Sneak Preview of what's coming from Benefit!

This week I got the chance to see and play with some amazing new releases coming soon and I thought I would give you a sneak peak:

Brows are one thing Benefit are well known for and something they do well. More recently they released a whole brow kit with new products, new packaging and new shades.  Next up come the Brow Starter Kits and there are three to choose from.

First up we have Bigger and Bolder Brows in a red tin. If you like a dramatic brow that is big and bold then this is the kit for you.  It contains Ka-Brow, Ready Set Brow, High Brow Pencil and finally a pretty quirky but incredibly useful shaping stencil.  If you are more of a Defined and Refined kind of girl, then the next kit is for you. If you like your brows defined and shaped then the yellow tin is for you and it contains BrowVol, Precisely, my Brow Pencil, High Brow Pencil and a Brow Mapping Tool which I absolutely love!  The final kit called Soft and Natural Brows is quite possibly my favourite and it comes in a pink tin for those of use who like the natural look.  This kit contains Goof Proof Brow Pencil, High Brow Pencil, Ready, Set Brow and a shaping stencil.

These kits will be available nationwide in October and are priced at £28.50 - Bargain!

Moving on from brows there is a super cute palette called A Blushin Babe which houses pretty much everything you need. It has Hoola, Dandelion, Sugarbomb, Coralista and Rockateur plus there is a mini Watts Up, They're Real Mascara and Eye-liner in black.  This is perfect for on the go and has pretty much everything you need all in one place.

Worth a massive £97.80 this little beauty will be available in November and is priced at just £29.50! 

If you ever walk into a Benefit store and are just torn on what to buy, well there is a little helping hand coming your way and you can either treat yourself, your best friend or me (just saying) and there are four options to choose from whether you want skincare, makeup or a bit of both and they look like this:

How incredible do these look? They are tins with a pull off lid and they look amazing.  From left to right we have:

• Girls Gone Wild - Wow the crowd with long lashes, smoother than smooth skin, rosy cheeks and much more.  This kit features three full sized products which are They're Real Mascara in Black, the Porefessional and Gimme Brow in shade 3 (medium) plus two mini products which are Benetint and They're Real Tinted Primer.  Worth £76.87 this kit will be priced at £39.50
• Girlesque - Sexy up the season with this showstopping set for long lashes, rosy cheeks and sunkissed, smoother than smooth skin!  This kit features three full sized products which are They're Real Mascara in black, the Porefessional and Hoola plus one mini product which is Benetint.  Worth £75.34 this kit will retail at £4450.
• Get All Dolled Up - with flirty lashes, full on brows and a POREectly bronzed complexion.  This kit features three full sized products which are RollerLash in black, the POREfessional, Hoola and a mini Gimme Brow in shade 3 (medium).  Worth £73.67 this kit will retail at £44.50
• The Gift of Glowing - Get b.right and girly with this set of Benefit's famous skincare problem solvers and bestselling primer.  This kit has one full sized product which is Total Moisture Face Cream and three mini products which are the POREfessional, Instant Comeback Facial Serum and Firm it Up Eye Serum.  Worth £49.68 this one will retail at £29.50.

These fabulous ladies will all launch this coming November and I think are just fabulous!

If those kits are just about to grab you then hold on because there are some more!  Meet Kissy Missy and Girl-A-Rama.

There are two other products within this range It's a Girls World which will be exclusive to Debenhams and Girly Up and Get Down which will be exclusive to Boots.  So I got to meet Kissy Missy and Girl-a-Rama and love both.

• Kissy Missy - is a fully equipped lip kit which includes a mini Benetint and Lollitint plus two brand new products which are features below.  The They're Real Double the Lip lipsticks in pink thrills and revvd-up red.
• Girl-a-Rama - is a complete kit for the face and it contains the following minis the POREfessional, Benetint, RollerLash, Coralista/Rockateur ina split pan, a powder bruh and the brand new They're Real duo shadow and a custom shadow blender.

Now I absolutely loved both of these kits.  They are available in November and are priced between £24.50 and £29.50 and for me, they are a great little introduction to Benefit, they make great gifts, they look super cute and they contain a mixture of older, newer and brand new products!

There are two product kits coming soon which I am really excited to try and they are called They're Real Big Sexy Eyes and They're Real Big Sexy Lips and both are incredible.

• They’re Real! BIG SEXY Eye Kit is the answer for easy contouring with colour. The kit contains 3 NEW They’re Real! Eyeshadow Duos with custom ShadowBlender and makes getting that perfect smokey eye a walk in the park.
• They’re Real! BIG SEXY Lip Kit contains 4 mini NEW They’re Real! Double the Lip lipstick/liner duos for that fuller, sexier, contoured lips in an instant. Using a custom teardrop tip which contains liner + lipstick you will have 8 hours of long-lasting color in seconds.

Staying with makeup for the time being and most importantly the eyes! Rollerlash is a mascara I absolutely love and one I keep going back to.  Now there is to be an addition to the range and if you follow me on Instagram then you would have seen what it is, if you don't follow me, here it is:

Yes, it is a brand new Roller Lash mascara not in black but in brown! It launches next month and is prices at £19.50 and I cannot wait to give it a try as I am always being told black is too dark for my lashes!

The final release from Benefit will be within their skincare range, which if you haven't tried, then you should.  It is called Firm It Up! Eye Serum and it is designed to help visibly firm, tighten and brighten whilst being delicate around the eyes.

The texture of this cream is incredibly lightweight which is perfect for under and around your eyes.  I am not a fan of thick eye creams.  Once on the skin it is refreshingly cool and does leave your skin feeling hydrated and refreshed. Launching in September, Firm It Up! will retail for £28.59

So there you have it, so many amazing new products coming soon and a wishlist which is forever growing.  Have any of these caught your eye?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Magazine Freebies July 2016!

This month see's some absolutely amazing Magazine Freebies, making up for a few months where there has either been none or there is just one or two pretty decent ones, if you follow me on Instagram, I have featured them for this month. The best so far has to come from Elle Magazine and they have a collaboration with Benefit. If you haven't seen or heard by now, Benefit will soon be launching (24th June) a whole new Brow collection, which I have had a sneak peek of and it is pretty fantastic, keep your eye out here for more information. 

That said, in Elle Magazine this month, you can get your hands on one of those brand new products - Good Proof Brow Pencil and it is the product I think I am likely to reach for the most. Goof Proof Brow Pencil features a tip which is angled and pointed, so you can create any kind of finish you like. You can build colour, add definition, fill and shape your brows all with this one pencil. If that isn't enough, there is no need to sharpen this pencil because it is a twist-up pencil.

As you can see it looks stunning in its chrome packaging, but that is not all you get free with Elle.  Are your brows in need of taming? Well also included this month is a card which entitles you to a free Brow Wax at any Benefit Brow Bar at Debenhams and it is valid right up until 31st July!

Also this month:

In Tatler Magazine there is a free pair of sunglasses in a choice of three colours

Red Magazine gives a free luxury Rodial eyeliner duo in black and brown and that is worth a massive £34!

Harper's Bazaar is giving a Balance Me Restore and Replenish Cream worth £15

Marie Claire has a fabulous offer from Elemis with the choice of a Hydra Boost Day Cream or a Hydra Nourish Night Cream both in 15ml tubes.

Instyle is offering a choice of Eyeko freebies in the form of a black mascara, eyeliner or brow gel.

Glamour is offering free make-up from Model Co in the form of a Lipgloss, Eyeliner, Lip liner or Mascara.

What do you think to the current freebies on offer? 

Have you got any of them?

Benefit Cosmetics #boldisbeautiful

On Sunday 8th May 2016 Benefit Cosmetics be taking to the streets of London to raise funds for the Bold is Beautiful project, while having a whole heap of fun! But there is a serious side to having fun of course. Throughout the whole of May Benefit will be raising funds for two great charities, Look Good Feel Better and Refuge and there are a few ways within which you can get involved.

Firstly, you can donate directly to either or both charities which are Look Good Feel Better and Refuge:

Look Good Feel Better is dedicated to improving the confidence and wellbeing of people undergoing treatment for any sort of cancer. They improve self-image and appearance through free skincare and make-up workshops and masterclasses along with online support to help regain a sense of control and improved self-esteem.

Refuge is committed to a world where domestic violence is not tolerated and where women and children can live in safety. They aim to empower women and children to rebuild their lives, free from violence and fear. They provide a range of life-saving and life-changing services and a voice for the voiceless.

Secondly, there is the March which I have mentioned and this is the route:

Start & End Point: Cavendish Square

Registration opens at 10am

March starts in two waves at 11am and 11.45am

The route is 4.5 miles long, so depending on your walking speed, it should take you between 1.5 to 3 hours to complete. There will be checkpoints along the route, featuring goodies, activities and photo opportunities galore.

Thirdly you can book a Brow Wax and 100% of the Brow Wax profits will go to these charities.  Or you can be on your look out for a High Brow Tea Event! Throughout May and June, the Bold is Beautiful Project will tour the UK with a pop-up 'High Brow Tea' (on wheels) in collaboration with Tea Pigs.  Guests are able to attend the event in pairs to experience a Tea for Two, with on board brow services to get those brows perfected!  Look out for further details from the Benebabes!

Are you going to join in?

Benefit Cosmetics Mini products

I am one of those people who loves a sample product, whether it is a perfume, sachet of a lotion or potion, a bath product or even make-up.  Why do I like them so much? Well they are incredibly easy to shove in your make up bag, your handbag or for taking away on a long weekend break or even on holiday, most sample sizes are more than generous and give you just enough to decide whether or not you like it.

One brand who does the best mini samples is Benefit and I have quite a collection it would seem. Many of them have been part of a beauty box, Magazine Freebie or have been given to me in store when I've gone to stock up on numerous products I cannot live without.  This is my sample collection

As you can see, I have quite a few and for me, many of these samples have led to the purchasing of the full sized product. In my stash I have:

• That Gal - A Brightening Face Primer which I use with my moisturiser to give it a bit of a kick.
• Erase Paste - Brightening Concealer which is one of the best concealers I have used in such a long time.  This little tub has almost come to the end of its life which is sad, but I intend to refill it using my full sized version.
• PoreFessional - Face Primer which is always in my handbag.  Whilst I do prefer the newer Porefessional Matte Primer, this one is great for on the go touch ups.

• Coralista - A Coral Blush
• Dandelion - A brightening face powder 

Both of these came from a Benefit Mini Set I have given but until a few weeks ago, I had forgotten all about them.  Both are brilliant for having in my handbag, especially Dandelion of which I am a huge fan.

• They're Real and Roller Lash - Now I adore both of these mascaras but I prefer to use the wand of Roller Lash with the formula of They're Real, I just find it works better for me. I love both these little sample sizes which are more than generous at 30g to give you an informed view as to whether or not they are the mascara for you.

• High Beam - satiny pink liquid highlighter accents cheek & brow bones for a dewy glow
• License to Blot - Instant Oil Blotting Stick, which is an absolute gem of a product and one that is definitely handbag, desk drawer and make up bag worthy.
• Lolli tint - Candy Orchid tint for lips and cheeks and it is a really cute shade of pink which works well with most lipsticks I own
• Puff Off - Instant Eye Gel to help smooth the look of puffy eyes

• Posietint - poppy-pink tinted stain for cheeks & lips and I find works well as a lip primer.
• Stay don't Stray - dual-action power primer works 360 degrees around the eyes to make concealers and eyeshadows stay put
• Benetint - The original rose-tinted stain for cheeks and lips
• Ooh La Lift - under-eye boost looks like an instant eyelift! Contains raspberry extracts and light-reflecting pigments to instantly perk up tired eyes

As you can see, I have just about everything I need to ensure my make up is primed, set and not going to budge an inch.  Do you have any Benefit Mini's?

Two New The Porefessional Releases from Benefit Cosmetics!

If you follow me on Instagram, you would have seen that earlier last week I went to meet the Benebabes for breakfast and whilst tucking in to an amazing Avocado and poached egg on sourdough toast, drinking fresh coffee and fresh juices, I was introduced to two of Benefit Cosmetic's latest Porefessional products.

The first of the new products is the Porefessional Instant Wipeout Masks, which come in this really cute little briefcase, which inside contains eight super clearing sheet masks.  These masks, which look a bit like a batman logo,  can be used on your forehead, chin or across your nose and cheeks to eradicate large and congested pores - Wow! However, the most exciting part of this mask is that it comes with a little press button that once pressed releases liquid into the sheet mask and I honestly cannot tell you how satisfying it is to press that button, Benefit should market it as duel product for skincare and stress relief because I could honestly sit here and press those buttons all day, it is like a prettier version of bubblewrap and we all know what fun that brings!

The Instant Wipeout Masks contain mushroom extract which seems to be appearing in quite a few skincare products at the minute.  It is known to help clear pores and has a menthol smell to it, so if something has that clean smell, I have high hopes it will work. One side of the mask is smooth whilst the other side is designed to help exfoliate. I applied the mask to my nose, which for me is always a problem area with being clogged up.  I used mine whilst laying in the bath, in hope the steam would open my pores and allow the mask to work its magic, and do that it did. After the ten minutes of being on my nose, I removed the mask and wiped off any excess liquid, flipped over the mask and gently rubbed my nose and cheeks to remove any debris that had been brought to the surface.  Once I had patted my skin dry, there was no redness and my nose felt and looked less clogged and visibly cleaner.  So these are a hit with me.

The second new release from Benefit is the Porefessional Matte Rescue primer and I absolutely love the original Porefessional primer, so I had high hopes for this one.  Matte Rescue is a lightweight, water based gel primer which has been designed to absorb surface oil and shine as well as blur imperfections and pores, it doesn't say hide them, eradicate them or minimise them, it is to blur them. I have combination skin which leaves me with an oily tzone, so come lunch time, I tend to be reaching for my Blot Stick to remove excess oil from my face, with this primer, it is much later in the day when I am having to do that, almost time for me to leave my office and either head home or go out, so I am impressed with that.   

As a primer, if you love Porefessional, then you will love this, though I do feel Matt Rescue is much lighter in texture and feel when applied than it's big sister.  It doesn't have that silicone feel to it that Porefessional has and I find this one sinks into the skin instead of sitting just on the surface, so when it comes to applying your foundation, which for me is either By Terry or Hello Flawless, it gives a great base and helps my foundation last pretty much all day, I only tend to touch up if I have an evening function, otherwise it is home and make-up off.

I am absolutely loving both of these products, the primer is just brilliant and will now replace the original within my stash and the masks are also lovely and you should buy them just to feel the pleasure of pressing the button, honestly it is such a great stress reliever! Both products have launched and you can find them right here.