All posts tagged: benefit cosmetics

Unboxing: BDJ Box for November 2014 (Benefit exclusive)

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The day I got back from Seoul, I was surprised to see a very welcome blue box that I’ve been accustomed to expect BDJ Boxes hiding within. I was correct! Thank you to the BDJ Team for always thinking of me. 🙂 I really, really appreciate it, especially because I think I’ve witnessed a real substantial growth of the company as a really supreme sub box service. The November 2014 BDJ Box* is a Benefit exclusive, which means that all of the products from the box are from Benefit Cosmetics. There have been quite a few Benefit exclusives, and of the two I’ve received so far, I think I like this one more! The box is an “early Christmas gift” from BDJ Box—a selection of items from Benefit’s Sweet Shoppe! There is a mix of skin care, makeup items designed to bring out your natural beauty, and end-of-the-day sloughing off of products. There is even a body oil mist—something I’ve never tried from the brand.

Unboxing: BDJ June 2014 Box*

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Happy Monday everyone! Here’s a quick unboxing post, courtesy of the awesome surprise the ladies at BDJ Box left for me on Saturday. The June 2014 BDJ Box is another brand exclusive by Benefit. I’ve had great experiences with Benefit as a brand—in fact, one of my first base products was their tinted moisturizer, You Rebel Lite—but when I decided to focus on cruelty-free beauty brands, Benefit fell by the wayside, which was a tiny bit frustrating for me, as they have been releasing quite a few products that have been in development for a long time. One thing that Benefit does well is minis. I know that sounds really dumb, but when they want you to try their products, they really go all the way. Each sample in this box, for example, come as a mini version of their regular packaging, with some card packaging to mimic the boxes that full-size items may come in.

Recently: Maybelline Volum’Express The Rocket Mascara* & Benefit’s They’re Real! Mascara

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Ah, can you hear that? That’s the sound of disappointment. Not because The Rocket is bad. I’m disappointed because this is another SUPER GOOD and SUPER AFFORDABLE drugstore mascara that I can’t repurchase because of its animal testing policy. I got The Rocket from the BDJ Box this month and I couldn’t wait to crack it open and try it on. Unfortunately, I liked how it looked. Funnily enough its wand is not something I normally like, and though it looks chunky, it actually is easier to wield than it looks. I can get to the hard-to-reach parts of my eyelashes with ease, and the formula is light and not goopy, but it is also not very dry either. I love that it’s super buildable and it doesn’t dry to a crustiness that can’t be retouched or added to, like some mascaras I’ve tried. The Rocket adds volume, holds a curl, and doesn’t clump or make your lashes stick together. It’s also a good mascara to layer with. I’ve used it over another Maybelline Mascara, …

Favorite Things: Cream Eyeshadow Inventory

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It all started with a MAC Paint Pot. I read about the paint pot in Rubenesque, got it for myself, and then it all went downhill from there. I actually don’t regret my “descent” into cream shadow oblivion, and I don’t think I have enough to warrant any worry over a “problem.” Apart from two cream eyeshadow duos from e.l.f., these are my only cream eyeshadows. I think that’s a decent amount, considering my lack of self-control. I’ll talk about them as a whole, and then I’ll try to talk about them one by one. The reason why I love cream shadows is because they are sort of multi-purpose. They act as an eyeshadow base or wash, and some better formulated ones can act as your primer already. There is a complexity that they add to an eye look, I think, and they’re so darned easy to use. First up is my stash of Maybelline 24H Color Tattoo. So far, I have Tough as Taupe, Bad to the Bronze, and Audacious Asphalt. These are beautiful …

REVIEW: Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Liquid Foundation

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The people have asked, and now I am answering. If you recall my Skin Care Routine video, I mentioned not wearing foundation, face bases, etc. anymore as they tend to break me out. However, I couldn’t get rid of the scare of no SPF on my face. And so the hunt for a light foundation began. I like my foundation the same way that I like most things—uncomplicated. Here’s a mental checklist that I’ve devised for myself: Light to Medium Coverage — I don’t really have breakouts (just minor spots here and there) or patchy coloring (occasional redness) so I don’t need a super thick foundation Yellow-toned, not pink-toned — obviously Doesn’t require a lot of tools/can be applied with fingers Has SPF Pretty easy, if I do say so myself. So, I scoured the internet for the perfect match and I stumbled upon the Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Liquid Foundation. Let’s start with Benefit’s claims: Hello…it’s flawless time! Our new oil-free brightening liquid foundation builds from light to medium coverage for a natural …

FOTD: Gold-Aubergine Gradient & a Nude Lip

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Hello everyone! I just thought I’d write about today’s look, just because I worked with mostly cream shadows today and that’s a first for me. 🙂 I also dug up one of my first and favorite lipsticks—MAC’s Jubilee. This is just a simple look I wore to lunch with my sister Isabel, and Sarie. My base consists of Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Liquid Foundation in Cheers to Me Champagne and bareMinerals Mineral Veil. Part of me wishes I got the Mineral Veil with SPF, so I can go out without foundation but still look polished. Ah, well. For the eyes, I patted on MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque all over the lid. On the outer v and outer half of the crease, I applied Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Stiletto. To deepen said crease, I put on a little bit of Sexy from theBalm Nude ‘Tude Palette, and then I blended out any remaining harsh edges. I lined my eyes (pretty shoddily) with K-Palette 24H Real Lasting Eyeliner and did my brows using The …

Elevate Your Look with Benefit Creasless Cream Shadow/Liner in Stiletto

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To be honest, I don’t know what compelled me to pick this up, but while waiting for Sarie to meet up with me after she retrieved her gift wrapped Christmas gifts from the counter, my eyes wandered around the different makeup stations around me. I’d heard only good things about this ceaseless cream shadow by Benefit, but I never felt the need to try it, mainly because most trips to the beauty sections are based on a list and this was never on it. Ahem. So, why this color? Again, I couldn’t really tell you, because up until now I wonder if I should have gotten a more sensible color, like Skinny Jeans or Birthday Suit. But, I went with Stiletto. And I left it alone for a long time because I remember it being red and I thought, “What were you thinking, Carina? It’s red. Do you want to look like Voldemort’s bride?” Then I braved the possibility of disappointment and swatched it, and well, who’d have thought it would actually be more violet …