Benefit Air Patrol

There is nothing worse than blending your way to the perfect smoky eye, for it to fade throughout the day. Here at the Amazing Blog, we swear by eyelid primers to keep those shadows in place, but there are so many to choose from. Behold, the innovative Benefit Air Patrol BB Cream Eyelid Primer. In case that was too much to absorb in one go, that’s a creamy eyelid primer with the added benefits from a BB Cream. We could barely contain our excitement to give it a try.

Eyelids are the most delicate areas of our face, and often the last place we protect. Benefit are changing that with the EnviroDefend complex within the Air Patrol primer, it guards against the harmful external forces we come across in day to day life. We were also happy to discover that it contained SPF 20, it’s so important to protect our skin from sun damage, even on our lids! The primer is super creamy and glides easily onto the skin, the soft Cushion Calm tip keeps pressure light on the delicate eye area. Benefit really did think of everything. We loved the chic, grey tube with Benefit-style detailing, their packaging is always bright and beautiful.

We found the Air Patrol very hydrating and it kept our shadow locked on for the whole day, our blending skills finally didn’t go to waste. We would recommend setting the primer with a translucent or neutral powder before going in with your eyeshadow to avoid any tackiness. For those days where we prefer a ‘no make-up’ look, simply use Air Patrol alone over the lids and wait for the colour corrective magic. The peach undertones reduced the appearance of our dark circles, while also combatting redness on the lids. Get your hands on the protective and long lasting Air Patrol primer here for £21.50.       

Benefit Cosmetics – Roller Lash Mascara, Watts Up! Highlighter & They’re Real! Push-Up Liner

Although we often champion smaller brands here at The Amazing Blog, and love to discover hidden beauty gems, sometimes we feel it’s only right to rave about the well-known brands that are certainly worth the hype. Here in the office, we have a bit of a penchant for all things Benefit, so when they sent over some of their best loved beauty products, we were positively jumping for joy.

First in our bag of goodies was the Roller Lash Mascara. The brand’s latest release, it has been all the rage here in London, and for good reason. Designed to work as a hair roller would, the cute pink wand is equipped with tiny hooks, which lift and curl the lashes, negating the need for eyelash curlers. As well as looking more wide-eyed, we loved how fluttery and soft it made our lashes look. It’s the perfect addition to a girly make-up look.

As much as we loved the mascara, our favourite product was Benefit’s classic highlighter, Watts Up! We adore a glowing complexion, and find this to be perfect for giving a soft focus shimmer to our visage. Nothing says old Hollywood glamour like a screen siren glow. As strobing is the latest craze, what better product is there to invest in than this. 

Last but not least, Benefit’s They’re Real! Push-Up Liner takes a bit of getting used to, but with a bit of practice, it’s a great tool for creating a feline flick. The thing that impressed us most was just how black it is. There’s nothing worse than ‘black’ eyeliners that are actually slightly grey, or have a bit of a translucent pay off. This liner is jet black as can be, and a perfect consistency for staying put all day long.

You’ll surely benefit from one of these fabulous products. Treat yourself to the Roller Lash Mascara here for £19.50, the Watts Up! Highlighter for £24.50 or the They’re Real! Push-Up Liner for £18.50.

Frederique's Christmas Wish List

I’m the type of girl who loves to experiment with different kinds products and gadgets and companies. This is why I find working with the girls at The Amazing Blog so fun… who doesn’t love trying something new? My Christmas wish list consists of a unique bundle of a different kinds of products, ranging from as far as chargers to liquor. So without further ado, let the shopping begin!

The first thing on my Christmas list is The Kissable Charger. Nowadays, hardly anybody is able to live without their phone, myself included. I always thought to myself, why can't I have cute charger that is a little girly or that will add some sparkle? Then I came across FBG: an innovative technology company with the newest chargers, including my new love; The Kissable Charger. This charger is both cute and creative for it looks like a real Coco Chanel Lipstick. Both chic and functional, the charger is able to charge your phone for 2 to 3 hours. Buy your charger here for only £29.99, and be charged all day long.

As I’ve said before, I’m definitely a girly girl. In order to make my girly look complete, I love to wear some cute bracelets along with a watch. So you can guess how excited I was when I came across these Birambi bracelets made by two enthusiastic Dutch Girls. Being from Holland, I obviously have a soft spot for this company. Not only are they Dutch, but they’ve made a great ‘Make-your-own-bracelet’ concept that is fit for any girl like me who loves to accessorise on a regular basis. Here’s how it works: You choose a card. You select a bracelet, colour and write a personal message. And that's it. That's really all there is to it. What better gift is there than one that is personally made from the heart? Starting at €4 they are affordable as well. Visit the website to take these bracelets for a spin! 

Besides my hand jewellery, I wanted to add a little bit of sparkle to my eyebrows. So I came across the Bling Brow Kit created by Benefit Cosmetics. With the Bling Brow Kit, you can decorate your brows and light up the room with a sparkling set of Swarovski crystals. Each set comes with 52 crystals and a pair of mini tweezers. They also come in different colours including my favourites, Rose Gold and Greige. Just pull the black backing sheet off and pick up the crystals with tweezers to place them either on the skin near the brow or directly on the brow. Although I’m not one to decorate my body with jewellery, the brow crystals really enhance the appearance of your eyebrows and show off your edgy side.

You can purchase the artsy Bling Brow Kit for £19.50 at selected Benefit Brow Bars and wear them on a fun night out with the girls. All eyes will definitely be on yours. 

Not only do I love to dress up, but I also enjoy going out and grabbing a drink with my girlfriends. Recently I came across Snow Leopard Vodka, which I’ve slowly but surely fallen in love with. For starters, the bottle looks absolutely great. Additionally, 15% of the profits made go to the ‘save the leopard' charity. When I saw this stunning looking bottle of vodka, I could not resist putting it on my Christmas wish list. Cheers, take a shot and donate to a cause! You can by purchase a 70cl bottle of vodka for £36.00 RRP  at Waitrose, Harvey Nichols and Ocado.com, as well as all good independent drinks retailers OR on their website.

I've also discovered a delicious selection of chocolates from Sweet Dreams Ltd. called Choc Nibbles. We received two different flavours: Original Choc Nibbles and Toffee Crumble. The one I really loved was the Original Choc Nibbles. The taste of these tiny chocolates was just divine, and you could taste that they were made with quality chocolate. It's almost like eating real chocolate milk! Purchase chocolate at your local confectionery, convenience or discount stores, and share these delicious chocolates as a treat after your Christmas Dinner. 

An event you can't miss

Looking for a self-indulgent afternoon of girly fun and pampering? I’ve found just the thing - Kettner’s Brasserie and Champagne Bar in Soho is hosting a new event, ‘Coquette’ starting this  Saturday afternoon  9^th April from 1 - 5pm. Coquette promises makeovers from Benefit Cosmetics with a masterclass from their head make-up artist Lisa Potter-Dixon, vintage hairdos from Lipstick and Curls, fashion tips and dressing up with vintage specialists Rag & Bow; The Roaming Vintage Store and Stop Traffic Clothing, Cocktail Making Masterclasses, delicious finger food cooked up by Kettner’s Executive Head Chef Winston Matthews as well as Swing dance classes, fortune tellers, guest speakers and of course Champagne! All guests will also be given a goodie bag full of treats to take away. Tickets are £90 but book soon as there are only 60 tickets available for each event and I’m told they're being snapped up quickly. If you can’t make it to the April event don’t worry, Coquette will be taking place on 18^th June and many other events are planned. Call David Carter on 0207 790 0259 or email reservations@40winks.org to make a booking.