Benefit Stay Flawless 15-Hour Primer Story/Review!!!

Hey Everyone!!

   About a month and a half ago I was watching the HSN channel when a benefit Cosmetics program came on explaining their new product. Last month Benefit released the Stay Flawless 15-Hour Primer. Now the concept behind the primer is amazing- “Have your makeup last for up to 15 hours!”  Great, right? I instantly thought so, and was sold once I saw the demonstration where they soaked the models face with water (from a spray bottle) and dabbed the water away- the makeup still looked amazing! When the product hit the stores I raced to my local Sephora to pick one up! After using the primer for several weeks, and results varying from hate to love and general confusion, I feel that now is as good a time as any to throw my two cents into the mix!

   Ok, so before we get into the product, let’s take a minute to look at the packaging! It’s adorable, like super cute. The product is a waxy stick consistency, so the packaging is a cylinder shape. It’s black on the bottom and the cap is white with black polka dots.

   Now lets move onto the product. The primer comes in stick form and is waxy in consistency. There isn’t really a noticeable smell either.

   So the first time I used this product, I literally covered my entire face with it and began applying my foundation with a buffing brush. It looked like Picasso took a paintbrush to my face, (normally that would be so cool, considering I’m a HUGE Picasso fan) but in this case I wasn’t thrilled. I couldn’t get my foundation to settle into my skin. It looked like I was basically pushing the makeup around on my face.  After taking the time to read the little instruction card that came in the package (Duh! Why didn’t I do that before I used it??) I realized that I needed to do my face in sections, and preferably use my fingers to apply my foundation because my natural body heat will help the product melt into my skin.

   After doing my makeup like that, I was satisfied with the results. My skin looked amazing! It was smooth and even. I was very impressed. Then I went to work, and it was hot in the store that I work in, which means that I started to sweat. An hour and a half into my shift, I looked in the mirror and noticed that the makeup around my nose was gone and there was a visible line where my makeup started on my cheeks again. I guess when I was wiping the sweat from my face, (I know, gross! Just bare with me for a moment) I wiped the foundation away as well.

   The next day I decided to give it another try. I applied it beautifully, and really watched it throughout the day. Instead of wiping any sweat that I may have had I dabbed it away, which resulted in my makeup staying on all day! Now I haven’t actually tested the 15-hour wear, but my full face of makeup lasts pretty darn long when I use this primer! And during the cooler days when I wear this primer I have had no issues with my makeup coming off!

   So basically in review:

Dislike:I dislike this product during those really hot summer days because I have to really pay attention so I don’t wipe all of my foundation off!

Love:I love the finish this gives my skin (really smooth looking), I love how long-lasting it is, I think it will be my everyday primer in the fall, winter and spring months! 

How to Use:I basically apply the primer in a light swirl around my left cheek first, and then I use my fingers to apply my liquid foundation. I blend onto the left side of my nose, under my eye, and chin as I go. Then I repeat on my right cheek and then my forehead!

Bottom Line:I LOVE this primer and would recommend it to anyone!

   You can purchase this product at any Sephora or Ulta store for $32.00 (for 15.5g). Or you can order it online here. 

   

   Thank you all so much for taking the time to read my posts! I hope you found my story/review helpful!!

                        

        XOXO,

         Mallory

July Favorites!

Hey Everyone!!

   Today is August 1^st! Which means that today I am going to write about the things that I have been absolutely loving throughout July!! The majority of my items are beauty products but I do have some random ones thrown into the mix! Let’s get started. (A real quick note: I am not trying to brag about anything that I have. I simply love to watch and read about what other people are loving, so I thought I would give this a shot!)

   

   The first item that I’ve loved this past month is from the Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Spring 2013 collection. 

   It is the Illuminating Powder Gelee in “Heat Wave!” I use this product as my everyday high light for the tops of my cheekbones and down my nose. I also sometimes use it as an eye shadow. The color is a gorgeous champagne that lasts pretty much all day. I absolutely love the effect it has on my skin!

   The next product is the Stila stay all day 10-in-1 HD illuminating beauty balm.

   I picked this up in Sephora around mid-May for my vacation. I wanted a bb cream or something like it for the pool, (I didn’t fancy doing a full foundation routine just for it to get splashed off!) and I had been eyeing the Stila bb creams for a while.

Not all the way rubbed in, but here's an idea of what the product looks like!

   There were two to choose from that were water-resistant and I chose the illuminating one over the bronzing one because I was already quite tan and I was intrigued to see how illuminated my face would look.  I honestly don’t know how well it “illuminates” but it did wear nicely while I was splashing around in the pool! Because it has an SPF 30, this product has become an everyday essential and it’s usually the only face product that I wear if I do not have to go anywhere during the day!

   Next we have another water-resistant product, the Cargo water-resistant blush in “IBIZA,” which is a gorgeous bright pink color. 

   I was looking into these blushes for my trip (purely because of the names, if I’m completely honest lol) and was going to purchase one, when this little sample sized showed up on my door in my Birchbox.I could not have been more pleased!

I think this is the perfect color for summer!

   The next beauty product that I have is the Benefit Stay Flawless 15-Hour Primer.

   This recently released product is a love/hate of mine. I love it, but I can also dislike it-if that makes sense. I think I love it more that I dislike it or else I wouldn’t have thought to put it in the favorites post. I’m going to do a full review of this as my next post, so if you are interested to see why I love and dislike it come back tomorrow to read about it!

   A nail polish made this months favorites, Essie’s “Under where?.” 

   I must say that doing my nails is like a chore and I just generally dread painting them. It seems within a few hours the paint has already chipped which is frustrating. Anyway, this gorgeous pastel purple nail polish has made the cut for the very reason that it lasts over two days with no chipping! And because of that fact, I have kept repainting my nails this color almost all month!

   The final two beauty products are the Nivea Lip Butter in “Raspberry Rose Kiss.” 

   It leaves my lips super hydrated and gives them a yummy smell and taste! I can’t wait to try the other flavors. 

   And the final product is the L’Occitane “Lavande de Haute-Provence” hand cream I picked up from Sephora. 

   I wanted a hand lotion that was lighter that I Soap and Glory Hand Food (which I adore, especially in the winter) and this little bad boy was screaming at me in the checkout line so I thought I would give it a shot!

   The smell is ok, I do not love it, but I also do not hate it. It is a very light hand cream that doesn’t leave my hands greasy feeling at all! I think this has definitely become my go-to hand cream for summer!

            The last four items that I have are non-beauty products. The first are a pair of shoes. These gray and floral sneaker wedges have literally been my go-to shoe this month.

   They are super comfortable to walk in and really cute (although I know not everyone is a fan of the sneaker wedge). I ordered them from Shoedazzle.com and could not have been more pleased!  My next non-beauty item is a purse. 

   The Steve Madden clutch-type bag is a mute pink. It doesn’t fit much, but that is why I bought it. I realized that I was carrying way more than I actually needed, so when I saw this in Marshall I was super happy! Plus they kind of match my shoes!

   The next item is a four-pack of ear cuffs that I purchased from H&M. There is a gold-colored star, a black skull, a silver angel wing, and a steel-colored spike. 

Gold Star!

Black Skull! 

Silver Angel Wing!

Steel-colored Spike!

   I have love these, especially the gold star, and have worn one almost every day! The Final item is a book. 

   The Madman’s Daughter, by Megan Shepherd is a novel about a 16 year old girl, Juliet Moreau, who went from privileged to poverty when her father’s (a doctor) horrid science experiments became known and harshly rejected for unethical behavior. Her father, whom she thought was dead, is still alive, living on an island, and continuing his experiments. Juliet learns of this and embarks on a journey to find her father, but what she finds is something that she cannot live with. I found it to be a great book and once I started it, I couldn’t put it down until I was finished!

   Thank you all so much for taking the time to read my July favorites and I hope you found the products worth it because I truly love them all!

           XOXO,

            Mallory