BENEFIT BROWS

♡ I love eyebrows ♡

When I'm doing my makeup in the morning, I will spend twenty minutes on my eyebrows, then maybe ten minutes on everything else. Having always had thick, almost black brows, I was overjoyed when this became a trend. I'm always really eager to try new products out to achieve the perfect "on fleek" eyebrows. 

When I saw that Benefit were bringing out all of these new products I could have died. I went to my local Harvey Nichols (happy place),  and marched confidently up to the counter. I was greeted by a lovely lady with fierce brows, who talked me through some of the products that she thought would suit my needs. First off, the packaging is stunning. I want to display all of these products in a glass case or something. 

- Products I didn't purchase -

❃ Goof-Proof eyebrow pencil / Shade 6 / (not pictured) Elle Magazine

This was the first product I actually sampled from this collection. I am a religious Elle reader, and luckily enough there was a very generously sized sample of this pencil as a gift. The shade was really dark, but it was only about one shade darker than my natural eyebrow, anyway. 
The consistency of this was initially pretty impressive. The nib is a very interesting shape, and can create a nice arch. It's very waxy, and quite easy to move about under my brows, as my actual hairs are quite long. However, this does not last as well as some of the other products I'll mention. I have quite oily to combination skin, and the formula did not last on my eyebrows as well as I had hoped as by the end of the day it was patchy and messy at the edge. I'd probably rate it ♡♡♡ out of five because although the shape of this product is brilliant, the longevity just didn't meet the standard I was expecting.

❃ Gimme-Brow / Shade 5 / Glamour Magazine

I. LOVE. THIS. I have loved this since I first bought it when I was seventeen and it is even better. The new shade range has made this product even more accessible to others (although I loved the old deep shade too). I will 100% be buying the full size of this when the sample size runs out. The sample is really generous, and has not compromised the size of the applicator for it being a sample. The little spoolie is the perfect size to really get into the little tricky parts of your brow, and the pigmentation of the actual formula is dark and even. With this, you can create a really naturally filled look or go it a little heavier handed for a fuller look. This is a definite makeup bag essential. ♡♡♡♡♡ from me!

- Purchased Products - 

❃ Ka-Brow (Benefit ka-BROW! eyebrow cream-gel colour) / Shade 5 / Harvey Nichols Benefit Counter

This was the first thing that I purchased from the collection. This screams Anastasia BH vibes, as it is a sort of Brow Pomade. There's a little brush in the lid if this product, which is very good, but definitely needs a little rinse after each use. The formulation of this product is brilliant! It applies really evenly, although it is very dark, so when I use this I make sure I have my spoolie on hand to brush through my brows as they cling to product quite quickly. This cream-gel product really is waterproof, although I can't say I've ever tested it's 24 hour lasting ability. I did a two show day, sweating through dances and under hot lights and I didn't have to reapply this once. Such a brilliant addition to my makeup bag too! ♡♡♡♡

❃ 3D BROWtones eyebrow enhancer

I like this. Definitely not an essential product, but this is seriously cool and very unique. Like a highlight in your hair, this product has tiny, almost glittery, pigments in it that are designed to pick up the light and create dimension in the brow. I do actually use this daily before I set my brows down with a gel (keep reading to hear about that!), and it does actually add a nice subtle finish to the brow. I'm going to rate this one ♡♡♡♡ out of five, because although this is a really nice product, it is not essential for everyday makeup, and does look better over something else, such as Ka-BROW or another brow pencil such as the Soap and Glory Archery pencil.

❃ Ready, Set, BROW! clear brow gel

This. Just this. This is a marvellous product. This is not a new product, as everyone I know with thick brows is no stranger to a good brow gel. This does not budge. The clear gel means that it looks brilliant over the top of any product, be it pomade, pencil, wax, anything. This sets very quickly, and dries keeping your hairs in alignment. The applicator has small bristles on each side allowing the product to be evenly spread through the brow. ♡♡♡♡♡ from me here! Proper holy grail product as of now!

❃BROWVO! conditioning eyebrow primer

I did not think I would like this at all. Up until I tried it. And oh. Oh my. I couldn't live without this now! Benefit's website claims that "This conditioning formula contains keratin & soy proteins known to help brows look THICKER, HEALTHIER & FULLER." and they are not wrong. The lovely woman who sold this to me told me to wear it at night as well, which has made a massive difference when doing my eyebrows in the morning. My makeup has applied easier, my brows do look thicker and my product is lasting all day now. This is now part of my morning and nightly skincare routine and it is a lovely addition. If you buy one thing from this range, it needs to be this! ♡♡♡♡♡ for Browvo!

I hope this was helpful in finding out some new info about this brilliant range!

M x

Summer in Scotland

So. It's July, and I'm yet to acquire a T-shirt tan yet.

Summer in Scotland growing up has always been an easy joke to pick at. The weather sucks. It rains. No one's holiday plans ever match up. It can end up being a bit vanilla in parts. Here's some of my "tips", or just some of the things that I've been up to so far this summer.

• Read! I cannot stress enough how happy it made me to be able to sit down and just delve into a book of my own choice. Being a student, it's hard sometimes to find the time for myself, and to not be 100% focussed at all times on studying. Sit down, get your specs on (if applicable, I am blind as a bat), make yourself a cup of tea and just read something you want. It can be as simple as picking up a copy of Elle for the first time in weeks, or getting stuck in to a beautiful piece of fiction, as long as you're letting yourself unwind for an hour or two (or five). I've just finished an amazing book, All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven and wow. I have not cried that much at the end of a book since I read Dear John. 
• Get active. Exercise in any way you can. They're not wrong when they say exercising releases happy hormones. That doesn't mean hitting the gym every day. It could be joining in at a fun class locally to you or trying something a bit different. I'm attending a Gene Kelly themed Zumba class tomorrow. In the Borders. Casual. 
• Cook something amazing. Eat a substantial breakfast! Explore different ways of cooking and with something you wouldn't think to try before. There are hundreds of apps available that can give advice for recipes. My personal fave is the Deliciously Ella app because it is packed with tonnes of really interesting recipes - varying from breakfast items to main meals and big batch cooking for the family. 
• Treat yourself. Give yourself a mini facial before you go to bed. Use that face mask you're trying to save. Buy an outfit that makes you feel incredible in your own skin. 
• Text someone you haven't seen in a while and ask how they are. 

I don't want to keep blabbering on tonight so I think I'll wrap this one up here. I hope you liked this post, and please feel free to comment below anything you'd like to see written about on here!

M x

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