This week’s pick is Planned Parenthood. Most of us are familiar with the organization, but if you haven’t actually been there, you may not realize the multitude of services they provide, including: STD/HIV Testing, birth control methods (Morning After Pill, they supply FREE condoms), pelvic exams, abortions, and treatment for men’s sexual health as well. The cost of your Planned Parenthood visit and applicable prescriptions are determined by your household income (get an approximation and find your nearest location at their website here). For instance, those that are eligible are able to receive up to a full year of a birth control method at no cost, for which you are given a Planned Parenthood membership card that links your information to your selected pharmacy. The Planned Parenthood facilities are clean, modern, and not nearly as sterile and uncomfortable feeling as most hospitals are, so you are more than likely to have a favorable experience there.

REVIEW:
Cost: $0+ (Depends on household income)
Value: Excellent
Accessibility: Good
Where: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/index.htm

Enjoy and stay posted for more beauty tips and picks to come next week!

This week’s tip: Do It In the Shower - Two Minute Cuticle Prep , is another time saving technique done while showering, and is inspired by my true and desperate need for a manicure. During a shower is great time to prep cuticles, since skin automatically softens from the water’s moisture, and is easily pliable. The following is a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to maintain cuticles in between nail salon visits.

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Variety is the spice of life. This cliché is like the beauty world’s mantra, and is especially fitting for this week’s pick: Sephora’s The Lash Stash mascara sampler set. I was in Sephora just the other day, when I stumbled upon this product, and was so excited, I actually heard myself say out loud, “Oh my god!�

What I was oh my god-ing about is that reusable samples of these branded mascaras:

Benefit A Little Bit BADgal Lash in Black
Blinc Kiss Me Mascara in Black
LORAC Publicity Stunt Lashes in Black
Smashbox Bionic Mascara in Black
Stila Multi-Effect Mascara in Black
Sephora Brand Lash Plumper in Black
Too Faced Lash Injection in Black

have been non-existent up until now. In the past, you either just had to buy a tube of an unfamiliar brand of mascara and pray you would just absolutely love it, so your twenty something bucks didn’t go to waste, and/or you didn’t have to waste anytime going through the trouble of returning the damn thing.

This sampler set comes with 7 units of mascara in adorably small, sample sizes and is great for anybody, like myself, who likes the individual look of certain mascaras on different occasions, or is looking to test which mascara she likes best of these brands. I call it mascara dating. May the best wand win!

REVIEW:
Price: $28
Value: Good
Accessibility: Moderate
Where to buy: Sephora Stores, Sephora.com (temporarily our of stock)
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P217701&categoryId=C7010