BeneFit is similar in many ways to other lines like MAC and Stila, but BeneFit has something a little different - a collection of speciality products designed to solve beauty problems like thin lips, tired eyes, and general cosmetic boredom. It was for these products that BeneFit caught my attention, not for the basic eye shadow and lipstick colors you could find anywhere.

Pineapple Facial Polish ($26 for 5.5oz tube)
This is a brand new addition to BeneFit's existing line of exfoliating treatments, including Honey Snap Out of It Scrub and Seven % AHA cream. This one is targeted at skin that's on the oily side, combining pineapple and kiwi extracts with small jojoba beads, so you get the physical scrubbing of the beads and the astringent, pore-tightening benefits of pineapple - plus an amazing scent straight from the tropics! While the beads are small enough to be gentle for frequent use, the fruit extracts can be mildly irritating, so sensitive skins take care. I've found that if I use a small amount of scrub (versus being overly generous), my skin doesn't react; if I use too much, I do experience some stinging.

Pineapple Facial Polish is available now at BeneFit counters and online at BeneFitCosmetics.com (and hopefully coming soon to Sephora.com).

review: 7/01

BeneTint Lipbalm ($18)
When BeneFit first released their BeneTint liquid rose-colored lip and cheek tint, it was a new and exciting alternative to boring powder blush and thick, waxy lipstick. Over the years, just about every major brand has come out with their own stain, tint, cream or stick version, many of which rival BeneTint in color, wearability and ease of use. Now BeneFit has taken this old stand-by and made it more appealing for lips. Add a bit of wax, some vitamin E, and SPF 15 sunscreen and you've got this great new rose lipbalm. It's sheer, looks great on anybody, and comes in a great little pot just right for dabbing with your fingers. I keep this in my bag for those times when I need a little color but not the richness of lipstick.

You can find BeneTint Lipbalm at BeneFitCosmetics.com, Sephora.com, Sephora stores, and BeneFit cosmetic counters at department stores near you.

review: 7/01

Cheekies Cream Blush ($20)
BeneFit is just introducing these as part of their Love in Bloom Spring 2001 Color Collection, and what a great addition they are! Cheekies is a soft, creamy color that's easy to blend (just use a tiny dab) and turns into a powder that lasts all day. You could even use it one your lips if you felt like it. Cheekies comes in Gotta Crush on You (peach), Crazy in Love (rose), Head Over Heels (bubblegum pink) and Yours for Keeps (soft pink). Each one comes with a blending sponge, but I recommend just using your fingers.

Lash Lovies Cream Mascara ($18)
Also in the spring collection are these retro cream mascaras in playful colors like Breathless (purple), Swoonderful (green), Infatuation (teal) and Smitten (cranberry). If you've never used a cream or cake mascara before, Lash Lovies take some getting used to. Each squeeze tube comes with a separate mini mascara wand on which you apply a thin line of the cream mascara, then brush it through your lashes. I clearly need to practice, because every time I do it I get all the cream on one section of my lashes! These are fun and nostalgic if you miss the cream or cake mascaras from years ago. Personally I'd like more detailed instructions, and maybe a tamer color like black or brown :)

Check the BeneFit counter or boutique near you for the spring collection coming soon.

review: 1/01

Boi-ing! Concealer ($15)
I'm not much of a concealer-user, since I usually just use my foundation on dark circles or red spots, but I do like this one from BeneFit. It is rather heavy-duty, so a little goes a long way. With a small dab of Boi-ing! and a light touch, my dark under eye circles and a few pesky red blotches disappeared easily and without looking cakey. For a few small areas, this concealer works well. Be careful in areas where you have fines lines, though, since it can settle in if it's not blended out well.

Lip Plump ($15)
I have experimented several times with this product and I still can't get it to work properly. The idea is that Lip Plump acts like a base for your lipstick by filling in fine lines and making a more even surface. The product is a light beige color, like light colored skin. No matter how little I used, I still couldn't get it to set properly, so as soon as I put my lipstick on, the two colors smeared together to make a sort of muddy mess. Ick! I'm glad I tried Lip Plump, but I'm afraid I can't recommend it.

Creme Eyeshadow ($12 each) in "Naughty Feather", "Big Apple", "Speed Bump", and "Me Too"
With cream and shimmer shadows being "the thing" these days, I thought trying BeneFit's "Creaseless Cremes" would be a good test. At the Sharper Image Spa were I did some of my testing, they had very convenient displays of colors for certain hair and eye color. I chose "Naughty Feather" and "Big Apple" from the display for blue eyes. "Naughty Feather" is a slightly shimmery pinkish-nude that I found was great for a quick, no-fuss eye makeup look; "Big Apple" is a sort of dark gray-lavender that was more matte that "Naughty Feather" and looked great smudged in the crease or as liner. After using both for several days, I found the formula consistently performed well, without sliding, flaking, or creasing all day. Even though it is quite a bit more expensive than the Nat Robbins cream-to-powder shadow I reviewed several weeks ago, I like this one better for its great staying power. "Speed Bump" (perky pale lilac) and "Me Too" (soft sky blue) are also great in-the-moment colors.

Seaweed Mud Mask ($19 for 2 ounces)
I instantly liked the consistency of this mask - easy to spread, not too thick, and you don't need a ton to cover your whole face. It's also a nice tan color rather than a scary black or green! What makes this mask different from others I've tried is that you keep it moist by spritzing your face with water every 2 minutes, for a total of 20 minutes. While this can be a bit of a pain, I liked the feeling of the moist mask much better than the ones that dry and crack. After 20 minutes of watering my face, I rinsed off the mask and noticed a marked improvement in the drier areas of my face. All the flaky patches and uncomfortable tightness felt soft and smooth. If you want to give your face a moisture boost, this mask from BeneFit really delivers.
(Editor's Note: This mask has since been discontinued.)

Eye Bright stick ($13)
I like how BeneFit has these fun little treatment products, called their "itty bitty fake-its", but I can't figure this one out! It is supposed to be applied to the inner and outer corners of the eyes to give a brightening effect to tired-looking eyes. I applied it and blended, but it just looked like I had whitish spots in the corners of my eyes. Not exactly uplifting. I won't say this product is bad, just don't waste your money if you think it'll work miracles.

Alpha Smooth 5% AHA toner $18 for 5.56 ounces
After using BeneFit's Seven % AHA cream for several months with great results, I added the Alpha Smooth toner to my cleansing routine and saw a real difference in some more stubborn areas (especially minimizing the number of blackheads and little forehead bumps). I was worried that a toner with 5% glycolic acid would irritate my sensitive skin, but it is actually one of the gentlest toners I've ever used (the 4th ingredient is aloe vera gel). For a toner that actually does something, this is a terrific choice.

Alpha Clean 5% AHA cleanser $18 for 5.56 ounces
I have been so pleased with BeneFit's Alpha Smooth alpha hydroxy toner and Seven % night cream that I took the plunge and ordered their Alpha Clean 5% AHA cleanser with "volcanic mud". I was skeptical when I read "for normal-to-dry skin" on the label, but it turned out to be very gentle and non-drying (aloe vera gel is the first ingredient). Although I never thought AHAs in a cleanser would do much good, this one is gentle enough to leave on the face for a minute or two, then rinse away, so you do get some exfoliating benefits. While it does remove foundation and the daily grime, you definitely need a separate eye makeup remover; you would not want to get this stuff in your eyes!

Eye Lift $25 for one ounce
I finally found a BeneFit product that really didn't thrill me: Eye Lift. This eye cream claims to smooth and tighten the eye area; for me, the plant extracts were more of an irritant than a soother. Any eye cream can temporarily smooth wrinkles by plumping them up with moisture, and this one is no different. It does help reduce puffiness, but the overall possibility for irritation makes it hard for me to recommend, especially at this price.

Rosewater Tonic $14 for 4 ounces
After finishing my all-time favorite toner, BeneFit's Alpha Smooth, I decided to try their Rosewater Tonic "for combination normal to dry complexions" to see how it would compare. While it doesn't have the benefits of alpha hydroxy acid, the Rosewater Tonic works well as a basic toner for just about any skin type. The second ingredient is witch hazel, which can be irritating to some sensitive skins, but I found it to be surprisingly soothing and refreshing. Otherwise, this is a no-frills toner that is perfect for someone who loves the smell of roses!

Boo Boo Zap acne treatment $16
Acne lotions and creams are a dime a dozen, so this one could be considered just another to add to the pile, but I found it actually worked. On small pimples, whiteheads, and those blemishes that are just under the skin's surface, this liquid blend of camphor and salicylic acid really help and are surprisingly effective at eliminating the redness that typically goes with these kinds of blemishes. Because of the clear liquid consistency, you can even dab it on over makeup.

Ooh La Lift eye cream and highlighter $16
This is not the most moisturizing eye cream I've ever used, so if your eye area is really dry, choose something else for moisture. What this pink cream is great for is highlighting the brow area and perking up tired looking eyes. Dabbing a little under your eyes really makes you look more awake, great if you have to go out after a long day.

Lemon Aid eyelid color corrector $16
While I like the effect that Lemon Aid gives to conceal discolorations, shadows, and veins on the eye lid, it's not much different from using a regular concealer or foundation. It conceals okay and acts as a base for eyeshadow, but if you don't powder it, it creases. I imagine, too, that the stark yellow color might not blend very well dark skin tones. Save the $16 and use your regular concealer.

Gilded! gold pencil $14
For a very fun evening or "going out" look, I love this fat crayon-pencil for eyes, lips (over lipstick or alone), and cheeks (over blush or alone). The sparkly gold color looks glamourous and gives a whole new look to your usual makeup colors. Very fun!

BeneTint lip and cheek stain $24
For a fresh outdoor look, great for a casual weekend or lazy summer day, BeneFit's BeneTint gives a healthy rosey glow that lasts longer than any regular blush or lipstick. BeneTint's red liquid mix of real rose petals and soothing glycerin comes bottled like nail polish with a brush on the cap and a blending sponge. If you like no-fuss makeup, BeneTint delivers great all-day color. One small note: it works better on bare cheeks - when it hits foundation, it dries too quickly to blend. Try putting it on first, then apply foundation lightly over it.

High Beam highlighting cream $18
If you are into the dewy look for makeup but hate slathering on a ton of moisturizer, High Beam is just what you've been looking for. Dab this lightweight liquid on cheeks, forehead, anywhere you want a subtle glow, then just blend. You can wear it alone or under foundation for a fresh, glowing complexion.

Smoo...ch lipbalm $15
Everyone has their favorites when it comes to lip balm, so if you like it thick and emollient, Smoo...ch is for you. Personally, I prefer Kiehl's lip balm for under lipstick, but Smoo...ch is terrific for combatting super dry lips at night. The rich, waxy lotion-like texture coats your lips to moisturize through the night, so you wake up with less flakiness.

Wonderbod 10% AHA body lotion $24 for 8 ounces
For a body lotion with an extra kick, Wonderbod 10% AHA lotion outperforms regular body lotions by smoothing the skin in two ways - it hydrates and exfoliates. Use this lotion for a few weeks on legs, elbows, wherever, and you can say goodbye to scaly dry skin. Be warned, however, that the "peppery tingle" the label warns about is pretty strong, so do a spot test to make sure your skin can handle it. My sensitive skin was seriously itchy for several minutes the first two or three times I applied it, then it subsided.

Sheer Genius powder foundation $26
For oily skin, this powder foundation is a great find. It has smooth coverage, a silky feel, and actually control oils without caking. The only drawback is a small rage of colors - only four doesn't quite suit everybody. The lightest shade, Vanilla, is so pink it looks like blush. Champagne, Honey, and Peek-a-boo go from medium beige to cafe au lait.

Matte Tint liquid foundation $20
If you prefer a liquid, Matte Tint is another great choice for oily skin, and it comes in 8 colors. The texture is amazingly lightweight and easy to blend. You can adjust the coverage to make it as light and natural or as full and dramatic as you want, without feeling like you have on a mask.

You can find BeneFit products online at benefitcosmetics.com.