The Power Trio From Benefit Cosmetics Review and Giveaway ~ What a Difference a Few Small Steps Can Make!

IMG_2433 (1)

The Power Trio from Benefit Cosmetics. A mix of hydrating, concealing, and emphasizing product for the eye area that really take your eyes from dopey to dramatic.

It’s Potent Eye Cream ($39 CAD) – This eye cream contains a peptide complex known to help restore elasticity and firmness, a blend of hydrating botanical extracts including apple extract, known to help boost collagen, & loquat extract, known to help protect the skin from free radical damage. It fades dark circles and helps smooth fine lines for brighter and younger looking eyes. Sign me up! I haven’t used it long enough to speak to its long term benefits but so far I can tell you that it feels amazing and instantly hydrates and smooths out my eye area. It feel incredibly rich yet light at the same time and feels amazing right out of the fridge in the morning!

They’re Real Mascara ($29 CAD) – Lengthens, curls, separates, lifts, and volumizes. Check out my original review of They’re Real for more info on this incredible mascara. One of my current faves.

FakeUp Concealer ($29 CAD) – I have been using this concealer daily. I am totally smitten. Not only does this hydrating, crease-control concealer perform beautifully in the eye area as I detailed in my Fakeup Concealer review last month but I have also discovered it works great at concealing other areas of my face wear I experience redness and dry flaky skin from eczema. This wonderfully hydrating concealer has not only improved the condition of my undereye area through it’s regular use but has been a blessing for covering and soothing my dry patches without emphasizing the flaky skin.

Check out the before and after results of the Power Trio via the One Eye Challenge. We were presented with this challenge as part of the truly amazing Rest and Reveal event Benefit Cosmetics treated a lucky few of us to at the gorgeous Four Seasons Toronto Hotel Spa. I must admit these results aren’t as dramatic as they could be as even my naked eye looks far better than usual after the incredibly luxurious and pampering facial I received. The Spa at the Four Seasons is really beautiful and the whole experience of being there is very relaxing.

BenefitPowerTrio

Now you have the chance to win this fantastic Power Trio from Benefit Cosmetics and reveal your new rested look. Just enter via the Rafflecoptor widget below! Open to Canadian residents only. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Makeup Foundation Shade 3 ~ Photos, Swatches, and Review

Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Makeup touts itself as the revolutionary complexion perfector. This formula is indeed revolutionary. It is an ultra fine pigment in a dry oil formulation that feels utterly weightless. Application is practically a sensual experience. The luxurious feel of this product gliding over your skin is truly indulgent.

IMG_4014

Traditional foundations are usually emulsions with water in oil containing fillers; those fillers can produce a visible masking effect. Maestro was created with five out-of-the box principles, delivering a result never seen before:

  •  a water and powder-free base
  • totally non-comodogenic
  • 5 time-released oils evaporating gradually
  • smart pigment technology
  • an easy, fast, fresh and flawless application with an unforgettable sensory feel

The Fusion make-up technology delivers the thinnest color film that blends perfectly and corrects skin imperfections without buildup.

The Maestro Fusion makeup has a very fluid, runny consistency. Because of this it dispenses with a dropper. Very cool!

IMG_4019

I have applied this foundation with both my fingers and various brushes. I think application with my fingers is my favourite because you get to fully experience the silky feel of a dry oil. The formula is a combination of five volatile, semi-volatile, and non-volatile oils. This precious clear mixture evaporates at different rates in a time release action to provide the optimal balance of application slip and non-greasy feel while maintaining a hydrated feel to the skin through the day. This makeup magically gets better looking as the day progresses. I don’t even need to set this foundation. The finish is just so beautifully natural yet luminous. I don’t want to alter it in any way with setting powder.

IMG_4021

I thought I would share this information form the Maestro media kit with you as I found it very interesting and it sums up a lot of the issues we experience with traditional foundations and BB Creams/Tinted Moisurizers quite nicely:

Characteristics of a traditional foundation:

– emulsion – 20% water in 80% oil. Foundation allows for a unified spreading of the fluid in order to avoid spots of color.

BUT:

– highly pigmented: 15% pigments. Pigments are contained in powdery phase that can create a mask effect.

– high surface tension: hard to spread, not even on the skin surface.

Composition of a traditional skin perfector (e.g. BB creams):

– 20% oils in 80 % of water. Skin perfector allows a rapid penetration of formula and a fresh feeling.

BUT:

– low rate of pigments: 4%. Barely corrects skin tone.

– skin perfectors are like primers. They are used in order to smooth the skin surface.

Maestro, a new face make-up category: Maestro is not a foundation, and more than a skin perfector, because it concentrates both their benefits:

– waterfree oils: 60% time-release translucent, non greasy oils for a fresh feel, a non-greasy finish and a pure color.

– 11% pigments for skin tone perfection. No powder so no mask effect.

– low surface tension: for the fastest, easiest application.

Extras:

– skin surface perfection due to soft particles selected to provide the thinnest correcting film and an extraordinary sensory feel.

– contains lotus oil, known for its anti-free radical properties.

Maestro

There are 12 shades available. I use shade 3. I believe shade 2 and 3 are fairly close in their depth of colour but shade 2 is a bit more yellow toned than shade 3. The coverage is sheer to medium and the translucent formula very forgiving so you can likely get away with a couple of shades. I had heard lots of people complaining that this foundation wasn’t good for dry skin as it accentuated dry patches. I have actually found this works very well on my dry and eczema ravaged skin. It does emphasize the flakiness a little bit but applying any makeup on dry skin will do this. I have actually found it outperforms most of my foundations over my dry patches. If you have normal to oily skin you are going to positively love this foundation though, I am sure.

Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Makeup ($75 CAD/ $62 US) and is available in Canada at Holt Renfew. In the US at  Neiman Marcus, Barneys New YorkNordstrom, and the Giorgio Armani Beauty Website in the US. As well as Selfridges, and Harrods in the UK.

Product provided for my consideration. All reviews are always my honest and unbiased opinions. Post contains affiliate links which helps support this site.

Benefit FakeUp Hydrating Crease Control Concealer in 01 Light ~ Photos, Swatches, and Review

IMG_8693

Benefit FakeUp is a concealer that will hide dark circles, smooth skin, and diffuse light that is surrounded by a hydrating ring of Vitamin E and apple seed extract. When I first saw this I thought what an unusual product. It looks much like many of the new lipsticks we are seeing that are a lipstick core surrounded by a balm. I quickly went from thinking of this product as unusual to amazing once I tried it. It has become my go to under eye concealer.

IMG_8216

I have really dry skin so I would frequently find myself looking in the mirror a while after applying my makeup to see that my under eye area looked dry, tight, and crepey. So unattractive. With Benefit FakeUp my darkness is concealed and the delicate skin under my eyes looks plump and hydrated. I usually swirl my ring finger on the top of the product to blend the two layers and pat and blend onto my under eye area. I have even used this to conceal other areas on my face with great results. Once set it stays put all day without creasing. Even without setting with powder it still has very minimal settling into lines.

IMG_8755

Benefit FakeUp Hydrating Crease Control Concealer ($24 US/$29 CAD) for 3.5g Net wt. 0.12 oz comes in Light, Medium, and Dark and is available at  Sephora, Bloomingdales, and Ulta.

Product provided for my consideration. All reviews are always my own honest and unbiased opinions.