Showing posts with label Benefit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Benefit. Show all posts

Easy Fresh Spring Makeup

Another YouTube vid, another FOTD post...

A few weeks ago, I got a request to 'do something' with MAC Sumptuous Olive E/S. This is a shadow that can easily become muddied if too much smokeyness is added, so I kept the inner corner light and just blended the Sumptuous Olive out at the crease. Teamed with glowing coral cheeks & lips, this kept the overall look fresh and spring-like.


I know I wasn't pouting when I took this pic, so not sure why it looks like I was !!

Chanel Pro Lumiere
Sleek Primer Palette
MAC Sumptuous Olive E/S
AVON Gel Shock Liner
Clinique Naturally Glossy Mascara
Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara
MAC Omega E/S (brows)
MAC Select Cover-Up Concealor NW20
DIOR Capture Totale Loose Powder
Benefit Coralista
Estee Lauder Blazing Sun Crystal Lipstick (available online from 28th Feb)

Back to Work FOTD

Today was my first day back at work since finishing up before Christmas. I had a 4.48am start, so please excuse the slightly gormless look, but it was sooo early!

I wanted to keep it natural and uncomplicated so just whacked a Benefit cream shadow over my lids & a slick of mascara & I was done. I was also trying out my new Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation, which I have quickly fallen in love with!


I'm going to try do more of these, so need to get a bit of variety into my work makeup!

A x

Products Revisited... Benefit Benetint

Can't believe Christmas is a week today! And I've hardly managed to do any 'revisited' posts!!

Not much has changed since I posted about this back in February. You can read the full rave review on the earlier post. All I'll say today is I love it & think everyone needs one!

Party Season Must Have! Benefit She Laq

It's not very often that I will try a product and want to blog about it immediately, but I was so damn impressed last night with this stuff that I wanted to tell you about it right away!

Last night was my office Christmas party and I glammed it up with applying MAC's Antique Gold Reflects pigment over the top of Benefit's 'Strut' cream shadow, but we all know that even over the top of a cream, pigments can move around. As I was wandering around town yesterday picking up last minute party essentials (shoes, dress etc hehehe) I was planning in my head what makeup I would be wearing* and this video by Tanya (Pixi2woo) popped into my head - she had mentioned She Laq as a good makeup sealer and so I popped in past Debenhams and quickly scooped up a bottle.
When it first came out and without even trying it, I'd notched it up as a product that would sting, dry out skin and generally make whatever makeup you put it over, look crap (Lipcote of 10 years ago anyone?) but I was so wrong! This stuff is bloody amazing!! I put it over the top of the MAC loose pigment - it didn't clog or mess it up, it just made it stay put! I put it over my eyebrows which I'd filled in with Shu Uemura pencil and my eyebrows were fixed all night. Amazing - I danced the night away, didn't take my makeup off before I went to bed (I know I know) and when I woke up this morning feeling mega rough I just about fell over when I looked in the mirror and saw my makeup was still 100% intact!

And it gets better! As I was in a rush, I literally just grabbed a box off the shelf at Benefit without paying much attention and it was only when I opened the box when I was getting ready did I realise that it comes with 4 brushes! I have a couple of Benefit brushes and think they are excellent quality, so to pay £17 (Debs had a 10% discount) for the She Laq and 4 brushes, is fairly amazing value. Mascara spoolys are often very expensive and I'm delighted to have another one!

I think Tanya said in the video that she hadn't tried it over eyeshadow but that she was sure it would be fine and I can confirm that is definitely the case! If you have a problem with oily lids, smudging, lipstick not staying on, brows rubbing off - this is the product for you. I can't believe I haven't tried it before now! Definitely a party season must-have!

* I'd planned on wearing MAC Reflects Pearl pigment but when I got to Lisa's, she offered me a dusting of Antique Gold - it literally looked like my eyes were encrusted with jewels, it was blinking gorgeous. I didn't get a chance to properly take any pics of my makeup, but there are some general party pics and if there's a decent one of me, I'll get it up. I will be doing a vid recreating last night's makeup though as I loved it so much.


FOTD

Happy Bank Holiday weekend everyone!
Last night, Mac and I went for dinner so I took the opportunity to try out a few newish products...


Eyes
Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Strut
Sleek Blue Glitter Eyeliner
Elizabeth Arden Double Density Mascara in Black (keep your eyes peeled for a post on this in a couple of days)
Shu Uemura Eyebrow Pencil, Seal Brown Hard 6


Face
Barbara Daly for Tesco Facelift Foundation in 'Almond' (Post on this and other Barbara Daly products coming soon)
Benefit Benetint and Benefit Coralista Blush on the cheeks
Benefit Georgia Peach all over the face
Benefit One Hot Minute Bronzer
No7 Limited Edition Natural Radiance Highlighter


Lips
Vaseline!




This is to try and show you the No7 Highlighter - it's fab!
A xx


Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadows

Hola,
I first bleated about these back in Feb, after picking up RSVP and loving it; since then, I have acquired 3 more and I love them even more!
Last time I talked about how lovely the application was, how soft they are, how long-lasting the shadow is and how easily blendable they are, so no need to mention all that again...
This time, I am just wowed by the colours. I love them! They are so versatile, so modern but classic and can be just as easily daytime as they can evening eyes. Because it is a cream, the pay-off you get is the same as what you see in the jar. No need to build these colours up, 1 coat is enough.
The whole range complements each other perfectly and many of the colours can be blended together. I often use RSVP over my lid, then Get Figgy in the crease, or Skinny Jeans on my lid with Strut as a liner.

Fab, fab, fab.


Above - pic taken in artificial light, below - pic taken in bright daylight.
From Left to Right: Strut, Get Figgy, Skinny Jeans and RSVP



RSVP

SKINNY JEANS

GET FIGGY

STRUT

These bad boys currently sell for £14 in your nearest Boots or Debenhams counters or visit Benefit's UK website. I should point out that the UK site has 21 colour choices as opposed to the US site which only has 13!

Jewel-ly Eyes inspired by Rae Morris

One of the pictures in the 'Eyes' section of Makeup, The Ultimate Guide by Rae Morris (I can't post the pic in case of copyright rules) totally captured my imagination last week and below is what I created using the pic as inspiration. The picture in the book is of a beautifully bronzed model with purple, pink and turquoise-y blue eye makeup and it's stunning.

I am a bit browner in the pic due to a combination of proper suntan and a little Benefit One Hot Minute Bronzer.



Other products used included the Purple, Pink and Blue glitter eyeliners by Sleek Makeup and the Acid I-Divine eyeshadow palette, with lashings of Benefit Bad Gal lash to make my lashes spiky as if they were wet.


FOTD & Happy Birthday Mum!!

Last week my mum celebrated her fif...shhhh birthday, but she was in Dublin for it, so we out for a quiet family meal this weekend instead. As I was running late, I had to squeeze getting pics into getting ready and yes, the first pic I am still wearing my dressing gown and my hair is only half done and very fluffy...


I was trying out some of my new Sigma brushes that arrived yesterday and have to say I am massively impressed with the fluffy eye blending brush I received. I will do a review post separately on these though.
so products used were...

Face
Benefit 'That Gal' brightening primer
Chanel Pro-Lumiere in 10
Chanel loose powder in Clair
Benefit 'One-Hot Minute' bronzer
Eyes
Sleek 'Original' palette E/S
Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Liner in Black
Benefit 'Bad Gal' lash waterproof
a very light touch of Shu Uemura eyebrow pencil
Girls Aloud 'Nicola Lashes' & Duo Lash Glue by MAC
Lips
Beaute Weightless Lip Creme in 'Girlina'

Today's FOTD

Good afternoon beauties!

I feel like I've been posting a lot recently about products, which was never the inital point of this blog. It's fun trying new stuff that's out there and I am always on the hunt for HG products but mostly my passion is for actually doing make-up, trying new looks, new colours etc.

So, as someone who usually favours black eyeliner and red lip stain, I thought I'd try something new for me today... full on natural eye colour, pale lip, rosy cheeks. Very girlie!
This was semi-inspired by Get Lippie's post on powder foundations; I love my mineral foundations, but haven't been using them recently as I've yet to found a kabuki that doesn't irritate my newly repaired skin following last year's 'acnegate'. I figured 1 day wouldn't do any harm though so here we are! (Louise if you're reading this, hopefully I don't look too fembot-ish!!)

I look very pleased with myself, but really I'm just in a good mood! The sun is shining and I'm nipping out soon to meet my girlies to discuss what I want to do on my Hen Do!



I used Bare Minerals powder foundation in 'Fairly Light' which I think is a ridiculous name as it suggests that it's not quite the lightest shde, which it actually is. I used Maybelline Mineral blush and my new FrontCover Rainbow Eyes box. Beaute WLC in 'Trace' is on the lips and the mascara is Bad Gal Lash from Benefit.

Make-Up Bag Essentials - Bobbi Brown Gel Liner

Welcome to the 2nd installment of this series; today is Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Liners! I have the Black and Blue (I think it's called Cobalt). The black one I've now had for about 6 months and I am only about 1/3 of the way through the pot. The texture is so smooth and these gels literally glide on. Once they're on and dry, the don't budge. Your eyeliner will stay in place all day with no smudging.
I have a Sleek gel liner too and there is no way it compares with the Bobbi Brown ones. The BB liners are so pigmented and long-lasting I think they are so worth the money and I doubt a day goes by when I'm not wearing it in someway, whether it's some simple tightlining or a full on cat-eye like today.
Please excuse the poor pics today - was in a super rush to do them before going to work!

So today's FOTD consists of Chanel Pro-Lumiere in 10, Beaute Fever Liqui Gel Stain, Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Black and Benefit Gal Lash! Nice and simple!

Make-up Bag Essentials - Benetint

There are some products that we flirt with; we spend £££'s on trends, colours, technology, only for them to fall by the wayside after a couple of weeks because you suddenly realise that the colour is crap or it isn't doing what you hoped. Then there are the products that you inevitably fall back on when your new flirtation ends. That's what this mini-series is about; the oldies, but goodies.

Today is Benefit's Benetint. This was actually one of the first two products I ever owned from Benefit (the other was Bad Gal Eyeliner) and believe it or not, it was given to me by Mac on our first Christmas together in 2005 and so, that Christmas, 2 Great Loves began.


5 years ago, I'd never heard of 'tints'. I'm not sure if Benetint was the first one on the market? Maybe someone can enlighten me? And I'm not even sure that I would have had the guts to go for something like this, if it hadn't been bought for me. Now, 5 years later, I don't recall what life was like without it. I use it all the time. It doesn't matter if I'm tanned, pale or inbetween. It works. And it always looks fab. We've had our ups and downs - the first time I used it as a lip tint and realised it had wiped off the inside of my lips, leaving me a ring of pink round my mouth. The first (and only!) time I spilled it over the cream carpet in my new, rented flat. It wouldn't be a good makeup day without 1 stained finger tip from patting it onto my cheeks.

So, this is for the girlies amongst you, who tend to stay on the safer side of makeup purchases and have never understood this blood red bottle of ink, winking at you from the Benefit stand...

I gently tap off the excess from the brush on the inside neck of the bottle and dot 5 or 6 drops onto my cheek in a circle, like here. I didn't demonstrate on my cheek as by the time I'd taken the photo, it would have stained in dot format and I was leaving for work shortly after these pics were taken... On your cheek, it wont 'spread' like it has done in the lines on my hand, unless your face is as lined as the back of my hand!

I pat the dots with the pad of my ring finger until all the dots are blended and there are no discernable lines. I repeat if I want more of a girly flush. It's then stuck fast for the day and wont budge or need touched up. If you don't like a lot of fuss, this could be your wonder product.

The 'before and afters'

It is available from most Boots stores, Debenhams and online. It's RRP is £23.50.

What are your 'can't live without' products?

FOTD Featuring Beaute 'Girlina'

Morning beautiful people! Today this little beauty popped through my letter box from the fabulous peeps at Coco Beau, I ordered it on Saturday and it cost £22. It is of course, Girlina Weightless Lip Creme by Beaute. You saw me rave about 'Trace' a couple of weeks ago and as soon as I tried it, I knew I'd be back for more. I also ordered 'Fever' stain, which I will post in a few days.
The colour is very Barbie-esque and is a little scary on the swatch, but once I had it on and blended properly on my lips, it just melted into this amazingly beautiful girlie pink colour. So today's FOTD is dedicated to the team at Coco Beau who are lovely and are probably sick of hearing me rave about how fabulous they and Beaute are! Enjoy!






Products used are: Pro Lumiere in 10, Benefit Dandelion, Benetint, Chanel mascara (sorry the 'type' has rubbed off), Shu Uemura eyebrown pencil and Beaute WLC in Girlina

EOTN (Eye of the Night!)

My friend Claire and I went out for dinner this evening so thought I'd take advantage of the opportunity and make my eyes fancy. They kinda ended up looking like I had 2 black eyes since the colours I opted for were cranberry & black.... It actually didn't look anywhere near as gothic as it does in the pics!Products used were...
  • Chanel Teint Innocence in 05
  • Benefit Benetint
  • Benefit Dandelion Powder
  • Benefit One Hot Minute Bronzer
  • Sleek 'Sunset' E/S Pallette
  • Shu Uemura Eybrow Pencil
  • Benefit Bad Gal Lash
  • Ruby & Millie Lipstick in Red Sheer

And just for fun, here's an 'out take' from the pics I took this evening. I don't always look fab you know!!

EOTD featuring Laura Mercier Eye Mosaic

I recently won a 'follower giveaway' at Makeup By Katy and received a whole pile of goodies at the weekend, including this Laura Mercier eye mosaic in Mediterranean Sea and a Jumbo pencil from NARS. I was grinning from ear to ear, having never tried either LM or Nars!






I used all 4 colours in the quad. The lightest yellow all over the lid as a base, the light blue across the dome of my eye, the bronze in the crease and the dark blue to line along my lashes. I used the NARS pencil on my water line which gave me brilliantly sparkly eyes where the light hit the shimmery bits (that's a technical term dontcha know...). Othe products used were Mat Lumiere in 05, my Beaute Weightless Lip Creme in 'Trace' and the lashes were finished off with Bad Gal lash in blue.


Let me know your thoughts, I love to hear your comments!
A xx

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow

This little baby was a birthday present from my darling lil brother (awwww I hear you coo!). It was £14 I think (he paid, I looked away...). You can peruse prices, other colours etc here

Anyway, let's forget boring things such as price and get onto the important stuff... How pretty is it?? Well! This particular colour is called RSVP and can be best described as an antiquey dusky rosey bronze colour. Gottit? Its absolutely beautiful on, changing shade in the light - looking more gold in some lights, more pink in others.

Application is fab - it's satin smooth to apply and is very easily slicked on with your finger tip. Blend quickly though as it does set into a stiffer powdery finish within moments. Presumably this is where the 'creasless' comes from - it doesn't remain as a cream on your lid, which would be great for my oily lidded friends.


(See next post for a review of the eyelashes I'm wearing - Mister Mascara lashes are one of my most favourite things!)

My Favourite Brushes Part 1

After I posted a few days ago about my new UD Big Buddha Brush, one of my 'followers' suggested a post about some of my other fave brushes. So here it is! I've had to split this into 2 parts so it isn't one mammoth post. Part 2 tomorrow...

Foundation Brushes
I love everything about using a foundation brush. I love the coverage it gives you. I love the even-ness of the coverage. I love the fact it means I'm not smearing my fingers all over my face (for someone with oily, spotty prone skin this alleviates the guilty thought that 'touching my face makes my spots worse...) and I especially love the fact that it means I don't have foundation all over my fingers & hands. My MAC 190 (I think that's the right number!) is brilliant - the bristles are packed in so the brush is super soft but super firm. The R&M Brush pictured is rubbish for a full, smooth application as the bristles are too long and floppy, but is good for gently buffing in small circles for a lighter coverage.


Bronzer & Blusher
I use the GOSH brush for dusting bronzer over my face - I think when it's for bronzer, the bigger the better the brush. Some may disagree but I like to eliminate the chance of any streaks. A big fat powder brush should do this. The Benefit brush is what I use for popping some blush on the apples of my cheeks or for contouring. The angle brush is great and I have a couple.

Eyeshadow Brushes
I have dozens of variations of E/S brushes. I don't feel it's something I care to spend a lot of money on and tend to find that as long as the bristles are soft and don't shed all over my face, it'll do. MAC 249 is excellent as it's massive and is great for giving a wash of colour across the whole lid. The UD brush is a medium size and the QVS (which was only about £2 from Superdrug!) is small which is great if you either have small eyelids or want a bit more of a precise application.


Eyeshadow Blending Brushes.
Good for blending out hard lines on your lid or good for adding shadow, definition or a contour into your socket. Find one that you like and buy a few - blending brushes shouldn't really add colour, so having a few clean ones available when trying to smoke up an eye is a must! The REVLON brush is quite fat and is great just for softening hard edges. The GOSH brush is brilliant and adding definition to the socket and blending and I have 4 of these.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...