Review of Boi-ing by Benefit Cosmetics

So, even though I'm only 24, I have a problem with dark circles under my eyes. And when I was younger, and I had an issue with my left eye, so the lid is discolored. (It's not deformed or anything. Just slightly darker than the rest of my skin.) And when I'm doing my makeup, this drives me NUTS...until now.

before

I've spent tons of money and time trying to find something to cover up the circles. And I have found it. Boi-ing by Benefit Cosmetics. They call it their "industrial strength concealer," and man were they right!

after

This little concealer is 0.1 ounces. This may seem like a very small amount, but a little goes a loooong way. It comes in a small black pot, that flips open similar to an eye shadow pot. The concealer is very creamy to the touch, but once applied, it dries to a soft, silky powder.

It is best applied with a concealer brush, and not your fingers or eye shadow wand. (Note: if applying under your eyes, don't apply all the way to the lash line. If you do, it will make your skin look unnatural and cakey.)

I think this product is simply fab. It covers up the dark circles and the darkened eyelid. It also makes a great concealer for breakouts and rosacea. 

The only downfall is that it is only available in 3 shades. The lightest shade was perfect for me, but if you're not an albino like me,  you are out of luck. Even the "dark" shade is for someone who has a slight tan.

Overall, I give this product a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Avon Matte Nail Enamel in Grey Cement

Avon Matte nail enamel in Grey Cement
Available from Avon for $5 each


I started off with a coat of my OPI Natural Nail Base Coat. Then followed it with a coat of the Grey Cement nail enamel. (Try to move as fast as you can! Matte nail polishes tend to dry faster than glossy finishes, and this one dries faster than most mattes.) Then, I used a coat of Essie's Matte About You, a "mattifying top coat" on the whole nail. Finally, and I know it's hard to see from the photo, I used my Seche Vite Top Coat on just the tips of my nails. This gave my nails a little something special without taking away from the matte color.


Now for my opinion....


I am torn on this product. And it makes me sad. I was so very excited for this product. It was made even worse by the fact that it was back ordered due to popularity. They finally get here in the mail and I take the package to work because I don't have time to open it and when I get home from work I immediately paint my nails AND -gasps for air-      alas     I     am     underwhelmed.


First off, the brush is rather narrow so it takes multiple strokes to paint your whole nail. Normally, this wouldn't be a travesty, but the nail enamel dries super fast. Not quite faster than a speeding bullet, but fast enough to where it starts to look streaky just trying to paint your whole nail.


But on the other hands, the color is nice and rich, so I actually only needed one coat of polish. And to top things off, the matte look in a color other than neon is so refreshing. I love this color for fall. After much debate, I have decided to give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars. The richness of the color redeems it's fast drying nature. Besides, it's not the nail enamel's fault I paint my nails like a 6 year old.

Manicures!

In the last week or so, I've done my nails at least 3 times. It's partially because my job doesn't allow for chipped nail color for those of us that have patient contact. But if I'm being completely honest, it's because my favorite color changes on a daily basis, so I get tired of colors very fast.


So, here for you today are not one. Not two. But THREE colors. Wow, are you ever lucky! THREE colors. Okay, well maybe it's not as exciting for you as it is for my, but just pretend to make me feel better.

This first color is from OPI. It's "Warm & Fozzie" from the Muppet line. I LOVE this color. It's mainly a copper color, but when it catches the light, it has a gold shimmer to it. Perfct for fall! A lot of fall colors are bland, but this one keeps things fabulous.


Like all OPI nail polishes, the brush is thick with no kinks. It applies the color smoothly without streaks. It dries relatively fast, but I always follow up with my Seche Vits Top Coat for a super-fast dry time.


The only downfall is that it requires 3 coats to get the amount of color I like. In the photo, it's only 2 coats. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.


This next color is Malaga Wine, also from OPI. This is the color I am currently wearing for Halloween. In this photo, it appears more cherry red, when it is actually a blood red.


This color would have sufficed with one coat, but I did a second just to be safe. Definitely give this a 5 out of 5 stars.

And last, and probably least is China Glaze's Starboard. I purchased this color from Ulta for $3.99


It is such a pretty color, but I don't think it vibed well with my skin tone. My skin tends to have warm undertones, and I think this is much more suited to someone with cool undertones.


I like the China Glaze brushes.  They aren't as luxurious as the OPI brushes, but the don'y streak or kink. And you get plenty of nail polish for the price/


Unfortunately, I am going to give this a 3 out of 5 stars for myself. It may look fabulous on you. If you've tried it and love it, please let me know!

Natural Beauty Makeup Day

photo from avonproductstore.com

Avon True Color Island Breeze quad
Available at Avon: $9


So a lot of guys will tell you that you look good without makeup. Which may be true, but a lot of times what they think is "no makeup" is actually very natural makeup. I think this Avon True Color Quad is perfect for that.


Product List
1. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original
2. Avon True Color Island Breeze eye shadow quad
3. Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion
4. Buxom Lash Mascara in Blackest Black


Apply your eyeshadow primer from lash to brow. Line the upper lash line in any style you choose. (I chose a small winged eye.) Then apply 2 to the brow bone and inner corner of the eye as a highlighter. Shadow 1 should be applied to the entire lid. Use shadow 3 in the crease of your eyelid. In my photo I didn't use shadow 4 because I wanted a sharper lash line, but if you prefer a softer line, you can use shadow 4 and a liner brush to define your lash line. Complete the look by swiping on a few layers of mascara. (Make sure you're clump-free!)


It is a super natural look, but still defines your eyes. As a product, I give the Island Breeze Quad a 3.5 our of 5 stars. The shadow is soft and easy to apply, but it isn't very pigmented. If you prefer subdued colors, this is definitely a set for you! But since I prefer more pigment, I gave it a slightly lower rater. 

Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture

I was going to do a review and a how-to on some eyeshadows today, but after work I simply lost the motivation. In keeping with my pissed-off mood, I'm going to review a product I was so disappointed in. 


I have dry skin. I’m sure some of you think you can sympathize, but I have never met anyone with skin as dry as mine. I have not found a moisturizer yet that can make my skin feel some semblance of normal.

I did some research, and I heard really good things about Murad moisturizers. When you are as desperate as I am to find something to fix your skin, you don’t really blink at $65 for 1.7oz. 

The cream felt thick and luxurious without being heavy, and it gave me a small ember of hope. That ember was quickly doused when I woke up in the morning, and my face felt like a BP oil slick. This oil slick did not penetrate my skin in any way. It layed on top of my skin rather then absorbing and moisturizing. 

Fortunately for me, Sephora accepts returns without question, so I got my money back. I guess I should be used to moisturizer disappointments.

I would give this product 1 out of 5 stars. I couldn’t even recommend this to someone with a different skin type because I don’t see how it could work any differently. If it does work for you, consider yourselves lucky. I will continue my search…

Warpaint Liquid Eyeliner

Warpaint Liquid Eyeliner
at Hot Topic for $5 each
(currently on sale for buy one get one 50% off)


From left to right:
1. True Love (red)
2. Electric Blue
3. T-Rex (green)
4. Black Metal
5. Monster (gray glitter)
6. 24K (gold glitter)




The first 4 eyeliner are quite opaque. The brush seems like a felt tip pen, like a marker. It comes to a fine point for precision use. The True red has a gold sheen and slight glitter. The T-Rex and Electric Blue are matte. Black Metal has a slight multi-color glitter as well.


The glitter eyeliners have a brush similar to a nail polish brush. It's not easy for precision application. But, since the eyeliner itself isn't very opaque, it makes for a nice accent. It's a very nice glitter.


The opaque eyeliners are long-wearing. The glitter eyeliners rub off quite easily, though. With both eyeliners, I was wearing my Urban Decay Primer Potion. And the glitter still rubbed off.


I wore the Black Metal eyeliner yesterday and forgot to remove it last night. When I woke up, the eyeliner was still intact!


The opaque liners (True Love, Electric Blue, T-Rex and Black Metal) get 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. The glitter liners (Monster and 24K) get 3 out of 5 stars simply for the fact the glitter rubs off.

Seche Vite

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Available at: Sally Beauty - $7.99

                 -or- Ulta - $9.95

This is the best top coat that I've found. And when I paint my nails, the top coat is key. My job's dress code states that we aren't allowed to have chipped nails because we have direct contact with patients, so I need a top coat that is going to make my nail last, but also dries fast.

This is that top coat. 

First, it is fast-drying. I can put it over my nail polish when it is tacky after 2-3 coats of color, and within 5 minutes it is dry. I can to go bed forget ready for work without worrying about smudging.

Second, it makes my polish last until I am ready to take it off. Granted, I tend to change colors every 7 days or so, so I can't tell you if it lasts longer.

One downfall is that if you DO chip the nail, it tends to peel off in one clean sheet. This is because part of the process is that the top coat penetrated the color to bind with the base coat. Therefore if you chip a corner, it will probably peel clean off.

I give it 4.5 stars out of 5

xxSammie