Purple can be a hard color to nail, and even lighter variations of purple can be tough. For those who love the idea of purple but haven’t found a good way to wear it yet, consider a lighter shade, which can be easier to work with.
Per WWD, Benefit will be adding a new liquid foundation to their line-up: Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow, which will include nine shades, and retail for $34. This is slated to launch online on February 15th and in-stores March 1st. It’s supposed to have a “brightening formula,” that uses the a proprietary “Oxygen Wow Hydrating Complex” that includes vitamin C and vitamin E derivatives for their antioxidant propertyes. It has buildable, light-to-medium coverage.
It’s so hard for me to pick favorites, but these are ten products that really caught my eye this year for adding color and/or glow to cheeks. Since these are products for 2011, I did exclude any spring 2012 products that may have been reviewed this year, as they’re technically for next – so these feature products new for 2011 and permanent products I discovered this year! 
Benefit I Think I Love You Full-Finish Lipstick
Benefit I Think I Love You Full-Finish Lipstick ($18.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “bronze rose.” It’s an apt description; it’s a sultry plummy rose with a metallic-like frost to it. The color coverage is nearly opaque. Clarins Blackberry is a creamier version–it doesn’t have the frosted finish. MAC Snazzy is redder and has fuchsia shimmer. MAC One of a Kind is a little brighter, less muted.
It delivers the medium to full color coverage the lipstick is supposed to, and it does so with a really smooth, melt-on-your-lips kind of color. It applies evenly, and it doesn’t take a lot of product to get the really opaque look. The texture is creamy enough to allow the slanted tip to glide across the lips with ease, but it isn’t thick or heavy, so it doesn’t slide around and get onto teeth. There’s no discernible taste or scent, which may be a plus for some. It is moisturizing, too, which is good, because I was able to get five hours of wear out of this shade during testing.
Where to Buy: Benefit, $18
Benefit Saucy Full-Finish Lipstick
Benefit Saucy Full-Finish Lipstick ($18.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “sparkling tangerine.” This is a lovely brightened coral-orange with peach and copper shimmer. It delivers mostly opaque color coverage. CoverGirl Rapture is similar in the base color, though a bit more orange. MAC Drive Me Wild is like a much deeper, redder version, but it has the same coppery shimmer. Milani Cora Bora Bora is frostier but the colors are similar–just no gold shimmer in this one. Dior Coral is in the same vein but with subtler shimmer. It’s a bit pinker but reminded me of Guerlain Gems.
Benefit’s Full-Finish Lipsticks are supposed to deliver medium to full coverage with a smooth finish. They’re really creamy and have a nice glide. For a lipstick with as much slip as this one, I was surprised that it wore so well–it lasts a solid four hours and almost makes it to five. I didn’t detect any scent or taste either! I also liked how moisturizing this one; it’s quite hydrating and wears comfortably for hours without leaving lips feeling parched.
Where to Buy: Benefit, $18
Benefit Fancy Pansy Eyeshadow
Benefit Fancy Pansy Eyeshadow ($18.00 for 0.11 oz.) is described as an “orchid silk.” It’s a cool-toned, pink-lavender with a pale, iridescent lilac shimmer-sheen. At first glance, it seems like it might be like shades such as MAC Stars ‘n Rockets, but it’s much, much lighter with less of a duochrome; it’s more like the iridescence of those types of shades without the strong fuchsia base. Inglot #346 is a matte version of this shade. Milani Royalty is the closest dupe I found.
It has a silky smooth texture, and the powder is finely-milled. It’s not powdery but so soft that it makes blending a breeze. The powder feels dense and buttery, so it delivers good color payoff without having to pack it on. Compared to other shades in the range, this one is just a tiny bit under-pigmented but that’s being nit picky. Velvet Eyeshadows wear well, too, without fading during the day and no fall out occurs. Another nice thing about the range is that they’re twice the size of most eyeshadows. Fancy Pansy pairs well with darker purples, whether blue or red-based, along with navy blues.
Where to Buy: Benefit, $18
