MAC Daphne Guinness Blush

It seems as of late, I've become more obsessed with anything ombre. (See my original ombre-themed post here). When I saw the new Daphne Guinness for MAC collection, the two blush ombres immediately caught my attention.

I choose Azalea Blossom because Vintage Grape seemed a little too dark for my NW 20 skintone. I am surprised that both blushes are still in stock online, however, I read that it is actually a repromote (originally appearing in the Spring Colour Forecast) so maybe many picked it up then?

Left to Right: Pink Section, Purple Section, Mixed

Azalea Blossom is a cool-toned (blue-based) pink. When swatching, I noticed the pink tone is actually less cool than the purple section. Both sections of the blushes are large enough to "customize" the blush.  Personally, I like evenly mixing the two together.

Did you pick up anything from the Daphne Guinness collection? I was tempted to pick up two of the lipglosses in Japanese Spring & Narcissus but decided against it and picked up a brush instead. I chose the 168, a large angled contour brush which I used to apply this blush.

Where to Buy: MAC Cosmetics

Cost: $26 for 9g/0.31 oz

Limited Edition

Review: Benefit Bella Bamba

I've had this blush for quite a while now but never got around to reviewing it. Bella Bamba is described as a "3D brightening pink face powder." It claims to brighten, sculpt & define.

Bella Bamba is a pretty pink color with great pigmentation. It can be built up in intensity or blended out for a softer, pretty pink glow. (Tip: A little goes a long way!)

In the box, Bella Bamba appears to be somewhat of a coral pink. At first glance, it even appears to be quite similar to NARS Orgasm blush. However, when taken out of the box and swatched, Bella Bamba is actually a watermelon (medium) pink with a subtle golden sheen versus a coral pink. Orgasm also has a more intense golden sheen over Bella Bamba.

For the most part, I'm in love with Benefit's packaging (so fun!). However, their previous box o' powder lids (except Dandelion) were removable and could easily came off in your purse, makeup bag, etc. So I was happy when Bella Bamba was introduced with a new lid. The lid flips open and has a magnet that seems to do a good job of keeping the box top shut. Bella Bamba also includes a convenient mirror for touch-ups.

The brush that comes with Bella Bamba is soft and overall pretty decent for a brush that is included with a product. It is quite an improvement over previous brushes that have been included in other Benefit products like Benefit's Hoola and the Hello! Flawless powder in terms of usability.

Brushes from Right to Left:
Bella Bamba, Hoola, & Hello! Flawless Powder

The only potential downside I see to this blush is the scent. Bella Bamba has a sweet watermelon scent to it, which may bother some. Personally, it has grown on me.

Cost: $28 for 8.0 Net wt. 0.28 oz.
Where to buy: Benefitcosmetics.com, Sephora, & Ulta