No one could accuse Benefit of being understated when it comes to new launches, especially where their famous mascaras are concerned. Their latest offering, Bad Gal Bang, was definitely no exception to this rule, and it was hard to miss all the excitement as "something out of this world" exploded across social media back in February. Naturally, I couldn't resist buying one to see if it really is worth all the hype.
Benefit claims that Bad Gal Bang will give your lashes massive volume without weighing them down. Much is made of the gravity defying formula, which contains aero-particles, apparently one of the lightest known materials and derived from space technology, hence all the cosmic themed advertising in their marketing push. In addition to this it is supposed to be smudge-proof, water-resistant, intensely black and enriched with ProVitamin B5 to promote thickness and strength.
While I normally prefer lengthening to volumising mascaras these days, this claim about the super-light formula really intrigued me. As I've probably mentioned before, I have quite good natural lashes - long and dark. However, they are also dead straight, and make zero impact without first being curled. Even mascaras that claim to hold a curl well don't seem to do so for me - Benefit Roller Lash being a notable example, much as I enjoy the fluttery length it gives. The fact that my lashes are naturally long actually works against me here, because once they are coated with mascara they get weighed down. Gravity takes over, and after a few hours, they've lost their curl. So it's fair to say I couldn't resist putting this new, space age formula to the test.
The cartoon-like packaging of this mascara isn't my favourite, but it isn't something that bothers me. The wand is plastic and super slim, which I know will please a lot of people who find large natural bristle wands tricky to work with. I tend not to have a strong preference when it comes to mascara wands, but I'm definitely a fan of this one. It's easy and pleasant to use and I find it helps to separate the lashes effectively and to get right into the inner corners. It delivers on both volume and length, although it doesn't quite provide the spectacular false lash effect of Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir.
However, for me, the best thing about this product is the fact that it delivers on its gravity defying claims. My lashes hold their curl for much longer with this mascara than with any other I have tried (and I've tried a lot!) They do drop a little by the end of the day, but still, the difference is noticeable and very impressive. Add to that the fact that it's as richly black and smudge free as promised, and you won't be surprised to hear that Bad Gal Bang has quickly earned a permanent place in my makeup drawer. It's my new go-to for those days when I need my makeup to last the distance.
Have you tried Benefit Bad Gal Bang mascara? What are your thoughts on it?
Kate x
However, for me, the best thing about this product is the fact that it delivers on its gravity defying claims. My lashes hold their curl for much longer with this mascara than with any other I have tried (and I've tried a lot!) They do drop a little by the end of the day, but still, the difference is noticeable and very impressive. Add to that the fact that it's as richly black and smudge free as promised, and you won't be surprised to hear that Bad Gal Bang has quickly earned a permanent place in my makeup drawer. It's my new go-to for those days when I need my makeup to last the distance.
Shop The Post
Have you tried Benefit Bad Gal Bang mascara? What are your thoughts on it?
Kate x
Some links may be affiliate links. All opinions, as always, are my own.
24 comments
As you might remember if you saw my last post, I recently acquired a new highlighter from 3ina. This inspired me to put together a little highlighter collection post. I have six, so it is a pretty small stash (at least by beauty blogger standards!) and I've featured most of them on the blog before, but it's been a while since some of them had their chance to shine (pun intended). Also, I always think it's interesting to see highlighters all lined up together, because it's only then that you realise how different they actually are, and that maybe you really do need six (or possibly more) after all.
Shall we get started?
1. Mac Soft and Gentle - My oldest powder highlighter and still my favourite. It's one of Mac's Mineralize Skinfinish powders and looks so beautiful in the pan, even now after many months of regular use. It's a beautiful, warm copper/rose gold shade and gives you a subtle, candlelit glow. I can imagine that it would suit just about every skintone, except maybe those that are super, super fair. This is one of those products that I still get excited about using, even though I've had it for ages, and I'm sure I will for a long time to come as it is just so beautiful and flattering.
2. Benefit Watt's Up - This is the first highlighter I ever bought. I really don't have a preference when it comes to powder or cream highlighters as I find them both easy to apply, and both seem to last just as well on me if I'm wearing a good, long lasting foundation. Watt's Up has a little sponge attached to it, so you can swipe the product across your cheekbones and then use the sponge to soften the edges, although I tend to just use my fingers for this. It's similar in tone to Soft and Gentle and gives you a natural dewy glow. Sometimes I'll wear it with Soft and Gentle dusted over the top if I want to intensify the effect.
3. 3ina 201* - The newest addition to my collection, which you can see on my face here. It doesn't have a name, but I like to think of it as Golden Sand, because that is exactly what it looks like in the pan. It's another warm gold shade, not a million miles away from the previous two but slightly less copper toned. The finish is more sheen than shimmer and it's perfect for when you just want a hint of highlight. That said, it's also buildable and you can definitely see it when you catch the light.
4. theBalm Mary Lou-Manizer - Ah, Mary Lou. Remember a couple of years ago when she was the most desirable highlighter, like, EVER? This is also gold toned but a lot lighter than the first three, so it translates as more of a champagne on the skin. Although it's no more shimmery than the others, I find that this is the one that "pops" most on me, perhaps because of the way it contrasts with my skintone. For that reason, it's the one I go for if I want that "see it from space" look.
5. E.L.F. Baked Highlighter and Blush in Rose Gold* - I didn't love this when I first acquired it, and I talked about it in this post. As pretty as it looked on my fingertip when I swirled the two colours together, I just couldn't seem to get it to do much on my face. However, I've been experimenting a bit since then, and have found that when I apply it liberally pretty much everywhere, it leaves me with a healthy, dewy looking glow, which I love. It's not how I tend to think of using highlighters - I am used to lightly dusting them over the high points of my face - so it took me a while to get used to this. However, I'm so pleased I have found a way to use it, because it really is pretty.
6. Collection Speedy Highlighter - Another cream highlighter and the cheapest of the lot, yet the quality is just as good as the Benefit one, which is around five times the price. It's the coolest toned of all the highlighters I have, but still seems to work on me. Like Mary Lou, it's a flattering champagne shade, but this one offers a more subtle gleam. If you're in the market for an affordable highlighter, I just don't think you can go wrong with this one for the price.
From left: Benefit Watt's Up, Mac Soft and Gentle, 3ina 201, theBalm Mary Lou-Manizer, Collection Speedy Highligher, E.l.f. Baked Highlighter and Blush in Rose Gold
Are any of your favourite highlighters on the list? And which ones would you recommend I add to my collection? Enable away!
Kate x
*Gifted item. Some links may be affiliate links. All opinions, as always, are my own.
May is drawing to a close, and finally we're starting to get some warm and sunny weather in the UK. The sun is streaming through my window as I write this, and I'm looking forward to finishing work for the day and maybe grabbing a cheeky glass of rose in the garden before dinner.
I really hope I haven't jinxed it now. If it's chucking it down with rain by the time you read this, I can only apologise!
May has been quite an eventful month. I was in London twice for blogger events, which was very exciting. I don't always write about every event I go to on the blog any more, but I usually share the experience via my Instagram Stories, so make sure you're following me on Instagram if you're not already and want to see what I get up to. (And just so you know, if I haven't posted anything in my stories, it's because I'm spending my time having an argument with my laptop or doing laundry and I don't think anyone needs to see either of those.)
Right, on to my favourites.
1. Benefit ka-BROW! - When it comes to brow products, I used to be the biggest fan of Brow Zings, also by Benefit, until my sister recommended I try this instead. I was converted immediately. If you're already familiar with Brow Zings, ka-BROW! does pretty much the same job, but in one step instead of two, and with better results. It also comes in prettier packaging. It's a gel-cream consistency, comes with its own angled brush, and is essentially everything you need to create perfect brows in one product. I tend to use the brush to lightly draw in the shape of my brows first - I find this helps to cheat a neat, "just-waxed" look - and then use short strokes to fill them in and create more definition.
2. E.l.f. Natural Glow Face Palette* - I talked about this here and I'm still in love with it. Perfect for traveling, this offers a bronzer, highlight and choice of two blushes in one handy palette - all of which are in really beautiful shades, ideal for everyday wear. This has been working overtime for me ever since I got it.
3. Accessorize Chandelier Earrings - There is nothing remotely new or trendy about these, and in fact I've owned this particular pair of earrings for a few years, but something about the sunny weather has made me feel like digging them out again. I very rarely wear statement earrings, but every so often it's nice to change up your look, and this is quite an effective but simple way to do it. I think that big earrings work beautifully with off the shoulder or cold shoulder tops and I've really been enjoying giving this pair a new lease of life on evenings out this month. Accessorize have quite the selection and you can have a browse here if you feel so inclined.
4. River Island Top - This is so pretty and fresh looking, perfect for summery weather. I've mostly been wearing it with jeans and heeled sandals, but it would also look great with denim skirts or shorts. I honestly don't think you can have too many pretty tops and this one is a firm favourite right now.
5. Zara Loafers - So these do look a little bit like Granddad slippers, but they're kind of chic as well, or at least I think so! They're super comfortable, go with pretty much everything and look loads more expensive than they actually were - a totally bargainous £19.99. Good old Zara.
6. Z For Accessorize Constellation Necklace - I do enjoy my Accessorize jewellery, don't I?! Delicate little gold necklaces are always lovely and I particularly like this one due to the constellation design - I'm a sucker for a bit of astrology! This one is Scorpio (which, surprise surprise, is my star sign) and I've seen all the signs in store, though for some reason I can only seem to find Pisces on the website. These aren't expensive but they're really pretty and fun to wear.
What have you been loving this month? And what's your star sign?!
Kate x
*Gifted item. All opinions, as always, are my own.
It's monthly favourites time again! January has been pretty productive for me this year. Last year and the year before I was moving house, and everything else had to go on hold, so it has been really nice to be able to get on with things from the start this time around. In terms of my blog, I've felt a renewed sense of enthusiasm after feeling a little bit lost at the end of last year. In part, this has been due to having the opportunity to work with No7 this month - a brand I've loved for years - but also, I think, because I took some time off over Christmas to recharge my batteries and really think about what I'm trying to achieve with my little corner of the internet. Taking a break is something I'm often scared to do, but it can be invaluable in terms of putting things into perspective and generating new ideas, so I'm going to make a mental note to myself to do this a little more often! All in all, it's been a positive start to 2017.
As well as getting started on those new year goals, January is often a time when a lot of people cut back on spending. That certainly seems to have been true for me this year, as pretty much all my favourites are rediscoveries of forgotten treasures from the bottom of my makeup drawer. I have to say, as much as I love acquiring shiny new things, there is a particular sense of satisfaction to be gained from shopping the stash, especially when you are reminded of how much you love something that has somehow slipped out of sight and out of mind.
Here's what I've been loving this month.
1. Benefit Rollerlash Mascara - My appreciation for this mascara has been something of a slow burner. When I first bought it, I was fixated on the claims about how well it curls lashes, and expected to be able to throw away my eyelash curlers once and for all. This wasn't the case for me, and I think it made me disappointed in the product to start off with. However, once I had fished my eyelash curlers back out of the bin and tried Rollerlash in partnership with them, I realised that it's actually really nice, especially for length. I usually go for volumising mascaras, but lately I've preferred the more delicate, fluttery effects of this one.
2. Miller Harris Vetiver Insolent Perfume* - I'm sure I've mentioned this fagrance hundreds of times on the blog by now, but if you're unfamiliar with it, you can check out my full review here. This is a sophisticated and heavy fragrance, not for the faint-hearted, but I absolutely love it. I've had a few evenings out this month, and with the weather being so cold, I have enjoyed wearing this warm, earthy fragrance more than ever.
3. Mac Eye Shadow in Tempting - I'd forgotten I had this, so it was a treat to rediscover it in the depths of my makeup drawer! For my day to day eye makeup, I tend to use just one shade over the lid and blended into the crease, and bronze colours like this are perfect. Tempting is a lustre finish with a really beautiful shimmer to it. I think I have worn this just about every single day throughout the month of January.
4. Too Faced La Creme Color Drenched Lip Cream in Nude Beach worn with L'Oreal Infallible Mega Gloss in Protest Queen - I am obsessed with this lip combination. The Too Faced Color Drenched Lip Creams are probably the most comfortable lipsticks I have ever worn. They feel like a lip balm to apply, but they have a beautiful, creamy, sheeny pigmentation to them too. The shade Nude Beach is a gorgeous pinky nude which I seem to have been drawn to a lot this month. I think it has something to do with wanting spring to start right after Christmas! Protest Queen is one of L'Oreal's cream finish lipglosses from the Mega Gloss line, and over the top of Nude Beach it is just perfect. It's almost identical in colour and just intensifies the creaminess and, er, sheeniness. I've put the two together in the swatch above.
5. H&M Turtleneck (similar) - I have lived in this for pretty much the whole month. An absolute bargain, this is a fitted black turtleneck jumper with just the tiniest little design detail in the ribbing on the front. Perfect with jeans and a big fur-lined jacket during the day, and tucked into a leather pencil skirt for the evening. We've had some freezing weather in the last couple of weeks so it has been lovely to be all covered up in this. I can't find this exact jumper on the H&M website, but the one I've linked to is nearly identical and also a great price.
And that rounds up my first monthly favourites of 2017! How has January been for you, and what have you been loving this month?
Kate x
*Gifted item. All opinions, as always, are my own.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)