear weren't there in seasons past. Hoping to smooth things over, I walked my bumpy toes over to my local Walgreens where I discovered this peachy miracle worker. The Total NailRx Fill Me In ($8) comes fortified with silk powder to fill in those unsightly gaps while making nails super-strong.

The surface smoothing base coat did exactly as the name implied and totally evened the playing (er, painting) field. The one downfall to note is that it actually dries to a subtle coral. While I like the hue alone, if you're going for glossy sheers or applying a color, it can change the shade up top.

I'm not usually one to travel with a heat-styling tool, but when I saw this little guy ($19.99) I had to give it a go. The possibilities seemed endless: Cowlick be damned, I could get bangs! Amazing, thick, brow-grazing Joni Mitchell bangs! Or maybe I could finally master that Nicole Richie trick that many of you seem to be pros at already! Or maybe I could straighten my hair from a hotel in Seoul, as long as I had the correct power adapter, and without sacrificing precious luggage space!

My excitement was slowed down soon after plugging the MiniPro in. As promised, it heats up in 30 seconds, but doesn't have any heat settings, nor that cool-tip design that I am so used to — I almost burned my fingers. The tiny, tiny size hardly made a dent in my hair (or took one out). The carrying case it comes with, a black floral number with a cute hanging heart toggle, turned out to be the best part of the purchase — meanwhile, secretly creating perfect bangs under my desk or in my office bathroom will have to remain a distant dream.

I've tried to replace my beloved Bumble and bumble Grooming Cream before to disastrous results; but, after an hour long quest looking for my faithful B and b in a new city, I gave up and pressed my luck again at the drugstore. Of the selection, Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl Defining Lotion ($7.99) seemed the most promising as a product that would control my waves without leaving my hair stiff.

Even though I have a ton of hair, I only used a dollop and my hair was shinier, less frizzy, and my waves more defined. The only possible drawbacks are the scent and texture, which are exactly the same as lemon custard. To the point where I felt like I was putting dessert on my head. But the scent isn't unpleasant per se and doesn't linger. And once I saw that it also has sun protection — and Grooming Cream doesn't —I was sold. Will I still buy the Bumble? Probably (I like the smell better and how the cap turns closed), but it's great to have a backup.

See reader reviews of this product and add your own here!

If you haven't tried tube mascaras yet, you'll be glad to know that drugstore versions are rolling out. One of the first is L'Oréal Double Extend Lash Extension Effect Mascara ($9.79), a two-step mascara with "beauty tube technology."

Tube mascaras are great for making lashes look longer, and because the formulas come off with warm water, they're much easier to remove. I'm a fan of Mirenesse Secret Weapon, but will L'Oréal's version perform as well? For the verdict (with pictures),

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I've been dropping way too much money on bar soap and fancy scrubs lately. When I noticed that my skin wasn't feeling nearly as good as it smelled, I picked up Olay Daily Purifying Body Wash, ($8.19). The formula has sea salt and microbeads to exfoliate (per the instructions, use with a puff). I didn't expect to like this as much as I did, but it was refreshing to use something that came in an easily gripped bottle. The scent was very marine, and pleasantly unisex (at least to my nose). And afterward, my skin felt super smooth, even around my elbows and knees. I might revert back to my stogy old quadruple milled soap sometimes, but will definitely keep this in the shower for when my skin is feeling dull. And for when I pretend I'm going back to the gym.

See reader reviews and add your own here!

It's somewhat bunk when directions say to use a shampoo or conditioner from the same line together for best results (skincare can be a different story). But I decided to do so when trying Garnier Hydra-Curls, because at under $4 each, I could. While I highly doubt my positive-ish results were from using the shampoo and conditioner in tandem, I thought it was worth noting.

Also worth noting is the little plastic bubble on the cap. Such a small thing, but when you've been unscrewing tops and sticking your wet hand in tubs of $30 deep conditioner (thus watering down the product), it's a reprieve. The scent of Garnier Hydra-Curls kind of reminded me of free gym shampoo, but I can't argue with the fact that my hair dried really soft and wavy, but smooth. The detangling abilities of the conditioner are stellar — I barely needed to brush my hair. Eight bucks is a small price to pay for that.

Contrary to what Beyoncé says there are some things that are irreplaceable. I have been trying to find a low-cost alternative to Bumble & bumble Grooming Creme ($25) at the drugstore for ages. Often, other products are too heavily-scented, which at least is detectable without taking out my wallet. I had high hopes for Charles Worthington Big Waves Definition Creme ($5.99), which promises "defined, wavy, super shiny, full hair." The scent was stronger than I'd like but not offensive, so I gave it a try.

The first thing I noticed was that it didn't smooth through my hair as much as I wanted it to. When you have waves — or are trying to create them — getting product evenly over your hair is key. The directions say to apply "liberally" with fingers, but combing it through is definitely a better idea. With leave-in defining products, even application can easily be the difference between success and failure, which is why I gave this Big Waves Definition Creme a second chance after my hair dried with, for lack of a better term, glue-y chunks. I love other Charles Worthington products, but this didn't do it for me either time. Bummer.

I like when lip gloss comes in a wand with a brush at the tip of the applicator. Even though it can get bacteria in it the same way that mascara can, it doesn't open in your bag and you don't have to dip your (possibly germy) finger in it to apply. This is the reason I wanted to try Sally Hansen Lipnotic Gem Gloss ($6.99), but with claims like "creates a look of glittery gems under glass" and provides "hypnotic color," I was skeptical.

Lipnotic gloss is remarkably shiny. The shade Bling Bling is a little darker than my natural lip and shimmers, shines, and sparkles from every angle. Staring closely at the glitter in the gloss, I caught a few flecks of blue. I'm not sure I ever thought I would warn that a lip gloss wasn't "work appropriate," but this might actually not be. But if you're a real lip-gloss lover, it might become your favorite. And once I realized I'd been staring at my own lips for nearly 10 minutes, I kind of understood why they called it "hypnotic."

See reader reviews and add your own here!

Have you been keeping up with our fabulously honest and unbiased product reviews website? If no, break out your keyboards and give it a try. If yes, please keep 'em coming because I absolutely love reading all of your input on what's a yeah, what's a nay, and what's — just okay.

While perusing the site, I noticed that many of you are fans of the Biore line of products judging by the high star ratings, and when I noticed the brand's Daily Cleansing Cloths had yet to be reviewed, I knew it was time to add some stars of my own.

Packaged in a sturdy resealable covering, these go anywhere cloths are sure handy for travel and wonderful for those lazy nights when doing the whole face care routine is just not gonna happen. Perhaps a few too many martinis, eh?

These pre-moistened cloths immediately passed my "white glove" (white cloth, in this case) test quite nicely. Black waterproof mascara? Foundation? Peach gloss? Yep, they were all there after a few swipes, without having to do the chafing of the eyes rigamarole. To read more about what I liked/didn't like,

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