Tag: #benefitcosmetics

My Beauty Favorites of 2017

I’ve been looking back at my favorite and most used beauty products — new discoveries.  I have noticed that all above are makeup and not skincare.  This is curious, since I am a 40-something blogger who loves trying anti-aging products.  I guess I didn’t really find anything amazing in skin care last year. This year I’m going to focus more on finding and using (I get lazy) anti-aging skin care, plus using up the ones I have.  Tomorrow will be the start of my first Project Pan, skin care exclusive!

But today, I am reflecting on the gorgeous makeup above, some I use every day:

Ofra Beverly Hills Highlighter ($40 USD) — I was sent a bunch of amazing Ofra products for review in August (see review here). I love a lot of it, but this is the product that I use most often.  I love that there are 5 shades, I can blend them together or use one or two on their own.  The two largest pans, a soft gold and rose gold are my favorites and I love using them together.  This is the product that really got me interested in highlighters and I use it more because it this one!

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealing Pot ($28 USD) — I received this and the foundation for review (here).  I use both products almost every day.  I love this because it is so creamy.  I use it under my eye, but also all over the face.  It’s great for covering redness.  I’ve recently bought a new concealer with a drier texture for under my eye (so it will stay put), but I will continue to use this to cover rednes.

LORAC Pirates of The Caribbean Mod Lip Cream Duo ($26, on sale for $13) —  I received a bunch of these this year.  Although I announced it on my blog here, I only reviewed the eye shadow palette.  On one end is a creamy lipstick and the other end is a natural looking lip gloss, not too shiny or sticky.  These are gorgeous alone or layered.  The shade in the photo is Risk it All.

LORAC Disney Beauty and The Beast Cheek Palette ($28 USD) — I love this whole collection.  I use the eye shadow and the lip glosses a lot.   This has four gorgeous colors that can be used separately or blended together.  There are also mattes and shimmers for a variety of looks.  So pretty!

Huda Beauty Mauve Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette ($27 USD) —  I purchased this on Black Friday because I had been wanting to try it since it came out.  It’s tiny, but the pan sizes are nice, they take up the whole palette, no unused space.  They shades are so pretty and I can make a few different looks with them.  This is one I can take with my on trips because it’s so portable. You can see my review here.

COVER FX Illuminating Setting Spray ($31 USD) – I received this in my November BoxyCharm.  I have really just started using setting sprays this year and was really excited to try this one.  It has been working so well for me in the cold weather.  My skin has been dry and a bit dull.  This spray gives my skin hydration and nice dewy skin.  It’s not greasy on me at all, but I will probably use a matte spray in hot weather.  Plus, it keeps my makeup fresh all day!    

BENEFIT COSMETICS Roller Lash Curling & Lifting Mascara ($24 USD) — I purchased this during Ulta Beauty’s 21 days of Beauty event this fall.  It is now one of my favorite all time mascaras!  It grabs all of my lashes, lengthens and curls them.  I have tiny lashes, and this makes them look long and lush!  I just had to toss it because it’s been 3 months, and I’m so sad!  But, I’m sure I’ll purchase it again.

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Lines Foundation ($38 USD) — This is a serum foundation.  It’s really light and I’d say a medium coverage.  I am looking for a heavier coverage for the new year, but this has been a nice foundation.  It blends really well and looks so natural.  Plus, I love that it’s good for my skin.

Tomorrow, hopefully, I will post my first ever Project Pan.  It will be for the skincare I want to use up in the next three months.  Wish me luck!

 

Ulta 21 Days of Beauty Haul!

Hi all!  I wanted to share a few things I picked up during Ulta’s recent 21 Days of Beauty.  I didn’t go crazy, which is good.  I picked up a couple of things I needed and a couple of impulse buys as well!

I actually shopped in the last couple of days of the sale.  I had been tempted buy other items, but I waited for the one main item I wanted to get, Laura Geller’s Balance-n-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation!

I bought this last year in Fair and loved it!  I used it up in a few months and hadn’t purchased it since.  I have been using other liquid and powder foundations, but this one has been on my mind.

It is so silky and glides across the skin.  And I love that it doesn’t settle into my pores.  The regular price is $32, but it was on sale for $16.50.  Amazing!  That’s all I was going to get that day, but then I saw this:

  So pretty!  I love Laura Geller’s packaging!

Laura Geller’s Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator Palette!  This is normally $32 and was on sale for $19.50.  (I love it so much when prestige makeup brands go on sale!)

I’ve been wanting to try these for a while and they are so pretty.  I think my favorite is Gilded Honey, it will be perfect for Fall, but Ballerina surprised me.  It’s really pretty on.  I usually wear more ivory highlighters, so these are a nice change! (swatches below)

I ended up also visiting Ulta on the last day of the sale for this mascara!

Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Super Curling & Lifting Mascara.  This is $24 and was on sale for $12.  This was on sale earlier in the 21 Days, but they added it for the last day.

I’ve been wanting to try this for a while and it did not disappoint.  The brush grabs all my lashes and curls and extends them.  It also adds so much volume! I think I may have found one to rival my current faves — IT Cosmetics Superhero and L’Oreal Lash Paradise!

I had also seen in the add that this was going to be on sale — but I had the hardest time choosing a shade!

butter LONDON Glazen Eye Gloss in Oil Slick.  Normally $24, it was on sale for $12.  This was the darkest color in the bunch.  I loved that the color shifts in the light.  I have swatched it below so you can see.

The texture of this is so weird! It’s like a slimy mousse.  I apply it with my finger onto my eye lid.  It dries very quickly, so if I want a more dramatic look, I have to layer it.

This was a total impulse buy!

Benefit Cosmetics ka-BROW! Cream-Gel Eyebrow Color With Brush.  This is also $24 and was on sale for $12.

I have dark, thick brows.  The most I usually do with them is tweeze and use clear brow gel. But as I get older, my brows are becoming sparser, so a little color probably should be used.  I got shade 4, which is medium to dark brown with a neutral undertone.  If I use black brow products, it’s way to dark on my fair skin, so this is very nice.  It looks natural on and it easy to use with the brush.

Here are my swatches:

The top row is the Laura Geller Swirled palette in Ballerina, Gilded Honey and Peach Glow.  The bottom row is the eyebrow and the Glazen shadow.  The first is two layers and the second is one sheer layer.

Did you shop Ulta’s 21 days of Beauty?  What did you get?