Friends with Benefit

I bet at least 90% of you have a Benefit product in your make up bag...

I confess, I have a few! I love You Rebel Lite and wear Bad Gal Mascara everyday!

(Keep reading for the exciting part!!!)

Today I was invited to the #bbloggers Benefit meet in Leeds. The event was hosted by the amazing Michelle and Leanne and the super fabulous Adele from the White Rose Counter.

The event was an insight in to how Benefit work from a none advertising marketing point of view and a how marketing is Handled from a Benebabes point of view.

The first presentation was by Michelle who gave us an insight in to who Benefit are and how they work.

Did you know....

• Benefit was founded by Jean and Joan Ford, 70ies Supermodels from San Francisco.
• The product was launched in 1976 in a boutique called Face Place.
• Benefit Lip and Cheek Stain was first invented by to help an exotic dancer who wanted something to show make her nipples more prominent when dancing!! Ohh Lala!
• All Benefit products are produced in Labs owned by LVMH (Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton)

What I got from the presentation is that Benefit is a company that don't take themselves too seriously (see packaging!!)  The like to push the barriers and break the rules and look at things a bit differently and they pride themselves on their products have something a little bit different from the normal run of the mill over the counter cosmetics. 

We also got a sneak peek of the new Powder Gloss Lips Glosses that are due to be released on the 28th June!

They come in matching shades to the Hervana, Bella bamba, Hoola, Coralista, Sugarbomb, 10 and Dallas! They all smell ridiculously delicious! 

The second presentation was made by the fab Adele! I willing volunteered to be her subject as she went through the process of what to expect at a Benefit counter. She explained the 3 P's, Prep, Prime and Perfect, and the fact that even if you just want a mascara they will give you the full 'pamper' treatment!

I have visited a Benefit counter and can confirm that the benegirls are amazing! Then we got to play with all the products!

And now for the exciting part!

The first 30 reader of the bloggers that attended the event and visit the House of Fraser counter in Leeds will receive a full make over and upon purchasing an item you will receive an extra little something something!

You have to tell them the name of my blog and if I get the most referrals I will a prize too! Pleeeeeeeaaaaaassssssssssssssseeeeeee help me win, I never win anything and I reeeeaaaaallllly want to win this!

Oooooo and just a little ice breaker we played....if you were stranded on a desert Island, what one piece of make up would you take and which hot boy would be your perfect companion.

Soap and Glory Thick and Fast Mascara

A few weeks ago I was making on of my many trip to my local boots and saw that Soap and Glory cosmetics were on offer! As of Sunday (last time I went in they were still on the 3 for 2 offer!) One of the products I got was the Thick and Fast Mascara!

RRP. £10

I generally use either Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara or a Armani Eyes to Kill, both of which I love! But I kinda love the thick and fast mascara! I love the look of false eyelashes but I have yet to master the whole putting false eye lashes on skill!

I love how this mascara make my eye lashes look!

No mascara VS Thick and Fast Mascara

As you can see there is a considerable difference from my normal lashes to my lashes once the mascara has been applied.

The only thing I didn't like about the mascara is that you get an awful lot of product on the wand! I found that I didn't need reinsert the wand for both eyes! I got enough product to do both eyes!

At the moment you can get a full size Thick and Fast Mascara free with this month Elle magazine!

Have you tried this mascara? What mascara do you use?

Toni

OXOX

BB Creams

I have never really been a fan foundations. I find them very heavy and thick, and regardless of which brand I generally they always bring out in spots, so I use a tinted moisturiser.
Then I discovered BB Creams.

BB Creams, or blemish Balm as they are also known, provide a foundation like, natural coverage that doesn't block pores whilst concealing pigmentation's, discolouration and redness. BB Creams can be worn alone or as a base for further products. Worn alone they give a natural, dewy, barely there look. Whilst when worn with other products they provide a bright, primer like base that holds powders and foundations for hours without slipping.

Originating in Germany in the last 50ies, primarily for patients which has undergone chemical face peel to soothe and protect skin, as well as reduce redness, it was quickly picked up by the South Korean beauty industry. Widely used by the South Korean actresses to enhance their naturally flawless skin it wasn't until Song Hye-Kyo (pictured below) revealed the 'secret' to South Korean's natural beauty that people started to take notice.

At present BB cream sales make up 13% of the South Korean mass market for beauty products.

I have started using Garniers Miracle Skin Protector Daily All-in-One BB Cream (and breath, longest title ever?!?). Garnier claim that the 'sensation of the light texture will melt in to my skin, that the formula with mineral pigments will give me a 'perfect' skin look, resulting in sheer coverage, blurred imperfections, illuminated skin and softer looking lines. And as miracles go, it does exactly what it says on the bottle!

I suffer mild bouts of acne (I'm 26!!!) and as a result have some discolouration and pigmentation on my chin and it conceals it wonderfully. I also seem to be getting fewer and fewer break outs since i started using it. It feels lighter than any foundation or tinted moisturiser that I have ever used and stays in place all day. It matches my skin tone, so gives that 'no make-up' natural look whilst at the same time brightening my skin! (the picture isn't great i know, but shows the natural effect the Garnier BB cream gives.)

Garnier is one of the cheaper BB creams available at the moment, retailing at £9.99. Once this tube is finished I am going to try the Mac Prep + Prime BB cream.

I think BB creams are now my new best friend!