Benefit Blush Bar ‘Cheeks on Pointe’ Blush & Bronzer Palette Review + Swatches

Happy Friday Everyone!

I’m super excited for this long weekend – great weather in Canada and lots of fun plans! Hope you all have an amazing long weekend!

I’ve decided to review this palette today because I’ve been reaching for it non-stop! This is the first cheek product that I have used from Benefit and I’m blown away! I’ve heard lots of good reviews on the famous Hoola bronzer and their boxed blushes but they are up there price-wise and I didn’t want to spend $40 on one blush. This palette is almost $80 however, it is an amazing value as you get FULL SIZE products; so technically your paying for two blushes and getting 3 free! My sister gifted this to me and I’m so happy she did because I had my eye on it a while back at Sephora!

The packaging is gorgeous! It makes me happy to use it every time, it also contains a nice large mirror and once you open the lid you get a whiff of this pleasant scent that is incredibly hard to describe but it reminds me of summer time. There is an empty space on the bottom right corner so that the brush can fit in there which is good if your planning on travelling with it.

The blush textures are really nice; not too soft nor stiff, not too pigmented but pigmented enough. It’s a nice formula for light to medium skintones as the shades are all pretty light and I have to build it up on my cheeks – all except the Galifornia shade which looks good with just one layer. However, I love blushes that are buildable – it allows me to apply and blend it without having any harsh lines or too much color all at once. These are fairly long lasting as well – they last an entire work/school day.

• 

The picture you see above is after a few weeks of using it so it no longer has the gold overspray. I don’t see the point of it anyway because it comes off after using it once and I don’t like chunky gold glitter on my blushes anyway.

Left to right: Galifornia, Gold Rush, Dandelion and Rockateur

Left to right: Galifornia, Gold Rush, Dandelion and Rockateur

The Hoola bronzer is a nice shade that can be built up as well if you want a stronger bronzer. It is neutral in tone so it can be used as a contour shade as well which is nice. I was worried this was going to be too dark on me but it’s perfect once blended out.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

This specific palette is a little hard to find now as it was limited edition but I went ahead and reviewed it anyway because Benefit has come out with the Cheekleaders palettes which include the same products but they have added a highlighter to each palette which is amazing! A highlight just completes this palette as it contains all three products that you use on the cheeks!

I highly recommend this palette and if I didn’t already have this I would definitely purchase the new ones!

What do you think of the Benefit face palettes? Let me know in the comments!

Click here to view product.

Click here to view the new Cheekleader palettes!

Lancome Blush Subtil Delicate Oil-Free Powder Blush Review + Swatches

Hi everyone!

Today I’m doing a quick review on these Lancome blushes. I’ve had these for a while but forgot about them until recently and now I can’t put them down!

I received the mini blush on the left in a gift with purchase a while back and the full size on the right was in a huge makeup set that I was gifted a few years back. The full size came with a brush but I always get rid of them because they don’t apply the product on the best.

I like the simple and sleek packaging of these blushes; as you can see from the pictures above they do tend to get finger prints on them though, but it doesn’t really bother me. The blush formula is a very silky dry powder which is subtle and allows you to build the product to the intensity that is flattering. I prefer this for blushes because you don’t end up with too much blush in one spot and then try to blend it out for 10 minutes afterwards. Because of this, I feel that it is the best formula for fair skin tones. This formula is very long wearing as well, which I do like because my face tends to absorb makeup due to it being very oily.

Lancome Blush Subtil Delicate Oil-Free Powder Blush
Rose Fresque is on top, Blushing Nude on the bottom

They have gorgeous shades as well, very powdery soft mattes and fresh satin finishes as well. The two that I have reviewed are both matte finishes.

What is your current go-to blush?

Click here to purchase.

Vasanti Blush Duo Review + Swatch

Hello again!

I discovered this brand after a friend gifted me this blush and I’m so glad she did because this brand is super exciting and after trying this blush out I’m definitely curious about their other products.

I know this really isn’t important but I have to mention that the box that contains the blush is so cute! The packaging itself is simple and sturdy – it contains a nice mirror which is always a plus. This is suppose to be a blush duo but honestly the two shades are almost identical! I wish they were a bit more different just so I would have two options in one compact.

The formula is extremely powdery; when my brush touches this blush it has lots of fall out which isn’t ideal but it doesn’t look powdery on my skin. It blends in really nicely; I feel that the powder itself is very finely milled. This blush isn’t extremely pigmented but I prefer that because I can build it up and not apply too much at the first shot. The longevity isn’t the best – it lasts a few hours before quickly fading away.

Vasanti Blush Duo in “A Charmed Life”.

Overall, I like this blush but it is definitely not my favourite formula. The longevity and the powdery formula can be improved. I also wished that the two shades were actually different from each other considering it is named a “blush duo”. However, I do like that this brand is cruelty-free, paraben-free and gluten-free.

Have you tried Vasanti products?

Click here to purchase.

Essence Mosaic Blush Review + Swatch

Hi everyone!

I really like the Essence products I have tried so far; they are decent quality and extremely affordable. There are a few shades of these mosaic blushes and the one that I will be doing a review on is the shade “40 The Berry Connection”.

This blush is housed in a clear case; which I like because it’s very lightweight and you are able to see the color which is helpful if you have a huge blush collection. It contains 4.5 grams of product which isn’t much but great value for the price.

The blush itself is slightly powdery as you can see in the swatch below however, it doesn’t apply like that on the cheeks and blends in nicely. It isn’t extremely pigmented which I enjoy because I like to build up the pigmentation rather than spend an hour blending it out. It contains very tiny shimmer particles that really aren’t noticeable but give a nice glow. The lasting power is decent; it will last an entire work/school day at around 6 hours before fading.

Essence Mosaic Blush 40 The Berry Connection. A bright pink shade.

I would definitely recommend the Essence blushes; in general their quality is great and the price is unbelievable. Click here to see my review on the Essence Silky Touch Blush; I like that formula better than this one but would still recommend both.

Click here to visit site.

Disclaimer: I received this product for reviewing purposes. All my reviews are my honest opinion whether I bought the product(s) or it was sent to me.

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush Review + Swatch

Hello again!

I love peachy-pink colored blushes for the summer time; they instantly brighten the face. I was interested in trying this one out since it claims to feel lightweight like a powder but melt into the skin like a cream.

I tend to go for cream blushes in the summer since I find that they don’t fade as quickly on me like powder blushes. I have an oily t-zone and so I stayed away from cream blushes thinking that they would only make me look more greasy but they hold up better than most powder formulas.

The packaging is very simple and lightweight; 5.6 g of product is housed in a plastic container with a see-through lid. I like that there is no excess packaging and that I can see the color through the lid without needing to open it.

The formula itself is very unique; it feels like putty but once it is applied to the skin it dries down to a silky powder consistency. Once it is dry, it won’t wipe off or move around easily; it sets in place for hours. I like using this blush with a stipple brush; since it is pigmented I like to slowly build it up rather than apply too much and then try to blend it out.

I really like this shade (Peach Satin) in particular because it is very flattering on my neutral fair skin tone. Overall, I really like this formula and would definitely pick up other colors.

Have you tried this blush?

Click here to view product.

Essence Silky Touch Blush Review + Swatches

Hi everyone!

I have read a bunch of positive reviews on these blushes and so I was excited to put this to the test on my combination-oily skin type. This review is on the shade “60 life’s a cherry”.

I really like the simple, clear acrylic packaging. It is light-weight and sleek; perfect for travel and it has a clear lid so that you can view the shade without needing to open it. It contains 5g of product.

Just as the name suggests, the formula of this blush is very silky and blends out well on the cheeks. It is a touch powdery but once it is blended it melts into the skin. The staying power is what impressed me; this lasted the entire day on my cheeks with some fading towards the end of the day. That is very impressive since blush usually fades very quickly on my oily skin type.

This shade is a medium cool-toned pink with a silky/sheen finish and contains no glitter or shimmer. This blush is very pigmented and so I have to very lightly tap my brush into the product and shake off the excess before applying. This color is very flattering on my fair skin tone once blended out.

This blush definitely made me want to try out more shades! I also love how affordable Essence products are.

Click here to visit website.

Disclaimer: I received this product for reviewing purposes. All my reviews are my honest opinion whether I bought the product(s) or it was sent to me.

iSociety Cosmetics Blush Review + Swatches

Hi everyone!

This was a brand that I had never heard of until trying out this blush and I’m honestly impressed! This review is on the shade “Lucky 13”.

I like the simple packaging, it has a twist on lid and is very sturdy. Since it has a see-through lid it allows you to see the shade without having to open it; which is very helpful if you have a large blush collection.

The formula and pigmentation reminds me of MAC blushes. It is very smooth and blends out extremely well on the cheeks. The lasting power is amazing, it lasts the entire day on me with some fading towards the end of the day.

This is a deep plum shade that can be sheered out or built up. I recommend that you apply this blush with a loose brush and tap off the excess before applying. I like to apply deep blush shades such as this in layers so that it doesn’t get too intense on my fair skin tone.

Have you tried iSociety Cosmetics?

Click here to purchase.

Disclaimer: I received this product for reviewing purposes. All my reviews are my honest opinion whether I bought the product(s) or it was sent to me. 

e.l.f. Blush Palette (Light) Review + Swatches

Hi again!

This blush palette is an amazing find for the price. These shades can be very soft on the cheeks but can also be built up to a more intense color. I have done a review on the dark version of this blush palette which you can view here.

As I mentioned in the other review, I really like the packaging of these palettes because they contain a huge clear mirror and are fairly sturdy as the blushes stay in place and don’t pop out, unless you want them to. You can also switch up the shades between the two blush palettes, the illuminating, contour, foundation, and bronzer palettes that they have and be able to carry four products in one palette for travelling and convenience.

The formula of these are great; they are very pigmented, so I suggest using a light hand and then building it up, and are blendable. They have a buttery feel, I only noticed the right bottom-hand blush was a bit powdery but it isn’t noticeable on the cheeks. They also have good staying power; they will still be on your cheeks after a work/school day but slightly faded.

Swatched in order from left to right.

They are all matte except for the bottom right one, which has tiny glitters in it which doesn’t really translate onto the face. I really do recommend these blush palettes if you are looking to expand your blush collection with good quality blushes without spending a lot.

Have you tried e.l.f.’s blush palettes?

Click here to purchase.

e.l.f. Blush Palette (Dark) Review + Swatches

Hello again!

I love using these darker blush shades during autumn and winter. They can be sheered out or built up to look great on all skin tones! There is a “Light” palette as well, this review is on the “Dark” palette.

I really like the packaging because it holds a huge, clear mirror inside and is fairly sturdy. The blushes can pop out of the palette, so if you have other palettes from e.l.f. (contour, illuminating, etc.) you can switch the colors up. The blushes move around a bit when shaken but they do not fall out of the palette unless you push them out.

These are very pigmented and therefore it is better to use a stipple or fluffy loose brush and tap off the excess quite a bit before applying, you can then built it up to the intensity you like. If you do put on too much; these blushes are very blendable and buttery, so it won’t be too much work blending them out. These blushes last a fairly good amount of time; they will still be on your cheeks after a school/work day.

All of the shades are matte except for the bottom left blush, which has tiny golden glitters in it.

Swatched in order from left to right.

I really like these blush palettes, their formula is similar to the mineral blushes; not the studio blushes.

Have you tried the e.l.f. blush palettes?

Click here to purchase.

Sappho Organics Review + Swatches

Hi everyone!

I have wanted to try organic, natural, vegan makeup for a while now and this brand has the most amazing ingredients! All of their products are free of harmful synthetic preservatives. This includes parabens, phthalates, gluten, mineral oil, talc and dimethicone.

Starting off with the brushes pictured above; they are extremely soft and do not shed at all. They are all made with bamboo handles and allergy-free fibers. I especially love the blush/kabuki brush for applying any powder (blush, bronzer,etc.).

I love that these foundations are actually good for your skin and look really nice as well. For whatever reason, I wasn’t expecting much from them and I was pleasantly surprised by the formula. It is light-weight and feels like a BB cream, It has a light to medium coverage and can be set out in a dish to thicken over night for more coverage as the oils evaporate. It sets fairly quickly to a nice satin finish that looks like fresh skin. The scent is not my favourite but it isn’t bothersome to me. I find that applying this with a densely packed flat top brush looks the best. The bottles also come with a pump and are light-weight (30mL); perfect for travel. 

The swatches below are the product slightly spread out, not blended out, to show color. Mia (left) is slighter lighter and has a cooler (pink) undertone. Leisha (right) is a touch darker and has a warm (yellow) undertone.

The concealer is very creamy and not at all cake-y or dry on the under eyes. The yellow tint is perfect for hiding blue-ish tones under the eyes (veins). I use a bit of this with my finger and then layer on a flesh-toned or brightening concealer on top and it definitely makes a difference in hiding the blue, purple tones and prolonging my concealer as well.

The blushes, bronzers, and eyeshadows all come in the tin so that you can place them in any magnetic palette. Sappho organics has 2 magnetic compacts; I have the stainless steel palette.

The steel palette is very sturdy and has a big, clear mirror on the inside. It is a bit heavy since it is steel.

The Bronzer on the top left is “Bronze Goddess 1” and is labeled as a blush. This bronzer is very pigmented and smooth; it easily blends with little effort. It lasts an average amount of time on me; usually by the end of the work/school day it has pretty much faded. The Blush on the top right is “Tutz” and it is a blue-toned light, baby pink. It is pigmented like the bronzer but the shade is very light so I had to build it up in the swatch. This is great for a natural everyday blush. Both shades have a slight sheen/shimmer.

Right to left: Tutz and Bronze Goddess 1

The shadows are fairly pigmented and creamy except for the shade Bekitt that was a bit powdery. The shade Norma was the most pigmented and the other 2 darker shades were a touch less intense. They are blendable and last the whole day if used with a primer.

Left to right: Jono, Norma, Bekitt, and Gitte. Swatched without primer.

Overall, I really enjoyed this brand and knowing that whenever I use these products they are not harming my skin and my health makes me like them even more. Check out the ingredients on their website (link below) to be amazed! This is a Canadian brand.

Have you tried Sappho Organics?

Click here to purchase from the US website. Click here to purchase from the Canadian website.

Disclaimer: I received these products for reviewing purposes. All my reviews are my honest opinion whether I bought the product(s) or it was sent to me.