The organised make up bag

I have never been one of those girls with a perfectly stocked make up bag in their handbag. One of those girls that with the slightest sound of "does anyone have..." has already pulled out a grub free make up bag and answered everyone's prayers. God, normal I don't even have a bag for my make up let alone a well planned contents!

However, today is the day for change... I will be organised and I wont break my shoulder carrying 50 lipsticks around by the end of the week. So here is what my make up bag looked like pre-organisation:

It basically consists of products that I'm not bothered about using everyday because I often leave it in my locker at work. We have got...L'Occitiane hand cream, free out of a magazine but I love it and will for sure repurchase, tissues, chewing gum, a empty sample of double wear, 3 coral lipsticks and a coral gloss, Sleek suede blusher and a awful brush from a Benefit box'o'powder, Benefit Boiing concealer, 17 metallic eyes in wild nude and of course some HG balm carmex original!

Off to the bin goes the Benefit brush and the empty sample pot...its a start!

The new plan is to have a staple bag containing great multi-use products and then changing colour items. The big rule.... one lipstick in... one lipstick out!

Things that have stayed are the hand cream, tissues, gum, carmex and Boiing. Boiing is a great make-up bag concealer because its light enough to use as a foundation but good coverage for redness and under eyes.

New additions are 17 BB cream because its great for freshening up make up when it starts getting dry and Chanel Limited edition bronzer from last year, because it is a bronzer, blusher and face powder all in one and the brush is far, far better than those awful Benefit ones!

The current colour items in my bag are... a plum L'Occitaine lipgloss I got free with this months glamour, Mac Shygirl, because I'm trying to justify to myself that I wear nudes enough to buy 'a perfect day' from the new collection (don't lie, we all do it!). An awful lip liner from Collection 2000 which is probably on the way to the bin (if anyone can recommend a good nude lip liner let me know) and the Chanel Eclosion palette from the spring collection. This is the only thing I have bought from the spring colours and it honest is the best eye palette I have ever bought, and possibly the best Chanel product I have bought, it hasn't left my eyes since I bought it!

And yes, I have just noticed that I still actually have 3 lip products in this 'steam line' make up bag.... turns out you cant teach an old dog completely new tricks!

November empties

Now, you would be forgiven thinking that I made a mistake when writing the name of this post, especially after seeing the above photo, but no this isn't actually all the things I brought in November, this really is all the products that I FINISHED! Albeit, the Nails Inc top coat did just die and wasn't finished, but its still heading for the bin, so I thought it counted.

So here they are,

Soap and Glory, clean on me body wash... I love all the soap and glory products really because of the smell, I love anything sweet like that. Other than the smell, its really just a creamy body wash nothing spesh!

Dove, nourishing oil care conditioner, I've already written a post about how much I love this conditioner, its really intensive but doesn't leave the hair feeling heavy, it works wonders on my long dead hair. I thought it was the best, until I used the nourishing oil care intensive conditioner which is even more amazing!!!

The remains of my Clinique 3 step, clarifying lotion and dramatically different moisturiser... I decided to buy the 3 step last xmas because it did wonders for my skin in my teens, but I think its too harsh for my skin now. I don't think I'll ever use a product on my face again that can remove hair die/fake tan stains off my skin (clarifying lotion)! The dramatically different lotion however was a lovely moisturiser for the summer, because it was light weight but really nourishing, and I may buy this again next year.

Boots, Botanics soothing eye make up remover... best eye make up remover for the price... FACT! Every time its on 3 for 2 I stock up on three, I can never run out!

Liz Earle, Instant boost skin tonic... I really fell in love with this 'toner' actually. So comforting on the skin, especially after a slightly striping cleanser. It makes the skin really soft and I love the smell. Its basically a matter of time until I find a Liz Earle counter and re-buy this.

Olay, 3 point super serum... I am obsessed with anti-aging serums, even though I'm still in my early 20's, I firmly believe prevention is the best cure. I do however think this serum was designed for a quite mature skin, so I didn't really feel much benefit from it. It was a gorgeous texture and if your concerned about firmness of the skin I would give this serum a try. I'm currently using L'oreal youth code serum which I think is a much better fit for what I want, and I will be writing a post about this soon.

Benefit, You Rebel lite... the only make up product in the bucket, this has taken me an age to finish, and I have instantly opened my back up. Its a really great tinted moisturiser, mainly for dry skin though, I would say its abit shiny for an oily skin. Also always ask for a sample if you are sensitive because the SPF can some times cause irritation.

and finally the Benefit foamingly clean face wash sample... really great cleanser for a dry skin, but does it beat cleanse and polish? no sorry Benefit, back to my old faithful I go :)

I'm sorry I've been MIA recently, life has just got super hectic. But I'm pleased to tell you that I start a brand new job on Monday which I'm super excited about :) yey and hopefully I'll have more time for blogging!

October (and a bit) empties

I get a real sense of achievement writing these posts....the empties, the products I have conquered, and here they are in all their glory. As normal its mainly skin care, and rather weighted towards Clarins opps.

So clockwise from right.

Clarins toning lotion for normal to dry skin, lovely alcohol free toner with a really refreshing smell. I really liked this at the time but to be honest Liz Earl skin tonic has taken over as my favourite so I probably won't re-buy.

Benefit Powderazzi... WOW I only got this TWO YEARS AGO! Its lasted me a lifetime but has finally come to an end. This limited edition Christmas set contained Hoola, Dallas and Coralista. I'd really recommend these sets for anyone wanting to try some new colours, the 2011 set contains Hoola, coralista and bella bamba and is way cheaper than full sized at £19.50

Benefit Speed brow, setting gel for eyebrows. OK product that did what it said but I thought it was rather small for £12 and cheaper brands do a similar thing. I do like however that it was slightly coloured as the clear gels get really scabby looking when they get brow colour mixed in.

Clarins Gentle foaming cleanser, really good cleanser for getting all my makeup off with only one wash. I used mine with a muslin cloth and water. I did find this a little striping on my dry skin and would be better for a combination skin. I also would have preferred to be able to use it on my eyes. Nothing will compare to cleanse and polish, I don't know why I even bother!

and finally Clarins Multi-active day cream. I always use anti ageing even though I'm only in my early 20's and I actually didn't find this cream was 'enough'. Come early afternoon my skin needed some extra moisture and looked dehydrated especially on drier areas, like my forehead. Would suit someone my age but with a slightly more oily skin, or no dehydration lines.

Thats all I managed this month folks but I'm currently trying a 'project 10 pan' style challenge with some makeup products so hopefully November will bring a truck full of empties.

Any good recommendations of great products you've finished this month?

Benefit: Watts Up Highlighter

Couple of things I want to say before I get started on this post, excuse my awful rate of posting at the moment, I feel like I'm so busy recently, although I'm not really doing anything out of the ordinary haha. Then secondly pleeeeeeease excuse my awful, untamed eyebrows in the next few posts, I'm going back for my next HD brow appointment this week and I let them grow loads so hopefully they can look super groomed! Right on to the product...

I thought I'd share with you a review on Benefit's new highlighter, Watts Up.

I've had mine about a month because of staff preview and it just been launched exclusively at Boots (I think it comes out everywhere else on 8th Oct) so I've been having a good play on myself as well as on customers.

Benefit say this is a "Soft focus highlighter for the face". The colour is like a bronzey/champagne, its in a stick form, and the texture is a cream to powder when blended.

Here you can see the colour, on the top its unblended and below I bended it with my finger.
So what have I found from using it...

Ive found it goes over the top of make up much better than the liquid highlighters such as 'Highbeam', you don't have to be careful in the way you blend, just draw it over foundation and blend with your fingers. The colour is also really flattering, especially with a darker/olive skin tone. It gives a really glowy finish as you can see below, which I do find might suit a drier skin best, on a oily it can look a little "sweaty". It also shimmer not glitter... hallelujah!!! I hate highlighters that are full of glitter! Like most highlighters, I would avoid putting it in the centre of the face where the pores are bigger.
The only thing I found kind of disappointing about the product is the lack of smell, I really like Benefit's product scents, they are usually fruity and fresh, but this one just smells like its ingredient Shea Butter, which I always find smells abit "fatty"

Overall I really like the easiness of this product, that its no fuss to apply and portable, the colour is also gorgeous, and just what the brand needed.

Some new eye shadows

I've started wearing eye shadow almost every day recently, I've always BOUGHT eye shadows I've just never really worn them but now is the time! So the new 'eye shadow wearing me' obviously had to go out and buy some more!!! and here they are...

From left to right. Mac Star Violet, Benefit leggy, Benefit Fawn over me, No7 Pewter and No7 Buff.
Swatches, left to right, Star Violet, Fawn over me, leggy, buff and pewter.
Star violet is my first ever Mac shadow, its just the most beautiful metallic burgundy. Although swings alittle pink when its on the eyes too.

Fawn over me, I always use this colour on customer at work so I decided to get it. Its really suits anyone with green or brown eyes, and makes the most amazing base for smokey eyes, or any purple colours. The Benefit powder shadows need a primer because there hold isn't amazing but they are lovely and soft in texture, described as 'Velvet finish'.

Leggy is another great base to build darker colours on top of. It suits blue or lighter eyes better than my darker ones but its really brightening.

Buff and Pewter... I love these cream shadows, they were part of the autumn collection but I hope they bring out more colours because they are amazing value. I got them with my No7 voucher and staff discount so they were like crazy cheap. They stay on so well, seriously all day with no creasing. Buff also makes an amazing primer. Both colours only have a really slight shimmer so they perfect for day time. These colours were limited edition but alot of counter still have them in a draw if you ask them.

I also bought the new Sleek nude palette, but if you need to see another photo of that then you have obviously been living in a cardboard box for a month and don't really need to see it :-P

August Favourites

WOW, I've actually been organised enough to do a August favourites when its actually close enough to August for it to be acceptable. So here are the bits that I have been loving this past month, sorry in advance for being a total Benefit whore!

No7 Lipstick in Grace, I think this was from last summers limited edition collection called 'St Tropez'. I love this lipstick so much, I will actually cry when it finishes, god dam you limited editions! Shouldn't really tell you all about it as there is no way you can have it haha but the texture is so silky like a balm, the colour is just the most perfect 'my lips but better' pinky nude colour and if any one can recommend a dupe from the swatch I'll love you forever.

Benefit, They're real mascara. Honestly this really is the best mascara I have ever tried! The lengthening effect is amazing without the lashes looking all spidery. The true test was that naughty me fell asleep with all my makeup on last night, and its so long wearing it was unscathed this morning, no sign of any rub off either! You can see a full review here... http://confessionsofacosmetic-aholic.blogspot.com/2011/08/benefit-theyre-real.html

Benefit Browzings in Medium. If the 23 year old me told the 15 year old me that I would be obsessed with making my eyebrows dark I would have laughed in my face. It was so uncool to have big eyebrows when I was younger, I used to even bleach mine to make them lighter. Browzings is a wax and a powder that you mix together and apply to your brows with a brush. I just prefer it to a pencil, it gives a much stronger look.

Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer. I bought this sample size tinted moisturiser in America because I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I really love it, makes my skin look so dewy, the colour is slightly light but nothing abit of bronzer cant fix and it gives really good coverage for a TM. It doesn't last that well but I've never really found a tinted moisturiser that has. I will definitely be buying this full size, even though its crazy expensive.
Benefit, That Gal face primer. I had forgotten how good this product actually is. I have dry skin so silica based primers seem to dry my skin out, this one is a cream base for brightening the skin. It makes my foundation last all day, and its stays looking 'just applied' all day. It really improves long lasting foundations like Double Wear which can dry out during the day. I'd seriously recommend if you have dry skin to try this product.

These are the two brushes I'm obsessed with at the moment. (Top) The stippling brush is some cheapo brand called 'Royal and Langnickel' but I wanted to see if I would use a stipple before I invested. I use it for everything, foundation, cream blusher, powder! I will be purchasing the Mac version very soon.

(Bottom) The contour blush brush from Sephora. I absolutely love the Sephora brushes, I think they could possibly be better than MAC ones (in my opinion). I use this one for contouring bronzer, I apply bronzer to the side of the brush then apply under the cheek bones. I might also get the ELF version of this brush because I've heard other people say they use it for foundation, but I wouldn't want to get oils in my powder brush.

Thank you for reading, What have been your August favourites?

Look at all the empties!!!

Firstly I wanted to say a big welcome to my new followers!

Secondly, this post is going to be all about me showing off, showing off the new me, the new 'product finishing' Liv!

I have been rather skint through August, with 3 big birthdays taking up most of my money, so spending had to be cut down and I've actually be using up things I already have. Which for me is very very rare! So I thought I'd take you through all the products I finished in August, and here they are...All EIGHT of them!
- First up, Protect and perfect intense serum. At the moment I'm totally paranoid about getting wrinkles and even though I'm only 23 my very dry skin is starting to show lines :( booo skin! I know this product is raved about but it actually didn't make any massive improvement, although my wrinkles didn't get any worst I guess. I think its more for firming "loose" skin than getting rid of fine lines because my skin did feel more firm. It feels really lovely and smooth when going on, kind of like a silica based primer. I've started using a different serum that I love much more but more on that another time.

- Then it was the Dream satin liquid from Maybelline, *shivers* god awful foundation haha! I basically saw this was coming to an end and trucked through it even though I don't really like it. It looks lovely and fresh, with good coverage when it first goes on but I find most Maybelline foundations dry out my skin in patches after a few hours (excluding FIT which is amazing) and this one did just that.

- OH the holy grail of cleansers, cleanse and polish by Liz Earle, Totally fab! Just try and stop me from re-buying....nuff said!

- Gee that was quick, eye makeup remover by Benefit, really good, oil free remover with no residue. Although this product has been discontinued, the new "remove it" eye makeup remover (£16.50) is the same with a better smell. I did like this alot and it did a really good job but I'm actually one of the only people in the world that actually prefers an oil based eye makeup remover, if you don't give "remove it" a try!

- Clarins Wake up booster and daily cream from the energizer range (£19.50). I loved both these products, they smell absolutely DIVINE! The toner was really refreshing and cream gave so much hydration for a gel like formula. The only thing about the cream that I didn't like was no anti-aging properties, but as the range is aimed at young skin its obvious why not! I would really recommend this for a younger, normal-dry skin!

- M&S Shea nut body butter. Not a massive fan of this cream, it smelt nice but it felt kind of "sweaty" after you rubbed it in, I really don't know how to explain that in a nice way haha! It didn't soak in quickly and made me feel really hot when it was absorbing!

-Triple performing facial emulsion by Benefit (£19.50). Another lovely cream for younger skin, it really does brighten the skin up too. People actually commented on how good my skin looked when I was using it. I prefer the richer cream in the range but I think this would suit oily to slightly dry skin as it gives really really good hydration. Again it smells really nice, I'm abit obsessed with how products smell.

50 Followers Give away

I have reached a followers mile stone woo hooo! I'm going to celebrate by having a give away to say thankyou to all the people that read my blog, I really am so chuffed that anyone is bothered about what I have to say, so thankyou!.

I'm giving away a Benefit Sugarbomb blusher and a Benefit velvet eyeshadow in 'leggy'! (the Sugarbomb you will receive will be in the new style of box, the one pictured is the old style...same product, new mirror)

How to enter?

1. You need to be a GFC follower of my blog

2. You need to leave a comment below saying you want to be entered, leaving your GFC name and email address

3. You can get another entry if you tweet about my giveaway, e.g "check out @livdev benefit giveaway at http://confessionsofacosmetic-aholic.blogspot.com/?spref=tw", mention in your comment if you tweet the link.

4. The winner will be picked at random on the 6th September 2011

Good Luck everyone!

Benefit: They're Real

A perk of being a Benefit employee is getting a month preview on all of the products and I have been sooooo excited about receiving this product.... They're Real, the brand new mascara.

I have quite straight, short eye lashes and I like my mascara to make them long, curly and seriously FAT. Which 'conveniently' is what 'They're Real' claims to do. The box says "94% of people tested saw dramatic length and volume, 90% saw base to tip curl, 94% saw visible lift, and 100% saw long wearing results".... so far so good, but does it deliver the goods?

YES, it really does. The mascara has a plastic comb brush, which I usually dislike, I just find them abit rough but I'll put up with that for the results. There is also a ball brush on the end which is amazing for combing through lashes, getting the really small ones, and also curling the lashes if you push them up with it.

And heres the results...BOOM. Super, super length and curl (below is without curling lashes before). The volume does takes a couple of layers to build up. The mascara only comes in jet black for now though. Also it wore amazingly, not a sight of a flake or smudging after this sweaty day in the sunshine.
Can you actually believe the difference in length? Amazing.

Cha Cha Tint

On the 25th June Benefit are introducing another member to the famous tint family, Cha Cha tint. If you have never tried either Benetint or PosieTint they are red and pink cheek and lip stains. Here is the newbie, Cha Cha Tint:Its a 'mango', bright orangey coral colour, with a creamy gel formula.

I really love this on the lips, it gives quite a red/coral colour, that you can see below. The colour dries matter and stay of for about 6ish hour, it does fade slightly through the day though. The tints always last for yonks in the jar too because you use very little.

I am not a fan of it on the cheeks on me, although when I tried it on training it looked amazing on some people, especially fair blondes. I don't think I really like the sheer colour look on my cheeks haha.

Its really on trend colour at the moment too and will be lovely for summer if I ever get a natural tan :(

B.right, B.fabulous

I'm sort of stuck between thinking whether premium skin care is actually any better than cheaper skin care brands? Well today premium scored itself a point and it came from the most unlikely brand..... Benefit!

Now obviously I am not going to bad mouth the company that I work for, but I'm also not going to lie on my blog so if I had something bad to say about a product, I probably just wouldn't write anything at all..... this is definitely NOT one of those situations, you literally cant shut me up raving about B.right skin care! I really wasn't expecting much, as the current skin care is not really that amazing, but the have seriously out done themselves.

Benefit say: B.right radiant skincare...luxurious hydration, lightweight formulas and brilliant results.

Heres the little tester kit we got on our training:

Isn't the packaging adorable?

I have been using the cleanser and the moisturiser for about 2 weeks now. I love the whole range but I would really recommend everyone go out and try the cleanser. I used to use a Clinique cleanser that made my skin red and tight after and I thought that was just normal, this one is soooooo creamy and even when you have washed it off your skin feels moisturised. The range is available at Debenhams now and Boots from the 16th, pop along and just feel it, some counters are sampling it too so you might be able to get yourself a cheeky freebie!

Have you tried B.right? What did you think?

Match made in heaven...

Look whats coming to Benefit 19th March....Finding Mr bright (£28.50)...you could actually do almost all your makeup with this set... girl meets pearl as a primer, erase paste all over, poise tint and high beam on the cheeks, then a little high beam on the eyes!

Bella Bamba!

woooooooo my favourite time of year, new box powder time! Benefit's box powders are my absolute favourite products, the new one is called Bella Bamba (£24) and launches in store on 28th Jan. To be honest the first time I wore it it did scare me alittle, it is seriously PINK but 3 people that day told me I looked radiant and its true (haha no modesty), it looks like you have caught some sun in the cheeks without looking tangoed

The powder is a fuchsia pink shade with a gold shimmer to it. If you have used the box powders before you will notice the new box shape with the mirror, its fab and Benefit have changed the applicator brush to make it a much better shape to apply the colour.

WARNING: You do have to be very light handed with it, it goes very pink very quickly! For the best finish, I would recommend adding abit of bronzer to contour the cheek bones.

Oh my gloss!

This week Benefit extended their range of ultra shine lip glosses (£14.30), and this includes my old favourite re vamped 'Life on the A-list'! This is the best selling gloss by far at Benefit and now I have a shiney new one :)
The ultra shine glosses come in a huge range of colours, they are mega mega shiney and not too sticky as glosses go!

If like me you are obsessed with nude colours on the lips you have to check this gloss out!

Here is a swatch of the colour:

Pretty bad girl!

Being a Benefit employee I may actually get the sack for admitting this but after months of preaching to customers that Benefit's 'bad gal lash' (£15.50) is one of the best mascaras I have only just tried it for the first time myself!

Lucky for me it is actually a very good mascara and I will not be hunted down by an angary mob.

Heres the pros:

Separates lashes well

Very dark black, so gives a strong colour

Smudge proof

For evening I like my lashes really clumpy and its almost impossible to do that with this mascara, although most people will think that is a pro, I do sometimes have to put a thicker mascara like Rimmels 'volume flash' over the top!

Clothes Show, 6/12/2010

On Monday I went to work on the Benefit stand at the Clothes show, Birmingham. Heres a picture of the beautiful Benefit stand...

Although I was working I did get a chance to pick up some beauty bargains. As Bourjois is one of my favourite budget brands I visited their stand where they were sell 3 products for £12. I stupidly didn’t take very much cash to the show so I could only get 3 things :(.
I got...

10 hour sleep effect foundation: This foundation is light weight and meant to give a dewy finish that wakes up the skin, and although I have had a stinking cold for the past week, it has perked up my skin. I would say it does dry to a slight powdery/ matte finish and the coverage is only slightly more than a tinted moisturiser but if it can make my sicky dull skin glow it has to have something going for it. It managed to pretty much last most of the day with a primer underneath, I only noticed about 3pm/4pm that it was wearing off.

Healthy mix, Anti fatigue concealer: I bought this after it was recommended on the ‘Yummy mummy beauty blog’ and I have to say I am pretty impressed. I think the colour I have bought is slightly too light for me but it covers up my dark circles really well and the smooth hydrated finish it leaves is really great for the price it is.

Volume Clubbing mascara: I have used this mascara many times and I love it. It gives great volume which can be layered on really heavy but the bristles keep the lashes separated. It’s also really smudge proof; I’ve never had any colour fall under my eye when wearing this mascara!

I also got given a free Benefit Boi-ing concealor for working the day, I’m abit obsessed with concealor at the moment because of my big red sniffy cold nose and you really can’t beat boi-ing, it has mega high coverage but isn’t too cakey, if you have never used Benefit before its a great product to start with.... you’ll never look back.

And finally a big thank you to the people at Carmex that gave me a free lip balm, I never used Carmex before but I love the menthol effect and will be buying it again!

As if by magic

If you love sleeping in your makeup and then waking up and it basically being perfect for work that day then you’re going to LOVE Benefit's new liquid eyeliner (£14.50). It’s indestructible and stays a really sharp line without flaking like other liquids! It’s an amazing dramatic black which dries to an almost wet look finish.

If your after a little more budget version of this eyeliner then collection 2000's new extreme eye liner is another really long lasting liquid liner that just came out. It comes in some great colour variations too!

Magic inks sister product for dramatic eyes is Prrrowl! A blue glitter top coat mascara and lip gloss duo. The mascara takes alot of coats to be able to see but once its on its gorgeous, although you do have to be carefull with clashing eye colours. It does look amazing dotted over the top of magic ink liner though. The gloss is a really pretty baby pink, which is a little more opaque than most Benefit lipglosses.

Porefect Day!

I know that I do get slightly more excited than the average person about new benefit products but this one sounds like its going to be amazing!
Porefessional launches at Benefit counters on Friday 28th August. Its a smoothing priming balm to help fill in pores and fine lines, but even when we used it on someone with perfect skin it made their foundation look absolutly flawless!
Originally I wasnt sure about using primers, I thought it was abit of a myth to make people like me buy yet another product for the face :-P but after using Benefits 'That Gal' primer (£19.50) I was converted to the way it smooths the look of foundation and I think 'Porefessional' is going to be even better!

Also launching on the same day is the light colour version of the famous 'Some kinda gorgeous' (£21.50) and 'Instant brow pencil' in a vey dark colour (£14)