Monthly Archives: July 2018

Just the Tip!

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Haven’t heard about the NEW they’re real! push-up liner yet? Where have you been, gorgeous!? Under a rock? Enjoying the pre-summer sun? Outside? FINE! We forgive you. But, you might want to start paying attention. Here’s what you’ve missed so far: the story about how this innovative product was 5 years in the making & this super easy summer eye look for every BBQ that comes your way.

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Things you should know about they’re real! push-up liner:

1. It’s the FIRST EVER lash-hugging gel liner in a pen!

2. The waterproof matte black gel formula doesn’t smudge, budge or dry out.

3. The innovative AccuFlex™ tip make it BEYOND EASY to get close to your lash-line.

All caught up? Let’s take a closer look at the tip, shall we?

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It is everything. Here’s why:

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A completely new & ground-breaking innovation, the AccuFlex™ tip was designed with your liner needs in mind. Its soft and angled design makes it criminally easy to glide across the curve of your eyelid. Plus—and this is our favorite part—it makes drawing an even, purrrfect cat eye easy every time. Seriously. No more wonky wings!

What else, you might ask? It’s lash-hugging! We created a flat, wide guard that gently pushes your lashes out of the way so you can get as close to the lash-line as possible!

Finally, we’ve provided you with a wide base that provides maximum control & makes for more stable application. Think drawing with a pen is easy? So is this liner.

Are you excited as ever to get your hands on they’re real! push-up liner!? Only 16 days, 9 hours & 2 minutes—not that we’re counting or anything…

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Illamasqua Gel Colour: Nearly-Neon Non-Moving Blush

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illamasqua gel sculpt blusher in charm

I decided to follow some instructions (for once!) because there were some application tips that came with the new Illamasqua Gel Sculpt Blusher. Tips from the top woman herself, founder of the Illamasqua brand and makeup artist extraordinaire, Alex Box. She said this:

“I press Gel Colour into cheeks by putting the product on the palm of my thumb, rubbing both palms together creating equal amounts of product on both hands. Then, I simply press it on the apple of the cheeks where you would naturally blush.”

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And that, dear readers, is exactly what I did. Behold the ever-so-bright gel colour Charm being pressed onto my cheek from the heel of my hand:

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and the resulting nearly-neon glow:

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The application method works very well indeed, and the scarily bright “Tango” orange is surprisingly wearable. I haven’t really paired it with the best of makeup looks, because I was sat about trying out a load of different things at the time, but with simple, slightly-bronzed skin and a few coats of mascara the colour would really sing out.

A word of warning (or five): this blush does not budge. Scrub it from your hands straight away and make sure that you blend it immediately upon application. If you try to apply it straight from the stick then be ready with brush or fingertips to really buff it in, as it’s the quickest-drying formula I’ve ever used and once it’s on, it’s on for good! The texture is gorgeous – a cool, smooth gel – but it requires a little of your concentration to get things right. Let me know how you get on. There’s also a contour stick, same principle, but I haven’t tried that yet – I’ll keep you updated.

Illamasqua Gel Sculpt in Charm is £22 at Selfridges.com

The post Illamasqua Gel Colour: Nearly-Neon Non-Moving Blush appeared first on A Model Recommends.

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Ask an Aesthie: Athina

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Happy July, Benebabes! We hope you’re thoroughly enjoying summertime. After we popped into our Fillmore boutique last week for a little brow break, we ran into one aesthie who’s been with our company for 25 years! Can you believe that!? Talk about an original Benebabe! There was no other choice than to pick her brain about makeup & how far she’s come. Read her interview below…

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First of all, congrats on 25 years at Benefit! What made you want to be a beauty artist & why Benefit in the first place? 

Having the privilege to work with founders Jean & Jane Ford, I was able to learn a lot from the very beginning. The early days really taught me about how important it is to treat the customer & my co-workers with not only trust, but mutual respect. It may seem like a party from the outside, but customer service comes first!

Any popular trends with your clients these days?

I’m not kidding—every customer that sits in my chair wants full brows and long lashes.

What are your favorite tips & tricks to avoid dry skin in the summer? 

Hydration is essential! Exfoliate with refined finish facial polish, follow with ultra radiance facial re-hydrating mist, then finish with total moisture. It’s also important to keep your face protected with dream screen, our new silky-matte broad spectrum SPF 45 sunscreen. Outside of skincare—opt for water instead of soda. Your body (& skin) will thank you later!

Any summer beauty essentials you can’t live without?

A hat & my favorite pair of sunglasses are a must. I also always keep an aloe vera plant in my kitchen—it’s perfect for sunburns. Just snip a stem, slice it down the middle & push with your thumb to release the gel.

What are you favorite Benefit products? 

Total moisture, fakeup, they’re real!, gimme brow & the new hydrating tinted benebalm. Can’t live without them!

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Any special tips or tricks for getting the perfect wing with they’re real! push-up liner? 

For the perfect wing, I start by aligning the pen to the outer corner of your nose. With a light hand, dab a small line, then take your pen and fill in your wing. Repeat on the other side. The best part about this trick is that you get an even wing on both sides!

Best or favorite makeup tip of all time? 

It may sound cliché but a little concealer & foundation go a long way. Add a little self-confidence, and you’re good to go!

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There you have it, ladies! Any other questions for Athina? Ask away below! xo

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The Ultimate Guide to Natural + Vegan Deodorant.

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Need some new deodorant in this heatwave??

Vegan deodorant is not that difficult to find and neither is deodorant that uses clean natural ingredients. But when you combine the two you narrow your search pool even further as a lot of natural deo’s are balms that use beeswax. I was worried there wouldn’t be too many options on the market, but to my surprise there are loads! So many in fact that I struggled to narrow this guide down to just 6. I easily could have bought 10 more to try and include, but with 6 deodorants on the go this past couple of months things were getting out of hand!


The Roll-On’s 

Neal’s Yard Peppermint & Lime Roll-On Deodorant / £8


One of my most used simply because of the ease! It’s a roll on! No melting a solid stick or sticking your fingers into a pot. The scent I chose isn’t my favourite, the lime & mint combination smells a little like citronella. I would choose the rose & geranium if I could go back in time.


In terms of doing its job? It promises 24hr protection but I think it begins to falter before a full morning to evening’s wear time is up. And obviously, it’s not an antiperspirant so you will sweat (which is healthy and normal!), but it does contain some moisture absorbing ingredients, not that I’ve ever noted them working.. 6/10

Benecos Apricot & Elderflower Roll-On Deodorant / £5.95


The least expensive and my least favourite, unfortunately. The scent is delicious and so fruity and fresh, it’s a real shame that the scent doesn’t linger and the deodorant really doesn’t work that well, especially in this summer heat. Reapplication is needed, but even then, you just sort of feel tacky and body odor lingers. Lovely. 2/10

The Unusual One & The Plastic Free One

Pacifica Deodorant Wipes / £7.99


I bought these oh so many moons ago to take with me to the hospital when I had Oliver. My thoughts were if I ended up stuck in bed for some time, these could freshen me up! And I actually did use them, just once, but still. I’ve used them a couple of times since then, they’re just handy for sweaty moments that catch you off guard, but they’re not essential, and you can’t really keep them in your bag or anything because the pack is pretty large! 5/10

Ben & Anna Natural Soda Deodorant – Vanilla Orchid / £9.95


Deodorant in a card tube! I love that it means there’s no waste at all, the packaging does get grubby and greasy over time but it’s deodorant, it’s not a fancy bottle of perfume you keep on display. This is the most expensive but does work quite well to keep you dry for awhile thanks to the arrowroot and starch combo. My one dislike is that the stick isn’t the easiest to use – it doesn’t really melt into the skin, you have to rub it under your arms to deposit some of the cream and then rub it into the skin yourself as it’s so thick (winter application would be a pain I imagine!). I do love the vanilla scent and it lingers for quite a while, but there’s a whole host of other scents if you’re interested. 7/10


The Charcoal Ones

Native Unearthed Activated Charcoal Natural Deodorant Balm / £6.99


My new favourite! The balm is really creamy and easy to use, it melts between your fingers and under your arms really easily and I love the scent – it’s fresh and a little lavender-y. Like every other, it doesn’t really stop you sweating, but after walking to and from work, a day in the office and then cooking tea in a kitchen that gets the evening sun and quickly turns into a furnace in this mega heatwave, I was hot and bothered, sure, but not a hint of any stink could be detected. (Also worth noting that mine is a smaller size pot!). I don’t like deo’s in pots, but this is a good ‘un! Does charcoal make it better, though? I really couldn’t say… 8/10

Kaia Naturals The Takesumi Detox Charcoal Deodorant  / $10


I really wanted to like this deodorant, and I tried really hard as I’ve used it for aaaaaages (this is a sample size that just won’t quit) but the scent is meh and it doesn’t last very long in terms of B.O. and sweat suppression. Luckily you can’t get this in the UK as there are better out there. It’s one redeeming quality? The solid stick melts quite easily into the skin so you don’t have to wait around holding it under your arms. Oh and, it’s baking soda free. 3/10

Got any recommendations for me once I finish all of these? 


xo