Review: Benefit Erase Paste Concealer

A while ago I got my hands on a few Benefit products, including this little pot of concealer. I have to admit, I was pretty hooked when I saw the name Erase Paste, since that's what we all want our concealers to do, isn't it? I chose the No.1 shade, which is the lightest shade of the selection. I am pretty tan, but it worked pretty well for me. (Note: The shades are not nearly as dark as they first appear in the pot) First off, the packaging is not necessarily something I love. 

It looks more like something you would expect to see on a ten-year-old's dressing table (if they wear makeup) than someone older. I personally don't like pink and purple combined, especially two such statement-making colors. Also, I can't really say I like the idea of a sticker label on any product (what if it gets wet?) but it's what's inside what counts so...

Once you unscrew the lid you can see the formula. No.1 is a light peach shade, which is ideal for fighting redness and dark circles. I wouldn't call the texture creamy, it's more like a waxy, sticky formula, but that tends to work okay, since the product tends to stay on better and not slide around like many other formulas I can think of. I like to use just a little under my eyes to give me a naturally light under-eye area, some around the nose to cover redness, on my chin for the same purposes, on my eyelids for an eyeshadow base, and some on my cheekbones to give my face a lift. The coverage is quite nice, more like a medium (not to thick but not too sheer) and quite build able. The only downside to this product is the fact that it accentuates the fine line underneath my eyes, so I have to blend it out with a sponge. (If you own a Beauty Blender, this is a great way to utilize it, but if you don't you can use a cosmetics sponge, a blending brush, or just your good old fashioned fingers.) I would also recommend setting this concealer with a powder on top, applied !lightly! with a fluffy eyeshadow brush, as the concealer is prone to melting off your face if touched to much.

The price is $26 at Sephora and Ulta, and considering the fact that the price is quite wallet-lightening for some, I would say it depends entirely on you whether or not you want to buy it. I personally wouldn't repurchase it, not because it's bad but just because I want to stay open to trying out new concealers, possibly for a cheaper price. However, I do wish that the packaging was better, a little bit more tasteful, considering the "tasteful" price. Overall, I would rate this concealer 4.5 stars, deducting a point for the packaging and settling into fine lines business.