OUTFIT DETAILS
SWEATER: H&M | JEANS: H&M (similar styles here & here) | HEELS: Steve Madden | EARRINGS: BP |
You guys know I love love love reviewing & trying new beauty products and I was given the opportunity to try these Benefit Gift Sets from Ulta & my first thought was “oh no I don’t know if I can do that- my readers know I don’t love Pore-fessional!”.. then I thought I should at least try some of the products and see. A lot of my girlfriends / sister / fave YouTubers use a lot of these products so I decided I’d go for it since the gift sets are a really good value.
So being 100% transparent, Pore-fessional never made my pores look smaller & it’s one of Benefits most talked about products. Granted, my pores are the size of Texas & need some serious laser love. And I know many of you have commented that you love it and it does wonders for you but it just never covered mine that well – I think all beauty products are hit or miss based on skin type. Now that that is out of the way, I spent the past few weeks trying the rest of the products in these kits and there were several that I am crazy over & have implemented into my daily routine.
Before I get started, I have kind of a funny story about an OG product from Benefit.. it is borderline embarrassing but I think you all will relate (esp if you are closer to my age!). SO, all through college I wore makeup but I never filled in my eyebrows in – it just wasn’t a ‘thing’ back then. Keep in mind this was also like 10 years ago. My girlfriends from college and I always screenshot pix from undergrad and send them to each other and joke about how bad our eyebrows were since they were like non existent. Anyway, after I finished graduate school I moved to Virginia to be w/John where he was in medical school. It was about 2 hours from Charlotte, NC so anytime we wanted to celebrate a birthday or do anything special we would drive to Charlotte for the day. Inside of the mall in Charlotte there was a Benefit Brow Bar and I had them wax my brows & shape them for me for the first time. I will never forget how proud I was of my brows after this! I remember I felt like a pageant girl having nice arched, darker brows-haha! She waxed them, shaped them, and used the Brow-Zings (which has the powder & the wax) to fill them in and make the hairs tame-able. It made a HUGE difference & made my makeup look so much more cohesive?! if you will. 🙂 John bought me my own Brow-Zings kit for my birthday that year and it was the best gift ever. I went home to Arkansas for Christmas and used it on my sister & mom & they both were so obsessed – they bought it as well! It’s so funny to think how things have evolved the past 6 years – brows are such a hot thing in beauty now! Anyway, my mom & sis have used it daily ever since then. I still love the Brow-Zings but now that I’ve learned more about makeup and have tried other products, I realize I like pomades/gels a little better (THIS ONE is what I’ve been using lately!) The Brow-Zings is great though because it’s easy to use and lasts a long time but the gel works best on my hairs/skin.
Annyyyyywayyy, all of ^^ that to say that the Great BROWnanza gift set is a super good value… gift or for yourself – it is so good! It has the Brow Fiber Gel, Brow-Zings, a brow pencil (l0ve it!), Ka-Brow (the gel I mentioned), highlighter (which I love!!), a measuring tool, & a brush/spoolie. It’s $59 for the entire set but it is all full size products that would cost $151 for the entire thing. Basically it is a LOT of good stuff for a great price – my mom has already gone through it “borrowed” some of the things.
The Cable Car Cutie set has the mini Pore-fessional, blush (which I LOVE!), & mini-brow gel. So all together it is worth $33 but you can get it for $19. This is great for someone wanting to try those items out. The brow gel & blush are favorites of mine – I am crazy over the blue!
The Beauty & The Bay holiday set is probably my second favorite out of the ones that I tried! It has a full size bronzer which is what I’ve been wearing daily lately, a full size mascara ‘They’re Real’, the full size brow highlight/lift pencil, & a mini High Beam liquid highlighter! I believe this kit is like $39 but is an $89 value. I have really fallen in love w/the bronzer in this kit & also the highlight/lift brow pencil! I use it under my brows to make them look more arched & higher! I think if you want a good variety of products this is one of the best kits simply because it’s got full sized products & all of the products are ones you will use daily! OR, if you are like me, I share w/my sis & mom.
The GALifornia Love set is also really good – I think my favorite product was the blush included! It is SO pretty & kind of different than my normal blush color.It has the full sized Roller Lash (loved it!), the mini blush, & the full sized volumizing brow gel! Again, the brow gel is a favorite for me just because it kind of ‘glues’ them down and also adds some color. This kit is $29 – valued at $63.
Okay, that was long! So sorry – just wanted to break down the kits and include my favorites. I will say that these would be really good gifts for holidays but also great if you need to re-stock on makeup items for your collection. I love the packaging to begin w/but I was impressed that Benefit used their best products in the kits and also very impressed w/the price points! It wasn’t like they included random products – it was very thought through & not your typical holiday kit! All of these kits are at Ulta (in store & online) by the way!
Thanks to Ulta for sponsoring todays post.
So many good picks! I am obsessed with benefit products!
xx,
Lacey
http://bit.ly/2yLveDP
Side note – I love your sweater haha! But anyways, I’ve got to get better at makeup personally… I love when you do blog posts about beauty (I actually love all your posts lol) anywho….. these gifts all seem great & agreed, the price points are fantastic for what you get!
https://theonewiththegirlwhoblogs.blogspot.com
Have you ever tried any of the charlotte tilbury line? I have fallen in love! Would love to hear your input! Thanks
Yes I have tried most of it and if you’ve followed my beauty posts the past year or so you’ll see what my favorites are!
Hot mama!! You are incredibly beautiful and i always value your opinion, so it’s always great to read your tips on beauty and skincare.
http://lartoffashion.com
Thank you!!
Loved the detailed review! Have to go get some & save a few for stocking stuffers. And as always, love your personalized story! Never get tired of reading you -long- posts since they’re not long at all and instead just a great reads!
YES! WOULD totally be a great stocking stuffer for sure!
These gift sets are all to cute too, love the packaging!!
Xo – http://www.lydialouise.com
Love benefit bronzer!
obsessed with this look, and your bathroom, and your hair… and, well everything!
Thank you for sharing!! I absolutey love gift sets and that’s always what i shop for on black friday. Guess i’m getting a head start 🙂
Kim
http://trendkeeper.me .. edgy sweater!
I’ll definitely try, i’ve been needing a new bronzer!
Briana
https://beyoutifulbrunette.com/
Hi Emily! Thanks for reviewing these products! I know in A previous post you had reViewed the stila magnificent metals Glitter eyeshadow Wands. They typically retail for $24 each, but they have a holiday set right now with three mini versions of their most popular colors…For $25! Just thought you would like to know; enjoy!
wow! that is good to know – I really love those eyeshadows so I am totally ordering!
I am so mad I am barely seeing this Lol. I Just placed an order for the ABH Prism palette I could of added some of this in!!?? oh well next time.
YUSS can’t wait to try this brow kit!
Hi Emily
I truly enjoy viewing you blog/ instagram. You ha e the most ADORABLE son and such a lovely family.
I do hOwever have a question regarding fitz. My husband and i have been researching goldrndoodles for about one year. We had a gOlden for 14 years and sadly he sadly passed.
Would it be possible to tell me a but about how fitz is as your pet?
I have only spoken to breders and i want to be sure what they say is coorrct.
Thank you so much and keEp up
The blog/instagram. Ypu are the first person i look to view Daily.
He is WONDERFUL!! He’s the best dog – we are crazy over him! He’s super smart and so so sweet!
Thanks for the post! You are #glamgoals and I really appreciate you sharing your tips/beauty buys. you are a beautiful and lovely person mrs gemma 🙂 kudos and keep sharing
What size did you order in this sweater?