benefit GALifornia blush ($29), coming April 2017
Shout-out to my fellow Californians!

You know, it’s weird. I always see California portrayed in movies and videos like it’s a perpetually sunny place with palm trees and beaches and everyone’s got a tan and walks around all the time in a bikini top and sunglasses like it’s Bay Watch.

PROPAGANDA

For the record, it’s not always like that. right now, golden rays of sunshine are not falling upon my cheeks, skin and hair. I’m actually looking out my window, and it’s gloomy, overcast and cold. but haaay! — that’s alright, because when I wear Benefit’s new GALifornia blush, I feel like I’m in the fantasy California. ??

It’s nuanced

GALifornia, a new $29 boxed benefit blush coming this April, is a wonderfully warm golden pink, and when I opened the 0.17-oz. pan for the first time and saw the sunny design, which is, sadly, an overspray, I thought of a bronzer from Guerlain a few years back that had a similar design.

GALifornia is gloriously nuanced in a way I don’t expect to see from Benefit. It reminds me of something from Guerlain or Hourglass.

PROPAGANDA

Gatos e moletom com maquiagem ??

US $ 42.

Compre agora

Swatch of benefit GALifornia Blush
Different for Benefit

It’s infused with subtle golden pearl particles that so much more subdued than the shimmer in Coralista, Sugarbomb and Bella Bamba, all of which I like, but over the past few years, I haven’t been wearing them as much as I used to. My skin’s changed, and my pores are a little bigger than they were in my 30s.

The shimmer that benefit usually sprinkles on their blush highlighters is…maybe a bit more sparkly than I’d like. I’d say that GALifornia’s fine pearl is closest to the pearl in Sugarbomb, but warmer and finer.

GALifornia’s pearl is more my speed now. At first, you may not even think there’s any there, but it is. e eu amo isso!

Wearing two layers of GALifornia on my cheeks
I don’t usually send my girlfriends who are 30 and up to benefit for blush, but I can happily recommend GALifornia if you’re…let’s just say, not 18 anymore. LOL!

It’s like the Energizer bunny (keeps going, and going, and going, and going…)

The wear time is great too. I popped it on my cheeks at the crack of dawn today, and eight hours later it still looks fresh and beautiful.

I did two layers using a regular old blush brush, so you don’t need any finagling or special tools. The blush does come with one of those silly square shaped brushes that benefit always includes with their boxed blushes, but I’d probably only use it in a dire blush emergency, LOL!

GALifornia girl!

Give it a sniff

Oh, and FYI for the gals out there who are sensitive to scents, GALifornia — *takes a deep breath* — smells like Caress body soap to me (I like it!). I don’t smell it when I’m applying or when it’s on my face, but I pick it up if I hold the box up to my nose.

O veredicto final.

So much yes! GALifornia is a great blush (but isn’t too “blushy”) no matter your age. If Connor were a teenager, girl, we would totally share this blush.

Latest TJ’s addiction

Found a new favorite salad at Trader Joe’s! It’s the Mexicali Salad With Chili Lime Chicken, and it’s SO good. It’s also only 380 calories, and that’s with the entire tub of tasty jalapeño Caesar dressing.

Most of the time I only use about a quarter or maybe half of the dressing because it’s so rich, and I like to add half a sliced avocado.

Ooh! one of these days I’m gonna add some lime or lemon shrimp.

Secret shopper tip: don’t just grab the salad sitting right at the front of the display, because the ones in front are usually good for only a couple days and have been in the store a while (no shame!).

PROPAGANDA

Seriously, I tear those displays up! I don’t even care! I want the freshest one.

Seu viciado em beleza amigável bairro,

Karen