Showing posts with label blush. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blush. Show all posts

Thursday, 11 February 2016

Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Blush Palette






Cherry, Easy, Angel
Lo-fi, Hush, OC

I'm not quite sure what Urban Decay are doing with the launch of this collection - the eyeshadow palette has been available for a while now, but the blush palette, the lipsticks and the brow box have only just been released.   Still, the blush palette is definitely worth waiting for - as are the lipsticks, but we'll talk about those later.

The Gwen Stefani blush palette, £35, contains six shades of pigmented blush, all of which are extremely well suited to pale, cool toned skin.  Packaging wise, it follows a similar white-and-gold theme to the eyeshadow palette, although the little coin shaped accents in the lid are white, not black.  It's heavy, made of sturdy plastic, with a hinged lid and a good large mirror - I like the 'Magic's in the Makeup' accent in the corner of the lid, which is the same on the eyeshadow palette, and references an old No Doubt song.

Urban Decay say the palette contains everything you need for Gwen-like bronzing, blush and highlighting, and indeed, there's a matte bronzer, Lo-Fi, in there - it's pretty light, and on deeper skintones wouldn't really provide much bronzing action.  Highlighter wise, though, I'm less convinced - Hush is a peachy, coppery blush which has enough shimmer to be a bit of a highligher, and Angel could definitely qualify if you like your highlighters to be very golden, but both are pigmented blushers more than they are highlighters, which usually bring just a bit of glow.

Cherry brings a pop of clean, Barbie pink with shimmer, and Easy, which is easily my favourite, has a glorious berry rose tone combined has a good shot of sparkle.  OC is a bit unusual - it's a sunny peach blush with a slight pink duochrome to it, although you really need to pack on the colour to spot it on the skin.

Overall, then, this palette is lovely, particularly if you're pale and cool toned.  For my tastes, though, it's a little too sparkly, and a little too golden, but if you like your cheeks glowing, bronzed and sunny, this could well be a great blush palette for you.

Disclosure:  PR sample

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Tuesday, 9 February 2016

Fresh Faced & Pretty: Clarins Multi Blush in 05 Rose





Okay, okay, when I first opened a package of Clarins Spring collection goodies I thought this unassuming rose blush, £18.50, was a bit boring.  And yes, it's not punchy, or a bit weird, texture wise, but oh.  It's so wearable.  And so flattering.  It makes me look fresh faced, with a soft glow about the cheeks, and the creamy formula gives a lovely soft effect which isn't powdery and isn't shiny either.

I've tried Clarins' Multi Blush before, although they were called simply Cream Blush back then, and I still love the glorious texture and blendability.  I love this shade, too, which is an unassuming rose pink which somehow lifts and brightens the face without being obvious at all.  And it goes well with a strong lip.  What more could you want?

Disclosure:  PR sample

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Saturday, 30 January 2016

Mixed Bag: Avon True Colour Eyeshadow Palette in Stone Taupes & Avon Ideal Luminous Blush in Russet



True Colour Eyeshadow Palette in Stone Taupes

True Colour Eyeshadow Palette in Stone Taupes

Avon Ideal Luminous Blush in Russet

Avon Ideal Luminous Blush in Russet

I received these two products at an event a while back, and they're really chalk and cheese.  Ideal Luminous Blush in Russet, £6.50, is bold, high pigment, mostly matte with the tiniest glow (not sparkle!), and needs to be applied with a light hand to avoid looking clown like.  True Colour Eyeshadow Palette in Stone Taupes, £9, on the other hand, is disappointingly sheer - I had to layer my swatches to get the opacity you can see above, which is far from impressive.

This, for me, is the problem with Avon - some of their products (like the Russet blush) are absolute bargains, whilst some (like Stone Taupes) are a bit disappointing.  Still, at least the cost of sorting the duds from the hidden gems is reasonably low.

Disclosure:  PR samples

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Thursday, 17 December 2015

So Intense: Colourpop Blush in Cheerio & Prenup, Colourpop Highlighter in Spoon




Cheerio, Spoon, Prenup

Just one last post about Colourpop and then I'll shut up, I promise (until I go to the US again and buy more, muahaha).  I recently invested in a few new shades of Colourpop's creamily blendable bouncy blush and highlighters, this time challenging myself a little with a bright shade, Cheerio, and treating myself to the kind of dusty soft pink I love, Prenup.

Cheerio is an amazing blush, and one which many people (me included) would be a little scared of.  It's RED.  It's INTENSE.  It's also slightly SHIMMERY.  So much room to go wrong.  But if you go right - and you can do, by applying starting with the apples of your cheeks with a teeny tiny swipe of product - it's lovely.  A really fresh, winter flush which makes you look like you've been twirling round a park in the snow, laughing gleefully, with a terribly cute pompom hat on.

Prenup is, unsurprisingly, a great everyday blush - it's matte, it's soft, it's pink - and it's a particularly great shade if you're super pale, as I am in winter.  I find I can (and do) apply this one much more heavily than Cheerio, for obvious reasons.

Spoon, now... Spoon and I have a love/hate relationship. On one side, Spoon is a lovely icy highlighter, perfect if you dislike gold.  On the other side, Spoon is, well, glittery.  And not everyone wants a glittery highlighter.  I've worn it a couple of times to parties recently, but I think it's just a little too glittery for day to day wear, unless of course you enjoy rocking glitter in the day.

As always, these little cheek pots are a mere $8 each, making them a bit of a steal.  Even if it is a glittery steal.  Find them and more at the Colourpop website, and keep hoping they'll start shipping to the UK soon.

Disclosure:  Bought by me.

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Friday, 11 December 2015

Instagram Pretty: Milani Rose Powder Blush in Romantic Rose





I bought this Milani blush in a five minute dash around a Walgreens, and it's undoubtedly one of the prettiest blushes I own.  Sculpted to look like a rose, it's got so much detail for something that cost a mere $7.50.

The blush itself I'm a little less impressed with - it's a matte formula, and the powder is pretty silky once you get it onto the skin, but it's lacking a little in pigment - you'll need to apply a good couple of layers for a noticeable flush - perhaps not a bad thing if you're very pale, or terrified of going overboard on blush.  Still, Romantic Rose is a lovely colour - a neutral tawny pink which I find looks good with most eye makeup I choose to put on, very similar to my favourite blush of all time, Cargo Tonga.

And it turns out you can buy a few shades of Rose Powder Blush on Amazon in the UK!  They're a little more expensive than I paid in the States, but still reasonable - Tea Rose, which looks to be a slightly more pink shade, is £5.99.

Disclosure:  Bought by me

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Sunday, 1 November 2015

Colourpop Strobing I



My bumper Colourpop order contained not only a ton of Super Shock Shadow, but also a new collection the LA-based brand recently released, built around technique-of-the-moment strobing.  Strobing I is recommended for light to medium skintones, and contains three shimmering, light reflecting Super Shock Cheek products, and three neutral  Lippie Stix lipsticks.


Fanny Pack, Non Fiction, Parasol

Fanny Pack, Non Fiction, Parasol

The Super Shock Cheek products have the same texture as the Super Shock Shadows - slightly bouncy, creamy powder which blends like a cream and sets down into a powder finish.  The three shades have a shimmer finish, all the better to bounce light off the skin, in true strobing style.

Fanny Pack is a very pale white highlight, which is dramatic (and a bit robot face) if used heavily, but can be applied more sheerly for a subtle highlight effect.  It's particularly good if you find that golden or pink based highlighters look off on your skin.

Non Fiction is a shimmering blush shade, and whilst it's described as a pink with gold and copper highlights, I think it's more of a rosy coral shade than a pink.  The coppery undertone is pretty strong, and I think this one is better on medium skin tones - more than a tiny bit of this is overwhelming on my pale skin

Parasol is a warm, peachy gold which makes for a very pretty sunlit highlight.  Again, I have to be careful of going overboard, but those with warmer tones in their skin will find Parasol very flattering.



Marmalade, Fame, Thistle

Marmalade, Fame, Thistle

Lippie Stix are slim tubes of lipstick with a variety of finishes - Strobing 1 contains two cream finishes and one sheer.  The texture of these guys is a little waxy and stiff until they warm up a little - after that they smooth onto the lips evenly, although still with a bit of drag.  Marmalade is a warm, rosy pink with brownish undertones; Fame is a pale creamy pink with a sheer finish; Thistle is a peachy nude.  All three are a bit warm and brown for my skintone, apart from Fame, which is fine if you like that super pale pink lip.

Mixed results, then, from Strobing I - not because the products are bad, but mostly because this set runs a little more warm than I'm personally able to pull off.  If your skin is warm toned, you'll probably love this set - particularly given that it costs a mere $40 for 6 products.

Disclosure:  Purchased by me.

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Monday, 26 October 2015

Makeup Forever HD Blush in 330 Rosy Plum





When a Makeup Forever makeup artist showed me this product at an event recently, I told him I had the fluid version.  He looked at me strangely and told me it had been discontinued for a number of years because it dried up so quickly.  So, err, I threw it away when I got home.  Clear out your stash regularly, ladies!

Anyway, this compact blush bears no relation to the previous fluid blush apart from the name and the texture - both are creamy and well pigmented, but that's where the similarity ends.  This version has a pretty matte finish which blends with the oils in the skin to create a very, very natural finish on the skin.  It doesn't leave a glow (you'll need to add that yourself with highlighter) nor an overly matte finish, just a super natural, real skin finish.

This colour, 330 Rosy Plum, is lovely, although I'm not sure it's particularly plummy - rather, it's a mauve toned mid-pink which cool toned ladies will love for a neutral pink flush.  It's well pigmented, too, meaning you only need to swirl your finger atop the product once to get a reasonably noticeable flush.

The major downside, unfortunately, is the price - this little compact, which contains just 2.8g of product, costs £29.  I can only imagine the amazing profit margin, and the MUFE people rubbing their hands together with glee when they priced it.  If money's no object, then this is a brilliant natural finish blush - if it is, you'll find cheaper cream blushes on the high street which come close for less.

Disclosure: PR sample

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Friday, 18 September 2015

Zoeva Luxe Color Blush in He Loves Me... Maybe







I love a good cool pink matte blush, and my previous favourite, Cargo's Tonga, has almost run out.  Naturally, I bought a new one - and I decided to try Zoeva, a relatively new brand which has inexpensive eyeshadow and blushes in a whole heap of colours and a great value range of brushes to boot.

Luxe Color Blush in He Loves Me... Maybe, £6.95, is one of those cool pink matte blushes, and it's housed in a simple but stylish black case with a good big mirror.  I particularly like the embossing Zoeva have placed on the blush itself - it definitely makes the product look far more luxe than it costs.  Texture wise, the blush is soft and silky - there's no chalkiness, and the pigmentation is good enough that a gentle sweep gives a soft flush with ease.

My only criticism would be that Luxe Color Blush doesn't wear quite as long as my old Cargo blush - it makeS it to about six hours before fading away.  Applying over the top of a cream blush makes it last a bit longer, though.

Disclosure:  Bought by me.

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Sunday, 2 August 2015

BUY THIS NOW: Bourjois Aqua Blush 12hr in Cocoricorail & Berry Nice



Cocoricorail, Berry Nice
Cocoricorail, Berry Nice
Berry Nice

Bourjois just keep bringing out brilliantly formulated, brilliant value products, and their latest release is no exception!  Aqua Blush costs £8.99, and promises long lasting, sheer colour combined with a fresh gel texture.  

Presented in a pump bottle format, it's a bit scary when you first dispense it - the light, cool-feeling gel appears full of pigment, and the first time I used it I suspected I'd end up looking a bit clownish.  Thankfully, although the product looks very high pigment, it's actually pretty sheer once it's blended out on the cheeks, leaving a sheer tint which has a lovely natural finish, neither shiny nor matte.  I find it easiest to apply one cheek at a time - using half a pump of product on my ring finger, I dab my ring fingers together to transfer half the gel to my other hand, then use my ring ringer and middle finger to pat-and-blend across the apples of my cheeks and upwards along my cheekbone.

Of the two I received, Berry Nice is my favourite - it's a pinkish berry shade which is lovely and cool toned and will look just as pretty in winter as it does in the summer sun.  Cocoricorail (no, no idea) is a more coral toned colour, which looks great with a bit of bronzer or a light tan.

Overall, I couldn't be more impressed with this blush - it performs somewhat like Daniel Sandler's much more expensive Waterblush, is easy to apply, and does indeed last the whole day long.  And since it's just £8.99, you can afford a couple of colours to take you through the rest of the summer.

Disclosure:  PR samples

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Thursday, 23 July 2015

Urban Decay Afterglow 8 Hour Blushes in Indecent and Score


Urban Decay have a new blush out - meet Afterglow 8 Hour Blush.  It's a simple powder blush which claims to give a 'sexy, lit-from-within glow' and lasts 8 hours on the cheeks.



Left to right:  Indecent, Score
The packaging is, as usual for UD, a little bit unusual - the pewter plastic cases are very striking, and the mesh underlayer and cutout top are very, very sexy indeed.  This sexiness comes at a cost, though - there's no space for a mirror in the compact.

Indecent, Score

The blushes themselves are lovely - the powder is finely milled and soft, and blends very easily across the skin.  I found that the pigmentation levels are distinctly medium - a light swirl gives enough pigment for my skin without any risk of clownface.  Indecent is a matte, coral pink, and Score is a pink with a touch of shimmer - both flatter my skin and do indeed last the full 8 hours they claim.

Indecent (the blusher, not me)

Score
I personally prefer Score for the flushed effect, but Indecent is also lovely for a slightly more contoured look.  Overall, I'm pretty impressed with these blushers - although I do wish the compacts had a mirror for ease of use on the go and on my cluttered dressing table.  They're £19.

Disclosure: PR sample

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.
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