BENEFIT HELLO HAPPY VELVET POWDER FOUNDATION {REVIEW}

I have been a huge fan of benefit cosmetics now for several years, 

as in my opinion, they are the experts when it comes to mascaras, 

concealers and brow products.

If you would like to read my past reviews on benefit products

Click here

In 2019 their HELLO HAPPY foundation range was launched and I reviewed

and loved the HELLO HAPPY Flawless Brightening Foundation, which

I highly rate for a natural lightweight illuminating liquid foundation.

To read that review

They also have a powder foundation option in the form of the 

HELLO HAPPY Velvet Powder Foundation and that's what I am reviewing

today as part of my Sunday Sample.

(This is the replacement for the HELLO FLAWLESS Powder Foundation)

The sample of this foundation was very cute as it came on a card with its own 

sponge, however I had my concerns about the quantity of foundation , 

as it seemed very little.

I haven't used a powder foundation since my beauty college days and

that was one from Elizabeth Arden.

I've always gravitated towards a liquid foundation due to my skin, even when 

I was younger, being on the normal/dry side as opposed to combination/oily,

 so I was curious to revisit a powder foundation.

Dual-coverage powder foundation

    The mirrored compact includes two custom applicators…a brush and a sponge!

benefit claim that you can choose your coverage with this buildable, 

velvety-smooth Benefit Hello Happy Velvet Powder Foundation. 

The formula is lightweight and breathable, it mattifies all day yet feels 

creamy-soft with Shea-Butter Extracts known to create a luxuriously smooth feel.

You can brush on Hello Happy Velvet Powder Foundation for light coverage 

or to set a liquid foundation. 

Or use the sponge to achieve medium/full coverage for longer lasting results

up to 12hrs, so they claim.

There are 12 shades in the range and my sample was in shade 4.

Now whilst there was enough for one application and I applied with my own

 beauty blender, as I anticipated, the sponge was useless.

Sadly it didn't offer medium/full coverage as benefit claims, 

to be honest it offered a light to almost sheer finish.

It felt lightweight on application but for me 

the powder foundation disappeared as the day wore on, so much so, 

that when I removed my make-up that night there was hardly any 

colour on my cotton wool.

I personally doubt the efficacy of the product due it being a sample of 

the pressed powder on a card.

Now I understand that one sample of powder foundation, no matter how 

prettily presented on a card, isn't perhaps a fair representation of a product,

but if that's how benefit want to sample a product then they must ensure 

that it's as good representation of the full sized product.

Due to so little product I wasn't able to use as a setting powder, but I doubt 

it would have faired any better.

I feel that the HELLO HAPPY Velvet Powder Foundation is as confused as

 I am in regards to its function and for me it certainly didn't perform 

as a foundation.

However it did jog my memory as to why I had stopped using a 

powder foundation all those years ago and I can't see myself revisiting 

them anytime soon, especially if they carry a hefty price tag of

 R550 like this benefit one carries.

BENEFIT

HELLO HAPPY 

VELVET POWDER FOUNDATION

7G

R

550

£

27.50

$

54

Please let me know in the comments if you

have tried this product and your thoughts.

SUNDAY SAMPLE

 

This weeks Sunday Sample is slightly different, as it comes in the form

of a powder foundation from benefit

The

 hello happy 

Velvet Powder Foundation

is presented on a card and comes with a small square application sponge

and a heart shaped quantity of powder foundation to try.

My sample shade is 4 Medium Neutral, which looks like it would

be a good shade match for me.

Touted as a dual coverage velvety smooth powder foundation it can be

 used in two ways:

For a light coverage sweep over the face with a brush and for a medium/full

coverage apply with the sponge.

It claims to offer a 12 hour natural matte finish.

I have used their Flawless Brightening Foundation from the same

 hello happy range of foundations and enjoyed it immensely.

to read that full review

I have just checked and my shade with that foundation was also a 4.

I haven't used a powder foundation for absolutely years, so I'm looking 

forward to giving this one a trial and I just hope there is enough of the 

product on the card to cover my large face....

MY TOP 10 MAKE-UP PRODUCTS 2019

For me 2019 was a busy year for make-up, so much so, that I've decided to 

increase my annual Top 5 to a Top 10 Make-Up Products post.

Despite having a mixed bag of brands, products and price points I highly recommend

all of these items below.

As always the Pink Links will take you to the full reviews

~~~~~

Let's start with foundations, as that seems like a good place to begin, I

 discovered one at the beginning of the year and one towards the end.

L'ORÉAL 
INFAILLIBLE 24H FRESH WEAR
 FOUNDATION


L'Oréal have been a favourite of mine for foundations for many years and several 

have been featured on my Top lists in previous years.

This was a foundation that I bought in error, but it turned out to be a very good error.

L'Oréal just don't create any bad foundations and if it's a new affordable foundation you're looking for then look no further than the L'Oréal isle in the drugstore.

It offers a long wearing, full coverage, dewy, hydrated and fresh finish and has been

my go to on most days.

L'Oréal Infaillable 24H Fresh Wear Foundation

GIORGIO ARMANI
 LUMINOUS SILK FOUNDATION

 What started out as using a free 7 Day free sample of the led to me saying that I personally wouldn't pay R800 for a foundation eventually 

resulted in a purchase with a less 25% from one of the overseas online beauty sites.

The formula offers an extremely comfortable long wearing, 
weightless and luminous natural finish to the skin.
It honestly feels like silk on the skin and I couldn't fault it other than on price.

I also found that once my 7 day sample had finished I missed not having this 

foundation in my make-up routine, hence the purchase.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

~~~~~

There were two drugstore lipsticks that impressed me during 2019 and they have both been a constant throughout the year.

SORBET 

GET LIPPY 

MOISTURISING LIP COLOUR

This was a rather a surprise, as I had previously tried a foundation

from Sorbet which I included on my Top 3 Disappointing Products 2018 list.

However this just goes to show how one disappointing product from a brand,

thankfully doesn't make the whole brand disappointing.

GET LIPPY is a beautiful, easy to wear, natural looking soft pink and it's one of those shades that will always find a place in my Lipstick wardrobe.

 It glides over the lips and considering it's moisturising and nourishing formula its surprisingly long wearing.

Sorbet GET LIPPY Moisturising Lip Colour

L'ORÉAL

LES CHOCOLATS

ULTRA MATTE LIQUID LIPSTICK

Les Chocolates Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick has a melt-proof formula so you can

 forget your lip colour smudging or budging, for up to 12 hours,

 as once its on its going no where

The lightweight lip colour formula is comfortable to wear and doesn’t crack, crumble or flake. It really does stay on all day, it doesn't smudge, transfer or bleed and most importantly doesn't dry out your lips and best of all it's Chocolate scented...

L'Oréal Les Chocolats Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick

~~~~~

It wouldn't be a very good Top 10 list if i didn't include a mascara or two and these

both impressed me in 2019 and have both been repurchased

BENEFIT

BADGAL BANG

MASCARA

This has been my fave mascara of 2019

What I can confidently say about the BAD gal BANG! mascara is the following:
It can be layered easily
It creates Volume, Lift and Length
 Its smudge-proof
Water-resistant and flake-free
and I just love it...

Benefit BADgal Bang Mascara

CLARINS

WONDER PERFECT

4D MASCARA

This really is a do-it-all, all-in-one mascara that curls, defines, lengthens and volumizes for that bold wide-eyed look, hence the 4D name.

After the first coat of mascara I was hooked, its buildable, doesn't flake or smudge

however being a moist/wet kinda mascara and considering the curl and length it gives I did need to do a little cleaning up afterwards but it's worth it for the overall look and finish.

Clarins Wonder Perfect Mascara 4D

~~~~~

Urban Decay remained one of my favourite brands throughout 2019 and three

products have made it onto my list and surprisingly one is a brow

product.

URBAN DECAY

BROW ENDOWED

Not being a huge brow person this was a quite an brow raising purchase

for me in 2019.

Brow Endowed is a double-ended tool that volumizes and sets brows in two easy steps:

 A primer fluffs and holds, while a tinted cream fills and shapes. 

The excellent long-lasting formula resists sweat and smudging for up to 24 hours.

It's surprisingly easy to use an I was amazed at how fluffier, fuller, tinted brows miraculously appeared.

Urban Decay Brow Endowed

URBAN DECAY

NAKED RELOADED

EYESHADOW PALETTE

If you're looking for a collection of flattering shades that will cover all your essential  nude/neutral/brown requirements plus a little extra, then this is the ultimate palette to have in your eyeshadow collection.

The selection includes soft mattes, satins, metallics and a little sparkly glitter is thrown in for good measure...

Urban Decay Naked Reloaded Palette

URBAN DECAY

ALL NIGHTER

MAKE-UP SETTING SPRAY

I was slightly sceptical of this make-up setting spray, as everyone was raving about it

and that makes me slightly nervous and all I can say is that it DID live up to all the hype, praise and awards bestowed on it.

There was no transfer, no fading, no settling into the lines and more importantly for me no melting, your make-up stays in place literally all day and all night if needed.

I soon learnt that this is one of those products that you didn't know you needed until you've tried it and I'm hooked.

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

~~~~~

Last but not least here is my final product for this 2019 list

and I've included an Illuminizing pen for a special reason.

BIONIKE

DEFENCE COLOR 

LUMINIZER

The product has a fluid texture and is easy to apply with the click of the pen.

Having tried many similar products over many years

I wasn't prepared for the great concealing effect that it had on

the blue area towards the inner corner of my under eye.

(The blueness is always there, as its the capillaries that can be seen under the 

skin due to that areas skin covering being very thin) 

and I'm sure many of you can relate to this blue tinge and whilst it didn't cover 100%

(that's a very difficult ask from any product)

 it did an excellent job on me and that's why its been included in my list of Top 10 Make-Up Products 2019

Bionike Defence Colour Luminizer

~~~~~

I hope you have enjoyed reading what make-up products impressed me during 2019 and have led to several re-purchases in many cases.

I have also posted my other Top Lists

My Top 6 Hair and Body Products 2019

My Top 3 Most Disappointing Products 2019

Let me know in the comments below if you agree or disagree with any of my choices

 for 2019.

BENEFIT HELLO HAPPY FLAWLESS BRIGHTENING FOUNDATION {REVIEW}

Benefit 
Hello Happy Flawless Brightening Foundation

recently launched here in South Africa and I had to try, the products name is what

sold it to me, as at my age flawless and brightening are becoming the main focus

of all my make-up purchases of late.

Benefit is a brand that I have promoted and loved for several years, yet its not a brand I recommend for foundations, 

YES for concealers, all things brows and mascaras, so will this new foundation addition change my mind.

I purchased a mini size,one of the great things about benefit is their extensive

range of mini sizes available, that allows you to try out before investing on a

full size and I must make mention that this full size foundation

retails for a hefty R445, so it doesn't fall into everyones' budget. 

Benefit’s Hello Happy Flawless Brightening Foundation with SPF 15 forms

part of the benefit Hello Happy foundation range, which already includes 

a Velvet Powder Foundation and a Soft Blur Foundation.

Hello Happy Flawless Brightening Foundation 

with SPF 15

offers lightweight medium coverage, its breathable with a satin natural-looking illuminating finish.

 Cleverly supercharged with photochromic pigments that adapt to your skin

 giving it a brightening ,fresh and glowy appearance.

A blend of flower extracts help to boost radiance, while hyaluronic acid keeps your skin hydrated and healthy.

The formula is exactly what I’ve been looking for, as it gives a natural-looking, 
long lasting, dewy finish that offers medium coverage and all whilst helping 
your skin to look fresh and glowy in any light and its always a good sign when someone compliments you on your skin, which happened on 2 occasions.

My perfect shade is No.4 (the same as the Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer)
Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer Review
and there are internationally

  12 shades that feature neutral undertones, 

making them versatile enough to suit a range of skin tones and types

As with all benefit products they're fun and easy to apply, blend and I found this

foundation to be buildable if you needed more coverage.

After wearing for a couple of weeks now, it's a hit with me,

it felt lightweight and comfortable over my normal skincare and wore well with no separation of fading, so lets just say that it could well be a turning point for me with regards to benefit foundations.

A big thumbs up all round for this latest addition to the 
Benefit Hello Happy family...

Benefit 

Hello Happy 

Flawless Brightening Foundation

30ml

R

445

(10ml Mini R195)

£

26

$

30

BENEFIT BOI-ING CAKELESS CONCEALER REVIEW

Are those dark circles giving away your late night? Or do you want to cover up 

your dark circles without the fear of a cakey finish? 

Well benefit have the solution! 

I recently compiled my My Top 3 Concealers and My Top 5 Benefit Products

posts and the Boi-ing concealers feature prominently on both.

 When I'm asked "which is the best concealer on the market"

I always recommend the brand benefit rather than a specific concealer, as we all

have different concealing needs and benefit Boi-ing concealer range is the best and will literally cover all of your concealing needs.

Joining the ranks of this bestselling line-up is the NEW

Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer.

 Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer 

is a waterproof liquid formula that offers a lightweight, yet gives a

 full coverage finish, camouflaging everything from dark circles to blemishes

 and all without looking "cakey" and lasts for up to 24hrs.

My main camouflaging/concealing concern has always been my dark circles 

and recently the concealers I have reviewed have instantly gone cakey, so I was

excited to put all the claims of the new Cakeless concealer to the test and

I'm happy to report that the new 

Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer

is as good as benefit claim and I'm happy to add it to my collection

of Boi-ing concealers.

This multi-tasking full coverage concealer seemed to hide all that I wanted it to,

 whilst having a consistency that doesn’t crack, look cakey, flake or fade throughout the day all thanks to the formula including algae-derived ingredients 

known for smoothing and specially-coated pigments that leave a natural finish 

on the skin.

The sponge applicator makes for easy application and it blends seamlessly.

 Internationally there are twelve shades to choose from with various undertones, 

I was colour shade tested and the No.4 was perfect for me.

Suitable for all skin types and I have two recommendations 

1. Is to not lay it on thick,as one coat is sufficient

&

2. Is to buy,as its the ultimate "Cover It All" Concealer.

BENEFIT

Boi-ing 

Cakeless Concealer

5ml

R

325
(3ml Mini 195)

£

16.50

$

22