Review: Benefit's They're Real! Killer Colour Collection
Happy Wednesday all! If you follow my blog regularly you'll recall that I attended an event for the launch of Benefit's Killer Colour collection last month. You'll have to forgive me for the delay in getting this post up but to be honest I was looking for the right way to photography this exciting new line. When a weekend at my in-laws house came up, I knew I had found the right backdrop!
So here's the deal, Benefit has expanded their line of They're Real! products to include four new coloured gel eyeliners in blue, brown, green and purple and two new mascaras in brown and blue. The emphasis here is on colour my friends but we're not talking about Rainbow Brite here. These are glamours, subtle, day-wear-friendly shades that you can play around with and go as dramatic or as soft as you please.
Above you'll see the full colour pay off of Beyond Green, Beyond Blue, Beyond Brown and Beyond Purple. You can show as much or as little colour as you want depending on how thick you draw on your eyeliner. Also consider creating an ombre effect with your eyeliner by starting off with one shade and finishing with another.
It looks brighter on the wand than it does on my lashes but this blue mascara is the perfect shade! For a subtle look: apply only to the tips of your lashes. People will notice a pop in your eyes but they won't figure it out unless they really look at you! For a more dramatic look: Start by drawing a bold-winged-line using your Beyond Blue eyeliner and then finish with a few strokes of blue mascara to your top lashes. Instant POP!
I was never a fan of brown eyeliner until I started using the Beyond Brown liner and now I love it! As for brown mascara, I could do without. Blondes or redheads might feel differently I'm sure but as a dark eyed brunette, this product does nothing for me.
This eyeliner is completely sweat and smudge proof. Even on the days when I have an intense boot camp class my eyeliner stays in place. With that being said, because the staying power on this liner (and mascara!) is so damn good, I do recommend you pick up They're Real! Remover. I've tried different makeup removers with this collection but this one always seems to work best.
The new Benefit They're Real! collection matches my Isabel Marant sandals! I had to share!
APPLICATION TIPS
I've read some reviews were people are disappointed with They're Real! liner and I think I might have felt the same if the ladies at Benefit hadn't taught me how to apply it properly. First off, create a base. I like to use a light wash of either creme or powder eye shadow so the liner has something to adhere to. Now that you're ready to apply your liner start with short strokes or small stamping motions along your lash line. Keep in mind, this is a gel liner so it applies differently from a liquid (pen) liner or even a pencil. If you follow the tips on how to apply this properly I think you'll be really happy with it!
Bonus Tip - This liner dries fast so try not to layer too much on one spot because that's were the "flaky" look comes from.
These liners and mascara's are Sharky approved! If you guys are looking for a further review on They're Real!, make sure you read my review from last year, when my hair was shorter and my eyebrows were thinner. Eek!
How To Style It: The Black Leggings
Hello and happy Monday all! I'm excited to share this post with you guys because not only is it causal chic (as my friend Holly from Petite Flower describes my personal style) but it's also comfortable and uber affordable (as long as you don't focus on the bag and shoes). Tee hee!
The leggings are by Matty M and cost about $20. They're perfectly opaque so you don't have to worry about flashing your underwear to the world. They have a wide elastic waistband for comfort and retain their shape really well. Trust me, I wore them all day and felt free, almost like I wasn't wearing pants at all!
I think there's a lot of versatility in a legging where it can take you from day to night although my outfit falls somewhere in the middle. I chose a black crepe tunic because I prefer a longer shirt when wearing leggings so I don't feel incident. My patent leather Chanel loafers add some sophistication to the outfit as does my Givenchy Pandora bag. It's all about the mix of high end and low end am I right?
xo, Nathalie
Leggings, Matty M
Tank, Aritzia (exact)
Chain Necklace & bracelet, Birds Of A Feather (exact)
Shoes, Chanel Patent Leather Moccasin Loafer
Bag, Givenchy Pandora in size small (similar here)
Cruise Life
Just this Friday my hubby (aka, the WoahStyle photographer) and I embarked on a little cruise of Toronto. The boat, you guessed it, Captain Matthew Flinders. We boarded at about dinner hour and by 7pm we were out to sea. Er, I mean lake... Drinks and dinner were served and the DJ played terrible music that had us laughing really hard. I'd recommend the cruise to anyone looking to do something different, anyone celebrating an occasion and of course any tourist visiting the city.
The attire of the night was all about soft pretty colours which is unusual for me but when on a cruise, I may as well dress the part. My high waisted dusty rose Stella McCartney trousers kept me warm at night when the temperature dropped on the boat and I kept the accessories simple by reaching for my nude Givenchy heels and Bambi Antigona pouch, two of my favourites. I should tell you that my Mackage leather jacket wasn't far behind and as soon as the sun went down, the jacket went on.
Thank you to the crew on the Capt. Matthew Flinders for your hospitlaty. We had a wonderful time!
xo
Givenchy Antigona Bambi clutch
Rose Gold iPhone 6+ case, Felony Case
Glasses, Armani
Bracelets, The Peach Box
Cruise c/o Mariposa Cruises
White lace blouse, Mendocino
Trousers, Stella McCartney
Nude sandals, Givenchy shark lock
Repurchases + Natural Skincare by Consonant
First off, Happy Canada Day fellow Canadians! I'm excited to be spending a quiet day at home relaxing and catching up with some blogging. I also have some exciting news to share with you guys which involves my favourite Canadian skincare brand, Consonant Skincare. Read on to find out more! ;)
Recent repurchases from Consonant:
- Natural Foaming Face Wash: I ran out of this amazing face wash before I had a chance to repurchase it and started using an old cleanser from Bliss. The result, 5 pimples in 2 days! My skin cleared up when I started lathering up with Consonant again. Happy skin, happy blogger!
- The Perfect Sunscreen: Everyone needs a good sunscreen and this one is natural and organic. I've turned a few friends and colleagues onto this stuff and it's a favourite amongst all of us!
- Ultra Moisturizing Organic Face Cream for Dry Skin: Non-greasy, natural and quick absorbing. I mix it with my sunscreen and HydraExtreme every morning rain or shine.
- Ultra Firming Organic Eye Cream: It's light, non-greasy and doesn't cause that yucky milia. I can't fathom ever using anything else.
- HydraExtreme: It's not an oil but a serum that's 100% natural. I use it mixed in with my moisturizer every morning and night. It's also excellent for healing the skin and I use it to get rid of pimples and scars.
The Deluxe Gym and Travel Kit
An adorable travel pouch with all of your Consonant Skincare necessities. Available in Basic and Deluxe options along with the luxury of having your pouch custom monogrammed (for an additional $10). I highly recommend the deluxe as it's easy to grab and go when traveling. Body wash, body lotion, face wash, lip balm, hand cream and face cream are included in cute little travel sizes that have been Transport Canada and FAA carry on approved.
My must haves from left to right: face wash, sunscreen, face cream, lip balm, hand cream, HydraExtreme, eye cream and clay exfoliating bar.
For a full review on Consonant Skincare, make sure you check out my archives here.
And now it's your turn dear reader! I've teamed up with Consonant to bring you your very own starter kit! One lucky winner will be getting a Detox Kit and a $100 gift card. The contest is open to Canadian and US residents. To qualify, follow @woahstyledotcom and @consonantlife and tag a friend on the giveaway post. Winner will be chosen at random and will be announced on Instagram on July 15th. Good luck!
Weekend Editorial
In a small town called Clarksburg we found this cute little bridge over a river that was so picturesque we couldn't help but shoot this series for the blog. My hubby and I shot this last weekend on our mini road trip before rain-mageddon hit Toronto. I'll leave this post short and sweet dear readers as I've been really busy this month and I just need to rest up. Enjoy what's left of the weekend.
xo, Nathalie
Necklace, Lisbeth Jewelry
Sunglasses, Armani
Jeans, Rag & Bone
Zippered tank, Mendocino
Givenchy Pandora, small size
Isabel Marant Metallic Gail Cholita Sandals
Watch, Klasse 14
Wrist Wrap, Stolen Riches
How To Style It: The Little White Dress
It seems like I'm obsessed with all things lace and embroidered this summer and when I saw this beautiful little number at Mendocino, I knew it had to get in my closet! The dress itself is the epitome of pretty but as you know, my personal style is far from precious so I had to find a way to toughen it up. Nothing says hardcore like a good leather gladiator sandal so I went with them and then built my outfit over to my handbag next. My Givenchy Antigona Bambi pouch is still a favourite of mine and helps break up the pretty embroidery from the dress, again adding that edge that I was looking for. The pocket square wrapped around my wrist is turning out to be my favourite accessory this summer and I love how it adds a casual vibe to the whole look. So what do you guys think? Can a pretty white dress look transcend to edgy territory?
xo, Nathalie
Clutch, Givenchy Antigona Bambi pouch
Wrist bandana, Stolen Riches crown pattern pocket square
Part 2: Road Trip Style
I couldn't edit this series down to one post so naturally I had to make it a two parter. After I ditched the striped sweater (from Part One), we got some really beautiful detail shots of my accessories - the necklace, watch and wrist scarf so I knew they had to stay in the series. Also, there's something about the black muscle tank that totally changed the whole outfit. I just love what good layers can do. Enjoy and thanks so much for reading!
xo,
Nathalie
The necklace I'm wearing here is a gift from Sophie Alden, the designer of Lisbeth Jewelry, who I had a chance to meet recently. I was over the moon when I received a surprise parcel from her containing this beautiful custom made necklace. (Thank you Sophie!) Sorry, ladies, I have the only one of this kind but have a look through the Lisbeth shop for a similar style.
Please see previous post for details on what I'm wearing.
Part 1: Road Trip Style
Weekend road trips up are the perfect way to forget about everything back home and come back feeling rejuvenated. We found this cute little building in a town called Clarksburg, two hours north of Toronto and right away I knew we had to shoot here. For some reason it reminds of the Old El Paso packaging and what I think parts of Texas look like. Obviously I haven't been to TX but I've always wanted to road trip there and end up at the Rothko Chapel. In the meanwhile....
I'm road trip ready with some quintessential summer pieces - the boyfriend denim cut offs, a striped crop top sweater from F21, a black tank layered underneath, and a black bag and boots to match. Of course the hat and sunnies are a must along with my SPF 30.
I've tied my blue Stolen Riches pocket square around my wrist for a little bit of texture and a pop of colour. If you're dying to see more on my accessories, don't worry because I have detailed shots coming your way tomorrow in Part Deux of this post. ;)
Hat & Sweater, Forever 21
Black Tank, Brandy Melville
Boyfriend Denim Shorts, Free People
Sunglasses, Armani
Current Favourites: Sweat Proof Makeup for Summer
First off please excuse my week long hiatus. I've joined a bootcamp gym recently that's taking up a lot of my time and right now I'm trying to focus on getting strong! But don't worry, I have a whole bunch of new content coming your way this week and I'm getting my schedule lined up so I can still attend bootcamp.
This beauty post is all about my current favourites and I have to give credit to my YouTube-watching-obsession for opening my eyes to some great makeup that holds up well under the hot summer sun, or in my case after an intense kickboxing class.
NYX DREAM CATCHER PALETTE IN DUSK TILL DAWN
I've been wanting this palette for so long and I'm so happy I finally bought it. It features 5 shimmery brown shades, 1 gold, 1 pale shimmery pink (perfect for highlighting), 1 aubergine shade, 1 charcoal and 1 matte taupe - the only matte in the kit which is perfect for shading underneath the lash line. These shadows hold up well throughout the day and have excellent colour intensity. I think the Dream Catcher Palette's are good dupes for Urban Decay Naked Palette and at $15, you really can't go wrong.
REAL TECHNIQUES SHADING BRUSH
This is my new favourite makeup brush! It's inexpensive, holds it's shape well and is made of quality synthetic bristles. It's perfect for shading the outer corners of the eye and around the lash line without tugging or pulling.
BENEFIT HIGH BROW
Run this chubby pencil underneath your eyebrow from the curve to the end, blend lightly with your pinky finger and watch your face transform. I love how the pale pink colour makes me look wide awake instantly!
BENEFIT THEY'RE REAL PUSH-UP LINER IN BROWN
Sneak Peak alert! This gel eyeliner hasn't even launched yet but I was lucky to get an advance! (Thanks Benefit!) As a brunette with dark eyes I never saw the appeal of brown eyeliner but this pencil has changed my mind. I like using this colour on the days when I want a more natural makeup look. The brown opens up my eyes and because the pencil is waterproof, it stays on! Also, I learned recently that the trick to applying this liner is to dab along the lash line, not glide. ; )
ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS DIPBROW POMADE
I have finally succumb to buying Dipbrow and it sure lives up to the hype! Lucky for me I had already watched a few YouTube tutorials on how to use this product so it was easy for me from the get go. The secret is the dip your slanted brush into the pomade, dab it lightly on a tissue and start working in short, light strokes on the eyebrow and build it up slowly. It takes me longer to do my brows with Dipbrow vs. a pencil, but I like the coverage so much more and my eyebrows are on even after an intense bootcamp session because it's waterproof!
REAL TECHNIQUES POWDER BRUSH
Because one powder brush is never enough I bought this one for blending and applying bronzers although now I just use it for face powder. It's not as big and fluffy as my beloved Sonia Kashuk No. 1, but I still love it.
MAKE UP FOR EVER HD MICROFINISH POWDER
A little goes a long way with this stuff so a small container lasts forever. I use it for special occasions and when I'm shooting for the blog because I find the quality to be superior to so many other powders. It sets my makeup beautiful and never looks cakey.
MICRO MINI BEAUTY BLENDER
If you read my Beauty Blender review you'll now how much I love the original so naturally I had to try the mini to help blend my concealer better. At first I didn't really see the value in it because it felt too similar to the original (just more annoying to hold) and just as I had made up my mind to return it, I fell in love with the mini BB. Sure, it might take a bit longer to blend my concealer, but not by much and what I really like is how it gets into the little corners of my eyes and around my nose with more precision. The mini is a keeper!
BENEFIT POREFESSIONAL
I have large pores on my nose that I can't stand and I always think they're more noticeable in the summer. I use Porefessional to smooth out my skin, hide the pores and prime before applying my makeup. Even though I don't use it everyday, I don't think I could live without this product!