Benefit Cheekleaders Face Palette Review, Swatches, Demo

Benefit Cheekleaders Face Palette Review, Swatches, Demo

Reviews Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, May 14, 2019

The Benefit Blush Bar was among my Christmas goodies for 2018 - I love the comprehensive face palette; there's everything my cheeks need in one handy, travel-friendly box.
So, when the Benefit Cheekleaders palettes were launched for Spring 2019, I felt I didn't need them - two palettes were launched; the Pink Squad, and the Bronze Squad.
But. But. But. Benefit also launched two deeper versions of their iconic Hoola Bronzer - Hoola Caramel, and Hoola Toasted. Plus, there were two highlighters - Tickle, and Cookie. The last two were exclusive to the Cheekleaders palettes, and I was intrigued.
I found that both Cheekleaders palettes - and their mini versions, with three products each - contained FIVE FULL-SIZED box of powders, including ONE of the new highlighters. The Bronze version also had the new Hoola Caramel. So I treated myself to the Cheekleaders Bronze Squad palette, and to a single box of Hoola Toasted.

Scroll down for the review, swatches, and demo of the Benefit Cheekleaders Bronze Squad Face Palette, and for a comparison with the Benefit Blush Bar.

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Beauty Products Used Up in December 2017

Beauty Products Used Up in December 2017

Skin care Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, January 01, 2018

Heigh ho. 2018 is here. It's been a mixed year for me, with the first half being really nice. I got over acne and started scar revision. I got back on YouTube. But then I was laid up with allergies from October, Dad got bitten by a snake, and Gramps's horrible disease (I don't even want to say the c-word) has reared its ugly head again. It makes me weep to think about Gramps.
For 2018, I only wish for good health and happiness for all my loved ones and readers. That's the most important thing.

Scroll down to see the beauty products I used up in December 2017, and for my quick thoughts on each. 

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Beauty Products Used Up in September 2017

Beauty Products Used Up in September 2017

The Ordinary Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, October 02, 2017

I was going to do an Empties' video; unfortunately, my studio is still undergoing acoustic treatment. The good news is that there are results and the echo is definitely reduced, but the bad news is that all the acoustic foam and the panels are ruining my walls, although they haven't affected the lighting. So this one is a blog post.
Pity, that - I actually managed to use up quite a bit of makeup this month! I'm very proud of that; I now have a self-imposed scheme. For every 10 makeup products (the same applies to skincare) that I empty, I can buy ONE product. I hope this scheme will help curtail buying in 2018, and help me finish up more.

Scroll down for the beauty products I used up in September 2017, and my quick impressions of each.

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Mid-2017 Makeup Haul, Including 10 Lipsticks!

Mid-2017 Makeup Haul, Including 10 Lipsticks!

YSL Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, August 15, 2017

I usually go on two makeup shopping-sprees in a year - the first one is around June-July, and the second one is around Christmas/Boxing Day, to take advantage of the sales.
This year, my haul was mostly from Harvey Nichols (I missed a gorgeous GWP by one day; can you believe it?), Selfridges, and Debenhams. The haul included 10 lipsticks, but just the two eye palettes. But why am I talking about it? You can see my haul for yourself further below.

Scroll down to see my mid-2017 makeup haul from Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, and Debenhams.

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Beauty Empties: July 2017

Beauty Empties: July 2017

Toner Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, August 01, 2017

July has been a stressy month for me, with too much to do in my schedule. I'm hoping that August will be a lot more relaxed. It's also my Dad's birthday month; I got him a lovely set of gifts, only to misplace the lot, and I've turned my place upside down and cannot find the slightest peep of the package. Nor can I remember where I put it. So I've just bought a backup gift. The first box will turn up now, of course.
Be that as it may, it's time to show you the empties of the month.

Scroll down for a look at the beauty products I used up in July 2017, and for my mini reviews.

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Baking Makeup Technique: What, How To, and FOTD

Baking Makeup Technique: What, How To, and FOTD

Zelens Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Just when I thought I had the hang of strobing and highlighting, the trend changes to "baking". What next, the stir-fried makeup look? Or the parboiled one?
So what is the baking makeup trend? No, you don't stick your head in the oven. There are different ways of "baking" or cooking your makeup out there, but the majority of the beautysphere, particularly on Reddit, follows these steps:
1. After makeup, you apply a tonne of powder. Some recommend baby powder, but you can also use any old pressed or loose powder, or setting powder in your own shade.
2. Then, you proceed to dunk your face in a basin of water. Some do this by liberally spraying on a face-mist, but I find that leaves most of the powder on the face and actually combines with the powder "to create a sort of blancmange".
3. Post-dunk, pat your face dry - gently, please.
Fans of the trend claim your makeup will be set, matte and long-lasting. Let's see what happened when I "baked" my mug.

Scroll down for the lowdown on the baking makeup trend, and for a "baked" FOTD using the Lorac Pro 3 Palette and more. 

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LookFantastic Beauty Box July 2016

LookFantastic Beauty Box July 2016

Unboxing Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, July 20, 2016

LookFantastic's July 2016 Beauty Box is themed #LFSummerLovin'. The pink, orange and gold design of the box captures the theme perfectly. The box also includes this month's copy of Elle UK magazine. Since the spoilers had promised makeup, hair and skin care products for the Summer, I had expected yet another Tanworks tube.

Scroll down for the contents of the LookFantastic Beauty Box for July 2016.

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Benefit Roller Lash Mascara Review, Results

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara Review, Results

Reviews Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, January 27, 2016

When a woman with sparse eyelashes marries a similarly sparsely-eye-lashed man, their offspring - me - ends up with fuzz, in place of proper eyelashes. I have more hair on my palms and soles than I do on my eyelids. Yes, that actually means none. And I have no idea how to use a curler (something I intend to rectify this year). Not that I have lashes long enough to fit into one.
Back in August, Duty Free had a 3-for-2 offer on Benefit. I stocked up on PoreFessional primer and looked a bit lost, so the SA talked me into adding Benefit Roller Lash Mascara to my stash despite my attempts to stick to mini-sized mascaras. Them full-sized tubes just lead to colossal wastage. 

Scroll down for the review and before and after photos of Benefit Roller Lash Mascara.

Beauty products emptied in July 2014

Beauty products emptied in July 2014

Skin care Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, August 05, 2014

I have been on a road-trip since Thursday, which is why this blog has been inactive for the last few days. Part of the trip was nostalgic, going back to my Gramps's old home, while the other part was a bit of a nature-trek. It was very refreshing all around, even if it was a tad hectic. I now have to get through a backlog of comments.
I had travelled a bit in July, which accounts for the number of sample-sized empties. I only used up three full-sized tubs and/or tubes last month - a lip balm, a foot cream and a body butter.
I had also religiously applied one face mask and one hair mask per week. My hair is definitely less frizzy despite the rains, which means it was a good idea. Skin-wise, my face is definitely softer than I can remember, and my foundation is going on smoother, especially the morning after I use a face mask, so I will continue to concentrate on skin care through August. I also want to continue to get seven+ hours sleep each night, and an hour's exercise in every day. But some of those masks were quite awful, while others were great, as you will soon see.

Here are the beauty products I emptied in July 2014 and my quick thoughts on each.

Mid-year makeup haul from Sephora ME

Mid-year makeup haul from Sephora ME

YSL Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, July 29, 2014

A hundred years ago, on this very day, a series of events broke out that touched the lives of people in many, many countries - definitely throughout the British Empire. A moment of silence for those fallen in the Great War, please. My family and I are marking this by visiting two memorials - one here, and one in my Gramps's hometown - with flowers (see photo at the end of the post). On to lighter topics now.

Have you noticed the near-absence of haul posts on this blog recently? Blame Memebox for it. On the other hand, Memeboxes may come and Korean products may go, but Sephora goes on forever. I managed to find time despite a super-hectic schedule - which included football-watching - to pick up a few things from Sephora Dubai, Boots, Al Shop (I know, right), Bloomingdales, Pari Gallery, Karisma and a couple of random stores whose names I don't even remember. Here is what I bought during my trip, except for drugstore products and a couple of items missing in the depths of my suitcases. I tend to be a super-organised packer but disorganised when it comes to unpacking. Some of these are a bit squashed, as a result, but no real damage, thankfully.  You have seen the gifts with purchase and samples I received here, now take a look at the haul itself.

Benefit They're Real Push-Up Eyeliner review

Benefit They're Real Push-Up Eyeliner review

Samples Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, July 23, 2014

I was somewhat surprised to find that Sephora ME was giving out travel-sized samples of the Benefit They're Real Push-Up Eyeliner from the Benefit counter. I had expected sachets of The Porefessional, minis of They're Real mascara or That Gal, vials of perfume, even mini kits as gifts with purchase, but not something this recent.
I am someone who does not really mind any kind of black eyeliner, as long as the fiddly thing is pigmented and black enough, if you get my drift. I'm not into pencil eyeliners except on the lower waterline, but apart from that, I am not fussy about liquid or gel eyeliners. In fact, I can even put up with wonkiness or gloopiness or thickness. Who is going to examine my eyeliner that closely?
Very few people like the Bourjois Erasable Eyeliner, whereas I do - reviewed here - and have used it in quite a few eye looks I have done. I draw the line (pun intended) at an eyeliner flaking and spreading all over the place of its own free will. But apart from those, anything from an eyeliners goes with me.  I'll take anything, although I reiterate that I do not like pencil eyeliners.

Here is my review and swatches of the Benefit They're Real Push-Up Eyeliner.

Twelve favourite beauty products from early 2014

Twelve favourite beauty products from early 2014

Urban Decay Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, July 14, 2014

This year, I have not come across any new foundations or primers that wowed me so far. Boo... hiss! My all-time favourite foundation continues to remain the Shiseido Sheer Mattifying Compact and my favourite mascara continues to be Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes.Nor did I come across an applicator that bettered my beloved Beautyblender either.
A number of my recent favourites are lipsticks, as I tried to move on from the discontinued Rose Garnet in Chanel Rouge Double Intensite.  And, I did discover my Holy Grail face serum. And a couple of lovely palettes and a brilliant eye primer, as you will see below.
These are pictured in no particular order, but the listing below is grouped into skin and hair care, eye palettes/makeup and lipsticks.

Here are 12 of my favourite beauty products from January to June 2014.

Mid-year makeup wishlist for 2014

Mid-year makeup wishlist for 2014

Wishlist Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, July 02, 2014

Half the year is over already! It seems like only yesterday that I was building this blog. I had begun this blog mainly to keep an eye on my growing stash and to restrict myself from buying things left, right and centre. How has that worked out so far? Ermmm... not very well. But, I can tell you two things:

1. I have not bought any products just to blog about. Whatever I have bought was purchased after much wanting, with every intention of using. Some products have let me down in terms of colour because of weird store lighting, though.
2. I used to have monthly wishlists, remember? Now I only have a wishlist quarterly, but it contains only half a dozen products, so I combine them into half-yearly wishlists. It is a start!

Here is a bit more about each makeup product on my mid-2014 wishlist.

Benefit Cosmetics makeup and skin care haul, including foundation, perfume and more

Benefit Cosmetics makeup and skin care haul, including foundation, perfume and more

Skin care Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, January 20, 2014

Benefit Cosmetics is one of the brands that actually drew me into makeup. I first saw their products in 2010 and I was hooked by the packaging on the spot - I have been a firm fan of Porefessional from then, and have been repurchasing and hoarding it. Apart from the Hydra Smooth Lip Colors I swatched and reviewed here, I picked up some more makeup and skin care from Benefit Cosmetics from my trip in December, including repurchases. Here's what I hauled:

Benefit Hydra-Smooth Lip Color review, swatches of all shades and photos

Benefit Hydra-Smooth Lip Color review, swatches of all shades and photos

Swatches Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, January 07, 2014

Last Fall, Benefit Cosmetics launched their new makeup range, all in art deco packaging. Leading the pack was the Hydra-Smooth Lip Color. I liked the Full Finish lipsticks from Benefit, if only a couple of the shades (dusty pink variants, of course!) and they were being phased out to make way for the Hydra-Smooth range, so I wanted to try the new lippies out as soon as I could.
I got my chance in December. I have swatches of all the 10 shades of Hydra-Smooth Lip Color for you, and a couple of on-lips swatches as well. And, let me tell you, I love these more than the Full Finish lipsticks. Much, much more.

Here's the review and swatches of the Benefit Hydra-Smooth Lip Colors.

Huge haul: Sleek, Benefit, MUA, Soap & Glory, Dirty Works....

Huge haul: Sleek, Benefit, MUA, Soap & Glory, Dirty Works....

Soap and Glory Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Recently I came across a group called Order Makeup UK that would get UK and US brands delivered at home without all the customs-dangerous-goods-duty-lost-in-post headaches. I gave them a list of brands whose pricelists I wanted, and they actually managed to get me Dirty Works - I didn't know Dirty Works even sold outside Sainsbury's!

Stash show: Benefit kits so far... (just two!)

Stash show: Benefit kits so far... (just two!)

Stash Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, May 20, 2013

I used to (and still do) think that Benefit's full-size products were better value for money than the kits, so I've hoarded Porefessional (click here to see part of my hoard), Dr Feelgood, Hello Flawless, BrowZings and so on. I caved and ended up buying Confessions of a Concealaholic from Portugal, when I couldn't control my lust any longer. I also got Primpcess for Christmas - it has since been discontinued. Aren't the kits cute?

Primpcess contains:

A lovely day! (OOTD, NOTD and the Accessorize joy and heartache)

A lovely day! (OOTD, NOTD and the Accessorize joy and heartache)

Nail art Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, April 16, 2013

I had the most lovely day yesterday. Here are some pictures.

The dress

War-time supplies: A make-up hoarder confesses

War-time supplies: A make-up hoarder confesses

YSL Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, March 12, 2013

War is coming. 
If you look at my make-up hoard, you may be forgiven for getting that impression.
I decided to go through the top-most shelf in my dressing-table cupboard and was shocked to find quite a few items I've repurchased time and again, despite already having enough of the product. So this is another rather shameful yet honest post about my weirdness and how I've hoarded stuff.
Here is Benefit Porefessional. My all-time favourite primer. I'm using one tube for special occasions (more on my daily primer later), and I had a vague idea that I had another full tube somewhere inside. Turns out I have two more.
I like Benefit Dr Feelgood, though it's not an everyday item for me. I haven't even scraped the top layer off the first tin, and I seem to have bought another.
Chanel Rouge Double Intensite in Rose Garnet turned up six times. I love this colour and it is my all-time favourite lippy. I keep a tube in my bag and one for travel, but what are the other four doing???

Four items answered to the name of Estee Lauder's Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lip Duo in Mega Mauve. I can't even remember buying this lippy more than two times.
I also have three YSL Touche Eclats. It is my all-time favourite concealer, and I'm only using the first one. And why do I have so many refills of Shiseido's Sheer Mattifying Compact and Sun Protection Compact? These are in addition to the ones in two compact cases - one in my daily make-up bag and one for travel.

So you think I only hoard high-end products? Here are four Revlon Colorstay Ultimate lippies - all in shade 75. And I don't even like the shade or the formula!
I cannot, for the life of me, tell you why I've gone and bought three of these L'Oreal Smoothing Serums. They're okay for pre-styling use, though I prefer John Frieda. Still, three full-size bottles?

I also found three anti-dandruff shampoos which I no longer use, thanks to Lush Snake Oil. By the way, these are all from the top-most shelf. I haven't dared to look at the other shelves, bags or drawers.
I have just taken a solemn oath, by all make-up ever known to humans, not to buy any more of these products until I'm on the last tube or case of each. Does anyone else hoard like this?