Review: Benefit's Hoola Bronzer

I always thought a bronzer was for someone who was already mega tanned or olive skinned or darker, so I never considered trying it. However, I couldn't help being curious after Benefit's Hoola was named one of the UK's top selling bronzers, and one of the products Benefit is most proud of - so I thought i'd ask to try some on! I was so surprised at how well it suited me I knew I had to buy it!

One common misconception about bronzer is that it only suits people with dark or tanned skin. That is not true. Bronzer works for everyone, it all depends on how little you use and how well you blend it in. People tend to over-do it on bronzer, forgetting that it is suppose to sculpt your cheekbones and contour your face, not appear as a distinct muddy brown stripe across your face. Used beneath the right blush, and finished off with the right highlighter, a bronzer is all you need to achieve a gorgeous, healthy glow - as well as 'supermodel cheekbones'!

 

 As far as I am aware, Hoola has been around since 2009 (Although it could be even longer!) and the gorgeous maroon and powder blue packaging has remained the same. Although the design of the box has changed, replacing the detachable lid with a hinged one that opens to reveal a small mirror.

 

Hoola is a lovely matte bronze shade, with no added shimmer or sparkle - making it perfect for someone who simply wants a natural looking tan without all the unnecessary extras that draw attention to the fact that you're wearing bronzer.

Like all Benefit box powders, they are accompanied by a small flat brush. It's an average quality brush that's okay to use with a blush if you're applying on-the-go, but it definitely isn't the right brush for a bronzer. It's covers a much wider surface area than necessary, and doesn't enable you to contour and blend effectively, so I simply use an angled blush brush (Preferably a super-soft one - I use Models Own - so it's even easier to blend quite vigorously!).

 

I've swatched it quite heavily so you can see the colour better against my pale skin, so don't be alarmed at how dark it looks! As you can see, it's as matte as it looks in the pan and it sort of makes half my hand look as though it's been out in the sun for too long. 

As i've got pale skin, I simply tap my brush into the powder gently (I cannot emphasise this enough!!) two or three times and then tap off the excess. The amount you use is obviously determined by your skin tone, but definitely do not swirl the brush around the pan and cover the entire brush. You then find the hollow of your cheekbone and apply with downwards strokes following that line (Make sure you don't go as far down as your mouth!). Then, brush off the remaining product from the brush onto a tissue - i'm sometimes use my leg because i'm too lazy to grab one, oops - and blend so a shadow is created and there's no visible line between the bronzer and blush. You can contour further by applying along the jawline, across the edges of the temples and down the sides of your nose - wherever you want a shadow. It actually makes your jaw look more defined and it personally makes my face look slimmer!

I love pairing mine with Benefit's Sugerbomb blush on the apples of my cheeks. It gives a beautiful sun-kissed look that doesn't leave your face appearing a darker shade to the rest of your body.

This is such a great staple product, not just for the summer-time. But what I love about this the most is that at first glance it's quite intimidating if you have lighter skin, but with proper application and a good blush brush it really is versatile and suits everyone. At £23.50 (The standard price for all Benefit box powders) it could seem quite steep, but considering the tiny amount that is needed for each application, it really will last for ages! I can definitely see why this bronzer is one of the best the beauty world has to offer.

You can purchase Hoola bronzer here or at your local Benefit counter.

Review: Benefit's Cha Cha Tint

Summers just around the corner, and it's time to ditch the layers - and that includes your makeup. You want to spend as much time out in a pub garden or lounging on the beach, so quick fixes are a must-have.

Lip and cheek stains are one of my favourite staple products. They're so versatile and simple to apply, instantly achieving gorgeous colour in seconds. Although it's clearly obvious that I don't mind spending my hard-earned cash on makeup, I do love the idea of having two essential beauty products rolled into one. Benefit Cosmetics are an internationally renowned make-up brand who specialise in creating unique products that are both good quality and easy to apply, with lip and cheek stains being just one of their creations.

I decided to purchase the Cha Cha Tint after having a complimentary makeover at my local Benefit counter after purchasing some products. Benefit's Posie Tint (Described as a poppy-pink stain, review will follow soon!) has always been one of my all-time favourite makeup products, which is what gave me the push to purchase this shade - I already knew that the product itself delivered great results, so I just needed to try out the shade.

Cha Cha Tint is one of the three stains from the Benefit collection, and is described as 'mango-tinted'. 
Benefit say:

"This mango-tinted stain beautifully blushes lips & cheeks with a tropical sunset hue. Smooch-proof & smudge-proof, this sheer stain will have you looking deliciously sun-kissed for hours."

Benefit pride themselves on their glamorous packaging, and this product is no exception. The metallic orange bottle reflects the warmth of the shade inside. It definitely stands out on my shelf, there's no doubt about that!

 

The bottle has a screw-top lid, with a nail polish-style brush attached. I found this quite strange at first, but as the product is essentially a 'stain' using a brush is recommended, although you do need to use your finger to blend during application. As you can see, the colour is more of a luminous orange than mango, which could be a bit intimidating. However, after blending the shade becomes a lot more sheer, as promised in the product description.

When blended, the shade is almost like a coral, and has a warmth to it. There's no shine or sparkle, which is great if you want to use it as a base for powder blush. It can be blended onto the apples of the cheeks and dabbed onto the lips for a base for lipstick or worn alone. As the product is a stain it lasts for hours. You can eat, drink, kiss and lick your lips until your heart's content, and this product just won't budge. It's perfect if you're not a fan of lip products and just want to add a pop of colour, or if your going to the beach and want makeup that won't run or smudge in the water. 

You may think £23.50 is quite pricey, and I agree it is a large sum of money for one product, but I like to think of it as a blush and lip colour rolled into one, so really it's not as extortionate as you'd first think. I also believe that for the small amount that is required and it's 12.5ml bottle size, you're getting a lot for the price (I've had my Posie Tint for about 6 months now and have only used half the bottle!)

 To apply, brush three small strokes onto the apples of the cheeks (sort of like cat's whiskers!) and blend upwards, and repeat if a deeper flush is desired. Then, dot the stain onto your lips and rub them together. Perfect! 

This is by far one of my favourite products, and I find myself reaching for it day-by-day as the sun finally begins to shine through the clouds and the shades come out. It's perfect for achieving that 'I've-just-spent-all-day-in-the-sun' glow, even if you prefer hiding out in the shade like me! 

You can purchase Cha Cha Tint (and check out the other lip and cheek stains available) here or at your local Benefit counter for £23.50.

Review: Maybelline Colour Sensational Pop Sticks in 'Crystal Pink'

I've become quite obsessed with lipsticks these past few months, especially those with colourful tubes and pretty names (What can I say, i'm easily pleased!, which is basically what prompted me to purchase this lipstick. I'm not going to lie to you, before seeing it in my local Superdrug I did not know it existed, and basically just wanted to try something new as part of their current 3 for 2 on all cosmetics throughout the store, and the bright pink casing sold it for me!

Colour Sensational Pop Sticks are one of the newest additions to the Maybelline makeup line, and as it is such a well-known brand internationally, I had high hopes for this product.

I chose the 'Crystal Pink' as it's a great neutral colour that acts as a failsafe when you don't have time to sit and find a particular lipstick to go with your makeup, however there were other shades that would be suitable for darker skin tones or if pink just doesn't take your fancy: Pink Lollipop, Pink Sugar, Cherry Pop and Citrus Slice.

When testing this out in store, I was firstly unsure what 'pop sticks' meant with reference to lip colour. When attempting to swatch the product onto my hand I noticed that the colour was so sheer I immediately assumed that it was one of those lipsticks that adapt to the temperature of your lips and create your own unique shade. However, I have since done my research and found that the 'pop sticks' reference in the title basically means that your lips will be shiny like an ice lolly?? Alright then.

Maybelline say:

"New Colour Sensational popsticks. Now pouts pop with popsicle shine!
Juicy, sheer shades from our fruit-coloured, high clarity pigments. Slicker shine, more luscious feel, only from our crystal clear gloss stick."

First of all, I don't quite understand the comparison between shine and an ice lolly?

Yes, the stick may look like an orange, but the relevance to 'Crystal Pink' is a bit uncertain. I would understand if the shade was perhaps a light coral, as I would have thought perhaps a pink grapefruit would be a fruit that could be associated with this particular shade, if that's the angle they were going with.
I've decided not to show you a photograph of the product swatched, as the Maybelline description is right. There's no colour! It is completely clear, although there is a slight shine so the appearance of some sort of product is apparent. To me right now, this seems like nothing but a clear lip balm?

 

As you can see, there is a slight hint of colour apparent, but nothing like what has been described. It glides onto the lip with such ease, leaving them feeling soft and moisturised but I do not feel that this has the 'high clarity pigment' it promises.With so much emphasis on fruits, I would also have thought there would be a subtle scent, which added to my disappointment in the product.

The application is as slick as promised, but the shade (Which I believed would be a gorgeous bubblegum pink) is practically non-existent. For £7.50 (Price varies slightly from store to store) this product just doesn't do enough.

You can find the whole Colour Sensational Pop Sticks range at your local Maybelline stand in your local Boots, Superdrug or online here.