Saturday, November 17, 2012

All the Right Signs

Taupe and bronze, and all their variations, seem to be all that I ever wear for my eyeshadow. Occasionally, I'll feel slightly adventurous and reach for a purple, green or blue, but most of the time, it's all about those two neutrals. One of my favourite eyeshadows is the bronze shade in the Sleek Storm palette, and I wanted to find a cream eyeshadow equivalent. There wasn't anything available from drugstore/cheaper brands (Essence Coppy Right maybe, but I never managed to find it), so I turned my attention to more expensive options. I narrowed the field down to Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in #14, MAC Paint Pot in Constructivist, Smashbox Limitless 15 Hour Wear Cream Shadow in Icon and Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Busy Signal. In the end, I was won over by the Benefit as I thought it was the prettiest shade of them all.







I've been curious to try the Benefit cream eyeshadows for a while, and was dead set on getting Birthday Suit, as it seemed to be the most popular and raved about shade. But when I swatched Birthday Suit on my hand, I was immediately struck by how cool and almost grey it was, like a light, silvery taupe. Though I'm usually drawn to this kind of colour, from my experience (with light taupes, and shades like Essence Glammy Goes To and L'OrĂ©al Sahara Treasure), it never quite works on me. I remember reading about Busy Signal on Drama & Makeup, so I knew that it was probably the second best option for me if Birthday Suit was out of the picture. A lot of darker bronze cream shadows can turn out a little flat, overly dark or muddy, but Busy Signal retained a pleasing vibrancy and warmth. I also love that it's not frosty in any way. It has fine gold shimmer that adds extra sparkle and dimension.

It's a bit too dark to wear on my lids, but I've been loving Busy Signal to define my lower lashline. The gold-flecked, warm bronze is a bit more interesting and less harsh than a conventional black. I lightly dip my Ecotools concealer brush (from the Bamboo 5 Piece brush set) into the product, and run the brush two-thirds across the lower lashline from the outer corner. It manages to give me just the right amount of definition, without looking too heavy (both in terms of the colour, and softness of the line). I'm impressed by how it stays put all day. I also love just how emollient and easy to apply the Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liners are. They're significantly softer and smoother in texture than other cream eyeshadows I've tried, particularly Maybelline Color Tattoos, which are much harder and drier. The Benefit really just glides on, and you only need to brush the surface to get a good colour payoff. My only small complaint is that if shading the whole lid, it applies a little on the sheer side, and you do need to build up the colour to get full intensity. Other than that, I cannot fault this product, and it now forms part of my morning routine.

53 comments:

  1. I really want to try a Benefit Crease-less Cream, this looks so gorgeous!!!
    I love colours like this, it looks really Christmassy too.


    xoxo

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  2. i was just wondering how this compares to maybelline color tattoos. thanks for the comparison!
    i really like this almost non-shimmery warm taupe color.
    i've been wearing neutrals a lot on my lids lately. this might be a tad too warm for me but lining on lower lashline with this sounds very nice. ;)

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  3. This colour looks fantastic! I ordered the RSVP shade from Benefit and am now even more excited to try it! It's reassuring to hear the formula is so great.

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  4. Alright with your barrage of Benefit products, I'M OFFICIALLY CAVING! I HAVE TO GET SOMETHING! SOMETHING! Maybe Watts-Up or Benetint? ARGHH :D

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    1. Lol, sorry for being such an enabler! :p I don't have either so I can't help you choose between the two - though I'd probably pick Watts Up :)

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  5. The color looks so rich! I have Birthday Suit myself (and I just wrote up a draft of a little story, so it'll go up soon) and I love it to death. The texture of these is almost like butter! Glad you're enjoying it. :)

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  6. this color is so gorgeous. I have the birthday suit and am loving it. It is so creamy.

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  7. I love, love Busy Signal! I even use it as an overall lid color as my lid color leans slightly more darker. The quality is amazing too, as you say :D

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  8. I love that specific colour of the Storm palette, really want to give this a go! I love the how easy and quick cream eyeshadows are to apply

    thoughtsfromanothergirl.blogspot.com

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  9. I like it this cream eyeshadow looks cute but not to much shimmering and think than is nice, because other creams eyeshadows have a lot of shimmering and are poor of color, and with this not happens that!

    Thanks for this review sweetie!

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  10. This colour looks gorgeous! Great review - thank you :)
    http://shopaholiconashoestring.wordpress.com/

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  11. it is looking amazing to me.. i am amaze to read it is softer to maybelline eye tattoos..

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  12. Pretty color! I am really not impressed with the Mac paint pots either! Have you tried the Maybelline Eye Tattoos?? They have a bronze color very similar to this but half the price :)

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    1. Yeah, Bad to the Bronze? Absolutely love it - one of my favourite eyeshadows! I wear it religiously :) I also have Gold Shimmer which is close to Bad to the Bronze but a bit darker, more of an antique gold.

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  13. I agree, this shade is beautiful as a liner! During the summer I would wear it winged out on my top lash line when I wanted a more natural alternative to my usual black liquid

    Great post as always! Your pictures always look so clean and professional!

    xx Louise
    A Little Beauty Luxury

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    1. That sounds like a great idea to wear it on the upper lashline winged out :) I'm sure it'd be super pretty! Thank you you Louise :)

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  14. Light shimmery shades don't work on me either, it makes my eyes look smaller. Nice choices!

    -Lisa
    The Lovely Memoir

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    1. Totally agreed! You know when you were younger and read in all the teen magazines that to make small eyes bigger you should wear frosty/light/pale shimmery shades? I never think that works with Asian eyes, it's all about dark shades to bring depth and make them look bigger I think :p

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  15. I have a couple of these, and by far my favourite is Marry Up. Its the perfect shade, not too dark for all over my lids and not too light.

    http://kitschsnitch.blogspot.com.au/

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  16. It looks gorgeous!
    It kinda reminds me of Bad to the Bronze but cooler :)
    I agree about the maybelline color tattoos being harder and drier.
    I love Benefit's packaging!

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  17. Oh wow, the colour looks amazing! Benefit products definitely have the best packaging for their products, you can tell they put a lot of time and effort into it! Every time I read one of your posts, a new item always goes onto my wish list! Damn you and your perfect pictures! Haha

    xx

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    1. Agreed about Benefit's packaging - the brand is marketed and packaged impeccably :) I feel the same way about your blog - so many things I want to try and buy because of your reviews and raves hehe

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  18. I have Essence coppy right, and the color looks similar like this one from benefit.. Only the one from essence creases on my oily lids..
    Have you tried loreal infaillible'? they are really really good in my opinion.:D

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    1. Yeah, but they're not cream eyeshadows right? I have a whole bunch of them, but I don't use them that often. My favourite is Bronzed Taupe though it's a bit cool toned for me :)

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  19. Look great! I've never tried this kind of eye shadows but i do like this gold-brown colors, I'm waiting that maybelline's color tatto arrive in chile to try something like this :D
    hugs!

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  20. No joke, that is such a good match to the shadow in the Storm palette! LOL I love how you were on a mission to find the perfect cream shadow equivalent. That's some intense dupe searching. The Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liners are so hyped up- I considered getting Sippin 'N Dippin but someone said it's more coral than the gold of Rubenesque so I didn't bother. The texture sounds lovely! Like a gel liner? The Color Tattoos would definitely seem drier in comparison by the sounds of it.

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    1. Off Snet? I saw it on there and was tempted because of the price LOL. But I'd probably never wear that kind of shade anyway. It's not as thick as a gel liner, it's very buttery. Like it will melt if you put your finger over it. The Color Tattoos are much firmer and drier, you have to pack on the colour if you use a flat brush, whereas with the Benefit I only have to lightly dip the tip of my brush to get enough product to line the lower lashes :)

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  21. I would love to try that color, looks very sleek for a night out <3

    Best,
    Colour Me Classic

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  22. This is so pretty :D I have only ever tried out the Maybelline Color Tattoos and Makeup Forever in terms of cream shadows. I have been interested to try the Mac Paint Pots though :)
    x

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  23. Can we all just take a moment to admire how amazing all of your posts are?

    ....Favorite Beauty Blog

    :3

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  24. I'm loving this brown-bronze colour! The creaminess of it really appeals to me as I love products that glide on smoothly and effortlessly. Thanks for sharing and I just adore your blog posts :)

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    1. Thank you so much for saying that Karen! :) If you like creamy products that just glide on, you'll definitely like these Benefit cream shadows!

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  25. Loving cream eye shadows at the moment. I don't own anything from benefit yet but would love to try their blushes. :)

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  26. I love benefit sooo much, the shade on this looks really rich and pretty x

    http://Heidi-likes.blogspot.co.uk

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  27. wow that looks super pigmented!
    http://redberryaha.blogspot.com

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  28. Back in the day when I used to purchase the Benefit Hello Flawless Powder Foundation I glanced at those cream eyeshadows but never got around to trying them. I didn't really believed that a cream product would stay put on my super oily lids. I'm glad it's working out for you and that the colour is everything you expected it to be. I wonder if my Color Tattoos are harder to apply too because they're actually drying out on me already. The MUG liners I've recently reviewed are a lot creamier and they aren't eyeshadows per se : /

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    1. I've heard the Color Tattoos do dry out quite soon! I'm already feeling my beloved Bad to the Bronze is so dry and getting difficult to apply with my Ecotools concealer brush. But it's not too bad...yet :p The MUG eyeliners sound terrific - good to hear their products haven't disappointed :)

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  29. That is the perfect colour for me! I would love to get it


    Black&Vanilla
    xx

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  30. This looks beautiful! I'd never considered using bronze eye shadows as an eye liner, but I think I might give it a try now :)

    Aimée Xx

    dress-it-up-6.blogspot.co.uk

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  31. The bronze tone really looks amazing. Last fashion Week most of the girls hadt bronze make up on. Normally I love taupe like you do! :) Hope you visit me and may like my blog about me and male fashion :) XOXO Visit me under the link below

    www.look-scout.de

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  32. Wow that is a gorgeous colour! I've always been curious with these shades but only ever hear about Birthday suit this looks much nicer! xo

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  33. Thank you for another great review! I really like the shade you chose - so pretty. x

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  34. Love this shade!!! xoxo

    www.rockandfrock.com

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  35. I have not heard of this product! thanks for sharing it with us

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  36. Such a pretty, pretty shade. I'll have to look into this one!

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  37. hey dear, I've found your amazing blog through Jordan's Boho Vanity! I am your new follower. I love your blog!! I hope you can check out mine someday! XOXO :)

    www.maytessentials.com

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    1. That's so cool of Jordan to mention me on her blog! Thanks for stopping by & commenting. I've followed your blog back :)

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  38. The color is so gorgeous! I love colors like this for the eyes, they give you this edge that I feel greens and purples can't always do. I'm gonna have to check this one out. Thanks for sharing!

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  39. I love Busy Signal! It's one of my favorite eyeshadow colors! :-)

    ~ Yun

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  40. the shade is really pretty! thanks for the comparison ^_~

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  41. wow, i love the richness of the shade! i'm always impressed with Benefit packaging, they're always gorgeous :) this is definitely a must have product, can't wait to get my hands on it :)

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  42. I've been wanting to try Benefit cream eyeshadows! Thanks for the great review! :)

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