Benefit Cheekathon Palette: First Impression- A Cheeky Little Bargain!

Benefit is not a cosmetic brand that I've ever really properly sunk my teeth into. I've tried a variety of products- concealers, brow products, skin care, primers and such- but have generally had mixed views on the brand. As such, I've never been able to bring myself to splash out on they're boxed powder products (the 'Hoola' bronzer probably being the most famous of which), despite the hype which they receive. However, I am a total sucker when it comes to face palettes, even more so when they seem like an unreal bargain. Enter, the Cheekathon palette. I first saw this on Instagram and was immediately stopped in my tracks. In case you've not heard of it, it is a palette comprising 5 of Benefits most well known boxed powders, all in one. What I found most alluring was that all the products were FULL SIZE! So obviously, I couldn't resist. having just received it yesterday, I thought I would do a quick first impression to see if it is really too good to be true...

The Details

The Cheekathon palette is a limited edition product exclusive to House of Fraser in the UK, which is also available on the Benefit cosmetics website. It retails for £44.50 and houses 4 full sized blushes- 'Dandelion', 'Dallas', 'Coralista' and 'Rockateur', and one full size bronzer- 'Hoola'- in a cardboard, magnetic closure box which also contains one of the standard benefit powder brushes, which typical come with the single boxed products, and a large mirror. 

Benefit Cheekathon palette packaging.

My Thoughts

Packaging

When this arrived I just could not wait to tear the package open! The palette itself comes in a box decorated with the same image that appears on the front of the palette itself- the boxed powders depicted as can-can girls on a background of exploding pink and gold- which is super girly and adorable. Upon opening the palette the powders are satisfyingly arranged with the name printed under each, and being full size the pans are very large and a perfect size for getting your brush in there. There is an unnecessary acetate inset also with the names of the products, however this promptly went in the bin.

Inside the Benefit Cheekathon palette. 

The box also contains a little information booklet giving you ideas on how to use the products, which I thought was a nice touch. The packaging at first glance appeared sturdy enough, and the mirror on the inside is a perfect size to see your whole face. However, I did find a bit of an annoying defect. Upon trying to remove the acetate inset, I tipped up the palette only to discover that the entire powder section falls out of the box.....it seems to me like a massive oversight that it hasn't been fixed into the box somehow, and I'm not entirely sure whether it's deliberate or not. I initially thought this palette would be great for travel, but I now have images of smashed powder and me crying uncontrollably over a mess of ruined make-up and clothes....That aside, I like the overall appearance, and I think considering the chunkyness of the single box blushes, this is a much more compact way to own the products.

Benefit Cheekathon palette information booklet.

Value for money

I think the thing that really sold this palette to me was the price. I still can't really get my head around that each of these products usually retail separately for £23.50, and I bought 5 of them, full size (have a mentioned that already???), for £44.50....doing some quick maths, that is a saving of just over 62 %, which just seems totally bonkers!!! I think if you're interested in even 2 of these powders, its worth getting the whole palette while its available. Don't you just love how I'm justifying the cost?! But really, make-up deals don't tend to come along that often, so if you're like me and have been on the fence about these powders for a while, I think now is a good a time as any to try them.

The products

Right, now we are down to the important bit, how are the products themselves? I can't say I've had the opportunity to use them loads- I've swatched each on my hand and cheek and actually used 'Hoola' and 'Dandelion' to do my make-up with, but these are my initial thoughts on the products. As far as the formula goes- I like! Yes, when you dip your brush in, a lot of product powder kicks off, but I feel that is a small price to pay for the way they apply on the face; very smooth and even and they are soooooo easy to blend. They are not overly pigmented, but I quite like that as I prefer to build up my blushes/bronzers rather than going in straight away with clown face. I was also pleasantly surprised by the shade range, they are all very different. However, I will say they are definitely more suited to fair to light-medium skin tones, I think darker skin would struggle to see any discernible colour pay off.

Benefit Cheekathon palette swatches. From L-R 'Dandelion', 'Hoola', 'Rockateur', 'Dallas' and 'Coralista'.

'Dandelion' is a light rosy pink, which I was initially a little worried about as I thought it might be too pale for my light-medium skin, however it is absolutely beautiful and gives a gorgeous rosy, fresh look without being too pink. 'Hoola' was the shade I was most looking forward to as it is incredibly hyped in the beauty community, and I have to say I do like it, but it didn't blow my socks off. It does pull a little warm, but as it isn't too dark it works for me. I definitely see myself using it as a straight bronzer rather than a contour as I have bronzers I prefer for that, but still, I like it. With 'Rockateur' I wasn't really sure what to expect as I don't hear people talk about it that often. I liked that its pan was different with the 'rock' embossing and a gold sparkly over-spray, which, although rubs off, looks really pretty initially. It is really pretty but subtle and gives the cheeks a nice pinky-mauve sheen. I see myself using it a fair bit. 'Dallas' is a interesting one as it looks quite a dark mauve in the pan, but translates much lighter and much more neutral on the skin. I actually think its a passable contour colour, but also makes a nice, really natural blush, and natural coloured blushes are apparently the new 'on trend' thing....Finally, 'Coralista', and I have to say this one had barely even registered on my radar when I ordered the palette, but as it turns out, I think it may be one of my favourites! I adore peachy blushes and this one is just that- peachy goodness with a beautiful sheen! I reminds me of 'Luminoso' by Milani, but a little more pink which makes it pull less orange on paler skin. I think its just gorgeous and see myself using it a lot. The only thing that was a slight disappointment was the little brush included. Its convenient to have it as part of the palette, and a perfect shape for contouring, but I just find it a little scratchy and it doesn't seem to pick up product very well. I see myself using it at a pinch, but not if I have other brushes available. 

Benefit Cheekathon palette powder brush.

To Sum Up

Overall, I think I'm going to really like this palette. The formula is easy to work with and when that is combined with the shade selection it makes something I think I'm going to be reaching for on a regular basis. Is it a must? Not at all, none of the products are particularly unique, but I think if you are like me and have really wanted to give 2 or 3 of these products a go, and really can't resist a bargain, then its definitely worth it, and I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Cx

Urban Decay and Gwen Stafani- A Palette to Make You Blush?

If you're anything like me, then you would have been left fizzing with excitement at the end of 2015 by the announcement that Urban Decay was teaming up with Gwen Stefani to create an eyeshadow palette. I love Urban Decay, I love Gwen Stefani, surely I would love a UD-Gwen collab, right? Sadly, I don't think I was the only one who was left feeling cold when the palette was unveiled. Its not that its bad, its just not terribly....exciting? After arguing back and forth with myself, I came to the decision that I wouldn't purchase the palette- it just didn't set my world on fire! Fast-forward to the start of 2016, and the release of an entire UD-Gwen collection re-ignited the excitement....which, for me at least, was short lived. A bunch of red lipsticks? *yawn*; a brow box exclusively for blonde girls? Well I wasn't really planning on dying my hair any time soon. Although the collection wasn't really up my street, I still had this niggling that I wanted at least SOMETHING, just one item of the Gwen collection, even if it was just as a memento- and besides, the packaging is adorable! In the end, and in part due to having the opportunity to get a sneaky 10 % off, I talked myself into purchasing the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Collection blush palette. The question is, was it worth it?

The Details

The entire UD Gwen Stefani collection is available from Urban Decay's website, where you'll find the 6-blush palette for £35. The packaging (which I am a massive fan of) is of the same style as the eyeshadow palette, with its polka-dot effect (white for the blush palette rather than black) and faux riveted 'UD Gwen Stefani' badge. The closure is the same as the naked smoky palette- a sturdy magnetic design- and of course, inside the lid there is a gloriously massive mirror with a pretty 'magic's in the make-up' slogan printed in the bottom corner.

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani 6-blush palette packaging.

The palette itself houses 6 shades in the same formula as the permanent UD Afterglow blush line. One of the shades is advertised as a highlighter and one as a bronzer (we'll address that later...). The 4 blush shades are: 'Cherry'- a light-pink satin; 'Easy'- a deep rose with gold shimmer; 'Hush'- a medium pink with gold shimmer and 'OC'- a soft-pink with peach shift. The highlight shade is 'Angel'- a champagne-nude shimmer and the bronzer is 'Lo-Fi'- a soft-bronze matte.

As much as I find the packaging mesmerising, I'm afraid that's where my love affair ends with this palette. Don't get me wrong, its not all bad! They are beautifully bendable and long-lasting, as you would expect from UD, and the pigmentation is sufficient without being over-the-top and risking your cheeks becoming clown-like. However I have two major bugbears; the palette is not wearable and the shade selection is very strange- let me explain. 

I have had this palette for well over a month now and I can count on one hand the number of times I've reached for it. The main reason for this, as you might have gathered from the shade descriptions, is there are no matte blush shades. Zero. Zip. Yes, the bronzer shade is matte, but that's it. Both 'Hush' and 'Easy' have an exceptional amount of shimmer in them- I'm talking disco-ball! I do like a shimmery blush on the odd occasion-nights out and the like- but for everyday use such as going to work and popping down the shop, it's too over-the-top. And let's not forget that lots of shimmer can be exceptionally unflattering when our skin isn't looking its best! 'Cherry' and 'OC' have more of a sheen than a shimmer, however I find the shift of OC a bit odd for a blush. On my skin-tone at least it looks incredibly unnatural. I mean, I know make-up isn't exactly natural,  but you know what I mean- it doesn't look like a natural flush of the cheeks, which tends to be the look I prefer. I'm hoping I'll perhaps get some use of the shade as an eyeshadow, but only time will tell. 

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani 6-blush palette swatches of all shades- 'Cherry', 'Easy', 'Angel', 'Lo-Fi', 'Hush' and 'OC'.

My shade-selection issue applies more to the highlight and bronzer shades. I appreciate that with a face palettes like this is can be difficult to have a one-size-fits-all when it comes to selecting shades, and as a light-medium skin-toned gal I know we're spoiled for choice in general when it comes to shade selection, so I shouldn't complain! The highlight shade isn't so much of an issue- its just a bit darker than I would like and, ridiculously, isn't as shimmer as one would expect from a highlight (I know, after all my moaning about TOO MUCH shimmer in the blushes!). Its comparable in colour to the Mary-Lou Manizer from The Balm, maybe just a shade darker and a tad more peachy with a little less shimmer, as such it may do as a blush/blush-topper for fair skinned gals. My skin is pretty pale just now with it being winter, but not pale enough to use it as a blush. I may get more use out of it as a highlight in the summer, but I can't see it ever being my go-to when I have Mary-Lou as an alternative. 

Comparison swatches of Urban Decay Gwen Stefani highlighter shade 'Angel' and the 'Mary-Lou Manizer' by The Balm.

It's the bronzer shade that is my biggest let-down. One of my reasons for purchasing the palette was that I thought it would be great for travel- blush, bronzer and highlight all in one- sadly the bronzer is straight up orange on my skin. I'm not sure on who this would work as a bronzer shade to be honest. I'm hoping I may be able to pull it off as a blush in the summer months, but I just don't find it a flattering shade on me. I feel like the inclusion of this shade was perhaps to appeal to medium skin-tones, but the again would you be tempted to buy a £35 palette for one shade? Probably not. It almost seems like the palette is having a slight identity crisis- is it a contour palette, or a straight up blush palette? I feel like it may have been closer to a triumph had they just gone with one or the other.

To Sum Up

Overall this palette is everything you come to expect from UD- excellent quality and gorgeous packaging to boot, and despite all the negativity of this review, I have to concede, not all is lost! I do really love the shade 'Cherry', it gives a lovely girly pink flush, and I like 'Hush' and 'Easy' for a more glam night-time look. The colour is also very long-wearing. I just wish they had included at least one matte blush and a more universal bronzer shade, or no bronzer shade at all- that would have made me a much happier camper and probably more inclined to reach for this palette on a daily basis. That being said, would I recommend you spend your hard-earned pennies on it? Sadly-no. I just don't feel the price of this palette is going to reflect how much use the average person is going to get out of it- which is down to the shades and finishes not being suitable for any one particular skin tone or type. Close Urban Decay, but sadly not close enough.

Cx

Hidden Gems of the Drugstore- L'Oreal Paris Infallible Mega Gloss- MATTE

First of all, you'll have to excuse the excitement, after all, this is my VERY FIRST ever blog post! I am very excited as this is something I have wanted to for the longest time and only now find myself in a position where I have the time and motivation to do so! But I digress. What I have to talk about for my first blog post (did I mention that already?!) is perhaps something equally exciting- the L'Oreal Paris Infallible Mega Gloss. 'How can a gloss be exciting?' I hear you say- well let me tell you, this is no ordinary lip gloss that we are discussing. As we are all aware (and are probably sick to death of), matte lips are in...in a big way. Every brand and their dog it seems is coming out with their own version of a lip-dehydrating liquid lipstick or matte something or other. Don't get me wrong, I do love a matte lip! And that's why I'm so excited. If you're like me and dedicate a lot of time to watching the YouTube make-up bloggers, the majority of which are based in the States, you've probably seen extensive reviews of affordable matte-but-not-drying lip products being released in the US, such as the Maybelline vivid matte lip colors, the Revlon Ultra HD matte lip colors and the L'Oreal infallible pro-matte glosses, all the while screaming at your computer screen 'why are these not available in the UK?!'- well at least I have. Well do not fear- we have not been left out completely.

The Details

During my search for products comparable to those being released across the pond I stumbled cross our version of these creamy, pigmented matte lip products which are all the rave- and they have just been hiding among more classic lip gloss collections within the L'Oreal Infallible Mega Gloss line all along. This specific gloss line comes in 5 different finishes; cream, xtreme, dazzle, neon and (of course) matte! The matte glosses themselves come in 5 shades; 407 'Smoke Me Up'- a beautiful berry purple; 405 'The Bigger The Better'- a very bright pink; 402 'Forgive My Sin'- a bright post-box red; 401 'Amen'- a pinky-brown nude and '404 Rasputine me'- a vibrant tangerine orange. You can find them in the UK at Boots for £6.99 a piece.

L'Oreal Infallible Mega Gloss in shades 401 'Amen', 402 'Forgive My Sin' and 407 'Smoke Me Up'.

I own 3 of the shades- 407, 402 and 401- and let me tell you, they are worth a go! If you're into creamy matte lip products (and who isn't?!) then these are for you. The packaging is simple yet stylish, with a transparent plastic tube letting you see the colour you're picking out, with the shade name, number and gloss finish conveniently printed on the lid of the tube. The formula is richly-pigmented, creamy, but not too thick, and doesn't dry down like a liquid lipstick, and as such they are not transfer proof but are extremely comfortable to wear and keep you lips hydrated throughout the day or night. Although they have a slight sheen following initial application, this is lost through wear, or they can be blotted immediately to achieve that sought-after matte look. Whats more- they stain your lips for hours!

L'Oreal Infallible Mega Gloss matte swatches of shades 401, 402 and 407.

Application is straight forward enough, there is a subtle vanilla-butter-cream-yet-slightly-chemically smell and they glide on beautifully and opaque, and almost seem to melt onto your lips. The formula as it comes out of the tube is not dissimilar to the Nyx soft matte lip creams, but I find the application of these far nicer and they don't go on to 'set' like the Nyx version. However, the applicator is one of the strangest I've come across. On the L'Oreal website they describe it is an 'ergonomically designed lip applicator' that 'hugs the lip contours'. Don't get me wrong, its not unpleasant to use. Its soft and plush feeling on the lips and distributes the product well, I just personally don't see the benefit over a regular doe foot applicator, and I find it slightly irritating that a lot of the product gets caught up in its nooks and crannies.

L'Oreal Infallible Mega Gloss 'ergonomic' applicator.

To Sum Up

All-in-all, I love this product. It is my go-to when I want a bold matte lip that I know will last and can be easily re-applied on the go without the faff and pressure of having to apply a full-on liquid lipstick (or the risk of having flaking lips- if you're an avid user of drying liquid lipsticks- you know what I mean!). 'Amen' is perhaps my favourite shade as it is the most versatile, although it is the least pigmented and therefore wears off quickest. 'Smoke Me Up' has also been a go-to for me over the winter for that festive berry lip. I only wish there was a greater colour selection, although considering it is a mini-collection within a larger range its not so bad, and I think there should be at least one shade suitable for everyone. If I were L'Oreal, I would re-brand it as its own separate range- they're way too good to be hiding under the guise of a gloss! In short- I recommend you pick one of these up and give it a go!

Cx