Green Monday Review: Per-fekt Beauty

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Have only seconds to devote to a beauty routine? Per-fekt offers an easy, breezy, perfectly natural glow in a flash

photos: we heart this

We’ve checked out a number of under the radar, eco-friendly brands over the Green Mondays here at we heart this – today we’re getting a look at Per-fekt Beautyicon – a brand that’s already a Hollywood favorite.

While Per-fekt Beauty items have been noticed (and raved about) by the likes of Kristen Stewart, Rihanna, Blake Lively, Reese Witherspoon and Susan Sarandon, this brand was crafted with YOU, the everyday women, in mind. The minimalistic, carefully curated line is not only eco-chic and cruelty-free, it saves you one of the most important resources of all – your time.

I recently had the chance to meet with founder Richard Anderson at Per-fekt’s airy and modern Hollywood studio, and get a glimpse at the entire Per-fekt line. It was here that Richard explained the genesis behind the brand. While working with some of the biggest names in the business (including Yves Saint Laurent and Bobbi Brown Essentials), Richard noticed a common complaint he heard from women of all walks of life; many days they just didn’t have the time for makeup.

An entrepreneur at heart, Richard sought to address this problem and created Per-fekt Beauty for “real people, not make up artists”. These multi-tasking products require no brushes or sponges and are a breeze to apply. The flattering shades and universal formulas means these products work on the range of skin tones and skin types.

If you’re new to the line, you’ll probably want to check out the Skin Perfection Gelicon ($57.50), the very first item created under the Per-fekt name. This little gem gives skin a lightly dewy yet matte finish that hides redness and pores. It’s easy to apply – after moisturizing with an SPF, apply a pump or two of this gel by first warming it up a bit in you hands and then patting it in small circles over the face.

While the medium beige hue I tested, Radiant, looked a tad dark straight from the bottle, it quickly fades to a practically invisible match, giving my skin a more even texture and silky feel. And while I was worried that the slick feel would lead to oily issues, my skin stayed matte all day – almost unheard of for me, especially during the summer.

Not only is the formula long-lasting, it’s full of skin-friendly ingredients, including Alpha Lipoic Acid antioxidants and Vitamins A and E, to help maintain hydration and protect against free radical damage. It glides over skin and the lightweight color is completely buildable. And it’s versatile too! You can wear it alone over moisturizer for “ready in minute” mornings, or worn under or over your favorite foundation for days you need some extra help.

The Matte Body Perfection Gel icon ($48) works the same magic as the Skin Perfection Gel on the arms, legs and any body parts you feel could use some prefecting. Stef, in a never-ending quest to find a great self tanner, was excited to put this moisturizer, treatment and tanner combo to the test. She says:

“Body Perfection Gel in Tan is my new BF. I have a love/hate relationship with self tanners. Love not looking ghostly, hate just about everything else about them. I’ll be honest, it looks a bit frightening first out of the tube, like chocolate mousse. But once you start rubbing the scentless gel in, the intensity of the color blends into your skin, leaving you not orange, not shimmery – just perfectly tanned.

Body Perfection Gel – straight from the tube.

Body Perfection Gel – after patting into skin.

And forget the dilemma of trying to figure out where to stop your application with self tanner (orange feet or a line at your ankles?) this magically leaves you with no tan lines. The consistency is beyond fabulous, it truly glides across your skin and you feel silky and moisturized afterwards. I’m deeming this a must-have, folks!”

Contact lens wearers and smudgy-eyed girls will adore the Lash Perfection Gel
icon ($28.50). This tar-free mascara alternative has built in nutrients and works as both primer and mascara, as well as a lash conditioner! It adds water-proof, smudge-proof black color that is buildable and worn alone is fine for everyday – while it pumps up lashes when worn over or under mascara for a night out.

The dense, multi-leveled coiled brush helps get every single lash in just a stroke or two. Sensitive eyes will appreciate the plant rich formula that lengthens, plumps, darkens, and conditions lashes while being free of oil, fragrance, talc, sulfate and parabens.

Finally, to add some pretty color to the face, we have the Lip Perfection Gels
icon ($24), a 5 in 1 shot of silky color that aims to take the place of traditional lipstick, lip gloss, lip plumper, lip primer and lip treatment.

Available in 7 shades, named after some of Richard’s favorite Hollywood streets, these vitamin rich hues condition lips while adding minty-fresh sheer color. Resident gloss hoarder Stef had to get her hands on Hollywood (a true red) and she says:

Lip Perfection Gel in Vine and Hollywood

“Lip Perfection Gel has a texture I’ve never felt in a lip product before. It’s not a balm, not a gloss, not even some sort of hybrid. It truly is a gel. And it feels amazing! The key is to not over-apply, which is hard because it feels so good, because it runs into the lines around your lips when there’s too much product (never a good look). But when you apply a thin coat (think of how you’d apply a balm in a tube) you get a glossy stain of color that is just beautiful.”

Pros:
Fast, easy application
No tools required – just your fingers
Gives a polished, natural, glowing look

Greens:
Free of synthetic fragrances, dyes, wax, talc, mineral oils and parabens.
Concentrated formulas mean less waste and packaging
Ingredients and products are cruelty-free

Cons:
A bit pricey
Some might not like the silicone-y feel of the products

Overall, green beauty lovers, light makeup wearers, and on-the-go ladies should all find something to cherish from the Per-fekt Beauty collection. Getting a natural, polished glow has never been faster or easier.

we heartsters – have you found daily perfection with the help of Per-fekt?

Bonus Coupon Code: Per-fekt Beauty is offering a special 25% discount to we heart this readers on all purchase at PerfektBeauty.com. To receive yours enter the code XOXOPERFEKT at checkout – expires August 31, 2012.

Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. It also contains an affiliate link, a link that gives us a small commission if you purchase the item. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.

Author

  • tyna

    Tyna is a former editor of we heart this that worries about becoming a crazy cat lady, reads at least a book a week, checks in at a Flyers fan forum every morning and is forever organizing her closets and drawers. skin tone: NW 20/25 skin type: combination favorite beauty product: eye shadows and lip balms

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8 Comments

  1. It seems as if I’m reading about Per-fekt Beauty everywhere I turn lately. How cool that you got to meet with the founder, @tyna ! Every product you described sounds fabulous. Glad to read @stef ‘s rave review of the Matte Body Perfection Gel . I was curious about it, and now I’m going to treat myself to a tube. Thanks for the discount code!

    1. @turboterp – yeah, the Matte Perfection Gel is the business! And this is coming from someone who has tried A LOT of tanners. I think you’ll flip.

  2. They do seem to be getting lots of love lately! I know they have been in Sephora for a few years and just seem to be steadily gaining fans. I think they have a great philosophy – makeup that doesn’t scream “makeup!” and that’s fast and easy to use. And from what I saw, their products deliver what they promise.

    I have a round, pale face and for some reason lots of makeup, especially in the daytime, makes me look ridiculous instead of put together. The Skin Perfecting Gel is a nice compromise – it makes my skin look better, helps to hide some of my bigger flaws/redness, but doesn’t make me look overdone. I was a tad leery of the slippy-ness of the formula (primers and foundations with silicone or silicone-like ingredients can make me shiny) this formula seemed to keep the oiliness away and stayed fairly matte, as I mentioned in my review that’s pretty amazing for a July day.

  3. The prices are a bit high for me… but those lip gel applicators are SO STINKING CUTE with the little white flower on the tip! And I’m intrigued by the formulation of the skin perfecting liquid (foundation?). The idea of water-free foundation (in addition to all the other stuff it doesn’t have in it) is interesting to me, especially since @Tyna raved about how it stayed matte on a summer day. The 25% off discount code is definitely making these more enticing…. The formulas sound good but different, and I definitely will want to check them out in person before placing an order.

  4. @tyna – I am just like you. I can’t tell you how many times I have walked right past this line at Sephora. I do not know why I did not investigate it further. Typically, I do not do well with silicone ingredients either. However, your experience has made me think maybe I cannot lump all products with this ingredient in one category.

  5. I got to try out the Lip Perfection Gel in Vine & I’m loving it. It’s that perfect plummy my lips but better look that I prefer when I’m being casual. This is perfect for the gym–my lips stay smooth and this doesn’t travel too much and it doesn’t look like I’m wearing MAKEUP to the gym. (I wear makeup to the gym, but I don’t want to look like it). The texture is somewhere between a balm and a gloss–my only complaint is that it feels weirdly…gritty…chunky…I don’t know, but it’s not perfectly smooth. It does take some getting used to. The mint smell is nice, but doesn’t linger too long, so if you’re put off by smells, this one isn’t bad. Overall, I’m giving this 4 stars. 1/2 star deduction for price and 1/2 star deduction for the vaguely odd feel on lips.

  6. The Matte Perfection Gel needs to be in my life, now! I’ve come to the sad, sad realization that my legs will never match my arms in terms of shade without the help of a serious self tanner, but past experiences have scared me off. The Matte Perfection Gel looks… well, perfect!

  7. I tried the Lash Perfection Gel mascara and I am impressed, but not in love. The formula is soft and does not flake or smudge, but it does take longer than standard mascaras to dry. While it adds color and lengthens a bit, there is not a whole lot of volume or curl. It’s a fun primer, but I prefer a mascara that does it all; I don’t want to add a step to my routine.

    HOWEVER. I am a mascara snob and I generally don’t have a whole lot of issues with sensitivity or need eco-friendly ingredients. So this wasn’t made for me. But for those of you who have been searching for a mascara that acts like a standard mascara but is from a company that you can be proud of and has ingredients that will make your green heart sing – this is for you.

    Four stars from me! Also, I need to try that Lip Perfection Gel – it looks lovely, in color AND in packaging!

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