Benefit Instant Brow Pencil Review

Instant Brow Pencil Review

Over the past two years of blogging and consistently watching YouTube videos it has happened, I have succumb to the beautiful eyebrows around me.

Now it was not unknown that my own eyebrows could one week look like slugs and the next look as thin as a pencil line. I was just not good at keeping them the same size and shape.

During these past 4 months I have fully understood how much of a difference using an eyebrow pencil & palette can do to the final look.

The Instant Eyebrow Pencil by Benefit is my favourite brow product ever. I have used pencils before along with the Palette by Benefit but I couldn’t make my brows look good. The thing I love the most about the pencil is that my brows do not look over the top or completely fake. They look natural and as you say like sisters and not twins.

It has always been my belief that eyebrows should not match as the face is not symmetrical and mine is certainly no exception. One of my eyebrows is slightly higher than the other and I don’t try to make them match, as that would just not be me.

I like to apply the Benefit Eyebrow Pencil first filling in any places where I may have been a bit too happy with a pair of tweezers. Then I take the Benefit brow palette to set my brows. Then using the spoolie on the pencil I comb through my brows to make them look natural.

After a couple of self-conscious years I finally believe that you should love what you are given. And I can finally say I do. We are all imperfect and that is what makes us all so special. Sure we all get those days where we feel slightly self-conscious but they are few whereas the other days are many.

“Really Beauty isn’t about symmetry or weight or makeup: it’s about looking life right in the face and seeing all its magnificence reflected in your own” Valerie Monroe.

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Everyday Make Up Rountine

My Everyday Make Up Routine

It has been a while since I have wrote an Everyday Make Up routine blog… who am I kidding it’s been a while since I blogged full stop. This is the perks of working in the hospitality industry; crazy rotas and never the same days off. But excuses are a nightmare as there will always be a lot in the mix and I just have to be true to myself and find time to write.

 So, let’s jump right into it.

The products I now use have completely changed since my last post. Almost all of the things I use are new to me. I have also found my favourite mascara and foundation! Two things which I never thought I would be able to find. Foundation has always been a difficult thing for me to match to my skin tone as I am incredibly pale. My mother has branded me a vampire on many occasions; something I have yet to prove.

So… let’s start at the very beginning.

 As a base I use the POREfessional from benefit. This is my favourite primer by far. It evens out my skin tone, creates a perfect base for my foundation to glide onto and also makes my make up last throughout the day.

 

A good dupe for this primer is the Maybelline Baby Skin.

  

I then move onto my Eyebrows.

I use two different products for my brows and these are the Instant Brow Pencil by Benefit to outline and fill in any gaps. I then use the Benefit Brow Zings Palette wax to set them to ensure they last throughout the day.

Using the spoolie on the end of the brow pencil I comb through my brows to make sure they are neat and not all over the place.

 

A good cheaper alternative is the NYC Eyebrow Pencil in Sable.

Eyes

I then take the NYX Full Coverage Concealer and apply this all over my eyelid. I do not own a good eye primer so I feel this concealer makes my eyeshadow last all day and also provides the perfect base to allow my eyeshadow colours to really pop.

 

The eyeshadow I use always varies. Something I have been loving, is the Estee Lauder trio eyeshadow palette. It is a natural looking set that can be used for both day and night time looks. There is one dramatic dark colour that when applied to the outer third can create an intense look.

I then use two different eye liners. I am absolutely rubbish at even attempting to do winged eyeliner so I never try. My absolutely favourite black eyeliner is by Estee Lauder in Blackened Black. When this applies it acts like liquid eyeliner and glides on so easily. It is also extremely pigmented!

 

The next eyeliner I like is the waterproof khol eyeliner by Rimmel London in this cream colour. I apply this to my waterline to make my eyes more awake.

Foundation

I have finally found my favourite, Holy Grail, foundation and this is the Estee Lauder Double Wear. It has an amazing coverage and has a flawless finish. I apply this with my Buffing Brush by Real techniques as I feel this brush gives the best finish.

The finish is neither matte nor dewy and does not make me appear oily or cakey. Perfect for a long shift at work!

 Concealer

Concealer is something which I am constantly changing and altering. It is my most favourite product as I love to test concealers to see which has the best coverage. My all-time favourite is the NYX HD Ready Concealer but I have run out of this and it is very difficult to find in the UK.

Something which I feel has come close but is not as good is the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer. This has very good coverage but has a slight dewy finish whereas the HD Ready concealer is very matte. A plus is it does not set into the fine lines underneath my eyes! I apply this under my eyes and on any spots or imperfections I may have and I blend this in with my Miracle Complexion Sponge by Real Techniques.

 

Powder

Another new product I love is the MAC Studio Careblend Powder in Light Plus. I apply this all over my face paying particularly close attention to my ‘T’ zone. It makes my make-up matte and I also lasts throughout the day. 

 

However, I have never applied this powder without my POREfessional so I am not sure if it is this which is making my make up last all day. So I may try the powder without the primer to see what the staying power is.

A good alternative is Stay Matte Powder by Rimmel London. 

Bronzer

The ever famous Hoola Bronzer by Benefit is my all-time favourite bronzer! Nothing more to say! I like to apply this as a contour along my cheek bones and then on my temples and jaw line.

A good dupe is the NYC Sunny bronzer, the only difference is it is a slighter warmer tone. 

Mascara

They’re Real by Benefit is my favourite mascara which I wear day and night. It lengthens and makes my eyelashes look fuller. It is just an all-round amazing mascara.

 

Lips

I do not have a set lipstick I always wear. However, to work, I love to wear a slightly darker browny colour on my lips. Rosewood by Max Factor is one of my favourites with Benefits Sugarbomb Lipgloss on top to create dimension.

 

And there you have it! My everyday makeup routine! I hope you enjoyed this blog, make sure you check back soon for a mini review on the Benefit Instant Brow Pencil!

Shannon Kims

Instagram: @shannonkims

Twitter: @ShannonKimsxx

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