New Cream Shadows and Blushes from Joe Fresh Beauty!

I got an email this morning from Joe Fresh Beauty announcing some of their new products for spring. Among these new products are cream eyeshadows and blushes.

If you have never heard of Joe Fresh Beauty, it is a line of products that was launched in the spring of 2009 and offers quality products that are both fashionable and affordable. Products are sold in over 250 Loblaws stores in Canada.

So far, I have not tried Joe Fresh Beauty products but I would love to try the cream blushes, lipsticks, lipglosses, lip stains, and cheek tints. The products really are affordable. For example, the new cream blushes are $8 and the cheek tints are only $4.

Have you tried any beauty products from Joe Fresh? If so, what did you think of them?

To find out more about the new products and see the company’s other products, visit http://www.joefresh.com/en/bath_beauty/

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MAC Dainty Blush

I have been using Dainty Mineralize Blush from MAC for about a month now. I purchased it as a replacement for the blush that I had used for about 5 years—L’Oreal Bare Naturale Gentle Mineral Blush in Soft Rose. While I loved the colour of the L’Oreal blush, I was tired of the mess that the loose powder always made. Also, I have heard mixed information regarding the company’s stance on animal testing so I wanted to find a blush that was mineralized, yet pressed, and made by a company that was cruelty free.

Many people suggested Dainty blush for me but I was hesitant to purchase it for two reasons: #1, in pictures it appeared to have a lot of shimmer which I do not like in a blush. #2, at $26.50 CAD for 3.5 g / 0.11 oz (non-mineralize blushes from MAC are only $23.50 CAD for 6 g / 0.21 oz) it seemed very expensive.

I first tried to find this blush for a discounted price in the sale section of certain beauty forums but ultimately had no luck. Then one day I took a trip to my MAC counter to return my tube of Syrup lipstick (I have a blog post here on why I did not like Syrup: http://putbeautytowords.blogspot.com/2011/02/mac-syrup-lipstick.html). I decided to check out Dainty while I was there.  It looked very vibrant and shimmery in the pan so I was not convinced. The sales associate handed me a duo fibre brush and told me to try it anyway because it would work really well with my skin tone (very pale and cool-toned).

I loved it! It gave my skin the prettiest pink flush and there was no visible shimmer. My complexion was radiant and glowy and before I knew it I was on my way out of the store with a brand new box of Dainty blush.

The next day I applied the blush and was no longer impressed—I looked sunburnt! I thought about returning it but decided to give it another try the next day. I used a much lighter hand and concentrated it on only the apples of my cheeks. It looked great again and I have worn it every day since with success. Ever since I started wearing Dainty I have been receiving compliments on my skin. I’m able to get the most flawless application when I apply Dainty using my Sigma F55 brush (http://www.sigmabeauty.com/product_p/f55.htm?Click=62512).

MAC describes the colour of Dainty as a light yellow pink with gold pearl. While I agree that there is a gold pearl running through the product, I would call it more of a rosy pink rather than a yellow pink. Either way, it is a gorgeous colour that I will definitely repurchase.

My rating: 5/5

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Benefit’s Benetint: Rose-Tinted Lip & Cheek Stain

Since its creation in the 1970s (it was originally developed for an exotic dancer) benetint has become a popular product. It has appeared in many magazines and is loved by celebrities, makeup artists and makeup lovers around the world.

This product is marketed as a rose-tinted lip & cheek stain that lasts all day and looks “naturally sheer and sexy on all complexions.” It claims to be “the sexiest flush you can get from a bottle.”

I have been using this product for about 10 months. After testing it out in different ways and using a variety of application methods, I have decided that, for me, this product is not ideal for use on the cheeks. Although it gives a pretty flush, I have found that it darkens and draws attention to dark spots and imperfections on the face in a way that powder and cream blushes do not. It also seems to make the skin look a bit flat and does not leave the cheeks looking fresh or glowy. In terms of application, benetint sets so quickly on the cheeks that it blends unevenly and makes the skin appear blotchy.

That said, it is one of the best lip products that I have ever tried. It gives the lips a pretty rosy flush that really does last all day. I usually dab a bit of this product on my lips in the morning and then apply lip balm a few times throughout the day to add moisture (the nail polish-like brush makes application easy and precise). My lips look almost as flushed by the end of the day as they had at the beginning. I like the colour because it looks natural and does not feel heavy or sticky. Although I purchased this product in the summer, I started using it more often in the winter when I put my lip glosses away for the colder months. I only wear lip gloss in the summer because where I live the winters are very windy and my long hair gets stuck in my lip gloss. Benetint is mess free and transfer resistant. I only wish that it did not have such a high price tag. It costs $28 for 12.5 ml/0.40 fl oz. I was lucky enough to purchase my bottle on ebay for around $9. In benetint’s defense its seemingly small amount of product lasts for a very long time. I have been using it every single day for the last six months, and a few times per week before that, and the bottle still looks completely full. At the rate that things are going this one bottle could probably last for 10 years!

Benetint can be purchased at www.benefitcosmetics.com

My rating: 2/5 as a cheek stain and 5/5 as a lip stain

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