I’m sure you have all heard the news by now. Ulta is coming to Canada. Finally, all of our prayers have been answered. Now, don’t get me wrong, I still work at the Beauty Boutique in Shoppers Drug Mart so my loyalties still reside there but I’m super excited to one day have the chance to shop other brands that we can’t get here- Colourpop, Juvia’s Place, Kylie Cosmetics, Makeup Revolution, aaaaaand Tarte Shape Tape. Yes, the concealer that is exclusive to Ulta. Whichever Ulta executive made the deal with Tarte to own the exclusivity sale rights to the Shape Tape concealer probably got the biggest promotion and raise ever because DAMN, that put Ulta on the map (not that they weren’t already on the map but I’d imagine it brings in a whole lot of extra business). However, I don’t think we will be getting an Ulta here in Alberta for a couple of years at least so I can’t get my greedly lil’ paws on Tarte Shape Tape... yet (I actually bought it when I was in San Francisco but that deserves a whole other review).
But, because Ulta and Tarte Shape Tape are about to start taking over Canada, Benefit knew they had to compete and try to get a market share of this concealer mania. (I’m not making this up, this is 100% what they told us at the launch party for this concealer, I swear). So, Benefit recently came out with their own version of the Shape Tape concealer ($27USD/$35CAD): the Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer ($22USD/$30CAD). Benefit has made some dang good concealers for years now (read my review on their previous concealers) but they’ve never been exactly what I wanted. They’re not bad concealers by any means, they’re just not what I was looking for. First of all, I hate concealers in jars. Second, they didn’t have the level of coverage I wanted or they looked too cakey when applied.
But speaking of cakeyness, the new Benefit Boi-ing Cakeless concealer is just that. Cakeless. It’s a full coverage liquid concealer with a natural finish. I found it to be incredibly lightweight and almost dries to a powder-like finish. I find that once I apply it, I have to blend it out super quick because it dries almost immediately. It is said to include algae-derived ingredients that smooth the look of the skin and specially-coated pigments that leaves a natural finish that doesn’t flake or crease or settle into fine lines.
But is it as good as the Tarte Shape Tape? That’s the question on everyone’s minds right now. Honestly, I don’t know. I think the Tarte Shape Tape has a little bit more coverage. The Shape Tape is also a little more creamy compared to Benefit’s powderyness. But as for the look and feel on my skin, I don’t think I would be able to tell a difference between the two once applied. I find that when I have the Benefit Cakeless Concealer on, I can’t even tell. It doesn’t feel like I’m wearing a heavy concealer and that’s probably my favorite thing about it. It’s full coverage yet I don’t feel like I’m wearing a full coverage concealer. So even though it’s not the infamous Tarte Shape Tape, it definitely does the trick for me and I’m more than content about that. It will definitely hold me over until Ulta finally comes to Edmonton.