Benefit Goodtime Gals: Posietint, Girl Meets Pearl and That Gal Review, Photos and Swatches

Samples are awesome, aren't they? You can test out the product before buying a full-size, and beauty brands have really been getting behind sampling. Benefit Cosmetics, which is arguably the reigning majesty of beauty packaging, is one of my favourite brands for samples. 

With a recent Sephora order, I got their Goodtime Gals sample pack, which contains their "That Gal" primer, their Girl Meets Pearl highlighter and their Posietint cheek and lip stain. These three products are designed to be worn together.

Of the three samples, I'd only every tried Posietint before. I was excited to try "That Gal" and Girl Meets Pearl because A) it's winter and my skin is looking pretty dull and B) who doesn't love highlighters?

First up, let's look at "That Gal", a brightening face primer. According to Benefit, it's a silky pink primer that makes your skin look brighter and smoother. It contains light-reflecting pigments to brighten and raspberry and chamomile to soothe.

"That Gal" is a light pink shade, and contains light-reflecting properties, to make the skin look brighter and healthier. As you can see with the above photo, it's almost liquid, so it goes onto the skin very easily. The applicator with the full size "That Gal" is a click-up pump, so perhaps with a tube, the product comes out too easily. 

My skin is combination, with an oily t-zone and drier cheeks. In the winter, my t-zone is still oily, but my cheeks are much drier and this year, the cold, dry outside air and the warm, dry electric heat in my apartment has led to my skin looking dehydrated. While I sleep at night, it sucks up the moisturizer I apply before bed, and I need to exfoliate more frequently to get rid of all the dead skin cells.

A brightening primer is just what I need for my skin at this time of year and I do like "That Gal" for its brightening properties. The sheen of the primer makes my skin look smoother and my foundation likes it a lot too. It applies very nicely on top. "That Gal" is a hydrating primer as well, or rather it feels like it is. The skin on my cheeks doesn't feel tight as it sometimes can during the winter wearing "That Gal". 

It's quite shiny once on, and can be worn on its own, but I need a foundation, or at least a concealer most days. Putting foundation on top of this does bring down the shine a lot, especially if you use a heavier coverage foundation, or a mattifying foundation. A foundation will bring down some of the light-reflecting properties as well. Under my MUFE HD Foundation, it works quite well. It's not completely redundant underneath, and there is an added brightness to my skin after I've layered my foundation on top.

It also smells pretty, sort of like strawberries.

So that's the plus about "That Gal". The negatives? Well, in a primer, I'd like something that minimizes my pores and helps my makeup last longer. If it can control oil, even better. "That Gal" works well on my cheeks, but it's too much, even in the winter on my t-zone and it doesn't minimize my pores or control oil, so it doesn't help my makeup last much longer at all. 

It's also probably not going to work very well on dark skintones, since it's pale pink in colour. If you've got a dark skintone, definitely test this out before buying. Same goes for those of you with oily skin. 

The full-size "That Gal" retails for $28 US and comes in a 0.37 fl oz tube.

Girl Meets Pearl is a golden-pink liquid highlighter and according to Benefit, contains light-reflecting pigments to illuminate your skin. It also, like "That Gal" contains raspberry and chamomile to soothe and hydrate the skin, and it also contains sweet almond extract to improve firmness and smoothness.

Girl Meets Pearl is a similar consistency to "That Gal". It's less pink though, and is visibly shimmering with tiny gold particles. The full-size of Girl Meets Pearl comes in a click-up tube, like "That Gal" does and you can apply it with a brush, or with your fingers. 

I really like liquid and cream highlighters because they tend to melt into your skin and look more natural. Girl Meets Pearl does just that, giving a lovely gold-with-a-hint-of-pink sheen to the skin. I think that Girl Meets Pearl would work on most skintones, since it's so sheer and gold is a universally-flattering shade. I can see this working on dark skintones, medium skintones and fair skintones, whether there are warm or cool undertones. 

Girl Meets Pearl is creamy in texture, not too glittery, and gives a beautiful sheen to the skin on its own. It can also be mixed with foundation for an all-over glow. 

The full-size of Girl Meets Pearl is 0.40 fl. oz. and retails for about $30 US. 

Finally, here is the sample I received of Benefit's Posietint cheek and lip stain. Posietint, according to Benefit is a poppy-pink liquid-gel and brightens cheeks and lips with a cheery flush and natural finish. 

One of Benefit's first products was Benetint, a rose-tinted stain for lips and cheeks (and nipples!) and for years it was the only one of its kind. Now lip and cheek stains are quite common, and Benefit has improved on the orginal formula of Benetint with Posietint, which has more of gel-liquid consistency, making it easier to blend and absorb into the skin. 

I've tried Posietint before and thought it was a very pretty colour, but found it challenging to work with. It takes some layer to get enough colour on my cheeks, and it makes hardly any difference to my lip colour. I'm pretty fairskinned, and it takes two or three layers to look like anything on my cheeks. Yes, cheek stains are meant to be very sheer, very light and buildable. Posietint does that. I just prefer more on my first application than Posietint gives. Perhaps the shade of pink in Posietint too closely matches the natural pink of my skin and it just doesn't show up? Above, it's swatched fairly heavily on my hand and I bet if that photo wasn't part of this post, you wouldn't notice that there's anything on my hand! I need more ooomph to my blush. 

This is another product I'd recommend you test before buying full-size. If it works on you, swesome! It's a great way to add a hint of natural colour. This wouldn't show up at all on darker skintones though, considering on how little it shows up on my skintone. 

The full-size of Posietint is 0.42 fl. oz. and retails for $30.

Goodtime Gals

"That Gal"
Grade: B

Girl Meets Pearl
Grade: A

Posietint
Grade: C

September Glymm Box

My September Glymm Box is here! This time, my makeup bag is a textured off-white. I know that Glymm is cutting back on packaging but this makeup bag every month is a little much. I don't have use of so many little makeup bags, even if they're eco-friendly. What am I supposed to do with them all? I appreciate the need for eco-friendly packaging but perhaps Glymm could mix up their eco-friendly packaging a little? 

Anyway, let's take a look at what's new and exciting inside my Glymm Box.

Two La Fresh waterproof eye makeup remove pads. I received two of the La Fresh nail polish remover pads in my June Glymm Box.

La Fresh Waterproof Makeup Remover: Gently wipe your eyes and lips with love and good intention. Soon they will be sparking clean. No need to rinse. 

Full Size: 24 wipes/$9.99

Bye-bye waterproof colour and all those other greasy makeup removers. Hello sparking clean eyes and lips in an instant. Refresh and nourish your delicate eye and lip area with a luscious 6-oil blend of olive, jojoba, sesame, grapeseed, vitamin E and lavender. So effortless, there's no pulling or tugging to cause irritation. Natural lavender aromatherapy. Free of parabens, sulfates, alcohol, petrochemicals, glycols, dyes, PEGs, artificial fragrances and animal byproducts. 

A EvolvH (not sure how that's pronounced) shampoo and conditioner. 

EvolvH UltraShine Moisture Shampoo: Ideal for both colour-treated and virgin hair, this shampoo gently cleanses while infusing moisture and nutrients, leaving hair nourished.

Full Size: 8.5 oz/$24.00

This shampoo has quickly earned the trust of top hairdressers and discerning clients, with many dubbing it the most moisturizing and repairing shampoo in the world. Designed to provide the optimum level of moisture, amino and fatty acids, and pH level for every hair type, the result is hair with greater strength and elasticity.

EvolvH Ultrashine Moisture Conditioner: Rather than coating hair, this conditioner penetrates the hair shaft to moisturize and repair hair from the inside out. 

Full Size: 8.5 oz/$25.00

Specialized amino acids rebuild damaged hair, gradually returning hair closer to its ideal composition. When you apply the conditioner it will fell as if it is vanishing. This is because it is being absorbed rather than just sitting on top of the hair. So you want beautiful, healthy hair? Take the two week challenge: Use UltraShine Moisture Conditioner together with the UltraShine Moisture Shampoo for two weeks, using them at least every other day (for two weeks).

A little tub of Villainess Dulce En Fuego Whipped Body Créme.

Villainess Dulce En Fuego Whipped Body Créme: Whip your skin into shape and 'redefine bad' with this thick, yet light and soluble body créme - much like edible whipped heavy cream. Yum.

Full Size: 177 mL/$15.75 

It is recommended to use it completely within two months of your first use, and always use clean hands to prolong your créme's lifespan. A heavy moisture content for your dry skin, enough oils to create a breathable emollient barrier, and has a velvety-soft afterfeel. You'll love it. Musky bitter chocolate sweetened with vanilla and touches of citrus then positively inflamed with black pepper and nutmeg will always leave you wanting more.

Another tube from Bentaberry, this time a face cream for girls. Hmmmm....?

Benta Berry Super Moisturizing Face Cream for Girls: The high-quality super moisturizing face cream for girls is made form 100% natural active ingredients: apple, prickly pear, strawberry, kiwi, kigelia africana and macadamia oil. 

Full Size: 30 mL/$19.00

This cream combines a revolutionary active ingredient, amiporine, with the benefits of the Benta Berry ultra-moisturizing complex, which comes from fruits from Africa, China and Europe. Soothing, nourishing and intensely moisturizing, the cream melts into the skin to protect and restore radiance. This non-greasy formula provides a comfort and softness all day long. Its delicate fragrance was designed especially for girls by a famous perfumer.

To learn more about Glymm and to get your own monthly box of samples, click here. 

July Glymm Box Photos

My July Glymm box has arrived! Let's take a look inside. 

This time the makeup bag is bright orange. I love it - it matches my toenail polish right now.

Here are the goodies inside.

Joico K-Pak Revitaluxe

Joico K-Pak Revitaluxe (150 mL/$25.00): This luxury hair treatment is clinically proven to instantly correct damage and protect against future damage. 

We tease, hairspray, curl, twirl, straighten and braid our tresses until they just can't handle it anymore! It's time to show them some love with a treatment that will leave your hair stronger, softer and more moisturized. It's designed with bio-advanced Keratin Peptide Complex, a patent-pending blend of revolutionary ingredients.

Mane Teeze Social Butterfly Hair Perfume.

Mane Teeze Social Butterfly Hair Perfume (50 mL/$34.00): Summer is a busy time for pretty socialites like you, so bring this hair perfume along with you when you need that little boost of luxury.

Freshen up and bring out the fun-lover in you with this charming, vanilla infused fragrance. The sweet subtlety of each spray teases your senses for up to 12 sensuous hours. This perfume has a higher concentrate than your average perfumes, so one to three sprays is more than enough to bring out the tempestuous diva within. 

Mereadesso Beautiful Body Balm.

Mereadesso Beautiful Body Balm (200 mL/$54.00): This non-greasy, all over body balm, hand moisturizer and foot cream is the ideal skin solution for all skin types. 

From the neckline down, lather yourself in this sumptuous balm. Using vitamins, minerals and 28 globally sourced botantical extracts it will extract your inner glow, improve your skin's texture and enhance elasticity. It absorbs quickly so that it won't transfer to your clothes and the refreshing scent will dissipate so as not to interfere with your signature scent. 

Cyberderm H20 Hydration and PM Anti-Age.

Cyberderm H2O Hydration (50 mL/$60.00): This moisturizer will show your skin a good time. With more benefits than you can count, you can be sure to see some drastic results.

H20 Hydration provides calming relief from the day's stress and great anti-aging benefits. This olive based moisturizer mimics the skin's own barrier, allowing its active ingredients to penetrate deeply. 

Cyberderm PM Anti-Age (50 mL/$115.00): Take a bold stance against physiological aggressors that age us with this powerful cream. 

Let's face it, sometimes our lifestyle choices, albeit fun - may not be the most conducive to younger looking skin. So put up a fight with this ingenious cream. It will increase the lifespan of your skins' collagen and elastin fibers and uses turmeric to brighten and bring out your radiance. 

May Glymm Box

My May Glymm Box has arrived! And it's different. Check it out. They've done away with the pink shiny box that came inside the shipping box in an attempt to go green. Let's dig in.

Glymm has gone green. Bravo Glymm! They've provided a card with some information on recycling in the box as an introduction to their new packaging.

The information card is larger, and has larger images of the products that are inside. What I especially like is that now they give you the usage of the samples, rather than just information about the full sizes.

Inside my May Glymm Box is: 

• CK Shock for Her and for Him
• Coola Mineral Matte Cucumber Face Sunscreen
• NuMe HydroPunch Hydrating Conditioner
• Cargo High Pigment Pencil
• Caudalie Gentle Buffing Cream
• Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum
• Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet

Digging in! Underneath the product information and other cards is a tissue paper wrapped bundle. Normally this would be inside the pink Glymm box.

Unwrapped, there's a shiny pink Glymm pouch!

And here are all the goodies!

NuMe Hydro Punch Hydrating Conditioner. Full Size $24.99, 250 mL

Turn dull and damaged hair into vibrant, healthy strands that you can't help but twirl all day long. A punch never sounded so appealing. This conditioner is packed with Argan oil, fatty acids, Vitamin E and powerful antioxidants. 

Sample size is impressive (up to 15 uses). Photographed in my hand for comparison.

Caudalie Gentle Buffing Cream. Full Size $35.00, 60 mL

This luxurious face exfoliator will eliminate your imperfections and make you feel brand new. Gets rid of dead cells and excess sebum by stimulating cellular renewal. The complexion's radiance is greatly awakened, leaving the skin soft and clean. This treatment is ideal for all skin types, even the most sensitive.

Coola Mineral Matte Cucumber Face Sunscreen. Full Size $36.00, 50 mL

Protect your face from UV rays with this hydrating, refreshing sunblock. Coola donates a portion of sales to cancer research. It's infused with certified organic ingredients like vitamins, antioxidants, Shea Butter and Borage Seed Oil.

Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum. Full Size $48.00, 30 mL Give your skin a surge of hydration and restore moisture balance for softer, more supple skin. This high potency serum captures and continually diffuses water deep within the skin to impart intense hydration.

Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet. Full Size $38.00, 40 mL

Save your skin with this moisturizer. Your face will feel refreshed, hydrated and comfortably soft. The gel-cream has immediate and long-lasting calming properties. It awakens the skin's hydration mechanisms and replenishes its water reserves.

Cargo High Pigment Pencil. Full Size $16.00

Rich, deep colour combined with a smudge resistant formula is all you need in an eye pencil. See results with one smooth application. 

CK Shock for Her. Full Size $45.00, 50 mL

"edgy, sexy, impulsive." Shock yourself and everyone around you with this fierce bouquet of passionflower. Top notes: passionflower, pink peony, poppy flower. Mid notes: liquid chocolate accord, blackberry, narcisse, jasmine. Base notes: vanillin, patchouli, ambers, skin musk.

CK Shock for Him. Full Size $45.00, 50 mL

"turn down the lights. amplify the sound. act on impulse." Get addicted to this juicy scent. It's fresh and leaves a lasting impression. Top notes: clementine, purple lavender, cucumber. Mid notes: osmanthus, black pepper, cardamom, black basil. Base notes: chocolate tobacco, ambreine, cashmeran musk, patchouli.

April Glymm Box

Late again getting this post up (I just received the notification that my May Glymm Box will be arriving this week) but here's what was inside my April Glymm Box!

The theme this month seemed to be about luxury, just from the collection of products.

What was inside:

• Lucia No. 6 Wild Ginger & Fresh Fig Soap
• Mai Couture Social Gloss
• Free Your Mane Sulfate Free Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner
• Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine Fragrance

Lucia No. 6 Wild Ginger & Fresh Fig Soap: These refined jewels are packed with pure botanical extracts and 100% certified organic Shea Butter. Not only will your skin feel silky-smooth, it will also be thoroughly cleansed and smelling so seductive. Go ahead, drape yourself in luxury, you know you want to.

Mai Couture Social Gloss in Flirtini: Treat your lips with luxury you simply can't live without. Not only will this gloss fill in any unwanted lines and retain moisture but it will create full kissable lips. Your lips will be healthy and plump. This sheer formula will create a sumptuous and luminous sheen. The secret: A complex mix of plant extracts naturally enhances lip volume effortlessly without allergen.

Free Your Mane Sulfate Free Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner: "I'm sorry, I can't make it, I gotta wash my hair." You will totally use this line when you try this shampoo and conditioner. It gently cleanses hair and scalp while natural oils help rebuild your hair's delicate moisture balance. With an exclusive blend of Brilliant Baobab Oil from Africa, ultra-moisturising Argan Oil from Morocco, anti-oxidant rich Pomegranate Seed Oil and Sweet Almond Oil, it will truly Free Your Mane.

Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine Fragrance: Atelier Cologne is a niche perfume house based in Paris and New York. Each scent is intended to embody a "singular moment" of memory and experience. We present to you Orange Sanguine. "It was the kind of moment you would want to revisit. Everyone was here, gathered on the terrace for breakfast, and the scent of fresh oranges was diffusing in the yellow heat."

Stay tuned for the May Glymm Box!

C.