Benefit Finding Mr. Bright Kit

Want to try the Bene-deliciousness? The deluxe-sized product kits are your best bet! Benefit Cosmetics USA had an up to 50% off sale earlier this year on selected items. Gladly, it coincided with Beauty Unleashed's order deadlines, and the secret to Finding Mr. Bright landed in my lap. Check the picture-loaded post to see what this neon goodness is hiding inside.

Since I went overboard with capturing the lovely packaging with more-than-necessary angular pictures, I'd write less(er) text and let the pictures do the talking. If I miss something out, please feel free to drop in a query in the comment box :-)

Finding Mr. Bright contains deluxe-size products - Girl Meets Pearl, Posietint, Erase Paste, HighBeam -  packaged in bright neon pink sturdy cardboard box having magnetic closure. It reminded me of hardback pocket Oxford dictionary I used to carry in school :-P The plus points - packaging is firm, travel-friendly, with a mirror. It comes with an instruction pamphlet about how to use the products. The shocker - kit is really small. It's not a deal-breaker, but if you have not seen Benefit kits in real, brace yourselves for a moment of " o.O ". The whole box fits in or falls smaller than your hand. And the deluxe-size products are smaller than your little finger. I went through this momentary lapse of disappointment with Benefit's Primping With The Stars kit, so I thought the newbies should have their expectations in order :-)

Here's a closer peek at the kit and its components before I review them individually:

I had used Posietint and Girl Meets Pearl before I got this set. So, I was more excited about trying the Erase Paste and High Beam to see how well they fared:

First off, the Erase Paste - deluxe size concealer - came in a cute small glass pot. It is considered unhygienic having to dip your finger for picking the product. Consider it a downside for those who're really conscious about this. I'm surprisingly neutral about this, though. 

I have minor bluish-brown undereye circles. They become noticeable with my nocturnal living and nothing kills a 'fresh-faced' look like an "autumn" under your eyes. The MEDIUM (no. 2) shade is the middle of 3 Erase Paste shades.

It swatches salmon-pink undertones. By the rule of thumb I though anything with pink undertones would look ashy on my Asian skin. Thankfully, it blends to match my skintone. The pinkish hue helps brighten the undereye area while covering my circles well. It has really thick consistency that offers good coverage. 

The concealer stays for good 7+ hours, after which you might need some touchups. Blending it in the delicate undereye area is a challenge in if/when your skin is towards the drier side. I suggest you apply eye cream/moisturizer/primer before its application, so that it glides and blends well. Without proper blending technique, it can look odd. Since the concealer has limited shades, they might not be a perfect match for everyone. If you're looking for a sheerer coverage (like I was), then one of the three shades can be blended to give you the concealer effect.  Otherwise, limited shade selection can be bit of a hurdle. 

Girl Meets Pearl is warm rosy pink toned luminizer with very fine gold shimmer. It gives the pearly finish of naturally highlighting the contours of your face. Benefit suggests to mix a pea-size amount of this pearlescent goodness in your base (moisturizer, bb cream, foundation) for a dewy finish. However, I use it directly on my cheeks for a subtle daytime dewy finish with or without a base. It fades a little after 4-5 hours (depending on the weather and your makeup base) and you can always retouch it to the desired intensity.

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This has become my staple in daily makeup because it complements my facial features and flatters the skintone A LOT! One of Benefit's finest! A comparitive swatch is done below with HighBeam highlighter.

HighBeam has been on my wishlist for quite a while. It was one of the deciding factors of getting this kit. Was I impressed? Well, yes...and no. Highbeam is pale pinkish highlighting liquid with amped up silver shimmer. I love the formula and use this teeny-tiny deluxe size for only formal occasions. The only negative I have about Highbeam is quite "subjective" -----> I got the same results with e.l.f. shimmering facial whip in Lilac Petal ($1-$2) as compared to $30 of full-size HighBeam. Don't get me wrong, the formula, feel, lasting power of HighBeam is way better. For instance, e.l.f. highlighter feels a little sticky and sometimes has uneven consistency. But, when applied to the face, both "appear" the same. If highlighters are essential in your long-day daily routine, by all means invest in HighBeam. However, if you're on a budget and apply highlighters less frequently, e.l.f. can be a safe DUPE.

Now that we've given a dupe verdict, let's compare HighBeam with the cousin highlighter-ish product - Girl Meets Pearl:

You can see both appear very different. While HighBeam has clear icy highlighter quality for more industrial strength glow, Girl Meets Pearl works well in more softer and understated looks. I do the simple calculation: If I want my cheeks to look like happy fluorescent bulbs - HighBeam. If I want to highligh my natural skin and high cheekbones (sorry for the lack of modesty) - Girl Meets Pearl.

 

The only points I've cut are for having such a cheap dupe for this amazing product. 

 Here comes my beloved Posietint. I've been using this bubble-gum pink lip stain before anyone around me has even heard of "lip tints". It was a gift from Dad's friend coming from US who gave Benefit goodie bag containing Benetint, Posietint, and a Benefit perfume called B-Spot. Cutting the nostalgia short, I've used Posietint on my somewhat pigmented lips for long. Although it doubles as a cheek stain, I used it once few years back and I don't know if it was the product or something else that broke me out. Never tried it again.

You can see from the heavier swatch that it is not watery like other lipstains. It appears somewhat thicker, but once you dab your lips with a finger, it finishes subtle and sheer. My lips have pimented outlines, so if I applied a lot of this product, it looked unnatural. I've never tried building it up on my lips, but you can do that on even-toned lips for brighter results. I have mixed feelings about the lasting power. You need to reapply at 2-3 hours intervals to keep the tint fresh. On even lips and as a blush (on friends), it stays noticeable for 4 hours or more. 

It used to be my staple product as an early teen, but now when there are so many better lip options, this tint is rarely used. I guess it's best for younger girls who like to keep their appearance natural, yet proper without wearing a bunch of makeup. For others, you're not missing out on much in any way.

Overall, the kit is best for having a fresh-faced look with minimal makeup. Of course, you can use these products separately, but the best part is that everything in this kit is usable on a regular basis. Even though the deluxe sizes are mini, the products - especially Erase Paste and Girl Meets Pearl - will last you for months. Definitely worth the purchase.

Benefit Finding Mr. Bright retailed for around $29 (I purchased mine for $18 at Benefit US sale). In my recent check at the official website, it appeared Out of Stock, but you might be able to find at other stockists/counters of Benefit worldwide.

So, here's my take on the products. Please feel free to comment below and I'd love interacting with you guys over the Facebook at The Beauty Finds. Drop in the links to your blogs that I should follow. Looking forward to your feedback! <3

Cheers,

Bia