Benefit

 Packaging: The Benefit Benetint Cheek & Lip stain comes in a glass bottle, similar to that of nail polish, which has a white lid adorned with small beads and a zigzag-shaped upper edge. Even its applicator is the same one used for nail polish. This bottle is also available in a mini size that you can easily carry in a makeup bag. It is designed in the same way, minus the beads and zigzag edges. Texture: This product consists of a liquid formula that spreads out effortlessly on the lips. Smell: This cheek & lip stain is infused with the scent of fresh rose water. Available colors: The color of the stain appears to be red through the bottle, but it turns out to be rose-tinted upon application. You can find this stain in other colors: Gogotint (dark pink shade), Lollitint (purple shade), Chachatint (orange shade), and Posietint (bright pink shade). Application: You can either use this stain to color in the lips by applying a few drops and massaging it out, or to add a pop of color to the cheeks by applying a few drops and massaging it out until they turn rosy. Effect: This stain gives off a rose-tinted color on the lips. It can replace any other product, like lipstick or gloss, in case you don’t wish to use them. Your lips will come out all rosy and natural, with no sign of stain applied. This color doesn’t last for long though, it stays in place for 3 to 4 hours before having to reapply it. However, if you apply the stain first and follow up with lipstick or gloss, your lips will charmingly reflect the color and will look even fuller. We’d like to draw your attention to the fact that this stain dries out in no time. So it’s better to quickly pat it dry with your fingers when you slide it on, otherwise the color might come out patchy and uneven. As for the cheeks, one layer is not enough to make the rosy color pop. You need to apply two or even three layers to notice the difference. In spite of that, the results are quite satisfactory as the cheeks appear flushed for around three to four hours as well. So it is best to keep this product on you in order to slide it on whenever you feel that the rosy color you desire has faded out from your lips or cheeks. Price: The full size Benetint Cheek & Lip is sold at 43 USD per 10 ml. This price is considered to be fair in comparison with Dior Addict Lip Tattoo which is sold at 39 USD per 6 ml only.  

Packaging: The “Puff Off Eye Gel” comes in a plastic pastel salmon tube with pink inscriptions on it. The product also has a light blue iron design. The cap is a silver colored pull-off cap and the applicator tip is designed to look like the bottom of an iron. The packaging is very creative: the “ironing” tip dispenses the product and also helps in applying it around the eye. Texture: The gel has a liquid-creamy texture. Smell: The product has a strong floral smell that doesn’t linger after application. Application: Squeeze the tube gently to dispense the gel through the applicator tip. Using the “ironing” applicator tip, massage the product gently around the eyes. Effect: We tested Benefit Cosmetic’s “Puff Off Eye Gel” every day for a month. On days where we wore make-up, we applied the product under our foundation. After application with the metal “ironing tip” we felt a cooling sensation that was very relaxing. A few moments after, we noticed that the undereye circles and bags were less visible. The effect was almost immediate. The gel itself is very lightweight on the skin and dries very quickly. So, there is no stickiness left by the product. We also noticed that the product works very well as a make-up primer. On days where we used it under our make-up, the “Puff Off Eye Gel” made the skin around the eyes look brighter. The gel itself has a beige-ish tint to it, however, it is transparent when applied on the skin which makes it suitable for make-up application. The “Puff Off Eye Gel” by Benefit Cosmetics did not irritate the eyes or the skin. After a month of testing, we found that it caused no redness and was suitable for sensitive skin. However, the effects of the product are not long lasting. Instead, it is a quick one-day solution instead of an eye cream treatment. Price: The “Puff Off Eye Gel” by Benefit Cosmetics retails at an average price of $29/10mL which is pricier than other products such as Clinique’s “Pep-Start Eye Cream” which sells at an average of $26.5/15mL. However, it remains cheaper than other similar products in a different range like Dior’s “Life Sorbet Gel” which retails at $55/14.7 on average.  

 Packaging: This Benefit liquid lip color line comes in a cardboard box outside packaging, that reminds us of bubble gums that we used to love as kids. The box is very bright and colorful, dual colored blue and yellow, with the name of the product written in bright fuchsia, with red lips in the background. Once the box is open, you will find a thin clear squeeze tube with a screw on silver top. The tube reflects the color of the product inside of it. The words “Punch Pop!” are written a large white font on the tube. This packaging is very bright and reminds us of our childhood. The liquid lip color looks like the glosses that we use to own as teenagers. It’s not very elegant, but it is quite playful and easy to travel with. Available Colors: This liquid lipstick is available in seven different shades: Bubblegum - Sweet pink; SugarCookie - Nude pink; Pink berry - Mauve berry; Watermelon - Hot pink; Cherry - Pinky red; Mango - Tropical coral; and Strawberry - Juicy red. Tested Colors: We tried Pinkberry and Bubblegum colors. Smell: We were a bit disappointed by the absence of flavor or fragrance. It doesn’t smell bad at all, but we expected a fruity taste or smell. Texture: The Punch Pop! Liquid lip color by Benefit has quite the creamy texture. It is non-sticky. Application: Easily glide the liquid lip color over your lips. The softly curved applicator helps to obtain a smooth and even application. It is quite easy to apply even when out and about. Effect: The feel and color of this liquid lipstick are great. You can choose the color based on your mood, and you are guaranteed it will brighten up your face and drive attention to your lips. It is a great alternative for those of us that are looking to change from matte looks which were extremely popular in the last few years and searching for something a little more reflective to wear on their lips. It has a smooth, non-sticky shine finish. Beware, it can be a little drying, so we recommend the use of a lip balm after use. Price: The Punch Pop! Liquid Lip Color line is priced 26.5$ for 7.0 ml, which is a good price compared to other similar range products that are much more expensive, like Estee Lauder’s Pure Color Envy Gloss collection priced at 39$ for 7ml, or the Clinique Pop Liquid Matte lip color at 36$ for 6ml. There are however, lower range products that have more attractive prices, such as L'Oréal Paris’ Infaillible Lip Paint, priced at 15$ for 8ml.  

Packaging: The Benefit They’re Real! Duo eyeshadow blender comes in a black cardboard box. The first thing the eye notices is the word “Real!” written across the box, in bright orange. The top of the box shows a couple of pictures of eyes applying and wearing the eyeshadow. Once you open the box, you will find a metal casing. This Benefit duo eyeshadow holds two shades in one single pan. The pan has the two shadows stacked on top of each other horizontally and on the opposite side, a thin long mirror. It also comes with a funky round shaped sponge applicator on the side of the metal case, shaped like the top of a microphone. It’s the brand’s signature brush, called the ShadowBlender. The packaging is beautiful and very appealing. It's a really good travel size. Available shades: There are ten different shades of the Real! Duo Eyeshadow Blender available, all containing a duo of colors, in satin, sheen and soft matte finishes: Beyond Nude; Naughty Neutral; Bombshell Brown; Brazen Bronze; Easy Smokin’; Sexy Smokin’; Provocative Plum; Kinky Khaki; Mauve Mischief; and Foxy Faune. Tested shades: They're Real! Duo eyeshadow Blender Brazen Bronze, a warm duet of soft gold and satin bronze. Perfect for Hazel eyes! They're Real! Duo eyeshadow Blender Bombshell Brown, a neutral duet of soft matte taupe & sable brown. Texture: Shiny powder eyeshadow, easy to apply. Application: Slide the Blender across your shadow duo. Put the blender in the inner corner of your eye with the darker shade along your lash-line, then sweep across your lid! Wipe the sponge with a tissue after each use. Repeating the slide & sweep if you want a more pronounced look. You can also apply the lighter shade along your lash-line and the deeper shade in the crease of your eyelid. Pro-tip: application is relatively easy but needs to be controlled a bit. Take the time to blend the eyeshadow for a perfect look. Effect: The brand claims the crease-resistant long-wear formula lasts 12-hours. It is also very proud of its custom ShadowBlender, stating it fits your eye shape to ensure expert eyeshadow application every time. We found first of all, that this eyeshadow collection is really pigmented, which is what most of us are looking for. The shades are really true to what you see in the package and all of the different duos are a perfect combo of colors. We were also very happy by the ease of use. For someone who isn’t that great at doing a smokey eye or a cut crease, this eyeshadow makes it quite easy. Finally, we found that when well applied, this Benefit They’re Real! Duo Eyeshadow Blender, the color lasts for a long time, without a need to reapply. The lighter colors are perfect for a natural look with just a bit of shimmer! All the shades are quite suitable for everyday wear. Price: This product weighs 3.5 g and is priced at 33$. It is less expensive than similar range products such as NARS’ Cosmetics Duo Eyeshadow, available in forty different shades, priced at 44$ for 4g - noting that the NARS product comes without an application brush or blender - or Estee Lauder’s Pure Color Eyeshadow Duo priced at 50$ for 3.5grams.  

 Packaging: “They’re Real Red On!” lip tint by Benefit Cosmetics comes in a compact square black single-shade palette with bevel edges. The lip color itself has a creative lip pattern on it. The palette conveniently houses an applicator brush and a small mirror. We found the design of the product to be very unique. Texture: This lip tint has a creamy texture. Smell: “They’re Real Red On!” lip color does not have any particular smell. Color: This product is available in one color only: “universally flattering red shade.” Application: Using the applicator brush, start by contouring the lips with the lip color. Fill in the space within the contoured lips with product and let rest for a couple of minutes. Effect: When we tested the “They’re Real Red On!” lip tint we noticed how easy it was to apply. The creamy texture of the lip color along with the gentle brush allowed for easy and mess-free application. We only needed one layer to coat the lips fully. The lip color is a universal shade of red that is suitable for day as well as night make-up. And the finish is completely matte. The “They’re Real Red On!” felt very lightweight on the lips. It also had a long staying power and was more or less transfer-proof. We realized after several uses that for optimal results, it is best to let the lip color dry for a few minutes on the lips to avoid smudging. “They’re Real Red On!” lip tint did not dry the lips and provided some moisturizing power due to its creamy texture. Price: “They’re Real Red On!” by Benefit Cosmetics retails at an average market price of $26/1.2g. This product is pricier than other similar products in the same range like Urban Decay’s “Low-Fi Lip Mousse” which sells at $22/3.5g and Clinique’s “Pop Lip Shadow” which retails at $19.5/1.2g.  

 Packaging: The “Benefit They’re real!” Mascara comes in a tube whose color varies according to the color of the mascara. The black mascara comes in a silver tube, the brown one in a bronze tube, and the blue one in a blue tube. The applicator consists of a long wand with fine and short bristles. It is also available in a mini size that comes in a brown tube, but with a standard size applicator brush that gives off the same results. Texture: This mascara has a smooth, creamy formula. Smell: This mascara is odorless. Available colors: “They’re real!” Mascara is available in 3 colors: Jet Black, Beyond Brown, and Beyond Blue. Tested color: We tried out “They’re real!” Mascara in Jet Black. Application: According to Benefit, the best way to apply this mascara is by holding it horizontally and giving the brush a wiggle in a zigzag motion from root to tip and along the lash line. Effect: We applied this mascara as indicated on its box. Covering the entire lashes, even the tiny ones near the inner corner of the eye, was a piece of cake due to the mascara’s easy-gliding, creamy formula. Its black, pigmented color gives off a noticeable effect from the first layer applied. We added a second one to volumize the lashes, and it didn’t cause any clumping as the layers blended out smoothly. Upon applying the second layer, this mascara added luxurious length and volume to the lashes. However, it didn’t curl them as desired despite trying to lift and do that ourselves. So you might need to use a supplementary eyelash curler to achieve the false lash effect and point out that in fact, “They’re real!” This mascara stayed on the lashes for an entire day, preserving the effect given when applied in the morning, with no signs of clumping or smudging. We did face some trouble removing it with the makeup remover we usually use, though. There was also a little residue left even after gliding makeup remover wipes through the lashes. Price: This mascara retails at 36 USD per 8.8 ml in Lebanon. Its price is comparable to the Shiseido Full Lash Volume Mascara at 38 USD per 8 ml. And this is an average price in the market, as there is a wide range of less pricy mascaras with the same size from brands such as Maybelline New York, Max Factor, Bourjois, and L’Oreal Paris (between 10 and 25 USD). But also, on the more expensive side, there are also mascaras such as Estée Lauder, Clarins, and Guerlain (above 50 USD).  

 Packaging: The Benefit "Watt’s Up! highlighter" comes in a metallic, double-ended tube: one of which is a small applicator sponge covered with a transparent lid, while the other holds the highlighter covered with a metallic lid. The tube is adorned with light bulbs that signify its ability to illuminate the face. The highlighter also comes in a mini size, but without an applicator sponge. Texture: This highlighter has a creamy formula. Smell: This highlighter is odorless. Application: You can turn up the wattage on several spots on your face with this highlighter: cheekbones, bridge of the nose, mid-chin, cupid’s bow, and brow bone. You can apply a hint of highlighter at the inner corners of the eyes as well. If you’re using the standard Watt’s Up! size, you can spread and blend it out with other products on your face using the available sponge. In case you’re using the mini size, you can spread and blend it out using a highlighter brush. Effect: You might find it challenging to get the hang of this creamy highlighter if you’re used to applying powder ones. However, Benefit’s Watt’s Up! highlighter glides on the skin effortlessly, and blends out quickly with existing makeup. Its instantaneous effect adds sheen to the designated area without overdoing it like other highlighters would. It has a champagne color that infuses a natural glow to the face as well. You might not find it appealing if you prefer bolder colors, though. As for its lasting effect, we tried out this highlighter on normal skin and it lasted for around 5 hours before fading out gradually. So if a long day or a special occasion awaits, it’s best to keep it in your bag to retouch it when necessary. Price: This highlighter retails at 43 USD for the standard size (9.4 g) in Lebanon. It’s considered to be pricy in comparison with other tube-like highlighters. For instance, L’Oréal Paris Infaillible Highlighter Shaping Stick (9 g) is sold at 16.5 USD. Even powder highlighters such as Max Factor Miracle Glow Duo Creamy Highlighter sell for 18.5 USD per 9 g.