Benefit

13 Jan 2013 14 Comments

A Revelation About Mascara

There’s nothing like a good mascara. I’ve been told this by many a friend but yet, I’ve never been one to buy into this idea. When it comes to my daily makeup routine, mascara is always last on my list. Yes, yes, I know what it can do to open the eye and complete a look. I get that. But it has never really gotten me excited. Scroll through my archives and check. Mascara is one item I rarely blog about.

But this might change. Soon.

This past week, I was chatting with my friends Lizzie and Alex about makeup (go figure) and the conversation eventually led to a discussion about mascara. Well, let me tell you, this discussion has changed my perception about mascara.

They talked about how they use not one but two types of mascara to get the effect they like. Two? Who would have thought?! And it turns out that I also can’t rush the process. I need to spend a little bit more time on application versus the quick swoops I do at the end of my makeup routine. So it turns out, if I want to create long, voluminous lashes I need to spend the time and I may need to use the more than one product. Serious revelations. I know that for many of you this is obvious. For someone like me, not so much.

So I have taken their advice to heart and in the last two days, I used two mascaras and took the time to apply it. It is working. I’m amazed. I must have been living under a rock…

So I ask you my readers, what are your mascara tips? Do you use one or two? Or do you have one go-to mascara that does it all for you?

13 Dec 2012 4 Comments

Ask Santa for These…Benefit Holiday 2012

Hands up if you’re done your holiday shopping? (My hands are not up). I see a big, and I mean Pretty Woman, BIG, shopping expedition in my future.

I’m shopping mainly for my husband who I find hard to buy for, and some stocking stuffers for my kids. Now, if I had to buy for girlfriend or my sister, I would look to getting them one of these Limited Edition sets/kits from Benefit. Yes, I have them in my hands and I could technically give it away. But call me Scrooge, I can’t let go and am keeping these for myself!

Take a look and you’ll understand why:

Benefit Crescent Row Limited Edition Fragrance Set

I’m a big fan of the Crescent Row fragrances so when I saw these I got a bit giddy. These are teeny bottles (.34 oz), perfect for travel. Choose from Laugh with Me Lee Lee (a woody floral), My Place or Yours Gina (woody oriental), Ring My Bella (a fruity floral), and See & Be Seen Sasha (a captivating floral).

I can’t pick a favourite. My one issue is that they don’t come with a spritzer or spray — which I find awkward to apply. But I’ll get over it cause they make me smell nice More

18 Apr 2012 10 Comments

I’m in “Hervana” thanks to Benefit

I often find it difficult to review blush. After all, how many times can I say: it gives the most natural flush? Or, it blends beautifully and makes you look like you just stepped in from the cold?

Right?!

But I have to say Benefit’s Hervana blush does all of this. It does give a natural flush, and it does blend beautifully. And it is just so…pretty.

I was mesmerized (no joke) when I opened up the box. Look at the pretty swirls of colour. I have seen other bloggers swatch each individual shade but honestly I find it too small to have to try and grab individual shades. Instead, I swirl my brush around and get the prettiest of pinks. It reminds me of MAC’s Well Dressed and how it looks on my skin tone.

I don’t find Benefit’s blushes to be as pigmented as NARS blushes but that’s okay. For me, these are fail-safe blushes. They are perfect for days you want a softer and lighter flush or if you are just starting to wear blush.

And the packaging? It’s too cute in my opinion. There’s something about these little Benefit boxed blushes that make my heart a flutter. Sometimes, I like laying them all out in front of me just to admire– my ‘pretties’. Ok, totally Gollum-like, no?

Have you tried Hervana or other boxed blushes by Benefit?

*Product sample. Views are my own.

10 Jun 2011 5 Comments

This Week I Wore: Dolce Vita (NARS) and Frisk Me (Benefit Cosmetics)

I am seriously digging Kate Middleton’s (or shall I say the Duchess of Cambridge) fashion sense, and today Kate was my inspiration for my makeup. On my eyes, I patted on Shale eyeshadow by MAC and then lined all around with MAC Blacktrack Fluidline. On the lips, I chose NARS Dolce Vita Velvet Matte Pencil layered with Benefit’s Ultra Lip Shine in Frisk Me. Blush was Desert Rose by Lancome.

Frisk Me is a gorgeous shimmery medium pink, a “my lips but better” colour. It is not sticky and smells like vanilla. Love it! Dolce Vita is also a neutral on me, just a touch more red than my natural lip colour. The only negative is that I find the pencil a bit dry. Layered with Frisk Me, I think it’s a winning combination.

Overall, happy with the way I channeled my inner Kate today. In fact, I even purchased a new pair of black
patent wedge shoes from Nine West in her honour this afternoon, similar to this:

Well, that’s my excuse at least. And they were on sale.

Disclaimer: Benefit product provided for editorial consideration.

15 Jan 2011 7 Comments

Bella Bamba!

Bella Bamba is Benefit’s new “3D brightening pink face powder.” Benefit calls the colour, watermelon, and it is infused with shimmering gold undertones. It can be worn as a traditional blush or all over the face as a brightening powder.

First, I love the name. I am a sucker for Benefit’s product names though. As for the powder, it is a pretty light pink and when you tilt the box you can see fine gold particles. This is the same kind of effect you will get on your face/cheeks. On my skintone, it can look subtle but the colour is buildable if you like. I love how smooth the powder felt, and blendable. It came with a little brush but I prefer to use my MAC or Sigma blush brush to apply. As for pigmentation, it is probably one of the more pigmented blushes by Benefit. I also own Coralista, Dandelion, and Sugarbomb and to me this is similar in texture and pigmentation as Coralista. One big difference though is how it applies on the face — this really has a unique look to it. It does give dimension to your cheeks. I guess that is what they mean by 3D effect. I couldn’t stop looking at my face — at every angle the product would catch the light in different ways, very lovely but difficult to explain. Overall, two thumbs up for Bella Bamba!

This is available now in Canada at Benefit counters, Shopper’s and Sephora and is priced at $36.

In the photos below, I actually used the product and applied it all over my face to give myself a brighter glow. (I crack up every time I see the different facial expressions or facial ‘positions’ I make when taking photos for the blog.)