Benefit

Benefit’s Blushes Lighten Up for the Holidays With the $36 Benefit Cheeky Sweet Spot Box O’ Blushes Holiday Set

November 7th, 2014 by Karen 21 Comments

Behold! In my hand, friends, isn’t just the latest holiday set from Benefit. What we have here is bonafide makeup history!

Yes, years from now, when some intrepid filmmaker/makeup lover makes a Behind the Music-style documentary about Benefit and the Bene-babes who love it, the new $36 Cheeky Sweet Spot Box O’ Blushes will get a mention, for sure, since it’s basically Benefit’s version of the moon landing.

For the first time ever, the brand is releasing a palette filled with their famous Box O’ Blushes (and one rand-o pan of Watt’s Up Illuminator) in a limited edition holiday set.

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The Countdown Is On, But the Price Is Up: The New Benefit Candy-Coated Countdown Advent Calendar

November 6th, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

I am totally that girl who opens every compartment in an advent calendar in one feel swoop.

Perhaps it’s my ~~impatient~~ curious nature. 🙂

It’s not even December yet, but I couldn’t wait to unlock the hidden treasures in this one from Benefit, the Candy-Coated Countdown Advent Calendar ($99).

You’re “supposed” to open one compartment at a time, one per day, beginning on December first for 24 days.

“Supposed” to.

Tucked within each compartment resides a different beauty treasure…

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9 Out of 10 Reindeer Agree: The $39 Benefit Pretty Parfait Holiday Set Is Cute

November 4th, 2014 by Karen 23 Comments

Guess who’s already started holiday shopping?

No, not Tabs… He always waits till the last minute.

This girl! This girl has already started. Because I absolutely refuse to be running around at the last minute a la the proverbial headless chicken this year, so I’m trying to get as much as I can done before Thanksgiving.

I started by going to Costco last night and picking up some cute gift tags and wrapping paper, but I’m kind of regretting not also grabbing a set of holiday gift bags, because how the heck am I supposed to wrap this Pretty Parfait makeup set by Benefit?

It’s so cute! — but also kind of awkwardly shaped.

Hmm… Now that I think about it, the reusable tin is probably cute enough to stand on its own sans gift wrapping. Maybe I’ll just stick a bow on it and call it a day. Ho-ho-ho, yo! 🙂

Every year, I like to get one or two “just in case” beauty gifts like this one, which I keep under the tree, just in case I need to get someone a last-minute present.

The $39 limited edition set, which is available now online and at Benefit counters and stores, includes a full-size tube of They’re Real Mascara, a full-size Stay Don’t Stray Eyeshadow Primer in Light/Medium, a full-size Gimme Brow in Light/Medium and a deluxe sample-size (bigger than a standard sampler, but smaller than a regular full size) POREfessional face primer.

Cute, yah?

Benefit Majorette Booster Blush Puts Pep on Your Cheeks and in Your Step

August 25th, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

Two, four, six, eight, what do we appreciate!?

Easy blush! Easy blush! Yaaaaay, Benefit! [INSERT HIGH KICKS HERE]

OK…I was never a cheerleader (more of a band geek), but I’m cheering for Benefit’s new Majorette Booster Blush. It’s fun and easy to use, has a cream-to-powder formula, feels super silky, and the packaging is shaped like a cute little drum.

The silky formula almost feels kind of slippery on my fingertips, and it’s easy to zhuzh out the edges when I pat it on bare cheeks or on top of foundation, which I appreciate when I’m movin’ and shakin’.

I like that it doesn’t settle into my pores and that it lasts 5-6 hours on my combo oily/dry skin before I feel like I need a touchup.

Oh, and it does have a faint fragrance.

Really faint, though. I have to get my nose up in the pan to detect it, but I think it smells like peach gummy candies.

Yes, boom. Those are awesome. 🙂

The look is matte and natural, which should be a great option for gals and guys heading back to the classroom.

Which reminds me, I wish I’d had a better appreciation for minimal makeup when I was in my tweens, teens and early 20s. When you’re that age, it’s easy to get away with very little makeup (that flush of youth and all). This is a great blush to accentuate a youthful glow without going full-on makeup crazy.

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Benefit’s New Tinted Lip Balms in Lollibalm, Chachabalm, Posiebalm and Benebalm Go Easy on the Tint, Heavy on the Moisture

May 27th, 2014 by Karen 25 Comments

Benefit Lollibalm Tinted Lip Balm — Lollibalm, one of four new Benefit Tinted Lip Balms available now

Granted, there’s not a dramatic, in-your-face difference among the four shades in Benefit’s new collection of Tinted Lip Balms ($18 each) when I wear them on my lips, but ooh! — they just look so darn cute chillin’ in my makeup bag.

Benefit Tinted Lip Balms — They each have their own personal outfit…

And every. Single. Time. I’ve taken out Chachabalm, Lollibalm, Posiebalm or Benebalm for a touch-up (which I have to do about every hour or so when I wear them) within sight of a gal, I’ve been asked something along the lines of, “Where did ya get that?! It’s adorable!”

So, yeah, fellow packaging suckers, that’s the sign of an eye-catching product. 🙂

Benefit introduced these hydrating lip balms earlier this spring in colors to match their liquid blushes in Cha Cha Tint, Lollitint, Posie Tint and Benetint.

They feel a lot like the Revlon Lip Butters and Dior’s Addict Lip Balms to me — smooth, non-sticky, and firmly on the thicker formula side, as far as lip balms go. My nose and taste buds also detect a mild violet hard candy flavor and scent.

Thumbs up for mega moisture, too, as these are loaded with the stuff, and my dry, flaky lips lap it up.

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Longwearing Makeup Better Look Out When Benefit They’re Real Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover Comes to Town

May 22nd, 2014 by Karen 7 Comments

I tried my hand (eye?) at Benefit’s new They’re Real waterproof eye makeup remover last night, saturating a cotton pad with the formula, which is kind of thick like a lotion, then wiping and rinsing.

It lifted away the waterproof They’re Real Push-Up Liner I was wearing without a hitch, but my eyes started watering when it touched my water lines.

Maybe my eyes are just sensitive to it. I might give it another try in a few days… The formula is supposed to be made for contact lens wearers and sensitive eyes.

Until then, I think I’ll stick with MAC Cleanse-Off Oil for the heavy-duty stuff.

If you’re curious, look for They’re Real Remover at Benefit counters and online this July.

Benefit They’re Real Push-Up Liner Says, Come On, Baby, Let’s Do the Twist!

May 22nd, 2014 by Karen 24 Comments

Benefit They're Real Push Liner — Wearing the new Benefit They’re Real Push-Up Liner on my lash lines with MAC Kelly Yum-Yum Lipstick on my lips

Well. Now I know what eyeliner I’ll be wearing when I find out that Ryan Gosling has finally gotten hitched and consequently start sobbing into my Cheetos — tears of pain, clearly, but I’ll try to pass them off as tears of joy (“I’m just so happy for him!”).

Benefit’s new They’re Real Push-Up Liner ($24) will be able to handle the waterworks, fo’ sho’.

The new waterproof matte black gel liner heads to the Benefit permanent line this July, and it has an interesting twist (literally).

Instead of coming in a pot, it comes in a pen. Think YSL Touche Eclat (which I talk about in this video), but with a flexible calligraphy-like nib instead of a brush. Twist the bottom, and the gel emits from the nib.

It’s the first ever lash-hugging gel liner pen! The custom AccuFlex tip hugs your lash line for bigger-looking eyes in seconds. The closer the liner, the bigger the eye!
—From the back of the box of Benefit’s new They’re Real Push-Up Liner

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Performing Tonight: Benefit’s New Sheer Rose Gold Rockateur, an Ultra Plush Lip Gloss Rock Star

May 16th, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

Listen, I’m probably the furthest thing in this zip code from rock ‘n’ roll. All of the presets on the radio in my car are to easy listening stations (“KOIT… Light rock, less talk”), and if I ever actually tried to head-bang, I would probably pull a muscle in my neck.

Why am I telling you this?

Well, because you do not have to be a rock ‘n’ roller to like Benefit’s new $16 Rockateur Ultra Plush Lip Gloss, the latest addition to the Benefit Ultra Plush Lip Gloss fam.

Smooth, sheer, non-sticky and unfathomably comfortable (wear time is about 2-3 hours), the Ultra Plushes are part of Benefit’s permanent line.

Not only are they all that and a bag of Cheetos, they also have corresponding blushes — you know, in case you want to get all matchy-matchy on that @ss.

A fairly sheer rose gold, Rockateur is one of those glosses I think of when I think of weekend glosses.

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