Benton Memebox Review

Disclaimer: I purchased this.

Back in May I purchased the Benton Box ($30) from Memebox. Now that I've been using the products for a little over 2 months, I thought it was time to give them a proper review. For reference, I have oily, congested skin with under the skin bumps (sebaceous hyperplasia) and dark spots from sun damage from years of living on the Gulf Coast and an aversion to wearing sun screen (now reformed).

If you are not familiar with Benton, they are a South Korean brand that features a skincare product line made from snail mucus and bee venom, appropriately named Snail Bee. Those are two ingredients that my oily skin really enjoys, and while I've used both snail mucus and bee venom separately in other products, this was the first time I was able to use products with a combination of both. The products also feature niacinamide (skin brightening, improve elasticity, enhance skin barrier) and green tea (antioxidant), as well as other plant extracts with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammation benefits.

Included in the Benton box (now sold out, although I wouldn't be surprised if it comes back around again) are:

• 3 Snail Bee High Content Mask Packs: these facial masks have become a favorite.  They are plenty hydrating without leaving a sticky residue on my face, something I really don't like and is not that uncommon with sheet masks. The sheets are completely saturated with essence and I can wear these for a good 30 minutes of refreshing coolness.
  
  
• Snail Bee High Content Skin ($15): a toner designed to hydrate and prep the skin for better absorption of other skin care products. Used immediately after cleansing, I do a few pumps into my hands and apply directly to my face, patting it in as opposed to rubbing.  Alternately, I sometimes apply it to a 2-piece facial sheet that I let sit on the skin for a few seconds before tearing it apart and lightly swiping over my face.
  
• Snail Bee High Content Essence ($18): I've really been enjoying using the High Content Essence during the day, as it's light texture works well in the summer heat and provides enough moisture when used in combination with a hydrating toner that I don't feel the need to add another moisturizer to the mix.  Ingredients: Snail Secretion Filtrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Arbutin, Zenthoxylum Peperitum Fruit Extract, Uanea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Bee Venom, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Plantago Asiatica Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Ulmus Campestris (Elm) Extract, Althaea rosea flower extract, Aloe barbadensis leaf extract, Bacillus Ferment, Azelaic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Beta-Glucan, Adenosine, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Human Oligopeptide-1, Allantoin, Arginine, Panethnol
  
  
• Snail Bee High Content Lotion ($15): A light weight moisturizer that I use sporadically when I feel like my skin needs more moisture than the toner and essence supply on their on. It  doesn't seem to make my skin more oily and works will under makeup, and I can see using this even more during the cooler weather months.
  
• Snail Bee High Content Steam Cream ($15): This moisturizer is made using a process where high temperature steam in injected into the ingredients, which helps the ingredients work better together plus gives the cream a lightweight creamy texture.  I haven't used this much at all, as I'm waiting for cooler weather when my skin is not in oil hyper drive. I did read one review which said the lotion was more moisturizing than the steam cream, so I should probably give this one a go to see for myself. I did read some reviews from people who said the steam cream broke them out, but the ingredients look pretty clean to me, based on cosDNA.
  
  
• Honest TT Mist ($8): I used this as a makeup setting spray, and I loved it!  It's on the smaller side but lasted 2 months, which isn't bad for near daily use. Good stuff.

The box also contained samples of the Aloe BHA Skin Toner and Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel. I've since bought a full size of the Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel, I like it so much.  I'll leave that to another review, however.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that several years back Benton experienced a contamination issue with their Snail Bee line.  Benton uses only natural preservatives, which means their products have a limited shelf life (both the origin and expiration dates are clearly marked on the packaging) and they can become unstable at extreme temperatures. I admit I was a bit nervous, as you never know the storage or shipping conditions of items, especially those originating so far away. I did some skin testing prior to fully immersing myself in the products, and have not experienced any problems at all.  I really like this line! 

I will continue to use the toner and essence during the rest of the summer, as they are worked very well for me. I'll incorporate the lotion and steam cream more once the temps cool down and my skin needs a bit more moisture.

Empties! Products I Used Up in July

July was another good month for empties, at least when it comes to skin and body care items.  I also had to throw out a few items that I either did not like or had gone bad, so let's get started!

I went through 6 sheet masks, and my favorite of this bunch is the Snail Bee High Content Mask Pack. I've been using the South Korean Benton Snail Bee line of products this summer as my daytime skincare, so be expecting a review on this soon. These masks are soaked in snail mucin and bee venom extract, both of which my skin seems to love. The essence is not too heavy (some mask leave a film on my skin, which I cannot stand), and indeed this line is supposed to be good for oily and acne prone skin. I can see more of these in my future

I've also enjoyed the Prelab Skin Energy Masks, which are a 100% natural plant fiber mask highly saturated with essence. The White Energy mask contains Glutathione, Niacinamide, and Deep Sea Water. Glutathione is an antioxidant that not only fights free radicals but also helps regenerate the unstable molecules generated from other antioxidants (C and E).  Niacinamide helps with skin brightening (among other things). Sea Water is supposed to be loaded with magnesium, which helps skin retain moisture while also improve acne and dermatitis. Mediheal's Dress Code Violet is another sheet mask I could see revisiting in the future, plus you've got the whole 'night at a masked ball' thing going on while you are wearing it, which is kind of fun. Not to minimize the ingredients, which features several berry oils/extracts to brighten your face while soothing stressed skin.

The deluxe sample sized Citrus Kombucha Cleansing Gel is something I can myself purchasing a full size of, as I really liked the whole experience of scent plus clean but not stripped skin it gave me. I'm liking Andalou Naturals in general for good natural ingredient based skin care.

Another Benton product that bit the dust this month was the Honest TT Mist, which I used as a makeup setting spray.  It's a skin toner, but with it's 85% Tea Tree Leaf water and extracts plus aloe leaf juice, glycerin, and sodium hyaluronate, I figured it would work well setting my make up.  Which it does, plus the spray nozzle delivers a nice soft mist over the skin.  In fact, I was hoping to use the container for a DIY makeup mist I created, but I could not get the cap off to save my life. I'd repurchase except I'm enjoying making my own mists, more on that in the future.

Eminence Organics is a brand I've long loved for the leave on facial masks, and the Stone Crop Masque is a great one for summer time use.  This one is long past it's prime so it was time to toss even though there was enough for another use. You can read a full review of it here.

Honeysuckle Blood Orange Custard has been a favorite hot weather body cream for several years now, and I finally finished it up (full review here).  I've got a strawberries and cream version waiting to be opened, but I would definitely repurchase this in the future for both it's scent and body moisturizing abilities.

I also enjoyed the Grapefruit Detox Shine Repair shampoo and conditioner duo I received from Birchbox.  I have to use some type of clarifier on my hair every few months, and this one did a nice job without being overly harsh.

Now for something I was sad to see had turned bad on me.  I really like Julep's Facial Milk but apparently it's shelf life is not long enough for someone who has way to many product options to chose from. I received mine in November of 2015, so it's not even 9 months old - too soon to go bad IMO. I've bought 2 of these for my mother, who uses them up pronto, but if you can't, buyer beware. As you can see from the line drawn above, I had barely used up a quarter of mine. No bueno.

The Prelab Toning Peeling Taps are unique little things are far as their delivery system is concerned. They come in a container of 15 for about $20, which doesn't make them exactly economical for what is essentially a concentrated essence that is supposed to both exfoliate and moisturize the skin. To release the essence you have to squeeze the tab quite firmly for the gel to saturate the plush round part, and then you apply to the face.  Enough essence is in the taps to apply to the entire face (which I do), or you can concentrate on areas that need it the most.  It's a fun product but not one I can see using regularly due to it's cost. Also, because I use them so infrequently, I can't really tell how effective they are.

Well, I finally made it through this discontinued Eden Eyeshadow Potion by Urban Decay.  I actually quite liked it and the newer versions do not work as well for me, so I've moved on to other eye primers. I'm still looking for a holy grail, however, which UD used to be for me.

I tossed two texturing sprays from Oribe and Parlour, as I really don't like them in general.  The fragrance on both is too strong and I'm just not a fan of how they make my hair feel.  I frequently have to attend meetings in hospitals and they have a no scented personal items policy, and I'd put a skull and crossbones next to these based on fragrance. Also tossed was a Laura Mercier face primer that had gone bad. Good thing I'm in the process of culling my collection, as I hope to avoid products going bad due to lack of use in the future as much as possible!

Intelligent Nutrients Anti-Aging Body & Hair Elixir: Innercalm Wind Down

Disclaimer: I purchased this.

This has been the summer of body oils for me. I use them after showering to lock in moisture and after doing yoga for a quick body massage. Consequently, I've been searching for oils that are good for me while still providing a pleasing sensory experience. Enter Innercalm Wind Down by Intelligent Nutrients ($54 for 3.4 oz), which calls itself an anti-aging total body elixir.

Intelligent Nutrients was founded by Horst Rechelbacker, the guy who brought Aveda into the world.  All of the products are certified organic, vegan, cruelty-free, and made from plants.  You can read more about the company ethos here - it's impressive.

Using Ayurvedic principles based on the body's vibrational zones (Chakras), Innercalm #5 (throat center) is is supposed to smell like a clean citrus by way of Morocco, with sweet orange, white grapefruit and mandarin mingling with warm floral notes of neroli and petitgrain to create a calm and tranquil combination. It succeeds in that area, although the scent lasts for only a few hours at best.  My skin remains soft and silky for the entire day, however.

Ingredients: Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil,1 Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil,1 Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil,1 Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil,1 Nigella Sativa (Black Cumin) Seed Oil,1,2 Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil,1,2 Rubus Idaeus (Red Raspberry) Seed Oil,1,2 Vitis Vinifera (Red Grape) Seed Oil,1,2 Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil,1,2 Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil,1 Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil,1 Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil,1 Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil,1 Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Oil,1 Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Leaf Oil,1 Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil,1 Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Peel Oil,1 Cymbopogon Martini (Palmarosa) Oil,1 Elletaria Cardamomum (Cardamom) Seed Oil,1 Citrus Aurantium Amara Dulcis (Orange) Flower Oil,1 Vetiveria Zizanoides (Vetiver) Root Oil,1 Hibiscus Abelmoschuus (Ambrette) Extract,1 Limonene,1,3 Linalool,1,3 Geraniol,1,3 Tocopherol (Vitamin E)

1 Certified Organic 
2 Antioxidant Intellimune¨ Seed Oil Complex
3 Naturally Occurring In Essential Oils

Innercalm is out of stock right now at Intelligent Nutrients and I purchased my 1.7 oz bottle on sale at beauty.com, which leads me to believe this particular scent is being discontinued.  There are 7 different body and hair elixirs, however, so there are others to try out. Good stuff, and I'm glad this brand in now on my radar.

Culling My Collection: 2016 Cream Blush Declutter

Time for more culling of my makeup collection! This time I'll be going through my cream blushes and pulling out items that have gone bad or that I do not wear enough to warrant keeping them.

45 cream blush items

I love cream blushes and how they meld with the skin for a natural finish. I obviously love them enough to have collected a whole drawer full.  So let's get started culling. Links are to full reviews.

One of my favorite blush formulas is from The All Natural Face, which features a simple and natural ingredient list featuring argan and jojoba oils.  At on $5.75 each, it's easy to collect a lot without breaking the bank.  However, I've had these for a little over 3 years now and are reaching the end of their shelf life.  A few have started to smell "off" and some others are colors that I rarely wear. These are the ones that I'm getting rid of:

I'm keeping these three.  Tally 6 cream blushes culled, 3 kept.

Next are some BECCA Beach Tints, another favorite formula.

All 3 are still good but I rarely wear the darkest shade in Raspberry, so it's out. I'm keeping Grapefruit and Watermelon. Tally 7 cream blushes culled, 5 kept.

I also have a plethora of Vincent Longo lip and cheek tints that I acquired for a song when they were being reformulated. These are one of the few lip/cheek tints that does a good job of working for both areas, but a few of the shades are out of my color wheel house so I'm letting them go. I had also bought one of the shimmer lip /cheek tints, and it does not work well for me at all. The formula seems different than the other gel tints and it really didn't show up on my skin, so out it goes.

These are the ones that are being culled, making a tally of 11 cream blushes culled and 8 kept.

I have a few other gel stain lip/cheek tints from theBalm, Revive and Benefit. I haven't used them much, but based on swatches one was a clear winner.

Surprisingly, it was the Revive sample (top swatch) that I got from a Birchbox.  I decided to keep Posietint as well, but after using it for a few days I've decided it needs to go as well, as it really doesn't show up on me when I apply in my preferred manner with a damp Beauty Blender.  Applying it directly to me skin gives less than stellar results, as it's a bit splotchy. Tally: 13 cream blushes culled, 9 kept.

Next are some coral blushes from W3LL People Multi-stick Luminous, Clarin's Grenadine, and BECCA Watermelon/Moonstone Shimmer Beach Tint. The W3LL People and BECCA blushes are similar in shimmer and color, but W3LL People's Universalist is rather disappointing in that it's really more shimmer than color and the formula is a little too oily for me. So, it's getting tossed. Tally: 14 cream blushes culled, 11 kept.

W3LL People (top), Clarin (middle), BECCA (bottom)

Now for some pink cream blushes, including a few favorites. All four of these have good formulas, with the bareMinerals Natural Passion and Tata Harper Very Charming being quite similar in color (you can see comparison swatches here).  I also enjoy the Vincent Longo's Swan Lake, so those three are staying.

Berry Flirtatious, Natural Passion, Swan Lake, Very Charming

While Revlon's cream blush formula is quite good, Berry Flirtatious is a little too dark for me, so it's getting culled. That makes 15 cream blushes tossed, and 14 kept. I think the tide may be turning and more blushes will be kept then tossed, hmm. That's okay.

Here are two Josie Maran cheek gelees, both of which I love and are staying: Island Pink and Pink Escape.  Just such a fun formula! Tally: 15 tossed, 16 kept.

I also enjoy Julep's Skip the Brush blushes (and I guess technically a bronzer) in Golden Guava and Warm Bronze, so those are also staying. Tally: 15 tossed, 18 staying.

Next are my Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Blush in #500, elf's HD blush Diva, and Sephora's Colorful Ink Gel in Orchid. Diva is just not a color I tend to reach for, so it's getting tossed and the other two remain. That makes 16 tossed and 20 cream blushes kept.

#500, Diva, Orchid

Now here are two blushes that look very similar in the pan and also have formulas that feel and look comparable on. One is the LE Chanel Intonation and the other is Sephora's house brand Double Contouring Cream Blush in Poppy Pink, which I believe is discontinued now as well.

Poppy Pink, Intonation

Side by side swatches show that Intonation runs more coral, but both are lovely and are staying in my collection. So now we have 16 blushes culled with 22 staying.

The last four single blushes are Elizabeth Arden's Ceramide Cream Blush in Nectar, Le Metier de Beaute's Tenné Cream Blush Tint, Revlon's Photo Ready Cream Blush in Coral Reef, and Urban Decay's discontinued Afterglow Cream Blush in Quickie.  Nectar and Tenné are two of my favorites and the other two are unique colors with good formulas, so all are staying.  Tally: 16 blushes tossed, 26 kept.

Last are two stila cream blush palettes and a theBalm cream blush sample. I love stila's cream blush formula and while I considered tossing the sample, it's a great color with a good formula, even thought it's a tiny little thing. I'll still use it, however, so all are staying.

The total number of cream blushes culled from my collection are 16 and I kept 29, which is not bad.

Cream blushes culled

Cream blushes kept

My cream blush drawer looks much more organized and plus I reacquainted myself with some items that I really love, which means they are getting more use now. Win/win.

Post-cull

Next in my Culling My Collection series will be lip glosses, which have gotten totally out of control.  Totally.