Review: Benefit's They're Real! Mascara

I've been using Benefit's They're Real mascara for a few weeks now and I have to say it's complete LOVE!!!! I never thought I'd say that about any mascara that cost more than drugstore ones but I'm kind of shocked but in a good way! 

The bristles on this mascara is short and flexible. The tip on the top is the most unique I've seen because it's a bit rounded and can get every hidden lash. 

For this look, I used my very basic (and daily) eye makeup routine so you can see the difference it makes with mascara. 

The items used are Loreal's Sultry Seductress quad, Skinfood Salmon Concealer, Shu eyelash curler and mascara. 

With Skinfood Salmon Concealer

I really like the Loreal quad a lot. The purple shade is so romantic and pretty and looks so polished. I normally use a lot of earthy browns and taupes but I find that purples can be just as work-friendly as long as it's not too bright. I also used a bit of the darkest color on the eyelash line to deepen the look.

I used two coats of mascara on the right eye. 

Both

Before

After

Doesn't it make such a big difference?!

This mascara holds a curl incredibly well! It also feels really flexible after it dries so I haven't had any experience with flaking. I was able to use many coats without it clumping up and looking bad. The brush is truly the winner here. It lifts and separates the lashes without compromise and I haven't had a mascara that could do that yet. Loreal's Telescopic mascara comes very close but the Benefit one is amazing!

I absolutely love this look for work! I think the purple eyeshadow compliments my really dark brown eyes and the mascara makes my eyes pop with clarity, and wakefulness. It lifts the lashes so much that mascara by itself makes a difference already!

Have you tried Benefit's They're Real Mascara? Do you like it!? :)

FOTD: The No-Nakeup Makeup Look!

Hello dear friends!

I am back and ready to blog again. I've taken a bit of time to attend to life's hectic and unpredictable shenanigans. As it turns out, I was really missing my daily reads!

Today I leave you with a no-fuss 5 minute look I did in the morning. I didn't have much time for anything else other than base makeup so here it is:

What I Used:

. 

For the base, I used MUFE F&B foundation which I am really liking! 

The MAC F&B doesn't even compare to the MUFE one. This one has a nice liquid gel consistency and while it is lightweight, it covers really well and is very natural feeling. I can't really say much else about it other than it being really nice. The glass bottle is also really pretty. I prefer it without the pump because it's so runny I could easy pour a little onto the back on my hand. 

To conceal, I used Benefit's eye contour kit. I really like this palette because it's travel friendly and I've been bringing it everywhere since I've been moving around. The concealer in the palette is their famous Bo-ing one! I'm a fan of that one because it covers really well and has a nice texture.

The eye shadows are really pretty as well but the color payoff is not as good on me. I can barely see the pink and taupe shades but the brown is good. I have used it as an eye liner and that makes a world of a difference especially when you want to give your eyes a bit of dimension.

To finish off my face, I used Maybelline's Dream Matte Powder. This powder is seriously amazing. I used to use MAC's blotting/finishing powder but this does the same thing for mere dollars. I dust it on with a small blush brush on my face and my makeup stays put. I really like powder a lot and it's such an incredible buy. I bought mine at Ulta when they were having a buy 1 get one for 50% off so it was good I picked up two. It should last all summer

For my lips, I used Guerlain's Kiss Kiss gloss in Amethyst Pearl (822). I seriously love this gloss. The purply color is so unexpected but really not all that strange.

 I love the gradient in the gloss - light-reflecting and pearly. The formula is really nourishing and I liked that it felt comfortable on my lips and not sticky or tacky at all.

Overall, my usual look consists of mostly like this. Makeup that enhances your best features is really what I aim for when I wear makeup.

Tell me, what is one item, skincare or makeup (or tool) that you cannot live without on a day-to-day basis?

Benefit's Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow! Brightening Foundation

Hello my dear friends :)

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend. I certainly can't complain. I spent Friday in good company and went to not one but two happy hours. In between that, there was a period of chatting and banana hot cocoas and off we went for more food.

I'm very excited to show you guys the new line of foundations from Benefit Cosmetics --

Hello Flawless Oxygen WOW with SPF 25 PA+++

I was really excited to be able to test them out since I'm a huge foundation junkie. This is an oil-free brightening foundation that features the use of SPF protection in the form of PA+++. Usually we don't see that type of rating in American cosmetics, but they've added that extra protection and that is a huge plus for me. To clarify, SPF is the protection grade for UVB filters, and PA is the protection grade for UVA filters. PA+++ is the highest level of protection in that form. 

This oil-free foundation is lightweight, buildable and has a watery texture. There are 9 shades to choose from, all of which have surprisingly good coverage. I thought the watery texture would immediately make it a very sheer formula but it's quite the opposite. 

Shade: Ivory

Some of the things I really like about this foundation is:

+ Coverage is great, gives a "glowy" look

+ Dewy, satin finish

+ Hydrating formula (watery texture)

+ The brightening effect is significant from the dewy finish

+ Lightweight and oil free

+ Contains sunscreen

Some of the things I didn't like are:

- Limited amount of shades (only 9)

- The formula sometimes enhances dry skin on me (dry patches)

- Can get a little oily after a few hours

Here are swatches from all 9 shades:

Ivory, Petal, Beige, Champange, Honey

Nutmeg, Amber, Hazelnut, Toasted Beige

Overall, I found that I really liked this foundation. I liked that it's breathable and has a wet texture. It feels moisturizing and nice on my skin without feeling heavy. The wet texture is similar to my MAC F&B foundation but with more color.