Are you sick of reading about Bella Bamba everywhere already? I must tell you that I was. I mean I jumped on the Bella Bamba hype the minute it launched about 5 months ago and I ordered it online; and then Bella Bamba exploded on the interweb into this “must have” blush and was everywhere! So much so, I got turned off, and didn’t try it until much later.
And once I did, I could not stop using it. So I’m afraid you are going to have to sit through another Bella Bamba rave-fest 😛
Bella Bamba is the newest blush from Benefit Cosmetics and it comes in the new packaging which is a flip top box with a mirror inside. Truth be told, I don’t like the new packaging. I had no problems with the previous packaging i.e. cover separates from the box and I don’t need a mirror. The eagle-eyed have also noted that the new blush contains less product than the previous ones. However I did a quick look through my stash and I noted the following weight of Benefit’s blushes:-
- Dandelion – 10g
- Georgia – 11g
- Sugarbomb – 12g
- Thrrrob – 12g
- Bella Bamba – 8g
So I personally don’t think its less product per se, but might have to do with density of the powder? Or maybe its less product. Either way, I’m not complaining very much because at 8g or 10g or 12 g its going to take you a while to get through a box of blush 🙂
Another packaging gripe is the psychedelic box. It makes it easy to spot in my stash, but otherwise, I don’t like it. Xin has showed you how the flip top can hurt your blush so you really have to be careful when closing back the cover which closes with a magnet. Thankfully, due to her early warning, I am more careful when I close the cover.
Benefit describes Bella Bamba as a “watermelon blush”. I don’t see pink watermelons very often, but descriptions aside, I do like this color.
Benefit Cosmetics Bella Bamba blush
Its a pink tempered with red and coral tones and it is pigmented but really quite sheer, so its not so easy to make mistakes. If you are afraid of wearing blush because it makes you look like a clown, I do recommend you try Benefit’s blushes. Lots of people don’t like how sheer they are, but I do, because errors are minimized and layering is always easier than removing.
There is quite a lot of shimmer in this one though so do be careful if you plan to layer. But I don’t think you will be because just 2 layers gives you a strong enough colour to get you through the day looking fresh as a daisy.
Also featuring Laneige Fresh Modernist lipstick in Modernist Pink
The swatch on my arm is with just 1 swipe of my finger. This is a pigmented blush. But if you use a blush brush, it does not apply so heavily and I use about 2 layers max to get a lovely flush of colour and just enough shine without turning you into a shimmer ball.
Pros: Very pretty colour, Sheer texture can be layered, Pigmented
Cons: Don’t like the packaging
I have here a comparison swatch between Bella Bamba and some other blushes for an idea of colour.
L-R: I Nuovi Future, Benefit Coralista, Benefit Bella Bamba, Nars Orgasm
You can see from the swatches that Bella Bamba is noticeably more pink but yet it is quite a neutral tone not being too warm or too cool and I personally believe, it will suit most skin tones.
So have you fallen into the Bella Bamba trap? If you did, do you like it? If you don’t have this one, are you thinking of picking it up? I don’t think you’d regret it one bit 😉
Paris B
Benefit Bella Bamba blush retails at RM130 at Benefit Cosmetics counters locally and US$28 online.
The blush looks pretty and natural on you! The box design is absolutely icky though.
I love Benefit’s boxed blushes but can’t stomach the prices. I’ve only tried Dandelion (2x purchase) and they do take forever to finish which justifies it a bit but still can’t get past the price tag.
Yup! Absolutely dislike the box – why Benefit, why?! As for their prices yes, I don’t like their local prices. I always buy online because it just makes sense and you get free international shipping above $150 – share with friends to make up the total! 🙂
Never got around with Benefit’s Blushes because they were so expensive. But yeah, I have too many blushes anyways.
Looks beautiful on you though!! ^.^ I envy your daring to try different colors.
They aren’t expensive, if you buy them online. Only expensive in store here. I’d rather go with a Chanel blush if I have to pay local prices 😛 Thanks! I love colours 😉
Wow sounds like a perfect blush to have. I’ve tried Dandelion & Georgia but have since stopped using Benefit blushers. Bella Bamba is definitely on my shopping list now! Btw the color looks so pretty on you! 🙂
Thank you Lulu 🙂 If you’ve used Dandelion and Georgia, Bella Bamba is quite different because its got a lot more colour to it so its more of a blush and less of a face powder thing. Do give it a go the next time you pass by a counter and see if its for you! 😉
i love your green top. it makes your light make up stand out.
Thanks Juan! 😀
i still like nars orgasm,,,cute name for a blusher..bella bamba
You know what? I haven’t used Orgasm in what seems to be YEARS! 😯 For some reason it now looks terribly frosty and orange on me when it was really pretty before! I should take it out for another go.
That looks super pretty! Think may be the nicest Benefit blush of the lot 🙂 Gotta go check it out now!
I will have to agree. I think Bella Bamba is the most versatile and prettiest of all the blushes (I can’t even say that about Coralista, which I also like very much!)
I usually buy benefit stuff from their website. they did ship international. the price much more cheap than the counter here in Malaysia. somemore to take advantage the US currency drop to below RM3 last few week. But it takes a week + for the stuff reach u. and they give u a few samples to try.
Yep I do the same thing. Benefit Cosmetics is just too overpriced locally and I believe its not just Malaysia but Singapore too! It only makes sense to buy online if you can hit the free shipping.
i personally love love love it. i started neglecting all my other blushes after using this one! but i feel it looks better on fair skin. my sis who has tanned skin , tried it…and it looks weird on her. 😛
Yay for loving Bella Bamba! I use it all the time too because it just seems to go with everything yes? I thought it looked very good on tanned skin too (like on Karen of Makeup And Beauty Blog but perhaps its also to do with skintones and whether it suits the skintone)
So pretty on you! 🙂 I like sheer blushes too. They make for the prettiest looks!
Thank you Jen 🙂 After trying pigmented blushes and looking like a clown (oh! those early days when I didn’t know better!) I now prefer sheer blushes that I can build up, so mistakes are less and its easier to control. Also it gives the best “blush” look!
despite the packaging, i still love it too! 😀 the crushed dent has gone already coz i use it so frequently 😀
Yay! But I bet you’re so much more careful with it now right? I might actually wear this one out in time – I use it so often
Very pretty! I don’t use blush often and have Dandelion, which I like because it’s light and sheer. My cheeks are pink enough on their own.
If I’d never met you, I’d have disputed your statement. Now I have, yes you already have natural blush! And that can be pretty too 🙂
this color looks so pretty on you…. pink is your color.. 🙂
Thank you Issa 🙂 I used to think peach was, but now that just looks so orange 🙁
Blush again! You~ 😛
Coralista looks good on you too you know 😀
The packaging really deter me from buying though 🙁
They don’t call me the Blush Queen for nothing! 😉 hehe… Thanks! I love both this and Coralista. They are really pretty blushes and quite different. But that packaging. Argh!
Looks lovely. i always face trouble when selecting the right kind of blusher, maybe i can try this one. thanks for the review.
You’re welcome.
Nice colour and it is pricey…
Not sure if one day i will get myself one =P
Oh you will 😛 I thought the same before. My suggestion is to buy it online. Its just too expensive at local counters – for the price I’d get something else.
Hi Paris,
I bought this after reading so many raves on it on blogs 🙂 I use the Benefit slant face brush to apply this and as there’s a lot of ‘warnings’ about it being pigmented, I apply with a very light hand. I am not sure if it’s because of my oily skin, the shimmer makes my face more shiny so it’s a con for me. Otherwise, I adore this blush 🙂 I had previously used Dandelion, another blush from Benefit. I think I like that one better as the colour’s really light and I can build on the intensity.
Haha you fell into the hype! 🙂 Glad it worked out for you though 😉 The shimmer in this one is definitely more pronounced than in their other blushes. Personally, I don’t quite like the Benefit brushes sorry! (I had one and it didn’t pick up colour well) But that said, the brush in the box works quite well for picking up colour, or I prefer to use another blush brush like the Ecotools one (that I use for everything). What I did find when I used the Benefit blush brush is that it picked up a lot of shimmer but less colour which might be the problem you are facing. Have you tried using a different blush brush? 🙂
I’ve been sitting on the fence on this product for the longest time. Think it’s time I give in and get one for myself. It looked so lovely when swatched and don’t think there’s anything similar to what I have on hand. Ha…all the excuses I’m thinking up to get it.
Haha! Its so easy to justify 😛 But I must say that I have not found any other blush in my stash with similar tones or nuances and it does work as an everyday blush or even for the night. If you can get it online, I think you get a better price 😉
That’s a very pretty shade and it looks so natural on you! But I don’t like the psychedelic design of the box either,.
Thank you Gio and yes, I wish the box was as pretty as the powder it contains.
I have heard lots of raves about Bella Bamba, and it seems like a bright, and pretty true pink color which is yet sheer enough for a foolproof application.
I myself are super bad with doing my cheeks, so I prefer sheer blushes too!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I love how it looks on you! A very fresh and young pink! 😉
You arent bad at doing cheeks Jess! But sheer colours are always a lot easier to work with. Have you tried this one yet? I know you prefer Asian makeup, but this is pretty! 😉
Hi pb! Thank god i bumped into ur blog! I’d like to order online on benefit’s products, but was concerned about the sales tax. Wt is the sales tax when u made ur order? When i try to review my order, final price is not shown. Tqq
If you’re ordering from Malaysia, there’s no sales tax. What you see is what you pay + shipping unless you use the free shipping code for purchases over $115.