Taupe for the Holidays: Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in No Pressure

Remember when I said I shouldn't be really buying any more taupes? Well, it was already a bit late to be saying that, since I still have at least few taupe eye products that I haven't featured on the blog yet, like this Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in No Pressure ($20 for 0.16 oz), a warmer brown taupe with gold microglitter that's just perfect for this Holiday season.

My old pot of Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Skinny Jeans was actually one of the first more high-end products I added to my growing make-up collection a couple years ago. I do still have it and use it, which goes to show that these Benefit cream eyeshadows do not dry out as fast as some other brands. They have since been repackaged into this slightly smaller plastic pot that comes in the world's smallest hatbox with the brand's usual vintage-themed design. The new packaging might look like it doesn't hold the same amount of product but in fact it does, and while I feel a slight nostalgia for the dove print on the cap, I appreciate that the new version is more travel-friendly.

I'm not sure if it's due to the age of my jar of Skinny Jeans, but the formula seems slightly different now. My older Creaseless Creams are denser, so that one dip into the cream gives me a lot more product - and I actually remember them being like that from the start, they're just slightly drier now. The new jar of No Pressure behaves differently: the product is thinner and more melty (as in, firm in the pot but softens up with the warmth of my fingers), so that it applies in thinner, slightly sheerer layers that are easier to blend out. I don't really have a preference for the old versus new formula, as both give me the same long-wearing result with very good pigmentation.

Now, for the painful comparison against my other taupe eyeshadows, cream and otherwise. As you can see in the swatches below, Benefit No Pressure is quite a well-balanced medium brown taupe with some sheen as well as gold microglitter. It's similar depth to Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze, but the Maybelline shadow is more metallic with some silver flashes. The Crease shade from Wet'n'Wild Walking on Eggshells trio is similar tone, but flatter finish and slightly warmer. Both my Inglot no. 402 and MAC Satin Taupe eyeshadows are significantly cooler, more plummy and metallic in finish. Overall, I have to say that Benefit's No Pressure isn't terribly unique a taupe, but because of it's neutral, not too warm, not too cool tones, it makes for an excellent base for my other taupe powder eyeshadows, and would probably suit just about any skintone (and thus make a great Christmas gift!).

L-R: Benefit Creaseless Cream in No Pressure, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze, Inglot AMC Shine no. 112, Fyrinnae Witchy Woodland Creatures, Wet'n'Wild Brown from the Walking on Eggshells trio, Inglot Pearl no. 402, Elf Custom Eyeshadow in Moondust, MAC Satin Taupe

Here's a very simple look showcasing Benefit's No Pressure Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow on my eyes. I blended about two layers of the cream shadow on my lids and out in the crease and then deepened the outer corner slightly with bareMinerals pressed eyeshadow in Chateau, a cool steel grey, from The Finer Things palette. I also highlighted the inner corners with Five Star, matte white, from the same palette. I finished off the look with some mascara and voila! If you enlarge the photo, you'd really be able to see the gold glitters running through No Pressure.

Have you tried the new repackaged Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadows? What are your favorite shades? Is there an eyeshadow color that you especially like wearing during the Holiday season?