tigerlilyfirewater: again not my own

Friday, May 27, 2011

Hard Candy Fox in a Box in Spicy & Sweet

Hard Candy Fox in a Box in "Spicy & Sweet" is a boxed blush/bronzer quad containing three warm-toned blushes, one bronzer and a slender brush applicator. The Fox in a Box quads were first released in Hard Candy's 2011 Spring Collection. Per Hard Candy, "A highly pigmented multi-color powder compact that will surely bring out your inner foxy lady. Each box contains coordinated shades that blend together perfectly and a custom Hard Candy applicator brush. Sweep across chin, cheeks and forehead and unleash the foxiness in you".

I can't help but notice the striking similarities in the Fox in a Box quads to Benefit's Box O' Powders. Both are boxed products complete with slender brush applicator. I think everyone noticed the physical similarities when the Spring Collection first launched. Many were hoping the Fox in a Box quads were an affordable dupe to Benefit's Box O' Powders. I have yet to try a Benefit Box O' Powder, so I can't compare. However, it is worth noting they look alike! (I think any boxed powders is so cute!)

Hard Candy's Fox in a Box in "Spicy and Sweet" is packaged open inside a plastic case. This allows you to see the product shades and the brush applicator, which has a elastic band keeping it attached to the box. The plastic case has the shade name, product ingredients and weight printed on it. While the shade name and product weight are printed on the product itself, the ingredients are not. The lid of the Fox in a Box quad stays open without any problems and closes magnetically, as well as stays closed securely. The underside of the quad shows the shade name, "Spicy & Sweet", and product weight, 5.7 g./0.20 oz. (about half the amount of product in Benefit's Box O' Powders).

The brush applicator isn't great, but it's not terrible either. It is a tad scratchy, but gets the job done. It's nice to have something included for in-a-pinch situations and given the size, it's quite appropriate for getting the individual colors that a full-size brush isn't able to do. Also, the elastic band that holds the brush applicator does a fantastic job of keeping the brush in place. It's not difficult to remove or replace either.

Okay, on to the product. Hard Candy's Fox in a Box in "Spicy & Sweet" is a lovely combination of warm shades that would compliment most skin tones. The three blushes range from a brighter pink with gold shimmer, a darker pink with no shimmer (though the shimmer from the brighter pink does carry over) and a coral peach with an overall sheen. The bronzer is a classic tan with an overall sheen, but on my fair skin, it appears a bit muddy. When swirled all together, you get more of an orange shade that, as you'll see in my swatch, came off looking like a rash. On my cheeks, without the bronzer shade, it came off more like a subtle flush - it was very natural looking.

I found "Spicy & Sweet" to be very smooth, long-wearing and blended easily, though the blushes are a bit sheer and all had moderate fallout. That being said, the "Spicy & Sweet" blushes do layer well, so you achieve as little or as much color as you wish! I really can't fault Hard Candy because this fact makes this quad very workable. For instance, younger girls (as I feel Hard Candy is targeted towards) may not want a highly pigmented blush, and the sheer color may work perfectly for them. For those of us who want more color on our cheeks, an extra application will get us there! The bronzer is much more pigmented than the blushes, so use a light hand.

In conclusion, I think Hard Candy's Fox in a Box in "Spicy & Sweet" is a great product for most skin tones! I feel the blushes, when used individually, will suit just about anyone, while the bronzer and overall use of all four shades is probably better suited for medium skin tones (I'm iffy on whether or not this quad will work for darker skin tones). Did I mention the packaging is super cute?

Hard Candy Fox in a Box in "Spicy & Sweet" is available at Walmart stores, and online via walmart.com, and retails for $6.00. There are five shades of Fox in a Box quads, including "Spicy & Sweet". All Hard Candy products are cruelty-free!