If you are looking to wildly experiment and starting from scratch, it's honestly not a bad looking deal.

But you should be going in to it looking to try new colors every time you really do your makeup. In which case, totes awesome. If you are set in your colors and products, not so much.

It's all about the variables.

And, no, you do not need that lipstick, Jilli. The packaging, however, is STUNNING.

I am definitely not set in my makeup ways, since I have exactly one of everything right now, and not necessarily things that go together.

Then maybe that Smashbox set is a good one to play with. Their shadows are pretty blendable which is a bonus when experimenting with colors and application. I'd go for it if you are tempted.

And here is why even smartish people are really, really stupid sometimes - I am watching a racing recap show and they are talking about who can still win a championship in a series. They show the points. Commentator says it's really between the top 3 guys now. Technically, I think no one is out of the chase yet. But I look up and decide, no really anyone in the top 5 has an honest chance at the title.

Here's the problem. I can't tell you how many more races they have or *bing* *bing* *bing* what the points structure even is.

I'm not even pulling facts out of my ass, I am just guessing at what feels like their truthiness.

I hate being what is wrong with the world.

Heh, Cass. You have to call it instinct and go with it. That's what everybody else is doing.

Okay, what about this Sephora which is cheaper, so I could also buy the Urban Decay eyeliner, plus it's broken up into palettes, so I can eliminate some guesswork, and it has blushes and shadows and lip stuff.

Or there's this Smashbox which is only eyes and more expensive, but looks like colors I would use. But I'd still have to add blushes and lip stuff.

And also, all of those look like I'd also have to buy brushes and whatnot. This is complicated! And expensive!

All right, enough internet window shopping. Bedtime for me.

OMG tiredface. Graded for about 15 hours this weekend and do not have tomorrow off. Proud of myself for buckling down and working my way through the piles that accumulated in the month I lost (I technically only missed two days but got hopelessly behind on everything), but can't believe I now have a full week and yet more grading ahead. Also, 70 narrative comments due in two weeks and 12 recommendations due within the next month. Kill me.

Good for you, Pix. That's a damn lot of work, on top of all your actual tired.

And also, all of those look like I'd also have to buy brushes and whatnot. This is complicated! And expensive!

Which is why I'd go for the first if you are truly starting from scratch and experimenting. It has everything and you never really know what is going to click.