The Review: Benefit X Matthew Williamson The Rich is Back Kit

 I didn't get much makeup for Christmas this year (nobody ever knows what to get me, in case I've got it, or I hate it!) but my mum took a gamble and picked up the Benefit and Matthew Williamson Collaboration Kit, The Rich Is Back. The risk payed off, I've had my eye on this for ages and I'm so glad I've finally got it!

The kit comprises of four eyeshadows, a mascara, a lipgloss, a blush and a brush. It's got a massive mirror and a little booklet with tips on how best to apply the products. I usually find Benefit packaging to be a little hit and miss, but I love this, I love the peacock feather design, and how it looks like a book! 

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the shadows, I like Benefit eyeshadows, but I usually find I have to apply a lot to get a decent colour pay off, the pigmentation isn't always great, but these are. There's a cream highlight colour with a gold shimmer called Disco Dust, perfect for the browbone and inner corner, a gorgeous gold shade with intense golden shimmer called Solid Gold, a deep chocolate brown with gold shimmer called Get Down Brown, and then a beautiful teal blue with silver shimmer called Feel So Teal. The first three shades are colours I would wear on an everyday basis, but I was a little scared of the teal shade. However, I've been taking a little of it on my finger and just patting it into the outer corner of my eyelid, and then running it under my lower lashline on a small angled brush, and I love the effect it gives. It's subtle, but it really makes my hazel eyes pop.

I'd have preffered to have seen Bad Gal Lash mascara in this kit over They're Real, but that wouldn't put me off buying it. I don't mind They're Real, I just don't find it gives my lashes any volume, and makes them look a little spidery. If I was travelling though, I would take the kit and use that mascara instead of packing an extra. 

Inferno Lipgloss is a bright red coral with a subtle golden shimmer. It's unlike any other gloss I own in shade and I really like it, it's a shame this is exclusive to the palette or I probably would have picked up a full size. I love Benefit glosses, they aren't sticky and they last a long time on the lips. 

Gimme Fever is qute a unique blush shade, a rummage in my drawers (makeup, not knickers) shows I have nothing quite like it. It's kind of a muted, dusky peach with a subtle silver shimmer, but pop this on your cheeks and it looks like you've applied blusher, bronzer and highlighter. Definitely one that makes you look put together without much effort on your part. To be chucked on when you're in a rush. It also comes with a brush, which is the same as the brushes you get with Benefit's Boxed Blushes, only smaller. It's okay, I wouldn't use it when I'm at home, but it's fine for traveling.

Overall, I think this is a great little kit, I'm going to get a lot of use out of it, especially when the weather gets a little warmer! This would make an excellent gift, or treat for yourself!

Have you tried this kit? What do you think of it? What are your favourite Benefit products?

The Review: Benefit Rockateur Boxed Blush

I put off picking up the Benefit Rockateur blusher for a long time, because, well my god isn't the packaging tacky? It totally put me off. However, a lovely friend picked this up for me as a Christmas gift, and I've fallen in love with it. 

Packaging gripes aside, this is a dusty pink blush with a slight vein of shimmer. The top is coated in a film of full on shimmer, but once you've used it once, that disappears and you're left with a fine shimmer. This blush is the perfect partner to the Naked 3 palette, so if you've got that, you need this.

I love Benefit blushes, the formulations are great, they last really well, and you only need a tiny bit of product, plus they smell amazing!

Have you tried this blush?

The Christmas Gift Guide: Benefit Love At First Shine

You guys know that I'm not big on lipglosses, I'm particularly fussy about stickiness, but I do have a soft spot for Benefit's glosses, so I jumped on this set when I saw it in Boots.

This Christmas gift set contains six of Benefit's Ultra Plush Lipglosses, which I love. They are completely and 100% not sticky in the slightest, they have good colour pay off, smell good, and they last a surprising amount of time.

A-Lister, is a nude peach gloss that kinda goes with everything. I've been particularly loving it with Rimmel Let's Get Naked and Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Colour in Tutu. Fauxmance is a light brown toned nude, that looks awesome over lipsticks like MAC Faux. Kiss You is a striking purple gloss, that I love layering over plum lipsticks to add a purple toned, but it's definitely quite subtle. I particularly like this with MAC Plumful & Syrup. Lollibop is a bright blue toned pink that I like to wear alone, or over my Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me, or my Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in 37 L'Exuberante. Poutrageous is a bright orange peach, although it does sheer out on application. This looks great to brighten up nudey peach lipsticks like Rimmel Let's Get Naked, or on a brighter peach like MAC Betty Bright. Lastly is Ice Breaker which is completely clear, making it great for everything, but I particularly love it with red lips. 

If you are in need of a last minute gift for a beauty lover, or any teenage girly girl, this is definitely it! It's only £19.50, which means you could even get away with treating yourself...

What do you think of this set? Have you tried any Benefit lipglosses? What are your favourite glosses?

Check out my other Christmas Gift Guides here!

The Review: Benefit Hydra Smooth Lip Colours

Benefit relaunched a ton of their makeup this year, and whilst at the time, I wasn't all that bothered, I appear to have fallen for their lipsticks.

The Hydra Smooth Lipsticks have a strange feel on the lips, they aren't glossy or matte, but they are very very smooth. The formula contains Shea Butter, Vitamin E and Mango Butter, making them smooth and hydrating too. They glide really easily onto the lips. They have a slightly strange slanted tip, which Benefit says is to aid application and make it more precise, which I'm not sure I agree with, I think they're probably just as precise as your average shaped lipstick.

The packaging of these is seriously love it or hate it. The boxes they come in are super cute, but I can't really think of a secondary way to use them, so I ended up chucking them, which is a shame. The lipstick bullet itself is pretty strange, they kinda remind me of big greek pillars, which is cute, but not necessarily how I want my lipsticks to look. The lids are kind of clumsy, and 9 times out of 10 I end up mushing the end of the lipstick putting the lid back on. They're kind of big and clumsy, and not particularly luxurious. I think I prefer something a little sleeker (Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks, ahem). I feel this way about a lot of Benefit packaging though, I don't think it's nice enough considering the price, some of it I think is cute, but other things, this and Fine One One in particularly seems quite cheap in real life. In terms of lasting power, these are some of the longest lasting lippies I've tried.

I have two colours, Talk Flirty, a bright, Orchid-esque pink, and Fling Thing, which is a medium toned berry shade. Both are very easy to wear with any eye look!

These retail for £15, but I've been picking these up on Debenhams 10% off days! I think £15 is pretty good though, it's the same as MAC and Urban Decay, and much cheaper than other high end brands.

Have you tried these lipsticks? What are your favourite Benefit products?

The Best Of: Benefit Cosmetics

 Benefit was pretty much the first 'high end' brand that I got into, so as a result, I've tried a fair bit. I've also been fortunate to go to several Benefit blogger events where I've been gifted products, and got to try things the Benefit way. There are only a couple of products from Benefit that I've tried and not gotten on with so I'm going to just give you the gist of each product, and link up any full reviews I've done!

THE HITS

Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation - medium coverage, but buildable, looks super natural on the skin, not dewy but it does give you a glow. I always get compliments on my skin when I wear this foundation.

Hello Flawless Powder - this is a high coverage powder, almost bordering on powder foundation as opposed to setting powder. Can be worn alone or over foundation as a setting powder but never looks cakey.

Boi-ing Concealer - this is marketed as an industrial strength concealer, and I totally agree with that. Covers up everything and anything, and wears really well. Perfect for blemishes, but a little thick for under-eyes.

It's Potent Under Eye Cream* - this is my go to evening eye cream, super creamy and hydrating and it smells good!

Total Moisture Facial Cream* - a good winter night-time moisturiser, definitely worth popping on the Christmas wishlist. Super hydrating and feels luxurious on the skin, but never feels greasy. Also nice mixed with your facial oil.

That Gal Brightening Face Primer - similar concept to the Laura Mercier Radiance Primer, gives you a glowing from within look. Also makes your makeup last all day with ease. 

Boxed Blushes - Benefit blushes are my favourite blushes full stop. Great pigmentation, pretty colours, long lasting and they smell incredible. Worth the splurge everytime.

Posietint & Benetint* - these are great value for money. I like to use Posietint on my cheeks in the summer, and Benetint on my lips, alone with a balm or under a bold lip to make it last. 

Bad Gal Lash* - You're either a Bad Gal Girl or a They're Real girl, and I'm definitely in the Bad Gal camp. Thick natural bristles for thick natural lashes. 

Sunbeam - this was my go to highlighter this summer. Easy to use and gives a buildable golden glow.

Watts Up - Sunbeam for those who don't fancy a liquid highlight. Easy to blend and very natural looking.

Ultra Plush Lip Glosses - I'm so not a lipgloss girl, but I love these, I now have Hoola, Dandelion, Coralista and Sugarbomb. They smell incredible, they aren't sticky in the slightest, and make your lips look great.

Eyeshadow Kits - I don't think Benefit have the best eyeshadows on the market, but they've got eyeshadow kits down. I particularly love the new Christmas kits, and the World Famous Neutrals.

Stay Don't Stray* - this is my favourite eyeshadow primer. Makes eyeshadow really pop, and last all day with no creasing.

NOT FOR ME

Porefessional* - I know, I know, I love how this makes my skin look, but I just don't find it does anything to make my makeup last, and isn't that the point of a primer?

They're Real* - now I can hear you crying. I just can't get on with this, it looks okay, but it makes my lashes so heavy and I find myself wanting to pull it off. Just no.

Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow - These are okay, but the two I have (R.S.V.P. and Bikini Teeny) are just so sheer and not very well pigmented. They're not bad, but I'd rather spend the money on a MAC Paint Pot.

Fake Up* - I ended up giving this away. It's a great idea, but I like an undereye concealer that actually covers my undereye circles, this didn't do anything. 

I hope that helps if you're planning on venturing into Benefit soon! Or gives you some ideas for your Christmas list!

What's your favourite Benefit product?

It's Christmas Time With Benefit

 It's that time of year again, I hate to say it but it's nearly Christmas already. I know, I know, it feels like it was only Christmas about a month ago, but somehow, we are in October, and Christmas launches are popping up like elves, left right and center.

Whilst Lush releases and Soap and Glory gift sets were high on my lists of products to check out, I was also excited to see what Benefit would pull out of their hat.

The Christmas Collection is mostly made up of sets of miniatures, so if you are looking to try out Benefit products, they're a great idea. However, I am no stranger to Benefit (read: I've got 99% of their products) so this set, Luv It UP, was actually the only set that didn't contain a single product I haven't got/tried.

I love the packaging of this set, it's a cute 20's style tin, which looks ever so pretty out on my side, and I definitely will be reusing it when I use all the products up!

First up, their three bestselling eyeshadows (neutrals of course), Call My Buff, a brilliant base colour or good for the browbone, Nude Swings, a beautiful peachy copper with a hint of shimmer and Thanks A Latte, a shimmery brown that is perfect for the crease or as a liner.

As expected, the quality of these shadows is great, they're super pigmented and soft, and they last well on the lid.

 RSVP is a peachy pink toned shimmery cream shadow, that makes the perfect base for shadow, a great inner corner highlight and it's also a lovely colour to wear alone on the lid, I find it really wakes your eyes up. In terms of formula, this stuff stays put all day with ease, not budging til you go wild with the makeup remover. I didn't expect to like this, since it does appear quite pink toned, but it doesn't translate that way at all!

Last but not least a mini gloss! I'm not a gloss girl at all, but everyone does go wild over Benefit Glosses so I was keen to see what all the fuss is about. This is Dandelion, which is slightly peach coloured but looks nude with a hint of shimmer on the lips. It's ever so pretty and not at all sticky which makes me more inclined to wear it! It also smells incredible, like sweet peaches, my favourite scent! I'm very impressed with this gloss and will definitely be looking at Benefit's glosses a little closer in the future.

Call My Buff, Nude Swings, Thanks a Latte, RSVP, Dandelion

So the verdict? This is a great little set. Especially when you consider that the Cream Shadow alone would retail at £14, and this set comes in at a bargain £19.50. Buy one for you, and all your friends.

What are your favourite Christmas gift sets?

Don't forget to enter my giveaway to win an Urban Decay Lipstick here!

Mini Mascara Maven

Being a shopaholic isn't without it's perks. Okay, so your bank balance never looks too great, and savings is a foreign concept, but there is something to be said for being a valued customer, particularly to high end brands. You end up first in the know when new launches hit counters, and sales associates never hold back when it comes to samples.

During the move between my uni halls and new flat, I discovered a plethora of miniature mascaras hidden about in my flat. None of them had been used. I think because mascara isn't something I tend to top up throughout the day, I never carry it in my handbag, so these handbag sized minis were definitely overlooked. Since the move however, I've made a concious effort to get mini mascara motivated, and now I have them in my handbag, on my desk, on my coffee table, and a stash in my everyday makeup drawers. So here's the verdict...

Benefit They're Real: I got this at a blogging event back at the beginning of the year, and it led untouched in my box of press stuff from then on. You guys know how I feel about They're Real, I just don't really get the hype. I've used up one full size and I was massively underwhelmed. I also find myself trying to pull it off my lashes throughout the day because it's so uncomfortably heavy on. Not a winner in my books. Shame because I love so many Benefit products, I wanted to love this. Read my review here.  

THE VERDICT: 1/5

YSL Babydoll Effect Faux Cils: If you read my favourite mascaras post last week, you'll know that I am a YSL Shocking Volume girl through and through. This is a nice mascara, it lengthens and seperates your lashes well, but it's just lacking in the volume department. Nice for subtle daytime lashes though.

THE VERDICT: 3/5

 Clinique High Impact Mascara: High impact my arse. This is an okay mascara, but it's just that, okay. It's not fantastic at length, it doesn't give much volume, and I find the formula a little flaky after four hours or so. It's an okay mascara, but it definitely isn't high impact.

THE VERDICT: 2/5

 Smashbox Hyperlash: I got this almost a year ago at the Smashbox UK launch, and it was the only product I never got around to using. Despite my innate aversion to plastic wands, I quite like this. Quite volumising and good at length, I just wish it held a curl better, and it does get a little flaky towards the end of the day. I do like this though!

THE VERDICT: 3/5

 Benefit Bad Gal: The first high end mascara I ever bought. I remember getting a miniature of this in a magazine when I was about fourteen, and then saving up for it once it run out. I much prefer this to They're Real. I love the bristles, they catch your lashes really well and add a good amount of volume and length.

THE VERDICT: 4/5

YSL Effect Faux Cils: The original YSL Mascara. I wanted to try this, and I'm glad I did, because I do really like this. Good for volume and length, holds a curl okay too. It's just not quite as good as Shocking. It's good, but it's not wow.

 THE VERDICT: 4/5

Diorshow Iconic Overcurl: My favourite of this bunch. I have somehow acquired three of these. Not sure how, since I own a grand total of one product from Dior. Anyway, the curvy wand means it grips every single lash in one fell swoop, lifting, volumising and lengthening. I will probably buy this when I use up all these minis!

THE VERDICT: 5/5

Smashbox Full Exposure: Marginally better than the previous Smashbox offering, it's basically the same mascara but this one is a bit more volumising.

THE VERDICT: 4/5

Do you own any of these mascaras? What do you think of them?

Good Karma, Hervana

A moment of weakness whilst perusing Boots at Waterloo late at night, led to the acquisition of a blush I've been coveting for quite some time.  I think my Benefit Sugarbomb blush might just be my most worn blusher ever, nicely pigmented but natural looking, long lasting formula, gorgeous smell, and extremely flattering. A couple of months ago, I added a miniature of Coralista to my collection and it's been very loved too. Hervana has been on my hitlist for a few months now, the pretty mix of colours in the box was probably the main draw (that and the heavenly packaging)!

Benefit blushers are a pricey investment at £23.50, but I've been reaching for Sugarbomb at least four or five times a week for the last six months and I've barely made a dent in it, so it's an investment I'm happy to make.

Like all Benefit blushes, it comes with a little blush. This one is different to the one that came with Sugarbomb, it's angled, which makes it better for blush application, and the bristles feel softer too. Not sure if Benefit have changed the brushes or if each blush just has a different one. I'm probably more likely to use this one than the other one, particularly when travelling, but for the most part I do generally reach for my Real Techniques blush brush.

In terms of colour, when it's all swirled together it creates a beautiful, purple toned pale pink on the cheeks, that looks like a very natural flush. The beauty of this blush though is that you can use the brush to pick up specific segments, to create slightly different colours every time. There's a pink champagne colour, a peach, a dusky pink and a purple in there, and they all look great on the cheeks alone or mixed.

I really love Benefit blushers and I'm so glad I picked this up! Have you tried any Benefit blushers and have any recommendations? What are your favourite high end blushes?

A Bit Of A Haul...

So this week, my little sister came to visit me, armed with her very first paycheck from her new job, and a pair of comfy shoes ready to pound the London pavements. What ensued was a bit lot of reckless spending, and me picking up a few things that I've had my eye on for a while.

Now, some of these bits I did get the week before she came up, since I got a little carried away with online shopping, but it all arrived this week, so I thought I'd show you the lot.

I'll address the elephant in the room first, the last purchase of the bunch. I finally got my hands on that Paul and Joe makeup bag. There's a long winded story behind this bag, I clapped eyes on it at the Harvey Nics Beauty Mart a few days after it's release, before everyone and their mother fell head over heels for it. Now having just blown pretty much my entire month's treat money at the YSL counter (this was the day incidentally, that the lovely YSL ladies encouraged me to apply for a job there), I decided that, although it was love, it wasn't meant to be, and I would wait. Because I didn't need another makeup bag. I did however encourage Melisa to pick one up (cue three months of jealousy whenever she pulled it out of her handbag). Then, when I had an unexpected cash windfall a few weeks later, I marched back up to the Beauty Mart (it took a while, I can never find it, I walk in circles round the damn floor for ages before I find where it's hiding), only to be told it was sold out. I then spent every trip out of the house nipping in to Selfridges and Harvey Nics, every spare minute refreshing the ASOS website amongst others, to see if it had come back in stock. Literally, I was a woman possessed. But can you blame me? It's a makeup bag that's like a Filofax. Don't you understand? I gave up my search a few weeks ago, accepting that it was probably never going to happen. Anyway, whilst perusing Harrods with my sister, I spotted one out on the Paul and Joe counter, and I thought, well, no harm in asking. And thank god I did because there was one left and I had no hesitations in popping my card into the machine, and felt a surge of happiness carrying around that green Harrods bag. You'll get a proper tour round it later this week.

Topshop wasn't looking overly appealing but I did get some new over the knee black socks, can you tell I'm itching for it to be winter again? 

ANYWAY. Two Lily Pebbles inspired purchases that slipped into my possession after a late shift at work (my willpower is a lot weaker late at night), I was after a new moisturiser so it seemed like the perfect time to put the Origins Ginzing Moisturiser to the test. Coming home as well was Essie's Watermelon. I love the colour but I think I may have gotten a dud in the formula, as it's super gritty.

Two more polishes, I've fallen out of love with my Seche Vite a bit, so I picked up the Rimmel Nail Nurse 5in1 base and top coat. I've also been after a matte top coat for a while and when I saw this one in & Other Stories, I bit the bullet and went for it, since I've always been impressed with their nail polish formulas in the past.

A couple of weeks ago a lovely lady on the Dior counter at work gave me a sample of the coveted BB cream to try. I'm not a major fan of BB creams but I fell in love with this instantly, it's so unlike any other  BB cream I've ever tried, with really good coverage. So I popped straight onto Escentual and ordered it whilst it had 20% off. It's love.

A late night stroll of Waterloo station led to me finally picking up Benefit's Hervana Blush. I've only wanted this since, like, forever, and I was actually feeling a little upset when I was in Boots so I bought this to boost my mood! I also got taken in in the til line by the three for two minis, and decided to pick up Soap and Glory's Scrub em and Leave em Body Buff, since it's the only scrub of theirs I haven't tried. 

Also in the 3 for 2 minis baskets were a few products from Hoof, which is a brand I haven't heard of before. I ended up grabbing their Lavender and Vanilla Foot Pumice, and the Apricot and Mint Foot Mask to try. 

Two more & Other Stories purchases, I love my eyelash brush from there so I picked up another one for the brows, they are really good and only two pounds. I also spotted the Artist's Brush, which is pretty much identical to the MAC 217 and is £10 cheaper, so that's come home too.

A peruse of the MAC counter in Fenwicks led to me fall in love with their new lip tint's, I ended up buying Glorious Intent which is a gorgeous deep plum, Rebel-esque colour. Again, please be winter soon.

Finally on the beauty front, I picked up the Vaseline Spray and Go body Moisturiser. I've had my eye on this since it came out, I find it really intriguing, so we will see how that goes!

There are a few more fashion bits I picked up, a skirt, plain dress and a couple of jumpers in H&M but other than that, that's it!

Have you tried any of these products?

What's In Linda's Travel Makeup Bag!

If all goes to plan, whilst you're reading this I should be basking in the sun, drinking a cocktail, on a sun lounger in the Mediterranean. Hopefully I might even come home and need to buy a new foundation for my tanned skin. Wishful thinking probably, I'm a burner, not a tanner!

I thought that since I am away, this is the perfect opportunity to introduce to you a few of my favourite bloggers, and get a few guest posts up. So today's post is from the lovely Linda, who you should all go follow right now!

Hello
Everyone,

I have
had the pleasure of doing a guest post for the very lovely Jaye at
BedintheKitchen so I thought I would give you all a peek in to my holiday make
up bag!

I thought
about doing this post before I went away, but I know that I would have ended up
changing my mind about what I was taking so I have waited till my return so I
could tell you all exactly what I took. I went for the simple approach this
year. I will usually take a whole bunch of stuff that I never end up using. I
usually have the idea that I will be creating smoky eyes of an evening, but as
soon as I am in holiday mode, I can never be bothered.

I decided
to stick to the same type of look each night. I wanted dewy skin, lots of
mascara and a bold lip! I took eyeshadow palette with me so I could have the
choice of doing a nice eye look if I fancied it, because I am a woman, and we
do change our minds!

So my make
up bag that I usually take is from Primark. It was about £3. I’ve had it a
couple of years now but I like it because it holds a really good amount.

For skin
I took one of my favourite tinted moisturisers which is Clinique Moisture
Surge. I love the look this gives the skin. It has a decent amount of coverage
to even out the skin but still lets your skin show through and it just makes
you look like you have really naturally, dewy skin. It leaves such a nice
finish to the skin. I adore it! I always took Clinique Line Smoothing Concealer.
I love the staying power of this concealer and it works really well with the
tinted moisturiser. It is also excellent for toning down any red bits if you
have stayed in the sun a bit too long like I did!  For blusher and bronzer I chose Benefit Fine
One One and Benefit Hoola. I wanted to keep the cheeks dewy and this is perfect
for that. It gives a natural flush to the cheeks and compliments Hoola so well.
It gives a warm look to the skin and Hoola is probably one of the most natural
looking bronzers I have ever used. Not a hint of orange! I also took the opportunity
to use my MUA Cosmetics highlighter. This is a very soft pink and looks amazing
on top of the cheekbones, It lasts all night and it photographs beautiful.

For eye
make up I took the MUA Cosmetics, Heaven & Earth palette. This was perfect
as it had every colour that I needed without having to over load the make up
bag. Mascara was Seventeen Doll’d up Mascara. I am in love with this mascara.
It looks good all day and doesn’t flake so I knew it would be perfect for warm
weather. My favourite kohl liner is a Bourjois smokey effect liner in grey. I
find this is the perfect shade for me. It is perfect at defining the eyes
without being too harsh. For eyebrows I took my beloved Mac Lingering. This is
an amazing product and you can create natural looking brows with, even if you
are an ex tweezer junkie like me and you have destroyed your eyebrows! I took
the new MUA Cosmetics Pro Base eye primer with me also. I used this a couple of
times and so far, so good! I will have to use it a bit more to give me full
thoughts on this one though. Last but not least for eye’s are my Tweezerman
eyelash curlers! They give the perfect curl. I have a bit of trouble trying to
find a set of eyelash curlers that I can use comfortably and they work perfect
for me.

So on to
lips! As I said I wanted to go for a bold lip but I wanted a product that I
could literally throw on and forget about. I took 3 MUA Cosmetics power pouts.
These were perfect. They leave a great stain on the lips that lasts for ages. I
also took Mac Hue with me, just in case I did go for a full on smoky eye as I
would need a good nude lip. Hue is one of my all time favourite nudes.

So I hope
you enjoyed my post. Please let me know if you do and also let me know what you
take in your holiday make up bag.

Love
Linda xoxo

Coral My World

 I am all about taking miniatures on holiday. Throughout the year I tend to collect samples like nobody's business, and I relish trips away and holidays to test out new products. Plus sample sizes are great for taking on planes! I've been saving these minis for my upcoming holiday for the last few weeks!

In the queue at Boots the other day I noticed this mini kit from Benefit. I've seen the one before that has a mini Porefessional in, but I've never seen this one before. It contains a mini Coralista and a mini Sunbeam, both of which I have wanted to try for ages but are pretty pricey, full size they're £23.50 and £19.50 respectively, which is pretty pricey. This mini set, however, was £9.50, which I think is pretty reasonable!

Coralista is a gorgeous coral-pink blush. As with all Benefit blushes, it's super buttery, applies like a dream and smells amazing. It gives a super natural tropical flush, which couldn't be more perfect for summer!

Sunbeam is a gorgeous natural gold liquid highlighter, it's perfect for summer, it's such a natural looking highlighter. Previously I've picked up High Beam, which I prefer for the winter, and I've always steered clear of Sunbeam since I didn't think it was suit me! I was wrong! It's a totally gorgeous colour, that blends easy and works great against NARS Laguna.

I have a feeling I'm now going to end up buying the full size of both of these when they run out!