Review Benefit KaBrow and Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer

If you were an old school YouTube fan like myself then you know that the Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer was a must feature in every Beauty Vloggers video in the mid 2000’s. I remember watching those videos and thinking, “damn, I wish we had this product in South Africa”, now these were the days before you could courier pretty much anything anywhere.

Last year my wishes were answered when Maybelline brought this amazing product to South Africa.

I have used a few concealers before but this one for me is thee most amazing. Full coverage without being cakey, no powdery residue and creamy to the touch. It is the perfect brow bone highlighter and great for cleaning up your brows.

It also doubles as an awesome eyeshadow primer, you could blend it out until its completely dry or use the tacky texture as the perfect base for metallic & glitter shadows.

Sells for around R190.00, it lasts a very long time and has a cushion applicator, which makes it a dream to use. This is definitely going to be a staple in my makeup bag.

The next product has been raved about everywhere with good reason to, KaBrow is an iconic Benefit Cosmetics product and everyone whose brow game is on fleek knows why.

They come in a variety of shades with cool, neutral and warm undertones. The little brush makes doing your brows a breeze and once applied this product really does stay put.

It is a pomade, gel like products but not too dry where it looks fake and not too soft where it will melt off.

You can get a natural or bold brow look depending on your technique; mistakes are easily fixed with some Micellar water. You can use a brow gel or powder afterwards but I often skip this step.

I bought the mini at R175.00 form Edgars and have been using it for well over a year & I’m not even half way through this.

I would totally splurge on a full size one once this one is finished, because this product has changed my entire makeup game.

My Must Have Makeup Brushes - Budget Friendly Edition

Everyone who loves makeup will know the tools one uses to apply it can make all the difference. They can be quiet expensive though and sometimes even those over priced ones do not deliver when you need them to.

Now if you don't know by now, I am obsessed with makeup brushes. I can never have enough.So, I've compiled a list of my budget blasting makeup brushes that will leave your face beat without breaking the bank.

This 7 piece eye brush set from Beauty Treats is really such a versatile, great all round set.

The 305 Tapered Blending Brush is ideal for cleaning up and softening your look while the 316 Large Shader lets you apply a good amount of product all over the lids with one sweep.
If you're looking for the perfect brow bone highlight brush then the 321 Medium Angled Shader fits the brief to the T. The 313 Eye Shader let you pack on product for maximum intensity.

The 331 Angled Brush is perfect for eyebrows and eyeliner while the 335 Eyeliner and 324 Pencil Brushes allow for precise application of inner corner highlight and to smoke out your lower lash line.You can even use them as as nifty lip brushes

The only downside with this set is that its rather difficult to get your hands on them, they retail for R99.95 at DisChem and if you spot them, grab them.

Now the brush below is featuring the new look of the Beautique Brushes from Edgars. You might recall them with those sleek silver handles.

I can't say I mind the new design, it looks fun and flirty and this new addition, Angled Contour Eye brush really is a babe.

I use this to apply my base shadow with flat part and my crease colour with the pointed end. It also allows for easy blending with its fluffiness. I can also see this working as a great concealer and nose contour brush.

At only R39.95 it's super affordable and they usually have them on 3 for 2 so it really is a bargain.

I've saved the best for last, my holy grail foundation brush is the Urban Studio Angled Contour Brush from DisChem.

This is the perfect brush for buffing in your foundation, cleaning up your contour or even using as a powder brush. It's super soft bristles are easy to wash and I have been using the one on the left for about 9 months now. I wash them twice a month and they still perform exceptionally well. There's very minimal shedding with this brush and it has a weighted handle which gives good control when working with your products.

The sleek design with rose gold ferule can rival even the most expensive brushes out there and in my opinion this is the perfect everyday brush. 

At 79.95, you can also get a back up one like me but I would say this one could last about 10 months if not longer with everyday wear, just depends on how you care for it.

Tips to find the perfect Foundation for You

This post has been requested a few times by one of my friends, so Trishy this one's for you.

For me there's just a few steps I need to follow to pick the perfect foundation, here they are in no particular order:

#Always try out a new shade in natural light - have you ever been to a makeup counter tried on something, bought it but only to go home and realise oh no this isn't the correct shade. This happens far too often and can be avoided by just taking a step outside before buying. If you're at a mall and you are really keen on the product, you can pop outside really quickly and check out how the makeup looks in natural light.

Some brands also oxidises - changes colour after application, something I find happens a lot with darker shades, so you might find that walk outside to reveal a whole different colour on your skin, one you might not be so keen on purchasing.

#My next tip is work with your skin not against it and by this I mean consider the type of finish you want and sometimes this can mean investing in other products to give you that finish. Let me explain further.
So if you're like me and have a super oily T zone you might need a mattifying primer for just this section because if you use a dry finish foundation it could leave the outside of your face with some dry patches. On the other hand if you are using a quick drying matte foundation ( my favourite is the Estée Lauder Double Wear Total Coverage) then make sure you apply extra moisturiser to the dryer areas of your face.

#Many people ask me if price matters when it comes to buying a foundation the short answer is yes and no.
I say this because there are some great affordable brands out there that has fantastic ranges but for me I found the best ones are the ones that cost a little more. This doesn't mean I won't purchase a more affordable brand, it just means I don't mind splurging on what I know works for me. Also you have to consider how many uses you actually get out of it.
Let's do some math - A R600 bottle of foundation that lasts let's say 2 months with daily use equates to R10.00 use, wouldn't you say that's great value for money considering this is something that you're putting on your face?
Also shopping when items are on sale, makes a huge difference. I once bought a R99 tube of foundation that oxidised way too much and got 1 use out of it before I passed it on to a friend... Now that was an expensive lesson right there.

#Ask for take home testers, I know many brands have in store testers but sometimes it's easier to try something in the comfort of your own home. I know Mac offers tester pots but don't be afraid to ask other brands as well. It's better to try a foundation a few times before committing to purchasing because most of the higher end brands range from R450 updwards and returning opened make up can prove to be a tad bit difficult.

#Find your happy medium
Oh the possibilities, there's liquid, cream, powder and  mousse foundations. Find what works for you. The best thing is you get so many different coverage options in the different mediums like liquid doesn't have to mean super full coverage with a cakey finish and powder can offer full coverage and is very easy to use.

#Try, Try and try again
When you're really into finding the right match it's best to try out a few finishes, brands colours etc. Don't be afraid to try without buying. I know that all the amazing products out there can be so overwhelming but do a little research. Make a list of what you're looking for in a foundation and start searching firstly online for some reviews and ideas on what products will fit the bill.
Also don't be persuaded into purchasing something because someone else says it looks good on you, make sure you are happy with how it looks.

Do you have a foundation finding tip or story share with us below: