Product Review: The POREfessional by Benefit Cosmetics

I hate pores! It's super hard to get rid of pores and some of us naturally have larger pores than others.  I’ve always had large pores on my nose and always wondered how to minimize them! Luckily, I stumbled across the Benefit The POREfessional by Benefit Cosmetics (retails $31.00) and am totally loving this product!

This product is a face primer that makes your face look flawless.  The product works to smooth out uneven skin texture (such as pores and fine lines) and essentially creates a smooth surface for flawless skin.  The formula itself is lightweight and feels silky. It’s a balm that you can apply under or over makeup. 

According to Benefit, this product can be worn two ways:

Under Makeup - Apply to clean, lightly moisturized skin then pat on problem areas and blend with fingertips.  Using the product under the makeup creates a smooth canvas.

Over Makeup - Pat on lightly over makeup and blend.  This helps to touch up problem areas and to make your skin look matte.

I really like the packaging on this product.  The product comes in a tube (not made out of glass) for easy traveling! You can easily throw this in your purse for those that are always on the go.

How to Create a Sleek & Smooth High Ponytail

Lately, I’ve been totally crushing on sleek ponytails. Many of us think that ponytails are for those days when you just don't have time to do your hair or that it's something that you throw your hair into after the gym.

Ponytails can make quiet a statement.  Ponytails are perfect in showing off flawless makeup or to make a statement with your clothing since you won't be hiding behind your hair. It’s definitely a way to make yourself noticeable! In recent times, the ponytail has made a huge comeback with stars like Kim Kardashian and Blake Lively rocking the hair-do!

Steps for Achieving a Sleek Ponytail:

1.  If you have extremely thick hair like me run a straightener through your hair OR you can always blow dry your hair straight.

2.  Using an elastic, gather all hair into a high ponytail (or into the height which you want).

3.  Take your favorite hair spray and hair spray your head lightly.  If you’re not a fan of hair spray you can always use a light-hold hair gel.

4.  Using a fine tooth comb, comb the top and sides of your hair until your hair looks perfectly smooth and sleek.

Tips & Tricks for Achieving a Sleek Ponytail:

Tilt Your Head Back – Tilting your hair back when pulling your hair into a ponytail creates a tighter hold.  This also keeps the hair underneath from slipping out (especially with baby hairs!). 

Use a New Elastic – Make sure you’re using a new elastic or an elastic that’s tight .

Let's Get Fancy – If you want to get a little bit fancy, you can take a small piece of your hair from the underside of the ponytail and wind it around the base of the ponytail to cover the elastic.  Then pin into place for a long-lasting hold!

Product Review: Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil

Face oils or face creams? That's the debate I've been having lately.  I walked into Sephora a couple of weeks ago and bought the Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil instead of what I had initially gone in for which was the Lancome Energie De Vie Dullness Relief & Energy Recharge Daily Cream (see my review here).

Why are face oils better than creams? Face oils come without chemicals, toxins, and all the bad ingredients that creams can contain.  Oils have been around for many years - but how is that we as a society have just discovered them?  Most people are under the impression that oils can cause breakouts, are pore-clogging and make our skin look and feel greasy.  But that's not really the case.

Your skin certainly needs a certain amount of oil. Oils can transform your skin and keep it healthy.  Facial oils are also a fantastic base for makeup because they plump fine lines, even texture and can give the appearance of dewy skin.

This face oil in particular is made with Seaberry Oil. Seaberry oil (also known as seabuckthorn oil) is an antioxidant which is rich in moisturizing omegas 3, 6, 7 & 9.  Seaberry oil is also noted for protecting the skin from aging free radicals.

According to the the Fresh website, those individuals that used the Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil felt the following:

- Proven to provide 24-hour hydration
- 100% felt their skin was immediately nourished
- 100% reported their skin was supple
- 97% said their skin was immediately hydrated
- 85% felt it decreased roughness on contact

The Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil comes in a thick glass bottle filled and a dropper.

How do I use the Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil? I use this product by taking the dropper and placing a drop or two on my face.  Then I take my finger tips and massage the face oil on my face and into my skin. The oil feels lightweight and my skin doesn't look oily after.

So how did I feel after using this product for three weeks? My skin felt smoother and hydrated then it was before. Especially during the winter months when the weather is dry I pay extra attention to my skin.

The only complaint I had about the product was that it does have a strong smell.  If you can get past the smell of the product then you'll love it!

Before:

After:

Will you be trying this product? If so let me know your thoughts!

Product Review: Watt's Up! by Benefit Cosmetics

I've been obsessed lately with finding the perfect highlighter.  I came across the Watt's Up! by Benefit Cosmetics (retails $30.00 for 0.33 oz) which comes in a luminous champagne color.  I was going to buy the actual size which comes with a blender on the other side, however, when I got to the checkout line I asked for my birthday gift and viola! Sephora was offering  a small size of the Watt's Up! by Benefit Cosmetics along with the They're Real! Mascara by Benefit (check out my review here on the They're Real! Mascara by Benefit).  I just HAD to try the Watt's Up! by Benefit Cosmetics before purchasing the actual size and let me just say - I was pleasantly surprised.

I like the Watt's Up! by Benefit Cosmetics application because it's in stick form.  I can throw it easily in my bag or makeup bag and don't have to be afraid of shattering the case by it slipping out of my hands onto the ground.

The highlighter is such a pretty, shimmery color. 

The highlighter is designed to work on all complexions. Benefit Cosmetics suggests applying the highlighter to your cheek and brow bones, while using the soft blender to sculpt and then blend the product onto your skin.  The highlighter can be used on its own or over existing makeup.

Here is how the product looks on my skin... It's pretty shimmery however, when it's blended out it works so well against skin and doesn't look caky.

Here's the product blended out. It's such a shimmery beautiful color! It results in a beautiful, glowy sheen that’s super luminous.

Product Review: Hidden Corrective Concealer by Hourglass

I'm always on the lookout for a great concealer. I get dark under eye circles and bags very easily if I don't sleep well.  I've tried a number of concealers and by far this is one of my favorite ones yet.  I've been using the Hidden Corrective Concealer by Hourglass for a couple of months now and I just have to say I love it!

The color Hidden Warm works best with my skin tone.

The concealer feels very weightless on my skin and does not try my skin out.  The Hidden Corrective concealer contains Vitamin E to soften skin and provides a protective layer.  I would say it is a medium coverage that's also long lasting.  I use this concealer with a concealer brush.  

Here's what the concealer looks like on my skin...

And here's what the concealer looks like when it's blended into my skin...