Benefit's "Legally Bronze" Review, New Mac Eyeshadows, & some fun J. Crew purchases!

A couple weeks ago I told you guys about how I purchased Benefit's Legally Bronze kit.

Its all sold out at Sephora now, but there are some new ones on Ebay if you are interested. Its a really great deal & I am happy I bought it, because I seriously love the Hoola Bronzer & Highbeam! The Gilded highlighter is also very pretty, the only thing I am not crazy about is the Bad Gal Lash Mascara. I think the Mascara is really sticky-feeling! I've never felt such sticky mascara - not a huge fan, not the worst mascara I've ever used, but I won't be purchasing that again.

Hoola Bronzer and Highbeam, on the other hand... I can see these becoming holy grail.



The Hoola bronzer is matte, it doesn't have any shimmer or sparkle to it, and it provides a truly natural looking bronzed look to your face. I love it! The color is perfect, not orange or muddy or dirty looking. For a comparison, I have NARS Laguna Bronzer, and I highly prefer Hoola.

As for the Highbeam - its the first time I've ever used a liquidy-sort of highlight on my face, but its surprisingly easy to apply. I just dot it where I want it and then make sure to blend it well. I feel like this stuff provides a really pretty glow that looks like it comes from within, and not just from some product sitting on top of your face. I guess they call it "supermodel in a bottle" for a reason! I read a review that said it may be too icy looking for those with yellow undertones - I have yellow undertones and it works really well on me. Like I said - its extremely pretty, and Benefit knew what they were doing when they put these products together because they work beautifully together, very natural.

Next up, some MAC Eyeshadows. I know a couple people posted their top 15 eyeshadows, so I totally took notes then FORGOT them when I went to purchase! I still really like the shadows I bought.. I think you'll notice a trend... I love browns, bronzes, and other natural shades.



The knight divine is a little outside of my box, because darker colors scare me, as in I tend to be afraid that I won't be able to work with them.. BUT... I'm really glad I bought the knight divine - its a really nice color and easy to use, blending is key of course. I like to use it with naked lunch all over from lid to brown bone, patina and/or woodwinked on the lid, and knight divine mainly on the outer corner and into the crease - and naked lunch again used on the inner corner to brighten. Wish I had a pic for you guys but I cannot get these pics to come out for the life of me! I think the hubby is going to have to help if I ever want to do it.

I've also been using naked lunch, woodwinked, amber lights and antiqued together. Amber lights is a really pretty, peachy sort of bronzey color.

I have yet to use the Indianwood paintpot but I will say it has SERIOUS staying power!! Its a very rich color and will be great base, also will help the shadow to stay longer. All I know is I put the swatch on my arm, used soap and water and it still didn't totally come off.

I know you can barely see the Vex on that swatch... but its a nice color to use with knight divine - thats the only way I've used it so far.

And finally - I took advantage of J. Crew's 20% off by purchasing two more dresses... they very appropriately said in the e-mail its their "perfect excuse to buy both colors" sale... so I did. I bought two different dresses that I already own in 2 different colors! You know what? The price was right and dresses are a must for walking around the city in the heat.

I bought this dress from my OOTD the other day, this time in a dark pewter color (the one in the picture is lighter than it looks in that picture):


And I already own this dress in navy, but bought it in this heather grey color:


That's about it! It rained and made the air quality improve a LOT so we are going out today to explore!

If you own any of these MAC Shadows - what other colors do you typically pair them with? Whats your favorite way to wear them? Any tips for using my first paintpot?

When you find something you love, do you buy it in more than one color, especially if the price is right? I try not to because I feel like its so boring, but these are really perfect for here!

Talk soon!!

Steph

New OPI & Benefit's Legally Bronze

I went to the nail salon to get a manicure again today! I was hoping to have time for a massage at the spa while I was here visiting my mom, but there is never enough time when I visit to get in everything we want to do. And, well, it was time to change my Jade is the New Black. Unfortunately, I am not talented/coordinated like all you ladies, and I cannot for the life of me paint my nails by myself. Am I the only one? I am left handed so the nails on my left hand always come out seriously awful! so off to the salon I went.

I was in a lilac sort of mood and I was hoping to try Essie's Lilacism after seeing it at J. Crew, but the salon didn't have it. Instead I chose a polish from OPI's Shrek Collection, and the name makes me cringe... I love OPI's polish names, you know? Like, I'm Not Really a Waitress, Not So Bora-Boraing Pink, Pistol Packin' Pink, Aphrodite's Nightie... creative. So imagine my disappointment when I saw that the name of the pretty lilac color I was looking at was Rumple's Wiggin. LOL! I'm not really too familar with Shrek... is Rumple a character? And more importantly, what's a Wiggin?!

I've since read on a few blogs that this polish, Rumple's Wiggin, is nearly identical to Essie's Lilacism. A blog I read said she cannot tell the difference in color even when they are on her hand, except OPI's formula is better and not streaky like Essie's version.

I love it! It makes me happy.

Next up - I've never tried any of Benefit's products, but the packaging is so adorable, I've always wanted to try them for that reason alone! I'm a sucker for package design!

I saw Benefit's Legally Bronze kit at Sephora, and luckily I snagged it before it was completely sold out everywhere. Its a kit with full size bottles of Benefit's Hoola Bronzer, High Beam, Bad Gal Lash Mascara, and Gilded highlighter pencil, and it was sold for just $35. The Hoola Bronzer is $28 BY ITSELF so this was an amazing deal I couldn't pass up! Its a $104 value for just $35, and, I've been wanting to try High Beam for a really long time!

This kit is supposed to be everything you need for that perfect bronzed look. I'm really excited to try it out! Hopefully I can do some daily makeup posts, the only reason I haven't yet is because I seriously can't take the pictures by myself. They come out all out of focus and you can't see anything! Anyway, I'm going to need the hubby's help for that. I can hear the groaning now! LOL.

I leave NY tomorrow to meet my hubby in D.C.! I can't wait to see him. Its only been two weeks, and as a military wife I know 2 weeks is a drop in the bucket... but I still miss him!

XOXO

Gossip girl

Just kidding. I couldn't resist.

Steph