Sugar Sample

I really didn't expect to like Benefit Sugarbomb as much as I do. I’d always dismissed it as too light, more of a highlighting shade than a serious blush. After buying way too much at Benefit in Bloomingdale's on my New York holiday, the sales assistant threw this sample in as a freebie. I managed to not open it until now, and it was love at first swipe.

l-r: Essence Asian Sensation (light peach side), Benefit Coralista, NARS Deep Throat, Benefit Sugarbomb

Sugarbomb is a soft tan and sherbet orange mix, with a pale gold pearlescent finish. The combination sounds a little strange, but it makes sense when I think about it. Pink can always lean too red, orange can look a bit too bright, unnatural or red again, and a more nude/tan colour just isn't too exciting or fresh. But a soft orange tinged with brown and a touch of pink mimics the skin and blends seamlessly. I find the shimmer isn't as crazy as Coralista. However, while it imparts a luminous glow, it will also highlight imperfections or pores.

What I love about Sugarbomb is that the shade, application and pigmentation make it just so easy. The colour is soft and subtle (except for the obvious shimmer), which I prefer for everyday wear as I’m always cautious not to overdo my blush. It’s not super noticeable you're wearing anything, but it does give your face that extra warmth and colour in a natural, easygoing way. You can brush it on quite haphazardly and not have to worry about putting on too much, or perfect placement, or needing to tone it down after. It just works the first time. For a relatively light shade, I find the wear time to be pretty impressive, which isn't something I’ve felt with Benefit boxed powders in general.