Benefit boxes collection

Benefit has long been one of my favourite brands their packaging is just to die for in particular their Benefit 'boxes'. I have a few Benefit beauty box products that I have loved for a very long time, some of which are re purchases. I know the selection can be a little over whelming as there are so many different colours and shades to choose from so I thought I would share with you my favourites from the selection they sell. 

Out of all the Benefit boxes I own, Thrrrob is by far my favourite. This blush is ridiculously pigmented with excellent colour pay off. A little goes a very long way with this product which is great as I want it to last as long as possible. I haven't seen this product in store for a while now and I have a feeling it may have been discontinued so i'm using it sparingly. The colour of this blush is the perfect barbie rose pink with a matte finish. I have used this blush on my natural fair skin as well on tanned and it looks great on both. 

Dandelion is a pretty peachy ballerina pink that Benefit describes as a 'brightening' blush which is very true! This blush provides a super delicate and gentle flush to the cheeks. It is not as pigmented as Thrrrob but very buildable. The finish is relatively matte and slightly satin. 

As you can probably tell this blush I have owned for a very long time,unfortunately the Benefit box packaging, while very cute, are not very durable but it's what's on the inside that counts right? Sugarbomb is crazily shimmery with an almost satin finish every time I go to use it I feel like i'm about to apply sugar on my face so use it sparingly! This blush has four different shades which you could use separately but I prefer swirling all the shades together to create a soft pink. When using this blush I use a very little amount without a highlight as it really is super shimmery. 

Hoola is part of the Benefit box collection and is a bronzer...my absolute favourite bronzer might I add. I have just reached pan on this product and it is possibly one of the worst things to happen to a beauty lover! Hoola is the perfect soft brown matte bronzer which doesn't come off as muddy particularly on fairer skin tones. This product is buildable and pigmented but also effortless to blend which is always helpful when it comes to contouring. I use this both to contour my cheeks and nose but also to warm up my complexion. 

Do you own any Benefit beauty boxes? what are your thoughts, let me know which products I should try out!

Katie

You can also find me on Instagram and Twitter.

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University Lookbook | My uni style

After a huge weather change recently I've really had to work quick to put together new winter styles for this season. Spending a lot of the time in the city in the cold at uni I thought I would take this opportunity to show you some outfits I would wear throughout the Autumn and Winter while at uni.

Katie

You can also find me on Instagram and Twitter.

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Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palette | Review

If you have been following me on Twitter then you should know by now how long I have been anticipating for the release of the Hourglass Modernist eyeshadow palettes. I first came across them while browsing through Sephora's online website looking for new beauty goodies I could pick up on my trip to Los Angeles this winter. In some ways I wish I had never seen them because I knew immediately I had to have at least one and that my bank account wouldn't be thanking me for it. 

It just so happens that I loved these palettes so much that I was the first person in Brisbane to purchase one from Mecca Maxima the day before the release date. Am I a dedicated beauty lover or what? The very helpful staff member was shocked to find out I even knew they existed as there had been limited advertising of the product in Australia. 

Now lets get to the palettes. I was shown all six colour palettes in the shades: Atmosphere ( cool neutrals), Colour Field (Olives), Exposure (Plums), Infinity (warm neutrals), Monochrome (Roses) and Obscura (Earth tones) all of which were beautiful. I found it very difficult to choose between Infinity, Monochrome and Obscura as all were gorgeous shades of browns and rose golds. Eventually, I decided on Obscura but promised myself that i'd go back for the others (as if i needed to). 

This eyeshadow has five finely-milled shades including one highlighting shade in a soft cream with a slight satin-matte finish. I love using this all over my lid as a base however it is slightly too powdery like the other 4 shades so it takes a little more product to stick and stay on the lid.  The palette also includes a soft chocolate brown, warm brown with a metallic and super sparkly finish as well as a dark matte brown and copper bronze also with a metallic finish. My favourite shade would definitely have to be the third which looks beautiful either all over the lid or as a crease shade.

All shades are super creamy when swatched but when applying onto the lid are quite dry so they do take quite a bit of effort to blend and get great colour pay off which disappointed me a bit for the price. However, when applied properly you can create very gorgeous shadow looks with more time. The range of matte, metallic and satin finishes provides a number of neutral to smokey looks and the massive mirror makes it super handy to apply on the go or to touch up. 

Overall, I do love this eyeshadow palette the uniqueness of the eyeshadow pans I find so incredible and innovative and it is for that reason that I wanted one so badly. However, I do not think that the price which I believe to be around $75-76 AUD is worth it. While the shadows are gorgeous the texture has been really disappointing as I was expecting super high quality for a product worth so much. If you are willing to fork out so much on an eyeshadow palette and not feel so guilty afterwards then this palette is for you as you can achieve a number of gorgeous looks, it just may take you a little while.

Have you tried any other palettes from the Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow range? Let me know.

Katie

You can also find me on Instagram and Twitter.

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