cool off now

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this is not make up or a skin care product…but a couple of these babies will definitely make your face glllooww.

On this ridiculously hot day (let’s put it on record: it is 88 degrees at 8:30PM in Boston! There is an ‘excessive heat warning’ on weather.com for the region) – you need a yummy cold drink…I was recently introduced to whipped cream vodka, and now it’s a new fave.

Whipped Cream vodka...it's literally whipped cream flavored vodka

You can find it at most liquor stores….thankfully.

You can mix it will just about any soda or juice (i.e. orange, pineapple, grapefruit). Below is a recipe using whipped cream vodka – it’s just sweet enough, and sure to cool you off!

Ingredients: ice, whipped cream vodka, club soda, pineapple juice

Directions (my non-bartender/throw it together in your kitchen recipe):

  1. Fill your glass halfway with ice
  2. Then, fill your glass a quarter of the way (ok maybe less, depends on the day you had) with Whipped Cream vodka
  3. Fill your glass the rest of the way with soda water
  4. Now add a splash of pineapple juice (I like to add more than a splash, I like the sweetness)

BOOM, done.

If you want to go really sweet – substitute the club soda for pineapple juice. If you wanna go tropical, add a splash of pina colada mix.

Yum! Enjoy…and I hope everyone is keeping cool tonight!

a rockin’ cheek highlighter

/ BethonBeauty / 2 Comments

Following up on the “do you look good in watermelon pink” post (see link below if you missed it) — it was brought to my attention that we also need to give a shout out to a great highlighting product, also by Benefit. It’s called Girl Meets Pearl “a soft golden pink, liquid pearl highlighter.” This highlighter is best used on the cheeks – I usually put it over my blush – more details below

Girl Meets Pearl highlighter by Benefit

Although I can’t pull off the watermelon pink – I do use blush everyday – and layering on this highlighter freshens up my make up routine in the summer.

How to use it:

  • After applying make up – including foundation/concealer, bronzer, and blush – grab ‘Girl Meets Pearl’
  • The product comes out by cranking the bottom – it only needs a couple of twists! See below:

this is actually more than enough product!

  • Use a cotton round or make up sponge for application – I typically swipe the round across the top of the highlighter, and then apply directly to my cheeks in a sweeping motion. I focus on the apples of my cheeks and sweep upwards

Here’s a before:

eeek no make up

After (with blush + highlighter):

pretty glimmering effect!

another angle

Ok, so I did those pics with my cellphone, the quality is iffy…I hope you get the gist. This highlighter is a great accent make up. I usually save it for the weekends…and wear it over my blush when I’m going out a night. It doesn’t make you look greasy…it’s a nice iridescent color. Oh and…it seems to work on any skin tone, ya! 🙂

More info from Benefit:

What it does:
For a delectable glow, fancy up with this golden-pink liquid pearl luminizer. Its sheer, light-reflecting formula in a fresh, raspberry scent glides on smoothly for a breathtakingly radiant complexion. Wear it alone for a youthful dewy glow, or over makeup for lustrous “pearlessence.” 

Where to find: Sephora, Macys, wherever Benefit is sold!

Cost: $30 – should last a good summer since you only need a couple clicks each time!

Eyeliner…so many choices…

/ BethonBeauty / 4 Comments

Eyeliners…I might have a small army of them. There are so many out there to try. A couple that have bubbled to the top of my list are below. These are very different liners – one is a pencil (needs to be sharpened), the other is retractable…and price-wise they are quite different.

Do you have a go-to brand/color of eyeliner? If so, PLEASE share…

and take a look at these, if you’re in the market for a new liner:

THE STEAL: Revlon Colorstay eyeliner pencil (link to product at bottom of post)

Revlon Colorstay eyeliner

  • Where can you get it: most pharmacies, Target, Wal-Mart etc.
  • Cost: $6-$8 (depending where you go, often goes on sale too)
  • My color: I usually go with the brown, black is too defined/dramatic for my complexion

Why it’s good:

  • It’s retractable – no need for a sharpener…if it breaks, just twist it up and more liner will appear
  • It comes in some good/traditional shades
  • It LASTS…all day
  • It’s waterproof…which is key in the humidity/if your eyes water a lot from allergies
  • The price, it’s cheap – and easy to find!

Any cons?

  • That it’s not available in more/funkier colors
  • Sometimes I need to use a q-tip to smudge the liner around once I apply it – because the line can be harsh/too defined for my taste. I wish the liner cam with a built-in smudger at the end!

THE SPLURGE: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil (link to product at bottom of post)

Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner

  • Where can you get it: Sephora, Macy’s, Ulta
  • Cost: $18
  • My color: 1999 ‘glimmering plum’ this deep purple color is supposed to highlight hazel eyes/the gold flecks in hazel/brown colors eyes
Why it’s good:
  • I typically don’t like pencils,  but this applies really smoothly and the pencil keeps its shape
  • Although it doesn’t come with a smudger – it doesn’t really need it because it applies not as dark/defined
  • It comes in a HUGE variety of colors – from traditional, to super funky colors (over 20 colors)
  • I can wear one coat and go more subtle for day OR wear a couple of coats for a more dramatic/nighttime look, it’s versatile!
  • It LASTS…all day
  • It’s waterproof…which is key in the humidity/if your eyes water a lot from allergies

Any cons?

  • The price…anything over $10 is a lot for an eyeliner, let’s be serious
  • It’s a pencil and will eventually need to be sharpened, ggrrr
The products:

How do you look in watermelon pink?

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The lady at the Benefit counter dusted the Bella Bamba ‘watermelon pink’ blush on my friend Kristi’s cheeks. I loved the pop of pink color, the shimmer, and how it highlighted. I HAD to have it too. So, I bought it…

…then one day I randomly caught my reflection in the bathroom mirror at work…I was pale with watermelon pink cheeks, something wasn’t right. That was the day I realized, I couldn’t pull off the watermelon pink.

Later, it was explained to me that it could be because of the more ‘green (i.e. cool) undertones in my skin.’ Woof. My friend Kristi – and my other friend Robyn, who ended up getting my failed blush purchase look great in this blush. But why?

Both of them have more yellow/olive (warm) undertones in their skin. To explain this better – they both tan easily, get more brown…whereas I get more berry colored. They also have dark hair and eyes, while I’m blonde (well, fake blonde) with hazel eyes. I’m thinking all these things factored in. So – although it didn’t work on me…I find it GORGEOUS on these other ladies and their skin tone…and if you have similar characteristics – this blush could work for you too! It’s certainly one of the summers ‘it’ blush colors.

Here’s a pic of Robyn sporting the Bella Bamba blush:

Robyn is quite tan right now - so the pink is pretty subtle...but you can tell that its a nice pinky accent on her cheek!

What’s Bella Bamba all about:

  • It’s one of Benefits newer blushes
  • Bella Bamba is a deeper pink color, with gold shimmers – definitely, a playful tone!
  • The color is definitely pink (not peach)
  • It’s supposed to ‘brighten and sculpt’
  • It comes in a more convenient flip-top case, with a small mirror on the inner cover, and stays shut because it’s magnetized
  • The 0.28 oz container costs $28 (I’ve heard that Benefit has decreased the size of the blush container while keeping the price the same, booo to them!)
    • But, the blush should last a good amont of time – since you only need a couple swipes per cheek, per application to get the pinky-shimmery color

Although it didn’t look fly on me – it could work on you! It’s a fun color for the summer.

Available at most dept stores, and Sephora: