THE BEST OF BENEFIT?

THE BEST OF BENEFIT SET

I got this Benefit set for Christmas 2014 from my grandparents and it claimed to have 'the best of' the brand featured inside, and I thought I'd give you the run down on the best from 'the best' seeing as I've had more than enough time to trial these minis. 

The PoreFessional Primer - When I first tried this I was a little skeptical, as it was a very silicone based primer, and on the first few uses my skin seemed a little unsure, but as I got into it I began to actually love how it made my makeup apply and appear, and I am now making my way through a full size and I can't bear the thought of a day without it. 

High Beam - This is another favourite, a liquid pink pearl highlight which gives the most amazing glow. With a light hand this is gorgeous on top of the cheekbones, brow bones (pretty much anywhere you would highlight), or use it mixed in with a less glowy foundation. I even mixed this in with my moisturiser a few times for a subtle hydrating glow. 

Benetint - One that I didn't know how to use without looking like a clown with dark pink circles on the cheeks, but now I seem to have managed the art of Benetint, you could say. A little patted into the fingertips then lightly pressed into the cheeks and lips gives a subtle tint - that literally stays all day.

Hoola Bronzer - The cult classic; the one everyone raves about. This is great - a warm matte bronzer that when applied with a light duofibre brush gives a natural looking bronzed glow. I have to remind myself to use this as I often just reach for Nars Laguna, but this mini compact is a firm high flyer in my bronzer stash nonetheless. 

They're Real Mascara - A word of warning; do not poke yourself in the eye with this wand. The plastic bristles and odd ball shaped end to the wand really does make you cry a little, but I guess it can be excused by the wonders it does to the lashes. Although perhaps a little to wet when I first got it, after being left to dry out for a while it was the perfect formula for my lashes - but this one gets quite a few mixed opinions in the blogging world. 

They're Real Gel Liner - Gel liner in a pen excited me, and it was alright while it lasted. This stuff ran out fast - mainly because I would twist the bottom for ages then a huge blob would appear. This was super black, and gave the most dramatic line I think I've ever worn - and I even got a few compliments from it. My only complaint is that if I rubbed my eye at all (not advised with liner anyway, but I was going for it), it would begin to flake off. I think this one is about preference to be honest, but the new coloured versions do excite me. 

Boi-ing Concealer - I liked that you got 2 colours of this, because with a tan I could mix the two and then when I was paler I could just reach for the top one. This is pretty brightening, so under the eye use was the best for me, although it didn't beat my love for the liquid formulas across my concealer stash. Admittedly, with a hydrating primer or eye cream underneath it sat better, but apply too much and you have a cakey situation. 

So, there you go. The best and the 'try for yourself because I'm not quite sure''s, but all in all I will admit that nothing was a mega disappointment, so I was pretty impressed by this set and would definitely buy this for someone who hadn't tried any Benefit products if it comes out again this year. 

THREE NEW CHEEK PRODUCTS

While in America I had a bit of a spending spree in CVS as well as having a browse and small purchase in Sephora. When I got home I realised my collection of cheek products had grown a little, some high end some drugstore, and I haven't actually used anything else since.

The first I got was the NXY Cream Blush in Natural. I really like the texture of these, they don't get to a powder and they are almost a little tacky to apply, so they look so natural and radiant. The colour is perfect for me too - blush often looks a little cray on me so I tend to go for the subtle offerings.

I managed to find the hyped NYC Sunny Bronzer for a minute price so picked it up right away. I like this one because it's entirely matte - something that goes quite hard to find in the drugstore, and it's also a really nice warm tone. Just go light handed with a duo fibre brush or something because it is pretty pigmented.

The final one is the Nars Laguna and Orgasm duo. I was eyeing this up for a while and I am glad I got it. The blush is similar to one I have from Sleek, just a little less in your face, and the bronzer is a lot more subtle than the NYC offering for me, just because it's slightly cooler (only just). This was $24 and I think it was pretty well spent.

BOURJOIS BRONZING PRIMER

BOURJOIS BRONZING PRIMER £9.99

It's pretty rare that I will buy a product on a whim, fall in love with it and then review it within 2 weeks, but just that is happening right now with the Bourjois Bronzing Primer.

I don't actually use this as a full on face primer on a daily basis (but occasionally when I am feeling extra pasty it's always an option), but I prefer to focus it on my cheeks, temples, neck, and hairline (basically where you would generally apply a powder bronzer) either over or under my base product, and it just seems to look so natural and seamless.

When I wear this, I genuinely can't tell that I have anything on, despite the fact that you can see I am slightly bronzed -  it just looks and feel like my actual skin. I was thinking that the texture would be very silicone based, but it's actually not like that. It seems to be a soft, gel-like mousse in the pan, and that kind of works into the skin as well. It just seems to glow from my cheeks, and I have had people *cough* Megan, asking me what bronzer I was wearing whilst sporting this.

I have used this every day since I got it, and considering that I had just fallen for the Soap & Glory Solar Powder Bronzer, this stuff must be good.

For just under a tenner, this is seriously something I recommend going for if you want a little splurge in Boots.

BRONZING UP

It would seem that we are all getting tired of the horrendous British weather now, and most of us are hoping for spring and summer to hurry up (I am more excited about the clothes shopping to be fair), and as a result of this I have been craving the bronzed look more often.

Before, I used to be a bit scared of bronzers, purely because I am so pale, but I have found some products that have been working for me without any orange tinge.

For a bronzing base, (I do want to get my hands on Bourjois' offering), the Too Faced Primed and Poreless Bronzing Primer has been doing pretty well for me. This adds a hint of tint, and makes your skin look healthy, while also smoothing out the skin.

Too Faced are also the brand in which one of my favourite bronzers has come from, which is the Poolside Primping Sun Bunny Bronzer, and this is slightly shimmery, but translates on the skin to something more sheeny. Watch out to not be too heavy handed with this one, as things can get a little overpowering at times.

A new addition to my collection is the Sheer Cover Sun-Kissed Bronzing Minerals in Light*, which is a trio of colours in one pan, starting light, and making its way to something darker. The middle shade is slightly more shimmery than the others, but the outer two still have a touch of sheen as well. This is a really natural looking one and I have been enjoying using this daily just around my cheeks and temples.

The final product is one that I talk about quite a lot here, but one which I am unsure of where it is available from. The Milani Sunset Duos in 01 Sunset City  is a duo that makes its way into my MUJI drawers almost weekly when I change things up. The blush is stunning, as is the bronzer alone, but when you swirl the two, and just put it on the cheeks, we have a gorgeous bronzey blush.

You obviously need a brush to apply your product, and the one in question is the Sheer Cover Bronzer/Blush Brush*, which is an angled brush which isn't too dense so you don't have any issues of your products looking heavy handed. I must also add that I love the 'packaging', a dark wood handle, with dark bristles - an instant 10/10 from me.

My next bronzer on the wishlist, The Body Shop Honey Bronzer... Oh Estée, you are an enabler and a half...

 

GOSH Giant Sun Powder

Hi guys!

Bronzers are my addiction, but though I look at them in the shops every time I go, I only own about 3 bronzers. This product is definitely not a contour colour, as it is packed with shimmer and when on the skin it almost has a metallic sheen to it. Now, I will just say it now. I have no idea when I will use this. It is gold. I think this would look absolutely beautiful on darker skin as a golden blush/highlight, but on my skin, it looks bad. 

It's pretty huge. As you can see in the above picture. Which makes me consider even more if I will ever hit pan on this. Or if I will ever use it anyway, because I don't really have any idea how to?

I do like the packaging. Matte black with glossy logos are the ticket for me. So basically, I don't like the product itself, but I like what the product comes in. 

Here is it swatched, and blended out, and it is still very, very gold. An eyeshadow would be a nice in this colour actually... But I suppose if you had a tan and a very not-dense brush, you could manage some sort of golden glowiness, but it just doesn't work for me. This is in the shade 001, but I cannot seem to find any other shades anywhere online.

If you are interested in this, or think that it could work for you, you can buy this HERE for £13.99, but you get double the amount of a normal bronzer. 

Thanks for reading, don't forget to follow via GFC and Bloglovin' and help me reach my goals or 80 on GFC and 50 on Bloglovin', it's very quick! :)

**This product was sent for review. I hope you appreciate my honest opinion of this product. If you are a PR company wishing to contact me about this, or would like more information, visit my disclosure page for more info**

Sleek Face Form Review

Hi guys!

Since I purchased this product in January, it has been used every day I have worn makeup in some way or another, and I still have a pretty good amount of it left. This little palette costs £9.99 and you get a blush (I think it is the Rose Gold Blush by Sleek), a highlighting powder, and a bronzer/contour colour. The Sleek blushes and contour kits are much raved about by bloggers, and this is those 2 things, smashed into one palette.
 

L-R: Countour, Highlighter, Rose Gold Blush

You get a pretty decent amount of product in this palette too, it's £3.33 per 'pan' if you think about it, which is such a bargain!

The sleek packaging is sleek. As cheesy as it sounds, it's true. It actually came in a small box/'sleeve' but it got a little battered. It is matte black (which I will admit gets dirty very easily) but with the glossy writing over the top, it looks so nice. Matte black packaging is my weakness, which is strange, but that's the way it is?

Swatched, you can see the incredible pigmentation of these products. The blush is something you have to be very careful with, as it can look too much in a matter of taps with your brush on the pan. But if used correctly, it adds a glowing wash of colour to the cheeks.

The contour colour and the highlight are lovely for adding a stunning sculpted effect to the skin, without looking shiny from the highlight, or muddy from the contour. I really do love this product.

This was a bit more of an in-depth review today, let me know what you think of it! Remember to ENTER MY GIVEAWAY as there is only a few hours left!

Thanks for reading, don't forget to follow, and comment!

Lauren x