Glamorous holiday gift at your door from FragranceNet.com: YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils

Ophthalmologists recommend that makeup wearers toss their mascara at least every three months and more frequently if they've had an eye infection. That can be hard on the budget if one is purchasing an ultra-premium brand! That means that such products get even more scrutiny to determine if they're "worth it".

Keeping those high standards in mind, I can say unequivocally that YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils (false lash effect) is worth it! I've tried luxurious brands from all over the world on stage, in pageants and on television over the years.

I don't like mascaras that bill themselves as "buildable", because that just means that the first three coats look like you didn't even bother. I also don't care for mascaras that seem dry, that aren't richly black or that don't lengthen. If a mascara merely thickens without lengthening, you get short, stubby lashes that resemble a dolly one might have won at the county fair.

Rather, Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils in "Shocking" format -- from YSL, the newer moniker for the brand evolving out of French couture fashion house Yves Saint Laurent -- surpasses the benchmarks of a gorgeous mascara. It's packaged in a sophisticated, gold metal elongated tube that's contained in a gold metallic paper box. The brush is a plusher "teddy bear" style (as it's called in the cosmetic business), but the bristles work harder at declumping than is normally seen with such brushes. The color is inky black and gives a stout, long lash within one or two coats of product.

This product would make a fantastic, elegant stocking stuffer this holiday season.

There are lots of reasons to avoid the mall these days, even though it's the holiday shopping season. First, there are the traditional annoyances: difficulty in finding a parking spot, icy patches to slip on, crowded stores, long lines, stripped shelves. Then, let's face it . . . some malls seem to be magnets for crime! Shootouts like at the O.K. Corral, carjackings and holdups are becoming -- distressing as it may be -- not just the stuff of fiction anymore.

Shopping from home is much more accepted than it was just a few years ago. Analysts are reporting that "Cyber Monday" actually started a few days earlier, with brick and mortar sales flat or in decline.

But now, there's FragranceNet.com to the rescue! I was very happy to be hosted to experience it. But unlike their name, you can actually order a full range of beauty products there from classic and ultra-premium brands. Your computer is available 24/7 and you don't have to get bundled up to go shopping. Everything will be delivered to the doorstep of your choosing and they have a better selection than most grand department stores do!