Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3 stars

COST: $7.99

THE SKINNY: The cooler weather of fall tempts me to trade in my gloss for real lipstick. This time, I'm trying Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick. It's a matte lipstick made with shea butter and aloe, so it's creamy and smooth.

The color (I tried the dark neutral Catwalk) lasts a few hours.

The matte finish is a nice change for fall and velvet enough to make my lips look healthy.

If you're looking for a quick change of color for fall, this lipstick is a good, affordable option.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick comes in 20 colors, all the usual you expect from Revlon.

-- Tested by Shay

NYX Single Eye Shadow

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $4.50

THE SKINNY: NYX products seem hit or miss. (The Loose Pearl Shadow was a bust, but the Roll-On Shimmer is fun.) But this eye shadow, which came in a recent Ipsy bag, is not worth the $4.50.

Now I'll be the first to admit that I'm spoiled by Tarte and Urban Decay shadows, which don't come cheap. But I like my shadow to have a little weight to it, so it goes on creamy.

The NYX shadow is chalky. When I tried to apply it, the shadow flew everywhere, even with primer. It didn't last long on my lids, either.

The color Ipsy sent, Lanikai, is a horrible powder blue that isn't right for my skin tone.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss. Bad color. Bad product.

CHECK IT OUT: If you want to try it, NYX Single Eye Shadow comes in 51 colors. 

-- Tested by Shay

Clinique High Impact Mascara

RATING (out of 5 stars): 4 stars

COST: $16

THE SKINNY: This may be my new favorite mascara. Clinique's High Impact is a pretty mascara that adds a little volume and a little length to my lashes. It's not too dramatic for work and, even better, it doesn't flake off.

After a few weeks of use, the small, sample-size tube I got in a recent Clinique bundle, hasn't clumped or dried out.

Clinique delivers on deep, saturated color, too. Overall, the mascara may be a little basic, but that's what I'm looking for in an everyday product. I don't need super long or super thick lashes to go to the grocery store or spend a day in the office.

If you need the drama, go with Clinique's High Impact Extreme Volume.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. I love it.

CHECK IT OUT: Clinique High Impact Mascara comes in "black" and "black-brown."

-- Tested by Shay

Pixi Lash Booster Mascara

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $17

THE SKINNY: This is easily the worst mascara I've tried this year. The biggest problem seems to be with the thickness (or lack thereof) of the mascara itself.

For something called "lash booster," this is extremely thin mascara.

That leads to a whole bunch of issues.

1. The mascara doesn't last more than an hour.
2. The mascara smears easily.
3. The mascara is gooey and makes the brush really gooey after just a few uses.
4. The mascara drips places it shouldn't. (I got a blob on the rim of my upper eyelid. And it burned something fierce.

Pixi says this product is supposed to give your lashes a "push-up" effect. I'm not sure how.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss. Gooey mascara isn't allowed.

CHECK IT OUT: Pixi Lash Booster Mascara comes in two colors: "blackest black" and  "blackest blue."

-- Tested by Shay

MensDept. Microtech

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars (when used by a girl)

COST: $17.99

THE SKINNY: The bad thing about up and chopping your hair into a pixie is you have to go through a whole bunch of styling products until you find one that does what you need.

My hair stylist swears by MensDept. Microtech, which provides medium-plus hold and adds texture and shine. And it looked great when she dabbed a little on my freshly shorn locks. It did add a little shine and a lot of texture.

But in my hands, this product has been a minor disaster. No matter if I use a little or a lot, my hair ends up looking heavy, greasy and sad. And it gets worse as the day goes on.

It's a good thing, really. This product smells like men's cologne, which is off-putting for a girl.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss. I don't have the patience to keep playing with the sample.

CHECK IT OUT: Find styling tips on the MensDept. website.

-- Tested by Shay