Benefit How To Look The Best At Everything Flawless Complexion Makeup Kit

RRP: £25.50
available shades: 3

--What does the promo say?--
"We wrote the book on complexion perfection! Our custom perfectors give you a luminous complexion by blending away imperfections & minimising the appearance of pores. Mix & match our complexion perfectors to customize your coverage. You’ll be the first to finish flawless."

--Packaging--
As always with Benefit products, the packaging is beautiful: the vintage-style book design is lovely (and the removable tray - meaning that you can keep this when you've finished the makeup - is a terrific bonus) and the inside is generally very practical, with virtually all products removable from the tray (very few pans) with the exception of the Hello Flawless face powder (in Ivory). The PoreFessional Pro Balm is a conveniently-sized screwtop tube and the Hello Flawless foundation is a tiny pump-action canister. You also get two shades of Boi-ing concealer in a removable plastic pan - so virtually all of these products can be easily removed and put into your handbag or purse if you just want one or two of them at a given moment. The enclosed 'tips and tricks' pamphlet is equally useful (unfold it for a handy mirror!).

--Application--
Rub the PoreFessional primer all over a clean, dry face before doing the same with 1-2 pumps of the foundation. Dab the concealer over any blemishes or dark spots before finishing with the powder. You could then go on to use another Benefit travel kit for the rest of your face, such as the sadly now defunct Celebutante, or the currently available Life of the Party. (Failing that, there's always the classic Benetint or one of its newer variants.)

--Appearance--
The combination of these products gives a matte appearance with flawless coverage. The fact that this kit is available in 3 shades is a major plus - the products are bound to suit you.

--Scent--
None particularly in any case.

--Texture and consistency--
Just as you would want from any of these products: the primer blends beautifully across the face even if it is a little bit waxy, the foundation is fluid without being runny, the concealer provides maximum coverage without drying the skin, and the powder is light, meaning your skin is fully prepped without being clogged. Perfetto!

--Value for money--
Despite what seems like a steep initial outlay, the products last a long time and the beautiful box makes an excellent keepsake once you have removed the tray. Furthermore, it's so rare to find a box set that will do your whole face like this, too. Brilliant for travel!

perfect partners
They're Real! Lengthening Mascara, £19.50
They're Real! Push-Up Eyeliner, £18.50
BB Cream Eyelid Primer, £21.50
Lemon Aid, £16.50
Benetint, £24.50
Life of the Party, now £19.66 (was £29.50)

Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette

RRP: $9.99 at Amazon.com and Target (if you are resident in the US); $20 on ebay (if you live elsewhere)

--What does the promo say?--

• Create a nearly flawless face with this exclusive quartet of concealers by makeup master Sonia Kashuk
• Includes 2 shades of concealer,1 neutralizer and 1 translucent powder
• Also includes 2 applicator brushes, 1 nylon and 1 sable
• Sleek case boasts a small mirror and fits neatly into a purse or cosmetic bag
• Used For: Concealing
• For Use On: Face
• Cosmetic Palette: Light Tones

--About the brand--
Most famed in the UK for its makeup brushes, this brand was founded by Sonia Kashuk, a makeup artist who used to work for Aveda, upon entering a partnership with American superstore Target in the late 1990s. It retailed also for some time at SpaceNK in Great Britain, but for some reason is now no longer retailing in the UK at all, so inspired UK buyers will have to ferret it out from elsewhere.

--Packaging--
The white, ELF-style packaging is not particularly inspiring, but at the budget prices at which it is being sold by Target, this is forgivable. This concealer quad also comes with a mirror and a couple of brushes (half decent ones too; no more scratchiness for me), although you are of course still free to get in there with your fingers if the mood should thus take you.

--Application--
Use the brushes or your fingersto apply the neutralizer (I think it's the darker colour on the bottom row) before applying your foundation. Apply one of the two concealers (or a mixture of the two) after your foundation and then set with powder (one is included in the set, but it is rather small, so you will need to supplement it with another). Some great information and advice on neutralizers and concealers can be found here. While I'm not sure I"ve exploited the neutralizer to its full potential at present, it's already a very easy palette to use to achieve amazing effects and I can't see that changing.

--Appearance--
I used this palette for my wedding, and even though, as I mentioned above, I don't think I used it to its fullest capacities, I still got so many positive comments on how flawless my skin looked - so it's certainly true that for me and my skin the shades provided were a perfect fit, covering blemishes 100% in conjunction with foundation and powder, and giving a totally natural, non-caked-on effect.

--Scent--
None.

--Texture and consistency--
The concealers blend in beautifully while still providing heavy-duty coverage, and the powder is incredibly light and controllable. Full marks all round really.

--Value for money--
This is a tricky one. In the US it is sold as a budget brand, whereas when the brand launched in Great Britain at Space NK, prices skyrocketed (this same palette was selling there for £21, as opposed to the $10 it goes for in the US). So clearly for $10 it is amazing value - professional quality at layman's prices. For £21 (the UK recommended RRP), things become less clearly cut. However, it's still absolutely worth your while to hunt it down - I'm glad I did.

perfect partners
Sonia Kashuk Lip Palette (RRP £25; see ebay)
Sonia Kashuk Freshness of Spring Face Palette ($13.99 + shipping on Bonanza.com)
Sonia Kashuk 7 Piece Brush Set with Case (RRP $30; see ebay)
Sonia Kashuk Hidden Treasure 7 Piece Brush Set (RRP $30; see ebay)
Sonia Kashuk Liquid Foundation ($8.99 on ebay)

Benefit Celebutante

RRP: £21.50 at www.trinitydivinity.co.uk
contains: High Beam (2.5ml), Benetint (2.5ml), Dallas (3 grams), I'm With The Band (2.5ml), Lady's Choice (1.2 grams), No Competition (1.2 grams), Leggy (1.2 grams), Dandy Brandy (1.2 grams), 1 fluff shadow/talent brush, 1 powder brush

--What does the promo say?--
"Benefit Celebutante kit is packed with everything you need to look like a Hollywood celebutante. This stylish Benefit Celebutante set is a must-have gift for every lady. With all your faves in a glam clutch-style case and a step-by-step make-up lesson...it's the perfect accessory! Get one for all the celebutantes in your life...like YOU!"

--Packaging--
Pretty, pink, and finished off with plenty of chain drawings and gold lettering...a bit chavvy? Maybe, but inside it redeems itself, being all very compact and complete with two decent brushes for travelling and a mirror of goodly size. Can't complain :)

--Application--
A full step-by-step makeup lesson booklet is included in the pack to help you along, and it successfully takes you through everything from how to apply the highlighter through to which lip colour to choose (there are three).

--Scents--
Nothing has any scent really to speak of, which is good for those of you who are funny about that sort of thing.

--Appearance--
The contents of this palette assume by default that you have perfect skin, with not even so much as a concealer being included. This means that you do need to pack your own when travelling if you require it. Once you've applied any prerequisite base, however, the looks that this palette provides range from subtle and downplayed to more dramatic. Leave out the eyeliner, and choose Lady's Choice lipstick or I'm With The Band gloss for more of a daytime look, but add in the eyeliner and choose No Competition lipstick for something more vampish. You could also up the Benetint at this point if you wanted to. The selection of products works well for anyone, especially those with pale skin.

--Textures and consistencies--
The eyeshadows and Dallas can be a bit too powdery at times, but not much (if any) is wasted as it's still very easily controllable thanks to the dexterity of the brushes provided. No problems with any of the other products - Benetint and High Beam blend well, the two lipsticks are not drying, and the lip gloss is hard-wearing without being sticky.

--Longevity--
Benefit probably does best out of this, although everything else is exceptional in how long it lasts. Lipstick only needs to be reapplied once or twice a day at most; lip gloss does its best and holds its own in its price bracket.

--Value for money--
Excellent, as the Benefit palettes always are. It would be nice if there was a concealer and a mascara included, even though I know that the former is fraught with risk; however, they probably wouldn't be able to do this without making the palette quite a bit bigger. You can also get this for a lower price if you search around, particularly on ebay - you won't find this in the shops now, in any case, as it was their Christmas special edition for 2009 and it's now gone from the high street for good. It's worth looking around to see if you can get hold of one, though - the Celebutante is great for travel and provides near enough everything that you need to make it through your holidays.

Lancome Naturelle Seduction

RRP: $42 USD from www.evecare.com; $60 NZD

--What does the promo say?--
"Naturelle Seduction contains 1 x Blush Subtil, 1 x Rouge Absolue, and 4 x Color Focus Eyeshadows. The perfect kit for a natural look. A universal range of colours to suit all complexions."

--Packaging--
Comes in its own black velvet pouch, which picks up dust quite easily, but in doing so keeps the palette itself clean and undamaged. The palette is made from shiny black plastic, and has a very small gold Lancome logo at the point where the palette opens. It's easy to open and close, and everything is laid out very nicely inside, including three different applicators, one of which is double-ended. It also has a very generously-sized mirror.

--Application--
The blush and lipstick are easy enough to use, but the four eyeshadows provided can make things more overwhelming. You can of course use them separately; if you wish to use them all together, however, the best course of action seems to be to use the yellow up to the brow bone, the pink up to the eyelid crease, the brown as a liner along the top lashes, and the white as a highlighter just at the outer corner of the brow.

--Appearance--
All of the colours combine beautifully to create a really natural look, no matter what your skin tone. In the palette, the colours are really shown at their best against the jet-black packaging. Depth is created around the eyes, a healthy rosy glow is given at the cheeks, and the lip colour is a very natural pinky red.

--Texture/consistency--
The blusher is not too powdery, which is good, as it means mess is minimised. The lipstick is really lovely and soft without being glossy. The pink and yellow eyeshadows are more powdery, but the liner and highlighter are more difficult to describe: they seem denser and less powdery, and travel across the skin much more smoothly (though they are more difficult to pick up with the brush).

--Longevity--
The lipstick puts up a good fight, but will need to be reapplied by lunchtime. However, the blusher lasts ages and the eyeshadow stays flawless all day.

--Value for money--
This is mostly available in airport duty-free areas, so is bound to be at a fairly attractive price (must be: it's how I got mine!). However, this is worth purchase alone for its top-notch eyeshadow and to-die-for soft lipstick.

Bobbi Brown Surf and Sand Eyeshadow Palette

RRP: £35.00
# of shades in the palette: 10

Packaging: a small black shiny plastic container, with the Bobbi Brown logo in silver on the lid and with all of the eyeshadows running into one another. The box is far smaller than it appears online (I bought mine on ebay): in actual fact its size is approximately 10cm x 4cm x 1cm (I say 'approximately' because I'm not currently in possession of a ruler, measuring tape, or any other measuring hooha). The size, while excellent for travelling, does give you a feeling of "but...but...it's so runty!! £35 for something this small?" However, there was also a pleasant surprise: on all the pictures you see, it looks like the eyeshadows are set flat into the box and all run into one another. While it's true that there aren't any gaps between the colours, each colour is slightly raised from the box in a sort of arch (kind of like a mini speed bump) so that you can easily just use the colour you want without blurring into other colours.

What does the promo say?: "A limited edition eye palette features eye shadow shades with pearlized pigments. The ten exclusive shades are sheer and shimmering visions of aqua, soft pink and beige."

Application: Same as any other eyeshadow: apply to the eyelid using a brush or your finger (wet or dry according to the effect you want).

Texture: Silky smooth and very fine. Doesn't irritate the eye in any way.

Appearance: In the box, perhaps because the box is black, the colours appear very bright. However, on the eyelid they become much more sheer and shimmery - if you want a more intense look, just wet the brush or your finger that you're going to apply the shadow with. Plus, they're just beautiful to look at. I knew I wanted it the second I saw it.

Longevity: Doesn't crease and you don't have to keep reapplying throughout the day.

Removal: Easy to remove (not that you'd want to!).

Value for money: I have to admit, this doesn't appear to be the most value-ful product. However, when you break it down, there are 10 colours in the palette, and so if you pay full whack, you're still only paying £3.50 a shade...now tell me, can you buy a regular Bobbi Brown mono eyeshadow for that? Methinks not. If you buy on ebay, you increase your value for money even further.

Other comments: This is just such a beautiful palette and I would recommend it to any makeup-lover, even if you wouldn't normally spend that much on eyeshadow (I balked at the price, believe me...I got it for £25 on ebay in the end but knowing it as I do now I would now happily pay full price for it, it is that amazing). There is the possibility that you're just buying into the brand name with this, but having looked at other eyeshadow palettes, I haven't found one more beautiful (the No7 @ Boots summer eyeshadow palette is an extremely poor comparison!). It's such a shame it's limited edition. I may have to buy another.

Benefit Realness of Concealness

RRP: £22.50 for 1.2g of Bo-ing, 2.5g of High Beam, 1g of Lemon Aid, 2.5g of Lip Plump and 2.5g of Ooh La Lift + mirror

--Packaging--
The packaging is very cutesy and compact, true to Benefit's usual form. It's a small purple-brown coloured box measuring approx 6cm x 8cm x 2cm, with a lovely dotty design on the lid. Inside everything is very neatly packaged, with the Lip Plump, High Beam and Ooh La Lift coming in small tubes and the other two products being embedded in the box. The box seems to shut magnetically so that it doesn't fall open in your bag.

--What does the promo say?--
"Sometimes a little concealing and perking up is all you need. It doesn't take a makeover, just this crafty little kit containing our famous concealers and enhancers. Kit contains: lemon-aid to correct discoloration on eyelids; boi-ing to hide even the darkest under eye circles; ooh la lift to brighten, lighten and tighten the eye area; lip plump to prime, smooth, and plump lips; and high beam to give your skin an ethereal glow. "

--Application--
For the tubes, just twist and apply directly to the relevant area of the face using the wand; apply the Lemon Aid and Bo-ing using your fingers or using a brush or sponge (n.b. no brushes or sponges are included). Pretty simple.

--Scent--
Didn't notice any for any of the products.

--Appearance--
Bo-ing: a brownish compact sample of the concealer.
Lemon Aid: a yellow compact sample of the eyelid primer.
High Beam, Ooh La Lift and Lip Plump: All are lotion type products in small tubes, with the former two being shimmery shades of pale pink and the latter being brownish. High Beam is an all-over face highlighter, Ooh La Lift is an under-eye 'de-puffer' and Lip Plump is a lip primer, to be applied before applying lipstick.

--Texture--
The three tube products are lotions, but aren't too runny or hard. The two compact samples are harder and are more like a lip-gloss consistency without the slidiness.

--How well do they blend into the skin?--
Lemon Aid, High Beam and Ooh La Lift are fantastic and very easy to blend in. Bo-ing is easily helped along with some water but doesn't fare too well on its own, and Lip Plump isn't intended to be blended in.

--Longevity--
All come across as fairly heavy-duty products - they don't seem to come off in any great hurry.

--Appearance on the skin--
The Lip Plump looks pretty scary when you've just applied it - it basically looks like you've applied concealer to your lips. However, when you've applied lipstick over the top like you're meant to, it's fine. The Bo-ing also has a tendency to make your skin look like there's just random orange patches on your face, mainly due to the difficulty in blending it in but also due to the colour of it - it looks browner in the box than on the face (though I have quite pale skin, so people with darker skins may fare better). However, all of the other products blend in wonderfully, with High Beam giving the wearer a lovely dewy glow.

--Coverage--
Only Bo-ing, Ooh La Lift and Lemon Aid are designed for coverage. The latter two work well, but I wouldn't buy the former, as I've used concealers that cover up better in the past.

--Ease of removal--
Absolutely fine - you can even remove them just using a normal cleanser, without having to use a makeup removal product.

--Value for money--
Quite good considering the prestige of the brand and the fact that you're getting five sample size products, which will save you money in the long run once you've worked out which ones you like. Plus, the box itself is an excellent size for travelling.

--Which ones would I buy?--
I would happily buy Lemon Aid (eyelid primer) and High Beam (luminescent complexion enhancer). Lemon Aid seemed to work really well as an eyelid primer and evens out the difference that you can see when people put powder/foundation on their faces and understandably don't want to put these products on their eyes due to them being too heavy. High Beam is just lovely to look at when it's on and a really light product for those days when you don't want to wear makeup but don't want to look like a total tramp :p
I wouldn't buy Ooh La Lift because I saw no visible difference when using it, and I wouldn't buy Lip Plump simply because I don't use enough lipstick - maybe if you had particularly bad dark circles or wore lipstick a lot you would buy these products and get enough use from them to make it worthwhile.
By far the worst of the products in the box was Bo-ing, on every level. I have used other concealers that covered up better, aren't as expensive as the full-size Bo-ing (which retails at £15.50 for 3g), are easier to blend in and don't make me look like I've been Tangoed. (Though having said that, the Benefit website says there are 3 shades, so it may well be that the one in the box was an unfortunate choice for me.)
However, I feel the box was a worthy investment and I will definitely be using it for travel.

Too Faced Little Pink Book

RRP: £22.00
Contains: 2 concealers, 1 blush, 2 eyeliner shadows, 2 brow shadows, 1 applicator, 3 eyeshadows, 2 glosses, 1 mirror

--Packaging--
In a lot of the pictures I saw on the internet, the outside of the little pink book looks kind of fabric-like, so I was surprised when mine arrived and it was all shiny and sparkly. I didn't know whether to be disappointed because it wasn't what I'd expected, or happy because it was pretty anyway. Inside the little pink book, everything is quite concisely and neatly laid out. Good start.

--What does the promo say?--
"A must-have makeup book/palette that holds all your naughty little secrets. This version of a Too Faced girl's little black book is filled with every beauty essential required to melt the hearts of any man, and make other women "pink" with envy. Slip it into your pocket for touch-ups on the town!"

--Application--
The book provides you with one applicator - one end is an eyeshadow sponge, the other end is a lipgloss brush. This is fine in itself but they could do with providing at least one more applicator for the eyeliner/brow stuff. I'm fine to use my fingers for the blush and concealer but using your fingers for the eyeliner and brow stuff just looks really messy and lame. There should be room for me to stick another little brush in there though.

--Appearance and scent--
No scents to speak of, but to be honest I was a little disappointed with the appearance of the concealers and lipglosses at the outset. They looked a bit greasy/oily and a bit cheap, kind of like the free makeup you get with teen magazines and definitely not what you expect for £22. However, they were fine on application, though I'd warn that a little of the lipgloss goes quite a long way.

--Texture--
Everything fine except the lipgloss, which feels a bit overpowering and heavy on your lips if you apply too much. Just limit your application and you should be OK though.

--Longevity--
Pretty good, actually, even the lipgloss. I was impressed - I wore the lipgloss while eating and it definitely stood the test.

--Coverage--
The concealer is OK, but I personally prefer to wear a foundation as well. I have a mini foundation that I can carry about with me though, and I can appreciate why they couldn't include one as the differences between shades of foundation are so important. If you have clear skin (unlike me...sob) then you'll be fine with just having a concealer.

--Removal--
Easy to remove.

--Value for money--
It is a bit expensive, but I was looking for a makeup palette for a very long time before buying this one, and this is the only one that doesn't include a ridiculous number of shades of lipgloss and eyeshadow and (more importantly) it was the only one I found that actually had a concealer. When you consider other products on the market, such as the Bourjois Petit Guide de Style (which incidentally only has 2 eyeshadows and nothing else for your £7), you get an excellent range of products for the price. Ultimately I would say it is worth the money paid (particularly if you buy off ebay, hehe).

--Other comments--
The only thing I would recommend that they include is one more applicator and also a mini mascara - if Estee Lauder can give away mini mascaras with every order I think Too Faced can manage to fit one in there for your £22. Despite this tiny criticism, I would still emphasise that it is a fabulous concept - I liked it from the first time I saw it and it's really quite different to other palettes on the market. It would make a lovely gift for anyone who feels the need to look good while on the move.