Review & Giveaway: Mary Kay Lash Perfection Package

I think if you'd ask most women which piece of make up they couldn't live without, the answer would be mascara! I love it, I can't live without it in my make-up routine - but my one complaint is mascara that doesn't live up to the hype. Over the years, I think I've tried just about every trendy mascara - from the double end wand containers (ah, remember those?) to colored mascaras. Finally, you get to the point where enough is enough - all a girl wants is a mascara that lengthens (or widens) without clumping or caking and won't break the bank. Is that too much to ask, really?

The new Mary Kay Lash Perfection Package contains a primer, three different mascaras and a lash & brow serum, all rolled into one pretty box:

I've only had one foray into the Mary Kay world, back in high school when I was getting my senior pictures done. The photographer also happened to be an Independent Mary Kay consultant, so she did my make-up for me for my photo session. I think my family was secretly thrilled - they ended up with a few photos of me without goth-y makeup. ;) (My DH still has two of those photos in his wallet as we speak. LOL!) Anyways, I ended up buying the lipstick, but when it ran out, I never looked back.

Each of the Mary Kay mascaras features their "Smart Wiper" technology to deliver the exact amount of mascara for maximum plumping. They are available in black and brown/black, and are ophthalmologist tested and suitable for sensitive eyes. This last part is big for me - my allergies will tell me if the makeup I am using won't agree with me, as my eyes start to itch almost immediately.

The Mary Kay Lash & Brow Building Serum is meant to be used at night, after you've taken all your makeup off for the night and are getting ready for bed. It's formulated to help reduce eyelash loss while creating the appearance of fuller looking lashes. I'll admit, I never thought I'd be using something on my eyelashes at night - that was a new one even for me! It took me a couple of nights to get into the swing of using it each night because of that. It did dry quickly as they said, and it's not like a mascara wand, but rather more like a liquid eyeliner that you put at the base of your lashes. You can also use this product on your brows, but I stuck to just my eyelashes. I can't really say I noticed a difference using it, but I am guessing this is something that takes awhile to help out, rather than just 7-10 days.

The Mary Kay Lash Primer contains an exclusive Panthenol-Pro Complex to help to strengthen and condition lashes. It is also supposed to help show dramatic definition while creating stronger, fuller and longer-looking lashes. You can use this as a nourishing undercoat, or wear alone as it has no coloring. I tried it both ways - alone it's almost like a clear mascara. (Do they even makes those anymore? Remember them? lol See, I wasn't kidding when I said I tried it all!) I actually liked it more alone, as it was great for quick trips to the store and around the house, and if I forgot it was on and rubbed my eyes, I had no raccoon streaks. ;)

The Mary Kay Lash Love combines moisturizing benefits from the Panthenol Pro Complex and Vitamin E with volume and definition to give you four times the volume without the worry of overdoing it and ending up with what a friend termed "hooker lashes" (LOL!) It was easy to apply and my lashes looked good after applying it.

The Mary Kay Lash Love Waterproof Mascara is supposed to help you achieve water resistant, no smudge lashes that appear fuller, lifted and multiplied all day. I wasn't thrilled at first when I noticed clumps on the mascara wand immediately when I opened the container, but it quickly became my favorite of the three mascaras included in the set - I felt that my lashes were definitely longer and fuller when using it, without them clumping.

The Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara is supposed to coat your lashes with volumizing, long lasting effects in just one coat. It does... but I preferred the looked from the Lash Love for my makeup style more. It's still a nice mascara though, especially if you are on a quick time routine in the mornings. It is not waterproof.

None of the mascaras gave me smudges throughout the day (well, once when I forgot it was on - but that's my fault for rubbing my eye!) so I am pleased with that part of all of them. Wearing goth-y style make-up already leaves me in in danger of raccoon eyes as it is if I don't apply my makeup carefully, I don't need help with that part. ;) All in all, I am pretty happy with the Mary Kay products I tried out, and I will probably be adding the Mary Kay Lash Love Waterproof Mascara into my current makeup routine. This video will show you more about the products:


(Feedreaders, you'll have to click over to my blog to see it, sorry!)

The Mary Kay Lash & Brow Building Serum retails for $38.00, while the Mary Kay Lash Primer, Mary Kay Lash Love, Mary Kay Lash Love Waterproof Mascara, and the Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara retail for $15.00 each. You can purchase them online via the Mary Kay website, or via your favorite Independent Mary Kay Beauty Consultant. Don't forget to "like" Mary Kay on Facebook to find out about new products and sales!

Win it! Whew, so you read through my reviews and made it this far - guess what? I get to give away a Mary Kay Lash Perfection Package, just like the one I received! (Yippee!) To enter, tell us which of the products you'd like to try out the most, and what it would help with/or you like about it.

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR publicly following my blog via GFC or Facebook
-Blogging about this giveaway with a link back
-Tweeting about this giveaway 1X (leave the link in your comment below or @psychotichouse)
example: #win Mary Kay Lash Perfection! http://bit.ly/OxZFlT ends 10/13 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends October 13th at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

Disclosure: The information, products and additional Mary Kay gift pack was provided by Mary Kay® through MyBlogSpark.