Brunel babycakes...it's been emotional

The Brunel Crew 2012

I've finished University. Its a difficult time. I have had the most AMAZING 3 years of my life and now it has unwillingly come to an end. I remember moving into halls on the first day of university and thinking how long 3 years is going to be....How very wrong I was. I feel like it was only a few mouths ago I was still a fresher flooding the kitchen with Tom (The Flat 46 room mate, turned house mate in Bosanquet). We regularly decided to put the plugs in the three sinks of Maria Grey's Kitchen and fill the bowl with washing up liquid then simply leaving the taps on full until someone comes out of their room wondering where the waterfall sound is coming from. Most people reading this, if you haven't been to university will probably not understand the immense comedic factor of pranks like this. Fresher year allows you to be a child again, without being told to stop acting stupid. Some of the favourites involve....

* Putting 'Out of Order' signs on the lift, on every level of our Halls. Then seeing people go to use the lift, then look at the sign and turn around to walk up the stairs.

* Having a Water fight with Tom, Sophie, Nav and Paul at 2am.

*Throwing frozen peas under toms bedroom door. (Tom Hates Peas)

*Leaning a bin full of water and frozen veg up against Toms door so he couldn't leave without flooding his room.

*Overall just destroying toms door with eggs, rice, washing up liquid, ketchup etc.

*When Netty and Tom left a note on my door pretending to be Brunel University when I went away for the weekend telling me that my room was to an unacceptable standard and I was getting evicted. I was close to tears.

*Turning all the lights off in the Kitchen and having a full rave, getting so drunk and dancing like you are on drugs on a tuesday evening, And EVERYONE feeling like they are actually in a rave.

*Just Everything about FLAT 46, ROOM 8, MARIA GREY HALLS, LANCASTER, BRUNEL UNIVERSITY.

Brunel Crew 2009 

The Final Week at Brunel was minging, we all spent the whole time melting about the fact we were leaving. University is incredible, i'm not going to say its the course because In my case it really, really wasn't. However the social side and in terms of life lessons it is key, I think to everyone's life. I'm a different person thanks to Mr Brunel, what a LAD!! The people you meet at uni are the best people in the world. DONT MISS OUT!!

So the Benbow Girls have been left to their own devises...so whats the first thing we do....Book a f'ing holiday...

IBIZA

Enough said.

MAGALUF

Watch out.

So this calls for a detox, an intense detox at that. For the last three years I have consumed hideous amounts of alcohol and I hate to imagine not only how much fast food I have eaten but just how much junk I have inflicted on my body. I have found a 7 day intense detox diet and this is what I am venturing on at the moment.

Its Killing me.

I can't eat anything of great taste, which doesn't fill the gap which KFC or PizzaHut Buffet usually fills.  However on the plus I have only done it for two days and I feel so much better already. The Benbow's are hitting Watford Town for a night out on Saturday, so this crash diet better kick in by then. I need to be bikini bod ready for August so off to Argos I go for a good old 'Ab Tek'....and even more exciting its pink! Boom!!


If you fancy trying out the 7 day detox click on the link below..

http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/diet/detox/plan.htm
x

Bush to Blue to Perfect BeneBrow

Throughout history eyebrows have always been an important part of a woman's face. After all they help to frame the most important part..the eyes. 

Eyebrows help to support your face, as well as your personality. They can be sexy, girly and professional. 

You only really tend to notice eyebrows when they haven't been shaped. We all know when that woman that catches your eye when your walking down the street because..

'something doesn't look right, but you just can't put your finger on what it is.' 

Most probs it will be her brows. 

So I personally was over the moon to know...

My beautiful Benefit counter has a new Brow Bar added to it! 

This is a new feature to the store and relatively new in the Benefit world. This is an exiting feature for us as a counter, as it means more customers and more services to show to our existing customers! Now obviously as a walking advertisement for Benefit we have to look the part, as well as know the products. This called for one thing...

Eyebrow trimming time!

Kill me now. 

I'm not a huge fan of my eyebrows being done, as I either sneeze constantly throughout or it is simply too painful. 

This time however, I didn't get a choice. 

My regional manager was introducing us, the new team together when she said....

"Right were going to have lots of fun today, working with products, traffic stopping and promoting the brand-spanking-new Brow Bar"

We all smiled and nodded along. She then followed with...

"Which means we are going to take a look at you're brows Eve, get them shaped, tinted and waxed! Isn't that exciting!"

That is a classic awkward moment when you are the victim of a 'Subtle' hint, or not so subtle as the case may be.

So I was popped onto the Brow Bar seat and was preped for the treatment I was about to undergo. Okay, so I'll admit I did have slightly shocking brows, I'm not talking horrific, but they needed a good seeing to.

The pressure of my regional manager's presence was clearly getting to the newly hired brow therapist, she was put under a time limit to complete the treatment and was being watched at every step of her 'Wow Brows'.

I firstly have to say, I have never ever had my eyebrows tinted, personally I wouldn't have thought I needed to seeing as my eyebrows are black. This in turn meant that I wouldn't have a clue what to look for when I was getting tint applied to my eyebrows. 

About 40 seconds into the tint having been applied, I looked in the mirror to see my skin around the brows turning blue, yes BLUE. 

It turns out that under the pressure of the day, the brows girl had put a blue/black tint on my brows, causing the skin around my eyes to take a little too well to the colour...leaving them stained blue.

Just a perfect way to start at my new counter

My first initial thought was 

"How am I going to get anyone to buy anything off me...when I have blue on, and around my eyebrows", in real terms ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!!!!

However

My professional brain thankfully kicked in and I tried to make light of the situation as the brow girl nervously laughed saying to the manager

"Oh, She loves them, really....she does"

as my regional manager quickly scans the draw of tints for the correct shade and a remover.

They didn't have a black shade it turns out,

and thankfully the blue came off

So now I have very, very beautiful brows to the Benefit standard 

'Benefit Brow Arch' 

Perfection!

This mistake will only ever happen once, and thankfully it was on me. For the rest of the day the brow girl was waxing/ tinting perfection onto people's faces and I really do believe the Benebrow is a skill.

The Benebrow Bar is a brilliant addition to the Benefit counter. The services they offer are....

*Lip Wax

*Chin Wax

*Eye Brow Wax

*Eye Brow Tint

*The Magic 4-Which is all four treatments together

So if your feeling like you want to experience the 'Brow Wow', without the blue. (Unless that's your style)

google your local benefit with Brow Bar and rep the most beautiful eyebrows in town.

Benebow at it's finest!

Becoming a "Benebabe"

So, this past week I have been undertaking make-up artistry training at my brand new sparkling job at.....Benefit Cosmetics!!! I have been an unbelievable geek this week, whilst I put my knowledge and pure DEDICATION to the make-up world to the test. I have learnt everything from powder and primers to pencils. Its strange, I never knew just how amazing each and every product really is. Now I was defiantly on the band waggon on thinking that when counter girls try to sell you something, the likely hood of the product doing just what they are saying it does is very unlikely. HOWEVER.....from trying and testing pretty much every product Benefit has to offer, I can confidently say they Benefit's products does exactly what they say on the tin (well not tin, but you  know) there is a reason Benefit hold #1 in the world titles for some of their products and through the next few weeks I am going to be putting some of the best sellers and new releases to the test to prove that these products ARE worth the money!

I did my training in Uxbridge, on the Debenhams counter! It is a lush store and a beautiful counter, two girls run the stand. The two blonde bombshells, One the account manager and another part-timer. The account manager trained me up and worked hard on making sure I knew all the products and that I was comfortable in working within the selling and the practise of the make-up. The first few days we worked through every single product Benefit has on their sparkly shelves and Drilled in the skincare into my brain... I have never ever had so much hate for science, who the hell cares what derivatives are inside their foundations??

Just f.y.i its C & E ;) 

Then Thursday and Friday took me to the shop floor.....Shock horror, i was allowed lose on customers!!

Luckily I have some knowledge on the whole how to apply make-up thingy, as otherwise i would have been slightly lost to the fact of how to apply a primer, foundation, topping powder and highlighter correctly. I took the chance and took to the floor with what is known as "Traffic Stopping", (I know sounds scary)

"Hello, have you heard of Benefit before?"

"Yes I have, I have plenty of the products thanks."

"Brilliant, well have you heard of the new mascara they have launched called They're Real?"

"No"

"Ahh well let me show you......"

It goes something along these lines when the Benefit girls scan the store for customers stop them in their tracks with some brilliant new product!! bam bam!! Which this past week has been 'Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow' A slight mouthful I know but it has been drawing the customers in. 

My knowledge this week has taught me it is the new foundation by Benefit. 

*It comes in 9 different shades, so brilliant to match any skin tone. 

*Has the new Oxygen Wow Hydrating Complex....which means it helps to boost cellular respiratory, which basically 'plumps' the skin. Helps to prevent against Environmental stresses and also contains Amino Acids, which smooths and sooths the skin.

*Contains SPF 25 PA+++, This is THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PROTECTION YOU CAN FIND IN A FOUNDATION!!!!!! (PERFECT FOR SUMMER)

*Contains Vitamins C & A Derivatives, which help with Anti-Ageing 

*Contains Minerals, Mainly in the form of sea water leaving the skin hydrated for longer 

*Contains Peptides.They smooth and sooth the skins as well as detoxifies and protects.

*Is light enough for a day-time coverage though is buildable for a stronger evening look. 

*By using a shade darker than the normal foundation tone, you can use the darker shade as a contour for the cheeks for a more defined look. 

*Allows skin to breathe so there is no clogging or patches left on the skin. 

*Skin feels lights and not heavy.

*No need to reapply throughout day as it is a long wearing,protective, hydrating foundation 

All in all a pretty brill foundation. Its worth testing it out for yourself. Head down to your local Benefit Counter and ask to be colour matched! You can see how you like the product and how it can works with so many looks!

I wore the product everyday of my training for over 10 hours at a time. Working under department store lighting and in a hot, busy environment. I was on my feet all day working with customers, I was working around spraying perfume's and various make-up particles. This foundation DID NOT MOVE ALL DAY. I used a bog standard make-up wipe to remove it, and it was easy, no need to scrub. This should be everyone's new foundations as it is such a BABE of a foundation. 

INVEST.

The Mini Beautiful Bucket List...

 

Happy Pictures

x

Oz is calling....

Since my new lease of life I have been able to rediscover the way forward in life.

It is not about planning every single mini second by lists and charts. Because I have recently learnt, if things change, which they do, its scary as hell.

So i have scrapped the lists...how ever hard that might be.

The 'Lamb' Lexi has been planning her year (lifetime) trip to Australia for October 2012. 

Everything I have ever 'thought' I wanted, would keep me away from travelling for a year, even though I would love to just pack up leave.

Now, Lexi being the free spirit which she is, will go over to Oz with the intention of coming home after a year; however the reality is she will fall in love (with a man or simply the weather)

and never ever return. 

I have an interview For London Collage of Fashion on Wednesday and I'm also applying for a job as a project co-coordinator at Brunel. 

Though I'm starting to think I just want to go to Oz.

The thought of promoting a new beach bar, on Surfers paradise in jean shorts and baggy strap, whilst the sun beams down rays that only Blackpool can dream of seems much more appealing.

So in true Benbow fashion, we started discussing this. Lexi and Myself sitting down over a few glasses of vodka cranberries and letting our imaginations go mad over what Australia has to offer half of the Benbow team. 

We had unknowingly to us planted a seed.

Sophie who has recently bagged herself a nice full time job for British Airways, serving high class service to the rich in the sky, had been listening to our conversations. 

Sophie loves the idea of travelling, hence the job. 

Then the thought of her coming along with us on the trip of a lifetime seemed simply just too appealing.

So what turned into a little idea or a 'could do I guess' 

has turned into

three of the four applying for working/travelling visas and paying the ridiculously expensive fee to be Australian Benbow Girls come end of October 2012

Oz, I hope your ready.

;) 

21 & Upgrading...

So, I haven't been the dedicated blogger, I haven't really been that dedicated to anything recently.

I'm 21 now...I'm an Adult! Wow, how did that happen? 

All of a sudden I've been literally upgrading my entire life. 

Now this isn't to say everything has changed...my degree is of course still slowly being dragged behind my life; behind pretty much everything, especially my social life. Standard. 

Though right now I am loving life. 

.

*Bo- My BEAUTIFUL red and white Mini Copper (She is the New love of my life)

*Partying,Partying,Partying

*The Benbow's-Sophie, Alexia & Esin 

*The other Amazing people in my life

*Only having seven left

*The Housemates

*My Iphone

*Australia 2012 

*The Cheeky 5

*M.A.C

*My Harmon/Carmon's

*My new Benefit Cosmetic Job

*And every flipping other new element in my life. 

Change is good.

 

Faking it, is THE way forward!!!

Thought it was only due, as this is meant to be a hair, make-up and lifestyle blog that i should really should do some actual blogging on make-up and hair shizz...
In my last post, I briefly discussed St Moritz. No, i haven't misspelt St Tropez, it's the cheaper version of the £30 a bottle tan. St Moritz, has been the Benbow Girl's little secret weapon since we first discovered it last summer, whilst shopping in TKMAXX. We fully over love and over use the stuff!!

Hit the beauty asiel in Savers and there priced £2.99 will be a srign to the St Moritz. They stock spray, foam, instant, glitter based and liquid form. All in both light and dark colours. For the best results I would recommend the foam.  With a mitt it glides on easily over the body and is easy to fill in missed spots (If there are some patches you missed) The Beautiful aspect of St Moritz, is the versatile nature of the foam. Where most fake tans either are to be applied before bed and to be washed off in the morning. Or others must be applied on the day it is needed and washes off with your shower. St Moritz works either way. (In fact there have been some days where we have applied the night before and on the day...cringe) It can be easily applied to the face. Which I know sounds like a little daunting to some people, but believe me, we have tried and tested this product. (Yeah we have worn much too much and gone orange, so you dont need to!!) If you prefer the natural glow apply before bed and allow to develop over night. In the morning you will wake up with a very dark and blotchy face. DONT PANIC. This washes off and will leave your skin with a light bronzed beauty tan. If you haven't allowed time for application the night before, again no stress. St Moritz, will come to the rescue. Apply as normal and apply to the face. YOU MUST WAIT FOR IT TO DEVELOP BEFORE MAKE UP! once you waited a few hours, pop your normal evening or day time make up over the top. It covers easily, still leaving you looking a glowing bronze and it also helps to keep your make up looking better for longer.

Now I know that trying out a new fake tan can be scary, though I feel its important (especially if you are someone who spends hundreds of pounds a year on tanning products) to try St Moritz. You may find it isn't the product for you. However, give St Moritz a go. The quality standard, against more expensive products such as St Tropez and XenTan is also to a very high standard. The smell isn't as beautiful as XenTan and it doesn't contain seaweed extracts like St Tropez. But for the cheaper version, with very similar visual results and for a long lasting all year round tan, St Moritz is THE way forward.

So you can see the effects of St Moritz, I have documented the Benbow girls using it, to show you how long lasting and effective the colour is.. So keep watching for the before and after blogs! x