It’s been a long time coming for us pale people…a lighter version of the cult favourite Hoola from Benefit Cosmetics! Is it any good? Do I like it? That, I’m going to chat about now as well as showing you a few more of my current favourite pale skin bronzers. It’s available in store or online here (from Debenhams) officially from today.
So similar to all Benefit cheek products, the Hoola Lite comes in the signature little cardboard box packaging and comes complete with a small, firm brush. Not the best brush (I usually discard brushes that come with things anyway, I’m just not a fan and would rather use my own brushes) but I can see why it might come in handy for travel or if someone didn’t have many other brushes. There’s a mirror inside too, but it’s so small and in my opinion pretty pointless. I completely understand the cute/ sassy vibe of Benefit’s boxed powder packaging, but I just find them a bit awkward and pointless. Give me a sleek compact any day, so much easier for travel too! I’m also not usually a fan of scented powders (Benefit and Too Faced are known for this especially!) but the light pineapple-y scent of this is actually pretty pleasing on the nose and you can’t smell it anyway once you have applied it.
Anyway, packaging and scent aside the Hoola Lite Bronzer at first sight is significantly lighter than it’s older and darker big sister. So much so, it had me wondering if (even on my pale skin) it would show up at all! I was interested to give it a go though as I tend to always use a slightly darker cooler toned contour powder to give shape anyway, so a lighter bronzer is always preferable just to add that little bit of warmth to my skin rather than definition. The powder itself is smooth and buttery to the touch, applies smoothly and is actually (although a lot lighter than the OG Hoola) more pigmented than I initially thought. It is a warmer more orangey tone, but then you need that to bronze/ warm up the complexion which is what it’s meant for. I like how it’s completely matte but it does’t look chalky on the skin. It’s flattering on without being too much and would work well as a light bronzer for skin tones up to a MAC NC20 ish, anyone darker could still use this as an all over more kind of setting powder maybe though, although I’d recommend the OG Hoola for actual bronzer on anyone darker.
I’m not personally sold on the packaging, but the Hoola Lite Bronzer itself is actually a good product and great pale princess friendly bronzing choice. I’ll definitely be reaching for this over the summer to give me a bit of warmth!
Some other bronzers that I’m a fan of and that are great for paler skins and similar to the Hoola Lite…Milani Baked Bronzer in Dolce* is a really good, affordable and cruelty free version. Blendable, buildable and has a radiant natural matte finish. Next up, Make Up For Ever Pro Bronze Fusion in 10M Honey…waterproof, gives a natural believable tan and a sheerer consistency, I really like this one and have used it for ages now. I also use the shade 20M Sand which is a little darker when I’m away on holiday (I do tan pretty well even being pale AF normally, it just fades so fast!). Lastly, the Kat Von D Beauty Shade and Light Contour Palette is a really good option to include all your contour and shaping powders too (I use the lighter shades to tidy up and sharpen my contour). The shade ’Shadowplay’ (middle shade of the bronzer/ contours) is lovely to bronze up paler skin. A slightly stronger more pigmented powder with a matte finish, so perfect for a fuller coverage look or to give more definition as well as bronze in one.
Here are some swatches of those 3 plus the new Hoola Lite…
Other good bronzers for pale skin worth a mention/ try…
• MAC Cosmetics Bronzing Powder in Golden
• MAC Cosmetics Mineralise Skinfinish Natural in Medium Golden or Dark Golden
• Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer
Along with the Hoola Lite Bronzer, Benefit have also launched the Hoola Quickie Contour Stick and the Dandelion Twinkle Highlighter. Neither of those products called to me, but that’s not to say they won’t to you. I just already have a lot of contour products and although I have more highlighters than I know what to do with, I generally prefer a stronger glow even if I just use a small amount. The new Dandelion highlighter is pretty though and feels super smooth. You might actually like this if you want a more subtle highlight or a more all over glow from something not as intense!
Hoola Lite and the other new launches are available now from Debenhams.
Lyd x
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