Behold! In my hand, friends, isn’t just the latest holiday set from Benefit. What we have here is bonafide makeup history!
Yes, years from now, when some intrepid filmmaker/makeup lover makes a Behind the Music-style documentary about Benefit and the Bene-babes who love it, the new $36 Cheeky Sweet Spot Box O’ Blushes will get a mention, for sure, since it’s basically Benefit’s version of the moon landing.
For the first time ever, the brand is releasing a palette filled with their famous Box O’ Blushes (and one rand-o pan of Watt’s Up Illuminator) in a limited edition holiday set.
Cheeky is one of several holiday sets on Benefit shelves right meow, and I’d venture to say it’s a tempting one based on the crazy affordable price.
For $36, you get six Benefit blushes, each in a generous 0.17-oz. pan.
To put that in perspective, a single full-size 0.25-oz. Benefit blush regularly costs $28, so $36 for six, even though they’re smaller, has the makings of a good deal.
Unfortunately…there’s a catch, and it’s a big one. Several of these shades look completely different from their counterparts in the permanent line.
Wait — what?!
Yeah. Like, way different. Coralista, for example, looks peachier, lighter and less pigmented to me than the regular version.
I usually wear it as a blush, but I’ll probably have to use this one as a highlighter…unless I feel like spending the extra time layering, doop-da-doo.
Same thing with almost all of these shades. To my eye they’re noticeably different from their namesakes in the permanent line.
Not to say that I don’t think these are still pretty in their own way… They’re just not what I expected. It seems like these versions are sheerer and more infused with peach than the regular shades.
I’m thinking that they might be a good fit for lovelies with light and medium skin tones, particularly those who like warmer shades. If your skin is around my shade or deeper, however, many of these may work better for you as highlighters.
I hope Benefit tries this Boxed O’ Blush palette concept again, ideally with the same $36 price (and with colors that are truer to the originals).
PRICE: $36
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Benefit counters and online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Your skin is perfection. Are you using the Laura Mercier foundation in this photo? If so, I’m sold.
Hi Amanda,
I am! I used MAC Prep + Prime Natural Radiance primer (applied all over my face) and Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizer (cheeks, nose and around my mouth) as a base, and then blended Laura Mercier Flawless Fluide on top using a Too Faced Kabuki Brush sprayed with MAC Fix+. I went back in with a small pointed liner brush to do additional coverage on some freckles. It’s a process but I like how it photographs. Of course you can just use the foundation by itself or on top of your fave primer. 🙂
Your skin does look great in this pic :). Did you use any setting or finishing powder?
Your each posts makes my wishlist longer and longer! I think these are beautiful and believe it or not, I don’t own a single Benefit blush!
me too! I don’t own any either so this palette was on my wishlist but I have yet to buy it cuz I think it might be a little to shimmery for me.
I am weighing the options on this one as a gift for Girlfriend-Who-Is-Blush-Phobic.
Her personality though it cheeky. She picks all the wrong shades for her olive skin and she will not go near a highlighter.
So even though these shades are not the originals (she would not know the difference) they might work. “Sheer” might not scare her. I just might do a Christmas blush intervention on an inexpensive scale.
The shade/finish look great on you!
This is such a fantastic set. I have several of the blushes included and I am still picking it up. It’s just too cute not to!
I think this looks gorgeous on your skin tone, but I’m glad you said it would work really well with fair skin because that’s what I have, and this set looks amazing. All of those blushes and a highlighter for less than $40? Sold.
Very exciting that they came out with this set but a little disappointing they aren’t like the originals. Still it’s a steal and would be great for someone who wants some variety of high quality blushes. 🙂
BTW did you color your hair? It looks fantastic!
I was so tempted to get this but the lack of pigment held me back! I’d love to try coralista but the original one! 🙂
You look so pretty in these pictures! Seriously, like 10 years younger! This set is adorable, I’m pretty fair skinned so I’ll check it out!
I picked this up a couple of weeks ago at ULTA, and I am enjoying it. My skin is pretty light (NW 20-ish, but I can get away with a bit of warmth on my cheeks), and I like to go lightly with cheek products because I go pretty intense with color on eyes and/or lips, so the colors are working well for me 🙂 The set is cute but kind of clunky to use if you don’t have much space to work in, so yesterday I de-potted the shades into a Z-palette with a couple of other blushes from some eye/cheek palettes from last year’s holiday season. They de-potted really easily, and now I’ve got a really great custom cheek palette!
They are still cute but that’s odd that they are that different from the full sizer.
I have the tarte blush palette from this holiday season since I already own half the colors. I’m not really in love with benefit blushes as is but this set is cute! And with the 20% off right now, it’s only $30!! You can barely get 6 blushes from the drug store for $30!!
Bella Bamba looks so pretty on you!
Not cool, Benefit! I’d love to see this palette done again too, but with the RIGHT shades this time. You can’t just produce a different product and call it by the same name; that’s not how names work!
Karen,
I am definely going to look for this ! Probably one of Benefits best ideas yet for a Blush-a hol-lic ! I can take all my Benefit Blushes and not have to stress which one I might need after lunch !
I say : Brilliant !
Michele
I just bought this today and loooooove it! I am super pale so the shades work great for me. 🙂
What lipstick are you wearing?
When I purchased this palette, I researched to make sure it was manufactured in the same place as the originals: Hoola/USA, Dandelion/USA, Rockateur/France, Sugarbomb/USA, Coralista/USA, Bella Bamba/USA, Watt’s Up/Italy. (Beware, Tarte blushes are usually made in USA, but the holiday sets are made in China.) It’s a shame that the Benefit palette shades don’t match the originals, but since I don’t own the originals, I guess ignorance is bliss!
If anyone successfully de-pans (de-pots?) these, please share!
I just purchased this set and also noticed the colors are bit off from the originals. I have light skin so the set still works well for me and I have been enjoying it:) I love holiday gift sets!