Coming Soon: Benefit's Roller Lash

Volume? Check. Length? Check. Curl? Check. Does Benefit's new Roller Lash Mascara really do it all?

After trying Benefit's They're Real Mascara a few months back I found the formula just wasn't for me, my natural lashes are long and often reluctant to curl so when I read that Benefit were launching a new mascara called Roller Lash I knew it was one I needed to try. Luckily Elle Magazine collaborated with Benefit and the March issue came with a lovely sample of the new release, I often find that I either love or hate mascaras so being able to get my hands on a sample is a great saving money exercise!

The packaging of this is beyond cute, clearly inspired by 50's hair rollers - the pink textured handle of the full size mascara allows the user to have a good grip on the wand as well as looking chic. Benefit are always on point with the design of their packaging. 

Now lets get down to the formula - It's lightweight, water resistant, and contains pro vitamin B5 and Serin which are known for their lash conditioning benefits, it really lifts the lashes and adds volume and the jet black shade is such a dramatic look. I find that using eyelash curlers before applying this mascara helps to curl to stay in place. The small easy to use 'hook n' roll' brush allows you to grab every lash giving you a wide awake look at the same time as setting a curve and separating the lashes.

The formula promises to keep your lashes curled for twelve hours, a bold statement that I just don't think the mascara itself lives up to but hardly a problem if like me you only need it to last the working day. A great beauty tip I did see was to apply this mascara and leave it to dry and then add a layer of Benefit's Lengthening They're Real Mascara on top to give it that false lash effect - this is perfect if your lashes are naturally short!

Will you be trying this when it launches? 

Summertime Glow

When you think of summer make up - looks that spring to mind are glowy, radiant fresh dewy skin with a minimal eye and lip combo, here are my favourite products for creating that summertime glow...

Benefits Hello Flawless foundation is perfect for daytime, it contains SPF 25 which is great for protecting the skin and it is also oil free, so you don't have to worry so much about keeping oil at bay. It really brightens up the skins complexion for a fresh look, I find this to be medium coverage but when applied with fingers you can achieve a more sheer finish.

Two products I love for creating a radiant look are The Body Shop Brush on Radiance powder pearls, and the No.7 Instant Radiance Bronzing Highlighter. Both formulas are very different, the powder pearls create a long lasting shimmer to the cheekbone area, the colours are a mix of warm pinks and cool champagnes, which give an incredibly pretty multi tonal look. The Bronzing Highlighter is perfect for a light contouring, this cream stick glides over the skin and is super easy to blend. The colour is very warm and looks very natural, it is very shimmery so maybe not for you if you like more of a matte finish to your contour.

If you find your make up looking a little lack luster during the day then I cannot recommend The Body Shop's Vitamin C Energizing Facial Spritz enough! It really refreshes the skin making your make up look freshly applied. This product is great used with the Beauty Blender, just spray the product over the skin and lightly dab, this will instantly give a stunning dewy look - perfect if you have accidentally over powdered!

 What are some of your summer must have make up items?

Rediscovering Blush

Recently my make up routine has been lacking in the blush department, I have been trying to make pink tones work for me but since having my hair re-ombred pinky hues just aren't as flattering as they once were. So in a bid to find something more suited to my do' I dug out a few old favourites. I picked up the 'Sleek Blush Trio in Lace' when it was first released as I thought all three shades looked very wearable, 'Crochet' is a matte peach that is so spring/summer, really pretty when applied to the apples of the cheeks. 'Guipure' is a gorgeous rose coral with gold shimmer running through it, I like using this instead of a highlighter as it is so shimmery, of all three this is my favourite, it is just so beautiful once applied. 'Chantilly' is the boldest of the bunch, it's a real red/coral tone in a matte finish, this is the perfect shade for giving the cheeks a flush of colour. All three blushes are super pigmented and finely milled, I like to apply these Sleek beauties with my 'Real Techniques Expert Face Brush' making sure I don't go in to heavy handed. Another favourite I rediscovered recently is a cult favourite 'Benefit's Coralista' this has to be one of the prettiest shades out there, it is just so flattering on the skin, it is a coral peachy shade with just the right amount of shimmer so it is great for an everyday look. I love the packaging of the Benefit blushes, it is such a fun design, with make up brands all going for the minimal chic look at the moment it's nice to see Benefit sticking to their creative designs.

So I am now officially back on the blush bandwagon, what are you favourites?

Shaking Up My Make Up Routine

I recently changed up my everyday make up routine, it is good to try out different products and formulas once in a while, the purchase that convinced me to change my base was the L'Oreal Infallible 24 hour foundation, when it comes to make up for the day I like my foundation to be long lasting so seeing 24 hour in the product description got me hooked, I chose the shade 'Golden Sand' which suits me really well, It is a full coverage foundation that gives the skin a radiant look without being too dewy, it isn't too matte either so it sits right in the middle with a satin like finish. True to its name this foundation is long lasting, I can't say if it would last the whole 24 hours, who wears make up for that long? I have stuck with my trusty Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer in Medium Cool, this helps to conceal dark circles and blemishes.

For a natural eye look I have been using the MUA pallet in Undressed, this pallet is packed with pretty shimmering neutral shades for a subtle look. Benefit's Coralista has wiggled its way back into my make up bag, this is just about the prettiest blush I own and it has the right amount of shimmer for a daytime look. For the lips I have been reaching for Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipstick in the shade 'Lovers Coral' this is super sheer and leaves my lips looking naturally tinted with a little shine, the formula is really nourishing too, the only downside is that it doesn't stick around for long but It is a delight to apply so I am not too bothered.

How often do you change your routine? Or are you stuck in a bit of a beauty rut?

Benefit Hello Flawless

When I think of what I want my skin to look like on a daily basis I think radiant, flawless, oil free, and natural looking, and after doing a little research I knew that Benefit's Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation was a must buy, it promises all of the above but how did it deliver?

Well lets start with my chosen shade, I first of all picked up 'I'm so money honey' but the lovely benefit girl recommend 'All the rage beige' I was after a shade that had yellow undertones as opposed to pink. The colour suits my skin tone really well especially if I am a little tanned, the coverage is medium and I like to either apply this with my fingers or my Real Techniques buffing brush depending on how much coverage I want. It blends into the skin really well for a seamless finish, as far as it ticking the luminous/brightening box I would say it definitely does, it makes my skin radiant without looking too oily, the formula is oil free so it stays looking great all day. It also contains SPF 25 which makes it great for staying protected during the day time.

Have you tried Hello Flawless?

Benefit Brow Shaping Kit

Benefit's Brow Zings is a complete brow kit to keep those unruly brows in check, it contains a handy pair of tweezers for any stray hairs, an angled brush, a blending brush, powder and a wax. The first step to perfect brows is the shape, so use the tweezers to pluck any rouge hairs and then with the hard angled brush and the wax shape your brows as desired, once you have your ideal shape then take the blending brush and the powder and fill in any gaps or sparse areas, this powder will also help set the brows in place.

Now for a brow product I think this is really quite pricey at £23.50 for the kit, I do love the packaging and I think it is great that it includes the tweezers and brushes but for me the overall results isn't much different from when I use Maybelline's Master Shape Brow Pencil, review here and this only costs £2.99 from boots.

Have you tried Benefit's Brow Zings? Do you think it is worth the money?

'He's a Rebel and he'll never ever be any good'

 

This tinted moisturiser 'You Rebel' by Benefit Cosmetics has been in my make up stash for ages! It's a product that I have used a lot but for some reason has fallen out of my daily make up routine. I think I had replaced this for something with fuller coverage, however now the weather is lovely I don't want my face to have much product on it so I've dug this back out. 

Obviously being a tinted moisturiser this does have little coverage, it is enough to even out my skin tone and adds a little sun protection with SPF 15. This product comes in only two colours, and 'You Rebel' is the darkest of the two so I'm not sure the shade range is going to suit everybody. 

This, along with a little concealer is the perfect 'no make up' make up, it does give my skin a nice glow so if you have slightly oily skin you may need a little powder. It also has great staying power so keeps you looking great all day. Compared to some other tinted moisturiser products this one is a tad more expensive at £24.50 in boots, I do think it is worth the extra pennies for the quality of the product, and as I said I have had this a while now and think I still have a third of the tube left (with a few squeezes!!!) 

Are you a fan of 'You Rebel' and Benefit?