Benefit Rockateur Powder Blush

I have been on a blush collecting kick lately, I have been loving both the Josie Maran Cheek Gel and Tarte Amazonian Clay formulas over the past few months.  I have been collecting a bunch of shades from both of these formulas since the end of the summer and I decided that I needed to branch out and find more formulas to collect.  Benefit is a company known for their award-winning blush formulas and I have liked their Dandelion shade for years.  I was at Sephora the other night and was browsing for new blush formulas and shades when I was shown the newest product from that company.  Rockateur is the newest blush from Benefit and has been sold out ever since its release late last summer.  I had high hopes for this product however this shade is just not for me...

"A provocative rose gold cheek powder.  This rockin’ rose gold cheek powder gives a famously provocative flush that turns heads on stage and off. The crowd will go wild for its sexy faceted design, accented in luxe gold. The angled brush gives rich, show-stopping payoff every time.", states the Sephora's website.  Rockateur is the same great Benefit boxed blush formula however this is just not the shade for me.

Rockateur contains two versions of the rose gold shade in the box, the middle of the product is more of a deep rose matte hue while the outside rim of the product is a shimmery rose gold shade.  The Sephora associate showed me two ways to wear this product but we just couldn't really get it to work well with my skin tone.  We first tried to apply the matte part of the product on my cheekbones and then used the shimmery finish as a topper right on the highest points on my cheekbones.  The second way that we tried it was by swirling the blush brush all over the whole product to mix the two hues and then apply that to my cheekbones,

The first method of application was the better one for me, I loved this when we used the matte hue and I would have been willing to purchase it if the whole product was this shade.  The little bit used to highlight my cheekbones would look pretty with a bronzer in the summer months but seemed to be a bit too much for normal wear.  The second method didn't work at all, I would have only worn the shades mixed together when going out at night.  I would rarely ever use it in this fashion and I don't think that I would use it enough in the first method to both with purchasing this product.

I did like the matte hue in the middle of it, if this product would have been 75% of that shade then this would have been a great purchase for me.  However there is much more of the shimmer product contained in this product and I would spend more time trying to avoid the shimmer around the edges rather than ever using it.  I would rather try and find this shade in a matte finish from another brand and then look for a rose gold highlight to use where the Sephora associate applied the shimmer part of this product.  I am not a fan of shimmery blushes and I just tend to avoid shades with this finish.

I do love Benefit blushes but Rockateur is just not the shade for me...

photo courtesy of Sephora

Benefit Fake Up Hydrating Undereye Concealer

I have been using the same Benefit concealer since the end of last year and Erase Paste has quickly become one of my favorite face products.  Based on how much I love that concealer formula, I jumped at the chance to try another Benefit concealer formula when I had my choice of Sephora VIB Point Perks.  I have been trying the Fake Up Hydrating Undereye Concealer since the beginning of this week and I can already say that all of Benefit's concealer formulas are not created equal.  I think this is one of the few products that I have not liked at all in the past few weeks and that I could never see myself buying again.

The Benefit website provides the following description of this undereye concealer formula, "This hydrating crease-control concealer - with vitamin E & apple seed extract - hides dark circles and diffuses fine lines for a silky smooth, ultra-natural look. It’s proven to keep skin hydrated for six hours."

The following testing results are also provided for this product...

- 100% said it hydrates skin

- 100% said it feels comfortable on skin

- 91% said it conceals dark circles

This is one of the most unique products that I have ever used on my eye area and I give Benefit points for this aspect of the product.  This product combines the coverage of a stick concealer and then hydrating properties of an undereye balm.  The concealer itself is in the middle of the product and it is surrounded by the hydrating balm.  Once applied to the skin, they mix together and become a two-in-one product for hydrating and concealing.  Benefit states that the product should be applied directly to the undereye area and then patted in using the ring finger.

I have used this product each morning and I have determined that I just cannot use it as described and this is just not the product for me.  I started by hydrating my undereye area with the Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream and then blend my foundation in the undereye area using a Beauty Blender.  I have dark undereye circles and have always relied on a high coverage concealer to cover them up.  Once I had all of these products in place, I applied the Benefit product to each of my undereye areas and then blended it in as suggested on the brand's website.

As with many two-in-one products that I have tried, this product falls short in both the hydrating and concealing aspects.  I cannot use this without another eye cream as it seems like the application and blending of the product drag my delicate undereye skin.  I have found that it also falls short in the concealing aspect, it is too sheer to fully cover my dark undereye circles.  I have found no way in this product lives up to its description and I will not be buying this in the full size.

I found a way to use through the large sample size that I have of this product, I apply it after my foundation and use it as a primer to apply a full coverage concealer over.  It works nicely in this aspect however this just adds an extra step to my routine that I don't reap much benefit from.  I will use it in this fashion to finish the product up but I would not buy another tube to use only in this fashion. 

This might be a nice undereye concealer for someone who doesn't struggle very much with dark undereye circles and only needs a small amount of coverage in this area.  I just cannot really make this product work as I have to use it with both another eye cream and another undereye concealer, it only creates an extra step in my morning routine that isn't needed.

photo courtesy of Benefit

Benefit Gimme Brow! Volumizing Brow Gel

Today is Cyber Monday and one of the biggest online shopping days of the year, we all know that stores do certain offers only on their websites but many stores also have great offers.  I decided to hit the mall very early this morning and do a bit of shopping for my family before I start cramming for finals season.  My last stop today was Sephora and I already started to pick up some items on my Most Wanted List, many of the holiday products are getting hard to find but I am very excited about my newest purchase from Sephora.  I have been interested in the Benefit Gimme Brow! product for a few weeks now but have never used this type of product on my eyebrows.  I bought this product this morning and tried it on as soon as I got home today.

I must confess that I don't spend much time thinking about my eyebrows, I usually get them cleaned up every few weeks but I keep them on the thicker side and don't change the overall shape of them.  I have dark hair and dark brows so I also don't have many concerns about the color of them matching my highlight/lowlight mix.  I used this brow gel once and I all I could think was "Why did I wait so long to try products like this?!", I love this product!

The Sephora website provides the following description of this awesome brow gel formula, "An award-winning, brow-volumizing, fiber gel that mimics the look of real hair for fuller-looking brows.  Gimme Brow’s innovative brush-on gel has tiny microfibers that adhere to skin and hair, creating lush-looking eyebrows where before there were none. The water-resistant, long-lasting, formula builds easily for thick, full arches, thanks to a tapered brush for blending and precision tip for shaping perfect brows.". 

This product is available in the following shades...

- Light/Medium - matches light brown to medium brown eye brows
- Medium/Dark - matches medium brown to dark brown eye brows

I use the Medium/Deep shade and it matches my hair perfectly, it is a shade deeper than my natural eye brows and the shade change make them stand out and look more defined and groomed.

This is a very easy formula to use, I was a bit worried that I would be having to draw my eyebrows on and run the risk of looking very unnatural.  This product has an applicator that reminds me a very small mascara wand, the product both tints and shapes the brows in one step.  I start with the inner corner of each brow and then sweep the product all the way to the outside.  One dip of the product is enough to do both brows in this fashion, I can just sweep this product on and be done with my brows.  This product quickly tames any stray hairs and makes my lashes look perfectly groomed with minimal effort.

I absolutely love the results of this product and I have fallen in love after using the product for only one day.  I decided that I needed to experiment a bit with the wear of this product, I don't want it to melt down my face in the hot weather or when I am at the gym after work.  I jumped in the shower before writing this post and just let the warm water run over my face.  The product didn't move at all and I had to use eye makeup remover to clean it all off my eye brows, I will be able to use this product every single day and I will be making this a staple of my makeup routine.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Benefit Dandelion Box o' Powder Blush

I have yet another post about blush today, I mentioned before that I tend to buy lots of blush shades when the seasons change and I have been outdoing myself even more this year.  Once I finish up this big round of blush buying, I probably won't pick any more shades up until my skin needs a pick up in the middle of the winter or early spring.  I don't understand my shopping patterns but I do understand what a good blush does as my skintone changes from tan to pale.  I wanted to buy blushes from multiple companies and Benefit was on my list as having top quality formulas for this product.

I was at Sephora the other day and I bought Dandelion from Benefit, I believe this ranks up there with some of their original products and I remember seeing this one in Sephora catalogs when I was in college and just beginning to shop there.  I have wanted to try this shade for quite a long time but I feel like I always get distracted by what is new and/or limited edition.  I know for a fact this is how the majority of my MAC shopping is done and it tends to spill over to many different beauty brands.

Benefit blushes are cult products and spawned a line of matching lip glosses a few years ago, I find it amusing that I have written more on the lip glosses than I have the actual blushes.  Today I will be changing that around.  Dandelion is a soft pink hue that can be used as a powder blush or a facial highlighter, I have used it only has a blush so far and I cannot see that I would be trying it as a highlighter any time soon.

"A pale-pink, pressed highlighting powder that transforms your complexion from dull to radiant.  Fake awake in just one stroke with Dandelion—Benefit's long-lasting, pressed highlighting powder in ballerina-pink. Its shimmery, satiny, and radiant formula leaves an immediate perk-me-up finish that brightens up your face—even at eight in the morning.", states the Sephora website. 

This pale pink complements my pale skin quite well and creates a natural flush when applied to my cheekbones.  It is very similar to Illamasqua's Katie hue but a bit less pigmented.  This shade would work well on anyone with pale to medium skin and cool undertones.  It is very easy to wear and I can use it with any makeup look or by itself for a bit of color on a casual day.  It lasts for about eight hours and wore nicely throughout the day.  It held up to work and then school after that but wasn't long enough wearing to survive a workout.  This really isn't a big deal for me and I am happy with getting all day from it under normal wear circumstances. 

I can see why this product and shade are a cult favorite and continue to be top sellers at Sephora.  I have a feeling that Benefit will continue to bring these blushes out for quite a long time and they will continue to be best sellers for the whole time.  This was the last blush that I bought however I might end up trying a few more formulas out in the coming weeks...

photo courtesy of Sephora

Benefit Stay Don't Stray Eye Shadow Primer

I have finished up with my Bare Minerals eye shadow primer and have been playing around with a new formula.  I liked the Bare Minerals formula but the little tube that the product comes packaged in went much faster than most other formulas that I have used.  I liked the results from this formula but don't know that I would purchase it again unless the company changed the sizing of the tube or offered the tubes in packages of two for a special promotion.  I went through this product too quickly for my happiness and felt the need to order another formula within three weeks in of use.  I went with a formula from Benefit this time around, I have been using formulas from all different companies but Benefit is one that I have used face primers from before but never an eye shadow primer. 

Stay Don't Stray is packaged differently than the past few formulas that I have used and the most similar one to it is the NARS formula.  Both of these formulas are more of a liquid and are applied with a doe foot applicator instead of the traditional cream formula housed in a tube.  I love total change in formula once in a while and this product provides that happiness. 

I ordered this product from Sephora and will use that website for all product details and photographs.  "A primer for concealers and eye shadows.  This dual-action power primer works 360 degrees around the eyes to make concealers and eye shadows stay put. Concealers don't crease; eye shadows stay vibrant and true. Now in two neutral shades to suit all skintones, Stay Don’t Stray features a new dip-n-dab wand for easier application. Remember: just a dab'll do ya!  Sodium hyaluronate is known to hydrate, while vitamins C and E are known to help fight signs of aging."

This eye shadow primer comes in two available shades, one of the light skin tones and one for medium skin tones.  I ordered the Light shade (of course) and wouldn't be able to use the Medium shade unless I would use it as a shade of liquid eye shadow. 

I use next to none of this product to make my eye makeup stay all day long, this is the exact opposite of the Bare Minerals formula.  I will be using this product for the next few months, the tube is good sized and very little product is needed for use.  I use two dots of this product on each eye and then blend them into my eyelid.  I then apply whatever eye makeup that I am going to use that day and I am good to go.

This formula is a thin liquid but is quite tacky and good at keeping Urban Decay glitter eye shadows in place, my litmus test for eye shadow primers.  The product blends easily into my lids and then sets a smooth base for my eye shadows and eye liners, it is thin enough that I work with it easily and then it doesn't change the texture of my eye makeup when it is applied.  It helps my bright eye shadow shades to stay pigmented and vibrant and I can use less of these shadows (versus not using primer at all). 

I get a full eight to ten hours of perfect eye makeup and then it removes decently at the end of the day.  I will admit that I need an extra swipe of eye makeup remover to get all of my eye makeup off when using this product and I would prefer that over having my eye makeup fade half way through the day.  With the little extra remover, I can easily get all of the product off and then have a clean slate for eye cream and treatments. 

This is a very good quality eye shadow primer and can be used by anyone who has never used eye shadow primer all the way to someone that has used every single formula on the Sephora shelves.  This formula belongs in the halls of greatness with NARS and Urban Decay, this is a formula that I love so far and will be using for the next few months and then would definitely repurchase.  I would recommend this formula to anyone interested in this type of product especially to someone that used glitter-heavy formulas or prefer bright hues with tons of pigment.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Benefit The Bronze of Champions Set

Benefit has released several great palettes and sets this spring and today we are going to look at the last of the new ones.  We have looked at all the Neutral palettes and I have been stalking the counter at Sephora so that I can buy at least two of the three palettes.  The set that we are going to look at today is a perfect pick for the summer months, The Bronze of Champions is a set that is primed and perfect for the summer months and I am always on the hunt for great new bronzer formulas to add to my collection.  This set contains Benefit's top selling bronzer and then several shades of makeup to complement my newly bronzed skin...and a great new lip gloss for the summer.  I have been all about Benefit products over the past two years and I want to add as many more of them to my collection as I can.

I can't say what I am the most excited about yet for this collection, I think that I am ready to add another bronzer formula to my collection and I am hoping that this set contains one that I will love to use.  I also want to try this lip gloss formula, I haven't used many lip products from this company and I need to start using them.

"A total bronze kit for eyes, lips, and cheeks.  Get your goddess on with these believable-bronze makeup essentials! Filled with sexy bestsellers, this TAN-talizing box of beauty has all you need to get out there and glow for glory.", states the Sephora website when describing the overall set.  There are quite a few products contained in this set and we will look at each one in more detail so I can decide if there are enough that I want contained in this set for me to purchase the whole set.

The contents of The Bronze of Champions Set...

Watt's Up! Soft Focus Highlighter for Face - A soft-focus highlighter for face.  This cream-to-powder highlighter turns up the wattage with a delicate, gorgeous champagne glow. Its smooth application and luminous sheen switches on the "wow" factor for any complexion. Apply it to cheeks and browbones, then sculpt with the soft-glow blender for your perfect gleam.

Creaseless Cream Eye Shadow - A long-wear cream eye shadow that won’t crease or smudge.  Benefit’s award-winning cream shadows are as crease-resistant and smudge-proof as ever! The 10 incredibly wearable shades (including original favorites RSVP, Birthday Suit, and Skinny Jeans) glide on easily and last all day. It’s fresh and fabulous color for all!  Make it last even longer! Layer long-wear powder shadow over your creaseless cream shadow for extra staying power.
- Bikini-Tini - oyster pink

Longwear Powder Eye Shadow - A powder eye shadow that lasts.  Finally, powder eye shadow in a fabulous long-wearing formula. This soft and silky shadow comes in 12 wearable shades and three finishes: matte, satin, and sheen. From pale shell to brilliant silver, these Benefit eye shadows have got you covered!  Make it last extra long! Layer long-wear powder shadow over your creaseless cream shadow for extra staying power.
- Thanks a Latte - golden brown

Hoola Bronzing Powder - A beautiful bronzing powder.  This powder is like Barbados in a box! Sweep Hoola across the chin, cheeks, and forehead with the accompanying brush for a healthy, natural looking tan year-round— no tanning bed necessary.  Always tap off excess powder to avoid applying too much color. This is a contouring bronzer that can also be used to highlight features of your face.

Ultra Plush Lip Gloss - A silky, plush gloss that glides onto lips.  This dazzling lip gloss drenches your lips in brilliant shine and a burst of juicy color that's never sticky. Loaded with crystal brilliance, color glides on smooth. Just one stroke will give you glimmering, shimmering lips!  The irresistible shades, from sultry nudes to punchy pinks, come in soft-squeeze tubes with a custom tip designed for perfectly even application. To create a beautifully pulled-together look in seconds, pair your favorite gloss with its complementing box o’ powder.
- Hoola - shimmering golden nude

They're Real! Mascara - A jet-black mascara that lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts, and separates lashes for a spectacular "out-to-here" look.  This breakthrough bestseller reveals lashes you never knew you had! The specially designed brush features staggered bristles that grab close to the root, boosting length and volume beyond belief. The custom-domed tip uses precision bristles to lift, define, and curl even your tiniest lashes. With a glossy, jet-black, long-wearing formula, you’ll flaunt luxurious, silky lashes that won’t smudge, clump, or dry out. True story!  Go horizontal! The staggered bristles grab close to the root, boosting length and volume. Then go vertical! The custom-domed tip with precision bristles lift, define, and curl even your tiniest lashes.  
I must buy this set!  I want that bronzer formula and the lip gloss formula, I was a bit afraid that the lip gloss would have been a bronze color but I like this warm nude hue for the summer months.  I have already used several tubes of the They're Real! Mascara and this formula holds a place among the best ones that I have ever used so I am more than happy to add another tube of it to my collection.  I have not tried either of the eye shadows or the highlighter however I have seen all of these products in many palettes and have heard very good things about them in beauty magazines and blogs.  I would like to try all of these products and I will be buying this set the next time that I go to Sephora!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Benefit World Famous Neutrals - Sexiest Nudes Ever

Over the past few weeks, we have looked at two of the three new palettes from Benefit in the World Famous Neutrals collection and today we are looking at the last of the three new palettes.  I will be buying at least one or two of them but I wanted to look at all three of them first and then choose one or two of them to purchase.  I think that the Glamorous palette has been my favorite so far and this is the one that I know that I will be buying and I will decide on the Sexiest palette after I look at it on the Sephora website today.  I have quite a collection of neutral eye shadow shades already and I want to add at least one more of these to my line up.

I own very few eye shadows from Benefit and any ones that I own are contained in palettes or sets.  I don't think that I have every purchased a single eye shadow product from this company and I am unsure of what formulas they offer in powder eye shadow formulas.  If I like these palettes then I will need to look at this company's eye makeup products much closer.  I love their mascara formulas and I hope that the rest of their eye makeup products are just as high quality.  Time to add more to my eye makeup collection!

From the Sephora website, "An eye shadow kit featuring the sexiest nudes ever.  These dramatic, daring eyeshadows in award-winning creaseless creams and new longwear powder shadows make sexy totally wearable! The universally flattering shades layer beautifully—and the tips and tricks show you how to create looks for daytime and playtime. "

This palette contains shades in two of the Benefit eye shadow formulas, Longwear Powder Eye Shadow and Creaseless Cream Eye Shadows.  I have heard many awesome reviews of the Creaseless Cream Eye Shadows and these often make the Sephora and Allure Best of Beauty Awards.

Longwear Powder Eye Shadow - A powder eye shadow that lasts.  Finally, powder eye shadow in a fabulous long-wearing formula. This soft and silky shadow comes in 12 wearable shades and three finishes: matte, satin, and sheen. From pale shell to brilliant silver, these Benefit eye shadows have got you covered!  Make it last extra long! Layer long-wear powder shadow over your creaseless cream shadow for extra staying power.
- Milk It! - pearly white
- Pause For Applause - soft lilac
- Blingo! - brilliant silver
- Raincheck? - smoky amethyst

Creaseless Cream Eye Shadow - A long-wear cream eye shadow that won’t crease or smudge.  Benefit’s award-winning cream shadows are as crease-resistant and smudge-proof as ever! The 10 incredibly wearable shades (including original favorites RSVP, Birthday Suit, and Skinny Jeans) glide on easily and last all day. It’s fresh and fabulous color for all!  Make it last even longer! Layer long-wear powder shadow over your creaseless cream shadow for extra staying power.
- Bikini-tini - oyster pink
- Holy Smokes! - smoldering charcoal

I think that I would like to purchase this palette in addition to the Glamorous Nudes palette, this one will be better at creating a deeper toned neutral eye look.  The Glamorous Nudes would be best for the daytime and then I would this one at nighttime, the charcoal shades in this one would look better for dressing up and going out.  I can safely say that I need both of these palettes and would get lots of use from both of them. 

I have really been liking the new series of palettes from Benefit over the past few months and I want to add both of these to my collection.  I would use these shades right now and then all the way into the fall and winter months and I want to see how well these palette pair with the shades that are in my favorite Urban Decay Naked Palettes.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Benefit World Famous Neutrals - Easiest Nudes Ever

Benefit is fast overtaking Tarte as a company that is known very well for putting out only the best makeup palettes for every single season.  This spring has brought the introduction of several new palettes, including a series called the World Famous Neutrals palettes.  We have looked at one of these palettes so far, the Glamorous Palette and today we are looking at the Easiest Nudes Ever version of the palette.  The Easiest Nudes Ever palette will be more universal than the previous palette, this one contains less dramatic shades and will be very easy for any lady to pull off.  I am thinking that this might be a better palette for the daytime and I would use the other one when getting more dressed up.

"An eyeshadow kit featuring the easiest nudes ever!  These soft, flattering eyeshadows in award-winning creaseless creams and new longwear powder-shadows make enhancing your eyes effortless. The universally flattering shades layer beautifully —and the tips and tricks show you how to create looks for daytime and playtime."  This palette contains some very light shades and then some medium to deep shades and the shades can be mixed up to create very natural or more dramatic eye looks.

A few more details about the shades and products inside!

Longwear Powder Eye Shadow - A powder eye shadow that lasts.  Finally, powder eye shadow in a fabulous long-wearing formula. This soft and silky shadow comes in 12 wearable shades and three finishes: matte, satin, and sheen. From pale shell to brilliant silver, these Benefit eye shadows have got you covered!  Make it last extra long! Layer long-wear powder shadow over your creaseless cream shadow for extra staying power.
- Call My Buff - pale shell
- Quick, Look Busy - matte expresso
- Thanks A Latte - golden brown
- Pinky Swear - soft matte pink

Creaseless Cream Eye Shadow - A long-wear cream eye shadow that won’t crease or smudge.  Benefit’s award-winning cream shadows are as crease-resistant and smudge-proof as ever! The 10 incredibly wearable shades (including original favorites RSVP, Birthday Suit, and Skinny Jeans) glide on easily and last all day. It’s fresh and fabulous color for all!  Make it last even longer! Layer long-wear powder shadow over your creaseless cream shadow for extra staying power.
- R.S.V.P. - sparkling champagne
- No Pressure! - rich fawn

I'm sure which of the palettes that I am the most excited for, I love both of them and I now want to buy both.  I have so many neutral eye shadow shades already and I always want to buy more of them because I use them all the time, I use all the shades in every palette and mix and match between all the palettes.  I love the addition of the pale pink matte hue in this palette, this one will mix so well with the golds and bronzes that I already own, I have been using roses with my neutrals over the past few seasons and I have always loved the results so I am excited to try out with a pale pink.  I am thinking that I will try the pale pink with a gold shadow and then perhaps a bronze eye liner to top it off. 

I am pretty excited for these new palettes from Benefit and I want to buy both of the Neutrals palettes that we have looked at so far.  I can't really pick a favorite between the two because I love both of them so much and would use both of them throughout the whole year.  I am really excited about all the new products that Benefit has been releasing and I will be shopping from this counter at Sephora!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Benefit World Famous Neutrals - Most Glamorous Nudes Ever

Benefit has released several great new palettes for this spring and this is the last one that we have to look at.  I have been waiting to look at this palette since I first saw all the new released from Benefit, a palette full of neutral shades is the one that I would be the most likely to buy and therefore my early favorite of the palette collection.  I still use both of my Naked palettes from Urban Decay on a weekly basis and often look for other palettes that will work well with both of them.  I already have many neutral shades for my eyes but I always buy more since I use them very often and mix them with almost all of the colored eye makeup shades that I own.  My eye makeup collection has only been growing like crazy over the past few months and I fully plan to add this palette to it very soon. 

This is the one palette from Benefit that is eye makeup only, most of them lately have contained products for every feature of the face.  I am actually even more excited that this one is just for eye makeup, I rarely use neutrals on my cheeks or lips and I am very happy that this palette will not have products that I don't use in it.  I can safely say that I will use every single shade in this palette even without going into details yet.  This palette contains a combination of cream and powder eye shadow formulas so this palette will allow me to try more products from this company, I have not yet tried any of their cream eye shadows and this would be a perfect way to do so!  In addition, I found out that this is only one of a series of neutral palettes from Benefit so we will look at one today and then the others over the next few weeks.

The product description and shade details are available on the Sephora website, "An eyeshadow kit featuring the most glamorous nudes ever!  These rich, illuminating eyeshadows in award-winning creaseless creams and new longwear powder-shadows make going glam easy! The universally flattering shades layer beautifully—and the tips and tricks show you how to create looks for daytime and playtime."

The products that are contained in this palette are the Longwearing Powder Eye Shadow and the Creaseless Cream Eye Shadow.

Longwearing Powder Eye Shadow - A powder eye shadow that lasts.  Finally, powder eye shadow in a fabulous long-wearing formula. This soft and silky shadow comes in 12 wearable shades and three finishes: matte, satin, and sheen. From pale shell to brilliant silver, these Benefit eye shadows have got you covered!  Make it last extra long! Layer long-wear powder shadow over your creaseless cream shadow for extra staying power.
- Call My Buff - pale shell
- Gilt-y Pleasure - golden sand
- It's Complicated - golden peach
- Kiss Me, I'm Tipsy - spiced brown

Creaseless Cream Eye Shadow - A long-wear cream eye shadow that won’t crease or smudge.  Benefit’s award-winning cream shadows are as crease-resistant and smudge-proof as ever! The 10 incredibly wearable shades (including original favorites RSVP, Birthday Suit, and Skinny Jeans) glide on easily and last all day. It’s fresh and fabulous color for all!  Make it last even longer! Layer long-wear powder shadow over your creaseless cream shadow for extra staying power.
- Birthday Suit - brushed chrome
- Two Cents - polished copper

I love all six of these eye shadow shades and I must have this palette!  I can't even pick my favorite shade out yet since I think that I will love all of them when I pair them up and mix them together.  My early pick for a favorite might be the copper shade in the cream eye shadow formula, this formula is said to be top-rated and coppers are often wonderful when done in a cream formula.  I am so excited to buy this palette and then to look at the other two that are part of the World Famous Neutrals collection, I do wonder if either of the other two might top this one or is this one will remain my favorite throughout the season.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Benefit Do The Bright Thing

Last week, we looked at one fo the many new palettes and sets that Benefit is coming out with this speing and today we are going to look at another one.  I have been buying a lot more from Benefit in the past year than I ever did before and I have really loved almost every item that I have gotten from them and I don't hesitate to buy anything new from this company now.  I am hoping that they come out with a set that contains small sizes of all of their skincare products, I am really surprised that I cannot find anything like this anywhere since this company always has all kinds of new sets and palettes out every season. 

Do The Bright Thing is the Benefit set that we are going to look at right now, the name of this product caught my eye instantly because I hate how ugly and gray my skin tends to look this time of the year and I will buy anything that promises a brighter complexion.  This set looks as though it contains multiple highlighters and hopefully I should find something to help my face in this set.  With using the Tarte Pure Marajuca Oil, I must say that my skin is better this year than it has been in previous years but I would still like to find a product of two that makes it looks as good as it will in spring!

"A best and brightest total-face makeup kit.  Brighten up your entire look with these brilliant beautifiers! These luminous bestsellers will give your face and cheeks a supermodel glow—and open your eyes with sexy definition."

The set contains the following items...

That Gal Brightening Face Primer - A silky pink primer that makes skin appear smoother and brighter.  Prime your skin to pretty—go from dull to darling with "That Gal"! Wear alone for clear complexion radiance or apply before makeup for a smooth, effortless application. Plus you can use it to re-brighten throughout the day.

High Beam Luminescent Complexion Enchancer - A luminescent complexion enhancer.  Benefit High Beam is an ethereal pink liquid highlighter that creates a radiantly dewy complexion. For an angelic sheen, this pink shimmering lotion adds a soft, natural afterglow.  It's a "supermodel in a bottle" and perfectly alluring on all skin tones.

Dandelion Brightening Face Powder - Fake awake with Dandelion—Benefit's ballerina-pink pressed highlighting powder. Just one stroke of Dandelion takes your complexion from dull to radiant in an instant. It's shimmery, satiny, radiant, perk-me-up finish is guaranteed to make them wonder ..."How do you look so pretty at eight in the morning?"

They're Real!  Beyond Mascara - A jet-black mascara that lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts, and separates lashes for a spectacular "out-to-here" look.  This mascara features an exclusive brush specially designed to maximize the performance of the long-wearing, glossy formula revealing lashes you never knew you had! Staggered bristles grab close to the root, boosting length and volume beyond belief. The precision bristles on the custom-domed tip lift, define, and curl even your tiniest lashes. The end result is luxurious, silky lashes that won't smudge, clump, or dry out.

Bad Gal Liner Waterproof Eye Pencil - A black waterproof eyeliner.  Benefit BADgal Liner Waterproof Eye Liner contains a unique formula that glides on smooth and won't smudge or smear. It has a blending tip on one end so you can smudge your way to a perfect smoky eye.
- Extra Black - jet black

So far, this set looks to be the most promising out of all of them, I can see that Benefit has included most of their top sellers and fan favorites here.  I must try That Gal!, this pink highlighter could be the exact product that I need to help my skin and I will use it all through the spring if it really works.  The exact same will hold true for Dandelion, I want this face powder/blush and I could see myself using this all time, the pink shade will be great for me and I know a bunch of people who love this product.

I think that I will grab this set the next time that I am at Sephora as all of these products hold a lot of potential for making me look more human this winter!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Benefit Primping with the Stars

Last fall, we saw Benefit release a bunch of great palettes right in a row and this spring will be no different.  I think that I see at least two or three new ones on the Sephora website and we aren't even out of the first week of January yet, who knows what else will be waiting for us over the next few weeks.  Primping with the Stars is the first set that really got my attention, I loved the name and it jumped out at me right when I was browsing on the Sephora website.  This is a set that contains some of the best selling and cult items from Benefit, I can already see two of my favorites from this company: They're Real! Mascara and The Pore-fessional Pro Balm.  They're Real! is one of the few mascaras that I would ever repurchase and the primer is one of the best for the warmer weather months (for skin that isn't as dry as mine, this would be a good priming choice for every season in the year).  I also spy the Benetint Lip and Cheek Stain, my first product ever from this company and one that I still use.  I wonder what other cult Benefit favorites will work for me now...

This set is exclusive to Sephora so I will pull all of my information from this company's website.  "An all-time greatest “fake-its” kit for face, cheeks, eyes, and lips that'll make them all starstruck.  Primp yourself to star-worthy status! This collection of Benefit’s iconic favorites for the face, cheeks, eyes, and lips will make you red-carpet gorgeous. Now that’s cause for applause!"

The products in the set!

Stay Don't Stray Stay-Put Primer - A 360 degree primer for concealers and eye shadows.  Tell your eye makeup to stay, don't stray! This dual-action primer works 360 degrees around the eyes to make concealers and eye shadows REALLY stay put. Concealers never crease and eye shadows stay vibrant and true—you'll wonder how you ever lived without it!  Stay Don't Stray preps, protects, AND perfects!  Preps: The lightweight formula blends seamlessly into skin, brightens eye area to minimize the appearance of fine lines, and comes in a universally flattering nude shade.  Protects: Hydrates with sodium hyaluronate to lock in moisture, fights signs of aging with vitamins C & E, and does not contain parabens.  Perfects: It's long-wearing to keep makeup looking fresh, locks on ALL concealers & eye shadows and prevents creasing of eye makeup.

Some Kind-A-Gorgeous Foundation - A sheer, oil-free, cream-to-powder complexion perfector.  This lightweight, translucent, foundation-like product smoothes out imperfections and evens skin tone with a silky, smooth finish that's super natural and super gorgeous.
- Medium - sheer natural beige

Benetint Rose-Tinted Lip and Cheek Stain - The original—and still the best—rose-tinted cheek and lip stain.  Benefit Benetint is a kiss-proof and smudge-proof, indelibly sheer tint. It gives an innocent yet provocative glow to keep everyone guessing, "what has she been up to?"  It's the sexiest flush you can get from a bottle.
- Benetint - rose

The Pore-fessional Pro Balm - A PRO balm that minimizes the appearance of pores.  The POREfessional quickly minimizes the appearance of pores. Apply this silky, lightweight balm to achieve translucent pore coverage and smoother-than-smooth skin. Pores—now you see 'em, now you don't!  Oil-free. Instructions included.

Girl Meets Pearl Liquid Pearl for Face - This soft, golden-pink liquid pearl luminizer features light-reflecting pigments to give your complexion an exquisite, dewy glow. It includes raspberry & chamomile, known for their soothing properties…and sweet almond seed extract known to help improve skin firmness & smoothness. Pat it on over blush to highlight cheekbones with a pop of pearly pleasure!  Pat & blend over makeup for eye-catching luminescence. Wondering how much to apply? One twist for subtle sheen…two or more for dewy radiance.
- Girl Meets Pearl - rose gold shimmer

They're Real! Beyond Mascara - A jet-black mascara that lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts, and separates lashes for a spectacular "out-to-here" look.  This mascara features an exclusive brush specially designed to maximize the performance of the long-wearing, glossy formula revealing lashes you never knew you had! Staggered bristles grab close to the root, boosting length and volume beyond belief. The precision bristles on the custom-domed tip lift, define, and curl even your tiniest lashes. The end result is luxurious, silky lashes that won't smudge, clump, or dry out. 

I am thinking that buying this set would be a great choice for me, I already know that I will use and love three of the products.  Both the primer and the mascara are top choices of mine and I would never turn down a reason to pick up some more of these two products.  And if i can get more of these two products and then try some new ones out yet too?!  I want this set!

Girl Meets Pearl is the product that I am most interested in, I want to use it over blush when I go out at night.  I do think that it might be too much for the daytime hours but will look wonderful at night to brighten up my pale skin this time of the year.  This product could make my winter pale skin look a million times better.  I am always game to try a new eye shadow primer so I will use the Stay, Don't Stray that is included with this set, I love it when I can find a new formula of eye shadow primer that works as well at the Urban Decay version of the product, I need to have a few good formulas just in case Urban Decay would be sold out of what I want or change up their formula. 

The foundation shade in this set might be too dark for me, I would have to hold this product until next summer when I have used self-tanner a few times.  I typically would only use a power formula during the warm weather months anyway, my skin is too dry in the fall and winter for it to work well.  I will have to put this product on the back burner for the moment.

So far I love the new sets from Benefit and I am so excited to see what other sets come out in the next few months!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Benefit Erase Paste

It is officially winter and between holiday stress and the end of the semester stress, my skin is looking worse than ever.  In addition to how pale and dull I fear that it looks, my dark undereye circles seem to be more defined and darker than ever before.  The MAC concealer that I have been using for the past few months now doesn't seem to be doing anything and I need a product with a thicker texture and much more pigmentation for this area.  I was considering ordering another tube of Amazing Concealer, a product that has done a great job for me in the past but I wanted to read the reviews of all kinds of concealers on the Sephora website and see if there is a gem that I haven't tried yet.  At this point in time, I am over the holidays and just want the fuss to be over with so that I can battle winter head on and go right into a very hard next semester.

Ignoring all the holiday gifts and glitz, I went right to the Makeup area of the website.  There is no point in me going to the store this time of the season, I will not get anywhere near the counters with all the holiday shoppers trying to get the last few people crossed of their lists.  Based on the fact that I had to order online and cannot try shades or formulas, I wanted to stick with a vrand that I have used many items from before and have trusted for a few years now, when Sephora is empty at the end of March, I can try something totally off the wall and from a brand that I have never tried anything from.  Also, I wanted to find a product that I could trust and that I knew would work the first time that I used it and I wouldn't then have to find another product to order.

Based on the brand's reputation and the reviews that I found on the Sephora website, I decided to order the lightest shade of Benefit's best selling concealer, Erase Paste.  "A brightening camouflage for the eyes and face.  Benefit Erase Paste is a concentrated, creamy, blendable concealer that instantly brightens and camouflages all-in-one. It has an innovative formula which makes sure signs of stress and fatigue are a thing of the past. These three brightening neutral shades give every gal correction perfection.  Erase Paste includes a step-by-step concealing and brightening lesson and a handy little spatula."

This concealer comes in three shades; one for fair skin, one for medium skin, and then one for darker skin tones.  Of course, I ordered the fairest shade in this product, my skin is at its palest in the winter and I won't get any color until I begin self tanning next summer.  The lightest shade is the best for my skintone, it is pretty light and I would think that most ladies will use the middle shade in the range.

Benefit suggests the following usage for this product, "Scoop a tiny amount out of jar with spatula. Dot with ring finger onto any shadowed areas under eyes or on face.   Blend evenly and smoothly."  The first time that I used this product, I dipped my concealer brush right into the jar and barely any product stuck to it, I then tried to put the brush in on its side and still got next to no product sticking to the brush.  The next time that I used the product, I decided to actually follow the directions provided by the company and this time around it worked much better.  I used the spatula one time to get the product out, however I also found out that I can dip my fingertip right into the product and then dot the product onto my undereye area.  Either way works, but I don't recommend trying to dip the brush right into the product itself.  The concealer is thicker than many other formulas, so once I get out it, I have to warm it up in between my fingertips in order to best apply it.  Once I have it dotted in place, then I can blend it with a flat concealer brush and set it with loose powder. 

I use the product mostly for dark circles, I have not yet had any blemishes that have needed to be covered.  I bet that it will work very well for blemishes since it it so thick a formula.  I would not recommend this formula for those with very oily skin, since it has the potential to only make it worse.  This formula is best for normal to dry skin that is in need of good spot coverage.  The light reflecting particles may this product recommended more for use on dark circles, they help to conceal them and improve the overall appearance of the area.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Benefit Sugarlicious Lip and Cheek Set

I have been talking about the three new Benefits sets for the past few weeks and I am happy to report that they are now available for purchase on the Sephora website.  We began looking at these sets when they were just a preview on the Sephora and I am so excited that I can actually purchase these products now!  Today we are going to look at the last set in the new collection, Sugarlicious.  Sugarlicious is another set that is a collection of cheek and lip products, I loved the Feelin' Dandy set and I wonder if this set will be as wonderful for me as that set of pinks is.

Sugarlicious is a series of products that are all nude shades, this set should work well with almost every single skintone and I believe it will be very easy to wear in many situations.  I still haven't been able to decide which set I think will sell the best, all of the sets have great products and will work best for different skin tones and seasons.  Sugarlicious and Feelin' Dandy will work best for me in the fall months, TropiCORAL will be best for me in the summer months when I have a fake tan.  Over the past few months, I have been all over Benefit products and I have found some great new items from this line!

From the Sephora website, "A four-piece lip and cheek kit in deliciously nude shades.  This pocket-sized kit features sweet and soft shades for a fresh, natural-looking glow.  It includes an iconic tint, award-winning cheek color, luscious lip gloss, and sexy highlighter - all in a chic mirrored compact - so you can add a pop of color to your look morning, noon, and night."  This set includes the following products: Benetint Lip and Cheek Tint, Sugarbomb Box O' Powder, High Beam Highlighter, and Ultra Plush Sugarbomb Lip Gloss.  Benetint is one of the best-selling products from this company and the stain that inspired every other product on the market today, I will be using mine all the time this fall to create a subtle red lip and to create a lasting base for my red lipstick shades.
More details about the products in this set!
Benetint - The original - and still the best - rose-tinted lip and cheek stain.  Benefit Benetint is a kiss-proof and waterproof, indelibly sheer tint.  It gives an innocent yet provocative glow to keep everyone guessing, "what has she been up to?".  It's the sexiest flush you can get from a bottle.
- red rose

Sugarbomb Box O' Powder - A "sugar rush flush" facial powder.  Gimme me some sugar - with Sugarbomb!  These four unique shades of rose, shimmering pink, soft plum, and peach blend together for perfectly for a delicious "sugar rush flush".
- peach/rose/shimmering pink/soft plum

High Beam - A luminescent complexion enhancer.  Benefit High Beam is an ethereal pink liquid highlighter that creates a radiantly dewy complexion.  For an angelic sheen, this pink shimmering lotion adds a soft, natural afterglow.  It's a "supermodel in a bottle" and perfectly alluring on all skin tones.

Ultra Plush Lip Gloss - A silky, plush gloss that glides onto lips.  This dazzling lip gloss drenches your lips in brilliant shine and a burst of juicy color that's never sticky.  Loaded with crystal brilliance, color glides on smooth.  Just one stroke will give you glimmering, shimmering lips.  The irresistible shades, from sultry nudes to punchy pinks, come in soft-squeeze tubes with a custom tip designed for perfectly even application.  To create a beautifully pulled-together look in seconds, pair your favorite gloss with its complementing Box O' Powder.
- Sugarbomb - shimmering pinky nude

This set will be easiest for me to wear all throughout the year, I love the pink nudes that have been included in here.  This shade of Ultra Plush Lip Gloss could very easily become a staple in my makeup case, I can wear this shade with a natural look or against a strong eye makeup look.  While I mostly am planning to buy eye makeup products for the fall months, I do need to make sure that I have a variety of subtle lip gloss and lipstick shades that will pair well with very strong eye makeup looks. 

The Sugarbomb Box O' Powder has me very intrigued, I can't wait to see how these four shades blend together on my cheeks.  I have read lots about this product but I haven't tried it yet, I will have to change that very soon though I do wonder how if this blush shade will work better on my pale skin or when I have a bit of fake tan.  I will need to try the product at Sephora and decide if I should buy it now or wait until the end of next spring. 

I can see some big Benefit purchases in my very near future...

photo courtesy of Sephora

Benefit Feelin' Dandy Lip and Cheek Kit

We have already looked at the first of the new Benefit sets, the Go TropiCoral set will be best for the summer months or a skintone that is naturally tanner than mine.  I haven't seen them at the stores yet so I haven't decided if I plan to buy that set now and set it aside for the next summer season.  I should be totally focused on fall shopping but I am now already thinking about things that I might love next spring and summer and how I plan to try and store all of these products, the last behavior that I need to adopt is shopping all year round for every season but these Benefit sets might inspire that in me!

Today we are looking at another one of the new sets, Feelin' Dandy is another lip and cheek-based set of products however the shades look like they will be on the cooler side and therefore a set that I could actually use going into the fall and winter months.  I have been insisting that I need to buy more eye makeup products this fall and not more blushes and lip shades however I am not heeding my own advice and have been buying all different types of products if I love them.  My lip gloss and lipstick collection is really getting too large but that hasn't stopped me yet and I doubt that it will any time over the next few months...

As of right now, this set will only be available at the Sephora stores and on their website in early August.  "A perk-me-up lip and cheek kit in assorted pinks.  You'll look radiant and pretty with this pocket-size lip and cheek kit that features a tint, award-winning cheek color, luscious gloss, and sexy highlighter - all in a pretty mirrored box - so you can add a pop of color to your look morning, noon, or night."  This set contains - Posietint, Dandelion Box O' Powder, High Beam Highlighter, and Ultra Plush Lip Gloss in Dandelion.  I love all the pink shades for both lips and cheeks that are in this set, this set has my name written all over and I will have no problems pulling off any of the products contained in it!

Here are some more details about the products that are housed in the Feelin' Dandy Set!

Posietint - A poppy-tinted lip and cheek stain.  Benefit's Posietint is a petal-pink stain that plants a kiss of see-through tint on cheeks and lips.  With hours of smudge-proof, just-picked perfection, you'll be the prettiest bloom in the bunch!

Ultra Plush Lip Gloss - A silky, plush gloss that glides onto lips.  This dazzling lip gloss drenches your lips in brilliant shine and a burst of juicy color that's never sticky.  Loaded with crystal brilliance, color glides on smooth.  Just one stroke will give you glimmering, shimmering lips.  The irresistible shades, from sultry nudes to punchy pinks, come in soft-squeeze tubes with a custom tip designed for perfectly even application.  To create a beautifully pulled-together look in seconds, pair your favorite gloss with it complementing box o' powder.
- Dandelion - soft pearly pink

Box O' Powder in Dandelion - Fake awake with Dandelion - Benefit's ballerina-pink pressed pink highlighting powder.  Just one stroke of Dandelion takes your complexion from dull to radiant in an instant.  It's shimmery, satiny, radiant, perk-me-up finish is guaranteed to make them wonder...'How do you look so pretty at eight in the morning?".

High Beam Highlighter - A luminescent complexion enhancer.  Benefit High Beam is an ethereal pink liquid highlighter that creates a radiantly dewy complexion.  For an angelic sheen, this pink shimmering lotion adds a soft, natural afterglow.  It's a "supermodel in a bottle" and perfectly alluring on all skin tones.
This is one of the few sets where I know that I would use every single product in the whole case.  Posietint will be a great bright pink stain that I plan to use as a blush, I can wear this now and then all the way into the cool weather months.  I don't know that I would it as a lip color quite as much but I like having the option, I just love this bright pink shade!  The Box O' Powder is a lighter pink so I would save this shade for fall and winter, light pinks tend to show up better when I don't have a fake tan and I am wearing brighter shades right now that pop against my tan.  The matching lip gloss will work well all year long for me, any shade of pale pink will work for me and I will use it on a regular basis.  Lastly, I would use the High Beam at night to enhance the area around my eyes and cheekbones. 

This is my favorite of the boxes that we have looked at so far and this is the one that I want the most.  Any shade of pink is usually very flattering for me and this set would add some great choices to my makeup arsenal.  I love been loving Benefit products recently and this set is another hit.  We have one more set to look at over the next few days and hopefully the Sephora website will get them at the very beginning of August so I can head over there very soon.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Benefit Go TropiCORAL Lip and Cheek Kit

The great releases from Benefit just keep coming and coming, I have loved almost everything that has come out from this company over the past few months from both the skincare and the makeup collections.  To keep the great choices coming, Benefit is releasing three great sets at the end of July/beginning of August.  Today we will look at the one that I am the most excited about and that I am considering ordering as soon as it becomes available on the Sephora website, Go TropiCORAL.  Each of these sets contains some o the best-selling Benefit products and are targeted for certain areas of the face.  TropiCORAL contains shades for the lips and cheeks, all of which will be better for my skin in the summer since they will complement a tan.  I would be likely to order this set right away and use it until Labor and then decide what shades would skip work for me in the fall and what pieces would have to put away until next summer.

These sets are currently Sephora exclusives so all the information will be coming from this website.  As I stated above, the products are not yet available for order but Sephora will email you exactly when they become available.  I would recommend taking this route if this is a product that you can't live without, using the email alerts for Urban Decay was the way that I got my Naked 2 palette in the first round.

"A four piece lip and cheek kit that seriously turns up the heat.  The pocket-sized kit features warm and vibrant shades for a sultry, tropical look.  It includes an iconic tint, award-winning cheek color, luscious lip gloss, and sexy highlighter - all in a mirrored box - so you can add a pop of color to your look."  This set contains the following products: Cha Cha Tint, Coralista, High Beam, Ultra Plush in Coralista.

Here are some more details on the products you will be getting with this set!

Cha Cha Tint - A mango-tinted lip and cheek stain.  This mango-tinted stain beautifully blushes lips and cheeks with a tropical sunset hue.  Smooch-proof and smudge-proof, this sheer stain will have you looking deliciously sun-kissed for hours.

Coralista - A warm coral-pink powder that warms up your complexion.  Take a tropical pleasure trip with Coralista.  Sweep with this warm coral pink powder onto cheeks anytime, anywhere.  move your brush to the beat and turn up the heat...bikini optional!

High Beam - A luminescent complexion enhancer.  Benefit High Beam is an ethereal pink liquid highlighter that creates a radiantly dewy complexion.  For an angelic sheen, this pink shimmering lotion adds a soft, natural afterglow.  It's a "supermodel in a bottle" and perfectly alluring on all skin tones.

Ultra Plush Lip Gloss - A silky, plush gloss that glides onto lips.  This dazzling lip gloss drenches your lips in billiant shine and a burst of juicy color that's never sticky.  Loaded with crystal brilliance, color glides on smooth.  Just one stroke will give you glimmering, shimmering lips.  The irresistible shades, from sultry nudes to punchy pinks, come in soft-squeeze tubes with a custom tip designed for perfectly even application.  To create a beautifully pulled together look in seconds, pair your favorite gloss with its complementing Box O' Powder.  Coralista is a sheer coral shade.
As I stated above, this set will be best in the summer months, the only product that I think that I could pull off in the fall and winter months is the High Beam highlighter.  I am on the fence about the Cha Cha Tint, I am slightly concerned about the mango tint of this product, this might be too warm for me to pull off, I will have to try this product at the counter before I consider ordering this set.  I hope that this isn't the case because I love this set and don't want an issue with a single product to ruin it for me.  The Coralista blush will be great with tanned skin, this one will be best in the summer months and for a more natural look.  The same reasoning holds for the lip gloss, these two shades will only be used when I have a fake tan.

This would have to be a summer purchase for me, if I can't get until mid-August then I will put it aside until next June.  As of right now, my purchase decision hinges on the Cha Cha Tint, I must try this product at the counter and see how warm it really is.  We will look at the next two sets over the next few weeks and then I will really decide what my favorite one and top shopping choice is!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Benefit The Pretty Committee Set

Anyone who reads this blog regularly is beginning to notice that I have been all over Benefit products for the past six months, ever since I started using their Triple Moisture Face Cream, it seems like the brand has come alive for me and I have been putting more and more products from this brand into my summer beauty regime.  The Bella Bamba lip gloss will be out soon and I am still stalking the Sephora website for the offical release so that I can order the product for myself.  While I was stalking the website, I started browsing all of the Benefit products to see what else I could find that I might want to order.  While I was enjoying myself, I laid eyes on a great set of products, one of which is the full-size version of the Bella Bamba Blush, one of my current favorite products.  I have always found Benefit to offer fantastic sets that allow the user to try out a variety of their best products.

This set is named The Pretty Committee, a set that includes a bright pink blush and a series of brightening skin products.  This set is very attractive to me, it contains one of my current favorite Benefit products and three others that I have never tried.  So this set will give me a back up of my blush and will let me try out a few new products, I am all over The Pretty Committee Set!
I found this set on the Sephora website and it states that it will be exclusive to this retailer, so I will pull all of the set and product information right from this website.  "A four-piece set that everything you need to perk up and glow.  The votes are in and the committee agrees - it's all about bright!  Filled with Benefit's most brilliant bestsellers, this festive set gives all complexions a perky, pretty glow.  High Beam enhances complexions with a luminescent veil, while Eye Bright adds an instant pink lift to wake up the eyes.  Bella Bamba face powder adds a 3D brightening to the face, and Stay Don't Stray doubles as a stay-put primer for concealers and eye shadows."

Here are the four products that are contained in the set!

High Beam - A luminescent complexion enhancer.  Benefit High Beam is an ethereal pink liquid highligher that creates a radiantly dewy complexion.  For an angelic sheen, this pink shimmering lotion adds a soft, natural afterglow.  It's a "supermodel in a bottle" and perfectly alluring on all skin tones.

Eye Bright - A pink perk-me-up stick to brighten the eyes.  Benefit Eye Bright has a pop of pink that brightens your eyes and your spirits instantaneously.  It's like a nap in a stick - keep it handy for afternoon touch-ups.

Bella Bamba - A watermelon-pink blush laced with shimmering gold undertones.  This boxed blush, with a mirrow tucked inside a magnetic closure flip-top lid, amplifies cheekbones and creates the illusion of sculpted features for a gorgeous 3D effect.  Your face will look instantly brighter with a just a quick swipe of this ultra-flattering color on the cheeks.

Stay Don't Stray - A 360 degree primer for conealers and eye shadows.  Tell your makeup to stay, don't stray!  This dual-action primer works 360 degrees around the eyes to make concealers and eye shadows REALLY stay put.  Concealers never crease and eye shadows stay vibrant and true - you'll wonder how you ever lived without it!  Stay Don't Stray preps, protects, AND perfects.  Preps: The lightweight formula blends seamlessly into skin, brightens eye area to minimze the appearance of fine lines, and comes in a universally flattering nude shade.  Protects: Hydrates with sodium hyaluronate to lock in moisture, fights signs of aging with Vitamins C and E, and does not contain parabens.  Perfects: It's long-wearing to keep makeup looking fresh, locks on ALL concealers and eye shadows, and prevents creasing of eye makeup.
With the exception of having a back up to Bella Bamba, I can say that I am most excited about the Stay Don't Stray primer.  I currently am on my last tube of Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion (I amassed quite a collection of them when receiving tubes with nearly every single set and palette that I purchased from this company) and I need to buy another eye primer soon.  I am looking forward to seeing if this set will be available in the stores and hopefully I can get the Bella Bamba gloss and set at the same time.  Benefit is quickly turning into a company that I am relying on more and more to find great new products!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Benefit Box O' Powders Ultra Plush Lip Gloss - Coming Soon!

One of my favorite products that I have been using this summer is my Benefit Bella Bamba Blush and one of the most exciting previews that I have seen this month is that a series of lip glosses with be released to match some of the best-selling Benefit Blush shades.  So far, this collection of glosses is listed as a "Coming Soon" on the Sephora website but I am just so excited that I wanted to share with everyone.  I don't have a release date yet on these products and it will take at least a week after the website release for the new glosses to be available in the stores.  I will be all over the Bella Bamba lip gloss when I can finally order it!

Sephora provides a full description on this product, I looked for this release on the Benefit website and couldn't find any details so I have to assume that this is a Sephora-only release (at least for the time being).  "A silky, plush gloss that glides onto lips.  This dazzling lip gloss drenches your lips in brilliant shine and a burst of juicy color that's never sticky.  Loaded with crystal brilliance, color glides on smooth.  Just one stroke will give you glimmering, shimmering lips!  The irresistible shades, from sultry nudes to punchy pinks, come in soft-squeeze tubes with a custom tip designed for perfectly even application.  To create a beautifully pulled-together look in seconds, pair your favorite lip gloss with its complementing box o' powder."

The shades of the gloss match the shades of the best-selling Benefit Blushes.  I see that Bella Bamba will be available in a lip gloss shade but that Thrrob is not going to be available.  For the longest time, I thought that Thrrob was discontinued but I still see it at the Benefit counter at my local Sephora.  This gloss will be available in six shades, however this is a great shade range in that there is at least one or two shades to suit everyone's skin tone.

Here are the blush-inspired lip gloss shades from Benefit!

- Dandelion - soft pearly pink
- Sugarbomb - shimmering pinky nude
- Dallas - dusty rose
- Bella Bamba - sheer bright watermelon
- CORALista - sheer coral
- Hoola - shimmering golden nude

I love the Bella Bamba shade and I want to create a summer look around the use of the blush and lip gloss, this look will be fabulous will a tan and will be perfect for weekends.  Dandelion will work well when my skin is a bit on the paler side since it is a pale pink shade, I now want both the gloss and the matching blush.  Sugarbomb will also be better for a more natural look when my skin is paler and both of the products in this shade will be very flattering.  Dallas is a more pigmented rose shade and I will be adding both of these products to this collection for the fall months.
I can't wait until this lip gloss is released and the overview of the shades has me even more excited.  This little collection will be havok on my wallet, I now want four lip glosses from the group and it also has introduced me to three new blush shades that I want to buy.  I tend to skip over Benefit blushes and head right to NARS and Illamasqua shades but between looking at these shades and how happy I have been with Bella Bamba over the past few weeks, I want to add more shades from this blush lineup to my overflowing traincase...

photo courtesy of Sephora

My Current Favorites!

It is almost the middle of June and I am firmly into my summer beauty routine and have been cultivating my coveted self tan.  When I get into my self-tanning routine, I have to change my whole makeup routine and most of my skincare regime.  I have been stuck on the Bath and Body Works Tru Blue Spa self tanning lotion since early last summer and have been rebiying bottles of it every since.  I have even looked at some different formulas from Sephora but I keep going back to the same kind of tanner that I have been using for over a year now.  I wish that this product was sold in gallon sizes, this is the only size that would get me all the way through until Labor Day...

My most-coveted product right now is that tanner that I have been talking about and it is the center of my entire summer beauty routine.  I have built up an impressive fake tan that makes me look as though I just got back from the Islands.  I started using the product when I was on vacation from work and when I went back, everyone thought that I spent a week laying on the beach.  Nope...just two sessions with one of the best and most accessible Spa-inspired body product lines on the beauty market today!

My current beauty loves!

Bath and Body Works Bronzing Self Tanning Lotion - "Strike gold right at home.  This luxurious sunless tanning lotion is a real treasure that will give you a perfect tan, thanks to a touch of instant sheer color that lets you see where you've applied it.  Vitamin E helps to moisturize skin.  Glistening gold formula provides instant bronzing.  Tantalizing tropical coconut fragrance."  This is one of the best self tanning formulas that I have ever use, it works on par with the St. Tropez formula and is much easier to find.  The bronze tint in this product makes it easy to see where I have applied and rubged this product in and the watery texture sinks right into skin and dries quickly, even in the most humid of summer weather.  I get so many compliments on my "tan" when I use this product and even my closest friends are shocked that my tan is totally fake!  I will go through at least three or four tubes of this product before Labor Day and I will have a great "tan" all summer long.
Illamasqua Nail Varnish is Collide - "A spectrum of bold shades with a range of finishes including matt, rubber, and high-gloss.  Award-winning, extremely hardwearing and chip-resistant, there's an Illamasqua Nail Varnish for every shade of humanity.  Apply two coats for intensity and use with Illamasqua Nail Base Coat and Illamasqua Nail Top Coat for the perfect finish."  Collide is a neon shade satin finish polish that has been a top choice in my polish rotation for the past few weeks.  This is the perfect neon pink shade, I love that it has no shimmer in it and the satin finish allows the color to be the spotlight instead of glitter and shimmer.  Neon pink is very popular this summer and the stellar formula on this polish (four to five days with no chipping) allows this one to really go the distance and is one of the best choices for pink shades this summer.

MAC Hey, Sailor! Bronzing Powder in Soft Sand - "A lightly frosted, tinted powder that gives skin sheer, natural colour effects and higlights.  Ideal to enhance and strengthen a tan.  Packaged in blue and white stripes, it's a match to everything Hey, Sailor!.  Limited edition."  Soft Sand is a "golden bronze with fine gold pearl", this shade is the best choice of the whole collection for fair to medium skin that doesn't get very dark even with the use of self-tanner.  The shimmer in this powder in very fine so the tan that is produced by this product is very natural looking and the product can be used during the day and night.  I have been using this bronzer almost every single day since I started self-tanning at the end of May and it has been a key element is keeping up my tanned complexion.

MAC Hey, Sailor! Eye Shadow in Barefoot - "Highly pigmented powder.  Applies evenly, blends well.  Packaged in blue and white stripes, it's a match to everything Hey, Sailor!.  Limited edition."  Barefoot is a "tarnished gold" with a frosty metallic finish.  This is a very pigmented, neutral gold that brings out my blue eyes and looks wonderful against a fake tan.  I have been using this with the matching eye liner from this collection and the combination of the two products has allowed to me to have a great foiled gold eye look that stays in place all day and night.  I really wish that this shade wasn't a limited edition for MAC...

Benefit Bella Bamba Blush - "A watermelon pink blush laced with shimmering gold undertones.  This boxed blush, with a mirror tucked inside a magnetic closure flip-top lid, amplifies cheekbones and creates the illusion of sculpted features for a gorgeous 3D effect.  Your face will look instantly brighter with a just a quick swipe of this ultra-flattering color on the cheeks."  This shade is a bright peachy pink that looks best with a fake tan, this is one of those blush shades that looks nice against pale skin but pops against a tan.  The bright shade wakes my face up and creates a bright flush on my cheeks.  This blush makes my face look as though I have been relaxing at the beach all day.  I received a sample of this product as part of the Sephora Beauty Insider program and it is so pigmented that I will be using the sample all summer and then I will buy the full product next summer.  I am hearing that a lip gloss will be released in this shade over the next week and I am very excited to try this product too!

My whole summer beauty look focuses around the tan that is created with the Bath and Body Works tanner.  The watermelon blush, bright gold eye shadow, and bright pink nail polish all serve to really enhance the tan and create a perfect summer look that is both right on trend and very fun.  I am thinking that this products and shades will be in my line up all through until Labor Day!

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Benefit Benetint Pocket Pal

The other week when I was looking at the new Benefit set that has come out for the release of Snow White and Huntsman, I realized that I have a tube of the Benetint Pocket Pal that I have never reviewed even though I have used it on and off for a few years now.  I remember buying my first jar of Benetint when I was a senior in college and I went through it very quickly during the fall semester, I was wearing a subtle red lip almost everyday with a clear gloss on top of it.  When I went to repurchase the product, I was creating a sheer red lip less than I was before and I would go through the product much slower than I was before so I decided to purchase a smaller size than I traditionally would.

That day at Sephora, I decided to purchase the Benetint Pocket Pal instead of the full-sized bottle, the original product is made to be used on both lips and cheeks but this product's packaging seems to be geared more for use only on lips.  I only ever used it on my cheeks once or twice so this new packaging style doesn't bother me at all.  "This glossy color wand is your best beauty pal.  A mini Benetint - the original and still the best rosy lip and cheek stain is paired with a clear shiny gloss on the other end.  Carry it in the handy pocket protector and you'll have kiss-proof, smudge-proof with you wherever you go."  The stain part of this product is applied with a small brush, it is best to use it to dot the product on and then quickly (and I do mean quickly!) apply and smudge the product to your desired shade.  The clear gloss comes packaged with the traditional sponge foot applicator that we see in many lip glosses on the market.

For those of you that don't have a background with this product, I will provide a few quick details on the Benetint stain itself.  "The original - and still the best - rose-tinted cheek and lip stain.  Benefit Benetint is a kiss-proof and waterproof, indelibly sheer tint.  It gives an innocent yet provocative glow to keep everyone guessing, "What has she been up to?"  It's the sexiest flush you can get from a bottle."  The texture is a thin, watery liquid that absorbs quickly into the skin and needs to be blended in right after application.  It creates a bright red flush on the cheeks and a sheer red tint on the lips.  I find the product to be more flattering when used as a lip product, I dislike the bright red blush look on my cheeks.  I feel that when used on the cheeks, it makes my ruddiness look much worse than it normally does, this is one of the few cheek shades that I cann't wear at all. 

As a lip product, it produces a sheer cherry red flush on the lip.  My favorite aspect of using this stain is that it sets quickly and then will stay on all day long, this product doesn't budge until I wash it off at night.  A clear or shimmery gloss is needed for use with this stain as it doesn't hydrate at all and my lips still get dry throughout the day.  That was my main complaint with the product ever since I had been using it and I was very excited to see that Benefit addressed this and created a product to correct the issue.  One of the best uses of this product is apply it before using red lipstick and as the lipstick wears off, the hue remains and looks more even than when the lipstick just wears off.

Stain products can be a bit harder to apply the first few times that you use them, they set quickly and then stay that way until removal.  I have had it look uneven and unblended before and I have found that this issue is usually worse when it is used on the cheeks.  The product is much easier and more flattering to use on the lips and among my friends that use the product, more use it exclusively on the lips.  I know very few people who use it on the cheeks. 

Benetint has been best-selling product for many years now, it is now considered a cult product and often wins all types of beauty awards.  This is the first product of its kind and so many companies have tried to imitate it.  Benetint remains the best-selling of all the products and is still the top rated stain on the beauty market.  I do wonder if there is anyone in the country who hasn't tried this stain yet...

photo courtesy of Sephora

Benefit Snow White and the Huntsman - Rare Beauty Kit

Summer is one of the best season for movie buffs, almost all the big releases for the year come out in the summer season and the movie theaters clean up big when it gets too hot to be outside.  I am not a movie person, I maybe see one movie a year on the big screen so I can't say that the summer blockbusters excite me all that much.  One of the few movies that I actually want to see this summer is Snow White and the Huntsman, this movie looks quite interesting and I love the makeup looks that I am seeing in the press pictures for this film.  But perhaps even better than the movie itself is the makeup set that was released by Benefit to tie in with the release of the movie.
This set by Benefit helps to recreate the look worn by Snow White in the new movie and has just been released on the Sephora website.  This set contains five products that are needed for the Snow Wbhite makeup look, two of the products are current favorites of mine so this would be a great set for me to own.  "A five-piece makeup kit that delivers the fairest look of the land.  This pretty and practical makeup kit lets you look into the magic mirror to reveal skin pure as snow, rose red lips and cheeks, an enchanting glow, and lashes black as night.  The included train case features a fairy tale-inspired lavender and silver metallic print."  The set contains the following products: BadGal Lash Mascara, The PoreFessional, Benetint, High Beam, and the makeup case.  Everyone that reads this blog knows how much I love the BadGal Lash Mascara and I am currently on the last squeezes of my tube of The PoreFessional and I have been getting great results from it.  I would purchase this set for replacements of these two products alone.  I have a bottle of Benetint that I rarely use and I actually forgot to review it for this blog (will be correcting that very soon!) and I think that I have a huge sample of High Beam that I once got at Sephora (need to try soon!) so I am very confident that this set would be a worthwhile purchase for me!

A few more details about the products inside...

High Beam - A luminscent complexion enhancer.  Benefit High Beam is an ethereal pink liquid highlighter that creates a radiantly dewy complexion.  For an angelic sheen, this pink shimmering lotion adds a soft, natural afterglow.  It's a "supermodel in a bottle" and perfectly alluring on all skin tones.
Benetint - The original - and still the best - rose-tinted cheek and lip stain.  Benefit Benetint is a kiss-proof and waterproof, indelibly sheer tint.  It gives an innocent yet provocative glow to keep everyone guessing, "What has she been up to?".  It's the sexiest flush you can get from a bottle.

The PoreFessional - A Pro balm that minimizes the appearance of pores.  The PoreFessional quickly minimizes the appearance of pores.  Apply this silky, lightweight balm to achieve translucent pore coverage and smoother-than-smooth skin.  Pores - now you see-em, now you don't!  Oil-free.

BadGal Lash Mascara - The BadGal line of mascaras from Benefit are full of "Bad-itude!".  The rich, sexy formula and oversized brush build thick, beautiful, and bodacious lashes.  BadGal Lash (the original) is like a set of sexy black false eyelashes...without the glue! 

Even if this movie doesn't live up to my hopes, this set lives up to my hopes.  I already use The PoreFessional and BadGal Lash so this set is worthy of a purchase for me.  Benetint will also be getting use from me very soon and I hope to have a review of this product up within the next few weeks, I am thinking that I will be using it more as a lip shade and not a cheek shade.  I don't know how well the red tint will work on my cheeks but I know that it will work for my lips. 

The icing on the cake is that these great products are all contained in a very pretty makeup bag, this is one of the few bags that I have seen lately that I really like and would buy by itself.  Hopefully the movie is as good as this set of products.  But however the movie turns out, I will be looking like Snow White this fall!

photo courtesy of Sephora