Are Beauty Advent Calendar’s Worth The Hype?

Beauty Advent Calendar’s have been raved about for years now but especially more popular these past 2/3 years. I’ve had my eye on the benefit ones for a while now and this year I finally caved and got it. However, what happened to the usual chocolate advent calendars? Are we just too advanced for the simple things in life?

The Benefit calendar isn’t the only one available, there are so many from ASOS, Soap and Glory, Makeup Revolution and so many more. Generally the calendars do range, I paid £34.50 for the Benefit calendar and it has 12 days of luxury sized products. For the price you do receive some decent sized products and a lot of them are some of the best sellers.

Do I think they’re worth it though? I do think some of them are most definitely worth the money. Although some, such as the Zoella Advent calendar is high priced and you receive a pen as one of the items. I think a calendar that is above drugstore pricing shouldn’t be giving out pens unless it has some form of cool advanced action like it doubles up as a sword. Same again for the ASOS calendar, how can they expect customers to be happy with a 20% discount?! We get them all the time.

Don’t get me wrong, I like my calendar but I don’t think  I’ll be repurchasing one go Christmas 2018. I like the simplicity and novelty of a chocolate advent calendar.

Twitter: @bethdaviesblog

Instagram: @_bbbbethan

With love, Beth x

The Great Brownanza

Benefit have released a lot of products across the year but they’re famously popular for their incredible brow range. I’m a huge fan of the goof proof brow pencil but since the products are expensive I’ve never managed to purchase them and test out whether they’re genuinely worth buying. 

So, recently on a trip to my local Debenhams, I come across some of the Christmas releases that let’s be fair, look incredible. However, the one that really caught my eye is The Great Brownanza. This is a box of 5 full size brow products and 2 brow tools for £49.50. To buy these products out of the set it would cost around £120 so you’re saving an absolute fortune of £70! This is the ideal gift in my eyes. It has enough brow products to last you at least 6 months and as well allows you to try and test products that have caught your eye but you’ve been anxious about buying them because of the price range. 

What do you get? In this set you’re given 5 full size products which are the Benefit Gimme Brow, Benefit Brow Zings, Benefit Goof Proof Pencil, Benefit Ka-Brow and the Benefit High Brow Pencil. You’re also given an angled brow brush with a spoolie attached and a brow mapping tool. Essentially, you receive 7 products at an incredible price so can you really not consider this as a purchase? 

The prices of each product individually are: 

Benefit Gimme Brow – £20

Benefit Goof Proof Pencil – £20

Benefit Brow Zings – £26.50

Benefits Ka-Brow – £20

Benefit High Brow – £18.50

We all know by now that Benefit have 5 shade ranges in their brow products. Going from 1 to 5, from light to dark. Now, I purchased mine in shade 3 and usually I mix between shade 3 and 4 but now I’m blonde again I’ll happily use shade 3 so this is perfect for me. You can also buy this set in shade 5 but it does not come in any other shade ranges. This is definitely the only fault with the set that it doesn’t come in the lighter shade which means for those who are light blondes with blonde eyebrows, this isn’t catering for you guys. If you like a strong, dark brow then these are the ideal set for you really. 

Honestly, this has been my favourite release of 2017 so far and I haven’t even tried all the products. I totally urge you guys to go out and get one, order it online and indulge on

Twitter: @bethdavieblog 

Instagram: @_bbbbethan 

With love, Beth x 

Review // Milani 2 in 1 Foundation

I’ve been testing out the Milani 2 in 1 Foundation for over a month and decided it was finally time to let you guys know what I’ve been enjoying and disliking about this product. I got mine in the shade creamy vanilla for £10 from Beauty Bay, check here.

There are 14 shades available in the selection that range from fair skin to dark skin. I personally think the range could be slightly improved for the fairest side, mine is the lightest and it’s still slightly too dark although it’s nothing I can’t fix with concealer. For £10 you receive the normal size bottle that you would get from drugstores. This foundation is so high coverage, literally covers all of my redness, acne scars and blemishes so well and it’s long lasting too. However, it’s a very thick formula so a little goes a long way and it can feel slightly caked-faced if you put too much on. It dries quickly and leaves a beautiful dewy finish. The bottle does have a pump which I love because it’s simply easier to get out of the bottle.

I apply mine to the back of my hand and dot a bit on each cheek, chin, forehead and nose. I use my damp Real Techniques beauty sponge to blend and create a flawless complexion. Remembering to bring it down my neck.

I love this foundation, it creates such an amazing complexion and covers up all imperfections. It’s beautiful and dewy, add highlight and you’re basically looking like a diamond. It’s amazing for £10 and I couldn’t get over how lovely it sits on the face. I recommend for everybody to try this fantastic product.

Social media:

Twitter: _bbbethan

Instagram: _bbbbethan

With love, Beth x

Pamper Evening Routine

I love a good pampering just like anybody and especially when I’ve had a stressful day. I love nothing more than to run myself a bath, face mask on and a good book at hand. What better way to relax and unwind.

After a stressful day I like to head home and put my comfy clothes on. I feel like once I’ve removed my bra and put my comfies on I’m set for the evening and nobody or nothing will get me back into my day clothes. I’ve opted for my grey jogging bottoms, baggy t-shirt and my grey slippers. I remove all my makeup using the L’Oreal Micellar Water and then use the Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel.

At this point I’m probably hungry and I’ll go ahead and make some food, depending on how crappy the day has been I’ll either opt for some form of healthy meal or devour a pizza with no concern. 

Now my tummy is full I’ll run myself a bath and add a Lush bath bomb or bubble bath. Today I’ve chosen Radox Stress Relief Bath Cream. It’s a gorgeous rosemary and eucalyptus smell and adds so much loving to my bath. It’s designed to calm stressful mood and it does exactly that.

Whilst the bath is running I’ll put a face mask on, I used the L’Oreal Detox Clay Mask. I love this one because it makes my skin feel and look amazing and healthy and it helps my skin to feel cleaner.

After the bath I’ll moisturise my face and body, using the Rituals Magic Body Cream on my body and the Avène Thermal Spring Water and the Avène Cleanance Expert moisturiser.

 At this point decide whether I want to read a book, watch a film (usually a rom-com) or a TV Show and this time I went for FRIENDS because when can you ever not love FRIENDS?

I’ll cuddle up on my duvet, possibly with some ice cream or cake.. maybe even both and prepare myself for a night of relaxing. 

What’s your pamper evening routine? Let me know In the comments.

Social media

Twitter: _bbbethan

Instagram: _bbbbethan

With love, Beth x

Autumnal Look // Makeup

Throughout the Autumn season I love those burgundy lips and the browns smokey eye but each year I definitely mix up my make up. This year I have had this go to makeup look throughout the whole season and just had to share it with you all. I’ll even show you all the products I use and I’ll also add in a dupe of the Naked 3 palette which cost only £4! I’m totally in love with this makeup look and I think it’s so fitting for the season and can work with so many outfits for day or nightwear.

BASE

I started by priming my face with the NYX Photo Loving Primer. I personally love a full coverage foundation, I have so much redness and freckles on my face I just prefer to cover it up. I used the Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation for this look, in the shade 1.0. It’s so lightweight and absolutely full coverage, I used 1 pump for my whole face and it sits beautifully and all day long.

I then used the Maybelline Fit Me concealer in 10 Fair to cover those dark circles and topped it with the Collection Perfection concealer in 1 to highlight my under eye.

To bronze my face and bring some dimension to it, I used the Benefit Hoola Bronzer and a bit of the Revolution Iconic Lights and Contour Pro palette to do so.

Topping it off, I then used the Kate Moss Sculpting Palette in Coral Glow 002 and used the blush to add colour to my cheeks.

To finally complete the base, I used the Sleek Highlight Palette in solstice,  for that extra glow to the high points of my face including my cheek bones, cupids bow and bridge of my nose.

EYE

I used the Iconic 3 palette by Revolution to make this eye look, it’s a cheap £4 and is absolutely a dupe of the Naked 3 palette. It’s super pigmented and long lasting, the shimmery colours are so sparkly and pretty on the eye and I just love it. If you’re looking for a dupe of the Naked palettes, head to Superdrug or online for the Revolution Iconic palettes. They’re fab! I took the palette and used the orange shimmery colour all over my lid, this is the dupe for the colour ‘trick’ and then I used the brown shade next to it in my crease, the dupe for ‘nooner’.

I then put a thin line and flick for eyeliner using the Rimmel Glam’ Eyes liquid liner.

I curled my lashes and then coated them in the Kiko Extra Sculpt Volume Mascara on my upper lashes and then the Benefit Roller Lash on my lower lashes.

I usually put a bit of the brown shade from the palette underneath my lower lashes too but this is entirely your choice. I then used the lightest shade from the palette underneath my brow bow and inner corner. I used the Maybelline Brow Drama on my brows and then I was finished!

 

LIP

I coated my lips in a gloss by Sephora, it doesn’t have a name but it’s a nude pink and I think it looks beautiful with the eyes. However, to complete this look you can use any nude lipstick with this look.

The lip gloss I used is from the Sephora collection brand and is in a limited edition palette which includes 96 x eyeshadows, 84 x lip glosses, 1 bronzer, 1 x mascara, 6 x cream eyeliners and 2 x eyeliners.

There is the finished look! I’m not a professional makeup artist and nor will I ever claim to be. It’s simply an interest and hobby for me and I love to experiment with new products and keep up with the seasonal trends. If you liked this post let me know and I’ll do more in the future.

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Instagram: _bbbbethan

Twitter: _bbbethan

with love, B x