Humidity and Your Skin - Heat Induced "Acne"

Humidity: The frizz-er of hair, the cause of sticky-ness, the creator of acne?!

Here in my lovely portion of Southern New Brunswick, we've had a snap for a little over three weeks, just shy of a month, I'd say, where the humidity has been Off. The. Chain. Picture Monica Gellar when she went to Barbados. That humid. I mean, normally the thought of going to work on a sunny, summer day kind of makes me start to die inside, however, lately I've just been jumping at the chance to go sit in an air conditioned office in a city near the Bay of Fundy for 8 hours of the day, and miss the hottest points from, my rural, 10 degrees hotter, home.

My hair has grown to gargantuan proportions, however, luckily for me I actually like big hair, and there are tons of heatless options to help keep it relatively in check. Not that my hair has fallen much victim to the stereotypical frizz, it's more or less big and wavy because I can't even bear the thought to put any sort of hot tool near my head, thus allowing it to be wild and free in a more natural, scrunched, wavy state. Add extra heat from a curling iron? Um, no thanks. I'll dig out my scrunch gel and let it air dry, thank you.

Aside from sticky skin, constant lethargy, and big hair, the humidity has given me one more, super obnoxious problem to deal with.

Acne!

I was super lucky, and super blessed with my skin genes, and I never really had any acne to deal with growing up. God "blessed" me with growing boobs in 3rd grade, and getting my period in 4th, so I guess He kind of took mercy on my sorry butt and decided to, at the very least, give me good skin. I thank Him for that. I always had a few trouble spots here and there though, as any normal person does, and honestly, looking back, most of my problems arose from being young and not knowing how to totally care for my skin properly, and of course, hormone trouble. However, despite being young and skin-irresponsible, I was never pockmarked with horrible cysts or had to visit a dermatologist for prescriptions. But now, during this heat wave, I've had more skin problems than I've ever had as a teenager! Why?!

I have had big breakouts around my chin and jawline, which are your classic, painful, ew pimple. My most horrible breakouts, however, have been my forehead. Suddenly my whole forehead is covered in these awful little bumps, that never seem to come to a head, but if you poke at them, they just seem to be full of fluid. Gross right?

The Ins and Outs of Heat and Humidity Induced Acne

What is the number one thing you do when it's hot out? Sweat, of course! All of that fluid pumping through your pores, then just sitting on your skin, can be a recipe for disaster. Mix that stagnant, sticky combination with oil, and you have the perfect conditions for bacteria to grow, which breeds breakouts. Humid weather stimulates the production of oil, which makes any skin trouble you're having much worse. The "shine" you get after glistening in the humid heat is a mixture of oil and sweat, and that sticky mixture attracts dirt, as well as breeds bacteria, the perfect conditions for a pimple. The clear bumps on my forehead are undoubtedly produced by clogged pores from the over-production of oil and sweat. As for along my jaw? I'm a serial face toucher. I rest my chin on my hand at work, and wipe at my mouth to make sure it's clean... all that touching is adding dirt and bacteria from my hands, which mixes with the already too much oil on my face. The result? Classic pimples!

Survival Tips:

Listed below are various coping skills to banish the dirt and oil, and keep your skin clean, happy, and blemish free during the worst of any heatwave.

Keep It Clean

During the stickiest of weather, you're going to have to keep your skin as clean as possible. The once-a-day face scrub and wash you're used to in cooler weather is probably going to have to go to the wayside. During this heat I've taken to washing my face a total of three times a day, when I wake up, when I get home from work, and before I go to bed. It's a big effort, but you do what you have to do to keep skin happy. I've also switched up my face wash to a more acne-targeted wash, to help combat the excess bacteria.

Fight Off Oil

A good toner is always your friend, but during the heat, and generally just the summer months, try reaching for one with benzoyl peroxide, or salicylic acid, two key acne-fighting ingredients. If a toner isn't in your grasp, try to find a face wash with one of these ingredients in it. They target oil production, and help to calm the glands into producing less oil during these sweltering days. 

Also, throughout the day be sure to blot your face with oil blotting wipes, or even tissue. These products wick away oil by absorbing it, and leave your face refreshed in times where a quick wash isn't possible. Oil blotting wipes can be bought at any drugstore or makeup store, however, the commonly used one ply tissue paper found in most public restrooms also work quite well in a pinch! If you forgo makeup, try keeping face cleansing towlettes in your purse to give yourself a refresh when you feel yourself getting sticky. Natural baby wipes work as well if you skin isn't sensitive, and they often come in bulk for a lot cheaper!

Dial Back on Makeup

Its common to take a break from full faced makeup during the summer, but during high humidity, its best to try to cut out anything unnecessary. During the heat, I wear little to no foundation, and barely any concealer, except on truly troublesome spots. I figure, my skin is already working so hard, and covered in sweat and oil already, I really don't want to mix anything else in the mixture, at least until you get everything under control. If you absolutely have to wear more than just minimum makeup, and are trying to avoid a meltdown, follow these tips:

• Reach for a good mattefying primer, the key to fighting off oil is to provide a good base. Matte primers help to fight off the oil, smooth over pores and bumps, and gives your foundation something to really stick to. Also, during the heat, it helps prevent the creasing and melting that can sometimes happen with foundation alone.
• Try to find foundations that are water based. Water based foundations do not add excess oil to the skin, and also helps quench skin's thirst during the heat. Anything with matte coverage is your friend.
• Powder foundations are also a good option during a heatwave. They provide some coverage while helping to absorb any moisture and give a matte effect.

Hands Off!

Try to be mindful about not touching your face, especially if you feel sweaty and oily. The dirt and bacteria from your hands will mix with what is already sitting on your skin, and provide even more of a mixture for breakouts.

All of these tips should help keep your skin clear during the sticky months. As always, during any heatwave, its important to try to keep cool and of course keep hydrated! It's important to nourish skin from the inside out, and during any amount of heat, keeping yourself hydrated is a step you never want to forget.

Want to try some of my tips for clear skin during the humidity? Click the links below to find summer-lovin products I can't live without!

Bioré Blemish Fighting Astringent

Bioré Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser

Elf Makeup Setting Spray

Elf HD Setting Powder

xoxo - Court

Beauty: All About that (My) Brow

After I shared a my post about my baking concealer technique to my Facebook profile, a lot of my friends requested an eyebrow tutorial, and I can say I can't blame them! Eyebrows are one of the most important parts of your face. They, most importantly, frame your face, and can take you from "I look sick and/or scary" to "fierce and fabulous" in about 2.5 seconds.

Seriously. Google "celebrities with no eyebrows" and you'll know what I'm talking about. Creepy.

There are a few key elements you need to get into before you dive right into shaping your eyebrows:

Determine Your Needs/Wants

What's your ideal brow shape? What look are you drawn to most? Most girls, I find, want what's on trend, and right now, thicker, fuller brows that fade in from the center of your face are hot. Luckily, this tutorial will show that method because it's what I do day to day, and its so highly requested, but its important to do some Pinning or Google searches to see what's on trend and what you really want. Do you just want some thin spots filled in? Do you want them thicker, more prominent? Do you want the color changed completely? Trial and error will also show you what looks best on you personally, so don't be afraid to experiment! It's makeup, it washes off in an instant!

Prepare the Base

As with any art, a good canvas is key. I always recommend getting your eyebrows plucked/waxed/threaded before you start on an eyebrow makeover, to get them properly shaped. Remember you can always add back in with brow products, but it's difficult to take away.

Selecting a Product Consistency

Product consistency is important after you determine what look you want. If you are happy with your natural brow, and are just wanting a few spots filled in, a pencil product with a spooly brush will work just fine for you. If you want the faded in look, powders are great. If you're going for a dramatic, bold look, creams will probably be your best friend. However, if you're excessively oily, I would probably stick with powder, since it will combat any product slippage through the day due to the oil,. (You don't want your brows on your chin) Most people with normal to combo skin, or even slightly oily, can work fine with any product.

Selecting the Color

This is where it's important. You always want to go a shade lighter than what you think you need... To a point. Because I like my brows bold, I usually go a bit darker. However, a rule of thumb is to go a shade lighter than your natural brow hair color.

Once you have all that worked out, it's time to get down to the technique.

I usually do my brows after foundation or concealer, or while my concealer is "baking". With this particular technique, I only need three things:

Before you get into the nitty gritty, it's important to remember the rules of brow placement.

Your brows should begin right at the side of your nose. Take your brush and place it right beside your nose, pointing upwards, straight. You'll see where it should begin.

The arch should start diagonally with your pupil.

The tail should end at a 90 degree angle from your nostril.

With the angled brush, get a bit of the product you're using on the brush, and trace a line just along the bottom part of the brow, as shown below. Stop right where it begins to arch.

With a bit more product on the brush, trace a line along the top part of the brow. With the outline lines, this is where you can extend the brow outwards to stop where the straight line from your nostril was, to get the proper shape.

Take a tiny bit of product on the brush, (This is where I switch to the lighter color) and begin to blend out the outlines, using quick, sketching motions with the brush.

With your darkest color, then fill in the tail of the brow, extending if needed, to where measured. 

After that, really only a bit of cleanup is needed. For a day to day, natural look, I'll take any face powder and dip my rounded edge brush in it, and just lightly trace around the brow to tidy up any smudges. But if I really want a dramatic, bold look (like for a night out) I'll do the same with concealer, and then blend it out. The technique is called cutting, and gives a razor edge appearance, and also helps seal in the brow against any sweating or smudging.

Brows are so important, but also very daunting. The most important advice I can really offer is don't be afraid to play. I always try new techniques on days I'm sitting home and don't have anywhere to be but my house. I can't tell you how many times my husband has come home to me vacuuming the floors with wild eyeshadow on, or two different eyebrows.

Don't take it too seriously!

xoxo - Court

Beauty: Bake Your Face! Concealer Technique

I heard of a new trick for concealer a while ago that sounded like a Godsend to me. I had heard of it briefly in theory before, but had never truly put it to the test or really researched anything behind it until recently.

The technique is called "Baking" or "Cooking" and if your'e picturing shoving your head in an oven Sylvia Plath style, then stick with me, that's not how I roll here.

In essence, the technique means to let your concealer sit on your face for 10-15 minutes, to let your body heat melt and oxidise the makeup into the skin, usually under powder. As the makeup continues to set, and the emollient ingredients absorb deeply into the skin, you are left with a smoother, more pigmented texture to work with. The finish is generally pretty flawless, and more poreless than just slapping it on, blending it out, and carrying on.

Ive been testing out this method for a full 9+ hour day at work, parties, and other general life situations, and am very, very pleased with the results, especially around problem areas, and areas my makeup tends to break up.

My first, full faced makeup with the baking technique. Great results!

I tend to get a lot of breakup in my T-Zone, especially between my eyebrows and down the bridge of  my nose, because I make a lot of facial expressions, and wear glasses. I also usually have a hell of a time keeping my foundation/concealer in place on my chin, and usually have some problem areas going on at some point.

This technique kept oil at bay on my forehead for literally the entire day, which is a huge feat for any product. It also kept the twin on my chin hidden nicely, and didn't stray during that 2:30 slum us office folks are accustomed to.

Literally just pulled in the driveway.. makeup applied at 7am, returned home at 530pm

I'm surprised at how easy and how little you actually need for this runway ready look. To get flawless for the day, you only need:

• A creamy concealer (Really watery or dry just won't do. I use Hard Candy Glamoflauge Ultra Light Concealer) (Holy-ass-grail!!!!)
• Something to blend with that isn't your hands (Fingers really don't work for this. I use my little Ecotools powder brush, but really any fluffy\dense face brush or Beauty Blender-esque sponge will work)
• A finely milled powder (finely milled is really key, to avoid cake face. ELF HD Setting Powder is literally the bomb.com. It's cheap, its the best, its long wearing... yeah. I've heard it compared to a dupe for Makeup For Ever HD Setting Powder. So there's that.)

After foundation is applied, start by applying your concealer where you normally would. I use my concealer for color correction as well as highlighting, but this is the part that's really up to you. I apply it under my eyes to my cheekbones, on and around my nose (I get really red there) on my chin extending to my jawbone, and on my forehead. But again, its personal preference and your individual needs.

This is the part that feels so darn un-natural!! Instead of blending at this point, get that brush good and covered with whatever powder you're using, and put it right on top of the concealer. It will look scary, an feel weird, but I promise, just go with me.

Paitence is now needed. Let that set for about 10-15, even 20 minutes. I usually wind up right in between 10-15, and while it's setting, I'll start my eyes, eyebrows and prep my hair. By the time that's done, you can go back and blend that concealery/powdery mess out until your hands hurt.

Seriously. Blending is key, and where the dense, fluffy brush really comes in handy.

Once you have your concealer blended out, continue on with your regime as usual.

Bare faced

Concealer & brows

When I use the bake technique, I usually try to go light on foundation, since so much concealer is being applied, and covers a large surface area (for me, at least) and I hate cake face, and try to avoid any cream products on my face afterwards, but I've heard of others using cream products after just fine. Practice makes perfect, and trial and error will really tell you what works for you.

Give it a whirl! I guarantee you won't ever go back to regular concealer again!

Shop What I've Got!

ELF HD Setting Powder

EcoTools Powder Brush (Similar, mine came in a set like this from Walmart)

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer (Available at Walmart)

Have a great day,

xoxo Court

Beauty: Spring Staples & Being Beautiful

Hey guys!

I don't want to say it too loud for fear of jinxing myself, but I think, think, spring may of finally sprung here in Southern New Brunswick.

It hasn't snowed any more than 5 centimetres in, I'd say over a month now, and I can see grass in places the sun hits strong during the daytime. Also! On a sunny day, when I get in my car after work, the inside is warm.. so that has to be a positive sign, right?

I can tell it must be, because my skin has outgrown my winter skincare. So it's time to freshen up!

In the winter, I am, like most people I assume, more prone to skin problems. The constant dry heat from heating systems kicks my skin into oil overdrive, which causes me to need a more matte, fuller coverage foundation. My holy grail in the winter is Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse in 01 Porcelain Ivory.

However, in the spring and summer, I like a fresh face. In fact in the recent weeks, I've been focused even more on myself - my modesty, my self-worth, and most importantly, being comfortable in my own skin. As I get older and find out more of who I am and I want to be, I don't want to be the girl with the "flawless makeup" every day. I want to people to know me for me, not the painting I put on my skin.

My usual look

Don't get me wrong, I still do love makeup, and there is nothing I love more than getting fancy for special events, but it's more the day to day I'm concerned with. While I believe in putting your best face forward, I don't want to feel the need that I'm nothing without layers of makeup. I do, however, want to enhance what I've been given, and now that I've been doing that, I've never felt so good!

That being said, my Spring & Summer beauty regime has been a bit overhauled from last year's and I'm LOVING the new products.

Maybelline Baby Skin Primer

This is a new favorite, but has instantly become a staple! After playing around with a lot of different primers, I've finally found one that makes me oh-so happy!

I usually apply this on my T-Zone (where I have the most flaws and gets the most oily throughout the day) and a tiny tiny bit over any blemishes I have just to help the concealer I'll put on top of them to go on more smoothly. In the summer, on weekends, I would honestly stop at this step. (After sunscreen, of course) It has blur technology in it that gives a matte finish, and hides any pores or small weird spots. It also provides an amazing base for applying makeup over it, if you're looking for more coverage.

Covergirl CG Smoothers BB Cream

This I apply more like a moisturizer, just lightly all over my face. It really does hydrate my skin really well, and provides just a bit of tint enhance my skin tone. I've noticed such great changes in my skin since I began using this as my daily moisturizer.

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer

This stuff is no joke! You literally need a dab the size of a ball on a pin to give you more than enough coverage! This stuff has lasted me forever, and I'm still only at half a tube! The coverage it provides is absolutely amazing, I would even say it could hide a tattoo or any serious discolouration or blemish.

I use barely any, and apply to areas where I get the most discolouration. I apply a bit under my eyes since I tend to get darkish circles, on and around my nose since I tend to get redness there, a bit on my chin because I can get some redness there too, and a little bit on any blemishes. I be sure to blend it out really well, then set your face with some powder. Any powder will do, and I never use the same one.

NYC Sunny Bronzer

For work, I like to try to look my best, so I'll add a bit of bronzer just to give me a bit of a healthy flush. I apply it very lightly with a fluffy brush, and it just sort of wakes up my skin a bit. In the summer once I get more of a natural tan from being out in the sunlight I'll skip this step, but before I get naturally sun kissed, this helps a lot in keeping me looking fresh!

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

My hair is naturally blonde, so my eyebrows often appear a little sparse. Eyebrows are so great at framing the face, that this is really a step I never skip. I use the two brown shades, Naked2 and Faint, to fill in where my brows lack on their own. I use Naked2 to fill in the first, thickest part of my brows with a skinny angled brush, then fill in the tails with Faint. These colours are nearly identical to my brows' own colour, so it really just provides them a little boost.

ELF Smudge Pot in "A'int That Sweet?"

This really is the sweetest colour. It came as a surprise with a recent ELF order I made, and I've been addicted ever since. It is sheer, and when applied lightly with your finger, it provides a little bit of a pink tint that just wakes up your entire eye. It also has these gorgeous, subtle flecks of blue and white glitter that, when they catch the sunlight, just make you glow. It makes a great base for other eye shadows, but I love this colour so much I wear it alone. It really enhances my fair skin tone and makes me feel like a princess.

ELF Under Eye Setting Powder

I use this to set the Smudge Pot, with a fluffy brush, just because I find cream eye shadows, when not set, can creep up and crease in your eyelids, which is not a pretty look. This powder is especially velvety, and really is the exact same color as the smudge pot, down to the beautiful shimmer, only in powder form. A match made in heaven!

Covergirl Lashblast Volume & Clump Crusher Waterproof

These have been my holy grail mascaras for some time now. I apply two coats of the Clump Crusher formula (which I find lengthening), at the start, and one at the finish to comb the Volumizing formula through and separate the lashes, and one coat of the Volumizing. Both in waterproof, because I have allergies and am prone to watery eyes. I haven't found a formula that provides the effects that both of these give me in one tube yet, but I'm happy with my results. My lashes are pretty light on their own, so I love to make them pop!

ELF Mist and Set Setting Spray

This is my final step, which I use really only on work days. I really find it helps keep my make up lasting throughout the whole day, so I don't have to touch up, or worry about smears. It also has great vitamins in the formula, which really give your skin a boost!

That is my go to routine for a workday! On Weekends or days off I usually edit it to whatever I feel, or most days go bare faced if I'm just relaxing around the house.

The most important thing to realize is that you are you, and you are beautiful. Makeup is a wonderful tool - It can hide things we're insecure about, and enhance things we love, but, it's important to remember it shouldn't be a mask. Everyone is different, and everyone is beautiful. The most important cosmetic is confidence, and a beautiful smile!

Beauty: Healthy Hair Tips

Hi guys!

All my life, I've been pretty blessed with pretty great hair. For as long as I can remember growing up, I had long, blonde, naturally highlighted, straight as a board hair that often reached down to my butt.

Now, I'm sure most of it was genetics, my Mom is blessed with shiny, fine brown hair and my Dad always had thick, thick blonde hair growing up, which is now grey, but still thick as ever. Naturally, mine is more on my Dad's color and thickness. (I'm pure 100% my Dad's side of the family) Mine is a a little more on the "dirty blonde" side of things, but I usually give it a shot of color every few months to help brighten it up.

The only time I can ever remember having "bad" hair was after I completed my Cancer treatments for Thyroid Cancer, which, can you blame it for getting awful? But it was fixed by cutting a cute, short bob, and letting it grow back out to its former glory.

The bob days

Like I said, I'm sure most of it is genetics, but I strive pretty hard to take care of my hair.

Shameless "Look how much it's grown!!" kissy face awful selfie!

Technically, it probably shouldn't be as great as it is. I tease it, I heat style it nearly every day, I blow dry on hot... You catch my drift?

Yet still, I get the "I love your hair!" compliments while people stroke a soft curl. I took a bit of a hair inventory over a couple weeks, and decided to share my secrets of what I do to keep my hair long, shiny, and most of all, healthy. I don't spend a lot, I don't watch what products I use. I experiment a lot until I find something great, then stick with it until it gets discontinued. You don't have to be a slave to salon brand products to keep your hair happy.

Courtney's Three Healthy Hair Tips:

1. Don't Wash Everyday! - I wash my hair on average every 2nd day. On the 2nd day I'll either wear it up, or dust the roots with a little root lifter, or dry shampoo. Because I'm blonde, I don't sweat it if I don't have any dry shampoo, baby powder works just as nice. If you have darker hair, I've heard bronzer works to absorb the oil at the roots, but I've never tried it. Sometimes, I go for 3 days unwashed, but the 3rd day is usually always a bun, ponytail day.
2. Conditioner Is Your Friend - I always condition, my hair is usually on the dry side naturally, and hair spray and other products tend to have a drying effect on your ends. I always apply conditioner to the "ponytail" section of my hair, (basically the part that would be a tail in your ponytail), and I try to use a hair mask or deep conditioner at least once a week.
3. Don't Shy Away From Leave In's - I use three really great products on my hair after I get out of the shower. I usually towel dry a bit, then hit my hair with these products:

1. Herbal Essences Tea Tree Blow Dry Mist

This is a holy grail. I spray it all through my hair before blow drying, and mist my hair with it as well a few minutes before curling or straightening. It offers a heat protectant, and smells amazing.

2.Herbal Essences Hair Milk

This stuff really gives my hair a boost of moisture, especially if I'm stingy on the conditioner in the shower. Its more of a watery consistency, so it really gives my  hair a drink without weighing it down. I usually massage 2 pumps throughout my ponytail section again, however I have really thick hair, so one pump for the general population is probably fine.

3. Garnier Fructis Sleek N' Shine Anti Frizz Serum

I've been loving this for a good few years now. I apply it to the very ends of my hair, and along the sides by my ears, because my hair tends to get very coarse and damaged along there. It really helps calm down split ends and keep them looking smooth.

Freshly washed and blow dried

Last Minute Tips:

1. Turn Down the Heat - I try to keep my hot tools around 200 degrees, which I find works lovely for giving you maximum effect with minimal damage. It might take a few minutes longer, but you'll definitely have healthier hair to show for it.
2. Love Yourself - Adequate nutrition and hydration are always a big part of having healthy hair, as well as healthy everything else. If you're not healthy yourself, how can you expect to have long, shiny hair?
3. Brush Often, And Show Respect! - Don't let your hair get in tangles, take care of it like the pride and joy you want it to be! Like everything worth having, you have to work on it a bit, and the results are always worth showing off.

Now, these are just my personal tips and tricks I've learned over the years. I don't expect these products/practices to work for everyone and their hair type. The most important take away from this post is just take care. Find something that works for you, be mindful and treat your hair like the gem it is, and you'll have long shiny locks in no time!

Happy Thursday!!

NYX Butter Gloss - Review, Swatches & My Favorites!

Hey Guys!


Before I dive into my latest and greatest post, I want to give you guys a little update! I've had this blog for a few months now, and I'm really starting to find my groove with it. Now that I've found my voice, I want to start really focusing on the content for you guys. I've upgraded my camera, which means better images, and worked out a new posting schedule that allows me to put out stellar posts for you guys. That being said, look for new, bigger and better posts weekly!

So now that that's out of the way, you know very well by now that when I find a holy grail product, I just have to do a review on here for everyone! Because we're like best girlfriends, sitting in our bedrooms gossiping about boys and doing eachother's makeup...

Review! Benefit's They're Real! Push Up Liner

Brought over from my previous blog

I did it. I took the plunge. I sepnt $29 dollars on eyeliner.

Say whaaa?

My defense: I have been lusting after Benefit products ever since I was a little baby. Ever since I was an angsty 19 year old sitting in my bedroom, first discovering YouTube videos on my duct-taped back together laptop, trying to re-invent myself after graduating high school, but my slew of retail jobs ensuring I was broke.

Well. Times have changed.

I went to school, got married, bought my own house, upgraded in the car department, totally got a really good job... that on that particular day was making me want to pull my hair out, so I said to myself, "Frig it, Courtney, you've made it life, you deserve this stupid $29 dollar eyeliner!"

So I freakin' bought it. And boy it felt good to kiss old broke, high school me behind.

Was it all the magic my teenage self imagined? Let's see:

I heard all those guru's talking about this when they totally got sent it for free before it hit stores in Benefit's promotional plan. Whoops, did that sound bitter? Either way, I totally fell for it so, meh. Basically, its eyeliner in their whole "They're Real!" collection, and supposed to be revolutionary in how it applies and hugs really close to your lashes, yadda yadda yadda. I'm like a gel/cream eyeliner whore, so, I thought this would be the best purchase for me other than blush that comes in a box. (Like 30+ bucks for a blush that comes in a box?? Kay, I need to stop I'm sounding terrible. I just don't get some expensive brands' thinking)

On first opening it, the little bugger is pretty high quality. Nice, thick plastic, wont explode or smash easily in my purse, so I was excited. Things kind of went downhill from there. I didn't know how to work the darn thing to begin with, come to find out you twist it from the bottom to get the gel to come out of the top slanty bit that looks like a sharpie. After twisting for what felt like 9 hours, some eyeliner finally came out.

It came out kind of weird, much thicker than I anticipated. They way I can describe it, is gel liner that's kind of gotten old and gloopy, really not all that creamy. I tried to put it on my eye, and it was like a mechanical pencil you try to write with when you have WAY too much lead with, it just breaks off and makes a mess and really pisses you off.

I've tried practicing, everything, the only way to get enough eyeliner out is when there's too much, and it breaks off and gets all over your face and is just stupid.

To combat this, I pump some out, put it on my hand, and dip the applicator in it like you would any gel liner with a normal-ass brush. 

Can you tell I'm kind of dissapointed?

Kinda?

As far as formulas go, if this crap was sold in a pot, and the tube as an applicator, I'd be all over this like stink on a pig. Though thicker, it's still workable (if its on your hand) and the applicator thingy really does get in between your lashes nicely. The applicator is rubbery too, so easy to clean, and doesn't gunk up like a brush would. The formula is really really long lasting too, I notice no flakes at the end of the day, and its pretty decently water resistant. I have really watery eyes, and it's stood up to them nicely, but wouldn't have a chance to a The Fault in Our Stars cryfest. (I haven't seen that movie and refuse to, ahem, Cancer survivor myself, but my friends all said it reduced them to blubbering messes. The way I seen it, I blubbered enough myself when I heard the "C" word at 20)

All that aside, it makes a winged line on your eyes like nobody's business. So I guess, Benefit achieved what they were going for, even if they stretched the truth on how exactly you'd get there. But I digress, we'll let the pics do the talking.

 

No, my eyelashes are not natrually that fabulous. I took these pictures before heading off to a wedding, when I wanted my eyes to look Beyoncé fierce, so that called for They're Real, even when they weren't.

Pretty nice wing for a tube full of LIES!

Sooo that's it that's all. I'd give it a 5 out of 10 I guess. I'm glad it's not a total waste. I like the applicator, I like the formula, just not together. When the eyeliner inside runs out, I'll totally just wash the tube really well and dip it in my trusty rusty E.L.F gel eyeliner pot. Because apparently, what $29 dollars does half-assedly, $3 dollars hits a home run.

I also don't want to sound like I'm bashing, because I'm not. I have a few other Benefit things that I totally LOVE, such as the Eye Bright pencil (that thing makes EVERYTHING look good) and the cute little Powderflauge ball that is my precious baby that is now discontinued, thus saved for only special special occasions.

Like anything, some things fizzle, and some things hit it out of the park.