Benefit They're Real! Red On Lipstick

The latest lippy offering from Benefit claims to be universally flattering so I was keen to get it on my lips, like, yesterday.
Thus far, the title of the perfect red lipstick has belonged solely to my beloved Mac Ruby Woo (it truly is universal in it's flattering abilities) and I was interested to see how Red On would measure up.
First up, Red On is presented in an entirely different way to what we've become accustomed to when it comes to lipsticks. It comes in a pot complete with kitsch embossed lips and it's very own little brush to apply it - quite a controversial move, packaging wise, considering how rich the colour is.
Speaking of colour, Red On is seriously red. This is not sheer or forgiving. It's unashamedly, mega, hugely red and it means business. In other words, it's pretty richly pigmented.

A selling point of Red On is that it goes on creamy and smooth then 'sets' to a matte state, where it should remain for quite some time.
After I applied it for the first time I went and indulged in a festive hot chocolate from Cafe Nero and while there was a definite lipstick mark left behind on the cup, the look of the lipstick on my lips was not compromised.
I feel like maybe I didn't give the lipstick quite enough time to set before the impromptu hot chocolate test because about ten minutes later it had dried down to a lovely, matte look that felt very, very light on the lips. Lesson learned.

As mentioned, Red On is supplied with a little tapered brush. Benefit recommend that you pick up a little product on the brush and line your lips before filling them in with smooth, even strokes. While I did find it a bit fiddly and a little more time consuming than swiping on lipstick straight from the bullet, I do think it's a nice touch and adds something extra to the whole ritual of doing your makeup.
A blue-undertoned red, the lipstick is not only an instant smile brightener and easily buildable but I'd imagine it really would suit virtually any complexion - much like my beloved Ruby Woo. In terms of longevity, once it dried it was pretty much budge proof and I felt pretty confident going about my business without worrying about it migrating to my teeth. A definite win in my book.
Could Red On really be the perfect red? I dare say it might just be.
You can find Benefit They're Real! Red On for an RRP of £16.50 at Boots and anywhere that sells Benefit.

Handbag Friendly Beauty Essentials

Most handbags have at least one thing in common- among the miscellaneous and often nondescript bits and pieces lies a stash of go-to beauty products poised for beauty emergencies or general maintenance throughout the day.
Similar to a 'what's in my handbag' post, today I want to show you the products that go virtually everywhere with me, minus the gum wrappers, receipts and biscuit crumbs that you would be exposed to if I actually showed you what's in my bag...

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

I bought this for the first time as an 18 year old back home in Australia. I had no idea what it was supposed to do or how to use it, all I knew was that the words 'beauty' and 'flash' used together could only be a good thing. Almost ten years later I use it to pep up my under eye area and pat it onto my cheeks for a dewy look. I especially love Beauty Flash Balm in the winter when applied as a mask- dry skin drinks it up.

Lucas' Paw Paw Ointment

Everyone should know about this stuff. It's one of those super products that does everything except make you a cup of tea. Produced in Queensland, Australia, the thick emollient balm instantly soothes dry skin, burns, cuts and insect bites and makes for a wonderful long lasting lip balm. I have been know to use this paw paw ointment to tame my eyebrows and highlight cheek bones. This isn't easy to find here in the UK but you can pick it up at the Australian shop in Covent Garden or get it online. *I haven't got my own photo of this because my man friend has stolen it!*

Moisturiser Sample

I've usually got a sample sized tube or pot of moisturiser that's the perfect size for popping in my bag. At the moment I'm using a rather generous sample of Kiehl's Rosa Arctica which is fantastic because it's a fairly thick, rich product., therefore has lasted me ages because I don't need much.

MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

This is a cult product for a reason and I can't help but worship at the altar of this beautiful colour. Highly pigmented, smile brightening and uber long lasting, I'm rarely without this lipstick in my bag or on my lips.

Foundation Sample

I've found that those little '7 day trial' bottles of foundation many beauty brands provide after a colour match are perfect for carrying around in my bag with me. They weigh virtually nothing, can hold quite a lot of product and often come with a little spatula which minimizes mess. Don't actually like the foundation you're trialling? Rinse the little bottle out and fill it with your regular foundation. I've de-cantered some of my YSL Touche Eclat Foundation into this little bottle so I can touch up without having to lug around the full sized product.

Benefit 'They're Real!' Mascara

I do love this mascara, but it stays in my bag rather than on my dresser because I'm currently in love with an Avon mascara I got with a magazine recently. I know, it makes no sense to me either.

Bourjois Rose D'Or Blush

The pearly gold bits in this are terribly good at waking up my face and the rosey-pink base of the blush is so wearable it's almost ridiculous. I like how sheer and easily blended the colour is and the scent is lovely. The teeny size of the compact complete with built in mirror and brush make it handbag perfect.

So there you have it. Those are the products that reside in my handbag ready to pretty me up when I'm away from home. Do any of these live in your handbag too?

Thanks for reading :)

HIGHBROW EYEBROWS

I have a confession to make - I'm a little bit obsessed with eyebrows.
Not in a creepy, full blown fetish sort of way, I just really appreciate a perfect arch!
The shape of your brows can totally change your face - accentuate your bone structure and enhance the shape of your eyes, so of course I'm going to be keen to take care of them :)


Years ago, back on the Gold Coast in Australia I had two defining eyebrow moments - having a complete brow makeover by the Coast's eyebrow expert Caroline Fox ( trained by Hollywood's Queen of Brows, Anastasia Soare), and interviewing Amy Jean of Amy Jean Eye Couture at Palazzo Versace.

Both these ladies opened my eyes (pun intended) to the importance of a well groomed brow, and I've not looked back since. Just one problem though - I've relocated to the other side of the world so it makes it a little tricky to go knocking on these ladies' salon doors. What's a girl to do?

I want Megan Fox's eyebrows (and the rest of her face while you're at it)

Thanks to some distant spanish genes, which seem to have gone directly to my hair follicles, my eyebrows are thick, wirey and unruly and if I'm not careful, can look a bit like Alan Sugar's. I don't have the time/ money to have them shaped, threaded and trimmed regularly, so I've started doing what any self respecting eyebrow enthusiast would do - do them myself, and find a no nonsense product that's going to help me!

The big, bold brow is back this season, so here I'm going to show and tell my top 3 DIY eyebrow finds since my move to the UK.


3.
One of the first beauty counters I visited in Boots was Benefit on Oxford Street, and I snapped up the Brow Zings kit in Deep.


Benefit Bestseller
Brow Zings retails for £22.50


This little kit is cute and conventional, with a pigmented wax and powder for setting and all the tools you need for easy application - a tiny pair of tweezers, hard angled brush and blending brush with a built in mirror in the compact and the trademark Benefit instructions. I found it can get a bit messy, but a great product nonetheless.


2.
New CID is without doubt one of my favourite British brands. Pretty much every one of their products is innovative and multi-tasking and they really deliver when it comes to colour. The staff at the counter are always very approachable and friendly and really know their stuff. I took my eyebrow woes to the New CID counter at Debenhams on Oxford Street and not only came away with a couple of can't-do-without brow products but got a complete complimentary makeover because I had a date that night. Now that's great customer service :)

This is the i-groom, just one of a plethora of innovative, easy to use products by New CID.

functional and fabulous
i-groom retails at £15.50

The screw up tip is a unique triangular shape to suit any arch and the neutral shade fills in any gaps to create a natural finish. This pencil has a built in eyebrow brush at the other end so you can groom the hairs perfectly into place once you've enhanced the colour.




1.
Another New CID product (told you I loved this brand), the i-fix is unlike anything I'd seen before. That sounds a bit dramatic, but it's true! It's the most simple yet effective solution to my eyebrow dilemmas in one handy little pencil and I LOVE it.

One of my favourite products ever
i-fix retails at £13.50

It's just like a hair styling product for your brows, with a waxy, smooth fomula that glides onto the brows easily and quickly. The real deal-sealer for me with this product is that it adds definition without adding colour thanks to the clear formula, so it's not about to ruin your face if you veer off course!

Like the i-groom, I bought mine from Debenhams on Oxford Street - proof that lovely sales assistants make a huge difference to a beauty addict like me! For a list of stockists or to purchase online, click on over to New CID.