Benefit

Benefit Holiday 2015 | First Impressions

October 2nd, 2015 by Karen 10 Comments

Why do I suddenly feel the urge to wear neon and listen to Wham!?

Oh, maybe it’s this: the Benefit holiday 2015 collection and its candy-colored, ’80s theme.

My goodness, girlfriend. It just occurred to me that, depending on your age, you may not have heard of Wham! — which is a thought that makes me want to take a long walk off a short pier (dramatic much?).

Seriously, though, they’re one of the quintessential ’80s party bands.

benefit holiday 2015 party poppers — The Benefit Holiday 2015 Party Poppers ($45) Best of Benefit kit, coming to all Benefit counters and stores

benefit holiday 2015 your bright to party party hoppin — The Benefit Holiday 2015 Your B.right! to Party Best of Benefit kit ($49, coming to all Benefit counters and stores) and Party Hoppin’ kit ($39, exclusive to Ulta)

Speaking of parties, this year’s Benefit holiday 2015 collection Best of Benefit kits sure look like they’re having a blast (look at those bright colors!). I’m getting distinct notes of out-of-control New Year’s Eve parties that can’t stop, and won’t stop, until well after dawn.

benefit holiday 2015 party poppers 2 — Benefit Holiday 2015 Party Poppers ($45) Best of Benefit kit, coming to all Benefit counters and stores

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Benefit Air Patrol BB Cream Eyelid Primer

August 31st, 2015 by Karen 13 Comments

Technology… It’s fascinating, really. Not only does it allow mere mortals to soar across the sky in what are essentially huge hunks of metal machinery; it also allows us to simultaneously prime and protect the delicate skin on our lids.

Next stop: Skynet. 🙂

I think it’s kind of funny that the box new Benefit Air Patrol BB Cream Eyelid Primer comes in says that it helps “defend against environmental stress,” when really, what I need help with is internal stress.

Haha, just kidding. Sort of…

Benefit’s new yellowy beige hybrid BB cream/eyeshadow primer comes in a click pen and contains moisturizing shea butter and broad-spectrum SPF 20, which makes it kind of interesting. It’s one of those kitchen sink products in that it does a little bit of everything that primers sometimes do — smoothing lids for makeup, locking products into place and evening out discolorations.

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End of Summer Shimmery Mermaid Makeup Tutorial

August 27th, 2015 by Karen 40 Comments

There is absolutely no freakin’ way that matte-heavy eyeshadow looks are even remotely acceptable among members of the makeup-loving mermaid community, and I know this for a fact.

Actually, I don’t really know that for a fact, since I haven’t kicked it with any of my mermaid friends lately, but if I had, they would DEFINITELY be rollin’ with shimmer.

So…why am I talking about mermaids??

Excellent question.

Well, because it’s late August, and even though I’m excited about fall, I’m still sad to see summer go. *sad tabby face* 🙁

I was thinking about the beach this morning (I haven’t been once this year!), and that led me to think about mermaids, and about mermaid water babies basking on the rocks with their shimmery tails swishing in the crystal clear waters and their subtle blue and green eye makeup sparkling in the sun…

So that’s what I was going for here.

For the record, this look is also appropriate for landlubbers, so you don’t need to have a mermaid tail to wear it, although that would be pretty rad.

I think this is a good look for late summer parties and barbecues, or maybe a back-to-school party where everyone gets kinda dressed up. Or, if you’re heading someplace fabulous that just so happens to have lively nightlife and be located near a warm body of water. Or, if you just want something shimmery to wear while you walk your cat around your neighborhood.

It’s a good look for multiple occasions. 🙂

Now, honey, if you just scrolled down, I know this look might seem impossible based on the number of steps, but you can do it! — even if you’re a straight-up beginner.

If you’ve never attempted anything like this before, though, cut yourself some slack. It’s OK and perfectly normal if it looks like shimmery poo the first few times, and it probably will, unless you’re a makeup wunderkind. But so what? Rome wasn’t built in a day.

OK, enough gabbing… Let’s do this.

1. Apply foundation, concealer and powder

Get yo’ base on that face, because we’re not about to leave the house without a little something-something. For this shimmery mermaid look, I like a full-coverage base because I think it balances out the bold eyes and false lashes.

Go with your fullest coverage foundation, concealer and powder, if you need to. Doing a goofy face while you do this is completely optional but highly encouraged. 🙂
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Best of Benefit Sephora Exclusive Kits

August 17th, 2015 by Karen 21 Comments

If YouTube could figure out a way to transmit a glass of lemonade and a plate of cookies while people were watching videos like this one about the new Best of Benefit Sephora exclusive kits, they could take over this whole freakin’ planet, NO JOKE.

One cool thing about these kits, which are all exclusively available at Sephora, is that two of them contain adorable mini versions of completely brand new products.

Here’s a look at all three of them. If you have any questions about anything in the video, holla at me in the comments.

sephora best of benefit — The Sephora Best of Benefit Kits

benefit do the hoola — Benefit Do the Hoola Beyond Bronze Kit ($34)

benefit operation pore proof — Benefit Operation Pore-Proof Kit ($34)

benefit theyre real sexy run — Benefit They’re Real!: Sexy on the Run ($32)

Products mentioned…

Benefit Do the Hoola Beyond Bronze Kit ($34)
Benefit Operation Pore-Proof Kit ($34)
Benefit They’re Real!: Sexy on the Run ($32)

As always, thank you for watching. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Unsung Makeup Heroes: Benefit High Brow Glow Pencil

July 15th, 2015 by Karen 25 Comments

High five to the bad-@ss Benefit High Brow Glow Pencil that has been taking names and kicking butts in my makeup bag for the past few months, because it has taken my brow (and other) highlights to greater heights!

What is it?

Well, Benefit High Brow Glow, a member of the brand’s brow product line, is a shimmery $22 champagne pencil intended to be worn under brow arches to make them look more arched and lifted.

How does it work?

It’s the shimmer, man! It makes wherever it’s applied appear brighter and closer to the spectator’s eye. It’s an illusion.

Yes, you could also use a shimmery eyeshadow to do the same thing, but a handy pencil makes it easier, and when every second counts, easier is awesome-r.

The long-running Unsung Heroes series here on Makeup and Beauty Blog features some of my all-time favorite permanent collection products.

I definitely use it for its designated purpose — I think it’s a great brow lifter if you buff it down a tad with a finger or a domed eyeshadow brush because it’s VERY shimmery — but I think its other abilities are what elevate it into Unsung Heroes territory.

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Benefit They’re Real Push-Up Liner and They’re Real Mascara, Now Available in More Shades

June 30th, 2015 by Karen 16 Comments

benefit theyre real push up liner k1 — Wearing the new Benefit They’re Real Push-Up Liners in Beyond Purple, Beyond Blue and Beyond Green on my upper lash line, and two coats of They’re Real Mascara in Beyond Blue on my lashes

Is this the real life? Or is this just fantasy? Please tell me that I’m not hallucinating and that these colorful new gel liners and mascaras by Benefit are not mere makeup figments of my imagination.

Are they fake…? Did I dream up this whole blue/green/purple situation? Please pinch me because I need to know if They’re Real.

OUCH!

OK…you did not have to pinch me that hard. 🙂

Benefit has some new liners and mascaras, and they aren’t figments of my imagination or yours, nor are you currently floating on pink cotton candy clouds.

These are very, very real, and they’re available on counters and online right now.

benefit theyre real — From the left: Benefit They’re Real Mascaras in Beyond Blue and Beyond Brown; They’re Real Push-Up Liners in Beyond Brown, Beyond Purple, Beyond Green and Beyond Blue

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Ulta Adventures: The Benefit Brow Bar

May 14th, 2015 by Karen 18 Comments

There’s a Benefit Brow Bar at my local Ulta (shout-out to the San Rafael store, woop-woop!), and they do full-service brow detailing — waxing, shaping, tweezing, tinting and all that jazz — as well as face waxing and false lash application. I’ve never had anything done there because I’m a control freak when it comes to my brows, but I see girls there getting their brow game on all the time, and they look great.

When I was there yesterday I saw this sign and totally cracked up! That crazy-@ss brow on the model, LOL! I feel that way sometimes…

OK, all the time. 🙂

Here’s some more info on the Benefit Brow Bars at Ulta, by the way.

Have you ever gotten your brows done at Benefit? How’d it turn out? Inquiring minds want to know…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Springy and Smokey! Smokey Brown and Purple Cat Eyes and a Bright Coral Lip With New Makeup From Benefit, Dior and Smashbox

March 3rd, 2015 by Karen 27 Comments

The sun’s out, I’m not wearing socks (FOOT FREEDOM!), I am wearing coral lipstick, and the eye look I tried this morning did not result in a complete disaster…

Yeah, it’s been a terrific Tuesday so far. 🙂

Today I felt springy and, I dunno, kinda smokey, so this purply brown smokey eye with soft cat eye liner happened.

Note to self: do this liner more often! It’s fairly easy — just black eye pencil with a dark shimmery purple shadow blended on top with a pencil brush — and it takes about half the time as a super crisp black cat liner, otherwise known as “the time-suck of my makeup existence.”

As a side, am I the only person who regularly attempts black cat liner when there’s, like, absolutely no time to get ready, and then inevitably ends up with their two tiny kitten flicks morphing into huge, unsymmetrical bat wings that don’t match?

Yargh.

Siri, remind me to wear soft cat eyeliner like this the next time I need to be saved from myself.

Oh! — this look was also an excuse to try a few new products from Benefit, Dior and Smashbox.

Some quick notes…

Benefit’s new Roller Lash curling mascara — This stuff is black, and glossy, and it lifts and curls lashes, but you absolutely, positively must comb out your lashes while they’re wet; otherwise, they’ll stick together like mean girls in the cafeteria.
Dior’s Nude Air Serum Foundation — This lightweight, medium-coverage hybrid skin care serum/foundation looks amazing on the skin. My homegirl at Sephora hooked me up (‘sup Nini!) with a fatty-bo-batty sample in shade 040, and when I finish it…I’m probably gonna throw down 53 large ($53) for a full-size replacement.
Yeah, that good.
Smashbox Double Exposure Palette — Yep, these gorgeous, mostly cool-toned shades are a dream to blend.

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