Primark Makeup: Benefit in Disguise?

Primark Lip & Cheek Tint

Primark doesn't just rip off designer fashions, it also does a little line in makeup - many of which are bargain dupes for high-end products - Benefit especially.
<---- This 'Lip & Cheek Tint' was the first bit of Primark makeup I picked up over a year ago.  For me, the product is identical to Benetint, even down to the lightly rose tinted scent.  The 'nail varnish bottle' packaging is extremely similar - minus the white lid, Benefit branding and £23.50 price tag.  The staying power is amazing - I've put this on my cheeks in the morning and it's still there in the evening.  The best bit is that it only cost £1!  The first one I bought does leak a bit if I carry it around in my bag, but I bought another and the seal on it is fine.




Another Benefit dupe I love is Primark's face highlighter - again, only £1.  Far more credit crunch friendly than £17.50 for High Beam.

While it's a lot pinker than High Beam it's actually more iridescent, which for some can be a bad thing, but if you are looking to brighten your face, the shinier the better!
It doesn't have a scent and the consistency is thicker than High Beam, but the applicator is identical.  It's great for mixing into your moisturiser or foundation to give your skin a healthy glow, especially during the winter months.

The Prime of Your Life

My final Primark - Benefit dupe is one of their newer products - 'The Prime of Your Life'.  It's a lightweight face primer that packaging and effect-wise is an amazing budget version of Benefit's 'That Gal' primer.  It's in a similar tube that twists up for the product to squeeze out holes in the top.  It's far more hygienic than dipping your fingers into a pot all the time.  Again, the best bit is it only costs £3.50 compared to £20.50 for 'That Gal'.  

Get in before there's a lawsuit!

I went through a primer phase but am getting out of wearing it now as I need to get a layer of sunblock in between my moisturiser and foundation.  This primer won't necessarily make your make up last longer, but it does feel creamy going on and gives you an even canvas.  Benefit's version is pink while Primark's is more of a peach which gives a lovely glow.

A Selection of Primark Makeup: some good, some £1 for a reason

1. Ta Ta For Now: this is a copy of YSL's Touche Eclat, but not as good.  It's a highlighter with a pinkish tinge to combat dark blue circles under the eyes.  There are a lot of copies on the market, but this one is great to just have in your purse and retouch on the go.
2. This is a brick of colours intended to act as a bronzer, but you could also use it as eyeshadow.  It's in a nicely made compact with a good mirror.  It's quite loose and to use as a bronzer you need to use a light touch.  It's a bit dark for fair skins.
3. I think the idea behind this one is Benefit's '10' box powder which is one half highlighter and one half bronzer.  You sweep the brush over both and apply to your cheeks to create a sculpted effect.  This one does not work well at all, the bronze is very orange and the highlighter is too pink.  It gives you a very unnatural look!
4. This is the aforementioned copy of Benetint. Love it.
5. Again, this highlighter is a great alternative to Benefit's High Beam.
6. This is a purple glitter eyeshadow. Awful, hardly any pigmentation, only for tweens for play with.
7. Whatever possessed me to but a bright green glitter eyeliner at 25 I'll never know.  Again, the glitter particles are few and far between, leave it to the kids.
8. I hoped these would be like Barry M's Dazzle Dusts.  The consistency isn't as fine, the pigmentation is poor and the colours are a bit wild, but they may work better over a eyeshadow primer or mixed with some MAC mixing medium.

All of the above cost between £1-3.  There are a few duds, but enough money saving gems to make the trip down to your local 'Primani' well worth it.

My last honourable mention is the Primark purple 'Kabuki' brush.  It's synthetic but extremely soft and although it's not dense enough to apply mineral make-up effectively, it's great for blending out bronzer or blusher if you've been too heavy handed or giving yourself a dusting of finishing powder.  And it's PURPLE (and only a couple of quid)!

Primark Synthetic Kabuki Brush

Have you found any make up gems at Primark?