Makeup Menu: Everyday Staples

These are probably the handful of procuts I currently couldn't live without. Everything else I switch up a lot; whether it be lipstick, eyeshadow, blush or mascara.  I might go for a smokey eye, or an eyeliner & bold lip look for a night out, or something quick and easy during the day.  Like anyone, it varies from day to day, depending where I'm going, what I'm doing, or how much time I have! But these are the things that, if I'm wearing a full face of makeup, I absolutely must use!  

While I don't have massive pores, they can be a bit bothersome on occastion, especially around my nose.  I find a thin layer of Porefessional keeps them under control and helps my foundation stay put for longer.  This is especially imporant when my foundation of choice isn't the longest wearing, but I find with a primer and the Bourjois powder, my Chanel Vita-Lumiere Aqua lasts as long as I need it to.  I've gone through so many tubes of the Collection concealer, and see no reason to try anything else; it does a great job of reducing my dark circles, and gives a bit of extra coverage in any areas I need it. I just wish they'd sort the packaging out -  I hate how the writing wears off; look at the state of it!  Urban Decay Primer Potion is easily the makeup item I've been using the longest; I used it back in the day of the awful packaging, and no matter what other eye primers I've tried, I always go back to this.  The most staple-y of staples! Benefit's Hoola is a must; whether it's to just warm my complexion up a bit, or if I want a bit more of a contoured look.  I've used this every day for well over a year, and still have a decent amount left.  Lastly it's time to transform my non-existent brows with the help of a couple more Benefit products.  I'm no expert at brows, and I'm still on the lookout for the perfect brow products for me, but these two babies do a good enough job, I think I just need to work on my technique!

Makeup Menu: Springtime

Of all the new make up releases throughout the year, I always get most excited about what different brands are releasing in time for Spring.  Although I'm yet to properly check out this Springs new releases, now that the weather is slowly getting warmer I've been switching up my make up routine to incorporate a few past spring/summer releases as well as things that I've bought recently.

I picked up the Boots No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter last summer, along with one of the cream blush sticks, and later a lovely bronzing highlighter.  I definitely reach for this one most often though. The subtle nude/pink with a slight shimmer really does perk up my complexion without it being too much, and it stays put all day.  I love teaming this with Benefit's Lollitint for a fresh, natural look that's perfect for spring.  The Bourjois Happy Light serum is a relatively new edition, but something I've really been enjoying using.  I like to mix a bit with my foundation to add a very slight glow to my skin making me look more awake; perfect for those early starts at work! I'm a big fan of cream eyeshadows and Maybelline's On and On Bronze is the latest addition to my collection.  This really pretty golden bronze shade works really well as a base for other shadows, but works just as well on it's on for a hint of colour on the lids when you haven't got time to go all out with different colours. This Bourjois Shine Edition lipstick in Rose Xoxo is a lovely lilacy pink shade that's still very wearable and natural, yet just that bit different from my usual nude/pink shades.  Finally, Benefit's latest release, Roller Lash has quickly become a firm favourite amongst many a blogger, and I'm no exception. I find it gives me lovely, curly, fluttery lashes without the dreaded 'spider lashes' look and comes off easily enough at the end of the day.

What products will you be adding to your makeup routine this Spring?

Benefit Gimme Brow

Two things: First, I know you're all probably sick to death of hearing about this recent release from Benefit; everyone and their dog has reviewed it since it's release last month. Secondly, I know I'm supposed to be on a spending ban... oops.  Everyody knows the drill by now, Gimme Brow is a brow gel containing tiny fibres that help to give the appearence of fuller eyebrows.

I've mentioned before about my thin, sparse brows.  It's not a result of over-plucking, they're just naturally this way and I'm always on the look out for products that will make them appear a bit fuller, and Benefit's Gimme Brow caught my attention from the start and I highly anticipated it's UK release.  I've tried brow gels in the past in the shape of Maybelline's brow mascara and wasn't overly impressed; the wand is quite large, larger than the thickness of my eyebrows, so I couldn't get away with it. I'd end up with product everywhere.  When I saw the size of Gimme Brow I was relieved, it's so small and dainty, perfect if you don't have much brow to work with.  I have medium brown hair, so could've probably got away with either of the light/medium or medium/dark shades, but opted for the lighter one for a more natural look. I had one of the Benebabes at my local counter apply it for me, showing me after she'd done one eyebrow.  I couldn't believe the difference.  Just a few quick strokes transformed my thin, straggly eyebrow into one with a much fuller appearance and a bit of shape, without looking fake or unnatural.  I initially thought I wouldn't have enough 'brow for the fibres to cling to, but I needn't have worried; it looked great! I was so impressed, I couldn't wait for her to do my other brow so I could pay for my own little eyebrow miracle.

Gimme Brow can be used either on it's own or in conjunction with some sort of eyebrow powder.  I tend to use it on it's own for a natural, everyday look, and with my Brow Zings when my eyebrows need that bit more oomph, say for a night out.

At £17.50 it's certainly not cheap, especially for the amount of product you get (a mere 0.1oz!).  It actually makes the likes of They're Real (£19.50!) look like a bargain! I got lucky this time around as I had £10 on my Debenhams Beauty Card, and also it was a 10% off event, so I got it around £6 which is an absolute bargain! I guess I shouldn't really be complaining about the price this time around as a I got such a good deal, but I'm sure I'll feel a little guilty when I repurchase.  Yes, when I repurchase... I've been totally won over by this product and I'm sure to buy it again, despite the hefty price tag!

5 products, 5 minutes

I'm sure we all have those mornings where for whatever reason we've left ourselves five minutes to do our make up. Whether you've over slept, have some last-minute plans, or just simply can't be bothered to do a full face of make up, we've all been there.  For me, most days, it's the latter.  I just can't bring myself to go all out with my make up when I'm going to work for various reasons, but put simply I don't see the point; anyone who's worked in a busy kitchen/restaurant/cafe will completely understand! That said, I still like to make a bit of an effort to look a little bit human, and I'm proud to say I've got my "work face" routine whittled down to just 5 products, all applied within just 5 minutes

A recent discovery for me is the Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation.  I've heard a lot of people complain that the shade range of Boujois isn't the best, and while there certainly isn't a great deal of shades, I'm one of the lucky ones as this is a pretty good match for my skin tone.  I'd say this foundation is leaning towards medium coverage, but it's very light weight and doesn't feel at all like you're wearing a mask.  It's quick and easy to blend into the skin, and doesn't accentuate any dry patches.  Concealer is a must for me, especially when I have a dreaded 7am start.  My trusty Collection concealer does a good job of minimising my dark circles; I've lost count of how many tubes of this I've gone through. I love it. I just wish they'd sort the packaging out; I hate how all the writing wears off after about a week!  Next up is a quick sweep of blusher to add a bit of much needed colour to my cheeks.  At the moment, I'm really liking this one by Boujois, but to be honest I just usually grab whichever one's closest! Almost done now, but not before a bit of bronzer.  I tend not to do any real contouring, I just sweep a light dusting all over, maybe concentrating slightly more under my cheek bones, nothing to drastic though, just enough to add a little shape.  Last but not least, mascara.  At the moment, I'm really enjoying the L'Oreal Miss Manga mascara.  I'd read mixed reviews on this, but decided to bite the bullet and give it a go, and I'm really pleased I did.

So that's my 5 minute face routine.  If I had a bit more time, I'd definitely do my eyebrows.  I'll occasionally use a bit of brow gel on them but for the most part I don't bother for work. Things like highlighter, eyeshadow and primer, I save for my days off.  This way, I know I'll look a bit different, and certainly feel that little bit more (dare I say?) glamorous on the days I've escaped from the madhouse that is work!

Handbag Makeup

I've never been one for carrying that much make up around with me on a day to day basis. For the longest time, it was simply my lipstick of choice.  These days I do tend to carry slightly more around with me, although if I'm honest I don't touch up my make up all that much while I'm out and about, but I guess it's good to know I have a few essentials handy in case I do need them.

I've mentioned this concealer and powder many times before, and pretty much every blogger has raved about one, or both, of these.  The Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot powder is one of the best powders I've used, and is the only one that doesn't go cakey on me.  Similarly, Collection's Lasting Perfection is my all time favourite concealer.  I don't feel the need to carry foundation around with me, these two are all I need to cope with any blemishes that may appear during the day.  I also carry my Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray which is great for refreshing the skin, and giving an instant pick me up.  As you can see, I have a number of lip products; I tend to just throw in whatever I'm wearing that day and don't take them back out again so there's always a bit of a collection in there.  I'm loving Benetint by Benefit at the moment.  I use it mainly as a lip stain, so don't really need to apply it to my lips again, but I may use it on my cheeks if my blusher starts to fade.  This miniature bottle is perfect for carrying around and I really wish you could buy them separately.  I also have a Revlon Lip Butter  (Berry Smoothie) and a L'Oreal Rouge Caresse (Aphrodite Scarlet) as well as a Maybelline Baby Lips (Cherry Velvet) which I like to layer over the Benetint.  Lastly for make up is an Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Bourbon which I use mainly on my lower lash line. Apart from my Real Techniques Powder Brush, the only other thing I carry is my Travalo which at the moment contains my current favourite perfume; Viva La Juicy, La Fleur.  It's much easier and safer than carrying around a full size perfume bottle and I keep meaning to get a couple more for all my different perfumes.

I used to just have all these bits floating around the bottom of my bag, until I came across this little makeup bag while having a bit of a clear out.  It was one I got free from Clinique when I bought some skincare items a couple of years ago.  It's the perfect size for throwing in my handbag and keeps all my little bits and bobs in one place.  I absolutely love the colours and the print, and it's a wipe-clean too so there's no need to worry about getting make-up marks all over it! 

What makeup do you tend to carry around with you?

Top Five: Benefit

Benefit is basically what started my make-up obsession.  The first ever high-end product I bought was a liquid foundation called "Non-Fiction" many moons ago, and it has long since been discontinuted.  I was pretty obsessed with Benefit for a while; for a time it was all I'd wear on my face.  And while I've since branched out and tried (and quite often preferred) other brands, I still find myself getting excited about new products (I personally can't wait for Gimme Brow to hit the UK!) and going back to old favourites.  I've tried many a Benefit product over the years, but if I had to whittle it down to five favourites, this is what I'd choose.

1. Benetint

Benetint is a rose-tinted lip and cheek stain and is one of Benefit's oldest products. My lips are naturally quite pale, so I love using this under my lipstick to give an extra hint of colour, then when my lipstick wears off, I don't look like I'm at deaths door! You can also skip the lipstick, but Benetint can be quite drying so I'd recommend a bit of lip balm over the top.  It also adds a lovely flush of colour to the cheeks, but needs to be blended quite fast to stop it going streaky.  Personally I prefer Benefit's Cha Cha Tint on my cheeks.  This is just a miniature bottle I got in a gift set; my full size bottle ran out a long time ago and I never bothered to replace it.  However this sample size has made me fall back in love with it and I'm very tempted to get another full size again when this runs out.

 2. Porefessional

Primers were something I'd neglected until I got a sample of this free with Glamour magazine back in 2012.  I then managed to acquire another sample size, before finally purchasing the full size late last year.  I don't use it on an every day basis, but for special occasions or when I just want to take a bit more time to do my make up, I'll reach for this.  It really does help my foundation go on easier and helps it to last all day.  Plus you only need a small amount so I can see this tube lasting a long time.

3. Brow Zings

My eyebrows are the bane of my life.  They're so thing and sparse, and are almost invisible in photos if I don't do anything with them.  Brow Zings contains a wax which keeps your brows in place, a powder to fill in any gaps, as well as a couple of miniature brushes and tweezers which are great for on the go.  With my brows been naturally so non-existent(!) I'm always wary that brow products will make them to dark and prominent, which would just look really false on me.  However, Brow Zings keeps my brows looking natural, but noticeable, and ensures they frame my face, helping my make up to look even better. 

4. Hoola

As well as my pale lips and non-existent eyebrows, I'm also pretty fair skinned and definitely need a bit of bronzer to perk my skin up, especially in winter.  Hoola is a completely matte bronzer, which makes it brilliant for contouring; I tend to use it all over my face making a "3" shape, concentrating a little more under my cheekbones for a contoured, but subtle look.

 5. Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liners

These two in particular are miniature versions from my World Famous Neutrals set.  I also have several full size ones and I absolutely love them.  They're so versatile; they can be used as a base for your powder shadows to intensify the colour and make it last longer, or can be used simply on their own for a quick and easy eye look.  The darker shades also make brilliant eyeliners.  The only downside is they dry out quite easily, so it's important to keep them as tightly closed as you possibly can.

So that's it for my Top 5. it was a hard decision as I love so many Benefit products;  They're Real, High Beam and Coralista are also firm favourites of mine.  They may be a bit gimmicky sometimes, and the prices are very much on the expensive side, but I'm sure Benefit is a brand that I'll continue to use, and I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with next.

What are your favourite Benefit products?

August Favourites

Babyliss waving wand.

I've had this for ages but I haven't used it for the longest time. Now every time I've styled my hair this month I've been using this.  I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll never be able to curl my hair with ghd's no matter how hard I try.  Using a wand, however, is so easy! This one is a more unusual shape compared to the typical conical wand, but the principle is the same.  Simply point downwards and (carefully!) wrap sections of hair around it, hold for few seconds and let go. The shape of this is meant to give more of a 'wave' than a curl, but I find it gives more than enough curl for me, and I tend to brush it out a fair bit for a more natural look.

Osmo Blow Dry Potion

 I mentioned this in my haircare routine post a couple of weeks ago, and it has definitely become a firm favourite.  It doesn't give masses of volume, but I can definitely notice a difference in how my hair looks when I've used this, it's just enough to stop my hair looking flat.  It also gives a bit of hold, which is great for when I'm using the waving wand on my hair. I hadn't heard of Osmo until I bought this, but I definitely want to try out more of their products in the future.

Benefit They're Real

I bought this product when it first came out in 2011 and to be honest, I didn't love it.  However, when I received a mini version in a gift set recently, I decided to give it a second chance.  This time around, it's love.  I'm not sure why, though I think it might be with this one being a miniature version, the wand is shorter and therefore easier to control? Has anyone else experienced this? My lashes are quite long anyway, but are quite fair at the ends, this mascara lengthens them even more and makes them such much more defined.  It's making me want to buy the full size again, but if my theory's right I won't love it nearly as much.

Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot

My skin isn't overly oily but I do get a bit of a shiny forehead as the day goes on. Despite this, I've never been a big powder user as I've found them to be cakey and emphasise any dry patches.  When Soap and Glory make up was 3 for 2 recently, I decided to give this a go, and I'm so glad I did.  It's so finely milled and pretty much melts into the skin, given a lovely matte finish.  Another winner from Soap and Glory for me!

Barry M Confetti Nail Paint in Dolly Mixture

I love topcoats, so much so, I'm planning a blog post showing all my favourites.  This is a new addition but has already become a firm favourite.  I love this because it adds a bit of interest to your nail colour of choice, but is much less in your face than glitter.  I always associate glitter polishes with winter or night time, so these confetti ones are perfect for day time.

The Body Shop Almond Hand & Nail Cream

Excuse the battered-ness of the tube, but with it being in a metallic tube, it doesn't stand a chance in my handbag! My hands get really dry at work, so a good hand cream is a must.  This one does the job brilliantly, it absorbs quickly leaving no greasy residue, and it leaves my hands super soft.  It has a lovely, non-offencive smell too.  This is just the small version, though once my Hand Food has ran out, I may get a larger tube of this for my dressing table,

What's in my Overnight Beauty Bag?

My boyfriend and I recently went away for the evening, nowhere far, just out for a nice meal then stayed over in a hotel.  He's in the Army and is currently on leave, and since we don't get very much time together, we thought it'd be nice just to have a little alone time, with just us and no interruptions.

The bag itself came with a No7 Christmas gift set a  good few years ago now, but it is one of my favourite toiletries bags, and trust me, I have a few! I love the colour, and the pattern inside, and also the two sections inside are clear so you can see exactly where everything is.

As I had to work the day we were due to go, a hair wash when we arrived was essential! I used my mini Organix shampoo and conditioner, which I'm a big fan of.  I like how they're a bit bigger than the usual travel size shampoos you get, so they last much longer. The spray bottle you can see contains some of my Amargan protect and shine spray, and I finished off my hair with my Lee Stafford Argan Oil serum. For shower gel I opted for The Body Shop's Satsuma body wash.  This stuff smells amazing! The scent really lingers in the bathroom afterwards too.  I also took the accompanying body butter in Jolly Orange

For skincare, I took my trusty L'Oreal Micellar Water. I didn't bother decanting this into anything smaller as although the bottle is quite large, it's a pretty compact shape. It also tones which is one less thing to take. The miniature Benefit face wash is pretty much empty, and the moisturiser now contains my usual No7 day cream. I was a bit naughty and didn't take any night cream. I had nothing to decant my usual one into, so decided that for one night, I'd just use the day cream again.

I based the makeup on my five minute face look I blogged about not too long ago, but added a few bits to make it more of an evening look.  The Benefit primer is a relatively new purchase, and I'm still making my mind up as to what I think of it. I changed the foundation to my Chanel Vita Lumiere Aqua, as it's more of a compact size for travelling.  I usually prefer a bit more coverage for an evening, but with the primer it was fine.  I kept cheeks and lips the same, but took a few extra bits to define my eyes, including my Benefit Brow-Zings palette.  For eye shadow I used my Soap and Glory palette in 'What's Nude' which is a really handy size for travelling, and lined my eyes with a Maybelline felt tip liner.  I also took my mini They're Real mascara by Benefit.  Lastly the nail varnish you see is from Accessorize and is called Amethyst.  This was already on my toes and just took it to go over any chips as I was wearing sandals, which is a bit lazy but we've all done it I'm sure...!

It does seem a lot to take for just the one night, but I really don't know how I could condense it further.  This little lot could probably last for a longer trip too, but like everyone else, the longer the trip, the more makeup I pack!

Five Minute Face

Ever had some last minute plans and had literally five minutes to put your 'face' on before you leave the house? Or you've left getting ready til the last minute? Or simply just can't be bothered to sit and do your makeup properly? These all happen to me on a regular basis so I thought I'd share with you what I used to make getting ready quick, easy and fuss free.

I start by applying Urban Decay's Naked Skin Foundation with my Real Techniques buffing brush.  The liquid formula of this foundation makes it really easy to blend, unlike some thicker foundations which can take a bit more work I've found.  I then dab Collection's Lasting Perfection concealer under my eyes and over any blemishes and blend with a Crown brush.

I have very thin, sparse eyebrows and even when in rush, I have to do something with them! For a quick fix I use Soap and Glory's Archery brow duo, which is a pencil on one and a felt tip on the other.  It doesn't do as good a job as my trusty Benefit Brow-Zings palette, but when I'm in a rush this does the job just fine.  No time for eyeshadow, I just blend a little of Urban Decay's Primer Potion in Eden over my lids.  This does a fab job of evening out my dark eyelids and makes me look more awake.  I then add plenty of mascara to add definition to my eyes.  

I add warmth to my face using Bourjois bronzing primer, and then highlight using Girl Meets Pearl by Benefit. My blush of choice lately has been Frat Boy by The Balm.  This is a matte blush but the glow from Girl Meets Pearl shines through for a lovely finish. I'll then either set with powder, or the Urban Decay setting spray pictured above.  All that's left is a lipstick; I'm a nude lippy kind of girl and my go to one at the moment is No7 Sheer Temptation in Delight.  I'm a big fan of these lip colours and this one is a lovely nude pink which works well with the simpleness of this look.  Lippy on and I'm good to go!

This is pretty much my go-to look most days, and I can do it in near enough five minutes.  If I have a bit more time I'll maybe add eyeshadows or eyeliner but when time is limited this little lot makes me look human enough! What are your favourite products to use when in a rush?

Colours of the Rainbow Tag!

I haven't actually been tagged by anyone to do this tag, but after watching so many videos and reading lots of blog posts about it, I felt inspired to do it myself.  It was actually harder than I thought it would be; I seemd to have lots of things of one colour (purple nail varnishes, I'm looking at you!) but then some colours (green!)  I struggled with.  I've tried to get a variety of products though and think I've done pretty well!

RED

Urban Decay Super-Saturated Lip Colour in 'F-Bomb'

I don't own many red lip colours but with this being one of them, I don't feel the need for any more.  It's a bright medium-dark red with just a hint of shimmer and a lovely glossy finish. I bought this to wear for a masquerade party, and teamed it with a blue dress and gold accessories and I loved the way the whole look came together.  It's really long lasting and I keep meaning to pick up another one of these in a more wearable colour.

ORANGE

Real Techniques Buffing Brush

I don't need to say too much about this brush do I?! It does a brilliant job with pretty much every foundation I've used it with and is so soft.  Best foundation brush I've ever used! When my original one started shedding, as if the hairs hadn't been glued in properly, I contacted Real Techniques who sent me another one straight away for free! Amazing service too!

YELLOW

Lush Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter

A bit of a cult product this one.  A brilliant multi-tasker that not only soften cuticles but is great for dry skin on your elbows, knees, feet, pretty much anywhere! My only gripe is that you get TOO MUCH product.  You generally get a year-18months of this before it goes 'off' and starts to smell funny. I've thrown out only half empty pots because of this. I'd rather pay the same amount but get less than waste so much of it that someone else could have used.

GREEN

Benefit Porefessional

I've seen this mentioned for both green and blue and since I can't find anything else for green, I'm putting it here! Recently I've found my pores to be quite enlarged on my forehead and sides of my nose.  I find a small amount of this over those areas helps disguise them and allows for a smoother application of foundation.  This is a mini size that came with a birthday gift set.

BLUE

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara, Waterproof

I tend to stay away from waterproof mascaras for the simple reason that they're too much effort to remove. Lazy I know, but I hate the way I have to tug at my eyes to get it all off at the end of the day.  I recently broke this rule as I was to be a bridesmaid for my cousin and I knew there'd be tears.  After deliberating in Boots for ages, I decided on this one and I'm flipping glad I did! It gave a nice amount of volume to my lashes, and separated them brilliantly. And it stayed put all day!

INDIGO

Tangle Teezer

I held off getting one of these for so long and now I have two! This one stays on my dressing table as I'm worried the teeth will get damaged in my bag.  It's more gentle than any other brush I've used and I love how it can be used on wet or dry hair.  My hair is pretty long and tangles easily but this brush sorts it out no bother.  It feels weird using a regular brush now.  I also have one of the compact ones with the 'lid' which I keep in my handbag.

VIOLET

Travelo Perfume Atomiser

Such a simple concept put an absolute life saver when it comes to carrying your favourite scent around.  There's not a great deal to say about these; their compact, light as a feather and super easy to refill. They are a little pricey (I think the RRP is around the £11 mark) but they can often be found cheaper on various discount websites. Mine contains my Stella perfume, and I'm tempted to buy a couple more for my other perfumes too.

PINK

Benefit Bella Bamba

I love Benefit's boxed powders and this one is no exception.  Bella Bamba is a gorgeous pink colour, and is Benefit's only '3D effect' blush, which apparently just means it brightens, sculpts, and defines. I have a good selection of Benefit's blushers and this is by far the most pigmented. However it's really blendable so it can be easily corrected if you overdo it a bit.

MULTICOLOURED

Camden Lock, Nails Inc Graffiti

I was tempted to use a nail varnish for so many colours, but wanted to keep a bit of variety so I've saved it til the end.  This, as the name suggest, was part of the Graffiti collection by Nails Inc that was out late last year.  This is easily the most colourful of the set and contains different shapes and sizes of red, green, blue silver and gold glitter.  This makes a brilliant topcoat and would look great over pretty much any colour.  I prefer to use a pastel shade for a slightly more subtle look.

Have you done the Colours of the Rainbow Tag? Link me your blogspots and videos below and I'll be sure to check them out! If you're reading this and haven't done the tag then I tag you!! :)

Benefit Stay Don't Stray

Eyeshadow primer is a must for me, without it my eyeshadows apply very unevenly, fades quickly and basically do everything a primer stops it from doing. For years I've used the infamous Urban Decay Primer Potion, but when my last tube ran out, I decided to try the  Benefit for a change.

As you can see, Stay Don't Stray (right) is slightly darker and thicker than UDPP

Benefit describe this as having a universally flattering shade.  Unlike the likes of UDPP this doesn't dry translucent on the skin, it actually applies almost like a nude cream eyeshadow.  This isn't an issue for me, and I've even just put this on my eyelids with no shadow over it.  It does a great job of hiding the discolouration on my eyelids and just evens them out a bit.  This and a bit of liquid liner & mascara and I've got a quick and easy eye look. I'm unsure if those with darker skin tones would prefer a primer that does dry translucent, although if it's going to be covered over with eyeshadow, it won't matter too much maybe! It is also slightly thicker in texture, and I seem to need a smaller 'dollop' than I would with UDPP. With eye shadow, it worked really well for me too, possibly better than UDPP.  Eight hours later my eye makeup was still intact and hard barely creased. Result!

Stay Don't Stray is a "dual action" primer, as it can also be used to help your concealer stay put longer.  To be honest, I felt it made no difference to my concealer.  I wasn't too bothered about this as I bought it purely to use as an eyeshadow primer.  But obviously I gave it a go under my concealers, but felt they did just as good a job on their own.  My go-to concealer at the moment is the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection, a liquid concealer, so maybe it'd work better with a cream concealer. But like I say, this wouldn't put me off buying this again as I didn't buy it for this purpose.

The major downfall of this product for me is the packaging.  Remember the old UDPP packaging with the genie bottle? And the You Tube videos that showed us how cutting the bottle in half would unleash more product than the wand could reach?!  Well Benefit have made a similar boo boo here. While the pump dispenser is hygienic, unless you are extremely careful, it dispenses too much product. WAY too much product.  Over time I've learned that you only need to press gently on the pump, and not push it all the way down.  This is easier said than done, especially if you're in a rush to get ready like I usually am and even doing this often gives you too much product.  I've possibly wasted more product than I've actually used, which when a product costs almost £20, it's not something you want to do!

 

As much as I love Benefit, and how much this works well for me, I'm not sure I'd repurchase this again, unless they changed the packaging.  It's a shame really, as the primer itself works better for me than UDPP, but £19.50 is a lot of money for me if half the product is going to waste.