Dabbling in Dallas

Benefit Dallas never particularly called out to me, until I saw it in action in Alix's Everyday Makeup Routine video. If it looked half as good on me as it did on her, I needed it in my life. I remember tossing up between Dallas and NARS Sin while at Sephora in New York on my holiday last September, as both were of the plum persuasion and I could only allow myself one. Though I'd go on to buy Sin less than a month later, Dallas was my original pick as it seemed a lot more wearable and easier to work with.

l-r: Benefit Dallas, NARS Sin, Benefit Hoola, NARS Douceur

Dallas is a soft tan mixed with dusty, reddish pink. It has a very slight silver shimmer which is barely detectable when applied to the face. Once swatched, it looks nearly identical to NARS Douceur, which is a smidgen more brown and neutral-toned, and completely matte. NARS Sin, which I originally thought would be similar, is completely different — more berry/purple with subtle gold sheen. Benefit Hoola is more of a dirty brown, not as red.

The texture of Dallas is the best among the Benefit boxed powders that I have. Smooth, soft, very pigmented, easy to blend and not at all powdery. Like all Benefit blushes, it comes with a small rectangular brush that's actually not too bad. I usually throw out all included brushes in any eyeshadow palette or blush, but this Benefit one wouldn't be too bad for travel purposes if you really didn't want to carry separate brushes. It does tend to disturb the surface of the powder quite a bit (as if taking to it with a rake), so it's not as gentle as a soft, rounded brush like the Real Techniques Blush Brush or Multi-Task Brush.

I don't wear Dallas all that much as I usually opt for pink and peach on my cheeks, but I feel it still has a place in my blush collection. It's not as serious and polished as Douceur, it's not as tricky to wear and absurdly pigmented as Sin, and it's not a straight up bronzer either. I like Dallas for a kind of bronzed warmth and glow that doesn't lean too brown. It's more earthy and rosy, without being too neutral or overly red.