Benefit GALifornia Blush Review & Swatches

Benefit GALifornia Blush is a special piece of makeup for me for a number of reasons. One, it was a gift from my special someone ❤. Two, well, I collect all Benefit Box o’ Powder blushes so I’m always happy for a new addition. Three, for nostalgic reasons of the time I visited San Francisco on my Birthday some years ago where the weather was really nice and sunny. And four, it is just plain gorgeous! So much so that I have already considered it one of my most favorite golden pink blushes of all time!

GALifornia is housed in a sturdy cardboard square box in line with their other Box o’ Powder blushes. It features an artwork inspired by vintage California’s surfer girls. I really do love the quirky 70’s vibe here, plus it goes well with the name like GALifornia. Inside you will find a mirror and a custom rounded mini blush brush (resting on a clear plastic shelf) that is surprisingly soft and not scratchy at all. I use it all the time even at home since it’s already there in the box and it picks up the powder nicely when you want a quick swipe of color on the cheeks. It may not be the best blush for blending and diffusing but it can get the job done.

GALifornia has a lovely scent, too! It is what the brand calls GALifornia Dreamin’ scent. Its top notes are a lovely blend of pink grapefruit and vanilla. Too bad the scent doesn’t linger and you can’t really smell anything once the powder is transferred out of the box. For sensitive users, I can see this as a good thing, though!

As for the blush itself, it features a pretty sunburst pattern that seems to run at great depth into the powder. The beautiful, light-reflecting golden sheen seen at the top most layer is simply an overspray that goes away after a few uses which is unfortunate as I’d have loved to see it last a little longer. This golden sheen adds quite a bit of coral hue to the powder when it hits light but underneath it you’ll find a true color of the blush which is a wonderful balance of coral and pink with ultra-fine, shimmering gold particles mixed in. I find that when I’m indoors I can see the pink hue stronger on my skin but when I’m outdoors, the coral-golden tone is more visible. It provides such a nice pop of healthy flush with subtle sun-kissed glow on the cheeks!

Onto texture and performance! GALifornia has a smooth but firm texture so it doesn’t create fallout when you dip your brush in it. It applies smoothly and the color goes on evenly on the skin. It’s also easy to blend out hard edges and I haven’t experienced it being patchy or powdery or clinging to dry patches. It looks great applied on the apples of the cheeks as well as on the cheekbones close to the outer corner of the eyes (like I did in my photo below). I usually avoid applying it near my nose where I have large pores and this seems to emphasize them a bit as a result of the shimmering particles. Staying power is excellent as it lasts throughout the whole work day for me!

Pigmentation-wise, you don’t need much at all, really, for a nice pop of color and glow! A few swipes are probably all you’ll need because it’s pretty pigmented. I’d start with a light hand and slowly customize the intensity. The more you build, the stronger you’ll see the pink hue! :)

GALifornia is simply a happy blush color. It honestly puts me in a good mood every time I wear it. It brightens, it adds a pop of color, and it offers a youthful, healthy glow when your skin reflects light. And the color just goes so well with my skin if I may say so. Actually I can see it working beautifully on a variety of skin tones and the golden glow would especially look more gorgeous on deeper skin. If you’re afraid of the shimmering particles, don’t be, as they are not loud at all. It is much more toned down than say the Rockateur or Bella Bamba. There’s no doubt GALifornia will be one of the blushes I reach for most often comes the summer time! :)

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