BeneFit Stay Flawless 15hr Primer: Review

Morning beauty-seekers!!

Last week I posted about the exciting new release by BeneFit cosmetics in the form of Stay Flawless 15hr Primer* with a 'Makeup Magnet' to hold your face in place all day long. I've been playing around with it ever since and I'm back today to share my review with you all! For more information on this product, check out my original post HERE. Today is all about whether it does what it says on the stick....

The product comes in a twist-up stick form and has a slight tint to it, although this doesn't really translate on the skin (at least not on me). As instructed by the lovely Lisa P-D, I apply it direct from the stick in circular motions to kick-start the makeup magnet and apply my foundation over the top using a brush. After applying the primer I found that my skin felt quite tacky which I'm assuming is to adhere the foundation on top of it (kinda like a makeup Pritt-Stick, only more fabulous). For the sake of this post I used the BeneFit Hello Flawless Oxygen WOW Foundation in shade Champagne* which I received to compliment the product, but I have also tried it with my Bourjois Healthy Mix and NARS Sheer Glow. Applying the foundation was easy, but I did experience a little 'drag' due to the tacky layer underneath. This isn't a criticism but something I did take note of.

This photo is after having had my makeup on all afternoon (approximately 6hrs). I'm also wearing a dusting of powder and blusher here. I've road tested it for a couple of shifts behind the bar at work as well in the last week. I found it to be on the dewy side, which I quite like for myself but oilier girlies may want to powder it on occasion as my nose did still get a bit shiny towards the end of the day. The weather has felt rather close this week so I'm not sure how much is down to the product and how much can be blamed on the sweat-factor. My skin didn't feel overly oily. It's also worth mentioning that I haven't tried it with a mattifying foundation (as I don't currently own one). I guess the finish of a primer is only as good as the foundation you put on top of it. BeneFit describe the finish of Stay Flawless as a 'Natural' finish.

What I will say is that my foundation definitely did last longer and my skin appeared more radiant. I don't think this will be my go-to mattifying primer (I've got my PoreFessional for that) but I can see it being a godsend for day-to-night timesaving purposes and for minimising the need to touch up. It definitely lives up to its claim of making my makeup last longer and that's the main thing. BIG thumbs up from me on that score! From my experience I would recommend the primer to anyone with dryer, normal or combination skin but urge my oily ladies to keep a powder handy (depending on what foundation you're wearing and the finish you're after).

So those are my thoughts on the new Stay Flawless 15hr Primer. I think I'm going to get a review up on the Oxygen WOW foundation very soon as well as I've been enjoying using it. You can purchase this product and find more information on BeneFit's new release over at benefitcosmetics.co.uk. The product will be available on counters from 29th June.

How do you Stay Flawless all day?? Will you be giving this product a try?? Do you rate BeneFit primers??

NEW Stay Flawless 15hr Primer by BeneFit

Good evening beauty seekers!

Exciting new products to tell you about tonight!! We all know that BeneFit are a heavyweight name when it comes to primers and flawless base products. Well, they've got a new product on the block to be released on 29th June in the form of Stay Flawless PRO-Long primer stick with a 'Makeup Magnet' to seal your foundation in place for up to 15hrs! We all know the one where you put your makeup on at the beginning of the day but, by the time you've arrived at work it's already starting to look lacklustre.... Well, BeneFit claim to have that problem NAILED!

I went along to The Ice Bar last night with a few other lovely blogging friends to hear Lisa Potter-Dixon and her flawless team talk about their exciting new release and to learn more about how to make your makeup stay all day. As well as having a BLAST drinking Pina Coladas out of a block of ICE and playing with loads of upcoming releases from the brand, I was given the primer to take away and road test for myself as well as their amazing Oxygen WOW foundation (I was colour matched and given the shade 'Champagne' for anyone curious) and a lovely, soft foundation brush to create a perfect base that won't budge.

A Few Facts About Stay Flawless...
94% of testers said it made their foundation last longer
97% found it improved their complexion
94% felt that it improved the coverage of their foundation
and 97% said it enhanced the performance of their foundation
Those are some pretty Flawless statistics!!

You apply the primer directly from the stick in circular motions to activate the Makeup Magnet and then apply your favourite foundation directly over the top of the product. Lisa said that you should be able to 'feel' it working, which intrigued me! Judging by the performance of the other BeneFit primers I have tried (PoreFessional and That Gal were both a hit with me, for different reasons) I have really high hoped for this product. When I quizzed the lovely Joanne, she said that this product is not intended to replace any of their existing primers. Porefessional is specifically targeted as a mattifier and pore minimiser while That Gal is for those who want a brighter, more radiant finish. Stay Flawless has been developed for longevity.

I'm really looking forward to road testing this and will have a review up on this blog for you before the week is out. I'm going to try it with a few of my favourite foundations as well as Oxygen WOW (which I have been desperate to try out for ages) and have a proper play. If it can survive a shift behind the bar at the pub I will be a seriously happy bunny!!

Stay Flawless will be released on the 29th June 2013 and will be available from BeneFit Boutiques, Counters and Concessions nationwide as well as online at benefitcosmetics.co.uk

Do you rate BeneFit Primers?? What are your secrets to a long lasting base?? What Primers can't you live without??

Celebrating 10yrs of Flawless Skin with BeneFit!

Monday again?? Bleh....

This Monday, however, I am having a little mini celebration here at London Beauty Banter. As I mentioned last week, I was lucky enough to attend BeneFit Cosmetics' launch of their NEW Hydrating Concealer 'FakeUp' (read my post and see the swatches HERE), but it seems that there is a DOUBLE celebration to be had and it comes in the form of their cult powder coverup product Hello Flawless* which is currently celebrating it's 10th Anniversary. In honour of this milestone achievement, we were all colour matched on the night and given our own to take home! Sooooo I thought I'd beat the Monday blues show it to you in all its timeless GLORY!

BeneFit Hello Flawless is a versatile powder foundation which can be applied in a variety of ways. The finish is totally customisable and can be either swept on lightly with a brush for a barely-there, sheer finish or applied with a sponge to eliminate and disguise blemishes and imperfections. 

This seems like a great product to have and I suspect that this will take a permanent place in my makeup bag over the warmer months (whenever they finally decide to arrive). It can be worn as a powder foundation when blended out using a foundation brush, as a lightweight finishing powder when swept lightly over moisturiser or primer, or concentrated in certain areas using the sponge to remove all trace of unwanted blemishes or discolouration. It also contains SPF15, making it even more essential as a summer product. The compact is also perfect for carrying around, with a great sized mirror and everything you need for coverup on the go.

I was colour matched by Head Makeup Artist, Trend Advisor and Brow Specialist (check me out people, I know her full title off by heart now) Lisa Potter-Dixon, herself, and was sent home with the shade "Cute as a Bunny" Honey which is a warm medium toned shade. 

I am very impressed with how this product swatched and I will definitely be featuring it in a FOTD type-post very soon. I can see that it's going to be a must-have for over the summer to combat the sweat-factor as well as disguise those annoying little freckles i get when the sun comes out. 

This product retails at £24.50, which is getting towards the higher end for a base product. However, you get both the sponge and a powder-type brush in the compact and it is a product which has a multitude of uses so you wouldn't need to spend money on any extra concealer or foundation products to wear it with (although I suspect that it could also work well when combined with another lighter coverage foundation for a more matte finish). 

I cannot wait to play with the new products I took home from BeneFit that night and I will definitely report back on how this product fares on my skin. I tried FakeUp for the first time under my eyes yesterday and it's LOVE!! I just need an excuse to get out and put a full face of slap on and show it all off now. 

Hello Flawless is available from all BeneFit Boutiques and Counters as well as at benefitcosmetics.co.uk. 

Are you a fan of Hello Flawless?? Do you rate powder products as a coverup?? What are your favourite BeneFit products??