Of course I got all jazz hands (JAZZ HANDS!) when I saw the neutrals in Benefit’s new eye illuminating kit, Peek-A-Bright Eyes ($32).
Brown, beige and pink eye makeup works on me like shot of makeup love straight to the heart! The combo takes me to that happy place where pink unicorns with rainbow manes roam free, Ryan Gosling walks around shirtless 24/7, and everyone’s eye makeup always looks flawless. 🙂
Benefit says the shades in the kit, which arrives at Benefit stores, counters and online next month, all work together to create a dazzling, bright-eyed, wide-awake look.
It comes with three eyeshadows (a base shade in Buff, a contour shade in Brown and a highlight in Pearly Pink), two tiny eye brushes, an Eye Bright and a booklet with a tutorial, and some tips and tricks.
For my makeup this afternoon, I used the tutorial in the kit as a jumping off point…
So…I love the packaging. I think it’s totally cute and so totally Benefit, but wearing the makeup and looking at myself in the mirror, I’m not really sure I’m seeing wide awake.
I’m surprised that the products look much cooler and paler on my skin than they do in the pans, and I see a little more fallout from the eyeshadows than I’d hoped. That, and they’re also not quite as smooth as I expected them to be.
Hmm… I think this one’s more of like for me than a love. It might be better suited to paler pretties and cooler-toned cuties.
Off to the farmers’ market!
And I hope to come home with some yummy heirloom tomatoes for this Tuscan bread salad.
I’m also craving kettle corn (big surprise). There’s a guy at the Novato market every week who makes it fresh while you watch.
He’s like a popcorn angel, LOL!
That moment when he hands me the bag, all piping hot, and the salty sweet scent wafts over me? Agh! Gets me every time.
Hope you had a good day today. Almost time to cross the hump. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I think you look totally cute! It’s true that 3 out of the 4 shades are a bit too light and frosty though. I don’t think it’s going to work like a charm on me per se!
I think a lot of the times only one light shade does the trick rather than a bunch. Especially for someone like me who look a bit weird with light color over large area around the eyes. I agree that it might be best for fair, cool toned people. But I love the abundance of kits from them. 😉
Ooh that looks super cute on you! I’m always impressed how you can pull off both cool and warm makeup. Will have to give this one a try 🙂
And that bread salad looks yummy! I’ve got tomatoes in the fridge, I might give it a shot tonight..
Hi Advah!
I hope you try the recipe. 🙂 It’s really easy and refreshing. Do you have a stove top grill pan? It’s kinda nice to grill the bread beforehand on it.
I don’t! But I’m thinking of toasting it in a bit of butter on a frying pan.. 😛
This looks a lot like the older “big beautiful eyes” palette by benefit?!
I made something similar to your bread salad last weekend — just a ton of veggies and some cubed bread that I smothered in olive oil and baked til crisp… The dressing was a vinaigrette that had a lot of pepper, vinegar and Dijon. The contrast between the warm bread, crisp veggies and warm-ish vinaigrette was yummy!
That palette woud be awesome to have on the short trips we take – just a simple palette with easy, no fuss colors — sign me in!
Hi Nina!
That sounds SO good. This is kind of out of left field, but I know you’re a foodie, so… I’m on a mission to find some kick-ass balsamic vinegar. Do you have a favortie?
This is our current bottle of balsamic vinegar, I like it a lot because it is a nice balance of tart and deep sweetness! Plus it isnt that expensive too!
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/giusti-aged-balsamic-vinegar-modena/?pkey=e%7Cbalsamic%2Bvinegar%7C6%7Cbest%7C4294937996%7C1%7C24%7C%252Fbalsamic-vinegar%252Fvinegars%7C4&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||Category%7CCategory-_-Food%7CVinegars-_-Feature_Recipe_Rule-_-
My favorite product from Benefit is this eye shadow base http://bit.ly/KhPV7h It is wonderful. Helps any eyeshadow stay on my lids with no creasing.
I love the highlighter. It really added lift to your eye. And I’m always crazy about their packaging. So cute! 🙂
Well, I’m not sure if it makes your eyes look brighter, but it definitely is a beautiful look. I’m going to attribute that more to your blending skills than the actual shadows, though. Especially after reading about the texture and fallout! 🙂
Hey girlfriend,
I thought of you last night when I finished watching True Blood. Um, Pam’s hair?! SO FABULOUS.
I know! I just read your newest post was like “oh, no! I hope I didn’t give anything away”. Things have been action-packed. Though I really hated the LaLa lip scene. What was that bird thinking by going out there? I know he did it for Jesus, but still. Voodoo Gramps was one scary dude!
pretty, but i like you in warmer colors. this just seems to cool – almost grey on you. the colors are missing something for you.
i have to add THANK YOU for the mac unsung heros. i just got my first lipglass in nyymphette and lippie in sandy b. omg. i am in love love love. also got blotting powder. all are fabulous. i am now in love with MAC for life. i’m a lifer.
Hi Stephanie,
I’m so happy you love your new MAC products! They have so many great things for everyday wear. Are you an eyeliner kind of gal? If you are, you need Powersurge in your life, STAT!
Yup,yup on the eyeliner. I’ll browse. And can I tell you I love the smell of their lipstick? Sandy B is good for the summer, but I am thinking I need one that is a little more closer to my lip color but just gives me a bit more. ♥
This looks great on you! simple but still really pretty. Definitely lightening your look.
Thanks, Emily! Have a nice day. 🙂
It’s a pretty palette, but I just saw something in Allure magazine that looks similar, is cheaper, and would likely be more flattering for warm-toned beauties. It was an ad for a new Maybelline palette that was supposed to have the same effect as this palette but the colors looked a bit warmer and had shimmer in them (Maybelline Great Lash also had an ad for colored mascara…). You might have quicker access to the new Maybelline stuff than I do – I seem to see the new stuff in stores a month or so after I read about it here and see the ads in Allure.
I’m also a sucker for tomatoes and kettle corn. We are growing tomatoes on our small townhouse deck this year – normal – sized ones and they are doing really well.
Hi Katherine G,
Oh, nice! A few years ago I tried growing some on my deck too and used a Topsy Turvy planter. Have you heard of them? They’re pretty cool. They hang from above so you don’t have to stake the tomatoes.
I have heard of them! I’ve heard they can either taste good or weird depending on the plant, I think. My dad knows a local farmer that used to have a place in Montgomery County but is now selling and growing plants out of a large greenhouse behind his house. He grows his tomatoes and other plants fairly organically (he doesn’t use fancy fertilizers or anything like that), and we are loving them! Another bonus is that if you know me or my dad, his farmer friend usually gives you a discount on the plants. We tried patio tomatoes last year, and they grew and produced but the tomatoes had no flavor. We found this year getting really big pots and 2 plants that are known producers (the Cherry 100 and Better Boy) has worked pretty well and the tomatoes have great flavor. However, since we can only fit 2 of these large plants on our deck, we will probably look at Topsy Turvy for under the deck next year!
You rock everything, lady! Three of these are too light and frosty for me.
On a yummy note, i often make bread salad (perfect use for the delish grape and cherry tomatoes from the Farmer’s market!)-YUMMY!
Hi Musical!
Happy Wednesday. 🙂 Yum…you just reminded methat I need to get some grape tomatoes in my life. Seriously, I could eat tomatoes in every meal.
Re: bread salad. Do you ever put fresh mozzarella in yours? It adds a little extra something-something.
YES! Fresh mozzarella almost always makes it into my bread salad! Oooooh, yummy!
Happy Wednesday, bella! Git the grape tomatoes (i snack on ’em with salt, cayenne and lemon juice!!).
I have to admit I’m more intrigued by the Tuscan Bread Salad than the Benefit kit, hahaha (must be hungry). Seriously, my mouth watered when I read about the fresh hot kettle corn… that’s what I need right now at 9:24am. 😀
Hi Soo Jin,
Tuscan Bread Salad is the best! It’s tomato season right now so it would be a good time to try it. Do you have any easy summer recipes? If you have any send them my way…I’m always looking for new ones.
Hey Karen! I don’t know if it’s very summer-y but let’s say it is because of the lime! This chicken tortilla soup recipe has been a hit at every friends/family gathering that I’ve hosted the past year. One note though, I’d only go with 2 limes instead of 3-4. Let me know if you try it out!!
http://www.ourbestbites.com/2011/02/chicken-tortilla-soup/
Yeah, it may a be a little bit pale, but you still pull it off imo. Then again, you’d probably look good with ketchup on your lips and mustard on your eyelids 😉
P.S.: That salad looks delicious.
Tuscan break salad?!? WHY must you always make me hungry Karen?! That looks yummy…
And Benefit really does make the best eye kits. I used to have the Smokin Eyes kit, but I think SOMEONE stole it from me (hint hint: MOM! :P)
as a paler girl I imagine this one might suit me well. thanks for the review will be sure to try this. the salad looks delish! xo. gigi. food and beauty blogger @ http://www.gigikkitchen.blogspot.com
I wish pink unicorns roamed free every day :). I do believe in this bright eye method, whenever I use these type of shades I always look so fresh and ready to go. I have to say I prefer bright golds to pull it off though, more flattering on me now that I’m “older”.