Benefit 'They're Real' Eyeliner and Mascara Review

Benefit have always been one of my 'go to' brands, so I was over the moon when I heard about their recent offer in all their Boots counters in the UK. If you bring in an old eyeliner and hand it in, you receive a small tester of their 'They're Real Push Up Liner'. I personally wouldn't recommend donating an eyeliner that has a lot of life left in it because the tester is TINY. However, it's a great way to try out the new product before committing yourself to spending a hefty £18.50.

The free sample is not completely true to the actual product, as the normal size has a 'twist' mechanism to distribute the product, whereas the sample means you squeeze the product up. The normal size would ensure an even distribution of product, however you can't complain much if it's free!

The liner itself is a black gel, which I find to be the perfect middle ground between a pencil and liquid liner. It gives the depth and colour of a liquid liner, however the gel is easier to smudge, meaning you can create a softer look as well as a dramatic line. The applicator is unique, with an almost pen like 'nib' in which the product is distributed. This means the sides of the applicator are clean, and act as a barrier between the lid and lashes to ensure a smoother line. This is especially good as I tend to find that liquid liners and gel brushes get the product over the lashes and can create a clumpy look if mixed with mascara.

The first application of the product was excellent, however the second time I found it had dried a little and was quite clumpy - I would recommend warming the product with your hands to soften the gel a little. However this could also be due to the applicator on the sample, as the twisting mechanism may be easier.

The first time I wore the liner I went  out for a friend's birthday, and it's staying power is phenomenal. It looked the same when I came home as it did when I left!

The liner without mascara or eyeshadow

The liner is part of the 'They're Real' range, and complements the 'They're Real' mascara. Unfortunately there is no free sample for this at Benefit counters, however I thoroughly recommend giving it a try. The unique applicator means even the end of the mascara wand can be used, with small brushes which allow you to apply mascara to the tiniest lashes in the corners of your eyes. Like the liner, its staying power is excellent and lasts from the daytime to the evening without budging. It's quite expensive at £19.50 but lasts for a long time and will not disappoint. It creates quite a dramatic look so may not appeal to those who are trying to go for a more natural look, however I happily wear this every day, as the difference is phenomenal.

One eye with, one without - look at the difference!

Both eyes with the liner and mascara

Here is softened the liner with a brown eyeshadow and a pink on the inner lid - both from a duo from Lancome that sadly no longer exists! Thought I'd go for mainly Benefit today since I'm reviewing them! I'm wearing Benefit Oxygen Wow foundation in Believe in Me Ivory, Bella Bamba blusher, High Beam and Posie Tint on my lips

Alice, x

Lipstick Review - Mac's Russian Red vs Sleek's Russian Roulette

L-R Sleek's Russian Roulette
and Mac's Russian Red

I am currently sat in bed with a cup of tea staring at two of my favourite lipsticks wondering how on earth I am going to be able to start comparing them. The two lipsticks in question are Mac's Russian Red and Sleek's Russian Roulette - one high end and one high street yet both are surprisingly similar. Every girl needs the perfect bright red matte lipstick in their collection to brighten up a rainy day and whether you're on a budget or not, you can't go wrong with these two. 

Mac's Russian Red

Mac's Russian Red is a staple for many beauty bloggers and after wanting it for a good two years, I finally took the plunge in March and bought it. I can honestly say that this is one of the best lipsticks that I have ever owned (although my lipstick collection is much more modest in comparison to Alice's...)! Surprisingly for a matte lipstick, Russian Red has a really creamy formula. This allows for ease of application and means that it doesn't dry my lips out as much as Russian Roulette. However, this also means that the staying power isn't as good as I was expecting but as long as you have a good Lipstick Lock, like Rimmel's (£4.99 at Boots) or Lipcote's Lipstick Sealer (£3.69 at Boots), this shouldn't be an issue. A further downside of Russian Red is the price. At £15.50 this lipstick is hardly a steal and I will be the first to admit that the price put me off purchasing it for two years. However, after having tried it, I can honestly say that the saying 'once you go Mac, you never go back' has never been more true. It is the lipstick that Alice and I always reach for if we're getting ready for a night out which inevitably means we end up leaving looking even more similar than we initially intended! The colour is simply stunning and gives me a vintage feel that I love. I will definitely be repurchasing and I would rate it 5/5. 

Close Up Selfie...

A Zoomed Out Shot

Sleek's Russian Roulette

Now onto Sleek's Russian Roulette. The similar names of these lipsticks immediately places Russian Roulette as a dupe for Russian Red and this is one of the factors that first drew me to it. I hadn't really heard much about Sleek lipsticks when I first bought it and I'll admit that the £4.99 price tag made me initially very sceptical but this is arguably one of the best high street lipsticks that I have used. The colour is bold and beautiful and again, this lipstick gives me a nice vintage feel. Russian Roulette is not as creamy as the Mac lipstick which means that application is much more tricky and it can be very drying for my lips. However, lots of lip balm prior to application can help to counteract this and it means that it has slightly more staying power than Russian Red. I personally have quite dry lips and so the drying nature of this lipstick means that I am more likely to reach for Mac's Russian Red. Having said that, Russian Roulette is still a great lipstick and so I would rate it 4/5. 

Close Up Selfie...

A Zoomed Out Shot

Eventually I think it comes down to your budget. If you can afford to spend money on a more pricey lipstick the Russian Red is definitely the one for you but if you're looking for a good dupe then you can't really go wrong with Russian Roulette. As you can see from the photos, the colours of these lipsticks are almost identical. The only difference in colour is that the Mac one is slightly more pigmented which results in it looking slightly darker. However, both lipsticks are great matte reds and they have definitely become staples of my lipstick collection. 

L-R - Mac's Russian Red, Sleek's Russian Roulette

Have you tried either of these lipsticks? What do you think of them?

Charlotte, x

Running

Being in the countryside as opposed to the city when running does have its benefits...

Safe to say, fitness has never been my forte. However this summer The Slut and I decided to take up running and complete the 'Couch to 10K' challenge, as being at home as opposed to uni (with unlimited and FREE FOOD) undoubtedly leads to us piling on the pounds!  Even though we haven't completed as many runs as planned so far due to us being busy with other commitments (and us being super good at persuading each other that MTV is more beneficial), each run has become progressively easier. Previous attempts at running have been pretty disastrous, but the app begins with a series of short runs interspersed with walking; building up gradually as opposed to me deciding to just 'run' round where my uni accommodation was. Doing that, with no real goal or plan, meant I usually gave up after 5 minutes!

Running with another cute companion certainly helps...

Running together definitely has its benefits when you're as lazy as me, as we can push each other not to give up and chatting distracts us when we're tired! We've also got long term goals to push as along - doing charity runs, most notably Race For Life is something I've always wanted to do, but never thought I'd be good at....once we've completed the 10k app let's hope it continues back at uni, meaning that participating will be an extremely achievable goal!

Alice, x