Benefit Minis | Big Mini Review!

If it wasn't clear enough already, I'm a sucker for mini things. Mini anything. If a brand can show me something I like and then reproduce that in miniature form, I'm pretty much guaranteed to throw my money at them shouting "Yes, yes I'll take it! It's so cute!" And if there's ever a brand to rock it in the miniature makeup department, it's Benefit. Through samples with purchase, Christmas calenders, value sets, and special offers, I seem to always be drowning in tiny testers - produced in replica packaging... so adorable.

 It's Potent Eye Cream & Total Moisture Facial Cream.
So let's dive in with skincare samples. These were both gifts with purchase, and I plan on keeping the pretty little blue pots to refill when travelling or flying. It may look like there's approximately one use in each of these, but both creams are so intensely thick and so dense that a little really goes a long, long way. I love the feel and smell (fresh cucumber) of the Total Moisture Facial Cream and if I had money to burn, I'd consider buying the full size. Next time you're at a Benefit counter, try to ask for a sample - it's great stuff.

Dandelion Lipgloss & They're Real Mascara.
These were both paid for; Dandelion came as part of a set called "Feeling Dandy" and the fabulous They're Real caught me at the counter at Boots. Curse you for putting adorable products at your check outs, Boots! I'm not a fan of Dandelion personally, I feel that it makes my lips dry yet disappears within an hour. It also has a weird not-sticky-totally-sticky texture and smells powdery. They're Real however, I love. I really, really like this mascara, I just find that Maybelline The Falsies gives me such similar results and is half the price.

Tints: Posie Tint, Bene Tint, Sun Beam & High Beam.
Now these guys are little gems that I'd happily splash the cash for. I think High Beam and Sun Beam particularly are worth every penny of their price tag, but if you can, get a sample size (in a set or during a Christmas offer) because they last years. Years people. High Beam is pretty high up the list of my all time favourite makeup, but Sun Beam would do the trick if you weren't, y'know, pasty and practically transparent. #palegirlproblems. As for their cheek and lip tints, they're also fab, if you blend them fast enough - beware of coloured dots on your face! But they'll stay put through the apocalypse and look like your skin, not makeup.

Left Photo, Top-Bottom: Bene Tint, Posie Tint ~ Right Photo, Top-Bottom; Sun Beam, High Beam, Girls Meets Pearl, That Gal

Primers & Bases.
Contrary to the colours suggested on their packaging, That Gal is pink based and Girl Meets Pearl is golden based. That Gal is also sold as a primer for the whole face, and Girl Meets Pearl is sold as a highlighter, however these two are basically sister products and can both be used in either way. I've never gotten much use out of these because High Beam (or Sun Beam if your golden) does a much better job of highlighting I don't favour 'illuminating' primers. I do favour mattifying, pore minimizing ones though, and The Porefessional is great at providing an overall blur on the skin. It smooths things over and doesn't feel to slippy. It's still not quite good enough to charm me into buying the full size, but whenever I get my paws on The Porefessional I enjoy using it.


Minis are a great way to test out products and work out what you're willing to pay full price for. I'd highly recommend investing in a set of the tints and highlighters, they'll really last you forever, and Boots are now offering mini They're Real Push Up Liners too. Let me know what Benefit products you love below... maybe I'll have to collect a few more samples!