My Fall/Winter Blush Picks

Last week I asked people on Twitter if they had any requests or suggestions for upcoming posts/videos that I could pop in my new blog notebook, and the one I'm taking up today is one I got from Kelly at A Blog of Vain Pleasures who suggested a post on my favourite fall blushes - but I struggle to distinguish between fall and winter when it comes to make-up so I decided to just merge them! So here they are :)

Top Left Clockwise:

* MAC Blush in Buff (Matte)

This is one I haven't really talked about a lot, but have used on several occasions and all for the same reason - its subtlety. In the autumn and winter time, I always tend to go a bit heavier on the eyes, or heavier on the lips, so something really subtle and not too showy is perfect - like a matte brown/pinky peach :)

* Benefit Bella Bamba

Do I really need to say more? :P It's the perfect natural pink on the cheeks, which is a step up from Buff in terms of subtlety. Yes it does have shimmer, but when you still want to add some colour to your face, say if you also have a nude lip, this is perfect!

* NARS Sin

This is a great fall/winter blush, not only because of the nature of it being such a unique mauvey shade, but also because it doubles as a contour. Sometimes bronzers/contour can feel a bit out of place in the winter so this is a great 2-in-1, as well as being such an essential colour to have for this season ;) I also assume that I don't need to reiterate my love for NARS blush formulas ;P

Left to Right: NARS Sin, MAC Buff, Benefit Bella Bamba.

Some runners up would definitely be MAC Melba or Benefit Coralista - something peachy to add some warmth if you are wearing lots of cool tones, but subtle enough again to not take away from accent lips or eyes.

I think missing from my collection is a super light baby pink! I do have Well Dressed but it tends to pull redder and darker on me, so I'm hoping to maybe go for Illamasqua Katie or the MAC Azalea Blossom Ombre blush which they are releasing in a collection in January - step aside ladies, if I don't get my hands on this, I will be very grumpy! Jk ;) Not really.

What are you favourite fall/winter blushes? :)

The products are linked to places you can buy these - both Debenham's and ASOS have a free delivery option, and the former has 10% off atm! :)

<3yu

This or That: NARS Orgasm vs. Benefit Bella Bamba

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while know that NARS Orgasm is one of my favourite blushes. And when Benefit Bella Bamba came along, I thought - it looks so similar, I wont bother. But the colour was just so pretty and it was always on the back of my mind!

Since I got hold of Bella Bamba a few weeks back, I find myself choosing between the two on a daily basis, and I wondered - are they really that different enough that I would choose one over the other? Actually, they are!

You couldn't REALLY tell from the above comparison, except that Orgasm has more of an in-your-face golden sheen, while Bella Bamba seems to have miniscule silver glitters, and lean a bit more peach.

When swatched, you can REALLY tell the difference. Orgasm leans quite peach and in real life a bit redder in comparison to Bella Bamba. Bella Bamba is more hot pink, and not very warm-toned at all!

The sheen is also very different, in that Orgasm is gold with little glitters and a slight sheen, whereas Bella Bamba has a very in-your-face silver sheen with subtler silver glitters.

So even if I started this post not really knowing why on certain days I fancied one over the other - maybe I could subconsciously tell the difference! :P I think Bella Bamba has become the "pink" blush where Orgasm I will categorize in the "subtle pink" category from now on!

I do think though that if you like one of them, you will also like the other, as honestly on the cheeks they are not the most distinct. But at the same time, I think if you are an avid lover of blushers like I am, there's definitely no consequence in owning both! ;)

Do you have one or the other - or both? :)

Which one do you prefer?

<3yu

Review: Benefit POWda WOWza

Benefit's boxed powders are probably one of their most popular products - and rightly so. Their packaging is unique and super cute (and eco-friendly as they are cardboard!), and their colours (though they lack variety) get lots of praise and they do look pretty! But £23.50 for one? Hmm - you could get a NARS one for that!

Now the 3 that I've always had an eye on were Coralista, Hoola and the new Bella Bamba - the latter 2 being the ones I most likely got. So when I saw this year's Benefit Christmas powder box set have all 3, I was on it!

First things first - it's a cute packaging, but the box is TINY! It's probably the size of a MAC quad, if that. But my thought was - it's cheaper than 1 blush at £19.50, and when do I actually finish a blush? Also, the nature of the products in there and the size of the box actually makes it a really great on-the-go or holiday product, with one bronzer, one peach blush, one pink one and a brush. And the brush? Not as bad as everyone makes it out to be, as it definitely does the job :)

1. Coralista: At the moment, I can't figure out how to make it show up very well on my skintone - it's still a work in process :P But being such a classic and raved about, I'm so glad to be able to try it for very cheap :)

2. Bella Bamba: My FAVOURITE, I can't get enough of this one! It's like NARS Orgasm, but a bit pinker/redder with a subtler and silver sheen, but still maintaining a wee bit of a peachy tinge. It freshens up your face and really brightens your skin :) If I were to purchase a full-sized of any of the 3 powders, it would be this one! It's also great that it's in the box because I think it's a shade people may be scared off by and would wanna try first :)

3. Hoola: I like this bronzer, I think it's an all-year bronzer unlike my other ones which I have to rotate through depending on my skintone. But you need the LIGHTEST touch with it or else you can look muddy! In that sense it's worth the money, and it's great that it's part of the box because it's one of those products that I think everyone wants to try at one point!

Left to Right: Coralista, Bella Bamba, Hoola.

Is it worth the £19.50? 100%, no doubt about it! You get to try universal and raved about products for cheaper than a full size, but you still get a really good amount of product (esp. Bella Bamba and Hoola with their insane pigmentation!)

If you are a newbie like me, it's a great way to get a taste of some of Benefit's most popular box powders. And even if you already have one of these, this set allows for a purse/holiday-friendly solution :) I think these 3 shades are universal and popular enough to be great as Christmas gifts for anyone or to buy online. But it's undoubtedly a must-have for those who have never tried Benefit's box powders! :)

What's your favourite Benefit box powder? :)


I bought this from Debenham's, who's running a 10% sale meaning you can get this for £17.55 + free delivery if you are part of their Beauty Club! Benefit are also running a 15% off sale as well - if you are interested in purchasing!

<3yu