There’s only a small handful of products I can think of that I want to run up to everyone and say “you need this product”. Benefit’s new liner pen is one of them.
Being a makeup girl, I have been sent this image a few times from friends. As much as the cat eye liner look is my favourite, it can be a bit tricky at times. I can master it with my left eye, but for some reason, the right one get a little sloppy at times. There’s nothing like getting the two eyes to be symmetrical. Often the case, one is sightly off.
Wearing gel or liquid liner can be a bit scary to most people (I have a few friends who get terrified when I even mention the word “cat eye”), but Benefit Cosmetics’ new liner is making it simple for everyone.
As part of the They’re Real! family, the Push-up Liner (C$29) is a twist-up gel pen that is fool-proof and budge-proof. The trick is the angled-felt tip that makes getting that perfect cat-eye flick oh so easy. The matte-black gel formula is uber dark and best of all, it lasts all day and doesn’t budge. Seriously.
Every liner I have used has a pointy pencil tip, which as times can get a bit messy. With this product, the angled AccuFlex tip makes it super easy to hug your lashes and create the perfect flick at the ends. Also, because of my eye shape, I find that a lot of liners smudge in my crease throughout the day, but with this one, it really does stay put.
I swear by the Marc Jacobs Magic Marc’er Precision Pen in Blacquer because it’s very black and quite waterproof, but I have to say that I love the Benefit one more simply because of the ease of use. If you have always been scared to try the cat eye, or have tried it and failed miserably, you need to pick this bad boy up. I’ve been wearing it for four or five days now and I can’t say enough great things about it.
For removal, because it is waterproof, Benefit has released an eye makeup remover that lifts away the product. I have used a micellar solution to remove this, and after some major rubbing it does lift away the liner. Benefit’s remover is a creamy gel formula that effectively erases waterproof eye makeup. The product says to put it first on a cotton pad then wipe away the product, however, I found the cotton got all over my eye so I just applied it directly using my fingers, then with a makeup removing wipe, wipe everything away (it will leave you with panda eyes). For C$22 I don’t think this is a necessity as cleansing oils and oil-based removers will do the same, but it’s a nice alternative if you wanted to try a cream remover.
The liner pen though, that’s a necessity. I honestly think everyone needs this product in their collection.
Are you excited to try Benefit’s They’re Real! Push-up Liner? Launches June 27 (start lining up now!).
Also, don’t forget to enter my #GottaTurnItUp five-minute face giveaway!
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Okay, confession time. I am a fitness fanatic and teach a couple fitness classes, thus resulting in working out most days of the week. Back in the day, I would shower after every class, always making sure to wash my hair because it’s always pulled back into a bun, with a headband, and often times, it was just a hot mess after every class (not to mention flat and creased). I had to wash it.
Now I know they say to only wash your hair a couple times a week, as it’s better for your hair and scalp. Overwashing can result in dry, damaged hair, and we don’t want that, right? Enter hair’s miracle worker: the dry shampoo.
Dry shampoos have been on the market for a while now and I have tried many types by many brands. Usually there’s just one generic kind, or you can get them coloured (no one likes white film on brunette hair, am I right ladies?). Pantene has recently introduced a line of dry shampoos that are targeted to the modern woman, because really, a one-can-does-all is so last year.
Need to extend your blowout? There’s a dry shampoo for that. Need some extra lift? Pantene’s got you covered.
Original Fresh Dry Shampoo – Includes natural tapioca that absorbs oil and gives you instantly refreshed hair without washing.
Root Reboot Dry Shampoo- Instant oil absorption with zero weight. Removes oil, adds a fresh scenet, mattifies, and primes.
Blowout Extend Dry Shampoo – Instand waterless refreshment to help extend your blowout.
I love both the Root Reboot and the Blowout Extend. If I have the time, I like doing at-home blowouts, which take quite a while to do. As a result, I want the style to last for days, not just a few hours. Not to mention, if you actually go out and pay for a blowout, you want to make that sucker last as long as possible. If I need some extra oomph to get it looking as fab as it was originally, I’ll spray this to my roots, rub it in with my fingers and then fix it up, so it looks just as great as it did originally. The Root Reboot one is also great, especially if you like products like Schwarzkopf OSiS Dust It mattifying powder, which you sprinkle in your hair for weightless volume. This basically works the same way, except it’s in a can.
Although you can easily argue that most dry shampoos lift roots and extend blowouts, I do think there is a difference between the three. Plus, it’s nice to know that I can just grab one can of this stuff instead of like three different products for some added volume. I personally have seen a difference between the Root Reboot and a normal dry shampoo.
Anyways, back to my original story. Right now, I wash my hair a couple times a week because I will just pull my hair into a high ponytail and then add some dry shampoo to it once I’m done my workout. Don’t worry, I still take body showers, but now no one knows I was sweating like an animal just half an hour before ;).
Do you have a favourite dry shampoo?
Also, don’t forget to enter my #GottaTurnItUp five-minute face giveaway!
Disclosure: I am a #BeautyUnited blogger. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and special access to P&G events. The opinions on this blog are my own.
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Want perfect-looking makeup? Well, it all starts with your skin.
I am a skincare junkie. No matter how late it is (or, let’s be honest, how drunk I am after a night out), I will always take off my makeup and do my skincare routine. I have been a Clinique Three-Step System freak for years, but lately I’ve switched up what I’ve been using as I get sent a lot of products to try out. Some are great, others, well, I’ve used better.
For the past three months I have been using two of Philosphy’s new products, their Miracle Worker Overnight Age-Resetting Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizer (C$78) and the Time in a Bottle for Eyes Daily Age-Defying Eye Serum (C$72), in my nighttime routine.
Okay, so if you are like my mom who thinks that I don’t need a wrinkle cream, well, just because “age-resetting anti-wrinkle moisturizer” is in the title, doesn’t mean that a 26-year-old gal like me can’t use this. Philosophy’s new moisturizer, which is targeted for overnight wear, helps reset the age of your skin, making it appear years younger in just weeks. As we age, our skin accumulates increasing amounts of age-accelerating proteins, known as “progerin”. Aging has been primarily associated with sun exposure, pollution and stress, and while we can product our skin from these factors and correct some of the damage, the production of progerin directly contributes to the natural aging process of cells and the accumulation of age-accelerating proteins that causes defects in the walls of the cells nucleus.
Alright, that’s a lot of science. Basically, with regular nighttime use of this moisturizer it can help regulate levels of age-accelerating proteins, thereby working to dramatically reduce visible signs of aging. So essentially, I use it to prevent the signs of aging before they start. Get where I’m going with this?
My nighttime skincare routine is a six-step process. First, I remove eye makeup using either a makeup wipe (the ones by Olay Fresh Effects have been my go-tos for a while) or with a micellar solution (either the L’Oreal one or Bioderma), then with a cleanser (I’ve been loving Olay Fresh Effects Out of this Swirled) and my Clarisonic Mia, I wash my face. After, I use the Clinique Toner, then apply the Philosophy Time in a Bottle for Eyes Daily Age-Defying Eye Serum, then my eye cream (it was Benefit It’s Potent! but I ran out, now I’m using Lancome Genifique Eye Light Pearl) and then the Philosophy Miracle Overnight Worker moisturizer. For the day, it’s essentially the same steps, but I don’t use my Clarisonic in the morning, and I use Olay Regenerist serum and moisturizer (or Olay Fresh Effects Dew Over Gel Moisturizer if I’m at the gym).
Okay so two eye products may be a bit excessive, but hey, it seems that they are working. Time in a Bottle for Eyes is a corrective and protective serum that supports a daily eye care regimen, specially formulated to counteract the signs of aging by working above and below the surface of the eye contour area. I apply this serum before my regular eye cream both morning and night, and I have to say that I have noticed that the area under my eyes looks, to be blunt, young. I mentioned in my last post that I often get billed to be 23 when in fact, I just turned 26. I have only been using these products for a few months now but have certainly seen a difference in my skin. I have always had a pretty good complexion, but have noticed that I now have fewer blemishes and my skin looks more clear.
The above photo – although a bit silly (it was for my #GottaTurnItUp five-minute face post) – shows what my face looks like right after I wake up. I used to have a lot more redness, especially around the eye area. This is prior to washing my face and I’m not wearing any makeup, although I do want to disclaim that I do have self-tanner on. As you can see, I have no dark circles, no lines or wrinkles, and pretty much no discolouration.
Both of these products are quite pricey, I’m not going to sugarcoat it, but honestly, if you are looking for something that targets fine lines, wrinkles, and most of all, ageing, I would give these a try. Philosophy is known for their skincare and these two products do not disappoint.
Have you tried Philosophy skin care? What’s your favourite anti-ageing products?
One more thing, don’t forget to enter my #GottaTurnItUp five-minute face giveaway!
Please note, I was sent these products by PR. All opinions are my own.
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Being a makeup girl, I have been sent this image a few times from friends. As much as the cat eye liner look is my favourite, it can be a bit tricky at times. I can master it with my left eye, but for some reason, the right one get a little sloppy at times. There’s nothing like getting the two eyes to be symmetrical. Often the case, one is sightly off.
As part of the They’re Real! family, the Push-up Liner (C$29) is a twist-up gel pen that is fool-proof and budge-proof. The trick is the angled-felt tip that makes getting that perfect cat-eye flick oh so easy. The matte-black gel formula is uber dark and best of all, it lasts all day and doesn’t budge. Seriously.
For removal, because it is waterproof, Benefit has released an eye makeup remover that lifts away the product. I have used a micellar solution to remove this, and after some major rubbing it does lift away the liner. Benefit’s remover is a creamy gel formula that effectively erases waterproof eye makeup. The product says to put it first on a cotton pad then wipe away the product, however, I found the cotton got all over my eye so I just applied it directly using my fingers, then with a makeup removing wipe, wipe everything away (it will leave you with panda eyes). For C$22 I don’t think this is a necessity as cleansing oils and oil-based removers will do the same, but it’s a nice alternative if you wanted to try a cream remover.
