Review: Benefit's They're Real! Push-Up Liner

Today we have a review of the fairly new Benefit They’re Real Push-Up Liner. This product is a twist-up gel eyeliner pen that claims to be long-wearing and waterproof. The box also says it will hug your lashline and make your eyes look visibly larger.

The tip of the pen is supposed to be designed to push your eyelashes out of the way while you draw on the eyeliner. It has a rubber tip, shaped kind of like a small angled brush, that gets really wide at the bottom. It is supposed to be made so cat eye flicks are much simpler and basically fool-proof.

This eyeliner is definitely long-wearing and waterproof. I actually find it quite hard to take off.

Benefit created a makeup remover to go along with the mascara and eyeliner because many people were having difficulties removing it. The rubber tip definitely moves your eyelashes out of the way for the liner so that part totally works, and I have found that doing winged liner is a lot easier.

However, one word of caution is that you really need to practice using this. If you’re rushing out the door and trying to make perfectly even wings, you need to make sure you can actually do them on the first try. Since the liner is hard to remove, it can be difficult to continually redo your wings until you get them right.

You also have to prep the eyeliner pen, so if you buy it in a store like Ulta, Sephora or online, they won’t do it for you, but if you buy it at a Benefit counter they should start it for you. Prep your pen by twisting the bottom until you see product come out of the tip.

Another thing the packaging says is that it only takes one click of the twisty bottom to get enough liner for both eyes. Maybe I use the product wrong, but I’ve found that it takes 1-2 clicks for just one eye.

Final Thoughts:

This product is definitely worth it. It takes so much less time than traditional gel eyeliner because you don’t have to continually re-dip a brush in a pot. It’s also very space-saving and makes it so you don’t have to take an eyeliner brush in your makeup bag. I also love the staying power; I have very oily lids, and typically eyeliner ends up down my cheeks by midafternoon. Though the difficult removal is sort of bad, I can get over it. It’s totally worth the $24 because it’s something I will wear everyday and it will make my morning routine much easier.

I totally agree, this product is definitely worth it. It has amazing staying power. I have the problem of eyeliner printing up onto my eyelid and this does not do that. Its relatively simple to use too; it takes a couple tries to get it exactly right but it’s not too difficult.

See you next Tuesday!

Love, Abbey and Emily

Shopping Haul Part 2

So this is the second part of our haul that we started last week. Enjoy!

The first thing I got was a black floral dress with cute little lace accents from Forever 21. Normally I wouldn’t go for something so shapeless, but I tried it on and fell in love. It makes me feel like a cute little pioneer or something! One thing to note is that even though I got a size small, the neck is massive (like a lot of Forever 21 things) and the shoulders tend to slip down.

Floral Dress: $27.80, Forever 21

The next dress I got is probably my most favorite dress ever ever ever. I’ll obviously have to save it for the winter months but I think I can wait. This dress is red and navy plaid with a white Peter Pan collar. It nips in at the waist and is more flowy in the skirt. The short capped sleeves add a final adorable touch. I love everything about this dress. I feel like Santa’s favorite elf or a cute little schoolgirl.

Plaid Dress: $22.80, Forever 21

The last thing I got was a major major disappointment. These cotton Mary Janes were on sale at Urban Outfitters for 2 for $20, so Abbey and I both got a pair. They have 2 different styles and a lot of colors and prints.

As I was trying to buckle them, the buckle just decided to pop off! I haven’t taken these back yet but I will soon. I think I’m going to exchange them for another pair because these shoes are super cute and comfortable.

Another note about these is that they only have three holes for the buckle to go into. I have very narrow feet, and I had to create a new hole super far away from the other three just so I could get them tight enough. So watch out if you have narrow feet like me!

I bought basically the same thing but mine have a t-strap. For me at least the third hole is just barely tight enough so i didn’t have to make a fourth hole but if my feet were any narrower than I would have to do the same thing as Emily. Mine haven’t broken but the buckle isn’t very well attached.

This is a top i bought from Forever 21, its not quite a crop top but it’s a little bit shorter than a normal top. The sleeves are loose and baggy that reach about mid point on the upper arm. It has navy blue around the edges, an almost paisley pattern, then the same pattern but smaller.

Forever 21: $19.80

See you next Tuesday!

Love, Abbey and Emly

July Haul Part One

Hey! Tuesday was busy so we had to post on Wednesday instead. Sorry! Today Abbey and I went shopping so we decided to do a little haul! To keep the post nice and short, we’ll do a second part next week.

The first thing I got was a ring from Urban Outfitters. It’s a vintage gold color. It has a moon and star facing each other, and it can be squeezed together or spread apart depending on what size you want.

Ring: Urban Outfitters, $16.00

The second thing I got was a tank top from Forever 21. The material is fairly sheer. The top is a forest green/dark jade color and is nice and flowy. I got this in a small, but the neck is pretty big, and the straps slip a little.

Top: Forever 21, $12.80

The next thing is something that we both bought. It’s a highlighter from Forever 21, that is described as light pink in color. What really attracted us to this was the super cute packaging and really cheap price. (The price tag says light pink, but the highlighter itself isn’t really pink at all. Maybe it’s referring to the color of the package…)

Forever 21, $3.80

The second thing that I bought was the L’Oreal Paris The Super Slim liquid eyeliner in black. It’s a felt tip eyeliner pen with a very thin tip that makes it really great for thin eyeliner.

Infallible Super Slim: $7.99

Finally is something I personally am super excited about and have been wanting to buy for a really long time. It’s the MAC pigment in Vanilla. Ever since they did the MAC Sized to Go line, I’ve been waiting to buy this and it does not disappoint.

Mac Pigment in Vanilla: $10.00

See you next Tuesday!

Love, Abbey and Emily

Sephora Summerstash Review

Today we’re gonna write a little review of the Sephora Favorites Summerstash. It’s $45.00 and available in-store and online. It comes with a gold chevron makeup bag and nine tester/sample sizes of products.

1. Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray

1 ounce-$14, 4 ounces-$30

I didn’t really notice if this made my makeup stay longer or not, but if you have oily skin it might make more of a difference. One thing I did notice is that it set powders really nicely and made them look less like powders just sitting on top of you skin.

Would you buy a full size?

Probably not, because its not something I would use everyday.

Same with me. I probably wouldn’t use this often, so I don’t need the full size.

2. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Stained Gloss in New Wave (with brush)

Full Size w/ brush-$18

I love love LOVE Lip Tars and Stained Glosses! This one is a super bright neon pink, but since it’s a gloss, it goes on as a nice wash of color. The taste and smell are very minty, which I like, but if you don’t you might be put off of this product. The one thing I would have to say against OCC lip products is they dry out your lips almost instantly after you put them on, even the glossy ones! The color is lovely and it lasts a long time, but I would recommend using the clear Lip Tar primer with this product.

Would you buy a full size?

This is a complicated answer. Of course I would buy a full size because I love the product, but when it comes to this product, a little tiny bit goes a long way, so I don’t think I would even need to buy the full size for a long long time.

I totally would because I love the product, like if i needed a nice pink lip color this would probably be one of the first things I would look at buying.

3. Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee in Pink Escape

Full Size-$22

I really love this as a blush. It’s like a gel, it gives you a really natural look, and you barely notice it. Before this I had only ever used powder blushes, but this gel one is really nice because you can build up more if you want more of a flushed look, or put on less for just a little bit of a pink tint. The color of this one is beautiful as well; it’s a really nice natural shade of pink. The packaging is really nice quality but a little hard to work with in the sample size.

Would you buy a full size?

No, because I don’t really like cream/gel blushes!

I don’t think I would. I love the product but I do prefer powder blushes.

4. Buxom Divine Goddess Luminizer

Full Size-$28

This product is a lightweight cream highlighter. You can use it just on your cheekbones/wherever else you highlight, or all over your face for a light glow. It’s really light, feels lovely on skin, and has a nice amount of shimmer. Just a small amount goes a long way. Personally, I wouldn’t use this all over my face, just because I think the gold color might look a little weird on my very fair skin. Otherwise, I really like it.

Would you buy a full size?

No, just because I would rather go for something more cool toned than a warm tone.

No, mainly because it’s expensive and I would rather spend the money on something I would use more. I also think the sample size will go a long way, so I probably wouldn’t need to buy a full size one.

5. Marc Jacobs Lash Lifter Gel Definition Mascara in 20 Blacquer

Full Size-$26

Oh my gosh. I love this mascara. I LOVE it. I think it has a similar look to Lights, Camera, Lashes by Tarte. It’s wet, but not too wet. It is a little more difficult to remove than Lights, Camera, Lashes is, but it’s not too bad. I don’t think it takes too long to dry, and it doesn’t smudge. The brush is a bristle brush, which I much prefer to plastic brushes. Also, the sample size packaging is so simple and stunning. This is definitely on my list of favorite mascaras.

This mascara is amazing. I agree, it’s very close to Lights, Camera, Lashes. The shape of the brush is very similar but the products are different. This mascara makes your lashes look so long and separated. The only thing I personally don’t like is that it is pretty wet, and like a takes a little bit of time to dry on your lashes. It definitely stays put and doesn’t smudge or flake.

Would you buy a full size?

Yes, I love mascaras and trying out different ones but I definitely would buy this one, it has a good balance between length and volume.

YES! This mascara is great, and I would rather spend the majority of my makeup money on good mascara.

(left eye is with the mascara, right is without)

6. Nars Bronzing Powder in Laguna

Full Size-$38

I love love love this bronzer! I would call it a really good universal bronzer. Even though I am very fair, it doesn’t look overly dark on my skin. You can definitely build it up, and use more for contour and less for just a general bronzed look. I love the very sleek packaging, the only problem is if your makeup drawers or bag is dirty it can look pretty dingy after a while, because it is black and you can easily see things on it. Everyone raves about this bronzer and I totally agree with all of them.

Would you buy a full size?

No, because I do already own the Laguna/ Orgasm duo. If i didn’t already own that I totally would though. It is pricey but the small size in the duo seems like it’ll go on forever.

No, because I already have another small size of this and I think they’ll both take forever to use up! It’s also too pricey for me.

7. Stila Magnificent Metals Foil Finish Eyeshadow in Kitten (no primer)

Full Size (comes with a primer)-$32

This shadow really packs on the glitter! The texture in the pot is a little bit weird, but it feels nice once it’s on your lid. The pot can get super messy if you apply with your finger, so be careful! The color is described as a “nude pink sheen.” To me, it’s kind of like mixing a teeny bit of a dusky rose pink into a lot of gold, and it’s lovely. The cream is buildable, so you can go as crazy as you want!

Would you buy the full size?

Again I love the product but for like everyday, casual use its pretty impractical, it also takes a bit of time to apply. It is a really great product though and if you wear a lot of eye shadow then it would be worth it.

The product is so great and I want it in all the colors, but I have to say no because I really don’t wear eyeshadow all that often, and the super glitteryness might not be appropriate for everyday use.

8. Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in 12L

Full Size-$19

I love this eyeliner. The packaging makes it seem like its going to be a really green teal, but in my opinion it was more of a blue teal. It’s so creamy and just applies so nicely, even if you don’t typically use pencil eyeliner you’ll like this one. After it dries it won’t smudge, but right after you apply it you can still smudge it out for a smokier look. The color might seem really out there for some people but it is a wearable blue color, like it’s not too in your face or bright.

Would you buy the full size?

I would buy this in a heartbeat, even this color. I think eyeliner is a good way to add color to your makeup without it being too obvious. This is also one of the few pencil liners I’ve had that stays put.

Yes, I would. I normally don’t like pencil liners because they never stay put, but this one does. However, I would probably buy it in black, not another full size of the teal.

9. Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Mermaid’s Dream

Full Size-$20

The color is described as “seafoam splendor,” which I think fits it perfectly. It’s a lovely mint green and goldish glitter with pieces of larger blue glitter. You can layer it over another color, like light blue or white, or you can use 2-3 coats to wear it on its own. The packaging is adorable and the shape of the cap makes the brush easy to grip. It’s also pretty long-lasting, which is nice.

Would you buy a full size?

No, I could not justify paying that much for a nail polish. I love the color but I personally couldn’t do it.

No. The polish is a great color and is long-lasting, but for me, $20 for a nail polish is ridiculous. I don’t really paint my nails at home all that often, so for me it would be a waste of money.

Overall, Sephora’s Summerstash is a great buy. The bag is adorable, and all the products are nice. It gives you an opportunity to try something you might not normally try. Though we may not purchase the full sizes of everything, the samples are nice to have and will get used! It’s definitely a good deal if you are looking to try out new things.

See you next Tuesday!

Love, Abbey and Emily

Glittery Makeup Brushes

Hey guys! Today we’re gonna teach you how to make your brushes sparkly without having messy glitter fall off.

(Abbey’s comments are bold, Emily’s are not.)

So the things you need are:

• Mod Podge
• very fine Glitter (We used blue, purple, pink, black and silver)

(Sadly, the pink glitter wasn’t fine enough, and it was really chunky and wouldn’t dry, so we eventually ditched the pink.)

• Bowls
• Paint Brush
• Newspaper
• Your Makeup Brushes
• popsicle sticks
• A box to set the drying brushes on

Step One: Mix the glitter and the Mod Podge together with the popsicle sticks in the bowls, using a lot of glitter until it becomes a thickish paste.  

Step Two: Use a paintbrush to paint the handles of your brushes. Be careful to avoid the bristles! (Unfortunately, we didn’t have any paintbrushes, so we used old eyeshadow brushes.)

Step Three: We used a cardboard box to set the brushes on while they dried. Any of the brushes that could stand on their own just dried like that. 

Step Four: Once those feel dry, paint them with the glitter mixture again, making sure to cover all the blank patches.

(Once the second coat is dry, you can go over it with a thin layer of plain Mod Podge to seal it all in. We didn’t do that, but we think it might be a good idea.)

Tada! Now you have glittery brushes! Since the glitter was mixed in with the glue, it’s gonna stick really well and not get all over the place. We hope you like your fancy brushes!

See you next Tuesday!

Love, Abbey and Emily