Sneak Peek! Colour...By Benefit: Utterly Gorgeous

A lovely part of writing about beauty is I get to see and play with more than my fair share of new products. Most of them are very nice, some can feel a bit samey and then occasionally, that rare launch comes along that takes your breath away.

That’s how I felt about Benefit’s new colour collection – it’s just exquisite. Some parts, like the new Ultra Plush Lip Glosses, are brand new whereas others – the cream and powder shadows – have been repackaged and extended, but all of it is absolutely lovely.

I don’t usually show you photos of the outer packaging but here it’s absolutely merited. Inspired by the brand’s San Francisco heritage and the cities landmark Golden Gate bridge, the art deco detailing is a real visual treat. And inside the patterned and beribboned cardboard, yet more loveliness awaits – looks like Benefit has been taking notes from Paul & Joe and are well on their way to stealing the retro-modern crown.

L-R: A-Lister,  Lollibop, Poutrageous (LOVING the names!)

Let’s take a closer look at the Ultra Plush glosses, shall we? They’re €21 a pop, and they’re lovely. Six milky looking shades are on offer – as well as the three here, there’s Kiss You (plum), Fauxmance (soft berry) and Ice-breaker (clear). They look very pigmented in their gorgeous little tubes but the product itself is quite sheer – I’m wearing what looks like the brightest, Poutrageous, in the pic below. Texture wise, it’s lovely – it has a smooth consistency, feels hydrating and comfortable to wear and there’s no stickiness, though like all glosses it doesn’t last too long.

Wearing Poutrageous on the lips and Skinny Jeans creaseless cream shadow on the eyes  

On to the eyes, and there are 12 Longwear Powder Eye Shadows and 10 Creaseless Creams to choose from (both are €22.50). The powders come in a range of finishes and I have a matte and a metallic to show you here. Blingo is a creamy silver with great colour payoff and Pause for Applause is a soft lilac matte. (If they look familiar it’s because both can be found in the World Famous Neutrals kit we showed you here.)

Here’s the full line-up:

• Milk It - pearly white
• Call My Bluff -  pale shell
• Pinky Swear - soft matte pink
• It’s Complicated - golden peach
• Thanks a Latte - golden brown
• Pause for Applause - soft lilac
• Nude Swings - soft rose gold
• Blingo - brilliant silver
• Raincheck - smoky amethyst
• Gilt-y Pleasure - golden sand
• Kiss Me, I’m Tipsy - spiced brown
• Quick, Look Busy - matte espresso

In their new packaging, the creaseless cream shadows look almost like confectionery but they’ve a lot more going for them than their looks. I find these so easy to work with – a quick swipe of the finger over the lid and you’re done. The two shown here, Bikini-tini and Skinny Jeans, just can’t be faulted – they’re foolproof to use and apply, can be worn sheered out or more heavily packed on, used alone or under powders, don’t crease and last all day.

Want the full list? You got it:

• Bikini-tini - oyster pink
• RSVP - sparkling champagne
• No Pressure -  rich fawn
• My Two Cents - polished copper
• Always a Bridesmaid - pearly      lavender
• Blue My Mind - arctic blue
• Bronze Have More Fun - antique      bronze
• Skinny Jeans - pretty pewter
• Holy Smokes - smouldering  charcoal

We’ll be able to get our hands on everything from May onwards with some more lip loveliness coming our way in September. What say you? Think you’ll be making any purchases from the range?