Unboxing My 4th BDJ Box: Secrets of Spy Gal (Benefit - March)

Unboxing my March BDJ Box: Secrets of Spy Gal - An Exclusive Benefit Products

I was ecstatic to see the box's cover of Benefit! It just means that my box for March is an exclusive items from Benefit! I had been a fan of Benefit even before. Benefit is an American brand that started since 1976 by Jean and Jane. And their first bottle of Rose Tint (Benetint) is first custom-made and requested by an exotic dancer who wants to make her nipples look pinker/redder. Unreal? No, I learned this history on a Benefit workshop last BDJ Social Event, Tres Chic. And since 1989, they had a breakthrough for their creative catalogs and designs for their items.

Benefit wants gals to have fun with their make-up. They set their own motto ("Benefesto"): We believe in whistling while you work it. Faking it 'til you make it. We believe in fast and fabulous beauty solutions and that glamour is grabbing life by the giggles and not letting go. We believe it at first you don't succeed, apply more lipstick... that sexy gets you everywhere... and if you can't be good, be gorgeous. We believe... laughter is the best cosmetic.

Nice motto, right? Now, Benefit shops are all around the world. Easy to spot as their shop always look colorful like it radiates happiness for us and you can't help but be attracted to go inside. Cosmetics are not the only it has in store, they also have brow bars wherein you can get your brows groomed and beautified.

This is the reason I am so ecstatic --- its a Benefit box!!! The box's contents focused on products to summer proof make-up. From primers to light or sheer foundation. So now, let's take a look and review of each product I got.

Box Contents: (Sample sizes for all)

1. Hello Flawless Oxygen WOW

2. Benetint

3. Stay Don't Stray 

4. The POREfessional

5. Stay Flawless (2 pieces)
Total of 6 items

Estimate of box content: (If in full sizes)

1. Hello Flawless Oxygen WOW - 1900php

2. Benetint - 1700php

3. Stay Don't Stray - 1400php

4. The POREfessional - 1600php

5. Stay Flawless - 1900php

Total of: 8500php

But even though it came as sample sizes, it is still worth it, Benefit is one of my favorite brands of all time. Now, I will review each product that I got.

Hello Flawless Oxygen WOW

Weight: 5ml (Full size - 30ml)

Shade: Ivory - I'm Pure 4 Sure

Formulation: Pump bottle

Consistency: Creamy liquid

Ingredients: Octonoxate 5.49%, Titanium dioxide 2.37%, Aqua (Water), Dimethicone, Glycerin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Isododecane, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, Butylene glycol, Butylene glycol dicaprylate/Dicaprate pentylene glycol, Maris aqua (Sea water), Phenoxyethanol, Chondrius crispus (Carrageenan), Silica, Disteardimonium hectorite, Stearic acid, Sodium myristoyl, Glutamate, Alumina, Tocopheryl acetate, Propylene carbonate, Prolinamodoethyl imidazole, Saccharomyces lysate extract, Ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, BHT [+/- : CI 77002 (Aluminum hydroxide), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77163 (Bismuth oxychloride), CI 77491, CI 77492 (Iron oxides), CI 77891 (Titanium dioxide)

Coverage: Light to medium (But to me, I consider it only light coverage)

Usage amount: 1-2 pumps

Lasting time: 4-5 hours

Pros:

> Oil-free
> Non sticky
> Brightening

> Natural looking smooth complexion
> Barely feels you wear something (Reminds me of Koh Gen Do foundation)
> No dryness

> SPF 25 PA +++

> If you use shades lighter than skin tone, serves as highlighter

> Contains Vitamins C and E derivatives to prevent signs of aging

> Help boost cellular respiration
> Easy to use for rushing make-up because it looks natural you don't need to take time in blending

Cons:

> Light coverage (Did not cover dark spots and some pimples) - The product did say its just for light to medium coverage

> Lasting time

Tips:

Start applying from the inside part of the face outward for a more natural complexion. Apply a primer first to make the foundation last longer.

SWATCH:

Buy again? 100%

Price: 1900php (Full size)

Where to buy? Benefit stores - Trinoma

Benetint

I already had a Benetint before together with other tints. A previous entry of review of the tints and beams is posted. And I am so happy to receive this sample size because I can now use it for travels, it fits my pouch now.

Weight: 2.5ml (Full size 12.5ml)

Formulation: Bottle

Texture: Watery 

Shade: Rose

Pigmentation: Moderately pigmented

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium hydroxide, Carmine (CI 75470), Methylparaben, Fragrance (Parfum), Tetrasodium EDTA, Geraniol, Linalool, Hexyl cinnamal, Citronellol, Maltodextrin, Benzyl salicylate, BHT

Usage amount: For lips - one layer is enough. For cheeks - 2-3 times application of layers

Lasting time: 6-8 hours

Pros:
> Looks sheer natural
> Lip and cheek stain
> Long lasting

Cons: None noted

Tips:

For a skin tone like mine, I needed a few layers before I achieved the look I wanted on my cheeks. Applying liquid blush is tricky and it dries fast, do it one cheek at a time. But this stain looks great even without make-up on, try it. It delivers a natural blush look. 

SWATCH:

Buy again? 100%

Price: 1700php (Full size)

Where to buy? Benefit stores - Trinoma

POREfessional 

I tried it on store before when I was browsing their shop in Trinoma and I liked it. I haven't been able to save up for this yet and I am so happy to own it even for just a sample. So far, Benefit is the only brand that I know who has a balm to minimize the appearance of pores. 

Weight: 3ml (Full size 22ml)

Shade: One shade for all skin types

Formulation: Tube

Consistency: Cream

Target: Minimize appearance of pores

Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl dimethicone, Crosspolymer, Isononyl isononanoate, Silica, Dimethicone crosspolymer isododecane, Phenoxyethanol, Polymethyl methacrylate, Titanium dioxide (CI 77891), Cyclohexasloxane, Tocopheryl acetate, Fragrance (Parfum), MCA, Iron oxides (CI 77492), Limonene, Iron oxides (CI 77491), Iron oxides (CI 77499), Triethoxycaprylylsilane, BHT

Usage amount: 1-2 Pearl size drops for entire face 

Lasting time: If worn alone, lasts 3-4 hours

Pros:

> Smooth skin

> Evened out skin discolorations

> Pores not that visible

> Not sticky

> Matte-like texture

> Helps make-up stay longer

> Contains Vitamin E

Cons: None noted

Tips:

This works like a primer, I usually use it under make-up. Application of foundation is better because the Porefessional made my skin smoother, foundation brush is easier to glide. It can be a replacement for primers. 

Look on my swatch below on how it minimized the appearance of pores on my hand.

SWATCH:

Buy again? 100%

Price: 1600php (Full size)

Where to buy? Benefit Stores - Trinoma

Stay Don't Stray

Weight: 2.5ml (Full size 10ml)

Shade: Light/Medium (Medium/Deep is the other shade)

Formulation: Bottle with foam-wand

Consistency: Cream

Target: Primer for eye shadow and concealers

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Isododecane, Butylene glycol, Isononyl isononanoate, HDI/Trimethylol, Hexyllactone crosspolymer, Silica, Polyglyceryl -4 isostearate, Talc, Cetyl PEG/PPG- 10/1 Dimethicone, Hexyl laurate, Sodium chloride, MICA, Tribehenin, PEG-30 dipolyhydroxystearate, Sorbitan oleate, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Disteardimonium hectorite, Caprylyl glycol, Ethylhexyl palmitate, Methicone, Propylene carbonate, Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, Tocopheryl acetate, Isopropyl titanium triisostearate, Silica dimethyl silylate, Hexylene glycol, Sodium hyaluronate, [+/-: CI 42090 (Yellow 5, Yellow 5 Lake), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77163 (Bismuth oxychloride), CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (Iron oxides), CI 77891 (Titanium dioxide)]

Usage amount: 2-3 dots

Pros:

> Eye shadows lasts longer

> Eye shadows doesn't smudge

Cons:

> Price of the product for a 10ml bottle

> Sometimes builds up or creases on skin lines

Tips:

Apply it around your eyes, to your eyelids and under the eyes in preparation of application of eye shadows and concealers. Set it with translucent powder before applying eye shadows.

SWATCH:

Buy again? 50% (I can go without it)

Price: 1400php

Where to buy? Benefit stores - Trinoma

Stay Flawless

According to Benefit, Stay Flawless is:
94% said it helps foundation last longer
97% saw an improvement in the look of skin/complexion
94% said it increased foundation coverage
97% said it enhanced foundation's performance

Weight: Sample size estimate 5g (Full size 15.5g)

Shade: One shade for all skin type

Formulation: Stick

Ingredients: Isododecane, Aqua (Water), Polyethylene, Polydecene, Silica, Nylon-12, Phenyl trimethicone, Hydrogenated soybean oil, Polyglyveryl-10 heptahydroxystearate, Paraffin, Hydrogenated olive oil, Disteardimonium hectorite, Hydrogenated jojoba oil, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl glycol, Propylene carbonate, Galactoarabinan, Tocopheryl acetate, Phytosterols, BHT, (+/-: CI 19140 (Yellow 5, Yellow 5 lake), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77163 (Bismuth oxychloride), CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (Iron oxides), CI 77891 (Titanium dioxide)]

Usage amount: Glide directly on skin

Lasting time: 15 hours declared by Benefit (But it lasted my 16 hours shift on work together with a matte foundation)

Pros:

> Smooth skin

> Foundation is easier to apply over it

> Helped in making my foundation last longer

Cons:

> Hard to spread evenly

Tips:

Glide stick directly on skin and immediately apply foundation after to help it blend with the foundation.

SWATCH:

Buy again? 100%

Price: 1900php

Where to buy? Benefit stores - Trinoma