Benefit Cosmetics Powders: What to Skip, What to Stock

It’s no secret. I’m a make-up junkie and during a recent product purge I noticed that I own just about every Benefit Cosmetics powder the company makes. This is partially because for a short time I was a counter manager for the brand, but mostly it’s because I truly love makeup and when a brand I love launches new products I have to try them!

Dandelion- This is the “Perk Me Up” face powder but honestly I think this powder only perks you up if you have a really pale complexion, so on me, this powder doesn’t show up at all. I think it’s a pretty ballerina pink but aside from the cute box and soft scent this powder really doesn’t do much for me. I’d skip it.

Coralista- This powder is so pretty when used as a sheer blush or as a 4pm Pick-Me-Up when you’re having a long day. The warm color makes me skin glow! If you’re looking for a Nars-style orgasm glow, this could be the complexion powder you’re looking for. Buy it.

Hoola- This powder is Benefit’s claim to fame in my book. When I worked for the company it was our # 1 most request product because it was constantly being featured by beauty magazines like Allure. The distinction between this powder and other bronzers on the market is that the color of Hoola is very flat and doesn’t have all the extra shimmer and glitter that most other bronzers include. This means you can use this powder to contour your cheekbones if you’re savvy with a makeup brush which can instantly make you look svelte and 5 pounds lighter. That’s a PLUS in my book. Buy it.

10- This is for the girl who wants the best of both worlds: the darkness of a bronzer with the shimmer of a highlighter to create a pretty glow. You can use one side or the other for specific coverage but I like the idea of the 2-in-1. It frees up space in your cosmetic bag! Buy it.

Sugarbomb- If you like the idea of a product that multi-tasks then this is the product for you. This quad powder includes 4 shades of powder including a soft peach, a sheer plum, a shimmer pink and a pink rose. Sweep them together on your cheeks for a major color rush. Buy.

Georgia- I love the idea of a Georgia Peach but this powder is a lot like Dandelion in my book except that it’s not muted pink it’s muted peach. If peach is part of your color story then maybe I’d buy this product but otherwise, you might be better off picking one of their other powders. Skip.

Dallas- Another one of my fave Benefit Powders! This one gives skin a pretty outdoor glow and has a hint of shimmer. I also like that you can use this powder on the cheeks and forehead for a beautiful color wash or on cheeks alone depending on what kind of mood your in and what kind of color coverage you’re looking for. This powder is pretty and pink but it’s not overwhelming and the color is super easy to blend. Buy.

Thrrrob- This powder is 1-2 shades darker than the Dandelion complexion powder so the coverage is a bit better (even on my olive skin tone), but I’d still say you’d get more for your money by going with one of the other powders instead. For some girls this powder can be the sheer blush you’ve always dreamed of but I’d still recommend Sugarbomb so you can customize your color. Skip.

Powderazzi- If you can’t decide what powder to buy then try the Powderazzi because you’ll get to try all 3 famous Benefit Powders in one. The set includes Coralista, Hoola and Dallas so you can play, layer and pair until you find a combination that works for you. If you travel a lot like I do, this is a smart buy because the box contains all the powders I would have packed in my cosmetics bag anyway. Buy.