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

Monthly Faves: July 2011

I am very excited to post my July monthly favorites! This is the first time I’ve done a video for an actual post topic. Moving forward, this will be the format that I use for all of my monthly favorite posts.

Let’s get rolling!



This month’s favorites include:

- Clinique Perfectly Real Makeup (purchased from Sears)
- Clinique Blended Face Powder (purchased from Sears)
- Benefit Benetint (not in picture above - whoops!) (purchased from Shoppers Drug Mart)
- MAC Mineralize Blush Duo in A Little Bit of Sunshine (purchased from MAC.ca)
- MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study (purchased from MAC.ca)
- Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original (new tube) (purchased from Sephora.ca)
- MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow in Mineral Mode (purchased from MAC.ca)
- 4 Grey MAC permanent collection eye shadows (Scene, Copperplate, Concrete, Coquette) (purchased from MAC store)

Here’s the video!



I have used the feedback from my last video to improve this one:

- Changed the filming location to somewhere with a solid-color background
- Spoke louder (I think it’s improved from last time, but let me know if it’s still hard to hear me - it may be my MacBook)

If you guys have any constructive feedback about how I can improve for next time, leave me a comment here and NOT on my YouTube channel (I have disabled comments on the video as I will not be monitoring my YouTube channel more than once a month).

I hope you enjoy my monthly favorites post! I am looking forward to putting up more reviews for you this coming week, as well as revealing my contest winner - who was contacted via e-mail earlier today!

What are your July favorites? Do you share any with me? Leave me a link in the comments so I can check yours out!

Trying New Things - Sephora Haul!

I did some Sephora shopping recently, and decided to break away from my normal shopping habits and try something new. So, I bought a few things from two brands that I've never used before, and one from a staple brand.

Here's a look at what I bought:



- Benefit Cheek & Lip Stains in Posietint and Cha Cha Tint
- Make Up Forever Face & Body Liquid Makeup
- Make Up Forever Pro HD Primer - Microperfecting Primer in Shade 5 Blue
- Dior 5-Color Iridescent Eyeshadow in Shade 809 Petal Pusher
- Dior Skin Shimmer Powder in Shade 1 Rose Diamond

I am a big fan of Benefit's cheek and lip stains, so when Posietint came out awhile ago I was excited but didn't want to pick it up right away. When Cha Cha Tint came out at the end of June, I decided the time was right to pick up both!

MUFE has been a brand I've always seen a lot of good reviews about in general, so I picked two items I thought I would be 'safe' with trying and picked them up - a foundation and a primer!

Dior is another brand I've heard lots of good things about but have been intimidated about trying because of the price - so, I picked another two relatively 'safe' items that I'm pretty sure won't disappoint me and bought them.

Have you tried anything I got in my haul? Let me know!








Monthly Faves: June



I have been away from my blog for a little while now. I don't have a good excuse, just the usual ones: work, being sick,...life...

Anyway, I'm back on the last day of June to share my June favorites with you!

NARS Eye Shadow Single in Nepal
This is such an easy color to wear. I've been lazy this month, so I usually whack on some of this eye shadow and some mascara, and that's the extent of my eye makeup. Nepal is a pretty pink with a bronze tone to it - great for summer! Purchased at Sephora.ca

Benefit Benetint
Again, I've been very lazy this month. I put this on under my foundation to create the look of a natural flush on my cheeks. I can't be bothered with powder or cream blush at the moment...just give me a stain and I am good to go! I put a few streaks of this on and blend it in with a stippling brush. I am super excited to get my hands on the new shades of Benetint - Posietint (yes, I know it's been out for awhile, I just haven't bought it yet) and Cha Cha Tint. Purchased at Shoppers Drug Mart

BioSilk Silk Therapy for Hair
When my hair was longer and really damaged, I was using this every night on my damp, post-shower hair. Now that my hair is still short, I find I'm still using it! This oil helps give my hair a healthy shine and keeps it more manageable. It feels softer, and less brittle (even though I don't use heat on my hair!). Purchased at Wal-Mart

Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo
I don't know what it is this month, but I have been obsessed with coconut! The scent, the flavour...I just can't get enough. This shampoo smells divine - good enough to eat! It lathers very well and leaves my hair completely clean (no residue) and my scalp nice and moisturized. Purchased at Wal-Mart and Pharma Plus

L'Oreal Paris Studio Mineral FX Control Cream
Now that I've got a shorter 'do, I have an actual need for styling products. I picked this up because it's cheap. I've been using it at least 2 or 3 times a week to give my short pixie cut some definition. It doesn't leave my hair crunchy - it's got just enough hold to control hair but without making it wind-proof :) Purchased at Pharma Plus

Clinique Perfectly Real Makeup in Shade #1
Now that I've used the last of my Clinique Almost Makeup, I've moved on to using their Perfectly Real Makeup instead. I have to say, I'm impressed! The foundation provides light coverage, which is perfect for the summer. The foundation has not reacted with my skin, and it doesn't oxidize or make me oily at all. The drawback is the size of the bottle/amount of product for the price. While $30 doesn't make it the most expensive foundation I've ever bought, it certainly makes it pricey to re-purchase. Purchased at Sears.ca

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat
I absolutely LOVE this top coat. I does a great job of instantly drying my nail polish after I've given myself a manicure or pedicure. Will I buy it again? Absolutely! Purchased at Pharma Plus

Cover Girl LashBlast Volume Mascara
Ok - so if you're a follower of my blog you know I'm a fan of Cover Girl's LashBlast Fusion mascara. I had tried this version first, and didn't like it, so tried Fusion instead and fell in love with this. I was in Wal-Mart earlier in the month and was going to pick up another tube of Fusion when I saw that the Volume formula is actually a dollar cheaper. So, I bought the Volume formula instead. Honestly, I don't notice a big difference in the two formulas. Until the price of Fusion is the same as Volume, I'll be buying the Volume formula because it's cheaper. Purchased at Wal-Mart

GOSH Velvet Touch Lipstick in #86 Kitch
My go-to lip color for the month has been this GOSH lipstick. I really didn't know what to expect from this color since I really did not like Darling...but Kitch is a whole other story! This shade is a pretty nude/berry color. It's a shade or two darker than my natural lip color, which is why I have been using it this month. It's not often that I completely finish a lipstick before it expires (goes bad), but I can see this lipstick being one that I do manage to finish! Purchased at Shoppers Drug Mart

Here's a swatch of some of the products I have mentioned above:



Left: GOSH Velvet Touch Lipstick in Kitch
Middle: NARS Eye Shadow Single in Nepal (for whatever reason, it looks very gold in this swatch!)
Right: Benefit Benetint


What are your June favorites? Do you share any with me?

I will be back bright an early tomorrow morning with my First Annual Blog Birthday Giveaway! All of the details about how to enter and what the prizes are will be posted tomorrow!

REVIEW: Benefit Blush in Coralista



Product Brand and Name, Price (CDN), Where Purchased

Benefit Blush in Coralista, $32.00 CDN @ Shoppers Drug Mart

Reason for Purchase


Hype. Seriously. That’s the only reason I bought it.

Notable Features

This is a pretty, shimmery, coral colored blush.

Packaging

It comes in a small cardboard box, with a small brush. It tossed the brush in favor of using one of my full-sized blush brushes.

Experience Using Product

Consider this to be the better-pigmented version of NARS Orgasm; the color is VERY similar - I would say it’s a dupe. Coralista is very powdery (produces more blush-dust) compared to Orgasm.

Here is what the product looks like in the box:



And here is a swatch:



Would I Re-Purchase, Recommend, or Reject

I am keeping this review short and simple: I would not re-purchase this product. As I already own Orgasm (and can simply layer it to get better pigmentation), this was a bit of a waste of money for me. It borders on a ‘Reject’ item for me, just because of the fact I already have something similar in color to it. I am sure I will use it, but I really wish I hadn’t bought it.

I would recommend this to someone who does not already own Orgasm. Buying this blush is no cheaper than NARS, so if you don’t own either it really boils down to which brand you would rather buy.

To clarify - just so we're all on the same page, I do not hate this product. It's pretty decent; my experience with it was just poor because I already own something very similar to it.

If you would like to get your hands on Coralista, you can order it from Sephora or try checking out your local Shoppers Drug Mart.

A Simple Saturday Haul

I hope all of you are having a good start to your week. I'm happy it's Victoria Day, which means that it's a Statutory Holiday and I don't have to be at work! I took Friday off too, so it's been a nice four-day weekend for me. My brother was up on Saturday and Sunday and he headed home last night. I've been enjoying the opportunity to relax and catch up on a few good books!

Anyhoo, I was out shopping on Saturday and I picked up a few items that I thought I would share in a haul.



Calvin Klein Eau De Toilette - Obsession (not pictured)
I am a HUGE fan of Calvin Klein scents (with the notable exception of CK One) and this one is a very strong one that not everyone loves. Some find it kind of granny-like. I like the scent because of its potentcy. It smells great used sparingly on one day, but it mellows into a lovely faint musk the next day (even after a shower). It's not a scent that I would wear every day, but it's one that will certainly see a lot of use - especially in the winter months. Purchased at Shoppers Drug Mart

Benefit Pressed Powder in Coralista
So, my local Shoppers branch finally got rid of their stash of Georgia, which has been discontinued for awhile. I was tickled to see that Georgia had been replaced with Coralista. I've been wanting to add this to my collection for awhile, so I was really glad to finally get the chance. I have used it a few times and I'm happy with the purchase. Purchased at Shoppers Drug Mart

Annabelle Cosmetics Leopard Bronzer in Jungle Belle
I saw this and added it to my shopping basket without a second thought. This is a Limited Edition product from Annabelle's summer collection; they also have some funky multi-color zebra print eye shadows that I wasn't too crazy about, but might give a try some other time. The bronzer is made up of shimmery tan, pink, and dark brown. I've used it for three days now, and I love it. The bronzer is not overly glittery; it gives your skin a nice shimmery glow. Purchased at Shoppers Drug Mart

Bonne Bell Biggy Lip Smacker in Cotton Candy
I love these! They are perfect to stash in a beach bag or just to have handy in your purse when you've got dry or chapped lips. Cotton Candy is one of my favorite Bonne Bell scents. Why have something tiny in your purse (especially if you carry a massive one like me!) when you could put something in that is bigger and easier to find? Purchased at Wal-Mart

Nivea Pearly Shine Lip Balm
I am not normally a fan of Nivea, but this was recommended to me to try - so I bought a tube! Purchased at Wal-Mart

Cover Girl LashBlast Fusion in Very Black
I have three mascaras on my rotation right now...a Rimmel, a Cover Girl, and a Maybelline. Cover Girl is still my favorite, so it gets re-purchased no matter what. This is the first time I've every bought a tube of 'very black' though; usually I get 'black' or 'black brown'. Purchased at Wal-Mart

Wet-n-Wild Mega Last Lipstick in 906D Wine Room and 903C Just Peachy
I really like this line of lipsticks, so I picked up two more to add to my stash. Wine Room is a nice berry red color, and Just Peachy is a pale peachy-pink. Purchased at Wal-Mart

Wet-n-Wild Silk Lip Stick in 516C Sunset Peach
I have a few of these lipsticks and love them. They're super cheap and the color range is pretty decent. This is my second tube of this shade...I have misplaced the first tube. Purchased at Wal-Mart

I also went shopping to get a new pair of sandals for the summer. I have a brown pair and a gold pair, but no black! So, that's what I was on the hunt for. I did end up finding a pair that I like and that fit my massive feet. I bought a pair of gladiator sandals at the store Biba. Here's what they look like:



While in Biba, I also came across a cute purse that I couldn't resist buying:



And lastly, I was in Bentley looking for a new large wallet and happened upon this smaller wallet and coin purse. I am in love with neon colors and things that remind me of my childhood, and this just screamed Lisa Frank at me - reminding me of funky stationary and school supplies I had in grade school.



So, all in all it was a pretty successful shopping trip!

I'm not really looking forward to going back to work tomorrow, but I guess it's necessary if I want to have any money, :P

Have a great week!

Monthly Faves: February

It's March! Before you know it, it will be St. Patrick's Day!

My list of favorites for February is pretty small. I find at this time of year, I usually use a few products religiously and that's all I wear until spring. January was pretty much a write-off for me since I was sick most of the month. February I did get to wear some of my makeup, but I've been wearing much less of it lately. I have to say, I'm happy with that!

With all of that being said, here's the rundown of my February Favorites:



Cover Girl LashBlast Fusion Mascara in Black Brown - This is my favorite mascara; it's been a staple item in my makeup bag for months. I find the black brown shade makes my lashes look more natural. I love how this mascara separates my lashes, and defines them.

CARGO BeachBlush in Sunset Beach - I have been using this product as both a blush and an eyeshadow. When I wear it as an eyeshadow, I either pick one strip of color and use it on my eyes or blend a few together to give my eyes a warm luminous glow. I really love this product and am tempted to order another in a different shade.

Clinique All About Eyes Concealer in Shade 03 Light Petal - This is my favorite under-eye concealer. The product does such a phenomenal job of covering dark circles, it's great! I blend it with another monthly favorite Benefit High Beam, to create an under-eye concealer that both hides dark circles and is also luminous to give me a healthy dewy glow and further conceal anything I'm trying to hide. I dot the blend on my under-eye area with a concealer brush and then blend it out with my ring-finger tip.

MAC Paint Pot in Painterly - I use this as an eye shadow base. It covers discoloration very well, and eyeshadow sticks to it perfectly. Soft Ochre is usually the Paint Pot people recommend for an eye shadow base - but it's a yellow tinted product. I have pink undertone to my skin, so it would do nothing good for me - Painterly it is!

What are your monthly favorites?

Top 5 Products I Hate!

Creating a blog post without pictures seems wrong...but here we go anyway.

Hate is usually a very strong word that I don’t like to use in normal conversation. However, I thought it was appropriate to describe the products below - things that I cannot stand and wish I had never purchased.

5. Benefit Georgia

This product is last on my list for the simple reason that Benefit has discontinued it, and it is technically no longer available (although, for whatever reason, you can still buy it at the Shoppers Drug Mart 45 minutes away from where I live).

Georgia is another one of the first things that I bought when I started to shop at Sephora. I bought it because of all of the hype surrounding the product; it was written up to be the perfect peach face powder, scented like peaches too.

It’s light orange. Not peach. The scent is lovely, but the color is not. I tried wearing the product as blusher, but it doesn’t work very well. The powder is not heavily pigmented, so it only gives my skin an orange sheen. I am naturally very pale, so an orange tint on my skin does not look very good at all. The powder has been relegated to the bottom of my blush bin for some time now...I think it’s time to say goodbye to it.

4. Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller

I had been eager to try this product when it first came out. Finding the price of the product a bit too steep for my taste, I waited for it to go on sale before I bought one.

I don’t find that this product does anything it claims to do. I have talked to some friends who have tried it, and they all feel the same way.

I had to laugh when I read all of the reviews about people liking the tingly cool sensation they feel on their under-eyes when they apply it; the applicator is a metal ball with liquid on it. So, of course it is going to be cold! The product did not de-puff my eyes, and it did nothing to help dark circles.

If you are Canadian and really want a solution to de-puff eyes, buy Preparation H. Canada has the only formulation of Preparation H available with an active ingredient that reduces swelling and discoloration.

3. Baby Phat Golden Goddess Perfume

This perfume is one that I bought a few winters ago. It’s a warm scent that I thought suited me nicely.

When worn religiously though, the perfume seems to morph into some new scent.

Propane.

I do not blame this perfume for smelling like propane on me. It has got to do something with my own body chemistry and natural scent not mixing well with the perfume. The worst part about this is that it isn’t just me who can smell propane when I wear this perfume; someone who sits 2 cubicles down from me at work could smell it too.

In to the bin goes this perfume!

2. Shaving Gel of Any Kind

I know this sounds slightly bizarre, but it’s true. I cannot stand shaving gel - perfumed, unscented, formulated for sensitive skin - any of them! I get an allergic reaction whenever I use shaving gel on my legs. Regardless of the gel brand or formulation, after I use the gel my skin blisters....badly. We’re talking some small blisters yes, but I also end up with bigger ones the size of dimes and pennies. The reaction is painful and I do my best to avoid it. I’ve actually found that the Gilette Men’s Shaving Foam in the Lemon Lime scent is great for use on my legs; I think because the products for men are formulated to be used on the face, they are made to be less irritating and contain much less scent and moisturizing products.

1. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

I wish I didn’t have to give this product the top-billing of my most hated product, but I do.

I have made an effort to keep trying this foundation, to see if I could find a way to use it that would make me like it. I even wrote a blog post about it. For awhile, I was happy with it. Then, it started to irritate my skin again and the foundation landed on a shelf in my makeup cabinet, never to be used again.

When Sheer Glow was introduced by NARS, everyone could not stop talking about it. I fell for all the hype and bought my own bottle. I was so excited to use the foundation and when I finally had it in my possession and had used it for awhile, I couldn’t help but feel I had been misled. The shade that matches my skin the best is the lightest one, Siberia. The foundation did not blend very well on my skin, due mostly to the fact that it is formulated with a strong yellow undertone that just does not work for me; my skin has pink undertones. The foundation emphasizes any dry spots you have on your skin, raised scars (keloid), or fine lines. I also had an allergic reaction to the foundation; it made my face itch horribly, although I did my best not to scratch I did end up with some blemishes as a result of the irritation.

The price of this foundation is also a bit outrageous; sure, Chanel and a very few other brands have the price of NARS Sheer Glow beat, but it’s still a lot of money to spend on something that you will end up using just about every day. I broke my own rule not to spend a ridiculous amount of money on a product that sees a lot of use (mascara, lipstick and lip gloss are also in that category) and I never should have.

For a truly honest review of this product, I recommend a YouTube video by MsDianaCherie (aka MapleSunset). She does a great job of covering all the bases of the product. Had I seen her review before I bought my Sheer Glow, I probably would not have bought Sheer Glow at all. You can watch her review here.

What are your Top 5 Hated Products? Do you share any with me?

Have a great week!

Top 5 Blushes



Top Row (L to R): NARS Luster, NARS Madly, Benefit Dandelion
Bottom Row (L to R): NARS Exhibit A, NARS Desire, Benefit Dallas


Ok, so I am sure you have noticed that this is a 'Top 5' post but there are 6 items in my photo. I will explain later.

Having done some less-common Top 5 posts, I decided to do one that is more popular and can be found on a lot of popular bloggers websites: my Top 5 Blushes. Basically, I am sharing with you the 5 (well, 6) blushes that I reach for most often and why.

5. TIED - Benefit's Dandelion and Dallas
This is why there are 6 products in my shot above!

Technically, neither of these is a blush. Dandelion is a highlighter powder, while Dallas is a bronzer. I consider both items to be far too pigmented for their intended use. When Dandelion is applied as a blush, it gives me a nice flushed, fresh look - without making me look super made-up or like I am wearing makeup. If I use Dallas as a blush, it gives me a nice pop of tan/plum on my cheeks and really picks up the blue in my eyes. The products both smell great and come in recyclable cardboard packages. However, the downside to the products is also their packaging - it's huge! They take up a lot of room in your bag.

4. NARS Blush in Madly

Madly is a blush that probably doesn't get as much recognition as it should. It's a lovely muted pink, with silver shimmer. I like to wear it on days where I don't really know what I want to do with my eyeshadow. It's a neutral shade of blush that looks great both with glamorous makeup as well as regular everyday makeup. Madly is a staple in my collection.

3. NARS Blush in Exhibit A

This, next to Orgasm, is probably one of NARS's most infamous blush shades. Exhibit A is a very bright tomato red color. This blush is extremely pigmented - you only need to tap your blush brush on the surface of the product to pick up enough color to use. I am super pale girl, and even I can pull off this blush. I would just warn against using this blush with a full-face of bright makeup. The blush is best used when it doesn't compete with dramatic eyes or lips.

2. NARS Blush in Desire

I have said it before, but this is my favorite blush. Desire is a neon-pink blush that works well on just about everyone's cheeks. Like Exhibit A, this blush is extremely well pigmented so a little tap is all you need to give your cheeks a nice flush. This blush does NOT go on as brightly as it appears in the pan. I like to wear this color when I feel bummed out - seeing the bright color makes me happy. I love to wear this blush with black-lined eyes and a fuschia gloss on my lips.

1. NARS Blush in Luster

Of all of the NARS blushes I own, this one has seen the most use this year. Luster is a light apricot/peach shade of blush with shimmers. It compliments nude/bronze makeup very well, and also doubles as a pretty eyeshadow. Like Madly, this is a neutral blush that will pretty much work with any type of look. Although well pigmented, I often find I use more of this blush in my application than any of the others - I usually have a light hand when applying a NARS blush, but this one I use more liberally.

What are your Top 5 blushes?

If you want to learn more about any of the NARS blushes I have talked about, go to their website here.

If you are curious about Benefit's products and want to try some out for yourself, check out their website here.