Benefit Ultra Plush Makes Your Lips Ultra Lush...ious

Benefit has just released the most amazing line of gorgeous glosses based on their gorgeous blushes. Great idea, right? I love the idea of the matching shades, especially if you have a Benefit Blush you adore (ahem, Dandelion, anyone?). And the Benefit Ultra Plush Lip Glosses do just that! I got Bella Bamba, Coralista, Sugarbomb (MY FAVE) and Dandelion. They are quite sheer and moisturizing, which makes them easy to use and rather addictive. These are the least sticky glosses I have ever used which is a relief, as having my hair stick to my lips is not a good look for me. They have a subtle mango- fruity taste/scent that is reminiscent of a lip gloss from my youth. If you try them & recognize the scent, let me know!

Swatches in same ascending order as gloss tubes above... in daylight.

If you are looking for huge colour pay off, then you may be frustrated with these. However, if you are looking for a nice soft lip gloss to match your cheeks, then you will love them! I love the idea of matchy matchy gloss and blush, it just makes for a polished and elegant look. And with the softness of the Benefit blushes, these lip glosses make for the perfect combination! My daughter loves Coralista for the coral orange tone, which is so very hot right now, very Pantone Tangerine Tango, if you will. I adore Dandelion, which is as soft and gentle as the Dandelion blush which I adore and reviewed here. But for some reason, Sugarbomb made me really fall in love. It has that sort of purple-taupe look I am loving these days, and even though it shows as super frosty in the swatch, that does not translate to the lips. Just shine. For the record, Bella Bamba and Coralista are sheer and jelly like with no shimmer, and Dandelion and Sugarbomb have a wee bit of frost. Verdict? Love.

Available wherever Benefit is sold, & on counters in May for $18

Benefit Cabana Glama - A Holiday In A Box! And A Draw!

Benefit has the cutest little kits. All in their cheeky cardboard packages, full of mini goodies that just make me want to collect them all! But they aren't all cuteness- they are actually quite practical! The latest one, Benefit Cabana Glama, is like a tropical holiday in a box. And also, perfect for taking on holiday! Forget hauling your bronzer, foundation/powder, cheek/lip stain and eyeshadows in a bulging make up bag- just toss Cabana Glama in your suitcase along with your bathing suit, sunscreen and sunglasses and you are good to go! Cabana Glama comes with Hoola, their cult fave bronzer, Some Kind Of Gorgeous cream-to-powder foundation (which I like to use like concealer to cover problem areas, not all over my face. It's amazing!), their sweet rosy pink Posietint cheek and lip stain, and a lovely neutral eyeshadow palette with 2 perfect taupes (Cocoa Pizazz, Bronze Buzz) and a sweet coral highlighter (Peach Fuzz) that is amazing in the inner corners of the eyes for a wide awake POP. Love!

First photo taken in natural light. Gloomy and overcast light because its the frozen north up here! The second one is taken with flash.

From left: Posietint, Cocoa Pizazz, Bronze Buzz, Peach Fuzz & Hoola

From left: Posietint, Cocoa Pizazz, Bronze Buzz, Peach Fuzz & Hoola

Now here is the fun! Comment here, follow Daly Beauty on Twitter and Tweet out the post, and "like" Daly Beauty on Facebook to be entered into a draw for your very own Cabana Glama! Contest closes at 5pm on March 29th. Good luck!

Cabana Glama is valued at $38 US and is available wherever Benefit is sold.

THANK YOU ALL FOR ENTERING!

Am I Blushing Or Is It Benefit Dandelion?

Continuing my love of all things Benefit, I wanted to share my soft gentle "am I blushing or am I wearing blush" fave, Benefit Dandelion. This is a no-fail super soft and sheer pink powder blush that is basically your cheek colour at 14 years old in a box. When I first got it home I thought it was too soft, too pink and not me. It was relegated to the back of the drawer for a while. I had seen an editorial featuring models with the softest of pink cheeks and thought I could recreate the look with Dandelion- and I was right. It is a soft finely milled powder compact in the now-iconic Benefit box. I love the box as it makes organizing a make up drawer much easier than round compacts that roll and slide all over the place.

heavily swatched as it was hard to photograph the tone...

About the the colour. This blush works best either right on the apples of your cheeks (smile to find those) or on top of your cheek bones- you know, where you would naturally blush. I can't say enough about the Perfect Shade of Pink in Dandelion. Benefit's website says there is shimmer in this- it has never shown up on my skin and I just can't see it. But perhaps that is what it gives it that pretty lit from within feel. Not sure how well this would work on darker complexions. I am fair- medium and get darker with a tan and it still shows up on me- just imparts a healthy blushing glow. Keeping in mind I like my make up natural and soft. If I really want a more dramatic blush shade I dot on and blend a few drops of Benetint first.

As with many powder blushes I find a primer underneath helps extend the life of this one, but it is an ethereal colour so don't expect 8 hours. As it is a powder and I also use my MAC Blot or Studio Fix I use a spritz of rosewater after applying my make up to avoid a grandmotherly powdered look. Dandelion is simply too pretty and I find the prettiest softest make up can tend to be fleeting. The same goes for pretty and ethereal perfumes but that is another post....

Sweet Pastel Candy Campaign, Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2012

So this Spring is all about pastels and soft soft soft powder puff candy colours and Benefit Dandelion is just the perfect soft fluffy cotton candy pink. If you don't have Dandelion, get thee to the Benefit counter, stat!



Cotton Candy Photo credit: Death By Cotton Candy, 2006, Daniela Edburg

Benefit Sun Beam Is Shining Bright On My Winter Skin

I am a huge fan of Benefit's Highlighters aka Glowy Complexions In A Bottle line. Moon Beam and High Beam were among my first purchases from the line. These were in the days that Benefit was an exotic line only available in the United States. Well, I still love the  and consider Benetint to be one of the best cosmetic prodz ever, and am only happier that Benefit is now readily available in Canada. There is wonderful sense of fun and humour in Benefit Cosmetics that manages to make fun of our make up obsession while celebrating it at the same time. Love it.

A sweet golden glow...a la Bardot...not Jersey Shore, right?

Left is indirect light, right is under my skylight...

Sun Beam is the latest from Benefit's Highlighter collection. It imparts a little bit of bronzing and a light tan colour with a glowy, lit-from-within shimmer. The beauty of Benefit highlighters is you can start out with just a touch for a subtle effect or go full on glam. They can be mixed with your foundation or moisturizer or just dot on and blend. Sun Beam gives a natural sun-kissed radiance that compliments all skintones. It is a lovely warm tone that is a little bit easier to blend and control than a powder bronzer. I even love it with a little clear gloss on the lips- it is a gorgeous golden tone that just gives everything a nice bronzed glow.

Well, pretty much the perfect peachy gold pout...

Sun Beam with a bit of clear Lip Fusion...

I love the little pick me up I get from a bronze-y glow in the depths of a Canadian winter. We all need to shine a light, sometimes, right?

You'll Thank Me For This Brow Tip....

Can't do a brow post without Brooke!

Obviously the Strong Brow is in this year. As my daughter observed, they're always in style. Anytime I catch an photo of me from the 90s with thin brows I shudder. What was I thinking? When someone (often a friend) has plucked their brows into near nothingness, don't you want to stage a brow intervention? Anyways I hope we all know now to back away from the tweezers, and let those babies grow in. Sure, keep a nice shape- there are professionals for that if you are arch-challenged- and tweeze the runaways that stray from the basic brow shape. And, if they are super fair or sparse, get a good shadow or pencil ( I love the Benefit Brow Pencil in Light) and fill them in, lightly, with little hair-like brush strokes. I say lightly to avoid Angry Man (think Bert of Sesame Street) look.

Not good.

There are alternatives- you can dye your brows. I did that at a salon- twice. See Angry Man reference above. My daughters nearly keeled over they were laughing so hard. I went back weeks later after they had grown out and asked for a lighter version. Angry Man again.

My brows circa 1982

My brows circa this month- need a better pic with shape.

I'm not sure where it came from, but for some reason I was struck with inspiration at the drug store, in the hair dye aisle. In front of the, ahem, men's hair dye section. Stop laughing. The Touch of Grey product looked interesting because a) it came in a tiny tube and b) it is sheer and temporary. So I took the plunge and took Medium Brown home and gave it a try. I was a bit over-cautious as Medium Brown was so minimally darker than my natural brow that it hardly showed up. If there were greys though, and I was trying to match a colour, it would be dead on. So I carefully bought Dark Brown and found the perfect colour. 

Soft & natural- strong brow with soft bare make up (Maybelline Spring 2012 collection)

I apply it very lightly, almost painting on top of my brows, with a toothbrush I have deigned my brow brush. It goes on around 5 minutes (or less) before I step in the shower, where I close my eyes as soon as I jump in and rinse it all out. It is the brow colour of my youth. It lasts around 4 weeks, give or take a week. My tube of Touch of Grey barely has a dent in it and I've had it since last March. And I would not be without. Funny, I'll think, I'm looking tired/mousy/washed out and then I realize that my brows are disappearing into my face. A light touch up and I'm back to glowing and rested looking. One neat benefit is if you use a tiny brush, hairs along the outside of the arch that are fair come back with the dye and ta-da you have an arch!

Wide awake & bubbly vs tired & possibly ill.

Oy.

Yes, there is the blonde bleached out brow trend that comes and goes. My opinion? Unless you are Gwyneth Paltrow, and even then its a stretch, the bleached out brow does absolutely nothing for your features. It makes everything else stand out even more- the nose, the crows feet, forehead lines, spots (aka zits). Blech. Do not do. You look weird.

One last shot of our Eyebrow Goddess, Brooke....

Edit: A savvy reader on Twitter pointed out the Touch Of Gray disclaimer- do not use on facial hair. They have a beard dye that comes in a smaller tube, with a smaller brush, and which is a stronger formula for coarser beard hair. I would not use that one, we don't need stronger as our brows are not like beard hair. That said, do a patch test on your arm first to be sure you don't react. Use caution as you would with any product you are using on your face.

Benefit b.right It's Potent & Beautiful Eye Cream

I got myself this lovely cream when I purchased the Benefit Foamingly Clean cleansing cream. It comes in such a pretty pale blue glass jar, this line of products really looks pretty and elegant sitting on your vanity or bathroom shelf. Too pretty to hide away! I liked the consistency of the cream when I sampled it at Sephora as it felt rich but not greasy- which works for me.

It’s Potent! is smooth and light, with hyaluronic acid (a fave ingredient of mine!) to add moisture and “contains a peptide complex known to help restore elasticity & firmness, a blend of hydrating botanical extracts including apple extract, known to help boost collagen, & loquat extract, known to help protect the skin from free radical damage”.  It has a nice consistency and soaks in nicely. I have been using it at night and in the morning and really like it. It moisturizes and works well as a base for eye make up.  It does give a soft smooth radiance to the eye area, and it does not use shimmer or frosty sparkly effects which is great, because that stuff just settles into and emphasizes lines.

The b.right line does promise radiance and delivers on that count. I do notice a smoothing effect on fine lines after application which is a plus! In the end, I think I need a richer formula so I may go back to my Shiseido Benefiance for daytime or to use in conjunction with the It’s Potent! cream. I got my Benefit b.right products at Sephora- the It's Potent eye cream is $32.

Benefit b.right Foamingly Clean for a Beautiful Clean

I have been eyeing the new Benefit skincare line for awhile. The packaging is pretty with that signature Benefit retro style and quite appealing actually. The sky blue glass jars or plastic tubes with the burled wood look to the caps remind me of antique glass with hobnail detailing. They have a tactile appeal as well as visual- which I love. Practical as well, as they don't slip right out of your hands if they are wet or creamy due the little knobs. And, b.right, bright and be right- get it? Cute!

I was recently shopping at Sephora perusing the Benefit counter, when I ran into an old friend who I knew from when I worked in the perfume biz. She is gorgeous and smart and I respect her beauty opinion and she convinced me I HAD to try the cleanser as she was using it and loving it. Like me, she has combination skin, albeit younger less lined skin, and that she was really happy with the results she was getting from the Benefit Foamingly Clean cleanser. It didn’t take a lot of prodding for me to toss it into my basket and take it home. At $21 for a big tube, and only using a tiny bit, this will last me quite a awhile. I also put back my Shiseido Benefiance Eye Cream (GASP!) and decided to also buy Benefit It’s Potent! Eye Cream- that review is here.

The whole b.right line emphasizes radiance- no matter if we have dry, oily, combination, young or aging skin, we all want it to be radiant, right? Benefit has cut to the chase and targeted that “one” aspect, which is rather clever. Radiant pretty much covers all our skin needs and wants, across the board.

Now THIS is radiant...am I looking in the mirror or what? 

Using the Benefit Foamingly Clean is wonderful luxurious cleaning experience. It has a very soft scent, barely noticeable and does not linger on the skin. But it’s the texture that is really something else. I like the old school cold cream feeling it has as it really seems like it is getting every last bit of dirt and make up off my skin. I have tried using Pond’s Cold Cream cleanser and really like the way it takes off every last drop of everything, but was not keen on the oily residue it left behind. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing, but it just didn’t feel clean enough to me. Foamingly Clean has a magical formula that emulsifies beautifully as you rub it into your skin. It feels rich and lovely yet magically foams (not big soapy foam) and rinses away clean. My skin feels clean, not oily and not remotely dry or tight. My oily sensitive skin has not protested and I am very happy with this. I have been using it at night to take off the make up and grime of the day- which includes sunscreen and “stuff” as on sunny days I drive a convertible. Who knows what is on my face by the end of the day, but after a lovely cleansing with Benefit Foamingly Clean all the bad stuff is gone. Love this!

I now want to try the Moisture Prep Toning Lotion and of course, the Ultra Radiance Facial Re-Hydrating Mist, because I love me a good facial mist. Have you tried the Benefit b.right Radiance line? 

Get Beautiful in 15 Minutes or Less....

As much as I love makeup and all things beauty & cosmetic related, I am not into a heavy, made up look. At all. As I get older, the “less is more” theory becomes more relevant. If I have a special night out, I can add a little more drama with a slightly darker eye and some color on my lips, but for my daily Daly (lol) look, I keep it pretty simple. Long wearing is also key for my day-to –day cosmetics; I don’t have the time or desire to tote a large make up bag full of everything I need around in my purse. There is enough in there to sink a ship already…. if you read my Top 5 in my Purse post, you know that I stick to the basics. I also have oily skin so, make up, if not long wearing, tends to slip away and disappear before lunch. The descriptions may seem detailed and long winded, but trust me, get the hang of this routine and you’re out the door in minutes. So here we go. Get ready quickly, and look good all day. …

Tinted Moisturizer

I am not, and have never been, a foundation gal. On the days when I feel a little blotchy or pale, a little TM is all it takes to give my face the dewy look of an 18 year old. LOL, okay, not quite, but you know what I mean. I have two favourites- a high end product and a drugstore product. I love them both and actually alternate depending on my mood. High end- Dermalogica Sheer Tint Moisture spf 15. Incredible, sheer, matte and long lasting, I use the medium tone all year round. Makes me look healthy in the winter, blends with the light tan I inevitably get in the summer. Drugstore- Olay Totally Effects UV Moisturizer + Touch of Foundation . This one is actually fantastic, and it adds a little more moisture to my face in drier weather, ie winter when the central heat sucks every bit of moisture out of everything. I have been an Olay lover for years and this product does not disappoint. The magic Total Effects ingredients have won over users in blind tests involving super high end creams (hello La Mer….) since it was released and the tinted version is fantastic. The anti aging ingredients offer a light exfoliation, which helps keep oil at bay as well as smoothing out wrinkles. Not that I have any…

Concealer

This is a KEY product for me. Probably the one thing I’d use if (HORRORS) I was asked to choose the one thing I could not be without. You can go from tired and old to perky and young in a minute with the right concealer. And the only one, as far as I am concerned, is Lancome Effacernes Waterproof Protective Concealer . This product was recommended to me years ago by a make up artist at a Lancome counter. I went to buy Lancome waterproof mascara as I was going to a wedding (preparing for tears...) and she showed me Effacernes. WOW. This stuff is truly *Holy Grail material and I could never be without it. It is creamy and moisturizing while also having a matte finish. I use it under my eyes and on my eyelids, as it says it’s for under eye area. But I use a brush and lightly dab “spots” (ok, pimples) and very lightly dab it on the sides of my nose. A light dusting of powder on top and it stays put. As we age, that area gets red/darker and you would be shocked at how your face changes when you lighten the sides of your nose. Worth testing first, as a waterproof product may irritate a supersensitive skin. But I guarantee if this works for you, you will never be without it. A huge selection of color choices makes matching your skin tone exactly easy peasey. No more dark circles, the color will not settle into lines and will last for hours.

Bronzer &/or Blush

A touch of color is essential to a complete & healthy look. I don’t always wear both but sometimes a bit of blush and a light dusting of bronzer give me the pick-me-up that I need. You know those days - tired, run down and pale – without a good look and I am a big believer in “live it- be it” so sometimes I hope to psych myself out with a pretend glow. My number one blush is Benefit Benetint which is a liquid tint originally created, according Benefit’s site, “for an exotic dancer in the 1970s”…interesting. It is sheer, easy to apply and the perfect blushing cheek tone that lasts almost all day. I use few drops on my lips too! It also comes in a handy little package paired with lip gloss that is another perfect purse item (now that’s another Top 5 post!). My number one bronzer is the classic Guerlain Terracotta. My beautiful friend Heidi always looks so lovely & effortlessly bronzed- years ago I asked her what she used & she said Terracotta. Perfection! I had used it eons ago and now would never be without it. I use the lightest formula (01, sometimes called Blonde), which is foolproof. The Guerlain or Sephora rep can help you find your perfect shade. Using a nice big poufy brush giving yourself a light , even dusting all over the face can take you from tired to tan in an instant.

Eyeshadow & Primer

I cannot believe there was a time that I ever did not use Urban Decay Potion Primer which is basically the most incredible thing. Ever. It is a neutral coloured eye lid primer, to be used before you apply your eye make up. Using the Original formula, very lightly applied (a little goes a long way and too much is sticky) UDPP will make your eye make up last until you remove it. This could be overnight if you are a bad girl and don’t wash your make up off (like my daughters). Tsk tsk! They have 3 formulas, but the slightly shimmery Champagne toned Sin is a lovely colour on it’s own for pretty natural look. Then I swipe a little taupe eye shadow on my brow bone for depth. My faves are MAC Quarry and Omega- there are swatches on this page…just scroll down on Tempatalia to view. They are my Holy Grail taupe/natural shadows as they perfectly enhance the eye and give your lids some depth, rather than screaming, “Look at me I’m wearing purple and green eye shadow!”

Eyeliner Trick

This is a great little trick to add some depth to your lash line and open your eyes without looking like you are wearing any make up. As a blonde, this is something that really helps but it really works for anyone. Again, my desire to remain relatively low maintenance & my laziness dictates that this be a long wearing look. For this purpose I find the felt tip style is perfect- foolproof and easy to use. My personal favourite is L'Oreal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner . This stuff lasts until you remove it, comes in an array of colours to suit anyone and the product goes a long way as well. That and it is around $10 at the drugstore- also fabulous. So, my trick. After applying concealer and my primer (UDPP) and letting them set, I apply the liner. I take the tip and gently dot all along my upper lash line- not above the lashes but IN the lash line. And by dot, I mean connect the dots. It may seem a little awkward at first but I can do each eye in around 30 seconds now. I start at the outer corner and work my way in and as I approach the other end of my lid, I make the dots a bit smaller until they disappear/taper off. Give it a minute to dry and you have a lash line that looks defined and subtle. Add a brush of mascara and you look bright eyed and wide-awake. My day-to-day fave color is the brown, which works well with my medium-fair colouring and hazel eyes, but they have a great black that I will use for a more dramatic look. I have even wanted to try the grey, so stay tuned….

Powder:

Everyone has their favourite powder- and it is essential for setting your make up after application. A light dusting of powder on your lashes before mascara will also help it adhere and again improve longevity.  I alternate two formulas. MAC Studio Fix, a matte powder foundation, which offers some extra coverage when I want it. A little goes a long way so a light hand is helpful with this. My day to day powder is Guerlain Meteorites Poudre des Perles I will admit a love and obsession with the Guerlain Meteorites line- very finely milled  and violet scented…. But frankly,  as long as it matches your skin, is finely milled and you apply it with a nice poufy brush (I have many- for powder, blush, bronzer…) then stick with the powder that works for you.

Mascara

Everyone has their favourite mascara…some are high end and some swear by drugstore deals. My personal preference is for lengthening mascara that does not look thick or clumpy and it has to be in a waterproof formula. Non-waterproof ends up as black circles under my eyes in a few hours. Ah that oily skin. And its nice to know I can rub or scratch my eye without making a mess. At any rate, so far I have yet to find a High End mascara that works as well as L’Oreal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara in black. Waterproof formulas tend to dry out a bit quicker than non waterproof versions so I also feel a bit better replacing a $10 mascara more often than, say, a $30 mascara. But in the end, for me, it is about performance and L’Oreal Voluminous lengthens and holds a curl beautifully. Two coats on my top lashes and I’m out the door…

The End

* Holy Grail: A very desired object or outcome that borders on a sacred quest