We're hitting the department stores this week for a look at some new products from BeneFit, a Chanel foundation and MAC's makeup brush cleaner. Look for upcoming issues to include reviews of L'Oreal's new Pure Zone skin care, L'Oreal Kerastase Oleo-Relax hair care, and some fall colors from Almay. Enjoy!

BeneFit Glamourette ($38)
Get ready for the hottest new thing in cosmetics! I kid you not, this smart and pretty compact set from BeneFit is the best new cosmetic product out there. Designed like an old fashioned hand mirror, this black, dual-sided compact has all the essentials. Under the mirrored side, you'll find a translucent finishing powder with a puff, and another mirror. Under the decorated side, there is a natural blush shade, also with a puff and mirror. In the handle, a flattering shade of lipstick. It also comes in a black organdy drawstring bag with two extra puffs. All the elements are interchangeable and customizable. Each compact starts with set colors: coy (soft pink coral), fickle (warm rose), or divine (plum). From there, the combinations are up to you. There are three Blushing Beauty powder blushes (coy, fickle and divine; $11 each), two Finishing Touches (a translucent powder and a cream highlighter; $11 each), and nine lipsticks (coy, fickle, divine, keen, prim, swell and vain; $9 each). All the colors are gorgeous and very wearable. The powder and blushes are smooth and the lipsticks are creamy and light. This is a clever and pretty way to bring together everything you need for touch-ups wherever you are, and it's so much fun to use!

You can find BeneFit Glamourette at department stores, BeneFit freestanding stores and online at Sephora.com and BeneFitCosmetics.com.

Chanel Double Perfection Compact Matte Reflecting Powder Makeup ($45)
A reader recommended this powder foundation to me during a time when I was reviewing several other brands. I love suggestions, so I decided to give it a try. Double Perfection is lightweight, comes in 11 shades, can be worn wet or dry, and has light-reflecting pigments to help visually soften fine lines. This all sounded marvelous, and I found a shade that worked well for me (Vanilla, the lightest), but after just a few days, it was clear that Double Perfection was the cause of my new crop of cosmetic acne. As soon as I stopped using it, the acne cleared up. Tried the powder again, hello new pimples. I can't say that this will happen to you, but for those of you prone to cosmetic acne, you might try this on in the store and wear it home before you buy. I wish I had saved the receipt for mine...

You can find Chanel Double Perfection powder at department stores and online at Gloss.com.

BeneFit Makeup Remover & Brush Cleaner, Baby! ($21 for 12oz)
I typically like BeneFit products (case in point, the above Glamourette review!), but they really missed the mark with this one. On their site this makeup remover and brush cleaner in one is touted as sting-free and soothing, but for me it couldn't be farther from the truth. I was skeptical about putting the same thing I would use to clean my makeup brushes near my eyes - I should have followed my instincts. I was treated to pain, pain and more pain when I used this to remove mascara and eyeliner. As if that's not bad enough, it's not even a very good brush cleaner! I ran several brushes through twice before giving up and using my regular Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Pure-Castile Soap. Thumbs down!

MAC Brush Cleanser ($8 for 7.5oz)
I recently had an inordinate number of brushes that needed cleaning, and the idea of soaping up and rinsing each and every one was fairly daunting. I decided to look for something faster and easier, and this one from MAC had been recommended to me several times. The woman who helped me at the MAC counter suggested pouring a small amount in a shot glass (or any other small, deep glass), swirling the brushes inside, then rinsing. This methods works like a charm and uses far less cleanser than I've used in the past.

Just as a side note, you may wonder why you need to clean your brushes at all, or how often you should clean them. Here's something to keep in mind: regular cleaning helps reduce the chance of bacteria-related breakouts. Even if you are the only one using your brushes, and you use all the same colors (please tell me you aren't using the same colors all the time!), you should still be cleaning them at least once every two weeks.

You can find MAC Brush Cleanser at department stores, MAC stores, and online at Gloss.com.

I hope you enjoyed this issue of The Cosmetic Report!