Summer Freebies!

Hello ladies!

As I'm sure you're all aware, the summer magazine issues are hitting the shelves, complete with free flip-flops, beach bags, t-shirts, body butters and all sorts of general tat! Once again, Glamour Magazine (UK) have trumped them all with their annual collaboration with Benefit Cosmetics!

In the past they have given away the (sadly now discontinued) 'Her Glossiness' lipglosses and mini BadGal mascaras, but this year I have to say they really have outdone themselves and have three different freebies on offer: The 'BAGgal' eye pencil, the 'It Stick' concealer pencil and (one of my all time favourite products) the 'Eye Bright' pencil.

When I heard this news this morning I went on a crazy freebie hunt! Jumped straight in my car and shot down to Tesco, where they had sold out of all but the 'It Stick', next stop Waitrose... sold out again! Three newsagents later, I managed to find a fresh shelf of Glamours in my parents' local village shop! Needless to say the man behind the counter thought I was more than a little odd bagging 6 copies of the same magazine! (Not all for me though - I'm sending some to the lovely GemsMaquillage and various other friends!)

But anyway, in case you haven't tried these products, I thought I'd let you all know about the offer and do a mini-review.

1. The Eye Bright Pencil

What Benefit Says: "Stroke this pink brightening pencil on the inner and outer corners of the eye to look instantly wide-awake. It's like a coffee break in a stick!"

RRP: £14

What I Think: I've purchased and repurchased this product many times over the past few years and have to say I'm still a huge fan. Great for on-the-go eyes when you don't have time to faff with eyeshadow, and fab for the summertime when you want to go 'au naturel' (with a bit of cheating!). I would pay (and have payed!) £14 for this anyday!

2. The BADgal Liner

What Benefit Says: "This big, BAD, black eye pencil is a beauty addict's dream and a makeup artist's must-have. Dark, smoky, mysterious...being BAD never looked so good!"

RRP: £14

What I Think: I do love the BADgal Mascara, so I had high hopes for this chunky black liner. It's great for a five minute smokey eye if you're in a hurry, and also to keep in your bag for a quick transition from day-to-night after work. The colour payoff isn't fantastic if you use it on the waterline, but it makes a lovely black base or a dramatic line for the upper and lower lashes. I was bitterly disappointed when Benefit discontinued their Sketching Kohl liners last year, as they'd been a staple of my make up bag since I was 13, but I'm glad to discover these are a great alternative.

Clockwise from top: It Stick, Eye Bright, BADgal

3. The It Stick Concealer

What Benefit Says: "Cease the crease and reclaim your youth. Use it stick to help erase the lines and creases from your nose to your mouth that make you look older and more tired. A few strokes of this ecru colored line diffusing pencil, in just the right places, will help make you look young and cheery in seconds."

RRP: £17

What I Think: I'm not sure about young and cheery, but this is a great concealer! The consistency is creamy and it blends nicely. The most obvious downfall is that it only comes in 'one shade fits most', instantly excluding anyone with skin paler or darker than this light/medium shade. Another downfall for a concealer in a stick form is the constant sharpening, but on the other hand, it's great for on-the-go touch ups and is easy to sanitize. Overall I really like this product, but I probably wouldn't shell out £17 for it.

All in all these are three great products. The July issue of Glamour UK is available now and is priced at £2, though I have a feeling these may quickly become very hard to get your hands on!

What do you reckon girls? Will you be racing out to grab all three?!

Fleur

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