Throwback Thursday... BENEFIT COSMETICS

I learned this week that Benefit started in 1976 and that the product Benetint was created for exotic dancers!  I thought I would review some of my favorite Benefit products.

My absolute favorite thing in the Benefit line has to be their Porefessional.  This balm minimizes the appearance of pores and I love how smooth it goes on.  It is $31 a tube so it is a bit pricey - I usually look for it in the $8 and $10 tubes or in a set of Benefit products to save money.

(photo credit: benefitcosmetics.com)

Another Benefit product that I buy all the time is their That Gal face primer.  This primer is fantastic!  It is a face brightening primer and helps take the dullness out of your skin pallor.  Love it!  It retails for $29 a bottle so I get it in sample sizes or in a set.  

(photo credit lookfantastic.com)

Another product of theirs I adore is High Beam.  It is a luminescent complexion enhancer - a highlighter for under the eyes.  It brightens.  It retails for $26 a bottle and I can usually find it in a kit with my other faves for a reasonable price.  The last kit I got, Beauty Score, was $36 for 10 Benefit products.  

(photo credit: www.hijabbeauty.com )

Of course since I am a lipgloss girl, they also have several lip products that I adore.  Posietint is a lip and cheek stain.  Benetint is there oldy but goody product.  It is a big seller as well.  Both are very nice for lips and cheek color.  They each retail for $30 so it is nice to find them in the sample sizes. 

(photo credit: fairyhalls.weloveshopping.com)

Benefit also has a mascara that people rave about:  They're Real.  I am not too picky about my mascara.  There are a few I would never buy again but for the most part, I like whatever I am using at the time.

(photo credit: benefitcosmetics.com)

So that was the reviews on things I have tried, let's talk about the products I want to try:

Benefit just came out with lip tint balms called Hydrating Tinted  Lip Balms based on their tints.   These promise to hydrate the lips as well as tinting them and can be worn alone or over the tints.  They have them in the four tints:  Posie, Bene, Cha Cha and Lolli!  These sell for $18 a piece.

(photo credit:  thebeautyblog.ca)

I am also dying to try their Fine-One-One, which is a cheek and lip stain.  It looks amazing too!  Clever marketing works on me evidently!  It retails for $30.

(photo credit www.suelenmakeup.com)

Benefit also makes Boing, an industrial strength concealer.   And again, I am a sucker for packaging on this one - super cute!  Boing retails for $20.

(photo credit: makeupandbeautyblog.com)

And finally, I would love to try Dr. Feelgood, a velvety complexion balm.  And of course, super cute packaging.  It retails fro $31. 

(photo credit: www.fr2day.com)

Wednesday LOVES...

The things I am loving this Wednesday:

I am loving these Wrist Candy Style Packs by PuraVida Bracelets.  They are very cute and there are tons to choose from in a style that everyone will like.  

Sisters of Los Angeles glasses that were in the Pop Sugar Must Have box! Super cute!  

I really want to build a kit on Benefit Cosmetics website.  It looks so fun and you get a good deal on the products.  

Found on thebeautythesis.com

My faves in this photo are #5 the Dream blush by Maybelline, #7 EOS lip balm, and #9 the Yes to Cucumber towelettes.  I want to try #4 Wet n Wild lip balm and #12 Garnier Moisture Rescue.  

Bergdorf Goodman Coupon...

WHAT DID I ORDER?

In Glossybox's May box, there was a coupon for $25 off at Bergdorf Goodman's store. 

The makeup came in this cute little purple bag that I can use in my purse to hold makeup or lotions.  

Clinique A Different Nail Enamel in Hot Date - this is a very pretty purple.  And I like the tiny bottle size since I rarely use up all the large bottles before I have to throw them out.

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Grandest Grape - The Chubby Sticks are one of my favorite Clinique products.  I really like this shade and it is not too bold when blotted.

Eye and Lip Pencil Sharpener -  I had just enough left over to get this little sharpener because I can always use a sharpener.

Citrus Lane Mom Treat Mystery Box

WHAT'S IN THE BOX?

Citrus Lane occasionally does Mystery Boxes and these are a great value so I recommend you snag these if you see them go on sale.  They are always under the shop tag in the website when they are for sale and are usually $39.   Last month I chose the Mom Treat Mystery Bag that revealed that it had a Stella & Dot bracelet.  

Juice Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Hand Cream - I love hand creams and little tubes like this are my favorite - can just pop them in your purse of send in kids backpack.  LIKE

Baggu bag  in fox - I have really wanted one of these bags since I saw them on other bloggers sites.  Easy to stick in your purse and use at the store.  I love that it has foxes on it too.  LOVE

Deep Steep Moisture Stick in Lavender - I have never heard of this product but someone said it is good on knees and elbows.  I will definitely be trying this.  LIKE 

JULEP nail polish in Gabrielle - This is like a deep purple so I will be saving it for winter.  I do not have this shade and do not really collect nail polishes.  But Julep is a good brand and I like that you can add the shade to the top of the bottle.

OKAY

STELLA & DOT BRACELET - This is a very cute bracelet and has a value of $39 - I do not think you can buy it anymore so that makes it more collectible and it is my favorite thing in the box since it is the reason I bought this one! LOVE

I was very pleased with my Mystery Box and glad I jumped on this one.  I loved that they offered a Mom Treat box.  

BIRCHBOX JUNE 2014

WHAT'S IN THE BOX?

My Birchbox came super early this month - did not even make it to the June 10th reveal on the website!  Here's the first glance:

Joie Parfum - (full size $98)  This smells really good and it didn't bother my asthma which is the main reason I can rarely wear perfume.  Pretty smell like mandarin, roses and sandalwood. I will wear this.  LIKE

 Gilchrist & Soames -  (full size $16) This is a body lotion and it smells good - not overwhelming or sticky either.  I love body lotion and this is a nice size for my purse.  LIKE

 Coola Tinted Matte SPF 30 for Face - (full size $36)  I love the Coola products.  This is my favorite thing in this box.  I would buy this every summer.  LOVE 

Vasanti Cosmectics Brighten Up Face Rejunvenator -  (full size $34)  I cannot wait to try this stuff that promises glowing, smooth complexion results!   LIKE 

Number 4 hair Hydrating Shampoo - (full size $34)  I like little travel size shampoos like this for taking on overnights - some hotel shampoos are really terrible.  OKAY 

Number Four Hydrating Conditioner - (full size $36)  I do like that they included the conditioner in the box as well but would have liked to get the same size container or switched since I use more conditioner than shampoo.  OKAY

For June, this was a perfect box to get - hydrating shampoo and conditioner, sunblock for the face, and lotion.  This box reminded me of Ipsy's box last month.   Birchbox has usually sent me at least one item in the box that makes it worth the $10 to me - this month it was the Coola Tinted Matte sunscreen.  

The points system is where the value is - I can review each of these products on their website, earning me 60 points - and I got 10 points for buying this box - so that is 70 points.  Once I hit 100 points, I get $10 to spend in their shop.  To join Birchbox, click here.

Shopping Thursday....

What I have been ordering this week....

I have wanted to try Lush for awhile so I ordered this little set - $16.95.  It comes with Sweetie Pie shower jelly and a Rock Star soap.  It has a cute little wrap with it too.  

Birchbox announced a limited edition box this month - Mermaid box and I have never gotten a limited edition box so I snatched this right up.  Cannot wait to try the sea salt spray and 

the cologne.  It comes with a cute little mirror as well.  I used my points to knock off $10 and added the Mystery bag and bracelet.

I realized I needed some new Tupperware - hard to believe since my grandmother sold it for decades but still... I needed some new stuff and look at the cute set I found!  It's called the Little Bit of everything set and it is such a value for $18.00.

And since Father's Day is coming up, I also picked these up for my husband - he loves these and will be thrilled!

And my husband loves wax candles and so I got him these two cute little bears for each of his kids!  These are the  Single Honey Bear s and Flicker had a great deal on them - $2.50 a piece and free shipping.

Not much makeup this week.  I am excited about the order I placed at Berdorf's with my $25 gift certificate.  This Clinique set in purple is very pretty.  And I had a little left over to get a eyeliner/lip pencil sharpener.

The Holiday Housewife Box June 2014

What's in the box?

The Holiday Housewife is a monthly box for $24.95.  June's theme was Free Spirit.  

The box promises 4-5 items with a monthly newsletter and recipes.

This month had two recipes:  Buffalo Blue Cheese Meatballs and Margarita Mix!  

"The Month of June is dedicated to your inner bohemian girl and letting your Free Spirit run wild!"

 Magnetic Clip - (.75)  The cute little clip on this month's theme saying is very cute.  I love the little pink accent jewels.  LIKE!

Gift Bag - ($5.00) This is a very cute gift bag and it comes right in time - I have a friend who celebrated a birthday this weekend.  LIKE!

Bohemian Love Heart Peacock Necklace and Burlap bag - ($8.95 and $1.00)  This is necklace is very cute and I put it on as soon as it was out of the box because it matched my outfit perfectly.  It is long too which I love. The little bag it came in is pretty cute too.

 LOVE!

Up close of the necklace charms:

Owl Note Cards - (5.92) - These are super cute little note cards and they are exactly what I would pick out in a store.  Very cute owls and love having thank you cards on hand.  LOVE!

Owl Journal - ($6.99) I love this little Owl Journal too.  Perfect size to throw in my purse to make lists. And I love the lime and pink together.  LOVE!

Charm Bracelet with Feather Charm - ($22.95 and $3.00)  The first time you sign up for Holiday Housewife you get this lovely charm bracelet and each box includes a charm.  This month's charm is a feather.  Very cute and I love how cute this is.  LOVE!

Flower Hair Clip/Pendant - ($5.50) I would never wear this in my hair but I do have the perfect purse to attach this to so it is not a total loss - love that it has a pin to also make this a pendant.  LIKE!

Hazelnut Wafers - ($4.99)  The box also included some wafers and my husband snagged them right away. So they were a win for him!  LOVE!

The value of the box came up to a total of $72.58 (they included a $7.99 shipping fee in their total value price) and I paid $24.95 with shipping included. 

So the items in the box were ones I would use or like to wear, so it was worth the money to me.  I am very excited to see what is in July's box as the spoiler says "Girl's Night In" and promises great pampering items for Etsy shop owners.