When I received the new Sleek Makeup Blush by 3 blush palette in Sugar I had what is known as a “OMG What am I going to do with this?!” moment. I flapped around for a bit, opened the palette, stared at the deep pigmented berry and orange and bronze and shut it again. It was all too much to take in.
But one morning, I had a bit of time so I thought I’d try it out. The Sleek Makeup Blush by 3 palette is a palette of 3 blush shades that complement each other, even if they don’t quite seem to. Each palette consists of 3 colours in matte and shimmery textures designed to take you from day to night with a simple technique of layering. The palette shown here is Sugar. I must tell you however, that if you plan to purchase these blush trios, please do not base your impressions on the Sleek makeup website. They are grossly off and totally unrepresentative of the colours in real life, as I will show you below.
The packaging is … sleek. The product comes housed in Sleek Makeup’s compact plastic packaging that actually feels quite sturdy.
I did not take a picture of the palette size, but it is about the length of my palm and sits in it quite comfortably. Instead of including a crummy brush that most of us will toss anyway, Sleek Makeup has opted to make the blush pans flush against the sides of the palette. What this means is that you get a TON of product in this slim compact case. I didn’t quite measure off hand, but each blush pan is about the size of a NARS blush pan and again, I didn’t compare it but the colours in the Sugar palette were quite reminiscent of NARS blushes that I own(ed).
The Sleek Blush by 3 palette in Sugar has a matte berry shade (Turbinado), a shimmer bronzed rose shade (Muscovado) and a matte orange shade (Demerara). In pan, it looks incredibly pigmented and very daunting. However, having had experience with NARS blushes prior to this, I picked up my softest blush brush (Lunasol Cheek Brush) and just touched the brush to the colour for best effect and interestingly, it applies a lot sheerer than I expected. Speaking of Nars blushes, the colours in the Sugar palette remind me of Mounia (a matte version), Outlaw/Lovejoy and Gina respectively.
Swatched with fingers, I will say that the matte colours are a bit blah.
Sleek Blush by 3 Sugar swatches L-R: Turbinado, Muscovado, Demerara
The middle shimmer shade (Muscovado) is the most pigmented. It was swatched just once. The 2 matte shade on either side were layered with 2 layers at least. The texture of the matte colours are hard and fingers do not pick up the colour very well. But then, you don’t apply powder blush with your fingers do you? You use a brush! 😉 And if you use a good brush that picks up colour well, you do end up with quite a pretty colour on skin.
I merely touched my blush brush to each of the 3 colours from the berry to the bronzed rose to the orange, then dab it on a piece of tissue, then apply to the skin. I don’t know what MAC foundation shade I am, but this might give you an idea of the foundation shades I use – I am usually on the lightest end of the colour spectrum, and Sugar wasn’t too scary! *whew*
The shimmer bronzed rose shade adds a bit of dimension to the skin due to the shimmer. On separate occasions, I’ve used just the berry mixed with the orange and it gives a lovely matte flush too. I must say that I was quite surprised at how wearable it really is.
In a nutshell
Sleek Makeup Blush by 3 is a palette of 3 blush shades in one. Each palette has matte and shimmer shades and each colour can be worn on its own or layered to create different colours, dimensions and depth. Sugar is warm berry-orange palette that looks incredibly pigmented in the pan but which is actually quite sheer on the skin. I would recommend the use of a stippling brush (if you prefer that) or a soft blush brush (my preference) to apply and blend the colour on skin. I am on the fair end of the foundation spectrum but Sugar gives me a lovely rosy flush to the skin when I blend the colours out. The representation of colours on the website are quite inaccurate so I’d recommend doing a search for the pictures of the actual product for better representation.
Pros: Colour is very pigmented but can be applied sheerly if you use a light hand or a good brush, Slim and compact packaging houses 3 good sized blush pans, Affordable
Cons: Unavailable locally but available online, Matte shades feel a bit hard and apply sheer, Colour representation on the website is off
Because I can, here’s another picture to show how the Sleek Blush by 3 in Sugar looks on me from slightly further away
I upped the ante a bit to make sure the colour is seen on camera but I toned it back down before I went out, so I didn’t scare the masses 🙂 Its a pretty palette and I think them good value for money. Not a must have, but an inexpensive pick me up.
And remember how I said not to be fooled by the swatches on the Sleek Makeup website? Look at the 5 Blush by 3 palettes available.
Did you see Sugar? Does it look anything like the picture of the actual palette above?! So you know what? It gives me hope that the rest of the palettes do not look as scary as how I expect them to after seeing their representations on the website 🙂
Does any of the Sleek Makeup Blush by 3 palettes catch your eye? How would you have worn Sugar? I’m actually eyeing Lace and maybe Flame. Perhaps I should hit up any friends headed to the UK for a favour – erm… hint hint! 😀
Paris B
Sleek Makeup Blush By 3 blush palettes come in 5 colours – Lace, Pink Sprint, Sugar, Flame and Pumpkin Price: US$15.99/ £9.99 Availability: www.sleekmakeup.com and Superdrug stores in the UK International shipping: Yes ($13.50 flat rate although a test order showed it currently at $7.50)
Tracy says
April 25, 2012 at 8:35 amParis this looks GORGOEUS on you!! Your cheeks are so glowy!! LOVE!!
I have never tried a Sleek blush but that Pink Sprint is so unique and calling my name! One more month until blush ban lifts, one more month…
Paris B says
April 26, 2012 at 3:53 pmThanks Tracy and You can do it! Although I think you might just go mad after this month 😉 I think Pink Sprint is very unique too – a whole palette of matte blushes. Sounds promising!
Hanny Daforcena says
April 25, 2012 at 8:36 amThat is a pretty palette indeed! Pink spirit seems very me HAHAHAHA
Yay for Sleek then~ Their stuff seems to be very, very good in terms of quality ^.^
Paris B says
April 26, 2012 at 3:53 pmYay for Pink Sprint hehe… its all matte in that one and I think I could see you wearing it 😀 Some of their stuff aren’t bad for the price you pay. The shipping is killer though >.<
Traclyn says
April 25, 2012 at 9:16 amSugar looks great on you! I have just ordered Lace and was contemplating Pumpkin since this year’s hot shade would be tangerine. But then again, I have yellow undertone and afraid it will make more yellow.LOL!
Paris B says
April 26, 2012 at 3:54 pmThat Pumpkin one reminded of the pink and yellow Anna Sui blush I tried once. I never got it to work properly so I’d stay far away from it 😛 Lace does look very pretty so I’m quite keen on that one!
xin says
April 25, 2012 at 9:17 amawwwww please take my whole jar of sugar!
Paris B says
April 26, 2012 at 3:54 pmThank you! *takes whole jar of sugar*
Shandi Naugle says
April 25, 2012 at 9:33 amThis looks fantastic, and BTW, it doesn’t look scary on you. It looks great! 🙂
Paris B says
April 26, 2012 at 3:55 pmThank you Shandi 😀 It doesn’t look scary on the skin at all and I’m sure you could pull it off quite easily too!
Germs says
April 25, 2012 at 9:45 amOh you’re making me want this! There’s a few online shops in SG which sell this, now I’m going to grab it. Have you tried Sleek’s eyeshadow palettes as well? They’re inexpensive and of quite good quality!
Paris B says
April 26, 2012 at 3:56 pmI’ve tried a couple of Sleek Makeup’s eyeshadow palettes and I will agree. They are pretty good quality for the small price tag 🙂 I do prefer their shimmer colours to their mattes though. They have some matte palettes coming up. Will have to see how that fares 🙂 If you can get this blush palette in Singapore, I think its worth trying one or two (if you don’t already own a ton of products that it 😉 )
szesianne says
May 2, 2012 at 10:37 pmHi Paris and Germs! What an informative post! I’m from Singapore but am currently studying in UK for a semester! Just found out about the wonderful sleek palettes, bought 3 of the eye palettes and did swatches too! I found them really amazing for the price ^^ Germs you mentioned they are available in Singapore online stores? Could you share what they are? Would really love to be able to get them when back home! Also, in UK, while they are available in Superdrug.. they don’t seem to carry the blushby3 and the rose gold nars orgasm dupe is ALWAYS sold out =( bah. Thanks for the review Paris! looking forward to trying more blushes =D
Paris B says
May 3, 2012 at 11:45 amI know Luxola.com has Sleek Makeup but Germs may know of others since she’s based in Singapore. I was told Sleek Makeup is hard to find even in large Superdrug stores. How odd!
Applegal says
April 25, 2012 at 9:49 amI like your eye makeup!! The blush doesn’t look anything like the picture on the website! I would have thought who in the world wears such dark colours on their cheeks! Lace looks nice though!
Paris B says
April 26, 2012 at 3:57 pmThanks Applegal 🙂 Its colours from Naked2 😉 I was very worried too when I saw the pictures from the website – only Lace looked remotely wearable from those pics! I’m really eyeing Lace too!
Stacey says
April 25, 2012 at 10:22 amthe blush looks beautiful and that’s a lot of product in one palette. 🙂 makes me feel like getting it now. the orange in the pumpkin palette looks scary though. haha
Paris B says
April 26, 2012 at 3:58 pmActually, orange is a very wearable colour even for a blush, but yellow? Erm… pass on it, especially if you are Asian 😛
beetrice says
April 25, 2012 at 11:00 amtake my sugar, take it! *flings bags of sugar at PB* love the colour combo on you – It reminds me of the blush in the Clinique Milly palette just a tiny bit, but can I still hanker for it all the same?
Paris B says
April 26, 2012 at 4:00 pm*ducks flying sugar bags* Thanks Bee 😀 Yes you can hanker after this one, but *ahem* there are already others waiting to be defiled yes? 😉 Not a must have, just a nice “want”
vivavoomz says
April 25, 2012 at 11:14 amYou look great in Sugar. I’m eyeing Lace and Pumpkin but now I want Sugar too.
Paris B says
April 26, 2012 at 4:01 pmI think anyone can wear Sugar 😀 Use a light hand if fair skinned and a slightly heavier hand for darker skintones. Those who are darker will find this gives a beautiful glow 😀
makeupmag says
April 25, 2012 at 12:46 pmI want Pink Sprint! These are gorgeous and easy on the pocket. Thanks for sharing about Sugar. 🙂
Paris B says
April 26, 2012 at 4:07 pmI’m waiting for your thoughts on Lace, Mag! 😀 I’m eyeing that one but balking a little at paying the hefty shipping 😛
Cas says
April 25, 2012 at 12:53 pmGorgeous palette and it looks good on you. I got my eyes on lace. I actually have their eyeshadow palette, a few lip paints and gloss. Awesome stuff. Cheap too. Think I’m going to get their blushes next
Paris B says
April 26, 2012 at 4:12 pmI was planning to try their blushes that come in single pans, but now they have trios, I think it makes more sense to get the trios 😛 I have a couple eyeshadow palettes too and I like the Pout Polishes!
makeupmag says
April 27, 2012 at 12:29 amWorth buying! Especially for the grapefruity middle shade with its pinked-orange tones. Very pretty. A pinker/less glittery Orgasm?
Paris B says
April 27, 2012 at 10:13 amYou temptress >.<
dom says
April 25, 2012 at 2:20 pmLace looks like something I could use. You look really nice with rosy cheeks!
Paris B says
April 26, 2012 at 4:13 pmThanks Dom, I think you’d look good in Sugar too to be honest 🙂 I’m eyeing Lace myself but am balking at the shipping 😛
Sunny says
April 25, 2012 at 5:07 pmAhh this looks adorable on you! I’ve heard so much about Sleek blushes, and it looks like poor Richard will have to locate some when he comes to Belgium next time! He was the one who had to collect my Naked palette order from Boots for me a couple of years back when it was so sold-out everywhere else, and naturally he had no idea what the hype was all about and why his otherwise sane friend started foaming at the mouth like a rabies dog when she saw it lol
Paris B says
April 26, 2012 at 4:15 pmAhh I was wondering who poor Richard was hehe… Its great that you have a makeup mule who can and will look for stuff for you 😀 Every girl needs one 😉 A lot of Sleek Makeup is actually quite decent for the low pricetag so I think they are actually great stuff.
Jyoan says
April 25, 2012 at 7:01 pmOh, mine is so coming in slightly less than 10 days time, thanks to ebay. =D
I ordered Lace and Sugar. Pretty sure I can wear Sugar because I went to search for swatches for all palettes. Lace looks really lovely.
The one that I think I can’t wear is Pink Spirit.
Loving the Sleek eyeshadow palettes!
Paris B says
April 26, 2012 at 4:17 pmFrom what I remember you telling me before about your skintone, I think Sugar would look amazing on you! I can’t wait to see what you think of Lace too – I hear that its really beautiful and wearable!
pinkcloud says
April 25, 2012 at 8:24 pmhei paris, the colours look nice on your cheek even though the swatches on ur hand doesnt seems to suit fair skin tones like yours. Did you used all three colours in the pictures above? It doesnt seems to look like the swatches on your hand at all! Btw, Lace seems like pretty nice! I would definitely ask someone to get me one of these if they happened to go uk 😉
Paris B says
April 26, 2012 at 4:45 pmHi Pinkcloud 😀 Thanks and yes, I wasn’t expecting it to look this way on skin but yay for not looking like a pumpkin! 😀 I did use all 3 colours. Just take a brush, dab on each colour once consecutively, dab on a piece of tissue paper and then apply to skin. That way, its less intense. I’m looking for someone going to the UK to grab me Lace too LOL!
Just in a says
April 26, 2012 at 12:26 amI adore Sleek!I’ve got the blush by 3 in Lace and love it! The middle colour in lace is quite similar to Nars Orgazm 🙂
Paris B says
April 26, 2012 at 4:49 pmOh that’s good to know! At least I now have an idea on what Lace might look like 🙂
S. says
April 26, 2012 at 12:46 amThey do look scary in the pan!
I have to say they look amazing on you. But, Paris, you pull off basically every lip/cheek/eye color you try!
How do you that?! xx
Paris B says
April 26, 2012 at 4:51 pmThanks S 😀 It comes with some practice I think, and imagination. I can’t work all colours, but sometimes, as with deep bright colours like this one, a light hand and a good brush helps. I also tend to stick to tones that work with my skintone and I’m lucky that I’m generally neutral toned so I can play with quite a wide range of shades. Just nothing too warm and I’m good 😀
Helz Nguyen says
April 26, 2012 at 2:16 pmOooooh, I need Lace and Pumpkin in my life!! Gosh, I hope I can still get them tho.. Sleek makeups sold out really fast on line. Might need to do a little work to get them. You’re right about the pics, they dont look anything like in the the pics.. So I wonder do the rest of the palettes are less pigmented then?! Hmmm
Paris B says
April 26, 2012 at 5:23 pmYikes! Do they sell out very quickly? I think I’ve seen these on ebay too so you can try looking there – a little pricier but easier to get than from the Sleek Makeup site if they run out 😉
Jennifer says
April 26, 2012 at 9:59 pmLooking good and radiant Paris!
Paris B says
April 27, 2012 at 10:12 amThanks Jennifer! 😀