Apologies for the enforced break. We had some technical problems in the past few days that had the website looking a little screwy, so I couldn’t work on it. Little things you know. But I was kind of glad because it allowed me a few days to breathe and just get back into the swing of things!
Not long ago, I showed you a pretty blush from affordable brand, Catrice. It was pretty to wear and pretty to look at. But it had its shortcomings. Well, let me now show you yet another blush from Catrice, that is not only pretty to wear and pretty to look at, it has no real shortcomings that I know of! Now, for a picky blush user like me, that’s quite a feat!
This rather battered looking palette is the Catrice Blush Artist palette in 020 Corall I Need that is basically a blush trio. There are 3 shades I believe, a bronzey trio and a rosy pink trio besides this coral trio. I don’t know very much about availability, but all I will say is this – if you see this at your local Catrice counter, buy it. Do not pass go! You will regret not getting it I promise! :D
You might be even more swayed when I tell you that my other favourite blush palette has been the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush palette, which is limited edition and therefore a waste of time for me to tell you about it. You also know that I love my luxury brands, but so often these days, I simply reach into my blush drawer and pick this palette up, because it’s just perfect for what I need on a day to day basis! :D
In fact, this affordable beauty has become my de rigueur travel palette, because not only is it handy with 3 shades of blush, it actually looks very pretty when worn, and it is so slim and portable! The clear plastic packaging, while a little brittle, is fairly sturdy so it holds up to gentle wear. What doesn’t hold up however, is the print of the name and brand on the cover, as you can see in the first picture.
The shade I picked was 020 Corall I Need, which is a palette of shades that are more pink than coral, to my eye. The shade on left in particular, is a lovely shade of warm pink with shimmer, the middle shade, a more satin textured pink blush with a coral undertone, and the shade on right, a more shimmery highlighter shade of light peach.
What I found most impressive was how pigmented the shades were. It was very easy to pick up colour with any sort of brush – loose, dense, synthetic or natural hair. I’ve tried it with different brushes, and they all pick up product well. Too well, sometimes, because if you aren’t careful, you can end up with more colour than you intend.
Here are the swatches, and you can see how intense the colours can be. But if you use a brush, naturally the colours will be more diffused, and much more flattering!
I like to take a fluffy brush, lightly run it across all 3 shades in the palette, and then apply to my cheeks by dabbing the colour on. Incidentally, dabbing on blush is a new technique I’ve been using lately and I prefer how it looks! I’ll share it with you another day :)
When worn, it looks something like this.
Crap. I haven’t done these gigantic FOTD thingies in a while. Scared me a little :P
The blush however, I find is very flattering, and the quality of the pigment and shimmer is just right, so it doesn’t look cheap nor garish when worn. You can choose to pile on the highlight shade, and it still will look flattering, because it doesn’t go on with chunks of glitter.
You can see how the Corall I Need palette basically pulls pink on my skin. I’ve been tempted to buy the rose shade palette, but am afraid it might go on too strongly for me. I think it would look amazing on deeper skintones though! :)
And how affordable is affordable? I can hear you thinking back there. Well, here in Malaysia it retails at RM23.90 a palette and often goes on sale. So I got mine for under RM20. UNDER RM20! That’s just about US$5 at today’s exchange rate. Now, tell me that’s not a bargain?! So, go – run out and get it before it disappears! :D
IN A NUTSHELL
This Catrice Blush Artist Palette is such a cheap and cheerful find, there’s absolutely NO REASON not to get it. The quality is great, there isn’t that awful cheap scent you find in some cheap makeup brands, the blush is pigmented, the shimmer isn’t too over the top, and it blends well. Importantly, it’s flattering and it doesn’t give off a US$5 makeup vibe. Get thee one. Or maybe even 2! :D
PROS: Affordable, Pigmented, Fine shimmer highlight, No cheap perfume scent, Portable, Easy to blend, Flattering colours
CONS: None unless you count that the name on the plastic palette will rub off eventually
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who loves blush, Anyone who wants a cheap and cheerful makeup find
PRICE: RRP RM23.90 | €4.49 but often goes on sale
WHERE TO BUY: Catrice displays at Guardian pharmacy (Malaysia and Singapore) while stocks last, Anywhere that Catrice is sold
I believe this item was released in Europe in early 2016 but it’s only just found its way to our shores in the second half of the year. I don’t know if they’re permanent or if they’re limited edition (there is NO NEWS from Catrice here and I honestly will not be surprised if they pull out some day, simply due to lack of marketing of what is such an underrated brand!) but I don’t see a lot of stock at the poorly stocked Catrice display stands at the pharmacy, although it does come and go, so good luck! :P
Have you tried this blush palette?
I’ve been raving about it on Instagram for a while now, so this is basically just to put down in longer, more comprehensive sentences how I feel about this blush palette. Basically, just go and get it. I love mine to bits, and it is the first item I pop into my makeup pouch because I just know it’ll go with every look :D Do you think I should get the other two shades?! LOL! :D
Paris B
I gotten myself two of the blusher except the brown one….loving it too and picked up a few items from the same brands too. Loving it so far plus travel friendly if breaks ;)
Yay! Glad to know you love this palette too! I’m still debating whether to get the rose one – am just kinda concerned that it might be a bit dark for me coz it’s quite pigmented. Maybe I’ll wait and see if they come out with more colours. hehe… What else do you like from Catrice?
He he,i pick up both becoz I can’t decide which to take. Apart from the blusher, I bought the face contour and highlighter palette. But I feels the contour powder is not that pigmented. And also the color correcting. Wanted to play with color correcting but too heart pain to buy from Sephora brands. Scare later I don’t like it, then wasted. Monies hard to earn nowadays.
I have to agree about money being more scarce these days. I saw the colour correcting palette too. Was wondering if I wanted to give it a go but decided against it in the end since I’m not that fussed about things like that. Did you like it? :)
Paris, you have to be the QUEEN of PUN blog post titles hahahaha! So pretty on you!! I wish we had the brand here! #blushfiendforver
LOL! You noticed, thank you! :D If you can get your hands on it one way or another, their blushes are amazing! In fact, the quality of their makeup is really amazing for such an affordable brand! Pity it isn’t more widely available #blushfiendforever indeed! :D
Well, considering I don’t need more blush, it’s probably just as well that I can’t find this palette locally.
Such a deal though! I would guess that you don’t need the other shades, but wouldn’t blame you if you got them!
Haha that’s a consolation Kuri. I don’t need more blush either… But it ain’t helping! :P I’ve decided not to get the other shades. Now, that would just be an indulgence! ;)
Glad to see that your blog came back from holiday :P
I have also been gravitating towards these blush palette from Catrice. I am more OCD so I place mine in the Muji ever so gently each time after using them. I agree with you too. Get your hands on them when you see it! Good news is, they are still available. Hard to say when will they phase out as Catrice here in Malaysia like to shock us all the time.
Ya, blog must have felt neglected so it threw a hissy fit so I had to pay attention LOL! :D I love this palette man. Hope they’ll come out with more shades! I saw they have a new highlighter palette in this same design. Will have to wait till it gets here… which is probably some time next year :P
I bought this palette because I saw it on your Instagram and love it! Got it at 20% discount at Guardian KLCC and that time they just stocked up the blushes. LOL. So lucky me. The rose palette look quite dark though maybe, the lighting wasnt that good so I got this because the promoter recommended it and also the colour looks so attractive. I use it pretty often and no regrets on getting it :-)
YAY! Oh my you got it at quite a bargain didn’t you?! What a steal :D I would have thought the Rose would look pretty amazing on your skintone. It really is made for those with a slightly deeper skintone. But glad to know that this Coral one works for you too! It’s definitely one I’ve been using more often than my other more expensive blushes! Oops! :P
reminds me of the sleek blush trios. looks super pretty on you!
Ooh now that you mention it… they do! Thanks Shamim :)
Hi Paris, that is gorgeous! How long does this blush last on you?
I have one of the little round pot Bourjois blushes, and it doesn’t last past 2 hours or so on me…
P.S. I love your necklace :D
Hmm I’d day about half a day at least? It does fade by day end but its usually quite vibrant all the way past lunch time most days :) Thanks I like the necklace too! Effortless ;)