Blush

Review: Makeup: Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush

Paris B 2 Comments

I read a lot of good reviews about this mousse blush before it came into Malaysia and managed to get my hands on it to try.

This is a mousse based blush, similar to that of Stila’s mousse blushes. It comes in a heavy glass pot with the colour of the cap representing the colour of the blush inside. Its too bulky and heavy to travel with and the contents can shift in transit. There are many colours available overseas, but when I checked at Guardian here, we have only about 4 colours available.

This mousse blush is not to be confused with the Dream Matte Mousse foundation also by Maybelline. The texture and concept is the same, but this blush is not matt. The colours have some slight shimmer to them which is useful in a blush to add texture.

When you open the pot, you’ll find the coloured mousse inside. It feels soft and springy to the touch – rather like that of a sponge cake. You tap your finger on the blush and then apply to your cheeks as you would a cream blush.

As with all cream blushes, it should go on AFTER liquid foundation and BEFORE powder foundation. However, I find that it lasts a bit better if I apply it after applying my powder foundation. Otherwise, it fades pretty quickly throughout the day.

I had 3 colours previously – Soft Plum, Pink Frosting and Whipped Strawberries. I’m of relatively fair skin but Pink Frosting didn’t show up on me at all! All I got was shimmer. So I got rid of it. Soft Plum turned up too berry so I looked rather unnatural. My favourite of all was Whipped Strawberries – a bright fuschia in the pot but a pretty pink on the cheeks.

I went to check at Guardian for availability and saw they had Peach Satin – a pretty peach with shimmer in the pot, which essentially went on my skin pure shimmer with no colour, Soft Plum – plum shade, Berries – berry shade and Pink Marshmallow – sweet pink with shimmer that didn’t show up.

I asked if they were bringing in Whipped Strawberries, a colour I think would fit any girl, its so sweet on!, but all I got was a blank stare and the official spiel that what I saw was all they had. Sigh…. don’t these sales assistants know that its a much bigger world out there?!

I have no quarrel with the texture but it goes on very sheer. Its good so you don’t overdo it and you can layer it on, but if you have darker skin, I’d just skip this, to be honest.

They were retailing at RM29.90 in Guardian and Watsons and I think it might be RM32 now but I’m not quite sure.

Pros: Cheap, easy to use

Cons: Limited colours here, not long-lasting, doesn’t show up well, bulky packaging

[rating:3/5]

Review: Makeup: Guerlain Radiant blush

Paris B 2 Comments

I never used to look at Guerlain’s blushes for the simple reason that the brand does not excite me. I associate it with older women and the fact that the Guerlain counter at the malls are always quiet and manned by older ladies doesn’t help that image.

However, on a whim, I purchased 2 Guerlain Radiant blushes from StrawberryNET.com a couple of months ago when they were running a promotion. The two I got were Apricot Souffle D’or and Rose Pluie D’or. D’or in French indicates that there’s gold shimmer and I like shimmer in blushes.

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Packaging

The blushes come in a large square case with a beaten gold cover. The bottom that houses the blushes is a clear plastic and the back has a large circle with a colour matching the blush inside and the name printed on it. I guess it makes it easier to locate the colour you want without having to open it up. The case is easy to open and it comes with a brush that I never use anyway. Its always a surprise to me to see that the blush is only half the case. There is 4.5g of product and I find the packaging too bulky to travel with.

Product

I must warn anyone sensitive to fragrance that this product has a very strong fragrance. I find it a tad cloying even if you take a big sniff of the product. However, it goes away after application which is a consolation.

The pigmentation is on the sheer side. Thats good for blushes, as you don’t want to end up with clown cheeks. So, sheer pigments allow you to layer for more colour without going overdone. The shimmer is subtle and it doesn’t give you that disco-ball look.

Apricot Souffle D’or is a peachy apricot colour that gives you a nice glowy healthy look. It looks bright but isn’t really. Since its so light, I’d only recommend this for fair-skinned girls. If you are medium to dark skinned, I’d just avoid it for it won’t show up at all. I’m pretty fairskinned and even I have to layer it a bit. However, after about 2-3 layers I achieve the glowy look which makes it look like I’m not even wearing blush! I fooled myself into thinking it did not work until I got compliments on my blush that day, so I guess it works in a very subtle way.

Rose Pluie D’or is a shimmery plum shade. I swiped this colour at the Guerlain counter and fell in love with it so I bought it. It applies slightly more pigmented than Apricot Souffle and shows up a plummy shade. I made the mistake of testing the shade on my hands only so unfortunately it doesn’t show up as prettily on my cheeks than on my hands. Its still a nice colour though, just be careful not to over do it and use a light hand or you’ll end up looking like you have bruises on your cheeks if you are fair skinned. However, if you are tanned or have medium-darker skin I think this would look lovely on you.

Lasting power was good. I had it on in the morning and it was still there at the end of the day. The powder is finely milled and it goes on smoothly. I did not use the brush that came with it so I cannot tell if its decent enough or not.

Overall Verdict

I’d recommend a buy on the Guerlain Radiant blushes. In fact, I’m eyeing more, but have to restrict myself lest I go overboard! If anything, it’ll be the scent that puts me off. Otherwise its a great product. StrawberryNET.com presently has the Radiant Blushes on offer for US$33 (RM112). I don’t know how much they are at the Malaysian counters, so do check out the price first and only buy it online if its cheaper there. If you are one of those with money to spare in paypal, then why not give this one a shot? Strawberrynet takes paypal and ships worldwide for free 🙂

Pros: Applies sheer and gives glowy look, long lasting

Cons: Expensive, Strong fragrance, packaging is too bulky to travel with

[rating: 4/5]

Makeup that stays put!

Paris B Leave a Comment

Yesterday was a long day for me. I started early, went out half the hot afternoon, and got home just in time for my weekly yoga class. I didn’t have time to remove my makeup, so I went for yoga with my makeup on. After a strenuous workout, I came home, looked in the mirror and was pleasently surprised to see that at least 70% of my makeup was still on and looking relatively fresh.

This is what I used (for my own record and for you to try out) – it was a fairly neutral look which is what I needed for work today.

Face

  • Sunsense sunscreen over Eucerin Hydromatt moisturiser as base
  • Make Up For Ever Full Cover concealer on spots and freckles
  • L’oreal Touche Magique for undereye concealer and illumination
  • Kanebo Faircrea 2-way powder foundation applied with a sponge
  • T. leClerc Banane loose powder lightly dusted all over

Eyes

  • Lancome Color Dose cream eyeshadow as base
  • Shu Uemura pressed powder eyeshadow in ME Gold and ME Yellow
  • Shu Uemura hard eyebrow pencil

Cheeks

  • NYX powder blush in Peach

Lips

  • Giorgio Armani #4 silk lipstick – this had to be reapplied during the day but its to be expected.

I’ll review/import my reviews and add the necessary links as I go along. But this was the most amazing day yet – makeup wise.

Review: Makeup: Scott Barnes Chic Palette powder blush

Paris B 2 Comments

Here’s the Scott Barnes powder blush Chic Palette in Posh.

I bought this online as Scott Barnes isn’t available in Malaysia at this time. Scott Barnes is makeup artist who got famous doing Jennifer Lopez and giving her her famous glow. He then developed a line of makeup and this Chic Palette is a blush palette.

I like blushes, no doubt about it. I have tons and I still keep wanting more. I got this Chic Palette in Posh which is a trio of what is supposed to be peachy pinks. To be honest, all I saw was pink. 3 different shades of pink in a long slim palette.

The 3 colours are supposed to be used for contouring (darkest shade), colour (medium shade) and highlighting (lightest shade). In the Posh palette, you get 3 shades of pink. The darkest shade looks scary bright fuschia pink in the pan but it goes on a very lovely sheer rosy pink. I love the look! The medium pink is lighter and goes on mostly just baby pink on me. The lightest shade on the other hand is purely a highlighting shade for me. It is just shimmer. You can even swipe your brush over all the colours to mix them up. Its so versatile and so pretty! I’m warm to neutral toned so I think this will suit warm toned girls better.

The pans are large. If you own Nars blushes, their size of 1 pan is quite equivalent to that of a Nars blush. They are housed in a pretty sturdy chic case but the cover doesn’t fasten either with a magnet or a clasp. It just closes so if you like to carry your makeup around, you might find it unwieldly. I don’t so its fine with me.

This blush palette retails for US$44 or you may be able to get it cheaper online at strawberrynet.com where I got mine.

Pros: Lovely colour, smooth texture, sheer

Cons: Case should stay shut

[rating:4/5]

 

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