Benefit Georgia & Dandelion & A Dupe

Fellow blogger Phyrra asked whether I had a swatch of Benefit Georgia and since I've been asked about it a few other times I thought I might as well do a post on it and suggest a decent dupe for it.

Here's my ratty old box.  I've had it for three years (shock horror!).  I probably use it about 1-2 times per week on average, and every day when on holiday.

I finally hit pan on it recently and I am seriously considering repurchasing when it runs out, despite the eye watering £23.50 price tag.
Benefit says: "Our "just peachy" face powder leaves your complexion warm and vibrant. Georgia is a dream...it's peaches and cream!...Can be applied allover complexion or on the apples of cheeks."

Where people go wrong with this powder is by expecting it to work like a peach blusher, or be as pigmented as Coralista, Bella Bamba or even Thrrrob.  As Benefit says, it's a face powder.  Where they go wrong is by suggesting it can be used on the "apples of cheeks".

As you can see from my pitiful swatch below, it is extremely fine and not pigmented at all.  However, applied with a fluffy face brush, I find it makes a perceptible difference to my overall complexion.  There's a glow, a sheen...a not very obvious difference, but a good one all the same.  For me it's the perfect finishing powder.  If you try to apply it with the little brush supplied in the box it will all go Pete Tong.  I normally apply it after foundation but before blush, but you can just dust it on as a final step to your make up routine.  Also, it smells lovely.

I've used flash in the photos below so I think it may have distorted the effect a bit.  I'm wearing only foundation with Georgia over the top.

Without

With Benefit Georgia

The best highstreet dupe I've found for Georgia, and even more so, Dandelion, is No7's Highlights Illuminating Powder.  Unfortunately I've just discovered that they no longer seem to be selling it.  Boo!! I really hope it hasn't been discontinued ¬_¬.  It doesn't appear to be available online but you may still be able to find it in-store.  I picked the one below - 10 Dandy Pink - for £5 (full price £10) last year with one of those Boots No7 £5 off vouchers.

It's much more pigmented and shimmery that Georgia and Dandelion, so if you have pale skin you could probably get away with it as a blush as you'll see in the fourth photo down where it's heavily swatched.  However I just use it as a finishing powder.  It really lifts up my skin and gives it a glow.  If I remember correctly there were a few different shades of this powder.  I must start a petition to have it revived!

The No7 powder is like a more pigmented cheaper version of Dandelion (also £23.50).  Benefit says: "This classic ballerina pink finishing powder takes your complexion from dull to radiant in an instant...a celeb fave!".


You would have a bit more success using Dandelion as a blush, as I do find it a bit too pink to dust all over as I have a lot of pink undertones in my skin.  I probably wouldn't repurchase this one.

What are your favourite finishing powders?

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