Showing posts with label benefit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label benefit. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Second Birchbox Haul (I may have a problem)

With this haul, I actually got some non-makeup items, a great teardrop, gold, opal (fauxpal?) ring, an amazing delicate bracelet, and three birch votives with tea light candles.



But like I said, there's a lot of freebies to be had on Birchbox.com, so with their "Get Going Bonus Kit" featured in the Bonus Shop, I got this little pouch (pictured above), Cynthia Rowley liquid eyeliner in brown, Serge Normant Meta Revive dry shampoo, Manna Kadar Cosmetics Sheer Glo shimmer lotion, and Ruby Wing Color Changing Nail Polish in Ride 'Em Cowgirl. (This was the Going Glam kit, they had Going Bold, and Going Fresh to also choose from)



(Left) my pretty ring, paired with some little midi rings and my bracelet. 
(Right) my three birch wood votives. They look perfect arranged on my kitchen table.


Are you ready for more freebies? Well, I also got the Mystery Sample Pack (free with a $35+ order) with two free samples (pictured left): This hair oil treatment and hair powder. I've never used either, but I'm excited to try them both.

(Right) my free dry shampoo and shimmer lotion.
I absolutely love the lotion. For the past few days, I've been putting it on my cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead over my primer, but under my BB cream, although I've used less of both since I got back from the beach, because when I'm tan, the red/olive discoloration on my face becomes invisible and I don't wear much foundation and zero powder.
Anyway, I love my complexion when I use the shimmer lotion with my Benefit Fine-One-One cheek stain and NYX highlighting cream.







These are the makeup products that I bought:
Benefit Cosmetics Ooh La Lift and Fake Up eye concealers.

The "lift" is a pale pink color correction formula for my dark circles. I've always used a creamy pale yellow to combat the bluish-purple tones, but I like this a lot. My eyes look really away and it lasts all day long.

The Fake Up has a moisture stick around the concealer part, and the consistency is great. It lasts a long time and the lipstick tube makes it really easy to apply, especially when you do the triangle-under eye concealer trick like me!



So this nail polish rules. It changes colors inside and outside, and I love both of these shades. They come in a ton of other colors too, but I can't resist the glitter.


I hardly ever wear eyeliner, so I'm a newbie at this. But I really really like Cynthia Rowley's liquid eyeliner a LOT. First, I was hesitant about the brown, but it's actually a really subtle color that feels okay to wear during the day. It also has a SUPER fine felt tip, so even clumsy folks like me can apply it without messing up. I'm in love. I'm going to buy her eyeshadow palette collection next.


The finished product. ~work selfie~
I'm wearing Benefit They're Real mascara, Dr. Jart BB cream, Physician's Formula Bronze Boost pressed powder, e.l.f. brown shadow palette (for my lids and brow-filler), and NARS semi-matte lipstick in "Fire Down Below" 



Not bad for an unskilled makeup applyer like myself!
Even though I hardly ever wear eyeliner, I love a good cat eye. I feel like it really looks good on me (conceited much), I need to make the brown liner an everyday thing.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Smashbox Haul!

Being a makeup newbie, I decided to take a chance and get some high-end makeup samples (and use my hard-earned Birchbox points for a discount)

I got the Smashbox "Try It!" beauty kit with 
Photo-finish facial primer
Camera ready BB cream
and loose powder 

Plus, I got some free samples:
Benefit "They're Real!" mascara
How Do You Like Them Apples? lip and cheek tint in "Pie"

I also took a trip to Ulta last night with my mom, and she got me the 
green color-correcting Photo Finish Foundation Primer
(because she's the sweetest there ever was!)


Lip/cheek stain: Although the color is too pinky for a lip color, it is absolutely perfect for my cheeks.  It goes on so smooth and lasts all day.  Will probably continue to buy

Green primer: Liked it, although I did not see much of a difference from my e.l.f. green-tinted primer

Mascara: It worked, but I wasn't too amazed by it.  I will probably still use Telescopic by L'Oreal

Foundation kit: I didn't use the clear primer, because I already used the green, but I definitely loved the BB cream, and the loose powder went on flawlessly.  I will probably consider buying the Smashbox CC cream (it's a little cheaper than my Kate Sommerville CC cream) as well as the full-size loose powder, but I'll probably stick to cheaper brands for primer.