Benefit Rockateur

February/March Favourites

So, erm, I’m alive. I don’t know whats wrong with me. I’m the worst. And I do promise that my 2016 favourites will make an appearance before June – not that I’d necessarily trust my promises at this point. Because I have this strange urge to release monthly favourites deep within my soul, I thought I might catch up by posting my February and March edit.

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Benefit Rockateur Box’o’Powder: After neglecting this seriously glowy blush for quite possibly an entire year, I’ve been consistently reaching for this beyond sheeny rose gold offering. It’s fast and easy, and leaves a highlighted rosy glow to my fair cheeks with one product. On medium and deeper skins, it would appear as a blush topper or highlighter but those of us on the fairer side can use it as a combination product. It’s great for making you appear alive and perking up the complexion.

L’Oreal Brow Stylist Definer in Brunette: I have a tumultuous relationship with brow pencils. In my experience, they tend to be oddly coloured, leave an unnatural kind of definition in the brows and are anything but cost-efficient. This offering I do like, however, as it has a nice slim tip and effective brush that creates natural ashy looking brows with minimal effort. I can see people going through this pencil quickly if they go to town with filling in their brows, but that’s not the case for me.

Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Mask: Throughout the winter, I’ve been loving this rich and almost impossibly soothing leave-on facial mask, even though I’m a skeptic of the difference between overnight moisturizing masks. I will note that I do enjoy that often these masks are extra rich and hydrating and that they often come in larger sizes and are less expensive than their moisturizer counterparts but, regardless, they are a rich moisturizer. It has a buttery texture but I’ve never experienced clogging issues from it and it’s one that stays with you even in the morning. It leaves my skin extra plumped and soothed with its hefty dose of emollients and oil-derived antioxidants. When my skin is upset in the dry and dehydrated sense, this is the closest thing to a cure. Its ability to decrease inflammation is noted. Plus, it’s an epic eye cream.

Aveeno Intense Relief Hand Cream: As someone who suffers from eczema, I must say that its awfully strange that my hands don’t tend to be an issue. However, from the dragging on winter my cuticles and my hands were suffering and I’ve been reaching for this hand cream as a result. Side note: it’s excellent for all around dry patches. The formula isn’t sophisticated but the petrolatum really sticks to your hands throughout the day and I’m sure the oat extract is soothing. Plus the natural scent of the extracts is soothing.

Sassy Girl Aroma Sleepytime Souffle Cup: Ever since I started venturing into the vendor wax world at the very beginning of the year, I’ve been enjoying myself tremendously and finding interesting scents that I’ve enjoyed melting. However, there have not been any blends that I’ve tried that have paralleled this seemingly simple offering. It’s a lavender, chamomile and spearmint blend that has something extra special and instantly soothes me. There’s something creamy about the chamomile that adds something extra relaxing to the lavender and peppermint which I adore. I will note that I also melted a chunk of Rosegirls Lavender Peppermint which I really did enjoy, just not to the same degree. I must acquire more…

Any thoughts or favourites to share?
Maggie, x.

Products Heavily-in-Rotation: July

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While I haven’t technically done one of these posts before, it’s not miles different from the ‘Daily Essentials’ posts that I have done in the past. I can’t promise that these products will be anything that you haven’t heard me ramble on about before but sometimes I believe that it’s nice to share the products that you constantly grab for even when you don’t have time to faff around with a million products and brushes, taking loads of face photos to end up with a decent one. Here are some of those products.

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Smooth-Effect Makeup:

So, by no means have I neglected mentioning this lightweight foundation; in fact, if you’ve been keeping up with things around here at all, I’m sure you’ve heard me declare my love for it countless times. My love for it doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. It’s easy to apply with my fingers and offers impressive weightless coverage that doesn’t look heavy or dull in the slightest with its luminous yet velvety finish. And it doesn’t highlight dry patches or any less than perfect texture.

Skin79 Snail Nutrition BB Cream SPF 45++:

I wouldn’t describe this one on even ground to the Chanel PLV by any means but it has been convenient to reach for this one to get some coverage, hydrate the skin and provide non-irritating strong sunscreen protection at once. Although the one shade offered has beige undertones, the hefty-SPF included kind of ensures that there’s a white-cast involved so it requires some attention to application and blending but it lasts well, can look seamless on the skin and provides medium coverage with a finish that sits halfway in between satin and truly luminous. If I’m not feeling up to a full face of makeup or I’m too lazy to put on a separate SPF product, I go for this one. There really should be a review up on this one soon, I’ve had one done in rough for long enough…

L’Oreal Glam Bronze Mono in Universal Sun:

For being someone who sits on the paler end of the spectrum, I have a strong love for bronzer and this is only magnified in the summer-time; this bronzer has been the object of my love. It’s definitely a warmer-toned bronzer, sitting a bit more on the red side to imitate the look of the sun and has the smoothest shimmer-free texture. It’s pigmented as anything, also. I tend to use it both in a precise way to add shape to the face and as a general bronzer and it’s amazing.

MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set in Quiet Brunette:

This is my first foray into the tinted brow-gel territory so I don’t have loads of experience in this department but this one is smudge-free and true to its name, adding natural-looking definition to my brows in mere seconds. This shade is a nice one for medium brunettes with cooler eyebrows, if you ask me. I especially love this product when I can’t be bothered to do the whole brow-pencil or eyeshadow filling in routine.

L’Oreal Lineur Intense in Carbon Black:

For a month or so, I hadn’t been feeling my favourite felt-tip liner but as the weather has gotten much much hotter and other eye makeup has the tendency to slide right off and I have been favouring a more minimal look, I’ve been reaching for this constantly to do that quick little kitten flick that lasts until you take it off! If I’m not going to wear a load of makeup, this eyeliner is a necessity.

Benefit Rockateur Boxed Powder:

I’ve already mentioned falling back in love with this warm rusty rose shade despite its usual status as a colder-weather shade here, so it should serve as affirmation that I have hardly been able to put down the gorgeous sheeny shade. It’s not too overwhelming on the cheeks and has that warmth while still differing from my usual corals and just instantly adds life to my tired face with minimal effort involved.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Ethereal Glow:

I may have stopped rambling on about my love for this rather expensive cool-toned pink blush in at least every other post but I have not been neglecting this one despite its lack of mention. With a little colour to my skin I do need to build up the flattering cooler-pink shade more than when I’m at my fairest but it still works at providing that lovely subtle rosiness that adds instant life to the face without any sort of perceptible sheen. I will say that this is one for fairer skin tones but I’m sure the other shades will suit your fancy if you have more colour to your skin. I know I have my eye on a good few of them, the corally Diffused Heat in particular. Oh, and I have been using the powders from the same line but I forgot to photograph them and lack anything particularly interesting to say about them.

Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in Milan Moment:

The neutral sheer-tangerine hue of the liquid “lip stain” has proven itself as the perfect everyday hue, with minimal makeup or even more of a heavy kind of deal going on around the eyes. The fact that the formula is flattering on irritated lips and that the gloss-type applicator ensures easy application is ideal especially when paired with its no-fuss wear and long-lasting stained effect.

MAC Lipstick in Kinda Sexy:

I’m certain that I’m cheating here with including this one because I haven’t even had this for a week yet but ever since picking it up, I’ve been constantly reaching for this one. The matte formulation somehow manages not to highlight dry patches or overly dry the lips out, lasting ages on the lips and the peachy-nude hue with a hint of brown to it is one of those really flattering everyday lipstick shades on me.

L’Oreal Sublime Sun Alcohol Free Quick Dry SPF 50 Sheer Finish Spray:

Thankfully it’s mostly under control at the moment, but I do suffer from body acne on my back that tends to be irritated by sunscreens and also tend to break out from sunscreens as well, in both cases — this however, neither irritates my skin with alcohol-content nor breaks me out. Spray SPFs might be a little less economical but they are ever-so-practical and this one stands out to me with it’s non-irritating properties. It does require a little bit of rubbing in but it’s an effortless one that provides solid protection without having to endure that sunscreen sensation on the body.

Nivea Vanilla and Macadamia Lip Butter:

I’ve been rather late on the bandwagon with these basic but emollient and effective lip balms but I love them just the same. This balm doesn’t have a weird fruity scent and actively nourishes and soothes my dry lips and doesn’t risk irritating them over time or stop working. It can leave somewhat of a white cast but I don’t mind considering that its actually hydrating. Plus it’s like three-something tops…

Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black Rollerball:

I’ve been weirdly getting into fragrance lately and I’ve been reaching for this one that I got as a deluxe sample at Sephora. Without being too overwhelming, the vanilla base has some muskiness and spiciness with a hint of floral underneath and doesn’t smell overpowering but doesn’t smell sweet and girlie in the slightest. This is a rather strong scent for Summer but I’ve been loving it anyway. Don’t quote me on my scent description in any shape or form.

 I apologize for my less frequent posts but things have been busy around here. What have been your go-to products?
Maggie, x.

 

 

 

The Daily Face #19: Simple But Not Minimal

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I think that it’s about time that I come to grip with the fact that I’m somewhat of a failure at the whole minimal makeup thing; sure, I can leave the house without a lick of nothing gracing my face and I do simple and quick makeup quite often but there’s no real in between for me. I thought I would share something rather laid-back and simple and would go with a bit of a different format for today…

Annabelle Colour Control Luminous Finish Instant Perfecting Base: This remains the first primer that I’ve actually found that’s worth the effort of applying. It doesn’t have a bothersome texture and it doesn’t irritate the skin whilst prolonging the wear of makeup in its ideal state and adding a subtle flattering glow.

Skin79 Snail Nutrition SPF 45++ BB Cream: It’s not my favourite base product in the world but on days when I’d rather not layer on a million different products on my face, it ticks all of the boxes — a nice foundation with a bit of glow and medium coverage, a potent sunscreen and an extra boost of hydration in one. With its heavy spf content, it requires a good amount of blending into the skin and for this I went for the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush.

Revlon Colorstay Concealer in Light: On my cheeks, heading towards my jawline, last month’s breakouts have come and gone but uneven texture and scarring galore remains and even with heftier coverage foundations, they need some extra help and this concealer has been a go-to for me because of its mixed ease and efficacy; as unsanitary as it might be, I can just dot the applicator onto the dark marks and blend it in with my fingers and the spots are less visible and my makeup doesn’t look any more noticeable at the same time. And unless there’s some flaking blemish situation going on, it doesn’t show any sort of dehydration.

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light to Medium Bisque:Just as I predicted shortly after trying this beauty back in April, it has remained an integral part of my routine and has made all other concealers pale in comparison. The cost is justified. The pink-tinged cream has a flattering emollient texture for underneath the eyes and I apply the tiniest amount and it combats darkness like no other. In an ideal world, another concealer would be used to cover it but I’m much too lazy for that, so I’m mindful of the amount — today I applied some of the BB Cream first, however, and it helped to keep the pink cast from coming out underneath the darkness.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette:This is the treat that I picked up for myself last week at Sephora after debating getting it for months and I’m impressed; however, I’ve really only been loving using Dim Light as an allover setting powder as I did for this ‘face’. It does what it says in a subtle way, adding glow to the face while making everything look slightly nicer and brighter.

Sonia Kashuk Warm Tan Undetectable Creme Bronzer:I’ve been really into going for more of a warm terracotta-toned bronzers lately instead of the cooler-toned ones that I typically go-to for sculpting purposes and in general I’m having a love affair with bronzer in general. I haven’t been going for this one much lately, but because I was feeling more of a true bronzer, I went for this terracotta-hued offering.

Benefit Rockateur Boxed Powder:I was having a bit of an indecisive blush moment so instead of choosing from the current rotation, I grabbed this one that I hadn’t used in months. The warm rusty rose hued blush is usually one that I would go for in the cooler months but after grabbing it for this makeup, I have to say that I was wrong — it seems pretty universally flattering.

NYX HD Eyeshadow Base:I wasn’t feeling like going for more of a traditional eyeshadow base so I went for this colourless drugstore offering that actually does work to prolong eyeshadow wear and all that jazz.

MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set in Quiet Brunette:I’ve raved about this earlier this week so I’ll try to keep this short. The brow gel is actually waterproof and creates the look of natural but thicker and more defined brows in seconds without the faff of a pencil or powder and a brush. And this shade is amazing me because it’s neither too dark or anything other than ashy.

L’Oreal Tender Caramel Infallible Eyeshadow:I’m late to the party with these shadows and I’m sure you know all about their magical powers. Because it was rather hot, I went for this longwearing shadow and patted it onto the eyelids for that metallic look. I can’t describe the shade at all though, so i won’t even try.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Hustle and Virgin:I’m not really a one wash of colour eyeshadow girl, so you had to expect for there to be a few more shades added to the equation – and these shades I took from the good ol’ Naked Palette. I used Virgin to brighten up the inner corner without going into shimmer-overload territory and I added definition to the crease, concentrating on the outer corner, with the lovely plummy brown Hustle.

Maybelline Master Precise Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner: I’m still enjoying pencil liner (as I was last month) and I’m not completely off that kick, but I’ve been craving something more precise at times so I dug out this gel liner and made the effort to actually use and wash my Real Techniques Fine Liner Brush with it. As a result, I’ve found that when I put a little bit more effort in, I can create the most precise subtle flick — my go-to thing when not too much makeup is involved.

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara + (a wee bit of) Revlon Grow Luscious Bold Lacquer Mascara:I haven’t been going for anything on a daily basis other than my long-time favourite mascara but as nice as the formula is dried-out, I’m kind of reaching the end of the time when the mascara isn’t so dry that it deposits actual colour so I added a wee bit of the much newer mascara on top. It made a slight difference perhaps? I really need to stop using this tube.

Nivea Vanilla and Macadamia Lip Butter:I’m aware that this is more of a skincare product but I make sure to apply some of this to my lips as soon as I start applying anything on my face for some pre-colour moisture.

Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in Milan Moment:I’m completely obsessed with this “stain” at the moment; it does stain the lips after it wears and feels weightless on the lips, much like a balm without any stickiness of smell in sight. Plus, the colour is a neutral tangerine-coral hue that’s sheer but buildable is kind of my favourite thing ever because it adds something without being bold. You’ll hear more on this soon, I’d expect…

Have you tried any of these products? What makeup have you been reaching for lately?
Maggie, x.