What’s a girl to do with a bathroom full of beauty products when it comes time to dash off for a weekend away? While the natural thing to do might be to pack a separate suitcase full of goodies (I know I’m not the only one who’s tried), it’s not always the most feasible. Enter the perfect weekend getaway (or anytime, really) essentials from one of my favourite brands – Benefit Cosmetics.
Palettes, Palettes, Palettes
I’ve been a longtime Benefit Cosmetics fan, largely in part to their genius palettes. With the addition of complexion and lip/cheek kits to their collection, you can solve all of your beauty woes with three easy-to-use (they come with how-to booklets!) kits.
How To Look The Best At Everything – Flawless Complexion Kit ($36 CDN, exclusively at Sephora)
This handy kit has everything you need to create a flawless face in four easy-t0-follow steps. The POREfessional will create a silky smooth, practically pore-less canvass for your Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow! Foundation, a light-as-air foundation with buildable coverage. This foundation mimics the skins’ texture – you’ll hardly realize you’re wearing foundation at all (aside from your flawless face). Two shades of Benefit’s industrial-strenghth Boi-ing concealer are easily blended together to create your perfect shade. Top it all off with Hello Flawless powder and you’re good to go. This powder sets without ever being cakey, a must in humid weather.
Benefit Lip & Cheek Kits in Sugarlicious, Feelin’ Dandy & Go TropiCORAL ($32 CDN each, exclusively at Sephora)
These brand new lip & cheek kits from Benefit combine their cult classics (lip/cheek stain, high beam highlighter + boxed powder) with a soon-to-be favourite – their Ultra Plush Lipgloss. The three boxes offer three completely different but versatile looks – Sugarlicious is a neutral classic, Feelin’ Dandy’s pinky tones brighten & awaken your skin and Go TropiCORAL lets a summer classic last all year long with a punchy mango hue. As always, Benefit’s handy tutorials teach you exactly how to use the product.
Extra credit: this kit is the perfect addition to your post-5pm beauty arsenal at work – it’ll refresh your makeup look in no time!
Benefit Smokin’ Eyes ($44 CDN, at Sephora and Shopper’s Drug Mart/Murale locations)
This kit delivers the perfect smoky eye in 5 minutes flat. It’s practically foolproof thanks to the blendable shades that transition easily from day to night depending on the intensity with which you apply them. Liner, highlighter and brow gel complete this look for the perfect smoky stare. Did I mention there are tweezers? I don’t know about you, but that’s one item I always manage to forget at home (and always end up needing). This is one of my most recommended palettes, simply for its ease of use, versatility and super-portable size. Bring along mascara and an eyelash curler and you’re good to go!
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These kits are just as much at home on your vanity as they are in your weekend bag or desk drawer. You’ll find yourself reaching for them again and again – I know I do – as the products apply consistently and always wow. You might even break up with your current favourites and use these full-time! Need another reason to buy them? The packaging is adorable and, if you purchase the lip & cheek or complexion kits, the products actually pop out in a tray so you can use the box as a keepsake/makeup box.
What’s your #1 tip for weekend getaway beauty?
