ICYMI, Benefit Cosmetics Dropped a Cream Version of Their Iconic Hoola Bronzer
Francesca is the Beauty Editor at Adore Beauty. With a background in glossy mags and bylines in publications like Marie Claire, ELLE and BODY+SOUL, Francesca has turned her love of beauty into a career. Whether she's decoding buzzy ingredients or road testing lip glosses (so. many. glosses.), her approach to beauty is equal parts glamour and highly-considered.
Rising temperatures. Balmy evenings. A glow that feels adjacent to a sunlit holiday (no matter the season). It's the sunshine feeling, that Benefit's iconic Hoola Bronzer has been bolstering since its debut in 2001 .
Cementing itself a bona fide icon in the industry, the Hoola Bronzer is beloved for it's smooth silky finish and universally flattering shade range (we're yet to find an undertone this doesn't look great on).
The brand have now, rather iconicly, launched a cream counterpart to their beloved bronzer called Hoola Wave.
The new bronzing balm delivers radiant, natural, sunkissed bronze with the added benefits of skincare ingredients.
Think: hydrating, glowy, skin-like finish.
Does it live up to the Hoola hype? Three AB Staffers (and bronzer enthusiasts alike) review the new formula below.
What Is Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Wave Bronzing Balm?
Fast facts:
- Silky balm-formula is equal parts pigmented and buildable.
- Expansive shade range with neutral undertones.
- Waterproof, sweatproof & transfer-resistant (it boasts 12-hour longwear).
- Non-comedogenic.
A bronzer that combines a sunkissed shade range, buildable pigment, longevity AND a new glow-getting finish? Hoola Wave is THAT girl.
This new cream formula retains the beloved matte finish of its predecessor, while boasting the benefits of buttery-soft balm texture (hello lightweight, dewy finish).
This Hoola bronzer is enriched with skin-loving ingredients like jojoba seed oil, shea butter, and avocado oil to nourish and Bamboo Cellulose Fiber to soften and smooth texture.
The formula is also designed to be sweatproof, humidity-proof, smudge-proof, water-resistant, and transfer-proof, ensuring your glow lasts throughout the day.
Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Wave Bronzing Balm Shades.
Available in five shimmer-free shades that correspond with (and compliment!) the OG Hoola shades: Light, Original, Medium, Medium Deep and Deep.
The shades boast a natural, and neutral warm tone designed to cater to a diverse range of complexions.
Its buildable nature allows for a subtle warmth or a more sculpted contour, depending on your preference.
Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Wave Bronzing Balm Reviews:
Francesca Hartley, Beauty Editor
"It's no secret I'm a bronzer devotee. They hold prime real-estate in my bathroom, makeup bag, handbag (on-the-go bronzing anyone?). You get the picture. I have tried many a formula over the years. From the luxe (DIOR Forever Nude Bronzer is heaven!) to affordable go-tos and everything in between.
I love them and can't get enough. Truly. So, when I found out we (Adore Beauty) would be stocking a cream counterpart to the iconic Hoola? I audibly squealed, quickly composed myself and set the alarms.
Some backstory: The OG Hoola powder played a pivotal role in my I-want-to-look-like-a-Kardashian, contouring era. A time where both 'more is more' and 'ignorance is bliss' were my mottos. I've thankfully grown out of that stage (kinda?), and approach my bronzing with a slightly lighter hand.
Nowadays, I value diffused skin-like finishes and thoughtful, intentional placement. This new Hoola iteration, feels like the embodiment of that shift.
The trial: Opting for the shade 'Original', I swept the silky balm through the hollows of my cheeks and upwards into the temples for warmth and under the jawline for some much-welcomed chiselling. The colour payoff is pigmented - a little goes a long way - but also foolproof?!
Its easy-blending makes for natural results (no matter how heavy the hand) and a seamless, airbrushed finish.
Like the name suggests, the texture is balmy. It's a satin, melt-to-touch, so in other words, finger blending is a-okay.
Unlike powders, which I find can sometimes settle into pores or appear 'chalky', the bronzing balm texture is lightweight, fresh and hydrating on the skin (thanks to those added skin-loving ingredients).
The 'Original' shade worked well with my current fake-tanned complexion. It did skew a little on the warmer side, (remember: bronzer, not contour) so I'm eager to test this out again under slightly paler conditions.
The formula is shimmer-free, but I would argue the finish was pearlescent (think: sheeny not chunky). It gave skin a warm, ethereal (too whimsical?) glow giving the impression I'd just returned from vacay (I wish!).
It held up pretty well against the elements, boasting just the right amount of slip (iykyk), and looked plush throughout the day. I really enjoyed this formula and can see myself reaching for it regularly to lend a little colour and warmth to the complexion."
Ally Brown, Social Media Specialist
"Benefit has always been that girl. Hoola bronzer lived in my makeup bag back in the OG beauty guru days, and honestly, she never really left.
I’ve been a cream bronzer girl for a while now, so Hoola mostly made guest appearances on my eyelids. But now? She’s back, in balm form.
Creamy, buildable, and melt-into-the-skin dreamy. It’s everything I love in a bronzer, plus, I still set it with the original Hoola on top. Full-circle beauty moment. I feel 16 again (with better technique)." - Ally Brown,
Jasmine Riley, Senior Content Specialist.
"I’ve been a loyal fan of the OG Benefit Hoola for years. The Light powder was one of the first bronzers I found that actually worked with my fair skin - no orange undertones, no streaks, just a soft, natural warmth.
But as my makeup preferences shifted from powders to creams, it slowly got demoted to an eyeshadow base. I wanted that same flattering tone in a creamier, more modern formula.
So when the new Benefit Hoola Bronzing Balm landed on my doorstep one unassuming afternoon, I couldn’t believe it. My dream product, finally realised. I swiped it on immediately - and it was love at first buff.
The texture is spot on: not too wet, not too dry, and beautifully blendable. It melts into the skin without dragging, never looks cakey, and somehow manages to feel weightless while still holding its shape all day.
I’ve worn it through office air-con, a humid tram commute, and even a full-blown Melbourne downpour, truly delivering on its promise of 12-hour waterproof wear. "
Continue reading, with our articles on all things bronzing:
