Review: Benefit Hello Flawless! Oxygen Wow liquid foundation

photo from sephora.com

I received an adorable little sample of Benefit's new foundation at Sephora.  Let's give it a try, shall we?

Benefit calls it "a brightening, oil-free liquid foundation that builds from light to medium coverage with broad-spectrum SPF 25 protection."  It's available in nine shades, and a 1 oz. bottle sells for $36.00.  Full disclosure, I have oily skin and large pores, so the word "brightening" causes some concern for oil.  I usually opt for a matte foundation.

Application
After moisturizing, I used my fingers to apply it since a brush seemed overwhelming for the teeny sample vial.  It blended very nicely into my skin, leaving a soft, satin finish that looked very natural.  Coverage is quite light, so I needed concealer for a few spots.  The shade I got ("petal") seemed a tiny bit yellow for me at first, but it looked better after it oxidized and I had the rest of my makeup on.  I set it with Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder.

3 hours later...
I'm noticing a significant shine in my T-zone.  I shouldn't be surprised, since this is a "brightening" foundation and not a mattifying one.  Time to powder down.

After 8 hours...
My whole face is shiny.  The foundation has almost completely worn off of my chin and nose.  And I have 2 more hours of work to go!

The verdict
I can see this working for normal to slightly dry skin. (I'll give the rest of the sample to my mom and see how she fares.)  If you have oily skin, just skip it.

Manic(ure) Monday: Go Ducks!

Colors used:  Sally Hansen "Lightening," Wet 'n Wild "SaGreena the Teenage Witch"

Manic(ure) Monday: Pink Stripe French

Colors used:  Sally Hansen Advanced Hard as Nails in "Natural," Sally Hansen "White On," and Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen in "Hot Pink."

Manic(ure) Monday: Mint and Lilac

Colors used:  Sally Hansen "Mint Sorbet" and Sally Hansen "Lacey Lilac"

Top 5 Products Under $5

I firmly believe that you don't have to spend a lot to get great beauty products.  While I may splurge here and there on a high-end foundation (or my summer favorite setting spray), for the most part I stick to drugstore brands.  Here are a few of my favorites from the lowest end of the price scale.

Wet n Wild Color Icon Blush in "Mellow Wine"
$2.99, drugstores

Holy pigmentation, Batman!  A little of this blush goes a long way, which makes the value even more phenomenal.  It has a soft, silky texture and matte finish, perfect for when you want just a little flush of color without shimmer.

e.l.f. Studio Eyebrow Treat & Tame in "Ash"
$3.00, www.eyeslipsface.com

On one end, it's a tinted brow gel.  On the other, a "vitamin infused gel formula" that claims to help stimulate hair growth.  I haven't used it long enough to know if it'll make my brows bushier, but I love the tinted gel.  It contains little fibers that help fill in brows for a naturally full look.  When I don't feel like fiddling with a pencil or brow powder, this is my go-to.

pHisoderm Cream Cleanser for Sensitive Skin
$4.69, drugstores

I don't ask for much in a cleanser.  I want it to clean my face and not irritate my skin, that's about it.  Done and done, for under five bucks.  Yay!

Revlon Colorsilk hair color
$3.99, drugstores

Wanna know a secret?  I have never had my hair colored at a salon.  Not once.  But I've had multiple hair stylists compliment my hair color when I use Colorsilk.  The price is amazing, especially since my thick hair usually requires two boxes for a full color.  I stick with the neutral or cool shades to minimize brassiness.

e.l.f. Studio Volume Plumping Mascara
$3.00, Target or www.eyeslipsface.com

This was my first experience with e.l.f. mascara, and I was impressed!  I usually use waterproof mascaras because I fear the Raccoon Eye Effect.  Not a problem here!  It defines lashes in one coat, adds volume with a second coat, and stays put all day.  I don't even need to curl my lashes before applying, because it holds a slight curl by itself.

What are your favorite beauty bargains?

Beaded Earrings Tutorial

Ready to make some pretty dangles for your ears?  Let's go!

What you'll need:

• (6) 6-mm black Swarovski pearl beads
• (4) 4-mm blue Swarovski bicone beads
• (4) 4-mm green Swarovski bicone beads
• (12) 2-mm seamless round silver beads
• (16) 4-mm silver jump rings
• (6) silver head pins
• (2) silver ear wires
• round-tipped jewelry pliers
• wire cutters (if your pliers do not have a cutter built in)

Step 1:  Thread beads on a head pin in the pattern shown above (silver round, blue bicone, pearl, blue bicone, silver round).

Step 2:  Using your pliers, bend the head pin at a 90-degree angle above the top bead.

Step 3:  Wrap the head pin around the tip of the pliers to form a ring.

Step 4:  Wrap the head pin 2-3 times around the space between the ring and the top bead.

Step 5:  Cut off the the head pin as close to the wrap as you can, then use your pliers to tuck in the end.

Repeat Steps 1-5 to make another dangle with blue beads, and two more with green beads...

...and also two dangles with this pattern (silver round, pearl, silver round).

Please forgive my nails--they're going through a rough patch!

Step 6:  Attach a chain of (4) jump rings to each of the blue dangles.

Step 7:  Attach (2) jump rings to each of the short dangles (the ones with only pearls and silver beads).

Step 8:  Use (1) jump ring to join one of each of the dangles.

Step 9:  Attach (1) jump ring to the one joining the dangles, and use it to attach to the ear wire.  Repeat Steps 8 and 9 for the second earring.

Click here for my earring holder tutorial!

Enjoy your new pretties!

Quick Craft: Earring Holder

Need a place to store and display your dangly earrings?  You can make one in under ten minutes.

What you'll need:

• Picture frame with a stand on the back (mine is 8x10, but you can use whatever size you want)
• Window screen (available at home improvement stores)
• Decorative paper, at least as big as your frame
• Craft scissors 
• Paper trimmer

Step 1:  Remove the glass from your frame and use it as a guide to cut a piece of window screen to fit your frame.  Cut it a little bigger than the glass, and don't worry if the edges are not neat.  We'll tidy them up next.

You'll end up with something like this.

Step 2:  Use your paper trimmer to clean up the edges of the screen and cut it to the right size for your frame.

Step 3:  Use your paper trimmer to cut the paper to fit your frame.

Step 4:  Place the screen in your frame.  (Note:  if you plan on hanging a lot of heavy earrings on your holder, you may want to secure the screen at the top with tape.  I have mostly lightweight earrings, so I didn't do this.)

Step 5:  Place the paper in your frame, decorative side down.

Step 6:  Replace the back of your frame.  You're done!

What are your favorite ways to organize your jewelry?