Wednesday, July 24, 2013

For Your Benefit

When I made my trip to the States last year (i.e. makeup spending spree with a bit of sightseeing thrown in), it became apparent my purchasing decisions favoured one brand in particular: Benefit. The almost 40% price reduction between the US and Australia helped explain my enthusiasm — a boxed powder is $28 there (before tax), compared to a whopping $51 here. I couldn't stomach the idea of forking out that much for a single blush, so Benefit had largely been out of the question until I found myself in New York. Since then, I've progressed from Benefit virgin to owning a good chunk of their offerings. Such a stark turnaround calls for a moment of reflection about the best Benefit products I've come across so far. After careful consideration (serious bizness, yo), I've whittled it down to my top 5.






Now, it's safe to say I'm a sucker for Benefit's packaging. After all, the colourful, playful, retro shtick they have going on is so intrinsic to the brand's identity. It's not all about the exterior though — from my experience, their products generally do perform. Probably better than expected, given their advertising can seem a little gimmicky and prone to exaggeration, albeit in a tongue-in-cheek way (like the page in their Summer 2012 catalogue showing a 'before and after' comparison of a model wearing their Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation, but deliberately badly lit with messy hair and pulling a face in the 'before' picture, and airbrushed and glamorous in the 'after').

They're Real
My lashes are nothing spectacular but this mascara really left an impression the first time I used it. There's only so much mascara can do when you have short, straight lashes barely peeking through your monolids, but They're Real perseveres and even brings them to passable status. It's one of the most lengthening and volumnising mascaras I've encountered, while still being clump-free and defining. It also holds curl well and doesn't flake or smudge. I've been using the travel size that came with my full size mascara for an unsavoury length of time (tossing it any minute now, I promise), so at least I can say it's not one to dry out quickly. The bristles are quite stiff and spiky however, so it can feel slightly scratchy when you're using it, especially if you accidentally poke your eyelid.

Hoola
I have so much duplication and excess when it comes to my makeup collection, with multiple versions of products that have only minute variations, so you know Hoola is special when it stands alone. It's basically the only matte bronzer I rely on to contour my face. Yes, I have my Stila Sun SPF 15 Bronzing Powder (too orange), my Bourjois Délice de Soleil (surface has sealed, too hard to pigment on a brush) and my Napoleon Perdis Ultimate Contour Palette (I forget it's even there), but Hoola is miles ahead of them all. Ultra smooth and blendable, no shimmer, not too light or dark, I use it with my Real Techniques Multi-Task Brush to bring some much needed definition and shading to my plump face. This isn't something I bother with regularly, but when I do, it's never let me down.

Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow/Liner in Busy Signal
There's already a whole ode I've penned to this cream shadow, but I just can't seem to shut up about it. Benefit recently repackaged their cream eyeshadows, and while they retained some of the older shades (like Birthday Suit and Skinny Jeans), Busy Signal didn't make the cut. I'm not sure whether this means it's now discontinued, because that would be ghastly. Busy Signal is a delightfully rich, chocolatey, gold-flecked bronze. My preference is to wear it on the lower lash line (the staying power is unrivaled), but you could easily apply a wash of this over the lid, layering it to your desired opacity, for a simple, fuss-free smoky eye. It seems very close to MAC Paint Pot in Eclair from the Baking Beauties collection.

Cha Cha Tint
I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Cha Cha Tint, but I had to include it because when done right, you'll want to profess your loyalty and forsake all others. I find it very difficult to blend evenly — this includes when I'm trying to get it on one cheek first, and then ensuring both cheeks are the same. It sets to an unbudgeable stain so quickly that it's already too late when you're still in the process of blending it. If you haven't blended the tint out the way you want in 1.5 seconds, game over. I love the versatility of this product (it's underrated as a lip colour), the colour (very fresh, youthful and summery, one of the very few corals that I don't hate because it's too red on me), the way it melds with the skin rather than sitting on top. If only the application wasn't so challenging to perfect.

High Beam
One of my all-time favourite highlighters, probably second only to Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow All Over Radiance Crème. This is powerfully luminous but not gritty or packed with visible shimmer particles. It just gives this cool, pearly sheen that blends effortlessly into the skin (no Cha Cha Tint problems here). You can also wear this under foundation or mixed with your usual base, though I haven't tried that personally. I have a smaller size that came with my Go TropiCORAL Lip & Cheek Kit (4ml rather than the full size 13ml), but you really only need a very small amount each time, so thankfully there's no need to replenish my supply just yet.


l-r: Hoola, Busy Signal, Cha Cha Tint, High Beam

56 comments:

  1. I have 0 Benefit products but I hope to correct this when I'm in London at the end of the year! I've heard so many things about They're Real but I'm happy with the mascara I'm currently using so I think I'll give that a miss for now. Their boxed blushes and contour powder appeals to me the most; Hervana here I come! :P Btw, my NARS Laguna looks like your Hoola in that the surface has weird discolouration. I think it's messing up the pigmentation of my NARS Laguna because it isn't that spectacular. x

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    1. Ooohhh London?! You're planning a holiday there? I'm planning on going to London in September - really looking forward to it but definitely not planning to go bonkers makeup shopping (key word: planning).

      Yeah, I have no idea why my Hoola looks like that. It was really pissing me off that the surface sealed, so I took a toothpick and basically scratched off the surface. But now it looks weird like that >:( Displeasing to the OCD part of me when it comes to makeup, but least it has pigmentation now :p I think Laguna is meant to be sheer anyway. I find my NARS blushes can seal off pretty easily, so every now and then I go over the surface with either toothpick or stippling brush to soften the surface and release pigment.

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  2. I've been dying to try that mascara but I have way too many to finish up first! I have a problem with mascaras not holding a curl with my lashes well I hope this does the trick. I love my Hoola bronzer too! ♥

    http://itsjessicachoy.blogspot.com/

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  3. Great post :) I've always loved benefit-I think it was the kitsch packaging that attracted me when I was younger! I love your choices and I can;t believe it's that expensive in Austrailia! I guess in the UK it's on a similar price to the US. I would have taken the advantage to stock up too. I love your choices-I've never tried hoola but I love sugarbomb !

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  4. I only have a couple of Benefit products, but I really want more! Love these ones! xx

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  5. Love this post. I LOVE Benefit products! I have gone through about 3 or 4 tubes of they're real, nothing else even comes close. I am itching to buy hoola! X

    takingkate.blogspot.co.uk

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  6. I really do love Benefit products, I just wish I didn't have so many things like highlighters and bronzers/contour powders lying around because it makes it so I don't get anything from Benefit :( However, like you, I am OBSESSED with their creaseless cream shadows and am glad I feel like I can never have too many eye products haha.

    ♥Cassie
    thriftthick.blogspot.com

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  7. I've been dying to try some Benefit products and i have no excuse as im in the UK & its cheaper, think highbeam may be my next purchase.

    http://fashion-beauty-bygrace.blogspot.co.uk/

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  8. I've still yet to try something from Benefit! They're Real and High Beam look great!

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  9. can't believe how much more they mark up the products in Australia! I would go crazy like you if I were you. I love their cream shadows the best. They are the only kind that I find don't dry out after a few months.

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  10. Benefit really does have the cutest packaging! I don't own any benefit products at the moment, so I would love to try some! I definitely want to try the They're Real mascara and their boxed powders

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  11. My top 5: High Beam, Posietint, Fake-Up, Stay Don't Stray, and Dr. Feelgood. I really like the effect of They're Real! but it's ridiculously difficult to take off.

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    1. I haven't tried Fake Up, Stay Don't Stray or Dr Feelgood! I do have Posietint but I'm not sure about the colour. Might just need to get used to it and figure out how to best wear it. Oddly I don't have any issues with taking They're Real off, though you're certainly not alone in thinking it's hard to remove!

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  12. From what I've tried of the brand, I have to agree that Hoola is a great matte bronzer and I love their creaseless cream eyeshadows. I do like High Beam, although I reach for highlighters so rarely that it barely ever gets used...

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  13. Benefit High Beam was one of the first makeup products I ever bought, and I still love it. I wish they would change the packaging though, because when I get to the end of the bottle it's so hard to get out the liquid with that brush! I love Benefit glosses! I've really been wanting to try their new cream shadows, they've redesigned the whole line and I think even added a few new shades.
    :)

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  14. great post! i do love benefit but don't love the prices. i do own the hoola bronzer which i like a lot, i would love to try high beam, it looks beautiful! x

    Miho @ Wander to Wonder




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  15. Benefit is a staple in my stash. I realized how much products I have from them and I love them all. High Beam is great and Benetint is one of my favorites as well. I believe I have Hoola as well but the only thing I have not tried are their mascaras. Whenever they come out in boxed sets during the holidays, I always tend to buy them :D

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  16. Interesting.
    Benefit is a nice brand.
    I loved most of their products.(:

    Velia | Cocoamourr

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  17. Benefit has some lovely products. I have their Creaseless Cream Shadow in RSVP as well as the Watt's Up highlighter and They're Real! mascara. So far, I've liked their products and next on my list of things to try out from them include the box blushes.
    xx

    Celina | The Celution

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  18. And I complain about products being a few dollars more expensive in Canada than the US.. The inflation of prices in Australia is cray cray!
    I love Benefit products, though! Hoola is actually the first Benefit box powder I ever hit pan on! :) x

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  19. Great picks! I love Benefit as well!
    if I had to pick my Benefit top 5 then my choice would be identical to yours, except for the hoola as I'll pick Porefessional instead of Hoola..
    They'Re Real is def Godsend for my pathetic lashes. I have tried tons of mascaras but only they're real can make my lashes visible. lol
    I am really curious to try out their new stick primer. it will be launched next month here in Germany, hope it will be as good as porfessional if not better ^^ thank God they're not overpriced here in Germany, still more expensive than in the US but not very much..

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  20. Benefit is the first "high end" brand I used when I first really got into make up. I loved the is velvet eyeshadow called Leggy, it's very similar to UD's Sin. I absolutely loved it and wore it to death. I totally agree about high Beam, I've kept repurchasing it since I first tried it. I've been wearing it a lot lately because powder highlighters can be a bit too much in Summer. I recently got They're Real in a mini size free with a magazine and as sceptical as I was at first, I totally loved it! I haven't tried Cha cha Tint, but again I'm a huge fan of Benetint and Posietint. I think Benefit is quite an underrated brand in the blogging community. Glad you got to try these products, I can't blame you for not trying them until you got to the states, that's an extortionate amount to pay for make up!!

    Emma x

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  21. I love Benefit! Their packaging always draws me in! Hoola is my favorite bronzer, and I love my High Beam! Definitely quality products, and worth the price!

    xo, Pareasa
    The FAB Journal

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  22. I already went through a love affair with Benefit and still have a few die-hard faves: the cream shadows in Birthday Suit and Skinny Jeans! Sad that Busy Signal didn't make the cut, but I'm sure that sites like Strawberrynet will be carrying the older stock. I actually prefer the old pot - the new ones are humongous and too cute, if that's possible.

    I had a sample of that mascara and gave it to Vita instead, darn! LOL

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    1. I prefer the old packaging too! I don't know why they repackaged it - the new packaging doesn't do it for me. Doesn't seem as sturdy and airtight and weighty? I do like My Two Cents from the new line though :)

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  23. Great post! I actually work at the Benefit Sydney City store (which is the busiest Benefit counter in the world!) so I've come to know which products are worth the hype/money and which are not. You've pretty much included most of my favourites, although I love the Brow Zings brow kit as it lasts FOREVER. Expensive at $55 but trust me, you won't need to buy another brow product for at least a year or two. Such a shame your favourite creaseless cream shadow has been discontinued (we don't have any stock of Busy Signal at my store). However, it looks very similar to the new shade 'Bronze Have More Fun'. Not sure if they are identical or not as I haven't put them side by side, but might be worth a look when you run out of yours. xx

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    1. How cool! Thanks for sharing Angie :) For whatever reason, I'm just not huge on brows (I rarely fill mine in or do anything with them except pluck to keep their shape), but I have heard so many good things about Brow Zings over the years that I'd definitely check it out if I'm on the lookout for a brow product. I don't see myself running out of Busy Signal for a looooong time, so I'm not overly concerned. I do like the look of My Two Cents from the re-released Creaseless Cream Shadows - might pick up one of those sets with two cream shadows and four powder ones :)

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  24. Wow over 50 bucks for a blush?!?! That is insane. Glad you got to take advantage of the price difference when you visited. I just can't get on board with Hoola. I know it is a huge favorite for most but when I wear it, it makes my skin look so sallow. Maybe I will try it out again, you make me want to give it a second chance! I've wanted to try out Their Real but I have read too many mixed reviews for me to actually go through and buy it. High end mascaras have to be really something for me to shell out the cash for it since drugstore mascaras do a pretty good job on my lashes.

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    1. **They're real. Yikes, horrible typo!

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    2. Yes, high end makeup in Australia is criminally overpriced :'( But at least there's always online shopping :D And going crazy on holiday LOL.

      Awww...sorry to hear Hoola doesn't do it for you! Maybe try a different brush with it or layering it with another product? Though it's understandable if a product simply doesn't work for you - makeup is so dependent on skin tone that I think we try to make ourselves like certain products that are popular even though the reality is, they just don't suit us personally.

      I agree about not really wanting to fork out for higher end mascara - but "drugstore" mascara is still super overpriced here (Maybelline ones are just under $20) that sometimes the more expensive option doesn't even seem that crazy! :p

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  25. Busy Signal is by far my favorite of their cream eyeshadows too, so I'm really sad to hear it may be discontinued. It's just the most striking warm brown! Better stock up while I can hehe. :)

    ~ Yun

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  26. Like many others, I am a HUGE fan of Benefit. I have a similar problem sometimes with Posietint as you do with Cha-cha tints blend-ability. It could just be tints in general, I haven't tried enough to make a judgement though. I like making my benefits buys through the american store, and then they give you samples to try as well! Great post :)

    - Kate Xx
    The Minted Beauty

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  27. I am sad to say that I am still a Benefit virgin. I've been dying to purchase the They're Real mascara! (Honestly can't wait to go to the US and stock up!) The Cha Cha Tint is such a beautiful mango colour.

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  28. I never used a Benefit product before! *sheds tear
    These products look so so so gorgeous!

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  29. OMG $50+ for a boxed blush? Here it's like around $40, still a big number but not as big as 50! Dannng. I will seriously also do some major shopping when I get to the states, I mean the prices everywhere else is just crazy. Great picks btw. I <3 cream shadows.

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  30. Ugh now I want to buy all of them!
    They're Real sounds great, I want to try it.

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  31. I'm so desperate to try Hoola! :) x

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  32. I just went to Benefit to play around yesterday! I really want Hoola but it's pretty expensive. Everything in Australia's expensive. =(

    I've googled high and low and you're right, nothing really comes close to Hoola. I may cave and splurge on it one day.

    M.May

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  33. I have been so impressed with the benefit products I have tried so far! However - the price does often put me off!

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  34. Noooo I just bought the Stila Sun bronzer off SNet! It was $8+ and I'm expecting it any day now. Hoola sounds and swatches like the perfect, ideal bronzer. I was thinking of getting the Bronze of Champions kit, with Hoola and Watts Up, etc though I think I may have missed it. Cha Cha Tint looks intensely pigmented- I totally feel your love/hate relationship. Benefit's just such a lovely brand with their gimmicky names and adorable packaging, pity they know it and they charge accordingly.

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    1. I did see that it was still so cheap on SNet! Don't get me wrong, I really do like the Stila one. It's just not suitable as a contouring product. It's nice to add a bit of warmth to your face, especially in the summer. I do use it quite a bit. It's niiicceee! You'll like it :) I really want to try Watts Up - that's seriously next on my list, but I think it'll be similar to my Jemma Kidd so I don't needneedneed it.

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    2. I hope so! I swatched the NYC Sunny and Bourjois side by side and was surprised at how nice and golden the Bourjois looked. Sunny was darker, more reddish. I wanted something more golden for warming up the face and at that price I couldn't NOT buy it! Watts Up is really pretty! But likewise- Jemma Kidd is lovely and lasts for absolutely ages so I don't need it.

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  35. I love Benefit.
    I feel like I now NEED a creaseless cream shadow!

    xoxo

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  36. I love Benefit and can't get enough of it! I would love to just try everything they sell :P really lovely photos as well :)

    Katie xx
    katiesworld13.blogspot.co.uk

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  37. Love Hoolah and their cream eyeshadows. Birthday Suit is my probably my favorite cream eyeshadow that I own. It goes with everything! Wasn't a fan of the mascara and it was too hard to take off. Great photos as always ;)

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  38. I have a big collection of Benefit products… everything bought abroad (as just like in Australia, the prices of their makeup is terribly higher in Brazil) and it's one of those brands you rarely get disappointed with!
    I really want to try They're Real mascara but here it costs around 50 dollars and I can't justify paying that much for a mascara having so many cheaper ones in the market :'(

    Isabela x

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  39. I love your titles! They are so clever. I haven't used many Benefit products, but High Beam looks like a must-have! Thanks for yet another great review.

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  40. I've heard soo much good about the Their real mascara from sooo many asian ladies I think I may need to try it out. And I'd love more cream shadows like that one, a good bunch of neutral cream shadows are just such a must!

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  41. I also got Hoola and They're Real when I was in the states last year too! Love them! x

    actuallyash.blogspot.com

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  42. I can't rationalise the massive beauty price differences either! That's why I can't bare to buy all of the department store brands in Sydney and have to bulk buy in Hong Kong.

    I've never tried Benefit products before - funny that! I'm definitely going to have a look into High Beam =)

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  43. ohhh wow! i dont actually own any benefit products.. i really want to try that hoola bronzer and theyre real :)

    from Brigitte at // BlogLovin' | BreezeyBee Blog

    dont forget to enter my RiRi Woo Giveaway Here

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  44. Love the benefit packaging, it's just a shame though it's so pricey here. I'd love to try the bronzer someday!

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  45. It's funny how mascaras work differently on everyone, I have a sample of the They're Real mascara but for some reason it doesn't hold my curl!! My lashes are so pathetic :( lol. I love the Benefit Creaseless Creme Shadows, even though I have yet to own a regular size haha. I swear, all the colours are so pretty! Even though I have a ton of bronzers already, that Hoola bronzer looks like one that I'll add to my to-buy list next. :P

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  46. Benefit is my favourite brand I live in Portugal and I made an order from the USA website my wallet isn't happy with that one of the itens is the Holla Bronzer, can't wait to try it out!! Than I'll do a post about it...

    With love, Bárbara
    www.preppylemonade.com

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  47. Ah Benefit, everytime i walk past i'm just drawn in by all things pink, retro and lovely.
    I love all the kits Benefit comes out with but they're just not very travel friendly. Busy Signal is stunning!! Pity it's been discontinued D:
    Hoola is one of the few things i own i've actually hit pan on !

    à la foliee

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