Hey, shorties! Take a quick look at some of the new Benefit Lip Glosses ($18), and tell me what you think.
Aren’t they sheer?
And don’t some of them look alike? From how rich they looked in last weekend’s swatches (click for more details on the line), I’d assumed they’d pack a little more bada-bing, bada-bang.
New, thicker formula
Unlike Benefit’s The Gloss and Her Glossiness lines, these new glosses feel surprisingly thick and dense, like I’m spreading peanut butter on toast.
They’re quite easy to over-apply (resulting in goopy, uneven color), but if I use a little elbow grease and take lots of care, I’m able to get a nice, even layer.
Thick, but not sticky
I’m amazed that despite how thick they feel, these new glosses aren’t excessively sticky, and with the exception of Almost Famous (a shimmery copper with a slightly gritty texture), they feel smooth when I rub my lips together.
Kiss You, Kiss Me
Hard core Benefit lip gloss fans might recognize shimmery fuchsia Kiss You. It’s a new interpretation of a Benefit cult classic gloss, Kiss Me.
Ladies who love Kiss Me may want to stockpile the shade because Kiss Me won’t be around forever. Benefit plans to discontinue it soon, and despite how similar they sound, Kiss Me and Kiss You are far from being dupes.
The original Kiss Me (a clear fuchsia) applies with more pigmentation, shine and a deeper pink. I think it’s one of those effortless, magical colors that just looks great on everybody.
Kiss You has more blue than Kiss Me and looks milkier and cooler on my lips. I prefer the original (Kiss Me), but cool-toned girls might like the newer version a little more (Kiss You).
What else?
- These new glosses don’t shine as brightly as many other glosses do.
- I find I have to use extra moisturization with these (I use a balm to prep my lips before application).
- They smell strongly of grape candy and have a faintly fruity taste.
Benefit Lip Glosses
Price: $18 for a .17-oz tube
Use: A thick, non-sticky lip gloss with semi-sheer color
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B
You might like Benefit Lip Glosses if…
- …you like semi-sheer color,
- …you don’t like overly shiny lip glosses,
- …you don’t mind a thicker consistency,
- …you like scented/flavored lip products.
I like these glosses and think they’d work well with natural lip looks, like maybe paired with smokey eyes (that’s where I think they’d shine!).
As for everything else, Benefit did a good job keeping the stickiness in check, but for $18 I was hoping for more payoff from the colors.
What do ya think?
Hungry, hungry hippo
I’m having one of those indecisive lunch days…
For the life of me I can’t figure out what I want. Do I go with the turkey sandwich or a veggie chicken patty on a bun? Hmm… Which one sounds better, LOL?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Jenna says
July 6th, 2009 at 3:48 pmI agree- very, sheer, nothing too special about them, though they do look nice. Some of them do look very similar.
I read your Monday poll, and I have the same fear of elevators! It actually prevented me from getting on elevators for many years, but I’m just now getting back on them. The ultimate test will be this weekend, when my boyfriend plans on going to the top of the Empire State Building with me. Wish me luck!
Karen says
July 6th, 2009 at 9:45 pmHi Jenna,
Good luck! Remember to breathe… slow, steady, controlled breathes help a lot. Think about how great you will feel once you conquer your fear. 🙂
Vampy Varnish says
July 6th, 2009 at 4:04 pmHmm well you just saved me a lot of money, they are too sheer for my tastes!
Turkey sandwich sounds better 🙂
.-= Vampy Varnish’s last blog post… Jessica Burlesque Beauty for Fall 2009 =-.
Karen says
July 6th, 2009 at 9:45 pmHi Vampy Varnish,
Yah, they all look pretty similar!
It might be fun for a day when you’re in the mood for something sheer…
Jeanne says
July 6th, 2009 at 4:17 pmAw! Kiss Me (the original) is one of the first lip glosses I got back in the day before I read beauty blogs and before I knew what Sephora was (shocking!). I haven’t used it in years, but I’ve always had a soft spot for it. I’m sad to see it go!
.-= Jeanne’s last blog post… Science Fair for June 28th to July 4th =-.
Karen says
July 6th, 2009 at 9:46 pmHi Jeanne,
It was one of my very first glosses, too. My friend Jen gave it to me for my birthday about a billion years ago.
I must stockpile a few tubes now… ahhhh!
Redhead says
July 6th, 2009 at 5:41 pmKiss You and Almost Famous (for the gold shimmer) appeal to me. Everything else seems WAY too dupeable!
Turkey sandwich, babe!
Karen says
July 6th, 2009 at 9:48 pmHi Redhead,
Do you have Buzz Lipglass from MAC Naked Honey? It’s a more pigmented, less gritty version of Almost Famous.
Nicole15 says
July 6th, 2009 at 5:59 pmWhat a bummer! I was totally hoping these glosses were going to pack more punch after seeing the swatches. They all look the same 🙁 Guess I’ll be passing on these for sure.
Karen says
July 6th, 2009 at 9:50 pmHi Nicole15,
Yah, I know. I guess they’ll be good as accent glosses for lipsticks, but not so much on their own.
BTW, I finally watched Notorious last night! I wonder if Lil’ Kim is pissed off about how they portrayed her.
I’ve been playing BIG on repeat all day long…
ines says
July 6th, 2009 at 6:29 pmbummer. i was hoping they were less sticky like the first set of benefit glosses… i loved corsage, and was hoping that fresh squeezed would be the replacement (but with shimmer) – but no luck!
won’t be getting fresh squeezed but will be getting a replacement of bobbi brown tangerine instead. i prefer he doefoot applicator though, bobbi’s applicators are cr*p.
cha cha is asleep in the laundry hamper! what a precocious little scamp, he climbed and sniffed everything his little paws could reach!
.-= ines’s last blog post… A Very Belated Lippie Tuesday – Peachy Goodness =-.
Karen says
July 6th, 2009 at 9:51 pmHi Ines,
You might like these applicators. They’re doefoot and extra long — really great for getting into the corners of the lips.
Awww, little Cha Cha sounds too precious! You’ll have to let me know if he goes nuts in the middle of the night.
Marisol says
July 6th, 2009 at 6:34 pmThose look too sheer. Have you tried the Milani Lip Mixers? They look like the MAC Tricolor lip glasses but are a 1/3 of the cost & have a better consistency & color payoff. I have 5 out of the 6 that they sell at the Walgreens in San Rafael. I have only been able to find them there. I think that you would really like them.
http://www.milanicosmetics.com/p-57-lip-mixer-color-shine-and-shimmer-lip-gloss.aspx
.-= Marisol’s last blog post… Kindle me this… =-.
Karen says
July 6th, 2009 at 9:52 pmHi Marisol,
Oh snap… I think I might have a few of those in my stash! I just haven’t gotten around to digging them out.
Did you get them at the downtown San Rafael Walgreens? I go to that store to buy candy before watching movies at the Rafael theater.
Maggie says
July 6th, 2009 at 6:55 pmbummer. they should’ve kept the old glosses. ugh. 🙁
.-= Maggie’s last blog post… Yay for 3 Columns! + Mini Haul =-.
Karen says
July 6th, 2009 at 9:52 pmHi Maggie,
They’ve got some good things about them, like the non-stickiness. I’ll miss the old ones for sure.
Katlyn says
July 6th, 2009 at 8:49 pmYou had me going until “smells like grape candy” 🙁 I can’t stand grape-anything. I’ve been trying to break-through my Dazzleglass addiction (I realized I was carrying 8 of them in my purse today…why?!?!) but it doesn’t look like this is going to do it for me. Ah well…
.-= Katlyn’s last blog post… katlynw02: @RachelMcAdams_ Maybe Canadian vampires get the luxury of sleep because they have to live in Canada…haha i’m totally just kidding 😉 =-.
Karen says
July 6th, 2009 at 9:53 pmHI Katlyn,
LOL! I, too, am a crazy lip gloss hoarder! At one time there were 10 in my purse. The sad thing is I don’t know how they got in there…
Ruth says
July 6th, 2009 at 9:05 pmGirl, I cannot thank you enough for the pics and reviews, too sheer for me. I’ll spend my money on something more pigmented. you’re a makeup angel 🙂
Karen says
July 6th, 2009 at 9:53 pmHi Ruth,
You’re welcome. Maybe check out Smashbox’s Limitless Long Wear… they have a similar thick, but non-sticky feel and have more pigmentation.
lexi says
July 6th, 2009 at 9:23 pmI’ll stick with my buxom glosses – I just bought another one today at Sephora…I have an addiction…I think I need help!
Karen says
July 6th, 2009 at 9:54 pmHi Lexi,
No way! You need MORE GLOSS! Give into the temptation…
Mariah says
July 6th, 2009 at 9:55 pmOh man! That’s like a double whammy of suck. Feels heavy? But looks WAY sheer? Boo, Benefit!! Why do you do this to us???
Shefali says
July 6th, 2009 at 10:16 pmHey Karen! I checked these out in Chicago when I was on vacation. I liked how they applied, but I thought the smell was very watermelon-y (too much so). I liked the pigmentation too, but I didn’t get any cuz I’m on a budget. I’m very 50/50 about them, not sure if I’ll be getting any.
Karen says
July 7th, 2009 at 8:15 amHi Shefali,
Have you tried Smashbox’s Limitless Long Wear gloss? It’s similar (some of the glosses are more pigmented; it depends on the color) but doesn’t have a strong scent or taste.
gio says
July 7th, 2009 at 11:38 amI’m really disappointed by these. When I saw the swatches I thought they were more pigmented. And they all look the same 🙁
.-= gio’s last blog post… Why are preservatives used in cosmetics? =-.
Catherine says
July 7th, 2009 at 5:11 pmHm. That’s kind of disappointing, esp considering how pretty they looked in the tubes! Fresh Squeezed is a pretty low-key gloss, but all the other ones look basically the same on you! (And thus, they’d probably look exactly the same on me lol…)
.-= Catherine’s last blog post… I’m Back! Mail! =-.
Samantha says
July 8th, 2009 at 1:57 pmThese are fine for me. I’m a very pale person, so a little pigment goes a long way on me.
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 4:17 pmHi Samantha,
Glad you like these. What’s your fave color so far?