We all know that hydrating the eye area, concealing any dark circles and thickening & lifting your lashes does wonders for your eyes- it perks them right up, makes you look more fresh & awake and really help to complete any makeup look. But… do you really realize how much of a difference these three simple steps actually make?

Benefit Cosmetics challenged a few beauty bloggers to try out their power trio for beautiful, bright eyes- but only on one eye- so we could see the difference. I must admit, I’m pretty shocked. Typically, I apply my eye cream on both eyes, then my concealer on both eyes, then my mascara on both eyes. I see the little steps happen one at a time, but I never actually see the Before & After of my daily routine. So today, I took the challenge…

I don’t even have to TELL you which eye is which! What a dramatic difference!

My goodness! It almost looks like I got in a fight! Thank goodness for these miracle workers. Notice how the mascara opens the eye and actually makes it look larger too? Awesome!

Great news- I’m teaming up with Benefit Cosmetics to offer one of you guys the chance to win these three products too! One winner will take home Benefit It’s Potent Eye Cream, Benefit Fakeup Hydrating Concealer and (the famous) Benefit They’re Real! Mascara. It’s simple to enter… “Like” their Facebook and “Follow” their Twitter. Done and done! This giveaway is only open to Canadian residents, but I promise more worldwide giveaways coming soon!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Benefit It’s Potent Eye Cream

Benefit Fakeup Hydrating Concealer

Benefit They’re Real! Mascara

Copyright © Beautezine, 2013. | Original Post | 6 comments | Twitter | Facebook
Categories: Giveaways
Tags: Benefit, Benefit Fake Up Concealer, Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream, Benefit They're Real Mascara

The Shu Uemura Eye-conic 30th Anniversary Collection for Summer 2013 includes two shu uemura Lasting Gel Pencil Eyeliners ($36 CAD), each featuring two main colors and one glitter color in a 60′s-inspired pattern. This limited-edition collection celebrates 30 years of innovation, creativity and iconic beauty of shu uemura with exhilarating color, bold prints and youthful energy. Available July 2013 at shu uemura counters.

I love seeing new formulas launched in seasonal collections! These new eyeliners feature the longevity and smooth application of a gel eyeliner with the convenience and precision of an ultra thin pencil. The eyeliner has a twist-up mechanism (but be careful- it does not twist back down!) so no sharpening is needed.

Note the size

Shu Uemura Lasting Gel Pencil Eyeliners in M Black (left) & M Brown (right)

These eyeliners come in two shades, M Black for a bold, defined look, and M Brown for a softer, natural look. M Brown is still quite dark, so it’s great for those who feel like black is too harsh for them (but honestly, I think everyone looks great with black eyeliner). M Black is actually quite a soft black- I personally would have preferred an opaque, jet-black color but it definitely has a bit of a softer, more charcoal-like finish.

The formula doesn’t really feel like a new innovation- it glides on beautifully with a creamy texture and great transfer without any tugging, very similar to the ultra creamy eyeliners out there like the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Pencils. They have a few seconds of ‘play time’ to smudge it out or soften it with a brush, but after that it sets and stays budge-proof all day. You’re definitely going to need an oil-based eye makeup remover to get these guys off!

While the actual formula is great, the best part about these eyeliners is how super skinny they are. Not only can you get super close to the lashline and never really have to worry about sharpening your eyeliner (since it is always so precise), it tightlines like a dream and you can even get super creative and artsy with it! I don’t feel like these would be my top choice for a super bold look, but for everyday definition, tightlining and waterlining, this eyeliner has all others beat.

Shu Uemura Lasting Gel Pencil Eyeliners in M Black (left) & M Brown (right)

Swatches; M Black (left) & M Brown (right)

Copyright © Beautezine, 2013. | Original Post | No comment | Twitter | Facebook
Categories: Reviews
Tags: Eyeliner, Eyes, Makeup, Shu Uemura, Shu Uemura Collections, Shu Uemura Eye-conic Collection for Summer 2013, Shu Uemura Lasting Gel Pencil Eyeliner in M Black, Shu Uemura Lasting Gel Pencil Eyeliner in M Brown, Shu Uemura Summer 2013, Summer 2013

The Shu Uemura Eye-conic 30th Anniversary Collection for Summer 2013 includes five shu uemura Tri-color Blending Eyeshadow Refills ($42 CAD), each featuring two main colors and one glitter color in a 60′s-inspired pattern. This limited-edition collection celebrates 30 years of innovation, creativity and iconic beauty of shu uemura with exhilarating color, bold prints and youthful energy. Available July 2013 at shu uemura counters.

These eyeshadow refills are just that- refills (so don’t be surprised when it arrives without any packaging)! I do wish shu uemura refills came in a single pan compact (similarly to the Sephora Colorful Eyeshadows), especially for the price of a single pan. These ones fit beautifully into shu uemura’s custom case palettes (for which they designed the beautiful Fuchsia Fusion palette for this collection), but you can also use your own freestyle palettes like the Z-Palette.

Shu Uemura Eye-conic Tri-Color Blending Eyeshadow Refills (with the Shu Uemura Retro-Sensation Fuchsia Fusion Custom Case)

Note the size

Shu Uemura Eye-conic Tri-Color Blending Eyeshadow Refills

The three shades I have are…

• Green Blue: Icy blue glitter, lime green shimmer and turquoise blue satin.
• Purple: Silver glitter, deep purple shimmer and light rose pink satin.
• Yellow Brown: Pale champagne glitter, rich chocolate brown shimmer and yellow gold satin.

Having three shades in one is a great way to get a little more bang for your buck (especially with luxury price tags)- so I thought these would be a fantastic idea. I’ve always loved the quality of shu uemura eyeshadows- gorgeous texture, beautiful pigmentation, easily blended… so not only are these pans nice to look at, but to get an entire look from one single pan would be fantastic!

The problem isn’t really that the quality isn’t that good- I do have to admit, these aren’t the best shu uemura eyeshadows I’ve ever tried (I feel like they are slightly lacking in pigmentation and the glitter textures just crumbled too easily), but the hardest part is actually grabbing each shade individually. You really have to use a small, precise eyeshadow brush to grab a single color because of the ‘groovy’ pattern. It can be done, it just takes more time and concentration than I like to give to simply picking up some eyeshadow on my brush.

The color combinations are pretty nice, with Purple being the most wearable out of them all- it’s also my favorite! Yellow Brown is also quite wearable and neutral, while all the others are quite bright and colorful. The shimmer and satin shades are meant to be used together to create a simple gradation, while using the glitter to enhance or accent the look- but of course, you can use them however you wish.

A cute idea that looks fabulous in the pan, but is a little harder in reality when it actually comes to applying it. The convenience of having 3 shades in one pan might be a great concept for travel though- considering you can fit two of these pans in a single Shu Uemura Custom Case (or pair one up with a blush)!

Shu Uemura Eye-conic Tri-Color Blending Eyeshadow Refills in (L-R) Green Blue, Purple & Yellow Brown

Shu Uemura Eye-conic Tri-Color Blending Eyeshadow Refill in Green Blue, Swatched

Shu Uemura Eye-conic Tri-Color Blending Eyeshadow Refill in Purple, Swatched

Shu Uemura Eye-conic Tri-Color Blending Eyeshadow Refill in Yellow Brown, Swatched

Copyright © Beautezine, 2013. | Original Post | One comment | Twitter | Facebook
Categories: Reviews
Tags: Eyes, Eyeshadow, Makeup, Palettes, Shu Uemura, Shu Uemura Collections, Shu Uemura Eye-conic Collection for Summer 2013, Shu Uemura Summer 2013, Shu Uemura Tri-color Blending Eyeshadow Refill in Green Blue, Shu Uemura Tri-color Blending Eyeshadow Refill in Purple, Shu Uemura Tri-color Blending Eyeshadow Refill in Yellow Brown, Summer 2013

Are you the ultimate beauty addict? See if you can guess what this product is! Can you get the brand name, product type, product name and the season or collection it was released in? If you can, you’re officially a makeup maven! Check out the answer below, and let me know if you were right!

Copyright © Beautezine, 2013. | Original Post | One comment | Twitter | Facebook
Categories: Guessing Game
Tags: Guessing Game

Possibly the most fool-proof cream blush ever- the limited-edition Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Cheek Tints ($26 USD / $30 CAD) make their appearance in the Bobbi Brown Nude Beach Collection for Summer 2013 and are available now in 3 summery shades.

Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Cheek Tint in Summer Pink

Copyright © Beautezine, 2013. | Original Post | No comment | Twitter | Facebook
Categories: Daily Beauty
Tags: Blush, Bobbi Brown, Bobbi Brown Collections, Bobbi Brown Nude Beach Collection for Summer 2013, Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Cheek Tint in Summer Pink, Bobbi Brown Summer 2013, Cheeks, Cream Blush, Makeup, Summer 2013

Even though emerald green may be the “Color of the Year” for 2013, it’s not the only gorgeous green out there! Olive, khaki, lime, forest, mint, jade… they’re all stunning too! I pulled a few of my favorite ‘green’ finds- not all of the products are actually green, but their packaging made them deserve to be in the group. From fragrance to skincare to nails to makeup- it’s easy being green with these gorgeous beauty buys for summer!

Featured Products

• Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Trio in Helmüt: These new eye trios from celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D not only are gorgeous to look at, but they make for a super simple look too! With three perfectly coordinated shades, the powders blend easily together to create an effortless look, whether its simplistic or smoky.
• Kiss Everlasting Gel Polish in Sweet: Gel polish is one of my biggest obsessions as of late- you don’t have to shell out big bucks at the salon anymore for a chip-free, high-gloss gel manicure! These Kiss Everlasting Polishes are my absolute favorite because they are affordable, they come in a huge range of colors and they are so easy to use!
• Lancôme Énergie de Vie Daily Lotion: Late summer nights can be tons of fun- but they can also cause stress on your complexion. This daily lotion helps to bring the life back into your skin and fill it with radiance, moisture and vitality! No more dull, tired skin.
• CoverGirl Clump Crusher Extensions Mascara: The original Clump Crusher has staked its spot as one of my all-time favorite drugstore mascaras, so I was incredibly excited to see that Covergirl is launching this sister mascara designed to not only build volume without clumps, but also to extend the length of your lashes for an awesome false-lash look.
• Fendi Fan di Fendi Eau Fraiche Eau de Toilette: Like a refreshing glass of ice cold lemon water on a hot summer day, this fragrance will regenerate your mood instantly. This citrusy, foral fragrance is an instant pick me up with the most fresh notes that brighten up any moment.
• Hard Candy All Lid Up in Pining 4 U: I’ve been loving these affordable cream eyeshadows- great pigmentation, creamy texture and blend easily on the skin. They work great alone for a quick on-the-go solution, or as a base to build and intensify other eyeshadows.

Copyright © Beautezine, 2013. | Original Post | One comment | Twitter | Facebook
Categories: Articles
Tags: Covergirl, Covergirl Clump Crusher Extensions Mascara, Cream Eyeshadow, Drugstore, Eyes, Eyeshadow, Face, Fendi, Fendi Fan di Fendi Eau Fraiche Eau de Toilette, Fragrance, Gel Polish, Hard Candy, Hard Candy All Lid Up in Pining 4 U, Kat Von D, Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Trio in Helmut, Kiss, Kiss Everlasting Gel Polish in Sweet, Lancome, Lancome Energie de Vie Daily Lotion, Makeup, Mascara, Moisturizer, Nail Polish, Nails, Palettes, Skincare, Toner, What's Hot

Liquid Lipsticks aren’t really a formula that I reach for very often- they are usually extremely long wearing, however not the most comfortable (great for when longevity is needed, but not really for me for every day). Hands down, my favorite liquid lipstick formula is the Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge, in particular I love the shade 8 Iconic Red because it has truly changed the way I feel about red lips. I used to stay far away from red lipstick because I felt so scared in it- worried that it would smudge, fade, migrate, end up on my teeth, transfer on clothes, etc. Even though I felt so powerful and confident with red lips, it wasn’t worth the risks. Ever since Make Up For Ever launched this lipstick formula, that has forever changed!

The range has expanded recently to include more fun, bright and colorful shades… but I’ll always go back to them for when I need a red or burgundy lip. These colors stay put from morning to night, with no fading, migrating, smudging or transferring- even through eating and drinking, these red lips stay put. The glossy top coat also makes it quite comfortable to wear too!

What’s your top pick for Liquid Lipstick?

Copyright © Beautezine, 2013. | Original Post | 2 comments | Twitter | Facebook
Categories: Top Picks
Tags: Top Picks

Available this August 2013, a new addition to the Bioderma Hydrabio range for sensitive & dry skin- it’s the Bioderma Hydrabio Tonique ($24.50 CAD), a hydrating toner that actually trains your skin to moisturize itself again.

Bioderma Hydrabio Tonique

Copyright © Beautezine, 2013. | Original Post | No comment | Twitter | Facebook
Categories: Daily Beauty
Tags: Bioderma, Bioderma Hydrabio Tonique, Face, Skincare, Toner

When I think of luxury meets quality, I think of Hourglass. The up & coming brand has recently launched the Hourglass Nº 28 Lip Treatment Oil ($42 USD / $49 CAD), a luxurious sister to the best-selling Nº 28 Primer Serum. With a price tag like this for a lip balm, it better be made of gold! Oh wait… it kind of is.

This tube of lip oil is the definition of luxury- with the signature mirrored brown packaging and a unique 24K gold-plated slant tip applicator. There’s a ribbed finger pad to press down on which dispenses the lip balm through the applicator. Not only does the applicator look fancy, but it’s actually much more functional than a typical plastic tip- the gold provides anti-bacterial properties as well as a cool, soothing effect when applying the lip treatment.

Hourglass Nº 28 Lip Treatment Oil

Press down to dispense the lip oil

The formula itself feels quite similar to most squeeze-tube lip balms; a little like a gelled oil (think Jack Black Lip Balm). It has a very unique scent as well- not sweet or fruity- more like something you would smell in a spa or a type of aromatherapy product. For being a treatment oil, it doesn’t feel greasy at all. It’s a little thicker and has a little more substance than other lip balms I’ve tried.

Packed with a concentrated blend of vitamins, essential oils, active naturals and botanicals, the formula is truly superior in quality. It hydrates lips beautifully and smoothes them instantly. Dry, chapped lips are no match for this lip treatment, and it goes even above and beyond to shield against the environments, strengthen the natural moisture barrier and even boost skin volume and texture. The treatment oil is clear, but it does leave lips with a slight shine. It heals chapped lips quickly and would be a great, intensive treatment for those on drying medications (I wish I could have had this when I was on Accutane). It has become a life saver for me after swatching lipsticks and lipglosses day in and day out as a beauty blogger- my lips get extremely chapped and dry, and this lip treatment oil has truly made them feel a million times better.

It is a little too heavy to wear as a pre-lipstick balm, as I know many like to do to prevent dryness. It doesn’t completely sink into lips- but you can apply it 10 minutes prior to lipstick then blot the excess off right before applying color on top. Really the only downside of this lip balm is the price; no matter what your subjectivity is on the value, it’s a very high price for a lip balm. If you are familiar with Hourglass though, you’ll know that you truly do get what you pay for in terms of quality.

24K gold-plated applicator tip

Hourglass Nº 28 Lip Treatment Oil, Swatched

Copyright © Beautezine, 2013. | Original Post | 4 comments | Twitter | Facebook
Categories: Reviews
Tags: Hourglass, Hourglass Nº 28 Lip Treatment Oil, Lip Balm, Lips, Skincare

To celebrate Shu Uemura’s 30th Anniversary, the upcoming Shu Uemura Eye-conic Collection for Summer 2013 is an ode to ultimate creativity and the experimental 60′s spirit. Throughout the last 30 years, Shu Uemura has continued to re-envision, improve, innovate and forever transform the ordinary into the extra-ordinary and has truly become a future vision of iconic beauty. This collection features exhilarating color, bold prints and a youthful energy, including several new products and limited-edition shades.

The collection features six Tri-color Blending Eyeshadow Refills, two Duo-color Blending Cheek Refills, two Lasting Gel Pencil Eyeliners, one Special Decoration Custom Case, six Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipsticks and four pairs of False Eyelashes including a Premium Edition pair. The collection will be available July 2013.

Swatches and reviews are coming up over the next few days- so stay tuned! You can follow along with the coverage of this collection here. Let me know what you think of the collection, and which items are on your wishlist!

Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipsticks in (L-R) M Pink 345, M Beige 955, M Pink 356, M Beige 930, M Pink 355 & M Beige 942 ($36 CAD each)

Shu Uemura Tri-Color Blending Eyeshadow Refills in Green Blue (left), Purple (top right) & Yellow Brown (bottom right) ($42 CAD each)

Shu Uemura Duo-color Blending Cheek Refills in Pink (left) & Orange (right) ($42 CAD each) inside the Shu Uemura Retro-Sensation Fuchsia Fusion Palette ($21 CAD, empty)

Shu Uemura Lasting Gel Pencil Eyeliners in M Black (top) & M Brown (bottom) ($36 CAD each)

Shu Uemura Premium Edition Rainbow-Sensation False Eyelashes ($78 CAD)

Shu Uemura False Eyelashes in Mini Pinky Quartz (top left), Mini Mono-Stone (top right) & Mini Yellow Quarts (bottom) ($32 CAD)

Copyright © Beautezine, 2013. | Original Post | 2 comments | Twitter | Facebook
Categories: Sneak Peek
Tags: Blush, Cheeks, Eyeliner, Eyes, Eyeshadow, Face, False Lashes, Featured, Lip Color, Lips, Makeup, Shu Uemura, Shu Uemura Collections, Shu Uemura Eye-conic Collection for Summer 2013, Shu Uemura Summer 2013, Summer 2013