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.

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

BEAUTY PRODUCTS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW {OCTOBER 2019}

September has been a busy month with an overseas trip, which can only mean one thing,

I have several products to put to the test and I know I say this every month, 
but I do have some great products to review and they include several skincare products, one hair product and two make-up items from my fave cosmetic brands.

benefit

hello happy

Flawless Brightening Foundation

&

Boi~ing

Cakeless Concealer

benefit have recently launched two new products, a foundation and a concealer

and being a huge fan of benefit concealers I had to put their new Boi~ing addition

to the test and will it make it onto my next Top 3 Concealers list

My Top 3 Concealers

*NOW POSTED*

To read my full review

The hello happy foundation reached out to me with the words flawless & brightening,

so stayed tuned to BSB to see if I love the concealer as much as the others and if the foundation delivers on the flawless & brightening.

*NOW POSTED*

To read my full review

~~~~~~

Living Proof

Perfect Hair Day

Dry Shampoo

Having reached for this dry shampoo, lifting it off the shelf several times, whilst overseas, 

it finally made it into my shopping basket.

I have reviewed the Living Proof Restore Mask earlier in the year and really enjoyed 

the product,
To read my review

so I was happy to give their Dry Shampoo a try, despite being on the pricey side. 

*NOW POSTED*

To read my full review

~~~~~~

ELEMIS

Rehydrating Rose Petal

Cleanser

&

Rehydrating Ginseng

Toner

I've had my eye on purchasing some Elemis skincare products recently and despite knowing of this very reputable British skincare brand for many years, I had only

ever used a body oil and that was years ago.

I thought a good place to start would be with the basics and that's with a 

cleanser, toner and eye product, which is currently under review.

*NOW POSTED*

To read my full review

~~~~~~

BY TERRY

Baume de Rose

Lip Care

This product has been on my Beauty Wish List for several years, possibly longer than any other and has been

in and out of my shopping basket, so many times.

Finally I have one,so I can cross it off my list and being a lip balm addict I have high hopes

for this much internationally praised product.

I use the BY TERRY Brightening CC Serum most days, which I just love, so I hope my love
for the brand continues with the Baume de Rose.

To find out why I rate the Brightening CC Serum so much
 click here

*NOW POSTED*

To read my full review

~~~~~~

MARY COHR

Expert Face Sculptor

Slimming,reshaping serum-cream

Several weeks ago I reviewed the MARY COHR Incredible Hydrating Cream

I.H.C and I adored it
to read my review
The texture of the cream was amazing and more importantly it made
my skin feel super hydrated and as I said in my review "
it was an absolute pleasure to apply"
so I'm excited to try this slimming, face sculpting serum, as any of my mature readers 
will know all too well, that our faces retain more fluid and look
puffier with advancing years.
Here's hoping that this product will help with this issues as it says it will do...

*NOW POSTED*

To read my full review

If you are curious to know more about the products under review, then be sure and check back or better still, sign up for an e.mail notifying you when my reviews have

 been posted.

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....

MONTHLY FAVOURITES {SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2019}

Time flies when you're having fun and that's certainly been the case for the last 2 months on the beauty front and as a reminder we only have 2 more

 before we enter a new year and a 

new decade...

I have tried and tested many good products during September and October, but I

only like to include, in my Monthly Faves, those that are great and in my

opinion are spend worthy.

As always click on the Pink Links to read my full review.

1.

URBAN DECAY

BROW ENDOWED

This has been my daily brow product since I wrote my original review back 

in September, proving that its become my favourite over my beloved benefit GOOF PROOF Brow Pencil, which I have used for several years.Time will tell as to how long this brow product will last, as I already feelthat the tinted cream end of the wand is possibly drying out a little.If that is the case then it will become an expensive brow product, as it will need replacing every few months, compared to the GOOF PROOF which seems to last forever.I will report back to you in a Friday Follow Up post, but for now I simply love my Brow Endowed.

To read my full review

~~~~~~

2.

LIVING PROOF

PERFECT HAIR DAY

DRY SHAMPOO

 I'm a little cross with myself regarding this dry shampoo, as it had been

on my overseas shopping list for such a long time and with every visit I overlooked it 

and just thought I'll buy it next time.

I rate it as the best dry shampoo and I love it and my only regret is not

discovering it sooner.

To read my full review

~~~~~~

3.

BENEFIT

HELLO HAPPY

BRIGHTENING FLAWLESS FOUNDATION

I know this sounds slightly corny, but this foundation does make me feel happy and the longer I'm using it the more I'm loving it.

Simply it's a perfect everyday foundation that's long wearing, easy to apply, quick to blend and makes my skin look naturally good, so what more do you require from a foundation.

To read my full review

~~~~~~

4.

BY TERRY

BAUME DE ROSE

This is another of those products that has been on my wish list for years and I now

regret not buying it earlier.

This multi-tasking Rose scented Lip Balm has a smooth, non sticky texture unlike any other balm that I have ever tried and as you can tell I'm a huge fan.

To read my full review

~~~~~~

5.

ELEMIS

REHYDRATING

GINSENG TONER

I don't include toners in my monthly favourites very often, but this month is an exception and the Ginseng toner from ELEMIS has quickly become a "fave" of mine.

 I'm not only enjoying the refreshing product itself, but also the packaging,YES...I love the fact that this toner is in a handy spritz bottle, which adds to the sensation of the refreshing aspect of the toner and even more so if its kept in the fridge.

To read my full review

HOW TO CHOOSE THE CORRECT FRAGRANCE GIFT (TIPS FOR MEN)

This will be the first time in 18 years that I will not be working on Christmas Eve,
however after saying this, I will miss all the fun that working on that day brings.

Over the years I have seen this same scene many, many times over and it 
never really changes and I am sure it never will, yet it's always a source of great amusement....

Typical Fragrance Department

All to often the uninitiated male enters the cosmetic department on Christmas Eve hoping to quickly rush in and pick up a bottle of perfume for his girlfriend or wife as a gift. Invariably he enters with a smile on his face,until he is met with a department full of products, bottles,colours,shoppers,assistants and aromas and the look soon changes from one of Christmas cheer to "horror" and "dread" as the realisation of the task ahead seems to have well and truly slapped him in the face. 

It isn't long before he is spotted by an eager consultant as "easy prey" in they swoops with a few standard probing questions:

Consultant "Hello Sir how can we help you today"?

Customer "I am looking for a perfume for my wife"

Consultant "What does she normally like to wear"?

Customer "I'm not sure, but it smells of flowers"

Consultant "That makes it rather difficult Sir, but can I show you some of the latest fragrances, as she most probably won't have any of these, as they have only just been launched"?

Costumer "I'm sure I'll recognise the bottle of her favourite fragrance"

Consultant "No problem Sir lets walk along the department and see if you recognise a name,bottle or the colour of the packaging.

Consultant "Any luck Sir"?

Customer "No! what were those new perfumes you spoke of"

Let me tell you now! 

that this method of "elimination" buying can vary in time depending on the character of the man...

a few minutes if he realises that this is way beyond his realm of detective capabilities or easily an hour if he believes he is Inspector Clouseau and won't be beaten by thousands of fragrances glistening back at him from the shelves....

Not all men are like the example above and many do know exactly what their partner wears and the type of fragrance she enjoys.....so guys if YOU are the customer in my story, then do yourself a favour and investigate before hand!

Here are few tips to hopefully help you navigate the daunting fragrance department at Christmas time!

1. Be prepared and take notice of what fragrance she has on her dressing table or in the bathroom.
2. Many women wear several fragrances , so write down all the names of the fragrances she uses or better still take a quick pic on your cell phone.
3. Often the one that has been used the most is the one that she likes the best.
4. If this doesn't help then you can always ask her sister or friend for advice.
5. Don't expect to just rush in and choose a fragrance in 10 minutes,so give yourself time to shop.
6. Do not leave the buying of the gift until Christmas Eve, as the best offers and gift sets have already been sold and you could end up "panic buying" which can end up costing you more.
7. Understand that casual staff  are sent in by the individual companies to spray and promote fragrances and are therefore pushing a particular brand, so don't be easily swayed if you have had definite instructions on what to buy and what not to buy.
8. If you require more in depth fragrance knowledge and more neutral advice, then ask to speak to the permanent fragrance consultant and not the temporary staff.
9. Firstly ask to see any gift sets that maybe available in the particular fragrance you decide on,some brands bring out beautiful Christmas sets filled with the fragrance and the matching body products.
10. If you want to surprise her with something new then try and keep to the same classification of fragrance. In other words if she loves Opium by Yves Saint Laurent then the chances are that she will not like Ck one by Calvin Klein, as the one is a spicy and heavy and the other is a fresher more lighter wearing type of fragrance. A good fragrance consultant will be able to advise you on this.
11. Do not test the fragrances on yourself  or the consultant, as it will not smell the same on your partner.Fragrance is very personal and develops differently on everyone.
12. Make use of the spray blotters (strips of blotting paper that you spray the fragrance onto) that all stores have.This enables you to get an idea of what the fragrance smells like without using every inch of your body to test.
13. If you are buying for someone and have no idea of their "likes" or "dislikes" then ask for a sample of the fragrance that you have decided on and gift it at the same time. This means she can try the sample rather than open and use the gift fragrance, thus allowing it to be returned and exchanged if necessary.
14. Always ask for a gift receipt,so she can do an easy exchange if you get it wrong (as long as the cellophane or seal is intact)
15. Make life easier for yourself and get the store to beautifully gift wrap ,which is generally free of charge.

I hope these tips help you

 Happy Shopping!