Benefit Perk Up Artist Complexion Correcting Palette Fall 2012 Swatches and Review

 

Here's Benefit's newest complexion-enhancing palette: the Perk-Up Artist.  It has three color-correcting shades that can be used alone or custom blended to meet your concealing needs.

Benefit Perk-Up Artist Custom Complexion Correcting Palette

Correct is a light yellow concealer, good for counteracting redness and discoloration

Cover is a medium peach concealer, good for hiding dark circles and blemishes

Brighten is a light creamy pink concealer, good for adding brightness without adding shimmer

What I liked:

• The palette itself is small and compact, comes with a mirror and a very good brush, and has lids that snap over each compartment.  Excellent design.
• The concealer formulas are smooth, creamy, and blend into skin flawlessly.
• The pink really is great for brightening around the eye area.
• The yellow makes a good eyeshadow base in a pinch.

What I didn't like:

• My skintone is somewhat fair and the peach Cover concealer is sometimes visible if I haven't blended enough.  However, blending too much decreases coverage.
• The texture of the concealers stays a little creamy/sticky and must be set with powder. 
• Not ideal for heavy-duty concealing due to semi-sheer, creamy formula.  Best for slight color correction (brightening in corners of eyes, around nose and mouth, adjusting dark circles, lessening the look of small scars or hyperpigmentation).
• The palette is rather small and each product is only 0.05 oz, so $30 seems a little steep.  A full-sized Erase Paste is $26 and better for heavy-duty concealing, a full-sized Eye Bright pencil is $20.

Overall, I like the size and design of the palette and the texture of the concealers.  It's very handy for some quick color correcting and light concealing.  If you're looking for something with a little more coverage or need more than just color correction, I'd recommend the Confessions of a Concealaholic  set instead, as it comes with two shades of Boi-ing, a mini Erase Paste, Eye Bright, That Gal and Lemon Aid for only $36.

And I was also thinking... that goofy "Perk-Up Artist" on the front of the palette kinda reminds me of someone else. 

Benefit's Perk-Up Artist palette is $30 and is not limited edition.

(This was sent for review.)

QVC Today's Special Value for July 27th 2012: IT Cosmetics Vitality Anti-Aging 5 Piece Collection Swatches and Review

IT Cosmetics has another Today's Special Value kit on QVC today. You get five full-size illuminating and anti-aging products with a retail value $236 for only $59.94. The Vitality Anti-Aging 5 Piece Collection TSV contains:

IT Cosmetics Vitality Anti-Aging Brightening Fase Disc with Blush Stain and Drops of Light Luminizer ($38 value)

This is a new item. It's a blush/highlighter/bronzer trio that comes in a gigantic compact with a full mirror, just like the Pixi Bronze Bloom Trio. It's infused with anti-aging ingredients like peptides, hyaluronic acid, hydrolyzed collagen, silk, green and white tea and "drops of light technology" (which is basically just shimmer).

The back of the box features a diagram on how to use the products in here, but one word of warning: The highlighter is very frosty and shiny. If you apply it all over your chin and cheekbones and forehead as illustrated, you're going to have a very shiny face.

The blush in this trio is extremely pigmented and has only a small amount of shimmer. Most of the shimmer is overspray. It's so pigmented that it can stain your cheeks before you get a chance to blend it out fully, so make sure to tap the excess powder off your brush before applying. Otherwise, it's a good, pigmented, smooth-textured blush in a natural-looking color.

The bronzer is matte and very light. The texture is hard and it's difficult to pick up much product. I needed to load my brush three or four times and keep going over my face with it to get the color to show up. I actually like this because it keeps me from overdoing it as I'm someone who only wears bronzer to add shape to my cheekbones and not to look tan.

IT Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush 4-in-1 Lipstick Stain in Je Ne Sais Quoi ($20 value)

This is described as a 4-in-1 product: A lip stain, an anti-aging conditioning lip balm, a long-wear sheer lipstick and a light glossy finish. I agree with this description. What this is is one of those pH-reactive color changing lip balms that we've been seeing a lot of lately. Reminds me of the Pixi Magic Tink Tint, just softer and more balm-like. Good texture, feels very hydrating, starts out clear and changes color enough to be noticeable but doesn't get too dark and it wears for a good long while. It has a light, subtle scent that disappears quickly. Packaging is pretty and shiny. I think this is very good, I would definitely buy another one of these.

IT Cosmetics Super-Size 1 oz. Bye Bye Under Eye Anti-Aging Vitamin K and Collagen Concealer ($72 value)

This is just a double-size tube of the Bye Bye Under Eye concealer. It's a full ounce of product, which is a lot of concealer. I've previously reviewed this product, so check here for the full review. You can select your shade when ordering the kit. It's available in light (ultra fair), medium (light medium), tan (warm medium) and deep (rich tan).

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Ultra-Plush Jumbo Powder Brush ($58 value)

This is a super giant fluffy powder brush. It's very soft, very large and features 120,000 hairs. It's just as soft as the Heavenly Luxe Ultra-Plush Powder Brush, but since the bristles are less densely packed, it's more comfortable on my face. I like this one better. It's good for applying and dusting off excess loose powder, but also makes a good brush for applying shimmer or bronzer to the body.

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Dual Airbrush Concealer/Foundation Brush ($48 value)

Another very soft brush with a rubberized handle. I've also reviewed this one before, so check here for more information. I like the small end of this brush best as a shadow blending brush and the large end is great as a blush/bronzer blush. It's very dense and soft which makes it nice for buffing and blending. Would probably be nice for applying mineral makeup as well, but I'm all out of my Bare Minerals so I haven't been able to test it.

This is definitely a good value compared to buying each item separately. Especially if you're already a fan of the IT Cosmetics concealer, because you get the entire set for less than the price of the full one-ounce tube. My favorite items in the kit are the jumbo powder brush and the Vitality Lip Flush.

Since this is a Today's Special Value, that means the $59.94 price is vaild today (July 27th, 2012) only. The item number is #A228718 for Auto-Delivery or #A226577 a one-time order and you can order it by calling QVC at 1-800-345-1515 or you can get it online at QVC.com. It's available in light, medium, tan and deep, so be sure to check swatches to see what matches your skin tone.

(This was sent for review.)

NARS The Multiple in Undress Me Fall 2012 Swatches and Review

NARS The Multiple in Undress Me ($39)
This is a cream-textured product in a sheer cool pink with silver flaky glitter.

I have never used a NARS Multiple before (cream blushes aren't really my thing), so let me quickly highlight some details and observations on the product:

• This is a wide diameter cream stick that comes in a twist-up tube.
• The texture is creamy but not greasy. It's almost like a gel, but it's not wet or oily/liquidy at all. It feels very silicone-heavy and smooth.
• It's a multi-use product (hence the name). Can be used on cheeks, eyes, lips, and body.

Here's NARS' official description of the product:

François Nars' iconic innovation, the original multi-purpose stick for eyes, cheeks, lips and body. Its unique creamy formula and sheer color blends effortlessly to create shimmering accents, contours or dynamic highlights on all skin tones.

*Apply with fingers: the skin’s warmth allows for perfect blending.
* Mistake-proof color; quick and easy to apply
* Sheer, natural finish for eyes, cheeks and lips
* Enriched with Vitamin E and açai oil for antioxidant benefits

What I liked:

• The texture is great. It's the nicest-feeling cream blush product I've ever used. It's not sticky, not oily, not greasy. Feels like a creamy, cool, gel-like silicone primer.
• Very easy to apply and blend with the fingers. Does not require any tools (or skill).
• Doesn't stain.
• Generous amount of product in the tube.
• You can apply it to the cheeks over foundation and powder and it won't get weird/chunky/unblendable like some cream products do.
• Looks great when worn as an eyeshadow or over your current eyeshadow to add a little silver glitter.
• Good shin and collarbone highlighter.
• The silver glitter is really pretty.

What I didn't like:

• Don't believe the official description of "silver shimmer". This is full-on glitter. Chunky, flaky, distinct pieces of glitter. And I don't dislike glitter at all, but it can be difficult to wear such a heavy glitter on the cheeks. You have to have perfect skin to pull it off and the rest of your makeup has to agree with the glitter.
• When worn on the lips, it can feel a little dry and rough/chalky. The silicone texture doesn't have enough slip to make it feel like a lipstick.
• When wearing this on the eyes, wear it over a primer because it will crease otherwise.
• The pink base color doesn't show up on my face after blending despite my fair skin tone.
• This is rather expensive- $39.

While I don't like this color much as a blush, I do like it as a way to add glitter over eyeshadow and as a collarbone highlighter / body glitter. I bet you could even wear it in your hair, but I haven't tried that. It has such a nice texture that I would definitely wear one as a blush in a different color. It feels really nice, it's very easy to apply and blend, and is much easier to use than other cream/gel blushes I've used. You can wear this shade on the face if you like glitter, but I'd personally keep it confined to the orbital bone area or the very top of the cheekbones. Glitter all over the entire cheek can tend to look more like an accident than an intentional look, but if it's applied with precision, it can look magical.

NARS The Multiple in Undress Me is available now on narscosmetics.com.
(This was sent for review. Post contains an affiliate link.)

New Benefit for Sephora Tips and Tricks Complexion and Color Kits for Fall 2012

Take a look at these cute little upcoming sets from Benefit! Just in time for back-to-school shopping, Benefit is releasing six new Sephora-exclusive mini makeup lessons. Three complexion kits and three lip and cheek kits featuring generous travel sizes of Benefit's signature complexion enhancing products, all with illustrated tips and tricks for instant beauty.

Benefit How To Look The Best At Everything Flawless Complexion Makeup Kit
The Flawless Complexion kit (pictured here in medium) contains everything you need to create the look of flawless skin, all in an adorable book-shaped palette.

• The POREfessional, 0.25 oz travel size
• Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation, 0.23 oz travel size
• Boi-ing Industrial Strength Concealer, 0.10 oz travel duo
• Hello Flawless Custom Powder Cover-up, 0.14 oz travel size
• Tips and Tricks Booklet
  

This will be available in three shades. Light contains Hello Flawless foundation and powder in Champagne and Boi-ing shades 01 and 02. Medium (shown above) has Hello Flawless foundation and powder in Honey and Boi-ing shades 03 and 04. Dark has Hello Flawless foundation and powder in Amber and Boi-ing shades 05 and 06. Suggested retail price is $30.

Benefit Sugarlicious Deliciously Nude Lip and Cheek Kit
This kit comes housed in a very attractive metallic foil palette and contains a Sugarbomb-themed set of colors. Suggested retail price is $28.

• Benetint Original Rose-tinted Lip and Cheek Stain, 0.13 oz travel size
• High Beam Luminescent Complexion Enhancer, 0.13 oz travel size
• Sugarbomb Sugar Rush Flush face powder, 0.1 oz travel size
• New Ultra Plush Lip Gloss in Sugarbomb, 0.22 oz travel size
• Blush brush
• Tips and Tricks Booklet
  

Benefit Go Tropicoral Turn Up The Heat Lip and Cheek Kit
Another gorgeous metallic foil palette, this time with a tropical coral theme. Suggested retail price is $28.

• Cha Cha Tint Mango-tinted Lip and Cheek Stain, 0.13 oz travel size
• High Beam Luminescent Complexion Enhancer, 0.13 oz travel size
• Coralista Face Powder, 0.1 oz travel size
• New Ultra Plush Lip Gloss in Coralista
• Blush Brush
• Tips and Tricks Booklet

There's also a third lip and cheek kit called Feelin' Dandy that will contain a Dandelion-themed range of products:

• Posietint Poppy Pink Lip and Cheek Stain
• High Beam Luminescent Complexion Enhancer
• Dandelion Brightening Face Powder
• Ultra Plush Lip Gloss in Dandelion

Benefit Ultra Plush Lipgloss in Coralista (left), Dallas (center), Sugarbomb (right)

The construction and design of the palettes is really nice. They're all very sturdy, not too big, and decorated beautifully inside and out. Even the inside of the cardboard outer box is decorated! Each palette can also be re-used once you remove the makeup since the products are nestled into a removable inner tray.

The only new item in these kits is the Ultra Plush lipgloss, which I'll be reviewing shortly. Otherwise, you can browse previous reviews of the individual products here:

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation Review
Benefit Coralista and Sugarbomb Review
Benefit Cha Cha Tint Review
Benefit Posietint Mini-review

I think these sets are extremely pretty to look at, but more importantly, they're a very inexpensive way to try out a lot of different Benefit products at once. The lip and cheek kits are only $28, and the complexion kits are only slightly more expensive at $30. The travel sized products in these kits are not skimpy or tiny and they will last you a good long while.

The Benefit Tips and Tricks Instant Beauty kits are a Sephora exclusive and will be available in-store and online starting in August.

(This was sent for review.)