Review: The Benefit Hoola Contour Stick and Dandelion Twinkle Highlighter
Since Benefit Cosmetics is now available at BeautyMNL (yay!), they sent over a few new things for me to tinker with. I've previously reviewed/mentioned most of the things in the package so this time, I'm zooming in on two of their latest products: the Dandelion Twinkle Powder Highlighter (P1,700) and the Hoola Quickie Contour Stick (~P1,700). Let's begin!
I've tried the iconic Benefit Hoola Powder before and loved it to bits - well, until I lost it. The color was the perfect matte neutral brown on me, and it stayed on my combination skin pretty well. So how does the Quickie Contour Stick, its creamy sister, compare? It's a similar shade but with slightly warmer tones. It glides on easily with no skidding, then blends smoothly and sets with a powdery finish. It's sooo convenient - all I need to do is swipe it then blend with any dense synthetic brush! I suppose I could use my fingers too but it's just much faster with a brush.
I like to apply this on the hollows of my cheeks and around my jawline. As you can see in the swatch below, it sheers down into a natural color that doesn't look off on my skin. Staying power is around 4-5 hours, about average for a face color product. It goes on well even on top of a powdered surface, which I simply prefer to do versus applying it on top of a wet base then setting after.
Overall, I find the Benefit Hoola Quickie Contour Stick an extremely useful thing to have around when I don't want to take too much time contouring. It only takes one swipe - no need to build up! - and it is so, so easy to blend. I actually favor powder contour more than cream types, but this one's pretty good!
The Benefit Dandelion Twinkle is such a darling to behold. The cute illustration and rose gold box just looks so precious together! Opening it will reveal a brush on a removable tray and the twinkly pink powder highlighter. It's a cool-toned pastel pink in the pan, but swatches as a pinky nude with white gold shimmer on skin.
I have to mention Dandelion Twinkle brush. I've tried Benefit's boxed powders before and never really used the brush, ever, but this one's pretty good. It's soft and shaped perfectly for highlighting.
The powder is well-milled though it has some kick-up; there are no visible sparkles on skin as the shimmers are fine
According to Benefit's description, Dandelion Twinkle is meant for strobing (all over the face I presume) and highlighting. It's not like Becca's highlighters that flashes people as if they were deer caught in headlights; this is considerably more sheer. It's all about being "whisper-light" which means that it doesn't quite build up to a shining, shimmering beacon.
Which is totally fine! Sometimes I do want my highlighters to be soft rather than dazzling, so the Dandelion Twinkle is right for that job. It doesn't quite show well in photos, but I am wearing it on my cheekbones and bridge of the nose in this look. It's more visible in person.
Wearing the Hoola stick on the hollows of my cheeks and jawline; the Dandelion Twinkle went on the high points of my face like the cheekbones and bridge of the nose. Both look natural together.
Overall, I enjoy both the Benefit Hoola Quickie Contour Stick and the Dandelion Twinkle HIghlighting Powder immensely. I've been using them everyday since I got them, and would recommend it to those who want a natural, polished look with minimal fuss. Staying power for both may not be ideal if you have very oily skin, but they are easy enough to retouch if you don't mind it.
Would love to know your thoughts on these new Benefit releases!
