For those of you who have been Cosmetic Report subscribers since the beginning, I'm sure you'll remember our $10 Challenge series. The goal of the $10 Challenge is to see just how far $10 can go toward cool makeup products at a local drugstore. For our third $10 Challenge, I decided to go for widely available brands like Maybelline and Almay.

Maybelline Expert Eyes eyeshadow quad in The Suedes (matte) $3.55
If you stick with the matte colors, these shadows from Maybelline are a great choice for long lasting and easy to blend color at a really reasonable price. You really don't need to spend a lot of money on good quality shadows! I love sets of multiple shadows like this for playing with different looks and color combinations. This is a definite buy!

Maybelline Express Finish nail polish in Pearl $2.55
While perusing the eyeshadow quad choices, I couldn't help noticing Maybelline's new quick dry nail polishes. They claim it sets and dries in 2 minutes, but I think that would only work if you used all of the Express Finish products to do your at-home manicure. When I used my usual Avon base coat plus my Urban Decay top coat over the Maybelline polish, it took just as long to dry as ever (about 30-45 minutes to totally dry nails).

Almay Amazing Lash Waterproof mascara in Intense Brown $3.95
I really liked this mascara. It left my lashes looking full and lush, and feeling soft, not stiff or clumpy. The waterproof-ness wasn't quite 100% (I got a few little flakes but no smearing), but this is still a good choice for a long-wearing, at least water-resistant mascara in a great range of colors.

Unlike most of the product testing I do, quite a bit of it lately has been done on the road while I've been traveling. Trying to cram a regular set of makeup and skin care into a tiny makeup travel case made me realize I needed to find some smaller versions and fast!

First on my list was a convenient foundation that I could carry in my purse or overnight bag without worrying about leaking. Max Factor just came out with a new Powder Foundation ($8) so I decided to give it a try. If I could have found a suitable color for my skin, I think this foundation would have been a great choice. It goes on smooth, not too dry or powdery, and covers well enough that I didn't need a separate concealer. The color selection is great if you have medium to dark skin, but for my complexion, the lightest Natural Honey was too pink and the next one up, Pale Champagne, was too dark. This really is a nice product, so be sure to check out the colors for yourself if you are in the market for a good, and reasonably priced, powder foundation.

The best way to consolidate a makeup bag is to have everything you need in one small case - brushes and all. I was thrilled when I happened by my local Philosophy counter the other day and discovered The Pocket Book ($45) - a complete kit in a tiny wallet, perfect for travel. The Pocket Book includes "sunkissed" blush, "prosperity" eyeshadow, four mini-lipsticks in "suntan SPF 15", "dedication", "liberation", and "wisdom", and a travel brush set for blush, eyeshadow, liner, lipstick, and blending. It all comes in a black leather tri-fold wallet with pockets to hold everything (great for adding your own things, too). This is by far the best set I've seen for travel, or just for your purse, to carry everything you need.

Last, but certainly not least, I really needed a smaller skin care kit. Lugging around huge bottles of cleanser and toner, along with multiple jars of day cream, night cream, eye treatment - it was getting ridiculous! During my last trip to California, I paid a visit to an ~H2O+ store and found just what I was looking for - a skincare starter kit. Each kit comes complete with small sizes of everything you need for your skin type for just $7.50. My kit for normal or oily skin included: