Monday, March 4, 2013

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.

42 comments:

  1. I've been tossing up whether or not to buy this for quite some time. I keep flitting between it and NARS Doceur. After reading this, I think I'm going to opt for the more serious and polished of the two. (: x

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  2. Great post! it's just what i need because I'm having a hard time deciding either Hoola or Dallas.
    xx

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  3. ive never realised how pretty of a plum shade nars sin was, but dallas looks like the love child between hoola and douceur :P

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  4. Benefit boxed powders are always so lovely and i dream of owning them all one day~! I am a bit fan of Hoola already and i think that seeing it is my birthday month this month, i may have to add another benefit box powder to my collection. Dallas looks like a nice colour to wear on an everyday basis and it is the sort of colour that i usually go for. Awwwwwwws i love Sin and Douceur now from your swatchessss~ never knew they were so pretty swatched. Thank you for the helpful review and the pretty pictures <3

    Hope you have a lovely day!
    X x X x

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  5. Lovely neutral shade, it also adds a subtle contour to the cheeks. I've never really given much thought to Dallas, but it's very pretty!

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  6. I can't say I have ever given Dallas a second look before but it looks really great here! I got Sin applied on me at Mecca when I got my Nars Sheer Glow, and it did not look very good on me, or atleast the way the girl applied it (quite heavily).

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  7. I've never really looked at Dallas before, I usually look at the other blushers! But it looks so pretty on your cheeks! Will definitely look at it next time I'm at a Benefit counter :) xx

    belle-amiebeauty.blogspot.co.uk

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  8. This looks so beautiful! I love the packaging but it looks a bit too bulky. I badly want to try Benefits blushes, mainly Bella Bamba at the moment. xx

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  9. It is a really pretty shade. Before I got into beauty blogging I fell into the trap of purchasing a fake Dallas on Ebay. I need to get around to buying the real deal as it looks so lovely!

    Leanne @ Leanne-Marie | Beauty, fashion & lifestyle. x x

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  10. Dallas look perfect as a minimal make-up look bronzer! :) xo

    Jasmine Catches Butterflies ʚϊɞ

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  11. Gorgeous shades, they look good against your skin tone
    cutenquirky.blogspot.com

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  12. I can't believe I've never bought a Benefit boxed powder. I think it's the Aussie prices that kill me. Lovely swatches x

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  13. This looks beautiful its sutle too which is good so gives a really natural glow x

    Jewellery Giveaway
    www.krystelcouture.co.uk

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  14. I actually love the shade and I think it look great on you! I'm always been a fan of Benefit but the price is just overly high >_<

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  15. I have Nars Douceur, which now I now is very similar to this one, but the packaging od these blushes are sooo cute! Makes me want to have all of them!

    MyMakeUpCompulsion

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  16. Dallas is a massive favourite of mine, rosy neutral and makes me look healthy (a rarity as I am uber-pale!) Great swatches, I love seeing Sin compared to the other shades as I have it in the Nars Danmari palette but haven't given it a go yet.

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  17. I'm the kind of girl who wants to collect every single Benefit Boxed Powder because they're just so lovely but Dallas never appealed to me. It looks lovely on your cheeks though and maybe I need to give another swatcharoo :)

    - Jess
    The Mod Mermaid

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  18. This looks gorgeous!!! I love benefit blushes but I don't find the packaging all that convenient... I kinda want this now though haha! xx

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  19. Dallas was never really something that appealed to me... on my skin it really just blends in and doesn't give my cheeks much of a pop. It looks quite refined and elegant on you though!! :)

    Cassie
    thriftthick.blogspot.com

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  20. this looks so pretty! I haven't heard much about dallas, but it's gorgeous! I'm definitely going to check it out next time to go shopping!

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  21. I've been eyeing this shade for awhile. Now I want it even more!

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  22. I gave this blush as a present to my mum and she adores it. She has more of a tan complexion so it looks gorgeous on her. A similar inexpensive alternative, maybe not as plum but still, would be NYX blush in Taupe, my absolute favourite for contouring but looks really natural as a blush on fair skin tones too : ) xx

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  23. I love this blush! I definitely think it's one of the more underrated boxed powders x

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  24. Such a lovely shade, very unique too x

    http://bowtiedbeauty.blogspot.com/

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  25. Ooh it looks lovely! Very natural :) Looks like an eyeshadow too!

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  26. It does look good on you too! I took note of it when I watched Alix's video ages back but it didn't strike me as something I needed to have. Lol it's so funny how you bought NARS Sin so soon after deciding on Dallas- I think we need an intervention here. I really want to try some Benefit but it's just as marked-up as MAC, it's ridiculous.

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  27. this looks more like a bronzer/contour shade for me, but it looks good on your complexion!!
    I am tbh not really a fan of benefit blushes..I have coralista and bella bamba and Hoola which I like, but I'm not crazy about and for the price, I prefer to spend my money on other high end blushes ( because here in Germany, benefit is just as expensive as Burberry )..

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  28. I absolutely love Dallas! It has become one of my favorite bronzers. I have been sporting it loads during these colder months, because it's very natural looking against my winter pale skin.

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  29. Interesting shade, this would be too fair as a contour for me, I need my light brown cheek color to have a pink or peach undertone! I think this works well on you and girls who are on the pale side. I would rather have sin from NARS!

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  30. I love Dallas! It's perfect in the summer for when I'm too lazy to do contour, blush and highlight, because its a little of everything! I love Benefit.

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  31. I've always overlooked Dallas whenever i've been swatching away at a Benefit counter, but I'll have to have a closer look at it now :)

    Evelyn @ We Were Raised By Wolves

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  32. I'd never checked Dallas before, but I feel like I should check it when I visit LA 2 weeks later from now! Seems like this rosy, earthy colour would be a good blusher/bronzer for me in coming summer :)

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  33. I have hoola and since I only had interest for it as a bronzer, I haven't looked into Dallas. It does look pretty and it doesn't look too much on your pale skin. Hmmm..

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  34. looks lovely, never knew it was so similar to Douceur! X

    http://thebeautyvisual.blogspot.co.uk

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  35. I've always been interested in Benefit's blushes, but not so much their bronzers (which I consider Dallas to be). However, the color is very flattering on you - not too dark, just the right flush of pigmentation :)

    xoxo,

    Jenny @ Geeky Posh

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  36. It's a nice color I like pretty neutral, but I think that of all tanning is pretty dark. But certainly I think it's perfect for use in spring.

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  37. the color is very nice, i like it!

    greetings from chile!

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  38. Such a nice subtle contouring bronzer! I swear I wish I was your younger sister! Your makeup collection is amazing! :) x

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  39. I thought Dallas would have been good as a contouring powder but I guess it is a little too pink for it! It would make such a beautiful nude-like blush though that gives such a pretty subtle effect. I would say I'd prefer Dallas over the popular Hoola- Hoola is like a dirty brown which leans a little to the yellow/orange side. After reading review after review about Benefit's bronzers, I am really wanting one (but the price is just absurd) sob :(

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  40. I love the look of Dallas so much, I love neutral kinds of colours like this <3

    Jennie xo | sailorjennie.com

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  41. I've always wondered how flat brushes like that apply on your face. It doesn't seem as intuitive as a fluffy blush brush.

    7% Solution​

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  42. God, I love that blush color on your skin. It looks so natural and flawless! I totally came to this post in hopes that we'd be talking about the TV show, but now you have my interest piqued ;)

    P.S. Would you like to follow each other on bloglovin?

    WWW.ROXTHEFOX.COM

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