RUSH HOUR -Instant Makeover for lips and cheeks - BENEFIT
£16.50

- What the promo says - "A 10 second makeover...it's a fresh and lively touch up for lips and cheeks...in a silky smooth sunberry shade...it's peppy on all complexions!" This is all that is written on the leaflet inside the box but there are more useful details (full of exclamation marks and very 'American') to be found on Benefit's website as follows: "THE instant makeover for lips & cheeks. It's low maintenance, oil-free & non-comedogenic makeup for the gal on the go. This sunberry color cream is your shade! Apply to cheeks, dot on lips-vroom, vroom...you're ready to go!
Tips and tricks: The twist-up slim-line design makes application mess-free and fast! Starting at the apple of your cheeks, apply rush hour using whisker-like strokes. Blend evenly with fingertips. Then dot on lips and you're gorgeous in a flash!"

- Why I bought this product - I have always felt that the cosmetics industry is a bit of a rip-off, making us buy this product for one part of our body and that product for another. Whilst I am aware that things like nail varnish can only have one use (!) I felt that powders and creams for eyes, face and lips could be used more imaginatively to save having to buy so many products. So, when I saw that Benefit were combining something for cheeks and lips I thought, "Hooray! At last someone is producing a dual purpose product."

- Packaging - I love Benefit's packaging. It is colourful and bright and often quite 'retro'. The 'Rush Hour' box has a glamorous gloved hand sporting a ring over the glove... holding the steering wheel of a car. Inside there is a slim gold lipstick style container in gold with black geometric patterns. Easy to keep in your handbag.

- Application - Just a few dots needed on the cheeks, blended in with the fingers...for a glowing effect. A quick dash over the lips and you are ready. Just the sort of thing you can do quickly in your rear view mirror when the traffic lights are red.

- Appearance/ Texture - Goes on well and is pleasant to apply. Lips are nice and glossy on initial application.

- Scent - Not aware of one.

-Short term / Long term effects - Appearance is good after initial application. The colour is good for my cheeks although, being blonde, I do find the lipstick colour a little dark for me. Application lasts well ...all morning at least. ...although being a fan of Lancôme's 'Rouge Absolu' I do not feel that this lipstick has such a good hydrating effect. I find my lips are feeling a little dry by the end of the morning. The colour lasts well...and when it does fade, it seems to cling to the outer edges of your lips which gives the effect of a lip-liner.

- Longevity - This is a product that I would have used much more in my 'former life' when I was dashing around going to conferences and meetings as a Headmistress. I think it is a brilliant idea to have something to touch up your make-up after a long journey when you are looking and feeling a little tired. My present life-style is not so 'rushed' and I have every opportunity to go and replenish make-up throughout the day whenever I want...so I cannot give a good idea of how long this product would last if kept in a handbag and used regularly but I think the general idea is a good one. Well done, Benefit.

- Value for Money - Product does what it says and is not too expensive compared to other quality lipsticks on the market. When you bear in mind that it is a blusher as well....! Good value.

- Suppliers - Sephora, Boots, House of Fraser
http://www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk/

Benefit's Lemon Aid Eyelid Primer

RRP: £15.50

- What the Promo says -

"Wake up your eyelids with this warm yellow correcting cream. It helps to hide redness and discoloration on your eyelids. In a snap, eyes look refreshed, frisky and ready for fun."

- Why I bought this product -

I have been 'suffering' from redness in the 'crease' of my eye for some time and nothing I have used on my eyelids has corrected it or even concealed it....in fact, most products have only made the situation worse, causing the skin on my eyelids to flake and peel! So when I saw Benefit's 'Lemon Aid' I decided to give it a try.

- Packaging -

Benefit's products come in neat little boxes that do not try to fool you about the size of the product inside. This box is about 5 and a half centimetres square...easy to pick out on the shelf with its lemon segment design. Inside is a circular eye compact in black with the words 'lemon aid' in yellow'. I was hoping it would look more like a lemon....but never mind! It is a handy size to pop into any handbag and has a good clip fastening mechanism.

- Application -

Pat onto your eyelids using your fingertips, then blend. Can be worn alone or under make-up.

- Appearance/Texture/Consistency -

Quite 'yellowy' in appearance, it does however blend in well on the eyelid creating a natural look. The product is fairly creamy and so there is no problem with loose powder falling in the eye....and none is lost during application. Although I have worn 'lemon aid' alone it is very pale and so I prefer to use it as a primer for eyeshadow.

- Scent -

It doesn't have one.

- Longevity -

Applied first thing in the morning, its effect lasts all day.

- Short term/long term effects -

The product successfully covers redness until it is removed with make-up remover.

- Value for Money -

Quite expensive but you only need to use a small amount once a day so the small compact should last a while. The fact that I no longer have red-looking eyelids makes it worth it!

- Suppliers -

http://www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk/

Sephora

Boots

House of Fraser