Thursday 24 April 2014

Real Techniques Brushes Part 1

In this blog post I'll discuss the brushes in the Core Collection (buffing brush, detailler brush, pointed foundation brush and contouring brush) as well as the expert face brush. 

Expert Face Brush
This was the first Real Techniques brush that I owned along with the blush brush which will be mentioned in my next post. This was the brush that tempted me to purchase more Real Techniques products. This brush is ideal for liquid or cream foundation as it's dense and soft. The brush itself is round and ever so slightly tapered, this is good for building coverage and getting a flawless finish. The only thing I dislike about the brush is that since it is so dense it's quite difficult to clean. 

Buffing Brush
This brush is similar to the Expert Face Brush however it is more suitable for foundations of powder to cream constincy. The size of the brush is good for the application of powder, however I would prefer a slightly smaller brush when using cream. I use this for powder mainly to set my liquid foundation. 

Contouring Brush 
This brush enables a soft contoured look. The brush is a dome shape and fairly fluffy. This would have to be my least favourite brush as I prefer sharp contour lines in the hollows of my cheeks rather than the usual gradual defined contour line. 

Pointed Foundation Brush
This brush is surprisingly small. It does the job but I wish the brush were most soft. 

Detailer brush
I like this for concealer. It's meh. You could use your fingers and get the same result. 

Monday 3 March 2014

Everyday Skincare Routine aka A Whole Lot of Kiehl's Products



I recently started getting into skincare a year or so ago.

All I used to use was water and a drugstore pimple cream for spots. My acne got so bad I had to see a dermatologist for several years when I was a pre-teen, he prescribed me a pill which I had to take daily. Whether I actually took it or not is a secret.. After taking the pill, my acne got better however, my skin became dry and flaky as a result of the pill. It was then I started moisturizing and understanding the importance of sunscreen and whatnot. My skin has developed a lot since then, instead of dry skin which I had back then I now have oily-combination sensitive skin.

Without further ado here's my current skincare.

Morning Skincare:

From left to right: Avene Skin Recovery Cream
and Avene Creme Riche Anti-redness moisturizing
cream.
I'm rather lazy in the mornings and I love to sleep in so I cut everything to the bare minimum to save time.

1. First I wash my face with cold water

2. Then, I apply the Avene Skin Recovery Cream, it's designed for sensitive and irritated skin. Sometimes I switch it up with Avene Antirougeurs Creme Riche Anti-redness Rich moisturizing cream.

3. Lastly, I apply sunblock. The one I'm currently using is the Sport Block one by and the only reason why I'm using it os because it's "oil free."

Evening Skincare:

I do use a large amount of Kiehl's products in my skincare routine. There's no particular reason for this other than I went to a Kiehl's stand one day and met a nice lady there and she talked me through products that I would need or want and gave me about 20 samples which she was not supposed to do (shh.) I went home and made it a goal of mine to sort through the samples and ended up repurchasing a few of my favourites.

1. If I happen to be wearing makeup, I use Bioderma to remove my makeup.

2. Wash my face with Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleaner. I love the texture of this and the gentleness of this. Once lathered properly, it forms soapy bubbles which gently cleanses the skin of oil and dirt.

3. Once or twice a week, I'll use a facial scrub to eliminate the amount of flakey dry skin on my face. The one I'm using right now is the Kiehl's Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub.

4. Also once or twice a week, I'll use my Origins Clear Improvement mask. I love this mask, it visibly decreases my pores and makes my face feel oil free whilst soft. It also dries really quickly but it's a bitch to take off.

From left to right, Bioderma cleanser, Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser, Kiehl's Pineapple
Papaya Facial Scrub and Origins Clear Improvement mask.


5. Toner, the one I'm using now is the Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner. Before switching toners, I used the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner, I didn't really like this as it didn't do much for my skin.

6. Eye cream, I've noticed that since using mascara daily, my eye area has been more prone to dryness and redness. To improve this I use the Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado, I got 6 sample packets of this and so far I've only used up 1.

7. If I have any active pimples I'll dab a bit of the Kiehl's Blemish Control Daily Skin-Clearing Treatment. It's almost if I've become immune to this as it used to work really well on me but now, not so much. I'll find a different one once I've finished.

8. Moisturizer, Kiehl's Skin Rescuer. Try it for yourself and you'll see what the hype is about.

9. Kiehl's Centella Recovery Skin Slave for when I need it.

10. Johnson's Baby lotion on my legs and arms. It's natural, affordable, smells great and is super moisturizing, I do get a few odd looks when I buy it though.

11. I've had hideous heels lately so I dab a bit of Eulactol Heel Balm Gold on whenever I remember. It works wonders.


From left to right: Kiehl's Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner, Kiehl's Blemish
Control Daily Skin-Clearing Treatment, Kiehl's Skin Rescuer, Kiehl's
Centella Recovery Skin Slave and Johnson's Baby Lotion. 



Blog ya later,
Sophie xo


P.S. Sorry for not blogging lately

Wednesday 19 February 2014

Rimmel London Products and Review



A couple days ago while I was browsing on Asos I realized there was a sale on Rimmel London products so I picked three things.




1. Rimmel London Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl liner in Nude. It was $9.02 NZD ($7.39 USD)  but on sale it's $5.65 NZD ($4.63 USD). I decided to get this because I have difficulty pulling off black eyeliner on my bottom lash line. Black eyeliner tends to close up my eye making my eyes look non-exsistant. I've tried white eyeliner but I didn't like how it looked on me. I do prefer this a lot more as it's more natural and opens the width of the eye in a subtle yet effective product. This particular product is great because it's the perfect nude shade and does exactly what I wanted it to do.




2. Rimmel London Scandaleyes Shadow Paint, was $11.28 NZD ($9.24 USD) and went down to $6.78 NZD ($5.56 USD). The idea of an eyeshadow paint intrigued me. The colours aren't too unique just the generic shimmery colours but you can't go wrong with a taupe or brown so I picked this up in Rich Russet. So far I really like this product, the application of this is different but the wand makes it easy to apply. One of the things I dislike about this is once you apply it, you have to wait until it dries completely before opening your eyes, if not, the shadow paint creases really badly. The shade Rich Russet (on the left) is identical to Maybelline's Color Tattoo in the shade Bad to the Bronze (on the right). 

3. Rimmel London Kate lipstick in the shade 001. This wasn't one of the shades on sale but the other colours weren't too appealing to me so I decided to get it anyway. This is the perfect red for all skin shades. There is a prominent blue tone in this meaning any skin type between fair and dark skin can pull this off. I personally prefer the berry red (red with blue shades) because of this. I do however love bright brick reds but I don't have the correct skin tone to pull it off. This lipstick isn't particularly moisturizing but a swipe of lip balm underneath the lipstick will fix it. 




Blog ya later, 
Sophie xo 


Saturday 15 February 2014

Bioderma Crealine or Bioderma Sebium?





Bioderma is one of the most talked about items by beauty gurus. It's a make up remover combined with the gentleness of water. The reason why it's so popular is because it's simple, effective and fast. All you need is a bottle of this gem and some cotton pads. No water is needed and no rise afterwards is needed.

I own both the Bioderma Crealine which is more suitable for sensitive skin and Bioderma Sebium which is more suitable for oily skin. I prefer the Crealine solution as I feel it's more suited to my skin type and is a bit more gentle. The Sebium solution leaves my skin feeling a bit dry afterwards however, it's wonderful in the Summer when I have oily skin.





So, what's the difference between Bioderma Crealine H2O Solution and Sebium H2O Solution?

The Crealine range is suitable for everyone however, it's not always the best option for everyone. I recommend this product over the Bioderma Sebium if you have dry to combination skin. Oily and acne prone skinned people should try the Bioderma Sebium before trying the Bioderma Crealine. Also, the Bioderma Crealine can be used on the eye area whereas it's recommended the Bioderma Sebium is not. 

Hope that was helpful for you all.

Blog ya later,
Sophie xo 

Tuesday 11 February 2014

Australia Make Up and Skin Care Haul

While I was in Australia I spent did a bit of shopping. I didn't get as much as I'd like to but I do go to Australia quite often. Cosmetics and skin care are relatively more affordable in Australia compared to New Zealand so I usually just buy my products there. My favourite place to buy cosmetics in Aussie is Priceline. For those of you that don't know, Priceline an Australian drugstore best known for quality, bargains and variety. Most of the products were purchases from Priceline unless stated otherwise. 




1. Show Me the Love kit from Benefit which comes with a full size Benetint, They're Real mascara and a small Porefessional. I purchased this at Auckland Airport on the way to Brisbane for approximately $70 NZD.
2. 250 mL Bioderma Crealine H2O Solution.
3. Real Techniques Blush brush $20AUD.
4. Real Techniques Expert Face brush $20AUD or you can purchase this in Unichem in New Zealand for $30NZD. This is my go to liquid foundation brush, it enables a flawless finish without streaks .
5. Lucas Pa Paw Ointment with a lip applicator. This is my everyday lip balm as it's easy to apply and does the job. 
6. The Colossal Cat eyes mascara in waterproof. 
7. Loreal Infallible Super Slim Liquid Eyeliner in black. I'm quite disappointed with this product. It doesn't work well over my cream eyeshadows.
8. Rimmel Scandal Eyes eyeshadow in Guilty Grey. I like the texture of this and the colour payment. The application is also great for on the go. 
9. Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in 53. I like the texture of this gel foundation, it ensures a dewy finish. 
10. "Eye Like it" eyeshadow palette. I purchased this at Sportsgirl which is an Austrailan clothing store. The colour payment is good, the only thing I dislike about this is there's only one matte eyeshadow. 
11. Avene Skin Recovery Cream. This is the type of product which would be suitable for all skin types as it's made specifically for sensitive skin and is hypoallergenic. I tend to reach for this often when I'm breaking out and it helps clear my skin.   
12. Not pictured above, a MAC Lustre lipstick in See Sheer.




Blog ya later,
Sophie xo 


Saturday 8 February 2014

Collective Haul

During December and January I went shopping quite a bit. It wasn't because I wanted to, it was simply because I needed to (lie). Here are just a few things that I got. 







1. MAC lip glass which I got given.
2. A Bellabe ($17 USD) which is a facial hair removing tool in the form of a spring. It can be bought on mybellabe.com. This is my third one and I really recommend it as it's affordable compared to saloon waxes and fast compared to tweezing.
3. A Revlon Nail Art French Mix in Miss Perfect. I found this in the bargain bin in Farmers for $5. I've been sporting the white nail polish a lot this summer however my last one has been really clumpy.
4. A set of mini Glasshouse Candles sold exclusively at Peter Alexander in the scents Coney Island, Tahaa and Rio De Janeiro approximately $65 NZD. I absolutely love the scent Rio De Janeiro, it smells like lime and passionfruit. 
5. Maybelline color tattoo in the shade Rich Mahogany bought for $8 from a outlet makeup shop.
6. Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch primer which I was also given.




7. Glassons crochet long sleeve crop top $50NZD. I experienced love at first sight with this top, wish I had looked a little more closely at the price tag before I bought it. You can see it in more detail here.
8. Valley Girl grey cropped top $12NZD. It was the last grey one left in store, it's one or two sizes too big but I decided it looks nice oversized.
9. Ice High Neck dress in Paisley. I bought it off Nzsale for $7, and it looks great on me as it doesn't minimize my bust but does minimize my stomach and butt. Here's an invite code if you're wanting to join Nzsale.
10. H and M white lace dress which was given to me.
11. Pink Sugar perfume also bought off Nzsale for $40. I've done a review on this, find it here.
12. Hey Macarena Le Specs sunglasses with a matte black frame bought from Farmers.
13. Glassons hearts necklace $10.
14. Lush lip tint in It Started With a Kiss. I loved the smell of this when I first bought it but now I can't stand it. The pigment and the colour of this is too good to stop using regardless of the sickening apple smell.






White shoes are the trend of the season. I've never owned white shoes before this season as I'm scared to get them dirty. They're too cute to give up #YOLO (kill me now).

15. Classic white low tops Converse. I got these for $60 in the kids size and managed to save $40. I haven't had a chance to wear them out yet.
16. White wedges from Lippy $80.
17. Sandals from Novo, $20. I love these, they're so comfy and cute. Suitable for the summer time.

I have two other hauls coming up. One with beauty and skincare products which I bought in Australia and the other with items I bought from Nzsale.

Blog ya later,
Sophie xo

Friday 7 February 2014

Pink Sugar perfume by Aquolina review

I blindly ordered this on Nzsale a month ago for $40NZD. For those of you that don't know it's a New Zealand and Australian based site which offers goods at discount prices here's an invite link if you want to join Nzsale. I had high hopes it would be a dupe for the Prada Candy perfume check out the blog post here. I was mildly disappointed as the top notes smelt nothing like Prada Candy instead, it smells like burnt sugar and something else (I later found out it was black licorice.) I can't say I'm too fond of the immediate scent, it doesn't linger for very long anyway. It later settles into a scent which is similar to Prada Candy, burnt sugar and caramel.


























After using this perfume for a week I would have to say it's one of my new favourites. The scent is a barely there sugar caramel smell which keeps people guessing. One thing I dislike about the perfume is the bottle, it is insanely ugly. Reminds me of strippers tights, however, the packaging is cute so I just store it in the cardboard tube in the back of my dresser.


Blog ya later,
Sophie xo

Monday 3 February 2014

Caron Laboratories Bump Eraiser Medi Paste Review


For all you ladies (and gentlemen) out there, I've found the answer to your taboo ingrown hairs. We all suffer from this first world problem however it can be quite difficult to find the solution. The solution is Caron Laboratories' Bump Eraiser Medi Paste.




The paste itself is a thick buttery texture that is absorbed by the skin quickly, it comes in a squeezy tube which allows the use of a controlled amount of product used. Bump Eraiser works wonders on inflamed ingrown hairs by reducing the redness around the ingrown hair. I would give you a detailed scientific description of how it happens but I honestly don't know, it does say that it has Tea Tree Oil which is really good for calming skin as well as Triclosan and Vitamin A. I also use this product on pesky little hairs under my eyebrows on hair that haven't broken skin to ensure I have tidy brows.

The product recommends you apply to skin after hair removal and for mild ingrown hairs, massage the product onto the skin for 7-10 days daily and for severe conditions, twice daily. Also the product is not tested on animals, yay.

Disclaimer: It may sound like I'm being sponsored but I'm not. Caron Laboratories, I love your products, please do sponsor me.

Blog ya later,
Sophie xo

Saturday 1 February 2014

Body Wash and Scrubs review





I tend to switch back and fourth between four products, Lush Snow Fairy shower gel, Soap and Glory's Breakfast Scrub, the Victoria's Secret body wash in Pure Seduction and the St. Ives Smoothing Apricot. The first thing I look for in a body wash is the smell, I have a pretty picky nose and tend to stay away from strong florals especially floral scents that smell like my grandma.

The St. Ives Smoothing Apricot is my newest edition. I first came across this when I went on holiday to The Coromandel, where we realized we didn't bring any shower gel so my cousin picked this up. There are several things I like about this.
Pros:
The price tag ($4 USD or $5.70NZD) for a 400mL bottle.
The smell, it smells like apricot lollies or an apricot smoothie.
It's made with natural ingredients
The exfoliant is the perfect size and does not dissolve. I prefer exfoliants that don't dissolve as they tend to last longer.
Cons:
Nothing


I received the Lush Snow Fairy shower gel on the christmas of 2012. My sister picked me for Secret Santa and I "subtly" hinted that I wanted it. It smells like candy floss and sweets, the exact description on the bottle is, "The smell of candy floss and pear drops transports you back to the days of standing in the sweet shop with your pocket money clasped in your fist, trying to decided what to buy."
Pros:
Smells amazing.
Lathers really well.
Not drying.
Cons:
The scent doesn't really linger.

Elle Fowler (allthatglitters21) loves Victoria's Secret body washes so I decided to try one for myself. Surprisingly, it's quite difficult to find in New Zealand as we don't have a Victoria's Secret. I ordered the body wash online which came with a hefty shipping fee ($30 NZD).
Pros:
Smells like plum and flowers.
Lathers well.
Texture is really good, milky and creamy.
Cons:
Scent doesn't linger.
A bit drying.

Lastly, The Breakfast Scrub by Soap and Glory. It's made up of organic cupuacu bio scrubs, bananas, almond and honey extracts. This smells like maple syrup and smells good enough to eat, I've actually eaten a bit.. didn't taste very good, won't be making that mistake again. The size of the product is reasonable being 300mL however, the price isn't. I bought this in Australia at Mecca for $28AUD which is about $35NZD. I could go without this product as the St. Ives exfoliator is a suitable substitute being 30% of the price.
Pros:
Has a 'wake me up' smell.
Smells really really good.
Lathers well.
Scent lingers.
Cons:
The exfoliator is sugar which means you have to use the product quickly to ensure the sugar doesn't melt right away.
Water gets into the container easily melting the top layer of the scrub making it milky.




Blog ya later,
Sophie xo

Thursday 30 January 2014

20 Facts about Me

Just thought I'd do a 20 facts about me so that my readers can get to know me a bit better. If you'd like to make a 20 Facts about Me post make sure you link me it so I can read it.

  1. I like my steak well-done.
  2. I'm a bit of a shopaholic.
  3. I love detective and crime shows, does that make me a psychopath?
  4. I find Russian men incredibly attractive (please tell me I'm not the only one.)
  5. I dislike avocado.
  6. Keeping up with the Kardashians and Dance Moms are my secret pleasure.
  7. I've never owned a pet.
  8. I am always so jealous of Americans because they can purchase really affordable makeup.
  9. I curl and swim.
  10. My favourite season is Spring because I'm a Spring baby and I find that fashion tends to be more versatile in Spring.
  11. I don't like chocolate ice-cream.
  12. My favourite fruits are nectarines and feijoas.
  13. I'm very picky with scents.
  14. I once fainted while dissecting a bean.
  15. I can come off as very obnoxious but once you get to know me, you'll realize I'm not.
  16. I currently need to take a dump.
  17. I look like my dad oppose to my mum.
  18. I tend to start things but not finish things.
  19. I sleep mumble.
  20. I once declined chocolate from a boy on valentines, as I didn't know what he meant by, "Do you want choc on Monday?"

Hope you enjoyed.
Blog ya later,
Sophie xo

Saturday 25 January 2014

To Say or Not To Say?

What type of person are you?
Would you point out something to someone in order to save them from future embarrassment or would you leave it? When a kind stranger next to you on the bus has a piece of lettuce stuck in her teeth would you mention it or ignore it?
If someone wrongly blames you for a petty accident would you correct them or move on?
When a guy is being really creepy would you tell him to stop being creepy in the nicest way possible or not say anything and let him figure it out?




Here's just a few questions for you to ponder over. To answer my question, I tend to pick the most inappropriate option for the context.

Blog ya later,
Sophie xo

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation review and experience

After reading mixed reviews on this foundation, I decided I really needed to try it for myself. From reviews I found on Makeupalley I expected it to be a no coverage foundation that looks more oily than brightening, however Benefit claims it's a light coverage oil free brightening foundation.

Before visiting my nearest Benefit counter, I heard from my favourite Youtuber Essie, that it could be the reason her skin broke out so I was a bit skeptical about trying it.

When I first entered the stall, a bright employee greeted me, I don't think she expected me to purchase anything so she left me alone. After a bit of swatching and waddling by the foundations she asked me if I needed any help, overwhelmed by shades and undertones I accepted. I asked her if the foundation tended to break people out, she responded by giving me a rehearsed scientific explain of why it possibly can't then pointed to her face and said, "has it broken me out?" At the time I felt inclined to say no but a part of me wanted to say yes. She then helped me find my matching shade by testing it on my jaw line. I'm the shade "I'm so money" honey if you were wondering. I was extremely impressed with the foundation while in store, it looked flawless and the colour seemed to match me perfectly. The lady informed me that it doesn't need to be set with powder which contradicts a review I read on Makeupalley. When I got home and tried it myself, I realized it looked really oily but not cakey which it great. The foundation does look better set with a little bit of powder to reduce shine however it's unnecessary. In conclusion it's a good foundation for days where you need light coverage however, on days when you need a bit more coverage I'd opt for something else.

Blog ya later,
Sophie xo

Wednesday 22 January 2014

An Effortless DIY to Transform your Dresser/Vanity





Here's a simply DIY that can be the difference between a cluttered dresser and a neat, tidy one. I almost feel silly doing a blog post on this as it is very simple, requires little to no skill and uses only two items. All that is needed to create a display tray is a elegant frame that suits your room and some paint (optional).

1. Paint the frame if needed.

2. Once dry, remove the stand at the back of the frame any any hooks that are attached. This is done to ensure that once the frame is used for a try, there will be no visible unevenness. 






3. Next, remove the picture inside the frame and replace it with a piece of white paper or a piece of paper which corresponds with the frame colour.

4. To make the tray taller you can glue bottle corks, one at each corner. ( I decided not to as I wanted to put my perfumes on the tray which are quite heavy)

5. Put what ever you want on top and now you have a display tray.






Stay tuned for a products I regret buying blog post. 

Blog ya later,
Sophie xo

Introduction to Beauty Adventures


Hi, my name's Sophie and I run Beauty Adventures. Beauty Adventures is a blog where I rant and review products when my friends are sick of my rambling (which is almost always.) I wasn't always fascinated by makeup and beauty, when I was younger I believed that makeup made woman look like an aged hooker... How that I am wiser and therefore older I know that makeup doesn't conceal one's true beauty but magnifies the inner beauty. Although if you don't use it right you can happen to look like an ancient hooker. I believe that the right outfit, perfume and makeup can make someones day.
Essie Button has always been my inspiration, her beautiful bright pictures managed to convince me that blogging can be a hobby rather than a chore contrary to what I believed, you can find her blog here.
I'lll mainly focus on beauty but you'll find several fashion and lifestyle posts as well.




Here I am trying to figure out how to use my camera, took me quite awhile but I managed it in the end.


I'm always open to requests so leave a comment and I'll try fulfill your requests.
Make sure you follow my Instagram, @beautyadventures.


Blog ya later,
Sophie xo

Tuesday 21 January 2014

Juicy Couture fragrance collection and review


I got my first Juicy perfume when I was a pre-teen, I remember being thrifty with it only ever spraying it once on my neck and using the reside that wasn't soaked up within seconds on my wrists. My mum insisted that I went through perfume bottles one at a time which is utterly ridiculous (I do however think it was her money saving self speaking at the time.) After several months of convincing I was allowed another bottle of perfume, Prada Candy, I don't reach for it often as the combination of the top notes consisting of florals and musk reminds me of my grandma or any other old lady for that matter. More about that here.

Here I am years later with the same obsession over Juicy Couture perfumes, Viva La Juicy would be my all time favourite perfume. It's become my signature scent, a good friend of mine hugged me one day while taking a sniff of my neck and commented, "It smells like Sophie." Enough proof? My body chemistry works really well with Viva La Juicy, I've noticed it smells a little more musky on me. If you're looking for a Juicy fragrance to try but don't know which one, I recommend this one as I have yet to meet some who's body chemistry does not work well with this.




I received three travel sizes of Juicy Couture perfumes in an exclusive travel kit. The perfumes consist of Viva La Juicy, Peace Love & Juicy Couture and the original Juicy Couture. Peace Love & Juicy Couture is a scent I love on others and hate on myself. It's a very distinctive floral scent whenever I smell it on someone I immediately think sophisticated, outdoorsy and chic. I have limited knowledge on the original Juicy Couture fragrance, but like most perfume junkies, I believe it's the Channel of the Juicy Couture range, classic, classy and smells luxurious.

I've ordered Viva La Juicy La Fleur, let me know if you want a first impressions. Viva La Juicy Noir is currently on my never ending wish list, regardless of how much I love it, I can't justify $150NDZ for 50mL. Maybe once I get a job or if it goes on sale I'll purchase it. The bottle is to die for, it's reminiscent of Viva La Juicy but with a spin.

Blog ya later,
Sophie xo

Prada Candy review

Due to the mixed reviews on this perfume I thought it would be beneficial to write my own review on this perfume. I first came across this perfume in Duty Free New Zealand, I instantly found myself gravitating towards it as it had a "free gift" sign next to it (it sounds awfully materialistic, but hey, more value for money.) Unfortunately, I was not allowed to purchase it at the time but I did end up getting it. I do think that I was a bit biased towards this perfume at the time of purchase and I could have opted for something else, $150NZD for a 50mL bottle, that's just a different form of robbery.




The initial scent is a sort of aged musk, it soon develops to a more defined musk with a barely there caramel smell. Over time, it sets to a definite block hard caramel smell. It's the type of caramel that can be mistaken by a untrained nose as a sweet sugary smell, a sort of candy maybe? Hence the name Prada Candy (haha). After about four hours, Prada Candy fades into thin air like it never even existed.
It's a very love or hate it perfume, do you love it or hate it?

Pink Sugar by Aquolina is considered to be a good dupe. I've already bought it and I might do a first impressions blog post.

Blog ya later,
Sophie xo

Introduction to Benefit, Primping with the Stars

I found myself being attracted to the brand "Benefit" about a year ago, however I could never get my hands on any of the products. On a lone winters day I found myself shopping on Asos, the beauty section to be precise and a few Benefit kits caught my eye. At this point in time, Benefit hadn't been accessible in stores in New Zealand so after minutes of browsing, I decided to make a purchase. I opted for the "Primping with the Stars" (Fake it kit) kit as it held mini sizes of a variety of items.

When I first received the kit, I was shocked and disappointed with the size of the products, especially for the price ($59.35 NZD). I soon realized that you aren't only paying for the quality, brand name and product but also the packaging. Who the hell cares about the quality of cardboard box and the mirror that comes with it? I may or may not have already broken my mirror.... The products themselves are pretty great aside from a few. 

Here's a more detailed review on each individual product.

1. Stay Don't Stray primer
I was really excited to use this product under my eyes as a base for my concealer. I didn't end up using it on my face as the contents separated and I have rather sensitive skin and I didn't want to risk it. I may use it another day when I'm feeling more daring.
2. The Porefessional
I love this product, I use it sparingly as a little goes a long way. It's a handy product for touch ups as well as a few dabs on the nose makes all the difference. I might re-purchase this if I win the lottery. I am worried that it might clog up my pores...

3. Some Kind-a Gorgeous cream foundation
I absolutely hate his product. This product would be great for smooth clear skin more on the oily side as a sheer cream foundation however I have the opposite skin type and it emphasizes my dry patches while doing nothing to conceal my red blotches.

4. Benetint
I've already bought the full size of this, I ABSOLUTELY love this product. There is one thing I'm not too fond of though and that's the smell, it smells like a bouquet of roses which disagrees with my nose. Benetint lasts nearly all day on both the cheeks and lips, if you're using it as a blush apply it before foundation as it creates a natural glowly look. It works better as a lip tint in my opinion as you can control the colour and therefore the effect you get with it, my favourite is the sultry night-time look which takes about 4 coats of this.

5. Girl Meets Pearl luminizer
I don't tend to use highlighters as my skin looks oily in natural daylight, however on a night out where pictures are likely to be taken, I find myself gravitating towards this product. My subconscious must reckon it's a fab product then. I don't think I will be re-purchasing this as I can't justify the price. ($57NZD for a 12mL)

6. They're Real mascara 
This is a must have product. Usually I don't mind what type of mascara I use as I can't tell the difference between them but this product opened my eyes. While using this mascara I've had people (my mum) ask me about my mascara and as cliche as this sounds, I told her, "They're Real." I have a backup ready and waiting for when I finish my mini. 

Blog ya later,
Sophie xo