As much as I love to shop small, sometimes a girl needs a Starbucks latte and a big, comfy Eddie Bauer sweater…and when a girl’s as sick as I’ve been for the past few days, she doesn’t want to spend twenty minutes applying makeup.

For Christmas I got the justine case “refresher kit” by benefit. Like that latte, the kit didn’t come from a small business; but it was created by a pair of stylish, open-minded sisters with a passion for beauty and a disdain for “serious makeup.”  Admit it: if you have to buy corporate, benefit ain’t the worst place to go.

But back to the makeup. justine case has sample sizes of four of their top-selling “quick fixes”:

• california kissin’ (a smile-brightening lip gloss);
• eyecon (which promotes circulation and fades dark eye circles);
• benetint (my favorite, a lip and cheek tint that was originally created for an exotic dancer’s nipples); and
• some kind-a gorgeous (translucent cream-to-powder foundation/concealer).

I was speculative; I mean, how much of a difference could this stuff make?

Well, see for yourself:

Before "justine case"

Mirror pictures are awesome!

After: I don't even look sick!

Needless to say, I think it worked. The best part? It only took five minutes and cost a measly $32. For a makeup kit that fits in my purse and takes me from “violently ill” to “wide-eyed and awake” that’s a steal.

Another steal: that necklace I’m wearing care of My Lavaliere at Etsy.com. I’ll be reviewing it and the bracelet I bought (as a gift) in an upcoming post.

Tags: etsy, Fashion, Jewelry, Makeup, The Corporate Connundrum