Yep, it's another Benefit product. I began my Benefit journey with their adorable boxes of blushers as I'm sure many of you have. It all started with a salesgirl showing me Dandelion and Georgia Peach, both of which she said that I could work with. Since then, I've managed to snag Dallas and Coralista as well (I no longer have Dandelion or Georgia Peach). Bella Bamba was going to be the next purchase, but I got distracted and it never happened. When I saw the mini being offered as a 100 points perk at Sephora, I was ecstatic.
Bella Bamba is marketed as a "3D brightening pink face powder." The 3D bit is pretty silly since this is just another blush with a bit of shimmer. All blushes serve to add dimension to the face flattened by the coverage of foundations, powders and concealers.
As far as the pink shimmer is concerned, I liked it more than I thought I would. Its effect is rather subtle on the face.
Ingredients:
I doubt I'd ever even finish this tiny sample. It's a sort of dream to hit pan on a blush though. If it's going to happen, it's gotta be on this, right? It's a perfect size to toss into a makeup bag for travel, but the flimsy plastic lid is going to tear eventually after multiple uses. At CAD$36, I doubt I'll buy the regular size, especially now that the boxes have been repackaged and are different size/shape from the ones I do own. Still, I can understand its appeal for those who like Benefit blushers and want to collect them all like Pokemon. I totally get it.
Sample from Sephora.
Bella Bamba is marketed as a "3D brightening pink face powder." The 3D bit is pretty silly since this is just another blush with a bit of shimmer. All blushes serve to add dimension to the face flattened by the coverage of foundations, powders and concealers.
As far as the pink shimmer is concerned, I liked it more than I thought I would. Its effect is rather subtle on the face.
Ingredients:
I doubt I'd ever even finish this tiny sample. It's a sort of dream to hit pan on a blush though. If it's going to happen, it's gotta be on this, right? It's a perfect size to toss into a makeup bag for travel, but the flimsy plastic lid is going to tear eventually after multiple uses. At CAD$36, I doubt I'll buy the regular size, especially now that the boxes have been repackaged and are different size/shape from the ones I do own. Still, I can understand its appeal for those who like Benefit blushers and want to collect them all like Pokemon. I totally get it.
Sample from Sephora.
I have this same sample :) However, I have this weird thing where Benefit blush DOES NOT SHOW UP on me. At all. I used to have a Coralista sample, which I got rid of because despite many layers, all you could see was some shimmer, no color. It's weird, people who are darker than I am use Benefit blush successfully!
ReplyDeleteBenefit blushes totally do that! They show up pretty well on me but I know it totally doesn't work on some others. I do find that it's very subtle though, so it takes a good three pats for it to really show on the face. But I think they were made that way on purpose to suit as many people as possible. Without a nice layer of primer/foundation underneath, these blushes will end up just imparting some shimmer.
DeleteI also wonder if what an MUA on YT said is true about some faces needing a lot of makeup for it to show while some faces hardly require anything more than a light touch. (It was probably Lisa Eldridge.)
I adore Dallas from Benefit, I use it with a light hand but man I feel hot when I wear it. Is that strange? haha. The 3D claim of this is just silly, but it is a pretty shade :) I have Benefit Hervana as well and it is pretty, but I don't reached for boxed blushes as much as I do pans. I've hit major pan on my NYX blush and almost used it up-hoping to finish it before the year is out!!
ReplyDeleteCould you depot this little guy? He would be nice in a palette.
Hmmmmm... I'll have to pull out my Dallas and see if it can make me feel hot tomorrow. Haven't felt that in a while, lol. I didn't intend on getting Hervana because I don't like the pan getting messy after all the colours are swirled together, which is just as silly (if not sillier) than the 3D business. :) Yaaaargh, I'm so jealous of that NYX pan!
DeleteI hate the idea of depotting things so probably not, but you never know what the makeup gods have in store, lol.
oh! I have five of the benfit box powder, not including this one - sounds nice to have!
ReplyDeleteloving your sample month series!
cheers,
jacq
Thanks, Jacq! You should go ahead and add this one to your collection. ;)
DeleteHi Liz, what a great 100 point perk! It's a nice change up from the typical mascaras and other things I can't recall. It does seem like the hinge will break eventually, but I suppose it's a good reason to depot, right?
ReplyDeleteI've never depotted anything before and feel too lazy to go that route, but if the hinge does break, I'll have to consider it! And 99% of the time, I'd probably pick a blush perk over a mascara perk. :)
DeleteI must be one of that rare breed of makeup lovers, who never got into Benefit; I can understand the appeal of the kitschy packaging - just not for me. I prefer my cosmetics housed in something less obtrusive and I can't help but feel that all that printing on Benefit's packaging, is what contributes to their extra-ordinarily high prices, as I've often found their quality to be hit or miss (from the few items I have and/or tried). I also happened to stumble upon their Coralista blush at a discounted price (CAD $15.00) and after having heard so much about their blushes, I snatched it up without even trying it out; wish that I had tried it, as I never would have spent even that amount...it's way too shimmery and chalky/powdery -- so not the look I ever want to sport. With so many other superior blushes available at similar prices, let's just say that I don't feel bad about not even giving this brand a second look.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm a makeup snob -- and darn proud of it!! LOL!! *ducks missiles thrown at head*
It is kind of kiddish and seems packaged to be alluring to tweens and girly adults alike! I definitely was into it more in my 20s than now, that's for sure. It was a fun way to delve into a bigger world of cosmetics though. :) Benetint seemed like such a breakthrough at the time!
DeleteAnd we don't all have to like the same thing, otherwise our blogs would be very boring. :)
I like benefit blush samples! I have corolista sample, it is so pretty and has a passion fruit smell :) I have other full sizes which I may never ever finish. I would love to have a collection of benefit sample blushes. I think they have gift sets (best ten prods of benefit (?) which are all samples). Would love that :)
ReplyDeleteCoralist is very strongly scented! I keep forgetting that until I pick it up and use it.
DeleteOh Su, I just had the best idea. It would be AWESOME if they came out with a kit of all their blushes in mini size (like Fresh and their lip tints). I might have to ditch my full sizes and snag that instead. :D
I got the same 100 pt sample a while ago and even though I was excited, I haven't broken into it yet. I can't bring myself to buy the full box, but the sample looks fun. I'd be so happy to hit pan just on that!
ReplyDeleteBreak into it!!! Let's hit pan. :DDD
DeleteI think this is the only Benefit Blush I actually like. Oh and Dallas too. I have a love/hate thing with Benefit. Some stuff is good but when their stuff sucks it sucks like a bucket of ticks for me. ;)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I really tried to like some of their products but never ended up using them. (Mostly their pencil stuff like High Brow and Eye Bright...) I still like their cream shadow pots though, but it has more to do with my love of round pots of cream than Benefit. :)
DeleteThanks for taking ingredient photos :D
ReplyDeleteThis one is pretty! But...I don't know. I'm with Eugenia. The packaging of Benefit stuff just turns me off, hahaha.
I try!! Sometimes I get lazy and just link to a site with the ingredients but I suppose it's helpful to post a shot for immediate glance. :)
DeleteI can understand the packaging thing. The boxes do take up a bit of room in the train case.
Gotta catch 'em all, POKEMON! :D
ReplyDeleteGlad the glitter works for you! I'd wanted to try this too, but since then the lemming has deflated. Maybe some other day.
I really wanted to try this when it first debuted but it simmered down after a while, too. Not to worry if you miss it - there are so many blushes out there!
DeleteI always think this is SO super pretty in pictures and reviews but whenever I swatch it in person, I am unsure...I haven't actually tried it on my cheeks yet though, so I'm thinking I better do that before passing on it!
ReplyDeleteGiven your dislike of intensely shimmery blushes (e.g. NARS O), I don't think you'll like this one very much. It's definitely not a must-have but pretty awesome as a free perk. :)
DeleteHey Liz, is this blush similar to any of the ones in the Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Cheek Palette?
ReplyDeleteGiven that it's pink and shimmery, you'd think that they would be, but Bella Bamba is so subtle on me that I feel like it's different from any of the Dollskin shades which are much more pigmented. I'm going to say no, it's not similar. (Are you thinking of purchasing?)
DeleteNo, I'm not thinking of getting it. The Bella Bamba swatch looked similar to a Dollskin blush so I was curious. :) Funnily, I haven't given my Tarina Tarantino blushes much play, as I've been trying to get through my Cargo Tonga. I think I'm going to give the latter a rest to have fun with the new stuff for a while.
DeleteA mini blush pan - that is too cute! I don't have ANY Benefit blushes but this one looks like such a pretty shade. I wish I could come by Benefit samples cos they're so cute and would be perfect for throwing into my (bulging) makeup bag :p
ReplyDeleteHaha, it would be nice to tuck into a bulging makeup bag - along with a blush brush. I doubt I'd actually take this on a trip but it really is very cute. :)
DeleteMaybe I am alone with this opinion, but although I own two benefit blushers - Sugarbomb (thanks ;-)) and Hervana, I do not quite understand the hype. The packaging is adorable, but totally unsuitable for travelling or longer term storage. And the colours? There is tons of similar shades on the market nowadays.
ReplyDeleteOh... Sugarbomb. That seems like such a long time ago. :)
DeleteI think Benefit blushes have passed a certain era. They were much more appealing to me a number of years ago than they are now. I agree that there are similar and better blushes out there now, but I feel a certain fondness for the brand that first captured my attention beyond Lancome/Clinique/MAC.
True. I have to admit that there are products on the market, which work far better for me compared to Benefit, but I still enjoy the brand as such. I think their products are adorable, but just not usually worth the hype (or the price, for the matter), which does not mean they are not good.
DeleteI also got this when it was a perk! I think it's pretty, but I don't wear it all that often because I find the pan annoyingly small. My big Real Techniques blush brush doesn't really work with it, and I gave my mother my smaller blush brush...so really what I'm saying is I need a smaller blush brush, obviously. And I agree about the shimmer, it's much less pronounced on the cheeks (which is good, since my pores need no emphasizing!).
ReplyDeleteI like my brushes to be on the small side (small Asian face with small features, boo), so I haven't had issues with the pan size. Lol at the segue about mom and smaller brush need. :)
DeleteI seriously LOL'd at ""Still, I can understand its appeal for those who like Benefit blushers and want to collect them all like Pokemon" because IT IS SO TRUE.
ReplyDeleteI am one of these people. :P
And Bella Bamba is actually my favourite Benefit blush out of them all!
Haha, so is your collection complete? SHOW MEEEEEEEEEEE.
DeleteI think my fave is Coralista. I wish they'd come out with a red-tone blush. Sort of a powder version of their beloved Benetint. I'd buy that. :D
I sort of wish I had this as the sample and not the full size like I do (though...I really hate sample sizes!). Hitting pan would be AWESOME. I never wear it for some reason, though I like the shade. Perfume is high up on the ingredient list (which I noticed AFTER I bought it), and I think it scared me. Its a nice color though!
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's time to swap it with something else... though I should talk. I'm ignoring a lot of blush that I love and am not using for whatever reasons. But I bet this looks great on you!
DeleteI never catch the scent on this one but the smell of Coralista is always really strong.