I purchased a few Becca items from beautyexpert.co.uk recently, tempted by a few reviews I'd seen on other blogs and a 15% discount I received when I made a purchase from figleaves.com
The items I bought were:
1. Eye tint in Vicuna
2. Crème blush in Turkish Rose
3. Sheer lip tint in Estella
These are they:
The packaging is a little schizophrenic - I like the rubber case of the blush but what's with the big silver disc in the middle? (It does however have a good size mirror inside which is a major plus). The eye tint comes in a non-descript but practical tube, and the lipstick in a shiny, silver case which screws open! It took me a while to stop trying to yank the lid off - old habits I guess - but now that I'm used to it I have to say I kind of like it, certainly a bit sturdier than some of the plastic cases that can crack or dislodge themselves at the bottom of your handbag.
The packaging soon became irrelevant however when I had a chance to try these products. I didn't know what to expect having not had a chance to try them in the flesh, so it was a bit of a risk buying online even with the 15% discount. Full price, the lip colour would be £21, the eye tint £17 and the cheek colour £22, so Becca is certainly not cheap - it's easily on a par with the design house cosmetics - but that said, these products stand head and shoulders above any of my Dior / Chanel etc - yes, I love them that much. This is make up that makes me want to throw out my entire collection and start afresh!
Here's a swatch, from l-r, Estelle, Turkish Rose and Vicuna. I think this is pretty accurate.
First up, the cream blush in Turkish Rose, which seems to have something of a cult status on beauty blogs and MUA. I was dubious, when I opened the blush, as it looked like a kind of dull, milky mauve - not dissimilar to my Bobbi Brown pot rouge which I find a bit sticky and pore cloggy. On the cheeks this stuff is transformed - it gives a gorgeous, healthy, sheeny glow, manages to blend in perfectly with my skin tone and give the perfect natural flush. The ever so slightly greasy texture also belies the lasting power of this product - my cheeks still look rosy and sheeny at the end of the working day. I absolutely adore this - and so far it doesn't seem to be clogging the pores on my cheeks which is a problem I have with almost every blush I own.
I was surprised, when I swatched this, to see that it appears to have a slight shimmer - this is not noticeable in the pan but that must be what creates the unexpected glow. I'm definitely going to investigate more colours in this line and have my eye on Frangipani which looks like a really pretty colour for the summer, as well as Wild Orchid.
Second up, the sheer lip tint in Estelle, which I also adore. The Becca website describes this as a beigy pink nude, however I don't see any pink in it. Personally I'd describe it as a caramel nude, but confusingly, the Becca website describes another shade, Gisella, as a caramel nude! Anyway, judge for yourself!
Although my lipstick collection veers towards pinks and reds, Estelle has been a really pleasant surprise and I think I'm going to get a lot of wear out of this in spring and summer. The buttery soft creamy texture means you can apply it without a balm and it feels really moisturising on the lips. The lasting power is decent considering the texture - it does highlight the lines on my lips a little bit, once it wears off, but nothing a quick reapplication can't solve. Also, it smells of vanilla, an unexpected bonus for me as that is one of my favourite scents!
I now have my eye on a couple of other shades in the lip tints - Milla, which is described as a sheer blackcurrant, and Vendela, a sheer rosy nude which some have described as Becca's answer to Nars' Dolce Vita - a shade I love!
Finally, the eye tint in Vicuna is another winner. On first impressions, I was worried that this wouldn't show up. My eyelids are quite dark and can look as though I'm wearing shadow when I'm not. As such, this being a sheer product, I thought my dark lids would show throw - no sireee! It is admittedly very light and sheeny (I'd describe it as a sheer gold), but it makes my eyes look lighter, fresher and alert and doesn't settle into lines and make my lids look crepey as some powder shadows can. Again, the lasting power of this is amazing, it kind of sticks to the skin but not in a bad way. Beautiful in the sunlight. I love it and again going to investigate more colours in the somewhat limited range - this could actually usurp my Nars cream shadows which I love for the gorgeous shades and subtle smokey effects but hate for their creasing.
And a side on view taken this morning.
Plus a cheek close up - hopefully this shows the 'flush' effect
What's also great about these products is that they're foolproof. You can apply and blend the eye and cheek products with your fingers, be very liberal with the lipstick and not have to worry about it looking wonky or messy - I can literally apply all three in about two minutes flat and then only have to tidy up eyebrows, curl lashes and apply concealer for a polished but natural look.
All in all, the impression I get from this line is that it's geared towards those who like a natural, subtle but fresh look (read young!). As a 30 something woman, I find the formulation and shades of these products extremely flattering. I often feel, with a full face of make up - particularly when this involves foundation and powder that I look older than my years. Becca has the opposite effect. Already, these three products have usurped most of the products in my extensive collection of other brands. I can't wait to try more, and if anyone has any Becca products they love, would love to hear some recommendations.
You can see some great videos on YouTube showing how to apply Becca products - search for Zuneta, which is another online retailer of this brand.
NB Beauty Expert currently has an offer of a free lip tint if you spend more than £50 on Becca products, so I may just be forced to get another blush and eye tint, and maybe one of the beach tints too!
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