live from the pink carpet

Hi friends! It’s you’re trusted party source writing to you once again from the pink-carpet at the Benefit Boutique Soho. Last night was a-buzz with NYC’s bright-eyed and makeup lovin’ publicists from leading fashion houses to NYC’s top PR agencies. It was a full house (and I ain’t reffering to Uncle Jessie) of 42 gals gushing over Benefit’s makeup heaven. Our guests all went home with more than a just sweet tooth after an evening in this “candy shop” for makeup. Tinting and shaping brows was all the rage and you better believe these publicists “whistled while they worked it” out the door to hit the town and talk about their new favorite one-stop shop for makeup & brows!

Ladies… remember to keep in your purse some ooh la lift. You’ll need it after last night’s party!

xo Media Darling

BFF's at the Benefit Boutique SoHo!

I feel pretty...oh so pretty!

I heart my Benefit Brows!

fierce brows!

Publicist pals!

say benetint!

the gang's all here!

get the look…date night

It’s date night tonight for my fiancé and I and I have yet to find out what our plans will be. I normally don’t like spontaneity, but since one of my New Year’s resolutions this year is to be more spur-of-the-moment, I’ve decided to go with it and be surprised. The downfall to this decision however, is I will have a hard time getting ready this evening without knowing what exactly is on the itinerary.

My solution to this? I’ve decided to go with the no-fail LBD paired with a simple, yet polished face. My goal is to achieve the “I always look this good” look, by combining natural with a touch of glamour.

Here’s the beauty breakdown for my natural date night look

FACE

Start by mixing “that gal” primer with you rebel tinted moisturizer. I like to start by adding both products to the back of my hand and then apply them to my face using a foundation brush. Start with your T-zone, and work the product out towards your neck and hairline.

Use a concealer to cover up any dark circles or blemishes. An industrial strength concealer like boi-ing works great for faking a flawless face.

BROWS

For a natural sexy brow, the instant brow pencil is perfect. Simply glide the product over the brows and use the spoolie tip to blend.

EYES

For a light pink shimmer, use a cream shadow brush to apply creaseless cream shawdow/liner in r.s.v.p. from your lash line to your brow bone.  Next using a powder shadow brush, apply a layer of velvet eyeshadow in buckle bunny to your eyelid crease.

Define eyes by lining the upper lash line with BADgal liner waterproof in espresso. A brown liner instead of black helps to achieve a more natural look.

Intensify your natural eye color and add volume to your lashes with BADgal plum mascara.

CHEEKS

For a “heavenly flush,” try Benefit’s newest box o’ powder hervana. This product provides a mixture of four shades of beautiful color. Simply swirl the included blush brush and sweep on the apples of your cheeks in an upward motion. My top tip, smile when you apply!

smile & say "hervana"

Add some extra radiance by applying satin pink high beam on your cheekbones and temples. There’s a reason this product is called “supermodel in a bottle,” it provides all skin tones with an amazing gorgeous glow.

LIPS

Finish off your look with shy, a light pink full-finish lipstick.

ready for action!

What Benefit products do you like to use for a night out with your date?

gettin dirty…

When I was a little my favorite things to do was sit in my mom’s bathroom while she got ready for work and try to do my makeup just like hers.  I’d pack on the magenta lipstick and electric blue liner…my mother was clearly a product of the 80′s.  But next to makeup my favorite thing to do was to get as dirty as possible.  So, in honor of getting a bit dirty and giving back to the community some of us from Beauty Central took a day off from Beauty and volunteered at the Hayes Valley Farm.

finding new homes for plants to grow

The farm is actually located in the middle of the city on what use to be the remnants of the freeway that was destroyed after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.  So in 2010 that land was finally used for good and the Hayes Valley Farm was birthed.  Our tasks on the farm included planting new vegetables, potting new seedlings, sifting and turning compost, and bringing in the Harvest which will be donated to Project Open Hand

Angelique has quite the green thumb

Tiffany looking stylish as always bringing in the Harvest

Working on the farm can seem like a breeze but I assure you there were some less then glamorous jobs that needed to get done. One of the many less glamorous jobs was flipping the compost piles. The compost material needs air to allow the bacteria to do their part and break stuff down and actually heat it up and purify it to some degree.

one hot pile of compost coming right up!

new plants not quite ready to be placed in the ground

Emily is a natural with the watering can

One plant that stood the most to me was the Magenta Spreen.  When you touch its leaves your fingers are dusted with sparkly magenta dust.

the same color as my moms favorite lipstick

until next time….

Yours in Beauty,

Shannon

D.I.Y. Benefit tree

Last week, we posted the below pic to Facebook to showcase our crafty coworkers in the Benefit Beauty Central lab. They made this awesome Benefit tree with old Benefit catalogs! Today, I took a craft lesson from Titin to show us how to make your own Benefit tree!

1. For the base of the tree, make a cone out of thick or card stock paper. Trace out a triangle and then cut it out. Roll it into a cone and tape it together. You’ll cover it in paper, so this part doesn’t need to be pretty.

cut out the cone shape

fold the cone & then tape it together.

2. After the cone is taped together, turn your attention to the catalogs. Opening it up to the center spread, begin cutting zig-zags from the bottom to the top of the page (make sure you don’t cut all the way down, you want one piece)

zig-a-zag (kind of like you're making a crown)

then cut the same shape on right side of catalog

cut, cut, cut.

3. Then cut down the center of the catalog page so you have two pieces.

cut down the center to create two pieces

pieces that will be your leaves

4. Next, carefully glue each piece onto the cone starting at the bottom. You’ll want a thin piece of glue along the straight side because the triangles will be sticking out. Vary the colors of the pieces & allow time for the glue to dry after a few rows.

next glue your pieces on the straight edge

paste alternating pieces onto the cone

5. Last step! Fold up the triangles so the points stick out like leaves! Presto glamo! You have a tree!

then fold up top triangles to make leaves

the finished result!

6. If you’re feeling extra craft glue on ornaments like this silver boi-ing! Just fill in empty product containers with glitter n’ glue!

silver bells! silver boi-ing!

Do any of you have Benefit-inspired craft ideas of your own! Share below!

you glow grandma!

Glamour Shot...say Benetint!

I spend much of my time giving quick tips and make-uppers to my gal pals who are 20 something and I have to say that it felt so great to glam-up Grandma this weekend! I taught her 4 easy steps to making her look bright-eyed and gorgeous! And boy did she thank me later!

Grandma looks radiant!

1. One of her biggest complaints is that her lashes appear thin and sparse as they have depleted over the years. A quick tip is to darken the lash line. I used BADgal liner waterproof lining the inside of her lash line and above to create the allusion of fuller lashes.

2. To open up her eyes, I used high brow in the inner corners of her eye and beneatheh her brow bone giving her an instant lift.

3. To take her complexion from dull to darling I used that gal brightening pink primer over her skin to give her a dewy radinat look. I applied benetint to her cheeks and lips to give her a healthy flush. A stain really works wonders on older skin as powders can tend to sink into lines on the face.

4. Brows are key and can instantly give the appearance of a lift to your entire eye area. I showed her how to darken brows in a natural way with instant brow pencil in light.

Doesn’t she look gorgeous? 80 going on fabulous!

get the look…holiday ready

It’s that time of year again! ‘Tis the season for holiday parties, family and friend gatherings, gift exchanges, cookie parties, and New Year’s Eve celebrations. It’s no wonder I have to have a Facebook album dedicated to December; this is no doubt the busiest month on my social calendar.

If you’re like me and always looking for festive makeup ideas for all those holiday affairs, be sure to take advantage of Benefit’s holiday sets this season. One set in particular I’m excited to share with you is project flawless, a Sephora exclusive. This set contains a full size bella bamba blush, full size ultra shines gloss in foxy lady, a 0.25 oz. girl meets pearl, and a 0.14 oz. a little bit BADgal lash mascara in black . All this for just $32! Not only is this set an amazing deal, but it’s also a great set to use for achieving a new go-to look for the holidays.

Here’s the beauty breakdown for the look I created using project flawless in addition to a few other favorites

Complexion:

• Start by applying your usual foundation and concealer. I’m wearing hello flawless! and boi-ing.
• For a bright pop of pink with a subtle holiday sparkle, apply bella bamba (included in set) to the apples of your cheeks.
• Since most of us haven’t seen much sun since Labor Day, bronzer is a good way to fake a day at the beach any time of year. Apply a little hoola on the chin, cheeks, and forehead to give you a natural looking tan. Just remember a little product goes a long way!
• To add even more radiance, use a foundation brush to apply girl meets pearl (included in set) to cheekbones and the bridge of your nose.

Eyes:

• Begin by lining the inner rims of your eyes using BADgal liner waterproof in black.
• Next, line your upper lash line using magic ink. Glide the liquid liner across the lash line, keeping as close to the lashes as possible. Add some playfulness to your look by creating a wing at the outer corner of the eye.
• Lastly, create big bold lashes by combining they’re real and a little bit Badgal (included in set). Start with they’re real to create lifted, separated lashes. Follow with Badgal lash to add extra volume and fullness. These two products combined are perfect for achieving the look of sexy fake lashes without actually having to mess with applying them.

Lips:

• Start by prepping lips with lip plump, a lip primer designed to smooth and fill in lines in order to achieve a fuller, sexier lip.
• Add a glossy finish by applying Benefit’s foxy lady ultra shines gloss, (included in set).

this is my party face

Bring on the champagne, I’m all set for some celebrating! Happy Holidays everyone!

what to gift…

Needless to say, a panic has set in right about…now. Christmas is days away. My enthusiasm for gift giving is at a standstill & yet there are a few last people to shop for. Oh, how they always end up as the hardest to shop for!

So here’s my last-minute/procastinators’ rejoice gift guide.

To my brother’s girlfriend. From Geekalicious…“For a gal who pretty much is the most stylish girl on the block, but pulls off an effortless cool, I am going to head to the Benefit counter and get her big beautiful eyes kit, chachatint mango lip & cheek stain, and they’re real mascara! This trio of universally-flattering shades has become my “go-to” whenever I travel or just leave the house and can’t stop talking about them. I pretty much am regifting my current obsessions. ”

on every gal's list

To the overworked sister. From Patty…

“I’ll be giving my sister the entire b.right! radiant skincare line & dallas.

Why? As a single mother of 3, my sister has zero time for herself and doesn’t think to take care of her skin. Not only will our skincare line help her look radiantly refreshed, but also the wonderful light scent of cucumber & lotus flower will make he feel like she’s getting a spa treatment every time she cleanses & moisturizes. And of course her favorite box o’ powder, dallas. She doesn’t wear much makeup but loves this bronzer because it gives her a natural fresh glow.”

To the classic & no-fuss best friend. From Jacqueline. …

“The perfect gift is benetint, the rose-tinted cheek and lip stain that lasts as long as you do this holiday season! It’s ideal for someone who will be too busy kissing, sipping and celebrating the new year without having to worry about reapplying makeup before the clock strikes twelve. For a natural, flushed glow, benetint is the way to go.

a few holiday gifts around the office.

To the well-deserving sister. From Jared…

“I gave my older sister watt’s up highlighter, sugarbomb blush, and it’s potent eye cream.  I told her I didn’t want people to think she was my MUCH older sister.  Just OLDER sister will do.

Oh, and my mom said not to come home this year without hervana.  I’m a good son, so I listened.  Apparently I like to keep Benefit in the family!”

To the oh-so-chic BFF. From Connie…

“I’m giving my friend Katherine “I’m glam…therefore I am” because it’s a great value kit that contains everything you need for going out: 4 eyeshadow shades, a pretty peachy blush, lip gloss, mascara, and an illuminator. I love how the kit is light enough to be thrown into your purse and the packaging is cute & girly too!”

yes, you are glam!

To the younger sister. From Megan…

“My 11-year old sister asked me for make up for the first time this holiday season!  I told her,’“Absolutely, but absolutely NO cover up or concealer. You have pristine skin.  Why mess with perfection?!’  I’ve bought her the small Benefit beauty makeup bag to open Christmas morning and inside I have written a pass for one-full sister day spent getting make-overs at the Berkeley Boutique, followed by a mani-pedi and sushi dinner.  I want her to feel pretty and empowered; not because she looks nothing like herself when she wears makeup but because she is simply playing up the gorgeous attributes that she was born with.”

Parting Words…And ladies & gents, if you missed the final deadlines to order online, can’t get to a Benefit counter, or are just really loving your time at home in those sweatpants (we know who you are)…just do the classic 11th hour gift & make a gift certificate with an outing to the Benefit boutique to get pampered! It’s important to leave the details rather vague while you figure things out!

the more homemade looking, the better.

Good luck shopping, Benebabes! What did you put on your wishlist this year? It’s never too late for a subtle hint!