New makeup needed - talk to me about Benefit please

[henrythecat]

I'm starting from (sort of) scratch with my makeup bag. I've got a foundation (L'Oreal Infallible), blusher and powder (both No7) that I'm happy with so am in the market for new eye and lip makeup - eye shadows, eye liner, something for brows, mascara, lip stain and gloss. I like the look of a lot of the tutorials on the Benefit website, especially for eyes. Would you recommend? Products worth the money? Any alternatives? TIA

I've got posietint and find it very subtle as a lip stain, nice on cheeks though. FTR I am pale, less so in summer, but definitely closely related to Caspar in winter. I have heard that benetint is quite runny compared to it.

Do you have a local Superdrug? They have a brand called MeMeMe who do Benefit rip offs, boxed powders, the stains etc.

I do find Benefit over priced for what it is. I have and use Hoola, Dallas and Dandelion, but there's definitely better products in my collection and available all round. I'm just trying to use them up to get the most out of my money now lol.

I've got posietint and find it very subtle as a lip stain, nice on cheeks though. FTR I am pale, less so in summer, but definitely closely related to Caspar in winter. I have heard that benetint is quite runny compared to it.

Do you have a local Superdrug? They have a brand called MeMeMe who do Benefit rip offs, boxed powders, the stains etc.

I do find Benefit over priced for what it is. I have and use Hoola, Dallas and Dandelion, but there's definitely better products in my collection and available all round. I'm just trying to use them up to get the most out of my money now lol.

I do highly rate the hello flawless powder as well. It has a small amount of concealer in it and can be applied by brush or sponge which are both included.

I don't think you could get away using benetint for a more pinky look. But they are both lip and cheek tints.

On two separate occasions I have bought all the different issues of Glamour magazine when they had Benefit freebies with them, in the interests of professional research. My opinion of the products I've tried are - Benetint & Posietint, as lipstains I only had to lick my lips a couple of times and they were gone, as cheek stains, a lot of margin for error and looking like you have random stains on your cheeks. Highbeam, ok, used better products. BadGal "black" eyeliner, semi transparent greyish low pigment wax that smudges and comes off in less than an hour. That pinkish highlighter pencil, chalky yuck. The only one that was any good, sort of, was the concealer pencil. Oh and I've tried the new version of DeGroovie, whatever that's called and it's too thick, smells exactly like mortician's wax but a tiny amount of a product that costs similar for a large tub from special effects suppliers (and mortician's suppliers dare I say!).

I'm a make up artist so I know how to make the best of even cheap products but I personally think there are many cheaper products which are highly superior to Benefit's overpriced gimmickry.

Smashbox is better.

Havingkittens - I am wondering whether or not to buy some High Beam can you recommend a better product before I waste my money?

Thank you all for quick replies :) I think I better get both the Benetint and Posietint in that case though I will only use them for lips being very clumsy in nature I daren't use them as cheek stains!

Havingkittens same as Carrie - I really want need a product like High Beam so would be interested in alternatives if you think it is not all that good. Ditto Benetint/Posietint - any recommendations for lipstains?

Giraffes will check out Smashbox too thank you

Any eyeliner recommendations if you don't rate Benefit highly? I don't have a steady hand so would want pencil rather than liquid and preferably one that doesn't 'imprint' on my brow when I squint (I'm looking at you Bourjois) TIA

I wouldnt recommend the benefit bad gal mascara tho. I was very underwhelmed by it. Though as I said earlier,they have a new one coming out soon which seems better.

I do love benefit but it isn't something I can afford regularly, so I also use cheaper brands like rimmel. Such as their liquid eye liner.

I don't find a lot of the lip stain products stay on very well personally. I'd be inclined to use a deeper shade of what you want to achieve in lipstick and just dab it on lightly with your fingertip. My personal favorite cheek stain, which unfortunately you can only buy online as they don't sell it in stores in the UK anymore is Stila's Convertible Colour in Peony. It's so pretty. Failing that, I often use a little bit of lipstick as a cheek stain.

The thing I don't like so much about High Beam is that it's a product that sort of dries on to the skin so can look streaky if left without blending properly. A lot of people do love it as a product though so maybe you will get on with it. I tend to use the more emolient type of highlighters for a very dewy effect, such as MAC's Cream Colour bases (shade depends on your skin tone really, you need to try a couple) or similar products. If I want something long lasting that's not going to slide off I would use a powder highlighter. Something like Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Brick, or MAC's Silver Dusk powder which is really gorgeous. The trick with powder highlighters is, if you want it to be subtle to use a soft floppier brush rather than a firm one. The Silver Dusk powder is also lovely on shoulders, decolete, arms, legs etc and can be mixed in with moisturiser (face or body) and foundation.

I'm afraid most pencil eyeliners will transfer, by their very nature, as they are wax based products which combine with the oils in your skin. Maybe you should try a gel liner with an angled brush. Get the girls on a MAC/BB/Laura Mercier etc counter show you how, it's actually pretty foolproof even for the cackest of handed!

I find resting my elbow on something when I apply liquid liner keeps the hand steady and gives a non shaky result. Pencils always smear imo so I don't often use them. I mostly don't use liner under my eyes though.

Stila are now being sold in the UK again, in Boots. I believe the convertible colours are about £16.

Ooh, that's good to know!

I'm hopin to get my greedy mitts on one when I next get the chance to visit a large Boots.

Oh and MeMeMe, and 2True, both stocked in Superdrug do the liquid lip and cheek tints.

I'm hopin to get my greedy mitts on one when I next get the chance to visit a large Boots.

Oh and MeMeMe, and 2True, both stocked in Superdrug do the liquid lip and cheek tints.

Here's what I like from Benefit:

Erase Paste--kind of a corrector/concealer for undereye circles.
Dandelion--not too "blush"-y, gives a nice finish and smells lovely.
Powder Eyeshadows--they have some nice, neutral, everyday shades that are just a little bit "special" without being too sparkly.

Lipstick--They do my most favourite colour ever "Make Nice".

Sleek pout paints, are fantastic. Currently 3 for 2 in Superdrug. Their staying power is amazing.

I also bought an MUA ( make up academy ) blusher, which is a pretty good dupe for Benefit Dandelion, for a pound! Dandelion is my all time favourite blusher. I really rate that, and Hoola, from Benefit, although this MUA one for a quid is pretty good.

For brows, I just use a dark eyeshadow with a flat brush, same for lining my lower lid, although I must admit my eyeshadow of choice is MAC. I'd like to try a Sleek eyeshadow palette now though. They have a good reputation.

I think the cost of make up is irrelevant. You get hits and misses with every brand. I've tried amazing budget make up, and rubbish expensive make up. Each brand seems to have something that they excel with.

I am taking notes here.

Erase paste, imo is the best concealer i have ever used. A little goes a long way and hides my under eye shadows brilliantly. It isnt cheap but is worth the money as a pot lasts ages.

The 2true lip and cheek tint i didn't like because of the taste. It put me off using it.

I have only tried lipstick in the Mua range but really like it. I tend to wear brownish nude lipsticks but struggle to find the right shade, but have finally done so with the Mua range. I use it over a rimmel lip liner, which i put all over my lips rather than just outlining them, as i find it means i have to reapply the lipstick a lot less often.

Where can you buy MUA stuff?

superdrug

No no no, Benefit is faddy crap!

Best makeup is Bobbi Brown, then Mac.

If anyone is interested there is a special offer on the smokin eyes kit here

Erase paste is very good thicker and creamier than the BB corrector and concealer. Powderflage is a better colour for me than that powder that comes with the BB concealer.

Thanks Lou.

Have a look on Lisa Eldridge's website - she's a fab make up artist and does the best how to make up tutorial videos I've ever seen. She uses all sorts of make up, from Boots no 7, rimmel, benefit and mac up to Chanel and suuqu.

Oooh...Satine. I've just had a quick look at that. Great!