Frugal is the New Black

Prelude: As you may know, L traded her ballin' lifestyle of designer shoes, monthly spa services, and other little life necessities (some say "luxuries," she said "necessities") for a quick sabbatical going back to school. With her income slashed over 80%, she has found some worthy substitutes that allow her to not cry every time the credit card bill arrives in the mail.

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One item from my make-up bag I decided to substitute, since I would just be working at the tanning salon and interning one day a week has been my mascara. (Read: No need to get all dolled-up if you're going to be cleaning up butt-sweat 4 out of 5 days a week! Also, leave the good jewerly at home!¹)

There have been a lot of new drugstore releases and I thought it might be a good time to check them out. Averaging around $6 per tube, it wasn't a bad deal, either. Hate it? Just toss it, no big!

Since high school, I have loved and remained faithful to Lancome mascara²: it goes on very black, and enhances the natural lashes to great volumes. Nothing could quite compare...

...until now.

L's worthy substitute: Maybelline's Lash Stiletto^TM. Granted, I did fall for their chic marketing, "The only mascara that does for lashes what stilettos do for legs." Reining in at 5'2'', I was, needless to say, intrigued.

It's probably the best substitute I can find without being tempted to go into a department store or Sephora³.

The only downside I found was that, at first, it had a little perfume-y scent to it that takes some getting used to. Nothing offensive, either.

Grade: A.⁴

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1. One item that will never be replaced: Bare Escentuals bareMinerals..ahhh-mazing.
2. Read: Longest relationship L's had, ever.
3. You know what I'm talking about, a quick little run in for mascara, and twenty minutes, two hundred or so dollars later, you have just bought "the essentials" Lancome and M.A.C. have made for the season. And a few new brushes.
4. Not "A+," because, like in law school, there will be no such thing here.