Benefit cosmetics - any good? And help me pick!

[CityWallandaTrampoline]

I would like to refresh my make up bag - I don’t wear loads but what I have is pretty old - and have been tempted to do a “build your own kit” at Benefit here

Is it any good? I remember having some Dr Feelgood balm and Hoola many years ago and quite liking them but have tended to pick up No 7/whatever’s on offer in Boots in recent years! Would also appreciate some help picking from the various categories. I’m early 40s, pale skin, dark hair and eyes.

From the “face” categories: any recommendations for a choice from Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation, ditto powder, or one of the Porefessional primers (pearl or normal)? Disclaimer: I don’t like heavy foundation, my usual is fairly translucent and I can’t see myself using primers if I then have to have another layer of proper foundation over the top. I do usually use a tiny bit of powder on top.

Cheeks: dandelion or hoola? That really!

Eyes: which mascara - they’re real or rollerlash?

Free mini gift: narrowed it down to mini hoola (if I don’t pick it above) or posietint. Wouldn’t know what to do with highlighter or eyebrow pencil

I’m pretty clueless, as you can see, so any advice would be appreciated

I use the normal porefessional everyday. If you're happy with translucent it's fine on its own. I use under foundation. I'd get dandelion. I prefer they're real mascara. Then get the mini hoola for nights out and holidays.

Have you considered the hoola light? I have pale skin and find that very flattering.

Ooh I hadn’t spotted the hoola lite - will throw that into the mix too!

I use dandelion as blusher...it's perfect.
Gimme Brow is a gamechanger
Watts Up highlighter is amazing

I also wear very little makeup and love porefessional normal as I can put a small amount on and it evens my skin out but feels like I’m not wearing anything. I also love the hello foundation as I find it thin enough that I don’t feel caked in it but it lasts a long time and is enough coverage that one the rare day every few months I want to feel a bit more done up it still does the job

I use hoola lite as it's a lot less orange on my pasty pale skin.
Love dandelion, I used to use their Georgia Peach blusher but the discontinued it so I forced myself to go pink with dandelion.
I occasionally use high beam on my lids as a lazy eye shadow and the inside corners of my eyes as a highlighter
I do like the dandelion liquid that comes in a pump bottle as it lasts ages and blends really well from a tiny amount.
Same goes for the liquid hoola bronzer too

I do like Benefit stuff. At the moment I am wearing the Bene Balm which looks red in the tube but is very wearable on.

I didn't get on with their hello flawless foundation, if you have oily/combination skin you might not like it.

Love all their blushers, dandelion is my favourite- the original one in a green box.

Tinted lip balms are also really good. Roller lash is my favourite mascara.

All their eyebrow products are great especially gimme brow and the precisely pencil

Dandelion is lovely, but I prefer Galifornia in their blushers as it is a slightly stronger colour, dandelion is very subtle.

Posietint is lovely and can be used subtly with just one application or put more layers to build the colour.

I find Hoola quite a strong bronzer, I'd prob go for the light version if you're quite pale 😊

It looks like a lovely kit, I think you'll enjoy it!

I use They're Real Mascara and Foolproof Brow. Love them both.

Gimme Brow and Rollerlash for sure!

I really like their foundation and powder and like dandelion. Their mascara is rubbish though, I find it makes my lashes look clumpy and spidery.

Dandelion is great for pale skin.

I don't rate their mascaras at all.

I rate Dandelion and Rollerlash very highly.

Ok so Porefessional seems to be popular...anyone have any views on the pearl version or is it best to stick to the original?

Dandelion blusher definitely. Votes are about split between rollerlash and they’re real mascara, and I’m torn between mini hoola and mini posietint (tempted towards hoola on the basis that posietint might be too similar to dandelion - any thoughts?)

The brow products scare me . I could just about get on board with one of those mascara type brow wand things but don’t think that’s in the offer!

If you don’t generally wear a lot of makeup I would go for the regular porefessional as it is great at its job but very subtle.

CityWallandaTrampoline did you know that Benefit products are tested on animals?

I used to like Benefit but I've moved to a Clarins with some interesting bits from Smashbox and Urban Decay.

Benefit blushers are good

Dandelion is really really pale, it was originally marketed as an all over brighting powder so I do not rate as a blusher, I'd go for a different blush. Roller lash is amazing, they're real I find looks clumpy. Poise tint is nice but if you're getting a powder blush then try out a bronzer. Oxygen wow liquid foundation is lovely, light and breathable and gives you a glow. I agree probably not good for oily skin or blemish prone skin. I would go for the pearl primer but I like to glow and my skin is on the dry side.

I regularly use their blushers, Porefessional (original), Hoola, They're Real and Roller Lash mascaras and Gimme Brow.

They're real eye lash primer is great. It's a mink shade and looks good for a natural look or under make up.

If you're interested in trying a few products without spending a lot of money you should try some minis. Benefit are one of the best companies for selling minis in my opinion. They're usually 3 for £24 at boots. Definetly worth it for powder products such as hoola since they last ages.

Hervana blusher is one of my make-up bag staples. Amazing.