my beauty diary xo: you're so overrated

8 Jul 2015

YOU'RE SO OVERRATED #3 // Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Hey guys!

Last year, I started this series that is quite possibly one of my fabourites to write about - and it's called You're So Overrated. For a recap, this series is to write about all the products that I personally have been persuaded to buy because of all the hype and excitment from Youtube and the blogsphere, and have failed to meet expectations. This doesn't mean they're bad products in the slightest (well.. some are..), just that I don't think they're deserving of the hype that surrounds them. I've previously talked about the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer and the Lime Crime Lipsticks - and now, I'm talking about a huuuuuuuge cult favourite.. The Benefit Hoola Bronzer.

Dun dun duuuuuuuuuuun.

Don't get me wrong - I love most Benefit products. I don't think that this a terrible bronzer in the slightest. However, for the amount of time this is talked about and raved about, I really don't think that it is quite deserving of the praise.

Read on to see what I think!

Hoola is, in my opinion, a neutral toned bronzer that most people use for the dual purpose of contouring and bronzing. The consensus is generally people loving this product because of this purpose, and its supposed ability to match your skin tone whether light or medium. But personally, I just find this way too hard to work with.

Maybe I got a dud, but this honestly is pretty hard to blend on my cheeks. It just ends up looking really mud on my face rather than bronzed goddess. I still bring it out from time to time, but the times where it hasn't worked for me outweigh the times it has unfortunately. I don't think its necessarily a bad product - it is a nice enough colour, but because it really doesn't work for me, I definitely think the money ($51 is no small change) could have been spent better elsewhere. If you were buying this, I'd try and get another smaller size (they have them sometimes in their kits or holiday packages) before committing to a full size purchase, as I have normal, non problematic skin and I'm still not completely in love.

There you have it! What I really think about the Hoola bronzer and whether you should purchase it or not. If you've tried this bronzer, and have had either the same experience as me or otheriwse,lease leave it below! If you have a magic way to use it and love it, let me know that too!

Until next time...

xxxx

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4 Feb 2015

you're so overrated #2 - lime crime lipsticks

Hey guys!

Last year, I started a series of which I would write about products hyped up within the beauty world that really fell short for me. I was really happy with the way it went over with you guys, you really seemed to appreciate the honesty without ever being rude or leaving innappropriate comments. I'm really hoping that doesn't change with what I'm about to write about.

I'm going to start with a massive disclaimer:

This is solely based on MY OWN experience of the products shown. This experience is in no way a reflection of the way I feel about Lime Crime or it's founder, but rather how they have individually performed on my lips. Mwah.

Okay, so now that's out of the way, let's just get a tiny weeny bit personal. I don't like Lime Crime. I really really don't. These were brought before I had done research on the company and knew about its founders questionnable morals and ethics. However, like I said, this post is honestly and completely all about the way I feel about these lipsticks - and I felt this way BEFORE hearing Lime Crime's history. I understand could potentially be a controversial post for some, and I won't be making this a rant about the company. If you are unsure of what I am speaking about, you can google Lime Crimes history and see there for yourself.

So stop right here if you're not interested in reading about my negative experience with these lipsticks - promise I won't hate you! But, if you are someone who is thinking about making the purchase, and is still unsure/if you're just interested in hearing my thoughts, please read on!

From l-r; Coquette, Babette & Centrifuschia

Now to the lipsticks themselves. I have never ever before been so disappointed by lipsticks in my life. I own a lot of lipsticks, let's be real, and I can honestly say that these come at the bottom of the pack. I want to say that the advertising on these lipsticks are completely off the track - of the three that I own, NONE have matched up to the swatches or colour on the lips shown on the Lime Crime website. I understand that some editing is maybe necessary, even a tinsy bit of photoshop. But come on, LC seriously? I was most disappointed with Babette - it looked like this gorgeous pastel-ly nude-y orange/coral, and in reality it is NOTHING like the advertisement that I originally brought it for. And also Coquette! I swear all the Youtubers get the good versions and the rest of us get the duds.

First of all, the bullet packaging. While they look cute, quirky and different, you can tell by holding them that they feel cheap and tacky. They're big as well - thick and clunky compared to MAC. Not only that, they don't seem to do their job by holding the lipstick in place. Both Coquette and Babette have managed to both slant and run up the side of bullet. They also don't seem to be holding in very well to their packaging (as you can see in the photo below) and I'm guessing if I actually used them that it would have completely torn off by now. Let me also be clear that the damage shown in the picture below is with pretty minimal useage.

Second of all, they're supposedly super creamy but manage to show up every single crack and dryness on my lip without the lasting power of a matte lipstick. They wear off about an hour after application, and considering these are considered high end lipsticks with a pretty decent price tag, I expect better. They also smell like a rip off of MAC lipsticks, sort of like an off vanilla.

Thirdly, they sweat like no other lipstick I own. These have been kept upright and out of the heat, and yet they all have beads of sweat on them, especially Centrifushchia. I did try to get a clear photo, but unfortunately it wasn't working out for me. If you look hard in the first picture, you are able to see it. To me, again, for a supposedly higher end lipstick, I expect SO much better. I feel like these are almost going off as we speak because of how much they sweat and stew in these below grade plastic casing.

So there you have it - regardless of what you think of the company, its pretty obvious these lipsticks are not worth the money. If you've managed to make them work for you, let me know down below! Otherwise, I'm pretty certain these will be given away or thrown out soon..

You can click here to read my first post in this series - MAC Pro Longwear Concealer