I am Benefit's Guess Who Winner!

They say good things come when you least expect it. I'm more of a person who believes in the Law of Attraction, so when I want something badly, I expect for good results already and they happen. This incident might change my mind though.

A few months back, I was browsing my news feed at Facebook and I saw this contest from Benefit Philippines. You have to guess a certain celebrity (whose faces are covered) on the pictures that they posted. Bored as I was at work, I tried my luck in guessing up to the last picture that they posted:

I was sure to myself that it was Bianca Valerio! With those long legs and ombre' hair, it's not hard to miss out on that one. Okay, it was hard, I am just a fan I guess! Haha! She's one of the local make up artists I look up to that was why it wasn't hard for me to guess this one. (PS. All my guesses to the other celebrities were all wrong! I just got lucky!)

I wasn't expecting anything after this one. I enjoyed the guessing game so much that I forgot it was a contest. A few weeks after, they posted the winners and boy was I sooooo SHOCKED to see my name on it! By the power of random selection and correct guessing I was chosen! As the saying goes - "Great things DO come when you least expect it".

The moment I got back to Manila, I hurriedly went to their main office to claim my prize, which is a full sized BATHINA!

I've always wanted to have one! Thank you Benefit Philippines!! I would also like to give special thanks to Ms. Paula Arevalo of Benefit Philippines for arranging this giveaway. You don't know how much it shook up my holiday (in a good way of course!). I am terribly sorry for not being able to thank you personally, but really this made me happy! And thank you so much for this one!

I'll be doing a review of this soon, I hope you girls would wait for it. For the mean time, you could read my post about how to spot a fake coralista box o' powder. A bit lengthy, but it is worth a read because there are so many fake Benefit products out there who claim to be authentic. My two cents for you girls is to buy from Benefit boutiques, here is a list of their stores here in the Philippines:

- Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati

- Rustan's Shang-rila

- Rustan's Makati

You may also like their facebook page: Benefit Cosmetics Philippines for updates. I am sure, they have more giveaways in store for you girls!

I really dream of working in here. I am even willing to trade my geeky job for make up! Haha! I did try my luck by joining their internship contest but I didn't got in and I also wasn't able to send my CV and schedule, so it was really a big miss. Boo me! But hey that won't stop me from trying. I think I'll give it another shot when I get to accomplish make up school.

Til' my next post ladies!

*Disclaimer: The first two photos posted are not mine but are from Benefit Cosmetics Philippines Facebook page.*

How to: Spot a Fake Coralista

Hi girls! Well, if you are wondering why I am writing this blog post, that is because (as much as I hate to admit it), I was fooled months ago into buying a fake benefit product. I was aware of  fake benefit make ups lurking around online stores and bazaars. That was why, when I bought my benetint I thoroughly checked the samples they had on this bazaar at Eastwood.

The samples they had were authentic! But I failed to check and inspect the exact product they gave me when I purchased. So when I went home, and I compared it to my old bottle, I was shocked to see that what I have with me was a fake one. Believe me, it feels awful! You were at the thought of saving up 600 pesos (I bought the benetint for 1200) only to realize that you spent more. Lugi! as what we Filipinos always say.

When I was at Divisoria, I found a store that was full of fake products. Mac, Bobbi Brown, Ecotools, Benefit, Urban Decay - and the list goes on. I purposely bought a fake Coralista Box O' Powder to blog and compare it to my old one which was bought from Sephora. I just don't like another 'girl-gets-fooled-into-buying-fake-makeup' incident. So I hope this blog entry would be a bit helpful to those who will purchase this coveted box o' powder.

 

 

FRONT PACKAGING:

I am sorry if my Coralitsa is a bit old and worn out. To help you more on comparing, here is benefit's site, directed to the Coralista blush: http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/product/view/coralista

Just by the texture of the cover, you would know if it is fake. The original has a matte texture, despite the little shimmer it gives when you move the box. The fake one on the other hand is more glossy. You would also notice bumps from glue when you run your fingers on it.

Check the font. On the lower left of the box, you will see that the original Coralista has a normal font on the 'benefit' written on it while the fake has a bold font. Below that should read '12.0 g Net. Wt. 0.42 oz' the fake one has a mispelled one saying '12.0 g Nef. Wf. 0.42 oz'. This may vary, but any mispelled label is a fake one.

Check the lettering of CORALista. Notice the 't' on it. The original has a pointed 't' while the fake one has a shorter tip on the upper part of the 't'. Also the sticker of the coralista looks more like a foil sticker and it hardly sticks on the box.

 

The edges of the original are more flat and sharp while the fake one is a bit cuved and irregular.

 

 

 

 

BACK PACKAGING:

 

Again, when you find any mispelled word, what you have is fake product. At the bottom, you will see 'PEEL HERE'. The original one can be peeled twice, and inside you'll see 17 different versions/ languages of the product content. The fake one that I have cannot be peeled completely, but I checked other's which can be peeled once, and they have chinese characters in it. If it is all written in chinese, that is one big sign that you have a fake one with you.  Beside the BARCODE you will see a 4 digit number in grey (left side) where as the fake does not have any. You would also notice that the first and last numbers of the barcode should fall right after the first and last lines below. The fake one is a bit far than the original one. On the last paragraph you will se the DISTRIBUTOR. London is underlined boldly on the original one and the site 'benefitcosmetics.com' is written in a smaller font and is bold as well.

 

 

SIDE PACKAGING:

 

The original Coralista has the colors, pink (salmon), black and a little bit of gold streaks. The fake on the other hand has less streaks and is in black and bright pink. You will also notice that the leaves on the original one is thinner on the fake and the color is in a lighter green as well.

 

 

 

SIDE (INNER) PACKAGING:

 

The leopard print (correct me if I am mistaken please, this looks like a leopard print to me hehe) is smaller, but fatter than the fake one. The colors are also more of a salmon pink, and this time it has orange 'streaks'. The fake one has orange on the sides of the leopard print only. Again the edges are symmetrical, flat and a bit sharp on the original. While on the fake one, you will see the sticker peeling out on the corners.

 

 

BRUSH:

 

This one is obvious. The HANDLES of the original Coralista is made out of wood, while the fake one is made of plastic. You will also see that the original is slightly longer than the fake one. While the fake one is already soft, it is still not as soft as the original brush. There is also shedding on the fake one even if it has not been washed yet.

 

 

 

 

BLUSH:

 

OOOPS!! I hit the pan with mine, sorry for the big hole. There you will see that the original has a more salmon tone of pink, it also has a bit of shimmer. While the fake has a baby pink color - not even close to being 'coral' as it should be.

 

 

 

SWATCHES:

 

The original is more pigmented and has a hint of shimmer when swiped as swatches. The fake on the other hand is more pink, and chalky.

 

 

This is how it looks like when blended. Not close enough right? Also, try smelling the product, because original benefit make up has a floral kind of scent with it. And the smell doesn't wear out. The fake smelled a bit musty at firt then it now smells like plastic.

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:

 

It's better if you buy from the store itself. Benefit opened a number of stores here in the Philippines. Back then, I was lazy to go to Makati to buy Benefit so I resorted in this Bazaar and got fooled by it. (Lessons learned for me!) Well, another good thing is, Benefit Philippines opened more branches and I found one near my area! HOORAY! If you are to buy online and on bazaars, make sure you purchase only to those you know and trust.

 

You will initially feel that you are saving alot when you buy fake products, but quality wise, you still loose in this part. Say, you bought a number of fake products, but since it is not of good quality, you hardly get to use them. The coralista that I have, obviously served me well, as I forgot that I had other blushes when I first used it. And who knows, that 500 peso you saved up from buying the fake one orignally costs 50 pesos on a factory some where in China.

 

The reason high end make up is expensive is that it goes through alot of quality control before being released in the market. They make sure that what you put on your face is safe. This is something you won't gurantee from fake products.

 

Okay this has been pretty long already. Hehe. I hope this has helped in any way. I appreciate your comments and if you like something to add up in this post, go lang! Stay smart ladies!

 

P.S. To the lady who fooled me into buying fake make up.. I believe in karma. =)

 

Love,

Katrina





 



"My Favorite Tints"

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite TINTS"

I am trying my best to sing like Maria of the Sound of Musice there. Okay! So, I will be writing about my favorite TINTS! I am a fan of cheek tints/stains for a lot of reasons and here are some of them:


1. They give you that natural flushed look.
2. I usually have allergies that cause tiny red blotches on my cheeks and these stains blend well with it.
3. They last more than powdered or cream blushes.
4. I love the outdoors and these products don't wear down even if I get all sweaty from running and playing my sport.

My top four: 1. benetint 2. the body shop 3. tarte (flush) 4. ellana (amethyst)

TOP 4: Ellana lip/cheek stain
This is a local brand which can only be bought on bazaars (if your lucky) or online: www.ellanaminerals.com , they also have little stalls near SM Supermarket (Marikina and Megamall) during the weekends. One thing I like about this (compared with the next stains that will be mentioned) is how blendable (if there is such word) it is. It has a gel like consistency which does not dry out quickly compared to others. It comes in a pump bottle which is good for my OC-ness (obsessive compulsiveness) when it comes to make up. You just need one dot, like a pin's head and that would last for long. One great thing about this product is, it come's close to how long my TOP 1 stays on the cheeks. And it's very cheap too! A10:1 ratio of this vs. my top tint in terms of how much it costs. I find this too red on the cheeks though. Not as natural as the one's I will mention later. But if you master the art of applying cheek tints, you'll get by with this one. One thing I noticed, it leaves a few blotches the longer it stays on your cheeks.  (Or could it be because of my allergies)

Price: P 180.00 around $4.00 only
Weight: 20ml

The Good:
- It is very cheap!
- It has aloe vera extract which moisturizes your cheeks rather than just prettifying it alone.
- It is easy to blend and it does not dry quickly
- HYPOALLERGENIC! This product is good for those with sensitive skin as some find cheek stains too harsh. Most of the cheek stains I know contain alcohol. (Phenoxyethanol)

The Bad:
- I find it hard to control the pump bottle. I always over-pump it leaving a lot of the stain to waste.
- The packaging does not come with a cap, you only twist the pump to the right to lock it. I experienced a number of pump spills in my make up purse since I forget to twist it all the time.

TOP 3: Tarte in Flush
If only I don't possess oily skin, this might be on the 2nd spot. This comes in a fat lip gloss like case. It has a citrus smell which makes it addicting while applying on the face. This has the best scent in my opinion as compared to my other 3 favorites. It's good for traveling since it has a balm like consistency = NO SPILLS. But since it's always humid here in the Philippines, this doesn't work well all the time. I use it during the "ber" months where it's cold and the skin is dryer than the usual. The application can get quite messy. You can use a sponge, or apply it directly but I prefer using my finger tips and swiping it on the cheeks. Sponges absorb a lot of the product and I'm very frugal when it comes to my make up (HAHA!) At first the product comes out oily, but let it dry for a few minutes and it will blend along with your skin. It is tricky though!

I find the color too light, it takes around 4-5 swipes just to achieve a noticeable flush. This would work well with lighter skin tones.

Price: $30.00
Weight: 28.4g

The Good:
- My favorite scent is in this little package and it (the scent) lasts a little longer.
- Like my 4th favorite, it blends easily due to its balm like consistency.
- It contains a lot of product in it. It goes a long way.

The Bad:
- It requires a lot of application for girls with a dark skin tone like me.
- The balm forms small residues upon application.
- Too expensive, considering the number of times you have to apply the product just to get the certain flush you want.
- It does not double as a lip stain.
- I get a hard time with it's push up packaging. I wish they produce a twist up package like the sample sizes.

TOP 2: Lip and Cheek Stain by The Body Shop
Apologies for my bad copy of this product. As you can see from the 1st picture, there is almost nothing left in this tiny tube. This is my 6th or 7th tube, and it was the third cheek stain that I discovered. (The first two didn't make it to the cut to be included in this entry) I used this almost every day, during the first half of my college years. Thank God for the store's frequent sales - it was only during those times that I get to purchase and re-purchase one. ( I never bought them on it's original price haha). It comes in a shade lighter than my #1 tint!! This stays longer than Tarte's Flush but shorter than Ellana and Benetint. I love how compact this is and how easy it is to apply. You can do it on the go. Spills don't occur that much since, the tube has a rubber stopper on the opening. This is the lightest (in terms of weight) among the three. But it comes closest to the color of my Top 1. Like Tarte, it takes around 4 applications to get the color you desire. It's more viscous than Benetint but not as close as compared to Ellana.


Price: P795.00 around &19.00
Weight: 8ml


The Good:
- It's tiny enough to fit in your pocket/purse.
- It goes with an applicator that makes swiping easy.
- It doubles as a lip stain.

The Bad:
- It doesn't last that long. It stays around 4-5 hours and the product won't be visible in the cheeks any longer.
- It doesn't smell as good as my top 3 and 1.
- For some reason, it hurts when I use this as a lip stain. And it dries my lips so much. Even if I layer it with lip balm or lip gloss.

TOP 1: Benetint by benefit
This by far is my favorite! It gives out a sheer rose shade on the cheeks, and true enough, (as it's packaging say's) it is the sexiest flush you can get from a bottle. Among the 4 of the product's I posted  this stays on the longest. It is made of carmine rose petals, and that explains the sweet odor it expels.

To give you a little history, Benetint was the first product of Benefit created around 1976 by Jean and Jane Ford. It is famously known as the "nipple tint" because the product was originally made for an exotic dancer who was in need of one. So that explains why the bottle say's: "Innocent yet 'provocative', our rose tinted cheek stain is see through color that 'endures it all... even in the thralls of passion'." (Funny transition from nipple to cheek stain right?)

Price: $29.00 but it is around P1800 here in the Philippines
Weight: 12.5 ml


The Good:
- It stays longer than the rest of the tints I know and it stays on for a good 7 - 9 hours for me.
- It has a very nice smell (although this might appall others who prefer unscented cosmetics)
- It doesn't fade out easily on water or even SWEAT.
- It suits all skin types and tones.
- It doubles as a lip stain too (although I hardly use it as one)

The Bad:
- The packaging is too plain, considering the fact that it costs almost $30.
- Also, still under the packaging area - it is more prone to spills. I don't get to bring this with me during travels =( Although Benefit released a "pocket pal" edition, I find it too impractical to purchase one.
- And another one, still from the packaging - the little brush that comes with it does not reach the bottom of the bottle. And, since you dip and use the brush and dip it back when you close it, it makes it prone to the spread of certain strains of bacteria which in turn diminishes the shelf life of the product.
- I find it too expensive. It cost's as much as 3 tints from The Body Shop or 10 bottles of Ellana. I have dark skin, and I put around 3 - 5 swipes just to achieve the color I want, so this 12.5 ml bottle would be gone in  a couple of months if I use it every day.

Swatches (from top - bottom) 1.Benetint 2.The Body shop 3. Tarte 4. Ellana

Swatches w/ flash (L-R) Benetint, the Body Shop, Tarte, Ellana