Benefit Velvet Eyeshadows for Spring 2010
Benefit Spring 2010 Eyeshadows ($18.00 each) come in six, limited edition varieties: Bo Peep, Buns, Nice Melons, Shamrocker, Mermaid, and Fancy Pansy. They’re new and only available for a limited time, unfortunately, but they are perfect spring-friendly shades.
I am a big, big fan of Benefit’s Velvet Eyeshadows. I have been for awhile (you can see my original review, if you’re curious), so when I found out that there were six new shades for spring, I got a little excited. When I saw that they had pops of color, I couldn’t wait to try them. You know me, I love me some color–even though I can totally appreciate a good neutral–and Benefit finally brought me some color.
- Bo Peep is an icy pink with a silver sheen. This is probably the one with the most frost-like appearance.
- Buns is a caramel brown with a soft golden bronze sheen.
- Nice Melons is a peachy-pink with gold sheen. It would appear that nobody is going to escape spring without some sort of melon-esque shade in their makeup wardrobe. Yes, it totally reminds me of MAC Melon pigment, but it’s in glorious pressed form. (For the record, I do not like MAC pigments pressed… they’re not the same!)
- Shamrocker is a fresh, minty green with silver sheen. I don’t even know if I have any minty greens in my stash–it’s just not a color you see too often. I like!
- Mermaid is a dark green with a teal edge and gold sheen. I would have loved to see a little more boldness and vibrancy from this shade, even though it is very much in line with the look and feel of Benefit as a line.
- Fancy Pansy is a iridescent fuchsia-purple pearled shade with an icy sheen. It’s like a much more purple version of MAC Stars ‘n Rockets (which runs a little fuchsia in comparison).
All six shades have the same softness, smoothness, and pigmentation as I’ve come to expect of Velvet Eyeshadows. One of my favorite qualities about these is the consistency across the line — there are no duds. There are no misses in texture, color pay off, or feel. Everything is as it should be, even if one color may not be to your taste. I can really appreciate the consistency, because it means you don’t have to worry, “Is this one going to be a flop?”
I would, of course, love to see Benefit add even more vibrant hues (a girl can dream, right?) or even a line of matte or semi-matte eyeshadows to complement the Velvet Eyeshadow line (which is all on the shimmery side of life). But nevertheless, I hope they’ll continue to release new and/or limited edition shades throughout 2010!
Can’t wait to do a look with these!
If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ! 
- Product: 29/30
- Value: 9/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: If you love soft, smooth, well-pigmented eyeshadow, Benefit’s Velvet Eyeshadow is all that and more.
Availability: Benefit
See photos & swatches!
Bo Peep
Buns
Nice Melons
Shamrocker
Mermaid
Fancy Pansy
Bo Peep, Buns, Nice Melons
Shamrocker, Mermaid, Fancy Pansy
Ooooh, I want Nice Melons!
Took the words right out of my mouth!
Lol…don’t we all?! =P
Shamrocker looks like UD’s Green Goddess… Dupe alert! Something about Fancy Pansy reminds me of MAC Stars ‘n Rockets. I really like the color of Mermaid, but I could do without the golden sheen/shimmer… Love the colors!
I really like the design of these eyeshadows
and only 2 of the colors: Bo Beep and Fancy Pansy. I read about the Benefit eyeshadows on a Japanese beauty blog a while ago and I was really curious about a review. 
WOW, I’m absolutely loving “Mermaid”! it’s sucha gorgeous shade. “Shamrocker” has caught my eye too. Thanks for the swatches + info, Christine!
Loving Buns, Nice Melons and Mermaid! Would love to pick these up ASAP. Thanks for the swatches and the pictures, Christine. The color pay off with these shadows is lovely.
I’m with you on wishing for some matte/semi-matte colors though. I think Benefit just needs more colors for this line. Their formula is awesome.
Ooooh Nice Melons and Mermaid are just my kinda colours! Gorgeous¬
omg i love these swatches! thanks for posting these, at first i thought these LE shades are not that appealing, lol! now i’m tempted to pick up 6 of them!
Mmmmm Shamrocker…
they look gorgeous
thanks as always for the swatches
Nice Melons,Mermaid and Fancy Pansy are mine =) thanks Christine great swatches as usual
Wow, mermaid and pansy are gorgeous!
I would say that nice melons looks just like paradisco from mac and buns close to honey lust. I really like shamrocker and mermaid (gonna check it out, see how it looks in real life)
shamrocker will be mine. Thanks for the review.
Gorgeous! I love these colors and they are perfect for spring. Will definitely put this on the list to grab.
Fancy pansy looks really nice!
I just have to say, I lol’d when I saw Nice Melons. My nickname for one of my friends is Melons, and I’m sure you can guess why. XDDDDD
Wow! I’m loving these colors so much! I definitely want Nice Melons and Buns.
I like Nice Melons, Shamrocker and Mermaid. I haven’t tried Benefit eyeshadows yet but I want to. I love Benefit Creaseless shadows.
I’m loving Nice Melons and Mermaid!~
Nice Melons looks like UD’s “X”..
How similar are these to the new Urban Decay Stardust eye shadows?
Not even in the same family… Stardust are glitter eyeshadows, these don’t have any glitter at all!
This one is totally worth checking out for me, I love the colors!
I completely agree with what you said about mermaid, a little bolder would have been lovely! I adore nice melons, I’m a sucker for peaches!
I never tried the benefit velvet line before but after your review I was convinced! I went today and just bought one shade and I love it! I have REALLY oily lids, so I just crease away, but I’m 8 hours crease free! After your review on sin, I tried UDPP instead of a MAC Paint and I think that definitely has something to do with it! Thanks for the advice Christine!
YAY!! Which one did you get?
I got rich beach!
I actually went to Sephora and I was looking for Nice Melons but my Sephora didn’t have any of these, only the permanent velvet line, I don’t know why?
YAY!
They might not have ‘em in stores yet, since they’re new for Spring. Hopefully soon though!
Strange, I went to Macys one block away from that Sephora and they had them! I ended up not liking nice melons, but I bought bikini line and buckle bunny because its gonna be on my next billing cycle mwahaha!
Nice Melons is LOVELY! Reminds me of UD Scandal, from one of their Book of Shadows…volume 1 I think. But it was exclusive to that palette, and it’s one of my favorite shadows, so I might have to pick up one of these. Thanks for the swatches!
Oooo I love these! I think I’ll get Nice Melons and Shamrocker definitely. There’s something about Benefit products that just suck me in… LOL
I’m on a major Benefit kick (I love the creaseless cream shadows) and I really want to try these, but I can’t bring myself to spend $19 on one little shadow. Does anyone know if the velvet eyeshadows ever go on sale or show up in value sets??
Sometimes they do! I think maybe one or two went on sale last season… but yeah, not too often! I don’t remember value sets with these in ‘em.
I really like the packaging. Nice melons is my favorite color!!
DOES ANYONE KNOW IF YOU CAN DEPOT THESE?!?! Love two of the shades, but I’m trying to only purchase shadows that I can place in a palette for travel purposes. Any help would be great!! Christine, do you know??
<3
I’m sure you could find a way, though I’ve never attempted it, LOL.
BUNS AND NICE MELONS ARE COOL…THEY ARE SO LOVELY…:)
I love the packaging, it’s so cute! The colors are beautiful too, esp Mermaid.
OOH, Shamrocker, Mermaid and Fansy Pansy look great. I am definitely going to get those. I can see doing a lot with Shamrocker on the lid and something dark in the crease.
Colors are so gorgeous! However I don’t wear colors that often to persuade me to get some.
I do love LOVE these shadows…Heck I might just get “Fancy Pansy” because I liked Pansy flowers (even if they didn’t mean that with the naming lol). I do love to wear purple or green when I do wear colored e/s.
Ohh, I like it! It looks like it goes on so smooth. And shimmery!
ooh! i want nice melons, mermaid, shamrocker, fancy pansy, and bo peep!
so basically all of them except buns hahah…
How similar is nice melons to mac’s paradisco? they look a little similar to me, although paradisco’s texture is not my favorite. also, have you heard anything about a hello kitty anniversary launch? i was at a mac counter yesterday, and a salesperson said it was launching the second week of february!
A lot less pink – Nice Melons is closest to MAC Melon pigment, for reference! The texture of Nice Melons is way better than Paradisco, though.
Spring Colour Forecast is the anniversary collection for HK!
Mermaid and Fancy Pancy are my favorite. Benefit e/s are amazing!
I love the packaging! although I wish the shades were more saturated, but that’s always how I feel about Spring shades.
I die over Mermaid, it seems relatively unique! Can’t wait till these come in stock on Sephora!
seriously lemming Fancy Pansy cuz it looks quite similar to UD asphyxia (my favorite color)
by just seeing the palette didn’t catch my attention, but seeing it on you arm LOL, I really really like it!!! nice soft colors!!!
Hi Christine!
How would you compare Nice Melons to MAC Paradisco? I think maybe Paradisco has a little more pink and less gold to it, but not sure if they’re distinctly different enough to warrant having both. What do you think?
Thanks! =)
It’s similar, but I’d say it has less pink than Paradisco (so your assumption is right!). The texture is a zillion times better!
Thank you so much!
“Mermaid” is really pretty!!!!!
hmmm…. Nice Melons totally reminds me of X by UD, as another post mentioned. I’m feelin the greens though!! I’ve been on a huge green kick lately.
All the colours are very pretty and cute! I wished it came together in a 6 piece palette because all the colours work so well together. Shamrock looks a bit like MAC Aquavert to me.
ooh, pretty~
& i SO agree that benefit should come out with a line of matte shadows! i’ve been sorta having this matte-obsession lately. Lol
benefit’s single eyeshadow packaging will always be the prettiest to look at. tehee
Oooo I’m loving Nice Melons and Shamrocker!
please do a look with these asap!
I did, it’s here – http://www.temptalia.com/bright-makeup-lotsa-teals
Bo Peep & Shamrocker caught my eye but the price tag makes me wary. It’ll likely be more here in Canada. I hope MAC turns out similar colours then!
These are mighty lovely
But do you think Mermaid is similar to MAC’s Steamy? They both seem to have that gold undertone
Kind of – like if you have Steamy, you could probably hold off on Mermaid. Mermaid isn’t as dark and a little less green, I’d say, but still similar.
I must own Fancy Pansy and Shamrocker!!! I just bought MACs Beautiful Iris eyeshadow, which is NOT showing up, so I’ll try my luck with Fancy Pansy.
Can you only get Shamrocker through Benefit’s website? I wonder if Sephora will ever get it.
Hmm, that is odd!
I kind of want them all… :]
Has anyone depotted these shadows? I absolutely love them but I would prefer to have them in a pallet with my other shadows. I haven’t been able to find any information on getting them out of the packaging.
Hi Ladies -
I figured out how to depot these shadows (I was determined). Send me a message on Twitter if you want the details.
@kt_ide
Katie
I love ‘Nice Melons’ and ‘Buns.’ I’m not so sure about Bo Peep…I’m half and half. Oh and another reason I love this is the packaging!! OMG!!!!!