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

Sunday, 9 November 2014

My Beauty Heroes - Part Two

Here is the second helping to my post from Thursday about my beauty favourites, check it out if you haven't read the first post. I was swept up in the beauty awards I've been reading about and decided to share which products would get a gold star from me!

Thursday's post focused on skincare and hair, and this one will be looking at my favourite body care and cosmetic products. I'm sure I've probably forgotten loads so if there's something you think I've missed then please comment. 

All these products mentioned are my favourite products EVER, and I'd love to hear yours. Please be sure to tag me in any of your blog posts or Instapics (@pennyw28)

Body care
Moisturiser - Body Shop Coconut Body Butter (great for eczema sufferers)
Self-tanner - Rodial Brazilian Tan
Exfoliator - This may be controversial but my favourite exfoliation is from using my little gloves that I got from Primark!
Hand Cream - Aveeno Hand Cream
Body Oil - Bio-oil

Make-up
Foundation - Mac Mineralize Satinfinish
Primer - Clarins Beauty Flash Balm
Under eye concealer - YSL Touche Eclat
Concealer - Mac Studio Finish
Blusher - Charlotte Tilbury Beach Sticks
Bronzer - Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder
Eyeshadow - Revlon Colourstay pallet in Addictive
Mascara - Benefit They're Real
Lipgloss - Clarins Instant Lip Perfecter

Do you agree with any of my winners? I'd love to hear what you think. Also, I'm thinking of doing a giveaway soon, so please be sure to follow me and stay tuned for an update!






Thursday, 23 October 2014

High flyer? More like dry flyer


Reading this week's Stylist magazine online, one particular article caught my eye - How to get upgraded on a flight. The article shares top tips in the form of a handy infographic (who doesn't love an infographic?) on how to guarantee an upgrade on your next flight. The advice includes buying treats for the cabin crew, dressing like a business woman and booking the flight using your titles should you be a Dr or a Judge etc…
I can't speak for everyone but I am highly unlikely to do any of those things. I have also tried to get upgraded before on a trip to NYC and failed miserably. It was on a flight just after the Iceland volcano so our flight was so empty. I thought I'd take my chances and ask in the nicest possible way to be upgraded to business class as there were empty seats, but sadly for me the cabin crew were having none of it. On the plus side, the flight was so empty that my boyfriend and I had our pick of the seats and could sprawl out along an entire aisle, so I can't really moan too much. For those of you who like me won't be trying any of these tips out anytime soon, I thought I'd share with you my own top tips for being as comfortable as you can be down in the tin can that is most economy flights.

How to treat your skin
We know that flights suck all the moisture out of your skin so it's important during the flight to keep your skin hydrated, so you don't get off the plane and start your holiday looking like a little prune.
My ultimate number one product, won't get on a flight without it, is Eau Thermale Avène water spray - it's genius. You can spritz away throughout the flight and it leaves a dewy glow on your skin and soothes any dryness. Also, on the plus side it's very subtle so you don't look like you’re a sweaty mess to the passenger next to you *thumbs up*
Clarins HydraQuench Cream-Mask is also a winner for flights. Apply this to bring life back to the thirstiest skin. It will leave a white layer on your skin, but you'll be surprised how quickly this sinks into the skin desperate for moisture. You can leave this on for as long as you want to, and when you've had enough soak a tissue / cotton pad with your Avène water and gently remove the residue.
Another hero would be the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream. It's perfect for any flaking, dryness, peeling… need I go on? I actually only use this on my lips for a much needed moisture seal, but I know a lot of people who apply a thin layer over the entire face to prep for flying.


Easy make-up post-flight
Although I think it's important to try and go make-up free during the flight, we all want to start our holiday looking and feeling our best so here's my favourite, low maintenance make-up to perk-up your face post flight.
Apply Rimmel Wake me up concealer under the eyes and buff in Chanel Les Beiges sheer powder into the skin for a healthy glow. Dot Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick (I love Formentera) onto the apples of your cheeks and blend up and out for a flushed natural glow. Coat your lashes with Benefit They're Real to open up your eyes and if you're feeling like you need extra oomph then opt for Charlotte Tilbury's Colour Chameleon sticks, I use Bronzed Garnet. Finally, add a pop of moisture and colour to your lips with Dior Lip Glow, which is a balm that brings out the natural colour of your lips. And you're good to go!



If you're going on a winter sun break, or perhaps skiing, let me know how you get on with your flight beauty regime.

Thursday, 25 September 2014

The Teenage Years - LFW

If like me you've been a keen follower of LFW you will have seen one of the latest beauty trends to hit us - I'm calling it 'the teenage years'.

'The teenage years' consists of an even, porcelain skin tone with lashings of mascara to give an innocent doe-eyed guise, and adding to the look with a subtlety glittery glossy lip - basically going back in time to the early noughties where body glitter was all the rage (let's bring this back!).

This trend was spotted on Victoria Beckham and Jason Wu's catwalks and I have to admit I'm thrilled that we have an easy and wearable style to follow this winter. I'm a lover from afar of the winter berry colour palettes but I'm not one to pull off an aubergine lip in the winter, hence my enthusiasm for the bare faced chic of 'the teenage years'.

But how do I pull off this look without looking like my former 12 year old self you ask? Well, I'm no expert and probably look I'm ten years old (especially with this scrunchie I'm still sporting), but I've picked my favourite products that I think ooze grown-up gorgeousness but will give you the natural glow of  teenager that we can only dream of nowadays! 

The face - My favourite base to achieve a dewy and light complexion while giving even coverage is the Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser. While this gives your skin a lovely natural glow of a moisturiser it still gives enough coverage to cover any pesky blemishes. This, for me, is perfect for the winter as I really feel like it lifts my complexion. Give yourself a little natural flush using the Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lip and Cheek (£19), my favourite is Fresh Melon. No matter what look I'm trying to achieve I will always add a sweep of bronzer just to pick up my complexion and my go-to at the moment is Hoola from Benefit (£23.50).

The eyes - Keep your eyes simple with some brightening under eye concealer (I'm loving Garnier roll-on all over again!) and layers of mascara to really open up your eyes giving a youthful look. My favourite mascara at the moment is the Benefit They're Real (£19). I'm amazed at just how good this mascara is and would recommend it to anyone wanting to achieve longer and more voluminous lashes - so basically everyone.


The lips - Add your favourite lip balm first to ensure maximum lip plumpage (note: made up word) and then slick on a clear gloss to finish off the look. My top pick is Nars Larger Than Life Lipgloss in Gold digger (£19.50).


So while I may be depressed that summer is on its way out and the tans are fading, I'm quite excited for all the autumn trends that we can now start playing with.

What were your favourite looks from LFW?


Thursday, 24 July 2014

It's Love - Benefit's Tinted Balms

This product is something I've been waiting for a very long time. I love a bright statement lip but because I'm not a lover of the shape of my own lips (that sounds odd saying that) I rarely indulge in a hot-to-trot bold lip colour. I tend to just enviously gaze - sometimes a bit too much - at women who can pull off a lobster red lip staring longingly at their full, colourful pout.

It's strange though, even though I don't tend to wear bright colours on my lips, I think shopping for lip colours and blushers is my favourite thing to shop for, purely because the colours suck me in. It's just a shame I can't find the confidence to wear a bright colour. Until now…

I have searching for the perfect tinted lip balm for YEARS. And now I've found it, it is my soul mate, the Adam to my Eve, the Gin to my Tonic, the marmite to my toast... Yeah yeah ok, you get it… In my search before now I've never really found the right formula for me - either too sheer (Nivea rose lip balm) or too full (sometimes the Sleek Pout Polish, sorry). But this has all the answers.

Benefit tinted balms come in four different shades (and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for more). Each shade matches one of the lip and cheek stains from Benefit so you can look pretty and flushed with the cheek stain and then top off your look with a splash of matching colour and moisture for your lips. I have tried all the shades but the two I have bought are Benebalm (rosy red colour) and Lollibalm (a candy-orchid, purply colour). The other two, Chachabalm (coral colour) and Posiebalm (pinky flush) but were both lovely as well but I had to limit myself and these didn't show up as well as the others on my lips.

The balms promise to condition & hydrate with mango butter and sodium hyaluronate, giving you very soft and full looking lips. I can honestly say they do. I've been wearing mine in this sweltering heat that we've been lucky enough to have and my lips still feel very plump and hydrated. Not a dry patch or flake in the room.

At £14.50 these balms are pricier than what you would expect to pay for a lip balm, but I think they are worth it and I'm really happy with my purchase. If you just want a sheer but noticeable flush of colour on your lips these are for you.

http://www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk/product/category/makeup/lips