Just like perfection - absolutely flawless! (Benefit Hello Flawless!)

Member Name: Snarflebat

Product:	Benefit Hello Flawless!
Date:	18/10/09 (122 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Silky fine powder, beautifully packaged, a range of shades for many skin tones

Disadvantages: Comparably expensive, available only at department stores, larger Boots and online

For girls in the know, Benefit has become a major player in quality cosmetics. With an emphasis on fun, feminine products, Benefit also manages to deliver quality - and Hello Flawless, its custom cover foundation with SPF15 for sun protection is no exception.

Hello Flawless (like all other Benefit products) is available at all good department stores with their own beauty counters, as well as online (from Boots and other online stockists, as well as directly from Benefitcosmetics.co.uk). I have always found staff at the Benefit counters to be nothing less than helpful and friendly - if you're in two minds over a product, or just want a bit advice over what is best for you, then definitely speak to them.

Back to the product, Hello Flawless costs around £24.50 for a 7g box. Sold in pretty green packaging, the product actually comes in a small, white and black plastic box (perfectly sized for a handbag or makeup bag) with an in-built mirror in the lid and a nifty 'trap door' design (enabling the foundation tray layer to be lifted up to reveal a small square brush and a thin white makeup sponge square). Like most Benefit products, the foundation comes in a range of 6 shades for a number of skin types (particularly useful if you have very fair or olive/Asian skin, which can sometimes be hard to find) being:

- Petal (the palest, for naturally very fair skin)
- Champagne
- Honey
- Beige
- Toffee
- Hazelnut (a rich tone, suitable for darker Asian and some Black complexions)

The foundation is a powder-type (as opposed to a cream blend) which has a very light, finely milled feel. The foundation can be swept on (using the brush provided or any other preferred make-up brush) to give a sheer finish which is easy to blend and does not coat or clog the skin harshly. It is worth mentioning that the powder is so fine that it may be advisable to blow on the brush a little (once powder is applied to it) to remove excess amounts of the powder which would otherwise fall on your clothing.

I have found the powder to be incredibly easy to apply and gives a smooth, flawless and natural effect which feels light and unabrasive on the skin. I am also impressed in the foundation's ability to cover blemishes naturally and with no need to use concealer - saving on applying or carrying another product if you are short on time and space in your makeup bag. The brush is of excellent quality (none of the usual bristles falling out, as you may expect from a freebie brush!) and ideally suited for the recommended sweeping motion needed for foundation to cover and blend the whole face. In addition, if you do feel you want extra coverage to cover blemishes (in effect, as a concealer) the powder can do this brilliantly. I have found that it is best to use the corner of the provided make-up sponge to lightly dab an amount of the powder to concentrate the product and then dab onto the blemish to cover up - this results in a non-clumpy, quick fix concealer which then works in perfect harmony with the foundation layer.

The foundation layer does last the whole day with excellent coverage and no need to reapply and even copes admirably in the heat (without the effect of the foundation 'sliding off' or feeling greasy and reducing shine showing through). Hello Flawless works very well as a base, over the top of concealer and also works well with any blusher or highlighting products you may wish to use on top or underneath. The SPF15 is not a noticeable feature of the product and is more an added benefit (though I would not be use the product without a higher factor sunscreen if you are out in the sun!).

Overall, I have to give Hello Flawless a massive stamp of approval. Though perhaps a bit pricey (in line with most other Benefit products), it does do exactly what it says on the tin - flawless coverage, natural and light finish which can be used alone for a perfectly made-up look or as a base for other products. In addition, due to the fine texture of the powder, a little definitely goes go a long way and will last for months. This powder will remain a staple favourite in my make-up bag from now on!

Summary: A hassle-free foundation that is easy on the skin and gives a beautiful natural finish!