Ok, I feel like majorly celebrating: an Ulta beauty store just opened up 10 minutes away from my house! (If you’re a cosmetics junkie like me, you totally relate to the excitement.) Unlike Sephora or a department store, Ulta carries a mix of high and low end products. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I spent 2 extremely enjoyable hours browsing through beauty heaven, trying on tons of products, and chatting with some super sweet sales ladies.

Truthfully, I was tempted to buy 20 different things. I ended up leaving with only two. Since I wanted to update my look for fall and already had tons of lipstick/gloss, I focused on eye stuff. Here’s what I bought:

Mascara – Essence Lash Princess False Lash 

Because I wear contacts, have dry eyes, and allergies, many products bother me. This mascara looked and felt awesome—no smearing, no itching, and it lasted all day. While the effect wasn’t the same as fake lashes—truly, nothing is—the formula is very nice, especially if you’re using a lash curler beforehand. The brush is big, but not enormous, and not plastic (this is a personal pet peeve, I just hate those!). Since mascara should be tossed every 3 months, this is a good area to economize. The cost is only $4.99.

Shadow palette – L’Oréal Color Riche Nude 1

With 10 gorgeous shadows packed into a single kit, this palette is fabulous! Highly pigmented with good staying power, there’s no creasing or fading. Most days, I brush a light shade from lash to eye brow, and then use a second slightly darker one on the lid. The darkest shades are perfect for a smoky eye or can double as eyeliner. The cost is $19.99, making it only $1.99 per shade.

Of course, I used my Ulta rewards card so I could earn points, good towards future purchases. I don’t shop here a lot and haven’t earned anything big in the past, but I may shop more now that there’s a nearby location. Also, they give a free gift on your birthday; that alone is worth signing up.

Have any makeup brands/products you absolutely love? Please share!