Benefit They're Real Mascara

Hype - There is nothing that turns me more off a product than the world and their dog going nuts, while I sit there reading all the reviews and go, "but it's only a mascara". Yes, I did say that because to me there is so many on the market it needs to really be something extra special to win me over. I may have given a little bit of a ladylike sequel when I saw this in my goodie bag at July London Met Up last year because I wanted to try it to see if it lived up to the hype around it.

They're Real has departed from the traditional bristal brush onto the latest plastic brustal/comb. It promises the whole song and dance: It lengthens, curls, volumises, lifts and separates. Does it actually deliver?

I have used this nearly everyday until it dried up at 6 months, and yes it did give me better looking lashes. I do not use more than 3 coats of mascara on my lashes, I do not go into the spider lash look. I did find with this I didn't need to as it gave the volume and defination I wanted with them stnading out as it was perfect deep black.

This is my only gripe about They're Real, it takes an oily remover, a lot of cotton pads and a lot of paience to get this off. Even with this small arsenal of removal bits, I will still find that I will wake with it all around my eyes in the morning and will be usng the remover again to get the rest off.

Does it live up to hype? I hate to admit but yes it does, Benefit has created a cover-all-basis mascara and can be layered up with clogging or bits forming - great for natural lashes or building up to those big fluttery lashes. Will set you back £19.50 at Benefit, Boots or Department Stores nation wide.

Yes Another Blog Entry About #BBBBeautybox

Before I ripped it apart

I nearly didn't get this, if it wasn't for my hubby who snores thus keeping me awake at night, resulting in me sleeping on the sofa. I wouldn't of been awake for when this was released sitting on the sofa watching SpongeBob Square pants and reading Twitter.

I knew from rumblings during the week, something huge was coming, but I didn't realise this was going to be it. Prepare for a gush - I love Jane, she was one of the first blogs I read religiously, the first I commented it and one of the  first people I followed when I got Twitter. She's not only a wonderfully woman who is amazingly clued up on the industry but still take times to natter to people who read her blog.  I still screamed like a fan girl when she tweets me, sad I know.

The box of Jane's favourites, the products that she uses herself and has a great mixture of sample and full sized products (which includes the new love of my life Bourjois Cream Blusher in Healthy Glow, so now I have a back up!).

For the full line up, you can look up on BritBeautyBlog's page on it - typing the list out would give me reparative strain injury. There some beautiful gems in there, I've been wanting to try Lanolips for a long time and the colour I got is perfect everyday. I've already started using my Melvite Orange Blossom Floral Water, by putting it in the fridge for about 10 minutes to get it cool and spritz all over my face.

For once I've actually got to thank my husbands snoring rather than hitting him with a pillow to shut him up.

PS. Next box is due in November, set the alarm this time!

Brand Masterclass - Benefit Cosmetics

It is not often that businesses are started off with a coin toss. Twins Jean and Jane Ford at a crossroads - Heads it was going to be a casserole cafe but thankfully it was tails to open a beauty boutique. In 1976 the Ford twins opened 'The Face Place' in San Francisco. The first product was a lip and blush tint called 'Rose Tint', developed for an exotic dancer who was in need of a nipple tint for shows.

In 1989, the catalogue was developed and this a new focus on department store distribution, The Face Place was rebranded and named Benefit Cosmetics. Their key product also had a make over and was rename what we know it today - Benetint. It still remains the companies top seller at over 10 million bottles sold.

With success in America, they opened in Europe in the Harrods Store in 1997, with the website store soon launching afterwards. Then in 1999 LVMH (Moét Hennessy - Louis Vuitton) brought Benefit. As the company grew so did the Benefit family with Jean's daughters, Maggie and Annie, joining their mother and aunt in 2008.

From the start Benefit to this day keeps to it quirkiness, know for it's unique packaging and product names. The empire has also expanded into it own line of Brow Bars and stand alone stores as well as having a strong presence in department stores and pharmacies.

"Laughter is the best cosmetics, so grin and wear it."

Masterclass - BB Creams

If you heard haven't of BB creams since the beginning of the year, then you have been living in cave with ear muffs on. This is the biggest launch item that most of the brands are bringing out, and yes I even own one (This one).

BB stands for Blemish Balm, Beauty Balm, Blemish Base or, because of copyright laws in Korea, Beblesh Balm. It was developed in the 1960's by dermatologist Dr. Christine Schrammek for patients that had gone under laser procedures and surgery. These were then introduced to the Asian market in 1985, where the healthily, pale skin is held in highest esteem, this was especially in the case of some creams that had whiten properties to them.

They are promoted as a all in one solution: serum, moisturiser, primer, anti-age properties, foundation, and sunblock. They increased popularity because they are a lighter alternative to foundation without having to compromise on coverage. A lot of the ranges that were developed in Asian also had nearly white tones suitable for western pale skins that struggled to get the right light colour.

To give you a better idea BB creams in Korea make up 13% of the overall cosmetics markets. When they launched in the Europe market a lot of brands were criticised for not making a 'true' BB Cream because they didn't have the whitening properties that the Korea market ones had.

They are really suitable for people who lean towards the slightly combination/oily as drier skins might find this doesn't provide the moisture that your skin needs (thus leaving it dull and flaky). I really like to use my BB Cream for everyday use and then used a foundation for the evening as it doesn't have the staying power to last all the way through.

Bloggers Block and Solving it with a Q&A

This weekend I've drawn a blank, which has never happened. I am sure it happens to most bloggers that you just cannot get inspired to find something to talk about. I am currently in the middle of trailing some new products out like Avon's new skincare treatment, Purity skincare, and some fantastic Montenge Jessense products (including a lip balm!). At the end of the month I am also going to Olympia Beauty, a beauty trade show to browse what is coming up over the AW season as well as anything I want to add my collection.

I spotted the below on one of the blogs (Mymaneblog) I follow who is also one of the #bbloggers who works tireless to make sure that everything is run as fairly as possible for our twitter chats on a Wed/Sun night at 8pm. It also provides a few answers on a few basics about my own skincare and make up routines which you will hopefully find useful.

I do also want to take this time to say hello to readers and say thank you for the comments I have had over the weekend (I will replying over the next week to you all).

Skincare

Q: How many times do you wash your face daily?
A: If I'm not wearing make up I just use a foaming face wash, or I cleanse the make off and then give it a wash if feel I haven't got that 'clean' feel.

Q: What skin type do you have? (dry,oily,combo)
A: The traditional T-zone over the head, nose and chin. Now I'm getting older it's starting to change that need to give it a bit more TLC on the drier parts

Q: What is your current facial wash?
A: Love Your Skin Rosewood wash - Got this in my LatestinBeauty Editiors Box, love the delicate scent, soft exfoliating action and pump bottle.

Q: Do you exfoliate?
A: I do but not as much as I used to because it used to make my skin inflamed.

Q: What brand do you use?
A: Currently a mixture of Purity, Avon, Boots No.7, whatever I'm trailing out really.

Q: What moisturiser do you use?
A: Currently the Avon treatment with some Clarins' Beauty Flash Balm if my skin needs a boost.

Q: Do you have freckles?
A: Yes, they come out more when I catch the skin, but it's also why I have to be careful with the sunscreen.

Q: Do you use eye cream?
A: No, I don't really just because I don't have any. My favourite has been Estee Lauders Advance Night Repair, you need the smallest amount but it's light and does what it says.

Q: Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
A: Not as bad as when I was a teen but I still get them, epically on the days I really don't need them!

 

Make Up

 

 

Q: What foundation do you use?
A: Currently MUA BB Cream

Q: How about concealer?
A: I use YSL's Touche Eclat and Estee Lauder's Disappear as mentioned here

Q: Do you know your undertone colour?
A: Olive, but often get mistaken for more of English rose pink.

Q: What do you think of fake eyelashes?
A: Nothing wrong with them at all! Worn them when on special occasions and when the lashes are the focus of the look.

Q: Did you know that you are supposed to change your mascara every 3 months?
A: Yes of course, my maximum is 6 months of usage before it goes.

Q: What brand of mascara do you use?
A: Max Factor Masterpiece in black brown, still love 2000 Calories as well.

Q: Boots or Superdrug?
A: Being a former Boots girl it'll have to be Boots, but Superdrug because I love MUA Cosmetics and it's exclusive there

Q: What makeup tools do you use in make up application?
A: Can't live without my brushes and clean fingers to finish off.

Q: Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes?
A: A bit of concealer and powder before eyeshadow still works for me.

Q: For the face?
A: However my face still needs a helping hand, just finishing Benefits Porefessional.

Q: What is your favourite eyeshadow (colour or shade)?
A: Was Estee Lauder's Tea Biscuit, best base shadow ever! Need to find a replacement.

Q: Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?
A: Pencil for day then liquid for night

Q: How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?
A: Not as much as I used to!

Q: Do you use mineral makeup?
A: Great for day wear and sensitive skins. They're now coming on leaps and bounds, might be my next investment, so any recommendations will be great.

Q: What is your favourite lipstick?
A: Red - Always on the look for a new red lippie, a girl can never ever have enough red lip!

Q: How about lipgloss?
A: Juicy Tubes, I have tubes that seem to be going on for years. Melon is the perfect all rounder colour.

Q: What is your favourite blush to use?
A: I fall in and out of love with blusher, still trying to find the 'one'

Q: Do you buy your makeup on eBay?
A: Nail varnish yes (See Here), other stuff - not really not without knowing what I'm buying.

Q: Did you ever consider taking make-up classes?
A: Currently doing my BTEC in Make Up Artistry so yes I may have.

Q: Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
A: No I did at first, the brush used to shake in my hands when I did my first customer.

Q: Name a makeup crime that you hate?
A: Any foundation too dark or too light, there are no excuses for it anymore.

Q: Do you like colourful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones?
A: Neutral eyes but a bright lip, I'm still trying to embrace colour on eyes without looking like a drag queen.

Q: If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item, what would you use?
A: Lip balm, I have loads because my lips dry out and get flaky without it.

Q: Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?
A: Yes I do. See below: Scotland April 2012

Q: Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?
A: I like to think I look OK, it's not the end of the world. I try look after my skin so even without make up it still looks the best it can.

Q: In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?
A: I will always hold a soft spot for Estee Lauder as I worked for them a long time and they gave me my first job in cosmetics. Other than that Bourjois just make the cutest packaging and colours, while Urban Decay are just fun and funky.

Q: What do you think of Makeup?
A: I've found that I've made friends just by talking nail varnish or lipstick. We want the same thing: To be the best that we can be. There are some women who are just stunning, but who hide underneath a mask because they lack the confidence. I really wish they knew how stunning they really are.

Could Your Bargain Be Costing You Your Life?

Imitation is suppose to be the highest form of flattery, I would not think that high end make up brands would agree. In the never ending saga of fake make being sold to the public, Leanne Wertheim was sentenced to 8 month suspended sentence, £2,000 costs and 160 hours of community service. She took £40,000 from the public over four eBay accounts, the "brands" she was selling included Bobbi Brown, M.A.C, Benefit, Lancome and Max Factor.

Unsuspecting customers, who were thinking they were getting huge discounts with some products selling at £3.99, were actually buying toxic make up. When customers complained about the quality of products, she claimed that they were genuine. When initial tests were carried out on the products, the results showed that they had 3 times the normal levels of lead in them. Lead contamination can lead to side effects as brain damage, a lowering of IQ in unborn babies and behaviour problems.

In one instance, a Max Factor mascara was showed to be having 68 mg/kg of lead, where the legal amount is 20 mg/kg.

So how you spot a fake?

Knowledge is power, look at the stores to see how the product feels and how its packaged. Chanel and MAC are the most common copies that are sold. Chanel is always dressed in glossy packaging, with very simple writing. Fakes have little touches, logos in the wrong places, lower grade cardboard and lower grade pigments.

With MAC eye shadows and pigments, real items have the bar code as a sticker on the box, as well as having the colour name and finish on a sticker on the top of the box. MAC also do not have mirrors and applicators in with their products, the logo will always be centre (apart from mascaras which is on the left hand side). Sizes on genuine items will be given in grams and ounces - fakes tend to be in millilitres.

The best way to avoid fakes?

Save your pennies and buy only from authorised retailers and manufactures.

For more information on spotting all fakes, try: http://www.spotcounterfeits.co.uk/
Another brilliant entry on Fakes by BritishBeautyBlogger