My latest blush crush: Benefit Bella Bamba review and comparison swatches + a sale alert

I love blush. I'm easily enchanted by new products and can almost always justify the purchase. I'm a blushaholic!

I hadn't tried any of Benefit's cult-worthy blushes before. There were several reasons for this: partly because they are difficult to get your hand's on in Estonia, partly because their price tag, partly because there are many other great blushes out there...the list goes on and on.

Bella Bamba became mine (oh, mine!) this summer (read more about it here). I don't care that it has been reviewed a million time or so, it's my latest blush crush and I'm going to say a few words about it! 

Bella Bamba is not Benefit's latest creation in terms of blush, but it's their only 3D “brightening face powder” (they call their blushes “face powders” for some reason that remains mysterious to me, guess that's a part of their retro attitude). 

The first thing that catches the eye in Bella Bamba is of course it's colourful rectangular box with holographic effects. It is one of the famous cardboard boxes of Benefit's blushes: sturdy enough for keeping on your vanity, but will probably get ugly quickly if carried around in handbag in daily bases. But it sure does endure some dropping. 

The blusher comes with a natural hair brush, mirror in the flip over lid and plastic separator to keep the blush and brush apart. The brush is quite big and clumsy, but would do in case of emergency.

Bella Bamba itself is a most gorgeous watermelon-coloured blush, more bright pink than coral. I love the vibrant hue! The 3d part simply means it has lot's of pale gold shimmer-sheen in it, not holographic particles or anything. The shimmer is so fine that looking from some distance you can barely see it, you'll just notice a nice glow, the so-called brightening effect.

See the beautiful golden shimmer and holo effects on the box!

The blush is very-very pigmented, but it's texure is soft and well-blendable, so you can apply it with a light hand for only some rosy sheen on your cheeks or go for full on bright colour. Benefit says it amplifies cheekbones and creates the illusion of sculpted features: it sure does, you probably won't be needing any separate highlighter with it.

The blush is lightly scented (a sweet candy scent, doesn't remind watermelons to me), but you can only feel it when smelling the box directly, not on your cheeks.

Bella Bamba in the left, Nars Deep Throat on the top and Nars Orgasm below.  

I think Bella Bamba tends to beat Nars blushes, as it's texture is softer and even easier to blend. Don't get me wrong, I love my Nars too, but Bella Bamba just has something special about it. 

It is a lot more bright and vibrant than Nars Deep Throat and has a lot less of the golden-yellow sheen than Orgasm does (personally, I don't find the yellow sheen flattering on me). I hope you can see that from the swatches. Surprisingly, in the box Nars Deep Throat seems a lot lighter, but in swatches it came out really similar to Bella Bamba, minus the sheen. Maybe just a tad more red, whilst Bella Bamba leans more to the pink. 

Bella Bamba heavy swatch on my NC 15/20 skin.

From left: Nars Deep Throat, Bella Bamba, Nars Orgasm heavy swatches. Click on the picture to make it bigger ( as always).

Also, Bella Bamba is surprisingly a lot more affordable than Nars blushes (especially when you get it in a kit, like I did). Bella Bamba has 8 g (0,28 Oz) of product in it, Nars blushes have only 4,8 g (0,16 Oz). The prices in Europe are about 32-33 euros for Bella Bamba and 28-29 euros for a Nars blush. I don't know the US prices, according to Sephora.com they both cost 28 USD, but that makes Bella Bamba still a lot cheaper, as you get roughly twice as much the product. 

BTW, there is major Benefit discount going on on Cheapsmells.com website! They sell genuine perfumes and quality beauty products at affordable prices and deliver all over the world. So if you want to get your hands on some Benefit products at quite affordable prices (for Benefit of course), check this out! They have Bella Bamba individually and also some blushes in travel sets, but these are going fast! 

What do you think of Bella Bamba? What's your latest blush crush?

Yours Truly,
 Tolmu Rull

For my lovely Estonian ladies:

Ma olen täielik põsepunahull! Minu viimane "armastus" on Bella Bamba Benefit'ilt, kuidas ma selle omanikuks sain, loe siit. Arbuusitooni, külluslikult õrna kuldset sädelust sisaldav Bella Bamba on veel ilusam, kui kultuslikud Narsi põsepunad (piltidel näed võrdlust). See on Narsi punadest pisut pehmema tekstuuriga, sädeleb rohkem ja on pakitud suuremasse karpi. Benefit'i tooteid saab Eestisse tellida näiteks CheapSmells'i lehelt või kõige lähemalt osta Poolast Sephora poodidest.

Milline on teie suurim põsepunalemmik?

Siiralt teie,

Tolmu Rull

Adorebox review: is there anything to actually adore?

Tadadaa, yesterday morning I got my first Adorebox. It's good that I just had barely got out of my robe when the nice delivery guy came :P

If you are not familiar with the concept, Adorebox is a mystery beauty box you order from the web for 11.99 euros and get delivered each month. It promises 4-5 samples and/or full-size products per box for 11.99 euros, free delivery. 

So, what did I get in my September box?

• Anne Lind 150 ml body lotion with Guarana scent. 7.35 eur. 

This is the highlight of this box. It's a lovely, 100 % natural body lotion, free from preservatives, synthetic colourants, mineral oil and silicones, produced according to the BDIH guidelines for natural products. Besides smelling yummy it sinks into the skin really fast too.

The downside? I just bought exactly the same lotion from Ilu Sõnum/Beauty Word trade show two days ago! And the Adorebox one came without the original cardboard box. I think I'll shut my eye on the fact that I already have one and shall happily use it up nevertheless. 

• Royal Functionality brush set. 3.95 eur. 

Sorry, but these brushes are actually a royal fail! Their shape and quality of hair is unbelievably poor and they stink of cheap plastic! They're too flimsy for decent use too. Or maybe my daughter could use these for some play makeup, but I'm not too sure these are up to even that job. I think they'll go straight to the bin. 

• Esprit lipstick in 302 Beige Chic. 9.90 eur.

I didn't know Esprit had their own cosmetics line :S Hmm... a frosty brown beige, a shade that used to be "chic" 20 years ago or so. Really? I might, just might, try it on, but I'm quite sure this shade would look very unflattering on me. To the bin probably.

• Nivea Pure Diamond Eye Shadows 5.50 eur.

Three highly shiny shadows in one box, I have them in white +green shades. These seem nice, although I haven't tried them on yet. At least it seems like these won't be a bin material completely...

• Stenders Bath Bubble ball, 2.90 eur. 

Handmade bath bubble in a shape of a ball. Looks like a small orange :) The letter says it should smell as good as Sundays breakfast. Well, mine smells more like a Toilet Duck. Have I managed to mention that I don't have a bathtube in my apartment?

I might be able to use this doing a foot bath (in the case I manage somehow to survive the stink, of course). Otherwise -- a bin material again.

So I'm not sure what to think of Adorebox. I love the fact that the products are full size. I love the nice packaging and included delivery service, but surely, if three out of my five products are bin material, I could do something better with my 11.99? What do you think?

Yours Truly,
Tolmu Rull

For my lovely Estonian readers: 

Sain eile hommikul kätte oma esimese Adoreboxi. Kes veel ei tea, mis see on, võib uurida siit. Põhimõtteliselt on süsteem lihtne: maksad 11.99 euri ja sulle tuuakse järgmisel kuul koju karbike 4-5 ilutootega. Mis need täpselt on, näed siis, kui karbi avad. 

Ma ei teagi, kas olla Adoreboxiga rahul või mitte. Ühest küljest on Anne Lindi kehakreem hea “saak”, aga ülejäänud kraam on kas ebakvaliteetne, lootusetult moest läinud või täiega ebavajalik. Ja see WC-puhastaja lõhnaga vannipall, öäk! Seega viiest üks pihta või nii... Ma pole päris kindel, kas raiskan raha ja tellin ka järgmise kuu karbi...

Ootan teie  mõtteid ja arvamusi Adoreboxi kohta.

Siiralt teie,
Tolmu Rull

Ilu Sõnum/Beauty Word 2012 and Estonian beauty bloggers 15 minutes of fame

The first weekend of October is always reserved for beauty fair Ilu Sõnum/Beauty Word. At least for me, for many years already. Basically, it's our local IMATS, an event you simply can't miss.

This year, it was bigger and better than ever, with 272 companies showing their stuff!

Also, there was a massive – and I mean massive! – advertising campaign going on before the fair. Whenever I opened FB or a magazine, turned on the telly or even walked on the street: beauty fair ads where everywhere.

10 minutes after 10 AM: quite a lot of people already!

Well, it must have paid off, because the fair gounds were pretty packed by 11 AM and by 2 PM it was getting quite impossible to move around and there were more people waiting in a que to get in. I went on two days and the situation was pretty much the same in Friday and Saturday. 

Ontic Minerals team is ready for the day :)

One of the prettiest makeups I saw...

I did most of my beauty shopping in Friday (I'll show you the haul pictures pretty soon!). As always, there were some great deals around and you must not underestimate the mingling: beauty fair was a perfect chance to meet up and chat with some dear old friends and to make some new ones. 

Some colourful body art.

On Saturday, we had Estonian beauty bloggers meet-up and a small group interview, that was broadcasted all along the trade fair grounds. Six beautiful ladies participated and Liis from Beautyfromliz was behind the whole idea. The interview that should have lasted for an hour was actually over in 15 minutes. We all had our chance to say what we are blogging about and why we do it and whether Estonian women are beautiful or not :) I must say the interview thing made me pretty nervous, but I guess it went well after all. I don't believe very many people had real interest or patience to listen to us, but it was still kind of nice being called one of the top beauty bloggers in Estonia or something like that in public. Yeah, really :P

Some works from the makeup competition that was held during the show.

After the interview, Angelika had her makeup done by Grete, while we others toured the trade fair together, staying at each others heels like a row of ducklings :)

Angeelika is ready for her makeup at Peggy Sage. 

While Angeelika was ready, we joined our forces to get a good deal on haircare products. At the end there was 19 products in our basket and I am so sorry that I haven't got a picture of this massive hair care haul! 

Random girls haggling over some haircare products at SalonPlus  :D

By then, it was afternoon already and I started to feel a bit tired from all the crowds, noise and shopping decisions. I must also sadly note that my falsies wanted to come sort of loose on one eye during the day because my eyes watered so badly. I think it might be the glue's fault that somehow irritated the eyes. Whoever wants to be left with only one eye of falsies in a beauty fair where every other woman looks like a supermodel??? No, not me. 

Liis K is testing some classic fragrances by Dzintars from Latvija :)

So it was adieu for this year and I am already looking forward to Ilu Sõnum/Beauty Word 2013!

In the meantime, I shall turn my greedy eyes in the direction of the beauty trade shows abroad :)

Yours Truly,
Tolmu Rull

For my lovely Estonian ladies:

Nädalavahetusel toimus viimaks see kuulus ilumess Ilu Sõnum 2012, mille reklaame me söögi alla ja söögi peale juba mitu nädalat vaadanud ja kuulanud oleme. Ma olen ilumessil käinud mitmeid kordi, kuid nii suurt ja võimsat messi kui tänavu ei mäletagi. Osalejaid jagus tervelt nelja halli ja müügiks pakuti kõike juuksetoodetest ja küünelakkidest kuni ehete, sukkade, pesu, villaste kinnaste ja magnetkäevõrude, käsitööseepide ja aroomisooladeni. Otse loomulikult olid paljud tooted “messihinnaga” ehk siis palju-palju soodsamad kui tavaliselt. 

BeautyPro booth was crowded at all times.

Mõned pakkumised on juba traditsioonilisteks saanud. Näiteks BeautyPro, mis pakub juba mitmendat korda vanemaid China Glaze küünelakitoone võileivahinnaga ja SalonPlus, mis igal aastal üllatab eriti hea hinnaga shampoonide-palsamitega Tigi'lt, Rich'ilt, Joico'lt jne. Minu suur lemmik on juba mitu aastat ka Pilgrim Outlet, kust leian alati soodsa hinnaga ehteid ja kellasid. 

Lisaks soodukatele teeb ilumessi minu jaoks eriti mõnusaks asjaolu, et messile tuleb oma suletud kontoriuste tagant välja ka vähemtuntud meigi- ja nahahooldussarjade maaletoojaid, kelle asju igas supermarketis müügilt ei leia. Suur osa sellest kraamist on üldse proffidele mõeldud, aga messilt saab neid asju osta igaüks. Mulle meeldib!

Peggy Sage had a huge booth with lots of selection.

Ka tänavu olid messil väljas mitmed ettevõtted, millest ma olin küll kuulnud, aga veel polnud saanud võimalust järele proovida. Minu jaoks suurimateks üllatajateks Peggy Sage ja NYX: viimase kohta ma isegi ei teadnud, et seda Eestis müüakse, aga tuleb välja, et müüakse ja koguni kahes kohas! Mõnusad avastused olid ka eriti hea hinna-kvaliteedi suhtega (loe: odavad) Bella Oggi ja lauvärvisari Film Maquillage, mõlemad Itaaliast. 

NYX lip glosses and palettes.

Võrreldes varasemate aastatega oli messil märgata rohkem mineraalmeiki ja muidu looduslikke/ökotooteid ja vähem küünekaunistusi ning muud maniküürimudru. Sellise suundumuse vastu pole mul üldiselt midagi :) 

Ahjaa, ja siis oli mul koos teiste ilublogijatega võimalus messil nautida oma viitteist kuulsuseminutit, sest messiraadios tehti meiega väike intervjuu, kus saime öelda, miks ja millest blogime ja mida üleüldse arvame Eesti naise ilust :D Ma eriti ei usu, et keegi meie loba pingsalt kuulas, aga no tore oli ikka. Millegipärast on palju raskem olla intervjueeritav kui intervjueerija :)

Kokkuvõttes jäin messiga väga rahule. Kui eelmise aasta mess tundus veel veidike "masumessina", siis sel aastal oli üritus küll täies purjes. Järgmisel aastal jälle!

Siiralt teie,

Tolmu Rull

Üllatus postkastis ja minu esimene loosimine!

Sorry, but this post is in Estonian again. I'm going to do more English posts in near future, I promise! You see, we have a big beauty fair coming up next weekend, that's why we all have our knickers in such a twist :)

Reede hommikul marssisin tuhvlites ja hommikumantlis postkasti juurde. Ja seal ootas mind mõnus üllatus!

Kuldse ümbriku sees oli saabunud kaks kutset ilumessile Ilu Sõnum 2012. 5.-7. oktoobrini Tallinna messikeskuses toimuv ilumess on teadupärast Eesti iluelu aasta suursündmus. Mina ei tea ühtegi muud nädalavahetust, mil ühe katuse all oleks koos nii palju naiselikku energiat :) Loe minu eelmise aasta messimuljeid siit.

Aitäh, Nadja!

Otsustasin need kutsed kinkida oma kallitele lugejatele. Loosis osalemine on lihtne: täida allpool olev Rafflecopteri vorm ja oledki osaline.

Kuna messini on ainult loetud tunnid, siis on ka loos lühike. Võitjatega võtan ühendust neljapäeval ja siis lepime kokku, kuidas see väärtuslik paber uue omanikuni jõuab.

Ikka ja alati teie,
Tolmu Rull

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