Smackdown: Nars Laguna Bronzer Vs. Elf Warm Bronzer

Welcome to this weeks smackdown, bronzer edition. Today I'm smacking down 2 bronzers that arent really compared a lot, but are very similar in my eyes. The Nars Laguna Bronzer and the Elf Warm Bronzer!

Lets start with the packaging. They are both packaged in a sleek looking black compact that opens up to reveal a mirror, and the pan of product. They are both very easy to open, and are very sturdy.

Nars Laguna Bronzer holds 8 grams of product and has a retail of $38.00.  Elf Warm Bonzer has 12.3 grams of product and retails for $3.00. So, clearly Elf is far more budget friendly here.

Elf Warm Bronzer has 4 different bronzing colors in the pan making it very versatile. You can customize for added dimension on you face and even highlight with the lightest shade. It has a satin finish, so it is great for contouring as well as generally warming up the face.  And, since it has that satin/skin-like finish, it blends very beautifully if you are using a fluffy brush and a light hand.

Nars Laguna Bronzer is also a satin finish bronzer that is ver easy to work with. It blends seamlessly into your skin and makes it look like you aren't even wearing any bronzer at all, only you have that hint of dimension that is very natural looking. This is by far the easiest bronzer I've ever worked with. It is so smooth and works with lots of different skin-tones.

When swatched, these bronzers look a tiny bit different. They have the same finish (Satiny, skin looking), but the Elf is a bit more pigmented with one swipe, and is also a bit warmer. Overall, with the price difference and the performance I don't think I even need to say it, but the Elf Warm Bronzer is the winner for me on this one! So much cheaper with such a similar effect, you cannot go wrong with this $3 gem!

Smackdown: Yes To Grapefruit Brightening Facial Towelettes vs. Burt's Bees Pink Grapefruit Facial Towelettes

Today, I'll be comparing 2 drugstore brands that have some truly amazing products between them. Yes To and Burt's Bees. They both have some crazy great skincare products, but I'm totally in love with their facial towelettes! Like I use them every single day, or maybe more. Both brands have a grapefruit variety of towelette, so I'll be comparing those today.

Lets start with the packaging, like always. Yes To Grapefruit Brightening Facial Towelettes come in an elongated soft pack with a white plastic compartment that opens to reveal a hole for you to grab a towelette from. Burt's Bees is very similar, only the soft pack is much shorter, so the towelettes are folded a bit more.

Both towelettes have the same citrus type scent to them. They honestly smell the exact same. I'm not much for scents, but I do like the smell of citrus, so I like the smell of these 2 products.

Yes To Grapefruit Brightening Facial Towelettes are much thicker and are textured, where Burt's Bees are thin and non textured. Both feel strong and have never ripped on me while wiping them over my face. And the size is also the exact same.

Yes To Grapefruit Brightening Facial Towelettes retail at $5.99 for 25 towelettes. Burt's Bees Pink Grapefruit Facial Towelettes also retail for $5.99, however you get 30 towelettes. So, Burt's Bees Pink Grapefruit Facial Towelettes are a little less expensive per wipe.

Honestly, the big difference for me with these 2 products boils down to the formula. I think that the Burt's Bees Pink Grapefruit Facial Towelettes are far more gentle and take off oil and makeup way better than the Yes To Grapefruit Brightening Facial Towelettes. I really wanted to like the Yes To Grapefruit Brightening Facial Towelettes as much as the Burt's Bees Pink Grapefruit Facial Towelettes, but for me the Yes to just didn't feel as nice on my skin and caused a little bit of irritation and redness. Please note, that the Yes To Blueberry Facial Towelettes are my absolute favorite facial wipes of all time, so it has nothing to do with the brand.

WINNER: Burt's Bees Pink Grapefruit Facial Towelettes!!!!

Smackdown: Tarte "Park Avenue Princess" Lipgloss vs. Burt's Bees "Sunny Day" Lipgloss

I'm really excited for this smackdown. As you may have gathered if you are a regular reader of my blog, I like my more natural cosmetic products. I definitely have products that are the opposite of natural, and use them a lot. But for my day to day looks, I try to steer it towards good brands.

Two of my favorite brands for natural products are Tarte and Burt's Bees. And when I noticed that they both have a bronzy, shimmery lipgloss I knew I had to compare them. Tarte's "Park Avenue Princess" Lipgloss is brand new for summer. And Burt's Bees "Sunny Day" Lipgloss has been around for years.

I hauled the Burt's Bees lipgloss last week, so I got it for next to nothing (regular retail $8.99) .Tarte's "Park Avenue Princess" retails for $19. Tarte's "Park Avenue Princess" comes in a 0.27 oz. tube, where Burt's Bees is 0.2 oz. So, you're getting a little more gloss with Tarte.

Both of these glosses have a scent, and they smell very similar. A sort of light vanilla, honey smell.  Tarte's "Park Avenue Princess" has a stronger smell, though. The application is the exact same, with a doe foot applicator wand. The shapes of the wands are a bit different, but they feel the same on the lips.

Both of these glosses have a golden shimmer. Tarte's "Park Avenue Princess" has a bit bigger flakes of gold in it. The hue of these glosses is very similar, however, there is clearly more color payoff with Tarte.

We start to run into major differences when we talk about the formulation of these glosses. Burt's Bees is definitely more of a dry formula than the Tarte. Tarte, although is a bit more moisturizing product, isn't terribly comfortable for me since I can feel the gold flakes on my lips, and it's a little more tacky. For those reasons, I think formula wise, I like Burt's Bees better. I've swatched them below for you to see for yourself what they look like. And, although the Tarte clearly has more color payoff, once sheered out on the lips, they look very alike. I'm going to let the Burt's Bees win this one, for better formula and smaller price tag! 

What's New: Ulta Sculpting Palette

I very rarely purchase Ulta brand cosmetics. I have a few things, but to be honest I'm never truly impressed with the stuff I get from the line. Plus, I truly don't see other beauty bloggers and gurus reviewing the line much either, so I never know what to expect as far as quality goes.

When I saw this giant size compact on my last trip to Ulta, I was instantly drawn to it. It's just like the one from it Cosmetics and pixi, but was on sale for only $6.00 (regularly $14.00), and unlike the high price tag of it cosmetics and pixi palettes of the same nature, I could afford this one on the spot!

I went home right away and looked it up on Ulta's website for reviews. At the time, there were only 2 reviews on this palette, both with a 5 star rating. I couldn't find any swatches or videos reviewing or even hauling this product, so I decided to just open it and give it a go.

This palette is comprised of 3 shades in one pan. A blush, a bronzer, and a highlighter. The idea is to use these colors on your face in strategic places to make your face appear to have more definition. Highlighting with the light shade, contouring with the dark shade, and using the blush shade on the apples of your cheeks. I contour/sculpt my face every day, and didn't have an all-in-one palette until now. I must say, it's pretty handy.

There are 3 different colors available for this palette. All 3 of them look similar to me aside from the blush colors being different. The bronzer and highlight shades look very similar. The shade I picked up is called "Rosette".

I've swatched all 3 colors from the "Rosette" palette below to give you an idea of color payoff and pigmentation.  I'm excited to really put this product to the test. It will also be a handy travel item this summer despite it's huge size, it's nice to have all 3 contour shades in one place.

Smackdown: Revlon ShadowLinks vs. Sally Girl Eyeshadow Connecting Compacts

There is no denying that these 2 products have been compared before. But, I owned the Sally Girl eyeshadow connecting compacts, and have for years. So, when I hauled the Revlon ShadowLinks last week, I knew I wanted to compare them for myself, which is why I intentionally bought the shades that I did in the Revlon ShadowLinks.

 

The packaging for both products are VERY similar. They both have a see-through plastic top with a hinged opening. They shut with a simple clasp design, and the sides of each individual shadows has a groove that you can slide into another like shadow. Note: You can not link the Sally Girl with the Revlon :)

The Revlon ShadowLinks retail for $2.99 per shadow, and are available at all drugstores and wherever else Revlon might be sold. The Sally Girl eyeshadow connecting compacts retail for $0.99 and are only available at Sally Beauty Supply stores and sallybeauty.com.

 

Revlon ShadowLinks in "Oyster" & "Taupe"

Sally Girl eyeshadow connecting compacts in "Champagne" & "Black Brown"

To be honest, I heard from a number of different beauty gurus that the Revlon ShadowLinks were hit and miss/crap. But, I got great deals on the ones I hauled, so I thought this would be a great post, so I could save you all the trouble. I obviously didn't pay $2.99 for the ShadowLinks, so for me the Sally Girl eyeshadow connecting compacts were more expensive, but if you aren't a deal shopper, this information is irrelevant.

I think for now, I'm going to let the swatches speak for themselves.

I want you to keep in mind, that we are smacking down 2 inexpensive products, so the money issue isn't terribly relevant. But, think of things on a much higher scale and the savings could be huge! The Sally Girl eyeshadow connecting compacts are 1/3 the cost of the Revlon ShadowLinks, and they are clearly more pigmented! The Revlon shades are even built up, where the Sally Girl eyeshadow connecting compacts are one touch to the product, and one swipe of my finger! Say you wanted to build a compact with 6 of these shadows. The Revlon would cost you nearly $18, where the Sally Girl eyeshadow connecting compacts would cost around $6. I obviously think the Sally Girl wins this smackdown for me. This truly goes to show you that more expensive price tags do not equal higher quality.

Smackdown: Revlon's PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator in Bronze Light vs. Physicians Formula Glow-Boosting BB Cream in Light to Medium

I'm finally doing another Smackdown! Today I'm comparing Revlon's PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator in Bronzed Light vs. Physicians Formula Glow-Boosting BB Cream in Light to Medium. Sheesh, what is it with these long names of products? Anyway, starting off I'm going to tell you what the company's of each of these products have to say about them.


About Revlon's PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator in Bronze Light:
With Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator its easy to get a healthy glow in any light. Brighten and illuminate skin for a radiant complexion. Wear alone to highlight and brighten. Wear with foundation to banish dullness and even out skin tone.

About Physicians Formula Glow-Boosting BB Cream in Light to Medium:

Instant Natural Bronze Glow. Instant & Lasting Bronze Glow!1st Ever BB Cream Bronzer. Bronzer + BB Cream Benefits. Replaces: Moisturizer,Foundation, Bronzer, SPF. Mistake Proof Formula. Stain-Free, Streak-Free, Orange-Free, Odor-Free. Glow Activator Technology. - See more at: http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/face/bronzers/06222.html#sthash.GyABSPEF.dpuf

Instant Natural Bronze Glow. Instant & Lasting Bronze Glow!1st Ever BB Cream Bronzer. Bronzer + BB Cream Benefits. Replaces: Moisturizer,Foundation, Bronzer, SPF. Mistake Proof Formula. Stain-Free, Streak-Free, Orange-Free, Odor-Free. Glow Activator Technology. - See more at: http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/face/bronzers/06222.html#sthash.GyABSPEF.dpuf

Instant, natural and lasting bronzed glow! 1st ever BB cream bronzer. Bronzer + BB cream benefits. Replaces Moisturizer, foundation, SPF, bronzer. Mistake proof formula. Stain-free, streak-free, orange-free. Glow activator technology.

So, on to my opinions. These are both the same type of product to me. I don't care if one is labeled "BB" and the other one is "PhotoReady". They are both liquid bronzers that are supposed to give you a healthy/tan complexion. I realize that most of my smackdowns involve a high end brand and a drugstore brand, and I'm sorry but these are very similar in price. I wanted to compare them for myself, and I thought someone else would like the info. Revlon retails for $12.99 and Physicians Formula is $14.99. I have seen the Revlon everywhere, Target, Walmart, CVS etc. And, I have seen the Physicians Formula only at Ulta. So, Revlon is much easier to obtain.

These are both Silicone based, and feel the same on my face. The Physicians Formula does have SPF where Revlon does not. When heavily swatched, the Physicians Formula is clearly lighter in color. But when blended out, they have a very similar tone. On me, the Physicians Formula is a tiny bit more orangey, but is completely a matte finish. Revlon has a very slight shimmer to it, which when photographed I cannot detect.

 Swatched heavily

Blended swatch

So, my final verdict on these 2 products are that they are basically pretty similar. I think I'm going to lean slightly toward the Physicians Formula BB Bronzer more, just because I like how it has an SPF, and that it also is completely matte. That's not to say that I'm going to give up on the Revlon, though. There are days that a slight shimmer is great, and I think that this one blended in with your foundation is a superb idea!

Instant Natural Bronze Glow. Instant & Lasting Bronze Glow!1st Ever BB Cream Bronzer. Bronzer + BB Cream Benefits. Replaces: Moisturizer,Foundation, Bronzer, SPF. Mistake Proof Formula. Stain-Free, Streak-Free, Orange-Free, Odor-Free. Glow Activator Technology. - See more at: http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/face/bronzers/06222.html#sthash.GyABSPEF.dpuf

Instant Natural Bronze Glow. Instant & Lasting Bronze Glow!1st Ever BB Cream Bronzer. Bronzer + BB Cream Benefits. Replaces: Moisturizer,Foundation, Bronzer, SPF. Mistake Proof Formula. Stain-Free, Streak-Free, Orange-Free, Odor-Free. Glow Activator Technology. - See more at: http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/face/bronzers/06222.html#sthash.GyABSPEF.dpuf

Smackdown: Champagne Highlighters

Champagne Highlighters are super popular right now. Champagne looks great on every skin tone, and highlighting is something that has gained a lot of popularity since Kim Kardashian got famous for her cheekbones. Today I've taken three Champagne Highlighters out of my collection and have swatched and compared them for you!

 elf Studio Body Shimmer in "Mystic Moonlight",  Sonia Kashuk Chic Luminosity Highlighter Stick in "Sparkling Sand", and Benefit "Watt's Up!"

So, lets start with the prices of these three items. The elf Studio Body Shimmer in "Mystic Moonlight" is priced at only $3.00 for .35 oz. The Sonia Kashuk Chic Luminosity Highlighter Stick in "Sparkling Sand" is $10.99 for .37 oz, and Benefit "Watt's Up!" is $30 for .33 oz. (Full size not pictured). So, we have highlighters here in every price range.

The Textures of these Champagne Highlighters are very similar with some minor differences. The  elf Studio Body Shimmer in "Mystic Moonlight" is a creamy texture that stays somewhat creamy on the skin.  Benefit "Watt's Up!" is creamy as well, and feels very similar to the elf, but it is a harder consistency, so it's more difficult to build up (however being a highlighter, that's sometimes a good thing). Then the Sonia Kashuk Chic Luminosity Highlighter Stick in "Sparkling Sand" is a cream-to-powder texture, that feels a bit dryer while you're applying it. 

The color payoff of all of these highlighters are pretty much equal. I feel like they are all very opaque and pigmented. The undertones of these highlighters are pretty different, though. I have swatched them below so that you can see the difference. The elf Studio Body Shimmer in "Mystic Moonlight" has a very distinct pink undertone. The Sonia Kashuk Chic Luminosity Highlighter Stick in "Sparkling Sand" is neutral with a slight yellow undertone, and Benefit "Watt's Up!" is the warmest of the bunch with a golden-orange undertone.

The staying power of all three is pretty similar, with the Benefit "Watt's Up!" being the one with the longest staying power. I can't see a difference on my skin in the staying power between the elf or the Sonia Kashuk.

Overall, I'd have to say that if you are in the market of wanting or needing a cream Champagne Highlighter in stick form, any of these would be a good choice. You may want to consider your skin type and buy one based off of the undertones of your skin and match it with the undertones of the Highlighter. With that being said, Champagne is one of the most forgiving colors, and can usually be used on every skin tone if you apply it correctly.

Smackdown: Beauty Blender Vs. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

Once upon a time all you could get were little triangle shaped sponges. They were super inexpensive at only a few dollars for a huge package of about 20 of them. They worked well, and a lot of people swore by them. I remember using them when I first started putting makeup on when I was very young. Then, one day, the world changed as we knew it, and the Beauty Blender came out.

It was bright pink and tear-drop shaped and $20. Yes, 20 freaking dollars! For a sponge! Shortly after it's arrival at Sephora, there was a cult following, and everyone and their dog seemed to be raving about it. I would see them at Sephora, and say to myself  "There is no way that I'm spending $20 on a sponge!" Then one day, I broke down after hearing SO MANY people claim that it was the best invention since sliced bread, and I bought the Beauty Blender. My life was changed forever.

This beautiful, pink sponge was so easy to use, and made my foundation so fun to put on. I felt like I was airbrushed after and it didn't look like I had any makeup on at all. It just looked like my skin - only better! But, like most things that are amazing, it didn't last forever and eventually I found myself needing a new one.

By this point a ton of makeup company's had tried to duplicate this dream of a sponge, and FAILED miserably! I purchased one from Walgreens (soho brand) that shredded only after a week, I got one from Target (Sonia Kashuk brand) that felt like I was beating my face up while I was using it. I got the Sephora brand one, and it, too was way too hard for my face. Then, Real Techniques came out with one, and at $5.99 I thought it was at least worth a try.

To my surprise the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge was great! It was certainly not as good as the Beauty Blender. But to be honest, after using the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge and only paying $5.99 for it, the Beauty Blender isn't worth the $20.

The shapes of these 2 sponges are different, and of course the Beauty Blender is a tiny bit easier to work with. Both sponges puff up when dampened (which is the optimal way to use them). The  Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge is slightly longer than the Beauty Blender, but I don't feel like it's harder to work with it being longer. They both have a pointed tip for getting into your eye area with ease. The flatter area of these sponges is definitely where you run into a difference in how they apply. The Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge has a sort of cut-out on that end, where the Beauty blender is very rounded making it a totally seamless application. The Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge is maybe not as seamless of a finish, but I can't tell a difference when I use it with my favorite foundations.

The biggest similarity of these two sponges, is that they are both very soft after they are dampened and feel the same on my face while I'm applying my cosmetics. This is huge for  me, since that is the thing that seemed to make the Beauty Blender a one-of-a-kind product.

Overall, if you are interested in a sponge like this, then I would definitely save your money and get the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. At only $5.99 it's a GREAT alternative to the Beauty Blender!

Skin Care Week Smackdown: Maracuja Oil vs. Argan Oil

It's no secret that beauty oils are all the rage right now. It seems like there is an oil for everything from your scalp to your toes. I am a firm believer that beauty oils are great for your skin. Two of the more popular oils in the beauty world (namely for your skin) are Maracuja oil and Argan oil. This weeks smackdown is going to tell you about their differences, and which one might be better for you.

Both of these oils have a similar price point when purchased at sephora (My argan oil is from here for a fraction of the price for the exact same product that's at sephora). Tarte Maracuja oil is $46 for 1.7 oz. And, Josie Maran Argan oil is $48 for 1.7 oz.

Maracuja oil is a much "lighter" oil than Argan oil. Meaning it's not as heavy feeling on your skin, and it soaks in much faster. With that being said, I feel like Argan oil is more moistuizing than Maracuja oil is. But they are both hydrating, Argan just being the more hydrating of the 2.

These 2 oils have slightly different benefits for your skin. Argan oil is high in vitamin e, fatty acids and antioxidants. Which basically means that is is great for making your skin restore a youthful appearance as well as improves elasticity, tone and texture. Maracuja oil is high in vitamin c, calcium, phosphorous, and essential fatty acids. This means that it does the same thing as Argan oil, but with the help of that vitamin c, it also boosts collagen production and improves brightness.

So, which of these two wonderful oils is better? I personally think that they are equally good. But they may not be equally good for your skin. If you have more oily skin, or dull skin, then Maracuja oil is definitely the choice for you. And, for more dry or aged skin, Argan oil is the clear choice since it is a bit more hydrating. I keep both oils on hand at all times. I love Argan oil for use in my hair as well as my dry cuticles. I also use it on my face right after I get out of the shower since it is so hydrating, I feel like it locks it that moisture before it escapes from my skin. And I can't imagine my night time skin care routine without my Maracuja oil. I notice a difference when I don't use Maracuja oil at night. My face does not have the same brightness as when I do use it. That being said, Maracuja oil is recommended for only nightly use since vitamin c can have adverse effects when exposed to sunlight.


So have you gotten on the trend of beauty oils? Which of these oils do you like better? I'd love to hear about your experiences. 

Smackdown: Tarte emphasEYES for brows vs. Maybelline Define-a-Brow

Today's smackdown, is all about the brows. I personally like to fill in my brows with a pencil. I think I have better control, and I also feel like it looks more natural than filling them in with a powder, expecially when done correctly. Tarte emphasEYES for brows and Maybelline Define-a-Brow are 2 pencils that are specifically for your brows, and they are very similar. But how similar? I'll tell you my expiriences with both of them and compare for you, so that you can decide which would be better for you. In this smackdown, I'm comparing the Tarte emphasEYES in Taupe - light taupe. And the Maybelline Define-a-Brow in dark blonde.

Lets start with the price of these 2 products. The Maybelline Define-a-Brow for .001 oz. is around $6. Where the Tarte emphasEYES will set you back $19.50 for the exact same amount of product, .001 oz. So, the Tarte emphasEYES is quite a bit more expensive. Expecially considering you can often find Maybelline products on sale at your local drug store.

Both pencils have a very fine tip. In fact, other than the color of the plastic surrounding the product, I cant tell a difference between the 2 of them. The application is the same for both. Using short stokes to fill in your eyebrows where needed, to create the illusion of little hairs where they may be sparse. One thing I do want to point out, is that the Tarte emphasEYES is much easier for me to twist up than the Maybelline Define-a-Brow. I'm not sure if all of the Maybelline Define-a-Brow pencils are as difficult to twist as mine is, but it is definitely a noticeable difference.

 

Tarte emphasEYES has a spooly on the opposite end of the pencil for you to groom your eyebrows before and/or after you apply your pencil, where the Maybelline Define-a-Brow has a small comb for the same purpose. I personally think the spooly on the Tarte emphasEYES is much better for it's intended use and grooms my eyebrows a lot better and easier than the comb version on the Maybelline Define-a-Brow pencil.

The color payoff is the same and they even look very similar when swatched out. Maybelline Define-a-Brow is a much harder formula than the Tarte emphasEYES, so the Tarte emphasEYES goes on a bit easier and creamier, however once applied they have the same effect.

Personally, overall I like the Tarte emphasEYES a little bit better. And, I think I lean toward liking that one better only for the fact that it has the nicer grooming tool on the other end of the pencil. That being said, the  Maybelline Define-a-Brow is certainly a wonderful alternative and very close dupe that costs a lot less for the same overall end results.

Smackdown: The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain vs. Benefit Benetint

I'm all for a good dupe! Sometimes I literally cannot tell 2 products apart from each other when they are swatched out or applied to the face. And, sometimes there is a definite difference, even when you think things will be the exact same, or look the same when just looking through the bottle or at the pan. Today's smackdown is between The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain in Rose Pink vs. Benefit Benetint. Both claim the same thing; that they will give you a rose flush to your cheeks or lips with a staining action. Thus, making it a natural and long wearing product. 

First, lets look at the price. The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain is $14 for 0.2 oz. And, Benetint is $30 for .42 oz. (size of Benetint in my photo is not full size). So, really ounce by ounce Benetint isn't that much more than The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain. However, The Body Shop has sales on their makeup all the time. I got the full size product that you see in the picture above at 50% off during one of their sales making it only around $7. Where I have never seen Benetint for sale or discounted.

Next, the consistency of the products are different. The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain is more of a gel-like consistency, where Benetint is a strait up liquid. It makes me think of cranberry juice, ha. 

The application process is basically the same for both products. Benetint has a brush applicator that you dot on your cheeks, then sheer out with your fingers or a brush, where The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain has a doe foot applicator, and instructions are the same. 

Staying power for both products is the exact same for me. I feel like they both last all day when I apply them to my cheeks, and have about a 4 hour time frame on my lips.

The colors for both products are described as a rose tint. They are both red based, but they have different undertones. The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain has a more purple undertone, which is better for cool skin tones, and Benetint has a more Orange undertone, which would be better for warmer skin tones. The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain definitely looks to me like it is more of a "rose" color like they both proclaim to be.  

I've swatched both products below. Please keep in mind, that I'm very pale, and these are much heavier than I would wear them on my cheeks. The photo is to show you that there is a difference between the 2. 

So, which is your favorite? Does a staining product scare you? Let me know! As for me, I'm more in love with The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain. I like the gel formulation, and the application is easier for me than Benetint because of the thickness of the gel. I also think the color is nicer and richer than Benetint.