Beauty Review: Benefit's They're Real! Push-Up Eyeliner - New Colors!

Last Friday, June 26th, Benefit launched new colors for their signature They're Real! Push-Up Eyeliner and Mascara. I have yet to try the new mascara shades (Though I'm dying to get my hands on the blue one!), but I did get two of the eyeliners in Beyond Blue and Beyond Purple. If you've tried the original They're Real! Eyeliner and didn't care for it then the new colors probably won't do too much for you. The formula appears to be the same in every way. If you haven't tried They're Real! you should give it a shot. Some people swear by it and find the felt-tip applicator and gel formula to be the best out there. Others, like me, are a little challenged when it comes to using this thing. The first time I ever tried They're Real! I couldn't get any product to come out of the top. Come to find out you have to turn the bottom of the pen many times when first using it before the gel come to the top. And when the gel does come out, it looks a little funky. Am I supposed to wipe this off before using it? Is there too much product? Is there too little? Apparently a lot of people feel this way when first using They're Real!

All of that being said, the gel that comes in the pen has a lot of staying power. And the new colors are really beautiful. I particularly like the purple because it enhances my hazel eyes without looking clownish. 

Only on close inspection can you tell that the purple eyeliner is in fact purple, making this a fun but functional product for every age.

I am still getting the hang of the eyeliner so my cat eye tail is a little wonky in this photo, but I could've easily cleaned it up a little with some eye makeup remover. The most difficult part for me when applying eyeliner is getting the the product close to my lash line. It sometimes feels like my eyelashes are rebelling against the eyeliner, making it possible to create a smooth line. 

Overall, I think the new colors are awesome, perfect for summer and accessible for people who aren't used to a lot of color or want to try something new.

Have you tried any of the new Benefit They're Real! eyeliners or mascaras? Why do you like/dislike them? Let me know with your comments! :)

-Greer

Aria Style

Aria Style by grecbarn featuring a leather jacket

Glamorous leather jacket, $110 / Soda fringe booties / BCBGeneration chain bracelet / Links of London rose gold jewelry, $235

Ipsy Unboxing! June 2015

When I took inside my June Glam Bag online I was really excited for my samples. And when I actually received my the day before yesterday I was not disappointed. I was especially excited to see a sample from Smashbox and a fingernail polish, something I have to receive from either Ipsy or Birchbox.

The theme for this month is "Swim Into Beauty" so samples came in a black bag accented with a coral zipper. The material felt and looked a lot like neoprene which suits the swim theme. I've noticed that Ipsy subscribers are not feeling the bag this month, but I actually like that it's something different. Typically Ipsy bag are really bold or bright so I think the subtlety was a nice change.

• I have been wanting to try the Smashbox Photo Foundation Primer for forever, so I'll definitely be trying out this product soon. Despite the fact that it looks like a decent size in the above picture, it's not really that big. I don't have a travel-size primer though, so it will definitely come in handy when I'm traveling.
• The coral pink color of the Formula X Power Source nail color polish is so pretty and perfect for summer! Once I pick up some more fingernail polish remover from the store, I'm going to paint both my fingernails and toenails this color. The sample, like the Smashbox one, is tiny but I've never finished a bottle of polish before so that shouldn't be an issue. 
• When I took my bag out of its pink package I immediately smelled cucumbers. That was a good sign because I love cucumber-scented lotions, cleansers, etc. The BeFine Cucumber Facial Mask is a cooling mask, and I love masks that tingle in a good way, so I probably will really enjoy it.
• I feel like the NUXE Gentle Exfoliating Gel will be either a hit or a miss. Typically exfoliating products are a little too rough for my sensitive, acne-prone skin. But this was does have rose petals, so if anything it should smell de-lightful.
• I haven't had a lot of look with eyeshadow markers and crayons, so I was pleasantly surprised when I tried out the tre'StiQue mini shadow crayon in Aspen Pine on my wrist. The color was a very pigmented forest green with flecks of gold shimmer, so I think it should work well with my hazel eyes. I think doing a smoky eye with this crayon on my eyelid and my bottom lash line would be really pretty for a night out. 

What did you receive in your Ipsy Glam Bag this month? Let me know! :)

Redbox Reviews: The DUFF

Every once in a while a teen film comes along and cements itself as an essential coming-of-age film, joining the ranks of Clueless, Mean Girls, and basically every movie John Hughes wrote. Based on what I had seen in the trailer I thought that The DUFF had a chance of being one of those few films to gain cult status. Though The DUFF, based on the popular book of the same name, is not a bad film and even features some talented young actors, it lacked the independent spirit of other great teen films. It had a few laughs but no real relevance beyond its "We're all insecure but have something special to offer" message.

Bianca (Mae Whitman) is a high school senior who happens to be best friends with two popular, beautiful girls. After talking with her childhood friend and neighbor Wes (Robbie Amell, who is the movie's standout actor), Bianca discovers that she is the DUFF, or Designated Ugly Fat Friend, to her friends. Confused and angry, Bianca cuts ties with her friends and in exchange for helping him with his grades, gets advice from Wes so she can attract her crush, guitar-strumming hunk Toby.

Also starring Disney darling Bella Thorne as queen bee mean girl Madison, The DUFF follows a fairly predictable story line. A few witty lines are scattered throughout, many of which will probably be relevant for only a few more years. It's hard to imagine by kids laughing at all of the movie's jokes in 2040.

I won't give away the ending, but you probably already know that it's happy. I give The DUFF a 6.5 out of 10. Though the story and direction lacked, its young performers saved it from being a complete miss.

Have you seen The DUFF? What did you think? What Redbox movie should I review next? Let me know in the comments section. :)

How I Feel About My May Birchbox...3 Weeks Later

May's Birchbox was inspired and curated by Cupcakes and Cashmere's creator Emily Schuman. The box, like many of the recent boxes, is adorable. I've got all of my boxes stored on a shelf in my room hoping that a great DIY idea pops into my head one of these days. Maybe they could work as shadow boxes?? Hmmm...

My box was heavy on skin products this month, as are most of my boxes it seems. Maybe I should edit my profile so I don't receive as many. While the occasional moisturizer or sunscreen is fun to try, a girl can only sample so many facial cleansers.

Here's the rundown on what I received in my May Birchbox, starting with the skin care products:

• The Marcelle Clay Mask (Full-size $15) was one of my favorite products this past month. Though it is a skin care product, it's a clay mask and those are awesome. What's really great about this one is that it goes on clear. You can literally slather this stuff all over your face and it looks like you're wearing moisturizer. That's handy when you're traveling, and you're around other people, so you want to look decent while still treating your trouble spots...You get my point. 
• The Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream (Full-size $16) was the product I was most excited about. It was created in Japan, and if there's any continent that knows how to do skincare properly it's Asia. Though I was impressed with the hydration the moisturizer provided (It even removed some really dry, patchy skin on my forehead that my regular facial lotion tends to miss.), it's almost a little too creamy for use under makeup. This stuff would make a great night cream if you were in need of something that works but isn't too heavy.
• The Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45+ Shade #2 (Full-size $39) was what you expect from a beauty balm: it hydrates, provides SPF, but the coverage is very, very light. If you have skin that behaves and is for the most part even-toned, then this BB cream would be all you need. I, however, require a little bit more coverage for everyday. But the formula is light and easy-to-wear.
• The Number 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect spray (Full-size $32) is good but I didn't find it to be any better than my regular leave-in conditioner. It has multiple functions, however, acting as a leave-in conditioner, heat protectant spray, UV shield, and color preserver. It does have a nice smell.
• My only real cosmetic item this past month was an eyeshadow quad, and it didn't disappoint. The Coastal Scents Revealed 3 Palette in the quad Desert Bloom (Full palette $19.95) was a small but beautiful variety of shimmery colors (gold, lilac-purple, deep red and brown). The colors, though, a little loose and powdery, layered really well and are surprisingly versatile for everyday use. My only complaint is that the quad came in a hard-to-open plastic container. Maybe a small booklet-type container would have been better (but probably more expensive as well).

What did you think of your May Birchbox? Have you recycled your boxes to make an awesome craft? Let me know in the comments section below. :)

Beauty Bargains: The Best Buys from ELF Cosmetics

I'm sure no one has to tell you this, but beauty products are getting more and more expensive. While drugstore options used to be pretty cheap, the line dividing prestige and everything else is becoming blurred. At the same time drugstore brands, like L'Oreal and Covergirl, are staying up-to-date on the latest trends, like natural, nude eyeshadow colors and spidery lashes. Eyes lips face (more commonly referred to as ELF or e.l.f.) is one of those few brands that has managed to stay reasonably priced and trendy at the same time. If you haven't tried any e.l.f cosmetics or brushes, here are a few of my favorites to get you started. You'll want to stock up as soon as you take a look at those prices! 

1. Makeup Remover Pen ($3) - I received one of these a few years ago for Christmas, and I still use it every so often when I need to clean up my eye makeup a little. This pen is especially good at polishing a cat eye that's a little messy. 
2. Poreless Face Primer ($6) - I have tried my fair share of primers, from the more expensive BareEscentuals primers to the cheaper NYX versions, but the Poreless Face Primer from e.l.f. is still one of my favorites. It has a faint eucalyptus-like smell, which I don't really mind since I like medicinal smells. It comes out white but spreads evenly, creating a smooth surface for makeup application. 
3. Makeup Mist & Set ($3) - This may not be the best setting spray, but at only 3 dollars, the one is a definite steal. I like to apply this spray before my makeup application right after priming and then after I put on my makeup to set it. It gives my makeup a more lived-in look. Sometimes I'll even apply it when I'm not wearing any makeup because it's cooling and smells great (Some of the ingredients are green tea and cucumber, so no wonder it smells good.).
4. Essential Little Black Beauty Book - Eye Edition ($8) - This is not the exact same Little Black Beauty Book that I have, but any of the e.l.f. eyeshadow palettes are great. The palettes always have a great variety of colors and the wear is pretty good considering the price. To get the best wear out of the eyeshadows, apply a primer on your lids beforehand.
5. Any cosmetic brush ($1-$6) - With high-end brushes costing anywhere between thirty and sixty dollars nowadays, it's nice to have cheaper options that can do the job. While a lot of inexpensive brushes tend to shed, e.l.f. brushes usually hold up well during application.
6. Essential Eyelash Curler - e.l.f. has different options when it comes to eyelash curlers, but during a recent a beauty haul I took a chance and bought the least expensive one. I couldn't resist; it was a dollar! It gives a natural curl to the lashes, nothing too fancy, but when I'm not in the mood for mascara, this is my go-to tool. 

You can find e.l.f. products online at eyeslipsface.com and at stores like Target and Walmart. My local Target has an especially good selection of brushes. Do you have any favorite e.l.f cosmetics and tools? Have you tried the e.l.f. High Definition Powder? I bought it recently but have yet to try it. Let me know with your comments below! :)

Date Night: Summer Edition

Date Night: Summer Edition by grecbarn featuring a black romper jumpsuit

Sleeve maxi dress, $25 / Pieces crop shirt, $20 / Walli / High rise shorts / Maurices black romper jumpsuit / Gianvito Rossi roman gladiator sandals / MIA fringe cowgirl boots / M Co patent leather purse, $33 / Lauren ralph lauren jewelry