Review: Benefit Cosmetics Velvet Eyeshadow – Bikini Line and Where There’s Smoke

Benefit Velvet Eyeshadows had me from the get go! The day I saw them on Karen’s blog, I knew I had to pick up a couple. At US$18 each, they were pricey though so I decided to wait for a bit until they came to Malaysia and then see how they fared.

However, Benefit went and ran a 20% off everything sale recently on their online site so guess who ran a little spree to qualify for free shipping and for all my friends to get Benefit Cosmetics stuff at a nice discount? ;)

After hemming and hawing, I decided to pick up 2 colours – Bikini Line and Where There’s Smoke.

The Velvet Eyeshadows come in a square pan and yes, they strongly resemble Shu Uemura eyeshadows down to their size. The cover is white with transparent cut out that shows the colour and the base is black plastic. The design on the cover is that of white doves. Pretty!

Benefit Velvet Eyeshadow – Bikini Line

Bikini Line is such a naughty name but its a lovely golden shimmer eyeshadow that is sheer and is nice for a highlight colour. You can’t do very much more with this. I picked it up for this purpose and I’m glad to note that it works well. Used on its own its a little sheer and light but it opens up the eyes. You can use it over an eye base or a cream eyeshadow base for the colour to show up better. I used the Estee Lauder Double Wear Cream Eyeshadow in Ivory Lace and it works well.

Benefit Velvet Eyeshadow – Where There’s Smoke

Where there’s smoke is a lovely color that is like the powder eyeshadow version of the Creaseless Cream Shadow in Skinny Jeans. So of course I had to pick it up! The colour is a grey-brown cool taupe that is gorgeous. Perfect for a swipe and go colour and it mixes well with Bikini Line to warm it up a little.

I like using it on its own for a slightly sheerer wash of colour for laid back days or over Skinny Jeans for longer lasting and stronger colour.

As you can see from the swatches of Bikini Line and Where There’s Smoke below, they swatch slightly sheer and shimmery.

The texture is velvety soft and smooth to the touch and the colour picks up with just one swipe of the finger. It applies well and lasts for me – do bear in mind I do not have oily lids. Over an eye base, it lasts forever :P

There are 9 shades available and colours are slightly limited for now. I surprised myself by not getting the blue colour. But I wasn’t taken by the shade. They all look slightly pale and washed out. Perhaps more colours will be coming out in the Velvet Eyeshadow formula soon.

I’m not sure if its in in Malaysia yet. I was previously told by one of the SA that it might be RM75 each but I cannot be sure. If anyone knows do please update yes? :) Otherwise, they retail for US$18 at Benefit Cosmetics online. I’d say they are absolutely worth it… but then I bought mine at a nice price :)

Pros: Soft Colour, Shimmery and Sheer, Limited Colours Available

Cons: Rather Pricey, Slightly Sheer

Are you looking forward to try the Benefit Velvet Eyeshadows? Do you own these? How do you like them?

Stay beautiful,

Paris B

p/s I only just realised that we have surpassed 10,000 comments here! Yay! Keep ’em coming and maybe I’ll find a nice reward for the 15,000th comment :D