Benefit Benetint - Discovering a classic for the first time

So, I think I was most likely the last person left on earth who had never tried this product before until only recently. My husband purchased a bottle of this a little while ago as a present for me and because I am generally terrified of using liquid tints like this I put on my best fake smile as a 'Thank You' and promptly put it at the back of my makeup cupboard thinking I would never use it.

But, something in the back of my mind wouldn't let me forget about this little bottle of scary, runny, red liquid (mainly due to how much it cost!) so I decided to make it my mission to try and get over my fear. After what seemed like an endless amount of Googling and Youtubing I finally managed to work out the easiest way to use it and I've never looked back!

Benefit Benetint is described as a rose-tinted lip and cheek stain and after a bit of research I found out that it was originally created for exotic dancers to use in the 1970's to make their 'pink' bits look even pinker.

It's a very thin, runny liquid that looks quite scary when you first take the brush out of the bottle. It's very easy to apply too much but once you get the hang of it, it gives such a beautiful pink flush to the cheeks and lips that is seriously long lasting. The smell of this liquid is something I just can't seem to put my finger on though. It's kind of a mix between a rose/potpourri scent and Turkish delight to me but it doesn't linger around once applied.

My favourite way to use this on my lips is to apply a thin layer all over them before starting the rest of my makeup. Then I apply a second layer at the end once I'm done to darken the tint. After that I apply some clear, pink or red gloss for colour that lasts virtually the entire day. I do find it a little bit too drying to use on my lips on its own, but with a layer of gloss on top my lips feels comfortable for the majority of the day.

Now, when it came to using it on my cheeks at first I was at a complete loss. No matter what I did I either ended up with pink stripes like a zebra or full-on clown cheeks. I just couldn't seem to get the application right to get that rosy glow that everyone else seems to achieve when using it.

That was until good old Youtube saved the day! I found the best and most easiest way to apply this tint after endless searching and I will never do it differently again.

The trick is to brush some onto a clean, flat surface such as a mirror or ceramic tile, dab your preferred blush brush into it and then dab it onto the cheeks in a fast, circular stippling motion until the desired colour is achieved. Genious!! I like to use the edge of my Becca 'The One Perfecting Brush' to do this as it seems to give me the best application and I end up with perfectly flushed cheeks with no noticeable lines or streaks that last all day long.

I now use this application method for all of my other liquid products that previously went unloved and I'm so grateful for discovering this method. It's opened up a whole new world of makeup for me!

And another great benefit to applying it this way is no stained fingers because as you can see in the pictures below, once this puppy is applied, it's on for the long haul!

(Benefit Benetint - Freshly applied on the top and blended out on the bottom)

(Benefit Benetint - after several wipes with makeup remover - it does not budge!)

The only issue I have now is if I accidentally apply too much to my lips it does have a tendency to bleed out into the fine lines so less is definitely more with this product. Always start with a light application and build it up as it's much easier to apply more than it is to take off.

Even though this little bottle can seem a bit costly (around $55 at Sephora), because of the teeny amount you need to use each application it will literally last a lifetime.

Is there anyone else left on the planet that hasn't tried this product yet, or was I seriously the last one?

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Michelle xx

Review - Rimmel Fix & Protect Makeup Primer

So, I have been trying to get more into using a primer under my makeup these days as I know it's supposed to make your makeup go on a lot smoother and stay looking fresh for longer. But, as it's just another extra step in this very time-poor working mum's routine I have to admit that I do usually skip it and go straight to applying my foundation first - naughty me!

Since receiving this Rimmel Fix & Protect Makeup Primer to try out I have definitely been making more of a conscious effort to use primer before I apply the rest of my makeup. This primer has the same floral scent as the Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation which I quite like and it contains very tiny, shimmery particles which make my skin look luminous and glowing once it is blended in.

The Rimmel Fix & Protect Makeup Primer gives my skin a nice and smooth texture when applied and it makes my foundation feel like it just glides on over the top so easily.

I have also found that wearing this primer on its own with just a bit of pressed powder over the top gives my skin a flawless and smooth look when I am having a good skin day and I don't feel like wearing a lot of makeup.

This primer has an SPF 25 which always makes me happy too as I love having added protection on my skin on sunny days.

I have to admit that I don't really notice too much of a difference in the longevity of my makeup when I am wearing this primer, but it definitely make application easier and adds a glow to my skin that isn't usually there. For these reasons alone I am trying to make sure I don't skip the primer step even when I am in a rush.

Have you tried this Rimmel Fix & Protect Makeup Primer yet? What other primers are you loving right now?

Have a great weekend (or as great as you can if you are getting drenched on the east coast of Australia like me with all this rain!!)

Michelle xx


**This product was provided for consideration but my opinions are all my own**

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush - Fearless

So yep, I know I'm REALLY late to be getting on the bandwagon for the Tarte Amazonian Clay blushes but you just can't rush these things sometimes, you know??

Anyhoo, obviously I have finally started using one of these beauties in the shade Fearless and now I can kind of see what the hype is all about. To be honest, I have had this blush floating around in my makeup drawer for quite a while and for some reason I just kept forgetting about it and pulling out others to use instead.

But, once I did finally pull this baby out, it has seriously been on my face practically 5 out of the 7 days in a week for a good couple of months now.

This blush in the shade Fearless is one of those versatile coral/pinks that just seem to go with every look under the sun. On those days when I cannot be buggered trying to think of a blush to go with whatever look I have decided on with the rest of my face, I just reach for this one and I am always happy with the result.

The shade of this blush seems to suit my pale skin tone beautifully and always gives me a lovely, natural pink flush when it is blended out. It can be a very vibrant pink though if you aren't careful so I always start with a small amount and make sure I build it up rather than trying to go backwards if I apply too much.

It's very highly pigmented so a little does go a long way. This blush never seems to go patchy and I like the way it hasn't hardened in the pan like some of my other powder blushes have done over time (you know when they get that kind of crusty coating that makes it really hard to use?) I also like that it doesn't create a dust cloud in my bathroom when I'm using it too as some of my very fine, powdery blushes have a tendency to do.

It also doesn't settle into any fine lines or imperfections on my face, nor does it highlight my large pores which makes me very happy indeed.

It lasts all day on me, but so do the majority of blushes I own so longevity in a blush has never really been a problem for me.

Am I the only person on earth who took this long to try one of these blushes? What other shades should I try next?

Have a great week!

Michelle xx

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation Review

A little while ago I was given the opportunity to trial this Rimmel Match Perfection foundation and I have to admit that it has been on very high rotation in my beauty routine ever since.

I received the shade 100 - Ivory which is one of the best matches to my natural pale skin tone that I have found in a foundation in a very long time.

It comes in a glass bottle with a pump action head that gives the perfect amount of coverage for my entire face in just two pumps. Needless to say this foundation will literally last forever with the small amount that needs to be used for each application.

When being applied this foundation blends seamlessly and my favourite way to use it is with a beauty blender. It does work perfectly fine with a foundation brush as well but I find the beauty blender much easier when I am in a rush so that is why I use it more often.

This foundation is around medium coverage on me and can be built up if you want it to cover blemishes a bit more. I absolutely love using it on warmer days as it doesn't feel too heavy on my skin and I just love the fact I don't feel like I have a face full of makeup whenever I am wearing it. It gives a dewy look to the skin when it is first applied and then dries to a more powdery look after a few minutes once it sets.

The Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation has become my go-to foundation on days when I am in a rush and I want something that applies smoothly without needing much effort to blend to look good. It's also great for long work days as my skin never feels too dry or oily at the end of the day after wearing it for 10 hours or so.

Once thing I have to mention though is that it does have a tendency to separate on the oiliest parts of my face if I don't apply a setting powder over the top. It can also sometimes settle into any fine lines on my face after a long day but I'm willing to put up with this when it makes my skin look so nice for the majority of the day beforehand.

It's a nice liquid consistency that's not too runny, nor too thick. It does have a very strong floral-like scent though which does fade quickly once applied, but if you are a bit sensitive to strongly scented products then you may have an issue with this one.

I am also in love with the fact it contains SPF 20 as it means I can skip putting sunscreen on my face beforehand when it's not going to be too hot, or on really sunny days I get that little bit of extra protection when I am wearing it.

This is the first foundation I have ever tried from Rimmel and I am definitely keen to give others from this brand a go now.

Have you tried this foundation or any others from the Rimmel range?

Have an awesome weekend!

Michelle xx


**This product was received for consideration but all opinions are completely my own**

The Balm 'How 'Bout Them Apples?' Cheek and Lip Palette

A little while ago I did a little haul of some The Balm products as it's a brand that I hadn't had much exposure to before. There was no way I could resist the How 'Bout Them Apples? Lip and Cheek Palette as it just looked so cute.

This palette comes in the signature cardboard packaging that The Balm are known for which is probably the one thing that I'm not a huge fan of as I can see it getting very dirty and showing a lot of wear and tear after a while. It has a flip top lid that contains quite a large mirror underneath and it is slim enough so that it doesn't feel too bulky to hold when using it.

On the back of the packaging is a list of the shades contained in the palette with little colour swatches as well.

Packaging aside, this palette contains six gorgeous creamy shades that can be used either on the lips or cheeks. The shades are all very versatile for any occasion, they are all easy to blend and don't end up patchy like some other cream products can on my skin. They are also very pigmented and a little goes a long way.

Each shade wears for a good couple of hours on my lips (with eating and drinking involved) and can last all day when I wear them as a cream blush.

I generally like to use cream makeup products on my skin when it is feeling a bit dry and I don't want anything emphasized by using powder type products so these get quite a bit of a workout when I am having no-so-good skin days.

The six shades swatched in order above are Cider (a pretty pinky nude), Pie (a nice bright pink), Candy (a more muted rose pink), Cobbler (a gorgeous red), Crisp (a shimmery pink) and Caramel (a darker browny nude).

I alternate between using all of them on my lips depending on what look I'm going for but my favourite shades to use on my cheeks as a blush are Cider, Pie and Candy. I have also used Caramel as a contour shade when in a hurry and it works really well this way when blended out.

The Balm's How 'Bout Them Apples? Lip and Cheek Palette can be bought almost anywhere that stocks The Balm products and seems to retail for around $34.95.

Has anyone else tried this palette? What are your favourite The Balm products?

I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend!

Michelle xx