For today's installment of 'Worth the Splurge?' I'm giving you an in depth review of Benefit's They’re Real Magnet Mascara.
It is an update on Benefit's original 'They're Real' mascara.
For the record there is no actual metal pieces or magnets in the mascara formula, so no worries there.
They claim the wand has a magnetically charged core that is attracted to the "magnetic mineral enriched" formula that lifts and pulls lashes for extra length and definition.
I received a travel size of They're Real! Magnet mascara as a sample with my Sephora order and one in my ipsy Glam Bag the next month. So, I am pretty well acquainted with this mascara now. 😄
But does it really give length and volume?
Is it better than the original They're Real?
And the bigger question: is it worth the splurge?
My review/investigation answers all three of these questions.
First, here is a quick breakdown of They're Real! Magnet mascara
Name of Shade: Supercharged Black
Color: Black
Waterproof: Almost
Formula: Lengthening/Lifting
Wand Shape: Straight, Short Bristles
Lasts for: 12+ Hours
Smudges/Flakes: No/No
Pros:It gives a subtle, natural look to lashes; they are your own lashes ("They're Real") and it appears that you're wearing no mascara at all, but your lashes look fuller and more fanned out.
It lasts me all day with no smudging or streaking.
It could almost be waterproof (it doesn't claim to be though) as it stands up pretty well to water, only an occasional fleck of mascara comes off.
Cons: Not dramatically different from it's OG counterpart They're Real! mascara.
Some claims are overdramatized (read on).
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭑⭑ (3 out of 5)
Would I Purchase: No
Claims VS Reality
Claim: "Builds 40% longer lashes"
Reality: Without getting out a calculator and figuring out what length my lashes would be at 40% longer, I can say by comparison to even just other Benefit mascaras, this one does not give me as much lash length.
I get better length from Benefit's Bad Gal Bang and original They're Real! mascaras.
Claim: "Flexible, lightweight & builds easily"
Reality: Yes, the formula is easy to work with and can be built up to cover lashes in a thicker coat.
Claim: "Won't smudge or flake"
Reality: 100% accurate, it has not flaked or smudged once.
Claim: "93% said it was extremely lengthening"
Reality: This is probably an accurate percentage. I suppose I would just be in the other 7%
Also, if I was less familiar with Benefit and other mascaras that are "extremely lengthening" I might too perceive They're Real Magnet as such.
Claim: "95% said it lifts & lengthens lashes up & out"
Reality: To an extent I agree with this claim. It does give lift and length to lashes, just not as dramatically as the hype would have you believe.
Claim: "93% said it gives lashes fullness AND length"
Reality: It definitely gives fullness to lashes "AND" (really?) to a relatively lesser extent it gives length.
Here are some before and after photos 📷
After applying They're Real! Magnet mascara it really did give fullness to my lashes and a fanned out effect. It gave some length as well.
They're Real! Magnet VS. They're Real! OG
Both are really lovely mascaras, but if longer lashes is your goal, the original definitely gives more length. If you are looking for volume and fullness, magnet is your friend.
The wand for the original mascara has a slightly rounded, spikey tip that helps grad little lashes.
The OG also has slightly longer bristles.
Final Thoughts
They're Real! Magnet mascara is nice but truly over-hyped.
It gives fantastic fullness but doesn't really "pull" lashes up, making them appear tremendously longer.
I don't see myself purchasing this mascara again because it doesn't fully deliver.
It's not bad, or poor quality, but for the price ($27 for a full size) I can get better lengthening results from a more affordable mascara, or from a similarly priced Benefit one.
Is it worth the splurge?
No.
Thanks for checking out my review of Benefit's They're Real! Magnet Mascara.
For more honest reviews and some tutorials too subscribe so you will be the first to read them 📪
Today I’m doing a summer makeup tutorial for you
featuring purple eyeshadow and glossy neutral lips.
So break out your summer playlist (mine always
includes The Click Five's Catch Your Wave,yeah I'm that old lol🎵) and the iced coffee and get ready for my new purple eyeshadow look --with some affordable favorites too!
NYX Avant Pop Art Throb palette and Urban Decay Ammo palette
P.S. You can check out my video tutorial of this post here
Purple eyeshadow is very popular for summer 2021.
The
only problem I faced with this trend is: which one do I choose???
There are so
many gorgeous purple eyeshadows to choose from.💜
Which shade? Do I go with a richer one like violet, plum,
eggplant, or wine?
Or do I choose a lighter variation like mauve, lavender,
periwinkle, or orchid?
Do I pick a pretty purple (try saying that five times
fast!) to bring out the color of my eyes, which are hazel, and go for the
eggplant or mauve?
(for blue eyes try deeper purples, for brown eyes all shades of purple look beautiful!)
Space Case in Alien Love Child, INMO in Super Bass, Suva Beauty in BBQ, Complex Culture in Lavender Metal, theBalm in Matt Moskowitz, Phase Zero in Velvet
With so many options I decided to go somewhere in the
middle, a shade of purple between dark raspberry and mulberry. A purple with
some red/pink undertones to bring out the flecks in my eye color, but also
reminds me of summer sunsets on the horizon.
And then I topped it off with an iridescent lilac shade 😉
I picked the purple shade in my NYX Avant Pop Art Throb palette
(If you don’t
have this palette, NYX Hot Singles eyeshadow in Flustered is a similar shade of
purple and retails for about $4.50).
Now that you have selected your perfect purple eyeshadow,
you can get started with my Summer Purple Eyeshadow tutorial!
Note: I realized after creating this summer look that
many of the Urban Decay eyeshadows I used have since been discontinued (dislike). I’ve
included dupes for all of the discontinued shades throughout this post.
Recipe for My Summer Purple Eyeshadow Look
1. Primer &
Purple Shadow: For any summertime eyeshadow look, prepping the lids is
crucial. After applying a primer, sweep your purple shadow of choice all over your eye lids,
stopping just a little into the crease of your eye.
2. Metallic Brown
Shadow & Blend: Dust a warm brown shadow with a hint of a metallic finish in
the crease of your eye for a brightening effect.
Run it all the way through and take it out of the crease a tiny bit, creating a slight wing. Use a blending brush to soften the lines for a diffused sunset effect.
-I used Smog from Urban Decay
which has been discontinued, but MAC Amber Lights Eyeshadow is a close dupe,
Urban Decay’s Chopper is similar to Smog, but a tad lighter with more of a rose
undertone.
3. Black Eyeshadow
as Liner + Lavender & White Shadows: Heavy liquid liner is better suited for
fall, use a super pigmented, matte black shadow on an angled eyeshadow brush to
define your lashes.
Using a pressing/stamping motion, line your lashes with the
black shadow, creating a tiny wing at the outer corner of your eye.
Next take a lavender shimmer shadow and dust it across
your brow bone.
On top of the lavender shadow, sweep a white shimmer, just for an extra highlight.
-Dupes for Urban Decay’s
Grifter (lavender shadow): MAC #Humblebrag is almost a dead ringer, MAC DazzleShadow in Shine
De-Light is also close.
-A close dupe for Urban Decay’s Polyester Bride (white shadow) is MAC DazzleShadow in She Sparkles
4. Champagne
Eyeliner & More Brown Shadow: Run a shimmery champagne pencil liner
along your lower water line to brighter up eyes.
Then use the same metallic
brown shadow you used in the crease to line your lower lash line.
5. Waterproof Mascara,
Iridescent Shadow & Concealer: Swipe a waterproof mascara on your top
and bottom lashes making sure to “wiggle” the brush back and forth so it
catches every little lash.
Using your fingertip tap a lilac iridescent eyeshadow onto
the center of your eyelid.
Clean up any fall out with a concealer.
6. Bronzer, Liquid
Highlighter & Blush: Lightly dust a bronzer under your cheekbones and
blend out. Gently tap a liquid champagne colored highlighter on top of your
cheekbones and down the bridge of your nose for a lit-from-within glow that
will look perfect when the summer sunset hits it!
Blend a baby-pink blush on the apples of your cheeks and softly
into your bronzer.
7. Brow Gel &
Lip Gloss: Run a clear brow gel through your eyebrows to keep them in
place.
Swipe on a hydrating rose gloss on lips for a dewy
beach-like look.
Put it all together and you get...
A pretty purple eyeshadow look perfect for summer nights, picnics, or festivals.
To help set makeup for hot days (or anytime) I use a setting powder to keep everything in place. I use MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in NW10.
For an extra long lasting look, I recommend spritzing on a makeup setting spray in addition to a setting powder (my favorite is Too Faced's Hangover Rx Setting Spray)
Products I Used to Create My Summer Purple Eyeshadow Look:
NYX: Avant Pop! Shadow Palette in Art Throb Collection
Real Techniques: Base Shadow Brush
Urban Decay: Smog
Eyeshadow
MAC: 217 Blending Brush
MAC: Carbon Eyeshadow
Tru Rituals: Dual Ended Eyeshadow Brush
Urban Decay:
Grifter Eyeshadow
Elizabeth Mott: Blending Brush
Urban Decay:
Polyester Bride Eyeshadow
Lottie London: AM to PM Eyeliner Pencil in Sunburst
Luxie
Beauty: Rose Gold Detail Flat Definer 110
Maybelline: Great
Lash (Waterproof) Mascara in Very Black
Space Case Cosmetics: Eyeshadow in Alien Love Child
Today I’m reviewing for you one of my favorite eyeshadow
palettes (I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to do so!), along with a tutorial of an eyeshadow look you can create with it.
It is Too Faced’s Chocolate Gold palette!
Too Faced has
an excellent line of “Chocolate” palettes and each one of them offers a different
finish and color range.
I bought mine from Ulta, with a
20% off coupon that twice a year is valid on prestige brands (you gotta be
strategic lol). 💵
The palette is hard shell plastic in the shape of a chocolate bar covered in dripping gold. 🍫
Chocolate Gold is at the 'luxury' end of the chocolate palette
collection.
It is infused with cocoa powder and “real gold”. I can’t vouch for
the gold content, but this palette has the loveliest cocoa scent whenever I
open it.
It also comes with a little booklet of three eyeshadow looks
you can create.
The first look in the booklet is titled "Love & Cocoa" and really utilizes the gold shade of the palette.
The second look is called "Razzle Dazzle" and uses the silver and purple shades.
The third and final look is called "You're Money" and is a more dramatic eye look with deep smoky purple in the crease and the green shadow on the lid and lower lash line.
And if that isn't not enough eye makeup inspiration for you, I created my own eyeshadow look using this palette. Read on for my tutorial!
16 different shades of eyeshadow, two of them are larger sizes, because there is a good chance you will use these two the most often. A large mirror the size of the palette comes attached.
Chocolate Gold has majorly beautiful metallics! Of the 16
shades in this palette 12 of them are metallic for endless glam looks. There
are 4 matte shades for creating depth and dimension to your luxe eyeshadow creations.
The left side of the palette has the majority of the metallic and bright shades.
The shade Chocolate Gold is the most pigmented, metallic gold eyeshadow I have ever worked with! The foil like finish is so gorgeous and shiny, it looks like you're wearing gold jewelry on your lids!
The right side of the palette houses the four matte shades.
They are extremely pigmented as well. They are buttery and blendable for working into the crease, the lash line, brow bone or wherever you want to have more matte appearance.
Swatches
There are so many shades in this palette I couldn't fit them all on one arm lol.
The shade Rollin' In Dough (matte) is so light it barely shows up on my arm, but it works really well for a subtle highlight on the brow bone.
Money Bags – Metallic
Forest Green
Chocolate Gold
– Metallic Gold (larger size pan)
Rich Girl – Metallic
Taupe
Cocoa Truffle –
Matte Warm Sienna Brown
Decadent –
Matte Black
Love & Cocoa
– Metallic Deep Auburn
Old Money –
Metallic Copper
New Money –
Metallic Magenta Pink
Famous – Metallic
Bronze
Classy & Sassy
– Metallic Rose Gold
So Boujee –
Matte Warm Tan
Holla For A Dolla
– Metallic Walnut Brown
Gold Dipped –
Metallic Champagne
Livin’ Lavish –
Metallic Dark Purple
Drippin’ Diamonds
– Metallic Silver
Rollin’ In Dough
– Matte Beige
Chocolate Gold
Stats:
Formula: Pressed
Powder Finish: Metallic/Matte Fallout: Very
Little Chalky/Flaky : No/No Blendable: Yes Lasts for: 12-14 Hours
Pros:
An excellent color range from brown and bronze to green and pink.
The
metallic finishes are so fabulous! They give a foil like shine.
The mattes are
buttery and rich, perfect for the crease your eye to create a smudged/smoky
effect.
All shades blend beautifully to get any kind of look you want, more
diffused and subtle or bolder pops of color. These shades have true pigments,
AKA the color you see in the pan is the color you get on your skin. They last
for hours without creasing!
Cons:
There is a tiny bit of fallout with some fine glitter from the metallics.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 out of 5)
Would I Re-Purchase: Yes!
Final Thoughts:
Totally marvelous metallic eyeshadows wrapped in a fun chocolate bar
container. The color payoff is insane and they last for such a long time.
Here is a break down of my step-by-step tutorial featuring Too Faced's Chocolate Gold palette.
1. Love &
Cocoa and Blend: Brush "Love & Cocoa" (metallic auburn) through the
crease of your eye. Then take a blending brush and blend it up and out to
soften the line.
2. Livin’ Lavish
and Money Bags: With a flat brush press and pack "Livin’ Lavish" (metallic
purple) on your lid to get a nice opaque base.
Then on a small brush take "Money Bags" (metallic forest green) and trace a line through the crease, cutting
into "Love & Cocoa". Use a blending brush to soften "Money bags".
3. Decadent, Money
Bags: Use a small angled brush to line upper lash line with "Decadent" (matte
black), winging it out a bit at the end. Steal more "Money Bags" (I kill me lol😆)
and trace it through the crease once more, but do not blend it this time, we
want a cut crease effect.
4. Kohl Liner
& Holla For A Dolla: Take a kohl eyeliner pencil and run it through the lower water line of your eyes. On a small flat brush run "Holla For A Dolla" (metallic
walnut brown) along the lower lash line of your eye.
5. Drippin Diamond, Rich Girl: Use your
finger to tap "Drippin’ Diamonds" (metallic silver) onto your lids, focusing on
the center. Take a small pencil brush and dip it into "Rich Girl" (metallic
taupe) and dab it onto the inner corners of the eyes.
6. Mascara, Concealer & Contour: Swipe on
a volumizing mascara on top and bottom lashes. Clean up any minimal fallout
with a concealer under your eyes. Lightly sweep a contour shade under your
cheek bones.
7. Highlighter
& Blush, Liquid Lipstick, Setting Foundation: Dust a champagne colored highlighter on top of cheek bones and on the high points of the face. Use a matte liquid lipstick in
a berry shade to give lips a pop of color. Press a powder foundation or setting
powder under the contour line and around the lips and face to set everything in
place.
And we end up with...
My Too Faced Chocolate Gold palette makeup look. Purple lids with a forest green cut crease.
I wanted to utilize the other colors in the palette other than gold, which is pretty obvious from the name of the palette. But I have some golden shadow looks below.
"Decadent", the matte black shade, is perfect for lining the lashes. It's just like a having a liquid eyeliner, but softer and more blendable.
Another great thing about these metallic eyeshadows is how they sparkle when the light hits them at different angles. This gives eyes an extra pretty finish.
The products I used (including Chocolate Gold palette):
Almay: Truly Lasting Color Liquid Makeup in Ivory
Too Faced: Shadow Insurance Eyeshadow Primer
Too Faced: Chocolate Gold Eyeshadow Palette
Too Faced: Eyeshadow in Love & Cocoa
Vasanti: Contour Eyeshadow Brush 4
MAC: 217 Blending Brush
Too Faced: Eyeshadow in Livin’ Lavish
Beau Gâchis: Concealer Brush
Too Faced: Eyeshadow in Money Bags
Too Faced: Eyeshadow in Decadent
Luxie Beauty: Rose Gold Mini Angled Eye Brush 131
Sugar Cosmetics: Kohl of Honour Intense Kajal in Black
Out
Too Faced: Eyeshadow in Holla For A Dolla
Luxie
Beauty: Rose Gold Detail Flat
Definer 110
Too Faced: Eyeshadow in Drippin’ Diamonds
Too Faced: Eyeshadow in Rich Girl
Costal Scents:
Ipsy Pearl Limited Edition Brush (See Classic Precision Pencil Brush Small
Natural)
Here are some other eyeshadow looks I've created using Too Faced's Chocolate Gold Palette:
Chocolate Gold eyeshadow on lids
Drippin' Diamonds on lids
New Money in crease and around eye
Chocolate Truffles in crease
Classy & Sassy and Love & Cocoa on lid
Holla For A Dolla on outer lid and along lower lash line
Money Bags on lid
New Money & Old Money in crease
Rollin' in Dough on brow bone
Decadent on lash line
Gold Dipped in inner corners of eyes
Again, my video tutorial and review can be seen here
Like I said before, there are endless eyeshadow combinations you can create with this palette!
I'm such a fan of the Chocolate Gold palette and use it all of the time.
I would definitely recommend it, especially if you're looking for a good variety of shades that are very long lasting.
Is it Worth the Splurge?
YES.
Thank you for reading my review of Too Faced's Chocolate Gold palette.
If you are interested in makeup tutorials and reviews, subscribe to my blog with an email address so you will get my latest posts delivered directly to your inbox 📫.
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