The Benefit up to 60% off sale starts today!

Hi guys,
Just a quick post, as I received an email alert that the Benefit sale was starting today. It's the first time they've ever had a sale on this scale, and there are discounts of up to 60% to be had. I've always been a fan of the classic Benefit products (such as Benetint and BrowZings) but since I got the Benefit Advent calendar at Christmas i've been turned on to loads of their other products that I simply can't live without! My brows, in particular, certainly wouldn't be the same without Benefit: I'm slightly obsessed with my eyebrows and won't use any other brand on them.With that in mind here are my sale picks:

Smokin' eyes set. Was £28.50 now £20
I actually reviewed this here a long time ago, and I love it as much now as I did then . It contains everything you need to have perfect brows, as well as a kit to create wonderfully dramatic smokey eyes too. There was a time where the only make up I carried in my hand bag was this (now my skin needs a little more help and I carry a make up bag with me!) but my passion for this remains!


Benetint pocket pal. Was £15.50 now £7.25
I really love Benetint: It is a really lovely cheek and lip stain with a pretty, subtle colour, and iconic enough that you really don't need me to tell you about it. This pocket pal though takes benetint and makes it easy to use and apply when you're out and about, with the added bonus of being double ended and having a clear lipgloss as part of the set too. Perfect for sealing in the Benetint colour once you've popped it on.



Some kind of gorgeous. Was £24.50 now £17.50
Another throw back to my favourites from years ago, but for young clear skin that doesn't need much help, but does need to be evened out and given a great smooth base, this is the best product I have tried. I am also slightly in love with the packaging, which looks much better in your handbag than a bulky liquid foundation.


The Benefit sale is only set to last for two weeks, but I predict, with enthusiasts of the brand being quite so, erm, enthusiastic, that the most popular discounted products will be sold out long before then.They are also offering free delivery on any order over £40 so if you're buying several items, you'll get your delivery for free. I've definitely seen a few bits and pieces to add to my shopping basket!

Love Tor x

*This post contains affiliate links 

Beauty: The Benefit Christmas 2014 Advent Calendar

Hi guys,
I know it's only November, but it's time to start thinking about and (worse still!) talking about Christmas. All of my Christmas presents to be sent everywhich-way around the country to extended family are being distributed on the 30th November, meaning the usual December Christmas gift guides just come too late for me. I have to have shopped, wrapped and sent by then! I'm sure I'm not the only one that has to plan this early, so I thought I would get a head start on my Christmas posts this year!

First up, on my shopping list: an advent calendar. On Saturday we popped to Debenhams to collect my Benefit advent calendar, which I ordered at the beginning of October. The theme this year is the 'Candy Coated Countdown' and the contents are:

- 0.25 oz “That gal” brightening face primer
 - 0.25 oz the POREfessional pore minimizer
 - 0.08 oz Benetint cheek and lip stain in Rose
 - 0.08 oz High beam liquid highlighter
 - 0.08 oz Chachatint lip and cheek stain in Sheer Mango
 - 0.08 oz Posietint lip and cheek stain in Poppy Pink
 - 0.04 oz Stay flawless foundation primer
 - 0.1 oz They’re real! mascara
 - 0.22 oz Ultra plush lip gloss in Dandelion
 - 0.22 oz Ultra plush lip gloss in A-lister
 - 0.22 oz Ultra plush lip gloss in Fauxmance
 - 0.14 oz BADgal lash mascara
 - 0.08 oz Stay don’t stray concealer and eye shadow primer in Light/Medium
 - 0.1 oz Fakeup concealer in 02 Medium
 - 0.1 oz It’s potent! eye cream
 - 0.3 oz Total moisture facial cream
 - 0.08 oz Ooh la lift eye cream
 - 0.08 oz Watt’s up! highlighter
 - Beauty sticky notes
 - Doodle pad
 - Heart-shaped paperclips
 - Pinky, polka-dot hair tie
 - Elastic hair band with bow charm
 - Metallic silvery hair tie

Lots of lovely miniatures and a wonderful way to try the full range of Benefit products to help you decide which ones work (or don't work) for you and which ones you like best. I'm sure a better blogger would have opened it all up to show you what's inside, but I want to open mine each day of December in traditional advent calendar style and be surprised and delighted by each of my daily treats - I will post little updates as I open it throughout December though.

The calendar cost £60, but the goods inside rrp at £110, so it's a massive bargain really. Although it is a lot more expensive than the £2.99 chocolate calendar I usually munch on! These have sold out in most Debenhams stores, but there are still some available directly from the Benefit website. It sells out really fast each year though, so if you want one of the few that are left be quick: there are plenty selling on eBay for £120 already!

Have you started thinking about Christmas yet?

Love Tor x

Sponsored Video: Welcome to my make up bag, 'They're Real!' eyeliner

Hi guys,
Although I don't get the opportunity to wear a full face of slap everyday any more, I still love doing my make up. It's just that now I look for solutions that are as quick and easy as possible. A couple of months ago I brought Benefit's 'They're Real!' mascara on a whim, and now it's my go to mascara: the one that I wear every day. It makes my lashes look fuller, thicker, and longer and it lasts all day without wearing or flaking. So how excited was I when I learnt that Benefit were adding an eyeliner to the 'They're Real!' family:

If I could only have three items in my make up bag it would be foundation, mascara and eyeliner. In fact, that's the only make up I wear most days! But a long lasting eye liner is hard to come by: however I think I've found it! The They're Real eye liner  doesn't budge or smudge all day. It has a matt formula, which is my preference as I hate shiny make up, and means it's perfect for sunny days like today.  Even better, it utilises the innovative soft AccuFlex™ Tip which hugs your lashline from corner to corner, helping get the liner as close to the lash line as possible (important for that wide eyed look!) In fact during testing, 84% of people said the liner made their eyes look visably larger.

Chanel always used to be my go to make up counter, and whilst I won't ever use anyone else's foundation I think Benefit might be my new go to counter when it comes to my eyes!

Do you have any new make up recommendations you'd like to share? Have you tries the 'They're Real!' products, and did you like them as much as I did? I really would love to hear your thoughts!

Love Tor x

*This post has been sponsored by Benefit but all thoughts are my own 

Fabfrocks reviews: Benefit smokin' eyes

I love products that come in pretty packaging; I think that's why I was so excited when Primark launched its make up line. Even though the contents were cheap, the packaging was pretty, colourful and fun! I don't think many make-up companies, especially the big companies, play with their packaging enough. And although it may well be the best foundation you've ever bought (i'm thinking of my beloved Dior here!) there's nothing especially exciting about that black box with the discreet gold lettering, is there?
.

Enter benefit.

.
I've always been a big fan of their make up, and their fun, flirty packaging- foundations shaped like records and blushers in chunky brightly coloured boxes; yum! But i'd never used any of their eye products before. As you may or may not know, I am fairly loyal to urban decay to take care of my eye make up. But when the lovely ladies at benefit sent me their new smokin' eyes set to try, I decided it would be rude not to give it a go!

First of all I have to say that the box is gorgeous, and that it's amazing something so compact can contain so many products! I loved the double ended brush, and the brow wax has held my brows in place all day. The highlight of the kit? Well, the tweezers are nothing short of a miracle! I will definitely be going in-store today to see if they stock a full size pair!
The intense black shadow didn't go on quite dark enough for my liking, but that could just be the way I was using it; my sister gave it a go and got a much better effect (apparently i'm just a useless make up applicator). Overall the kit went on well, lasted all day, and was very easy to use; made even easier by the cute instruction booklet included inside. I followed them to the letter and it looked great! The only con of the set? Well although it is pitched as a complete sexy brow and eye make up kit, the set doesn't contain a mascara. And I don't know about you, but my eyes aren't finished until they've been smothered in lashings of thick lengthening mascara! Still, having to carry a mascara alongside this box is no big deal, considering it saves you having to fit your whole make up bag in your handbag! Overall, a big thumbs up!

.
I haven't included a picture of me modelling the look, mostly because my fringe needs trimming and you can barely see my eyes, let alone my make up! But as I can see this becoming a handbag essential, I do promise to show more pictures next week (I'm having my hair cut on Saturday morning!)
.

Oh, and you can buy benefit in almost any department store, but if you live/visit central London then I find the ladies in the House of Fraser on Victoria Street especially helpful!

.

Love, Tor xx