Mood:  chillin'

Motherhood is a bitch, because it eats into all of your "me time." It gets even harder when you have a child in school, because that child has to be at school a whole hour earlier than you have to be at work. Essentially, I've been spending the last 5 months awaking a "not-a-morning-person" kindergartener while trying to get my own motor running. Once I've gotten my daughter completely ready for school, I have 20 minutes to be work ready from shower to coat. This has turned me into a grumpy and a bland-faced miss, but I've resolved this by putting on my "face" at work which isn't so bad since I now arrive at least 20 minutes earlier than needed.

I hate that I have to apply make-up at work, because I'm really the only one in the office who wears it and I feel like this little feminine ritual might dimish my credibility with my co-workers. Yet, I persist because if all it takes is a little mascara to separate them from their respect for me, then I never really had it at all. *ahem* But, I digress. 

This new desktop make-up routine has taught me to appreciate the smaller and more portable products, which I will now review.

1.E.L.F. Essentials Eyelind Primer is a miracle prodcut that costs only $1. I couple of swipes of this primer will sop up the oil on your lids and provide a smooth and mattified canvas for your favorite eyeshadow colors. The liquid to power formula does take a little longer to dry than most cream eye shadow bases, but it works for hours! I literally get no color fading after 5 hours. Just one tip, a little goes a long way. 

2. 32 Endless Eyes Studio Eye Shadow Mini Palette is a perfect purse-sized palete that includes an array of eye shadows in matte, shimmery, dark, bright or neutral colors. Even better, it was only $5!! Use with the primer and you have a banging eye look. The only downside is that the included sponge-tip brushes are incredibly cheap. Use one of your travel eyeshadow brushes or disposable eye shadow sponge-tip brushes. (Hint: the sponge-tip brushes will give you a bolder cool which I like.)

e.le.l.f. Studio Endless Eyes Pro Mini Eyeshadow Palette

3. Wet n Wild's Mega Length mascara gives me nice, long, defined lashes all for $2 and it fits in the palm of my hand! Wnw beauty has certainly stepped up its game and I'm benefitting. Besides their new nail polishes, beautiful eye shadow palettes, they also have a a slew of mascaras for you to chose from depending on your lash needs. I have to get another tube to keep in my house now.

4. WnW ColorIcon Eye Shadow Palette in Cool as a Cucumber is my favorite goto green shade. (I'm a huge fan of green eyeshadow.) The included brushes also work very well. For $3, it's a steal!