Review: Benefit Erase Paste

Review of Benefit Erase Paste in No.1 Fair

Today's review is of a concealer I've been wanting for a long time, and one that I finally got for Christmas. As you can see above, Benefit Erase Paste comes with an instruction booklet and a little spatula to scoop out product. 

Since I'm very pale, I got the lightest shade they have available, No.1 Fair. I was originally wanting this to cover up my under eye circles. A salmon toned concealer is the best shade to cover up blue toned under eye circles, so that's why I was interested in trying this.

But since I've been using this, I really like using this to cover up blemishes too, since this blends so seamlessly into the skin.

Benefit calls this a "brightening camouflage" and it definitely does brighten. It brightens up your under eye, but it also doesn't call attention to any blemishes you might put this one. Best of both worlds!

I really like this concealer. I wasn't too sure about it at first; I thought it might be too orange and too thick to work on my skin. But it really does blend easily, despite being such a thick consistency. It's on the thicker, creamier end of the spectrum of concealers. It covers up very nicely; it's very opaque. When applying this, I would advise patting this on, instead of swiping. 

Despite being so salmon toned, it looks very natural, even on my cool toned skin. 

Another great thing about this concealer- it lasts very long without fading or creasing. If you have older skin, it might crease more.

I also really like the packaging of this. It's a sleek little pot, which looks really cute, but also practical.

Benefit Erase Paste costs $30 CAD for 0.15oz, and is sold at Sephora and Benefit stores.

Thanks for reading!!

Melissa

Review: Benefit They're Real! Mascara

Benefit's They're Real! Mascara in Black

Today's post is going to be a quick review of a mascara that I've been using for quite awhile, Benefit's They're Real! Mascara. I've also used BadGal Lash from Benefit, but I prefer this one, and I'll tell you why in a minute.

I got this mascara as a present for Christmas 2011, and used it until it got old. Then I just recently got another tube as a birthday gift from Sephora, so I thought I would post a review while I have a new tube.

For starters, I really like the packaging on this. It's practical, and not overly gaudy! That's one thing about Benefit; their packages are cute, but not always practical. But this is slim enough to easily fit in a makeup bag. 

I got the colour Black, but they also have Plum available. This usually costs $29 CAD, which is pretty steep, but it is a high end brand. However, I think that the results it gives are not that far above regular drugstore mascaras, which you get for about a third of the price. 

This brush is what gave this mascara so much hype when it was first released. It claimed to be able to reach all the little lashes that regular brushes can't. 

This is what Sephora.com says about it:

What it is:
A jet-black mascara that lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts, and separates lashes for a spectacular "out-to-here" look. 

What it does:
This mascara features an exclusive brush specially designed to maximize the performance of the long-wearing, glossy formula revealing lashes you never knew you had! Staggered bristles grab close to the root, boosting length and volume beyond belief. The precision bristles on the custom-domed tip lift, define, and curl even your tiniest lashes. The end result is luxurious, silky lashes that won't smudge, clump, or dry out.

Research results:
-94% saw dramatic length and volume*
-90% saw base-to-tip curl*
-94% saw visible lift*
-100% saw long-wearing results*
-*Results observed in a consumer panel survey

I like the brush, but I don't think you can reach every lash without poking yourself in the eye. Which is one of my complaints about the brush: the bristles are super sharp, so when you poke yourself in the eye (which happens quite often), it hurts!! 

As for the other claims (length and volume), I think it delivers quite well on both. I've included before and after pictures below so you can see for yourself. 

One thing I will say quickly though is this: it doesn't hold a curl very well, and it will clump if you go beyond two coats. It also starts to wear down after six or seven hours of wear. 

lashes before-no mascara

lashes with mascara

As you can see, it gives nice length and volume and makes your lashes rich and black. It DOES NOT give the look of false lashes like it claims, but it's nice for everyday wear! I personally really like this mascara.

My Rating: 9/10

Thanks for reading!!

Melissa

Dupe Alert! Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow vs. CoverGirl Tapestry Taupe

CoverGirl Eyeshadow in Tapestry Taupe

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to alert you to a dupe I discovered. I've owned the Covergirl shadow for quite a while, and when I purchased the Benefit shadow, I thought they looked pretty similar. They are not exact matches, but they are pretty close. 

Obviously, the Benefit shadow is a cream shadow and the Covergirl is a powder, but the finish is very similar. They both have a high shine.

Top: Benefit Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit

Bottom: Covergirl Tapestry Taupe

As you can see, they are very alike. The Covergirl shadow is just a little warmer toned and more brown. 

Thanks for reading!!!

Melissa

July Favorites!!!

So since it is now the beginning of August, I thought I would share some products that I was loving in the month of July. So let's get started, shall we?

Benefit's They're Real! Mascara

1. Benefit's They're Real! Mascara: I got this mascara a couple of months ago, along with two other  high end mascaras. When I first started using this, I absolutely loved it. It was my most used out of all three.

But about a month into using it, I started getting really into the other two mascaras and stopped using this one. One day, I decided to use it again, and I didn't really like the results. It made my eyelashes too clumpy. So I put it aside again, and then on my third day of vacation, I decided to try it again...and loved it!! I don't know what changed, maybe the formula dried out enough to give those results? But whatever it was, it made my eyelashes longer, fuller and could hold a curl. A definite favorite!

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Stickers in Kitty Kitty

2. Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Stickers in Kitty Kitty: I bought these for my vacation before I left. I had used one of these packs of stickers before in "Laced Up", but never this one. I really like this one better, to be honest. It stayed on longer, and looked more realistic.

This is the look I did with them on my vacation. Sorry for the visible nail beds; these have been on for eight days. But no chipping!! :D

Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil in Cia

3. Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil in Cia: I got this for Christmas, and up until recently I hadn't really used it much. I had other concealer that I used, and it was just too thick for an undereye concealer.

swatch...sorry for the blurriness

It just kind of sat in my makeup drawer, until one day, on a whim, I pulled it out to use on a tiny blemish. It worked wonders!! I couldn't see it after one swipe!! Now it is part of my daily makeup routine.

Smashbox Metallic Cream Liner Palette

4. Smashbox Metallic Cream Liner Palette: I had been eyeing this palette in my Sephora for a long time before I finally broke down and bought it.

Top Row (from L-R): Onyx, Topaz, Emerald, Sapphire, Gold

Bottom Row (from L-R): Amethyst, Blue Topaz, Graphite, Platinum, Bronze

Being a neutral eye makeup lover, I was quite surprised that I preferred this palette over the more neutral one that Smashbox also offers. 

My most used shades are Amethyst, Sapphire and Graphite, as you can see from the dents. These are really good shades for any colorful and neutral looks, although I don't quite see the purpose of having a sparkly silver cream liner. But ah well. One out of ten going unused isn't bad at all. I paid $40 CAD for this palette (it is Smashbox, after all) but that's still $4 CAD per eyeliner, which is pretty good. Anyway, these are pigmented and stay on well. Not much more I can say!

Essence Cream Liner Brush

5. Essence Cream Liner Brush: I don't actually use this for cream eyeliner, as all my cream liners have their own little brushes. I use this to darken my lower eyeliner by running some dark eyeshadow under my lower lashes, all while staying close to the lashes, so it blends in with my eyeliner.

I also use this on my upper lashline, too, when I'm using dark eyeshadow for eyeliner. I think I paid $2 CAD approximately for this, which is pretty good for the amount I use it!!!

So that concludes my July favourites!! 

Thanks for reading!!!

Melissa