Benefit Primers: That Gal and The POREfessional

 Benefit's That Gal Primer (£22.50) and Benefit's The POREfessional Primer (£24.50)

I mentioned Benefit's the POREfessional in my TAG post last week (which I'd love it if you checked out) and it is a relatively recent discovery of mine, which seems crazy considering the coverage it has had on blogs! Both of these Benefit primers are sample sizes (about one third of the size of the full size product) but they still last ages and ages. I've been using both of these primers together for the last three weeks and I've barely made a dent in them. 

Benefit's That Gal is a very pink primer that works really well at brightening up your face and I like to use it alongside the POREfessional (which is a completely neutral, uncoloured primer).  That Gal has a very liquid formulation whilst the POREfessional is thicker and definitely lives up to its description as a 'balm'. I use the POREfessional all over my face (blending it in with my fingers) and then dot That Gal on my cheekbones, a little bit down the middle of my nose and under my eyebrows - basically on any areas that I want to lighten and brighten to help shape my face. I find that That Gal doesn't do the best job when I use it all over my face (and it makes me look a little bit too dewy for my liking) but it is great for adding a little bit of brightness to the face. The POREfessional, however, is everything a combination skinned gal could hope for. It helps keep my make-up in place even when my t-zone is on the oily side but it doesn't dry out my cheeks! It definitely helps minimize my pores too but it hasn't broken me out which I find is often a problem caused by pore minimizing primers.

As a duo I love them together but when they run out I will only be repurchasing Benefit's the POREfessional because I think it does a better job overall and is actually well worth the money! In place of That Gal I plan on using my L'Oreal Paris Lumi Magique Primer, it's white rather than pink but has a very similar feel to it and does the same job as That Gal but for less than half the price!

What primer(s) do you use? Have you tried either of these?

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Beauty Things I Like (which I probably shouldn't)

This is going to be a two-part series with the other post (which will go up next Sunday) being all about the Beauty Things I Don't Like (which I probably should), but I thought I'd kick off on a positive foot! Today's post is about five different beauty 'things' that I like to do that in my heart of hearts I know I shouldn't do! Everybody has some of these, right?  I hope you're comfy because today's post is going to be a little longer than usual.

I'm on a Spending Ban: 25 Days Down!

On July 8th I took stock of my ever expanding beauty collection and decided that not only could I survive without buying any beauty products but that it would be positively good for me to reign back the spending and exert a little bit of self control. In less than a moment I had gone from a beauty junkie who was ceaselessly scouting for discounts and sales to someone who could take a step back and just enjoy what she had! It was, and still is, quite a pleasant experience and so far I have yet to spend a penny. I don't know exactly when I'm going to end my spending ban, but I've noted down the 'big dates', so to speak, and it will most likely be one of those. 

Those dates are:

August 2nd- 25 days

August 27th - 50 days

September 21st- 75 days

October 16th- 100 days

I've found that by thinking in 25 day periods of time, rather than in the traditional '100', I can much more easily envisage being successful. And, after all, success is very much the goal of this challenge. 

[You can now read my 'Day 50 Update' here]

You don't need to worry about this ban affecting my posting schedule, I have lots of products to review and lots of other post ideas in mind for the coming weeks. In the mean time, I'd love to hear from anyone who has attempted or completed this challenge, and any tips are warmly welcomed! In the mean time I'll leave you with my post-spending-ban beauty wishlist as it currently stands.

*I did not take and do not own any of these images*

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NEW TAG: The One and Only

Since I started blogging, I've seen a number of other beauty bloggers start really interesting TAGS and over the last few weeks I slowly thought up one of my own. It was in part inspired by a lot of the 'Travel make-up bag' posts that I've read which always make me think about what I would take away with me if I had very limited space. This idea got me thinking, if I could only have one of every beauty product what products would I end up with? Well, the idea of narrowing my collection down to just one of everything started to really obsess me and with a lot of time and thought I made my beauty picks and The One and Only TAG was born. The point of this TAG is to get an insight into your absolute beauty staples . There can be no wavering, only one product from each category can be chosen and the result should be a capsule collection that you could live with if you had to.

The Question: If you could only have one ______ what would it be? And, in a few words, why?

Primer 

Benefit's The POREfessional Primer - Simply because I can use this all over my face unlike my beloved Tea Tree Pore Minimiser. And this Benefit Primer really helps my make-up last all day, no matter what the weather is like.

Base Product

Revlon's Nearly Naked Foundation - I haven't found my perfect foundation yet but I do really love this foundation. It can be applied very lightly or built up and with a primer (and sometimes with powder too) it lasts very well on me.

Concealer

Rimmel's Wake Me Up Concealer - This isn't the best concealer in the world but it can be used under the eyes and over any blemishes elsewhere making it very multi-functional. Plus, the colour works really well for me, better than the Collection concealers.

Powder

Rimmel's Stay Matte Powder - I'm not going to argue that this is the best powder in the world either, but it is durable (I've dropped mine endlessly and it hasn't broken) and it really helps set my make-up. If you're a clutz like me then this baby won't let you down.

Blush (cream or powder)

Dainty Doll Powder Blush 004, Orange County Girl - As much as I love cream blush I think a powder blush would be more versatile and will fit with the rest of my beauty choices better. This shimmery coral shade is really pretty and would work well with a lot of other my make-up choices.

Bronzer

Benefit '10'- This was one of the harder choices but this shade is universally flattering across a whole host of make-up looks and I can wear it in both winter and summer (I would use this to contour more than 'bronze').

Highlighter

Benefit '10' - I've been using this highlighter for years and years and I really like it! Plus, two products in one (bronzer and highlighter) makes my capsule collection even more compact.

Make-Up Brush (single)

The Real Techniques Buffing Brush - This was a hard one to pick because I do rely on brushes for most of my make-up application. However, I came to the conclusion that I would always want my base to look flawless and that I could mostly 'wing' everything else. 

Eyebrow Product

The Body Shop Brow Definer in Blonde&Auburn - Being the only brow product I tend to reach for daily this was an easy choice. It lasts well, is my perfect colour and doesn't break the bank.

Eye shadow (single)

No.7 Stay Perfect Eye Shadow in shade 65 (truffle) - I love this colour and it is the shade I wear the most. It looks good by itself swept across the lid and if I had to only wear one colour for the rest of my life it would be this one.

Eyeliner

Mac Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner Crayon in Lord it Up - This is not the sensible option because this is a glitzy bronze shade that is strictly 'evening' friendly. However, the formula is eyeliner perfection and it lasts on me insanely well. Ladies and gentlemen, this is hands down my 'one and only' when it comes to eyeliners.

Mascara

MaxFactor False Lash Effect (Waterproof, Black) - Repurchased at least six times this is the trustiest mascara I know. The wand is small and easy to work with and I think it lives up to it's name, I wouldn't choose anything else!

Lipstick, Lip Gloss or Lip Stain

Mac Lipstick in Syrup - A very new addition to my collection but it is insanely flattering and could be worn both day and night. I love the lustre formula too, it offers the satisfaction of a lipstick but the lightness of a gloss. The perfect middle ground really.

Lip Liner

The Body Shop Lip Line Fixer - Although not strictly necessary given my lipstick choice this is the only lip liner I would ever need. It is clear and can therefore be used with any and all lipsticks, it's definitely something I'd recommend to anyone interested in lipsticks.

Lip Balm

Lush Honey Trap Lip Balm - Perhaps this isn't a surprise given how much I've raved about it in the past. However, it was a close call between this and Nivea's Essential Lip Balm which for unexplained reasons has a place very close to my heart.

Nail Polish

Any Clear Polish - Brandless or branded, I would opt for a shiny, clear nail polish. I don't think I could love just one colour at all times but I am always fan of neat, shiny nails.

It took a lot of though but those were my answers! What would yours be?

 I TAG everyone who is interested in sharing their One and Only's to do this TAG (and to kindly link back to this, the original One And Only, post if you could).

To get the ball rolling, I am specifically going to TAG:

Amy from Srsly Lou

Georgina from Make-Up Pixi3

Danniella from Famous in Japan

Sophia from Tattooed Tea Lady

Kat from Tales of A Pale Face

Ellie from Ellie's Ramblings

Hannah from Midnight Violets

Rosie from Rosie Louise Love

If you do this TAG please do send me the link either in a comment here or on twitter (@onelittlevice) so that I can share it!

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