BeneFit - Blush in Dallas

 This is a wonderful shade that looks like a lovely, natural outdoor glow. I have pale skin and this doesn't look muddy or dark on me at all. It's not shimmery so it will look unobtrusive, but if you prefer shimmer, a highlighter can be applied sparingly over top with a fan brush to create a glowing effect.

Normally anything with a hint of brown or orange tends to look dirty and/or sickly on my skin, but this one is just muted enough to make it look natural without creating this dreaded effect. I don't know about other skintones, but anyone with pale to medium skin like mine will likely find that this becomes a favourite!

The packaging is super cute if a bit larger than needed. It's a cardboard package though, so be careful not to leave it on the bathroom counter if your counter tends to get wet! As with pretty much everything, I don't use the brush that comes with it, but as long as you've got a favourite blush brush you will be able to create a lovely glow. Highly recommend it!

Ratings:
Packaging: 4/5
Product quality: 5/5
Worth the price? I'd say so.
Would I purchase again? Probably. I have a feeling it'll last awhile though, as I don't tend to wear a lot of blush.

Cruelty-Free? Not sure. They claim not to use animal testing, but, according to PETA, they have repeatedly refused to sign the cruelty-free pledge to appear on PETA's Cruelty-Free list. When asked, they say this is because they can't guarantee that all the ingredients they use haven't been tested on animals at some point in history - but this is a given for nearly all cosmetics companies, so you'd think it would be implied for all the companies on the list. I'm still looking into it.

Where to find it: BeneFit online, Sephora in store and online. 

BeneFit - Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in R.S.V.P.

The Sephora website describes the colour as "sparkling champagne," which I'd say is pretty accurate. It has a nice sheen (though no sparkles) and spreads like butter.

I have a LOT of trouble with creasing in general, and though this doesn't crease right away, by the end of a work day it does. If you have similar problems you might want to make sure you carry it along with you to reapply if this happens.

I got a sample size of this from Sephora and I've recently taken to wearing it with MAC's Shroom as a browbone highlighter and a coat of MAC Plush Lash and pairing it with a bold lip. It brightens up my eyes and looks gorgeous with almost no effort.  It's a nice, easy neutral look for those mornings when you don't want to bother with much makeup!

Ratings:
Packaging: 5/5
Product quality: 4.5/5
Worth the price? Nearly.
Would I purchase again? I don't think so - the sample I got is a decent size and a little goes a long way!

Cruelty-Free? Not sure. They claim not to use animal testing, but, according to PETA, they have repeatedly refused to sign the cruelty-free pledge to appear on PETA's Cruelty-Free list. When asked, they say this is because they can't guarantee that all the ingredients they use haven't been tested on animals at some point in history - but this is a given for nearly all cosmetics companies, so you'd think it would be implied for all the companies on the list. I'm still looking into it.

Where to find it: BeneFit online, Sephora in store or online, Shopper's Drug Mart in store. 

BeneFit - Erase Paste

via Sephora

I have very pale skin, so I often have trouble with darkness in the undereye area. But it's hard to find a concealer that is up to the job of covering it up without looking cakey or powdery. I was amazed that this actually does the job!

I use my fingers to apply it so that the warmth of my skin can help work it into the skin and blend it. I actually got this as a sample and need so little at a time that I haven't even gotten through a third of the sample yet even with daily use for over a month! It may seem pricey, but it will last you forever.

I think this is a great option for delicate skin that tends towards dryness, for even, natural looking coverage. The only down side is that, as with any undereye concealer, it must match your skin in order to cover invisibly. This only comes in three shades, and none for darker-skinned ladies, so if you don't magically match one of them (as I was lucky enough to) it will be useless. You'll definitely need to see this in store to match, but if it matches I think you'll like it! I'll definitely be shelling out for a full tub of this if I ever use up the sample!

Ratings:
Packaging: 5/5
Product quality: 5/5
Worth the price? If you like it. Probably worth trying a sample first or buying it from Sephora so you can take it back if it doesn't work. It needs to match your skintone exactly.
Would I purchase again? Yep! (**Update 2/6/2011 - Because of the unsure status of this company regarding animal testing, I'm not buying any more of their products until I have more information.)

Cruelty-Free? Not sure. They claim not to use animal testing, but, according to PETA, they have repeatedly refused to sign the cruelty-free pledge to appear on PETA's Cruelty-Free list. When asked, they say this is because they can't guarantee that all the ingredients they use haven't been tested on animals at some point in history - but this is a given for nearly all cosmetics companies, so you'd think it would be implied for all the companies on the list. I'm still looking into it.

Where to find it: Benefit online, Sephora in store and online, Shopper's Drug Mart in store.