Red Lips and Rosewater: Worn and Well-Loved: My Loyal Repurchases

Hey everyone!

As I've been scraping the pan of my beloved Benefit Hello Flawless powder foundation for quite some time now, I thought it was time to do a post on my "worn and well-loved" products that I have repurchased before and will repurchase again.

Repurchases are a rare thing for me. If I finish a product, I usually don't go rushing back to replace it...I'd rather spend the money trying out something similar from another brand or something totally different. There's too much out there to limit yourself to the same set of products! However, I do have five products that I have immediately replaced in the past upon hitting the pan, and will continue to do so.

The first is Benefit Hello Flawless! Custom Powder in Me, Vain? Champagne (£25.50/C$42.00/US$34.00). If I had to choose one Holy Grail product out of my entire makeup collection, it would be this beauty. I'm at the end of my second and am soon going to repurchase my third, no questions asked! It is the perfect foundation, coverup, and setting powder. It comes with a sponge and brush, so it can be applied with a heavy hand for a full coverage look using the sponge, lightly patted onto the skin for days where your skin doesn't need too much concealing, and brushed over foundation to set it and give it a flawless finish. It never looks cakey and doesn't feel heavy on the face, and I love that you can build it up or apply as lightly as you want so you always have the coverage level you need. My Hello Flawless love knows no bounds.

Second, I have the MAC Liquidlast Liner in Point Black (£15.00/C$23.00). Black liquid liner is my go-to for many makeup looks, and I have never had any complaints with this one. I like that it's a brush instead of a felt-tip applicator, so you can control the amount of product you use and don't have to worry about it drying up. I find it incredibly easy to apply, and the staying power is second to none. I know it's becoming a lot harder to find as MAC has discontinued all of the Liquidlast line except this one, and stores don't always carry it. However, it can still be found on the MAC website, and I located it at a duty free kiosk, so it's still out there!

Buxom Lash Mascara in Blackest Black (C$24.00/US$19.00) has been my go-to mascara when all else fails. I have serious difficulty with my eyelashes: they are such tiny little nubbins that I need a heavy duty mascara to make them stand to attention! Now, I wouldn't say this mascara performs miracles, but I have tried many in between my last tube and my current one, including the much-hyped Benefit They're Real! mascara, and I've come back to this one and probably will again unless I find something better. The brush is thick and allows me to build up volume with several coats, and if I use the tip I can usually add some extra length as well. It doesn't flake away, and is formulated without parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, and all those yucky things I don't want near my eyes. I haven't been able to figure out if it's available in the UK, but since Sephora now ships here, you should be able to order it if you so desire!

Up next is MAC Eyeshadow in Vex (£12.50/C$17.00/US$14.00), which is frustratingly impossible to swatch. You need to see this one in person...it's an insanely gorgeous muted frosted silver that turns lilac or pale green depending on how you catch the light. Shall I wax poetic? I always think it looks like powdered moonlight. It's so versatile and can be played up or down, and I've never seen a good dupe of it. It's a unique and beautiful eyeshadow to add to your collection!

And finally, we have Lipstick Queen's Medieval (£20.00/US$22.00). I have had a love affair with this lipstick for quite a while. It's a moisturizing, sheer red that really just adds a blush to your natural lipcolour, making your lips look like something out of a fairytale. It's another one that needs to be tried out to do it justice...and you should try it out, as it's designed to be universally flattering. As you can see by the above photo, my tube is looking a bit worse for wear and I'm right down to the dregs...looks like it's time for number 3! I've included a swatch below so you can see how it looks on my lips.