Benefit's Cabana Glama

So I while back, probably around 2 weeks ago or so I received this super quick package I ordered from Benefit. My friend Shela & I ordered the Cabana Glama Kit only because I informed her that it was on sale for $19US on the Benefit website. Considering how much of a bargain it was and how much Shela wanted to try out the Hoola Bronzer, it was an instant impulse buy for us both. 

I placed an order for two of these kits and a week and a half later it arrived! Super quick, way quicker than I expected because I know a lot of people who order from Benefit usually take 2 weeks. I'm impressed!

In this box/set it includes:

• Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder
• Benefit Some Kind a Gorgeous The Foundation Faker (Medium shade)
• Benefit Posietint
• Eyeshadow Palette (Shades: Peach Fuzz, Bronze Buzz, and Cocoa Pizzazz)
• Mini Cheek Brush and Double Ended Sponge Applicator
• Step by Step Get the Look Instructions

The box is super adorable. It comes with a leaflet which looks like postcards as well as instructions on how to use the products altogether. The box where the cosmetics are placed is also removable. 

So far I've been using the eyeshadow colours from this palette to give it a test run and also experiment with colours combined.  

• Peach Fizz is a iridescent pink, it's an awesome highlight colour and it's looks pretty and chic by itself on the lids.
• Bronze Fizz has go to be my go-to everyday brown eyeshadow colour. I'm a pretty neutral person when it comes to eyeshadows - I've never really had the courage to pull off any bright colours and hopefully one day I'll experiment and try to pull it off but in the meantime I'm loving this, goes really well with the rest of the 2 eyeshadows.  
• Cocoa Pizzazz is a colour which I don't really reach for but with this set, all the colours combined makes a wonderful combination on the lids. This adding a little depth on my non-existent hallows of my lids. 

The formulation of the eyeshadow isn't too bad. I feel that it's mediocre, they're very sheer on the first application but very much buildable. The eyeshadows feel creamy and not chalky and cheap. I found that when I foil these eyeshadows they look so much better. So I usually do this with spritzing a bit of the MAC's Fix+ on my Sigma E55 brush with the desired eyeshadow and apply it on the lids.

Some Kind-a Gorgeous is a cream foundation which when applied settles to a powdery velvet finish. Much love for this compact, great for touch ups and all and it's the perfect shade for me! It's mainly the reason why I bought this set in the first place because I didn't want to opt for the full sized compact and wanted something small and compact to carry around.

Hoola Bronzer is probably the best thing in this kit (if you're a huge benefit fan, in my opinion), you get a decent amount of this beautiful bronzer and it's freaking amazing. I had the full size bronzer until I gave it away to a family friend because I felt like I liked the other bronzers I was using more but now I rediscovered my love for this bronzer. 

Posietint is pretty mediocre, it works like a charm on the lips but I'm not too sure about the cheeks. To have the full effect of the tint on the cheeks you gotta work that product quickly or else it will look blouchy if you don't blend it immediately. I love it more as a lip tint. 

If you're a neutral type of girl (like me) this would probably be the kit for you. I'm not 100% sure about the Hoola Bronzer because it can seem a bit dark if you're skin is really fair. But if you're a medium toned person, this would be suitable. Overall, it's benefit's best selling bronzer - it's hard to pass! 

I'm not a huge fan of the applicators in this package so I'm always using my Real Technique / Sigma eye brushes. Feel free to use your fingertips, I won't judge you. 

Swatches: 

• Hoola Bronzer
• Eyeshadows: Peach Fizz, Bronze Buzz, Cocoa Pizzazz
• Some Kind A Gorgeous Compact Foundation in: Medium 
• Lip/Cheek Tint: Posietint

Considering how this was on sale for $19USD and how everything was so compact... it was hard to pass with a bargain like this considering it retails for $54AUD at Myer & David Jones. Perfect as a present as well! Too cute!

Have you tried any other kits from Benefit? 

Love, J

Elf Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder

Finally got my ELF Blush & Bronzer Duo. It's a close dupe but not exact of NARS Orgasm (Blush) and Laguna (Bronzer). I apologise for the swatch photo as it was the best I could take with my DSLR. The lighting in my room is just urgh... But it shall do. If you like, you can google the swatches for a better reference but this is somewhat true to the picture. 

Comparing between NARS Orgasm & Laguna Duo...

• Price: Elf is only $10AU (with Shipping / $3 in the US) while NARS is $45AU and $30US (I think). I got this for $5 with my $5 off Ebay Coupon I had.

• Quality: Obviously quality will be different but it's what you get for what you pay for. For a $3 Drugstore brand, it does well. It's a bit powdery and obviously won't glide as smoothly like NARS. Overall the pigmentation is great and everything else about it is just as great as any other blush/bronzer on the market. Pretty mediocre and also great if you're on a budget.

• Payout/Pigmentation: Payout and pigmentation is awesome, though the blusher is buildable and also the bronzer, you might have to be a bit careful because it's pretty dark. But it's Matte. The Blusher is slightly shimmery but not so shimmery it will have glitter particles that will be highly visible. 

• Colour: The colour* is slightly different. The Bronzer on the ELF is much more pigmented and somewhat darker than NARS Laguna. The Laguna is a tad shimmery, creamier to touch and also as a lighter pigmentation. As for the blush, NARS Orgasm is much more pinky and also a tad shimmery and buttery textured. ELF's Blush is much more peachier and also lighter.

*Comparisons have been made when swatching NARS at the Mecca Cosmetica Store Previous to this Post, along with online sources. To find out please google NARS Orgasm & Laguna along with ELF Dupes for a closer reference.

Overall, It's a great product but not an exact dupe. If you're on a budget you can find heaps of these on ebay (in which I mostly buy all my American products from) I love how the packaging is sturdy. I don't find it flimsy like everyone says it is but it's $3US so it holds up pretty well. I'm overall satisfied and paying $5 (with $5 off coupon I had for ebay) I am loving this. I currently own 3 bronzers and this is definitely a new bronzer I'm going to adore and try. I've been looking for a peachy blush so I'm going to give this a go.

You can also find ELF Products online from their Australian Website. Is there any other ELF Products you like and recommend?! I would love to try more elf products.

Love, J

Lust Haves: Nars Blush, Highlighter, Bronzer

I went to Mecca Cosmetica at The Galleries, Victoria at the City on Tuesday. I just had to try out these NARS Powders because I've heard so much about them and I've never gotten around to trying them. 

Nars Albatross - Highlighter & Swatch 

I'm currently lusting over Albatross so much, because I'm in need of a really good highlighter. I tried this swatch at the Mecca Cosmetica store and fell in love with it. I love the reflective gold shimmer it contains within the powder itself - love love love it. 

Nars Luster - Blush & Swatch

Nars Luster is probably what I always wanted in a blush. I'm not a fan of pink, red or coral blushes... Well this is somewhat like it... but I love peachy colours?! Nevertheless, I love Luster. I admire it so so so much. Perfect everyday blush in my opinion and sooooo for me!

Nars Casino - Bronzer & Swatch

I love this bronzer when I swatched it. It's better than the most talked about Nars bronzer Laguna in which I also swatched as well. I love Casino more, I can't really put my finger on why it's better - Probably the shade is much more lighter and has little specks of glitter which I admire (in some case most people do not like glitter) It's not obvious glitter but does provide a little gleam-ness when applied. I found that with the Laguna it does not really show up for me on one swatch (and I am an NC25) but I love this. 

Overall, these blushes, highlighter (also part of the blushes) as well as the bronzer are $55AU at Mecca Cosmetica. 

They're $28US on Sephora from what I know (For Albatross and Luster) and $32US for the Casino bronzer. 

I'll be keeping my eyes on these and hoping I can purchase these real soon! 

P.S. My birthday is in August... so if I don't get these in time I would love these a present! (just a hint hehehe) 

Love, J.