Benefit - Fake up

So a busy year for benefit is 2013 with already the release of "fine one one" only a month or so ago, now they spark our taste buds again with a release of Fake-up. 

An all in one Hydrating formula and concealer , It claims to be able to conceal fine lines as-well as hydrate all those problem areas you may have, to me this is a "finally" moment. I personally (as you will see in another post) suffer from dry areas under my eyes and the sides of my nose. So to have something that will conceal and hydrate is like heaven to me and my skin is probably doing a little happy dance. 

Now it comes in 3 shades 01- Light , 02 - Medium , 03 - Deep

So when i saw it go on sale on monday i was quick to snap it up

Benefit - Fake up 

I really love the innovative workings of this product and think its genius that it has the balm layer to help the skin and its what you wish for in all your makeup, the benefit packaging is becoming very pretty with the silver casing and again twist up mechanism. Even the outer packet with the swirls is just screaming "I'm a well thought out product" and i think with the younger influence of the co-founders nieces on board this is now shining through.

Now I've seen the other Blogger events that went on last week and the really clever promotions and adverts that benefit have been coming up with lately. Its nice to see something different and jazzy to add a bit of special-ness to a product, now i realise the products all good and well being packaged and presented. It has to perform so lets get into the fine details.

Benefits Fake up - Concealer with Hydrating ring of Vit E and apple extract

So Fake up as you can see below is a stick concealer but its been surrounded by a layer of balm which contains the hydrating properties including Vitamin E, apple seed extract. Now this to me as a dry skin to normal type is perfect. I ache for added hydration products and to have this hydrate for up to 6 hours without a need to touch up till then is just brilliant, I applied it and the balm is not oily after you tap it into your skin, I tap with my finger a concealer into my areas as you shouldn't i find rub a dry patch as the flakes or sides will irritate and ruin your hard work of concealing. The one thing i will do next time though is maybe apply this after ive done my primer and cover what i can see, as to get the full worth of the products hydrating properties. As i think putting it on a layer of foundation would defeat the purpose, as i want the balm to be on my skin and not barred from that by having the foundation in-between. So i will use this as a base concealer and then if i need more coverage after I've completed everything i will touch it up. This concealer wont cake if you want to build it up.

Benefit Fake up - Swatch 

 So all in all im really impressed, the Fake up hydrating concealer is something i will actively use daily as to offer my skin that extra hydration, which will hopefully help with fine lines not only in the short term but in general. It blends in really easy too, the balm also doesn't leave a sticky or tackiness behind when its been applied. It seems to lightly absorb into the skin. Smells of nothing and just a concealer smell you get. 

So from the picture below you can see it has concealed the second half of my eye where the bags i will admit are very bad and it does illuminate the eye socket, plus the area around my nose is defiantly less red and covered. So first impressions are really good and will be doing more picture reviews this week so you will see more use of this product in them. 

Have you tried Benefits Fake up ? What do you think of the product ?

Paula's Choice - Resist Foundation and Hydrating Lip Gloss

Paulas choice is a well known brand who cater both skincare and cosmetics to many women of the world and make the promise on there website to deliver.

At Paula's Choice, our mission is to take brilliant care of your skin!

Paula's Choice products successfully treat everything from acne to wrinkles, rosacea, sensitive skin, sun damage, dry skin, oily skin, and blackheads. They are 100% guaranteed to work for your skin type and concerns!

Because of our unique combination of research, reviews, and ongoing product development, women all over the world turn to us for objective, balanced, and documented information about what works and doesn't for your skin.

With an opportunity to review there new Resist foundation which not only offers light - medium coverage but the added anti-aging properties we all crave for in our makeup. As with all cosmetics, we have them on our face for such a long period it makes sense to have these boosted with anti-againg components. Many women whom have long and tiring jobs would not have time to invest in a full skin care regime so having these properties in your foundation is an amazing addition.

Resist Foundation , Hydrating Lip Gloss, Paulas choice Soft cream Concealer 

So the foundation comes in a really professional looking packaging which is white, writing is simple and too the point with the essential details. It comes with a pump included which is important i feel to control the product and also helps with gauging how much you need on each application. It says a light to medium coverage but on use i would say this is easily build able to a medium.

It is a thick consistency but does spread well and is instructed that you apply with a brush and not rub the foundation in. So i would say this is worthwhile doing as i will explain further. I have had a few little dry patches on my cheeks and i can cover these but they also help me gauge how a foundation covers and if they can cake or highlight imperfections. 

So i would say that if you have a dry patch or any form of exfoliation needed then i would do this first. I did this and it applied better, plus didn't highlight anything. So with this foundation you will need to invest in your skincare if you suffer dryness.

Now after this had been achieved and i had prepared with a primer and made my skin foundation ready, i followed the instructions to achieve the very best result. With a foundation and stipple brush i first applied in the downward motions they instruct and stippled the sides to blend in with my hairline and jawlines. Now whilst i understand some foundations are just apply and go, this struck me as a very temperamental foundation that needed to be used with practice to achieve that even look.

I would usually need only a 5-10 minute window to apply my daily foundation and i could use this with a blender or my fingers to apply as i saw fit. This is defiantly a foundation for a skilled and very apt foundation user. Or if your looking for this finish then you will need to sit down and take your time with it to achieve a great finish. I personally would invest the extra time as the benefits and the finished look are defiantly worth it as my skin looked flawless.

So after i got and even finish i then used the concealer with a brush and this is defiantly the way i would recommend it be used as it is defiantly a high grade concealer. Its amazing at covering blemishes and any dark spaces or spots. I found it easy to apply and rub in. It really did with the foundation give me a flawless look at the end. It made my blush radiate. 

The Perfect shine Hydrating gloss is in Rose blush, it is a lovely gloss thats more of a stain but it is a hydrating form. Not sticky on the lips or in any way tacky.

Its available in 5 shades and i really loved the feeling of this gloss and to me that is a rarity as i find gloss so sticky and uncomfortable it is a lovely change to find one thats nice to wear and a lovely shade that compliments the whole look of the makeup range. 

So i really did enjoy using this range, even though the foundation did take longer then my usual brand, the finish is second to none and gives an amazing flawless finish, However like with everything its practice and getting comfortable with change. It made my blush give a flushed look and the Lip gloss fitted perfect with my complexion. Plus felt hydrating and nice application. 

Its defiantly a worth while investment if your looking for an anti ageing foundation, as there are few and far between on the market. It defiantly left me feeling flawless and healthy looking.

Paula's Choice

Do you have any Paula's choice makeup ? What would you like to try ?