WARNING: This post is very long, I couldn't restrain myself!
All throughout my teenage years I never wore blush, because I could never find a colour that suited me or a way to apply it that didn't make me look like an 80's hooker. In my first couple of years of university, I stumbled across Michelle Phan and the online beauty community whilst looking for a winged liner tutorial, and the rest is history. I purchased a 28 Blush Palette from Ebay, and found that the blushes and brushes I'd used in the past must have been rubbish, because I could suddenly apply blush without looking like I'd developed a rash on both cheeks.
I slowly accumulated blushes over the next couple of years, but it wasn't until 2011 that my love affair with blush really began. I reached a point where I became sick of eyeshadow, where I realised I had enough eyeshadow to sink a boat and that it was all starting to look the same to me. Then I started having issues with my eye makeup creasing, so even wearing eyeshadow went out the window. I swore off purchasing eyeshadow for the rest of the year, so naturally my attention (and wallet) turned to other areas. Here are some of the blushes that really got a workout in 2011.
(Apologies for no collective blush photo, they all turned out ugly D:)
It's no secret that I love Sportsgirl makeup, and it was no secret that in 2011 I loved the Sportsgirl Get Cheeky Cheek & Eye Shimmers in Peach and Rose. They're semi-sheer but easily buildable, glowy without being overtly shimmery, easy to blend, and highlight as well as adding colour to the face. The sections aren't big enough to use individually unless you're using an eyeshadow brush, but you can swirl two of the three shades together to customise your colour. They're also lovely dusted over a coordinating cream blush to amp up the vibrancy. The Peach I have here features the old (ugly) design, from what I've seen in stores it appears to have been redesigned in the same pattern as Rose.
I originally picked up MAC Dollymix on my trip to Malaysia in July 2010, and left it sitting in a drawer because I felt it was too bright for me. Then I won MAC Her Blooming Cheek from The Shades of U and finally grew a pair, because Dollymix looks positively baby pink next to that retina-burning fuchsia. Although it looks blue-toned in my product shot, on my skin Dollymix is a beautiful and buildable warm candy pink with silver shimmer.
Everyone talked about the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Tipsy this year, but I really liked Exposed. I mentioned in my Bronzer Favourites that I've been on the hunt for a nice pinky-brown nude blush, and that's because my skintone pulls the red out of MAC Blushbaby and makes me look like I have rosacea. I've also tried NARS Douceur, and my skintone still pulls the red tones out of that, albeit to a lesser extent. Exposed was the closest I found to that HG pink-brown-nude, and I loved how the matte texture somehow added a glow to the skin too.
I've never seen anyone talk about the Physicians Formula Wet/Dry Baked Blush in Baked Berry, but this is honestly one of the most beautiful blushes I own. It's like the cool-toned berry-tinged sister of MAC Dollymix, and if I could only wear 2 blushes for the rest of my life this would be one of them. My friend and I were lemming this blush for the longest time, and I remember the day when Physicians Formula had a Buy One Get One Free offer at Priceline and we just about died of happiness. It's another blush that adds glow and colour without obvious shimmer. <3
She's looking a little worse for wear after a few months of use, but the Holika Holika Hello Holika Blush & Highlight in #1 Breeze Kitten is the coolest blush ever. IT'S A CAT! ^___^ You can focus your brush on the cat for a peachy coral cheek, or focus more on the outer sections for a lighter pastel shade. In my swatch I just mushed my finger into each section equally and hoped for the best. The only thing I don't like about this blush is that it's got a heavy baby powder perfumey scent, which might offend some noses. But when it comes down to it, OMGWTFIT'SACATBLUSH!
I'll spare you from having to stare at a bigger photo, because I know I'm already grossed out by looking at my DIY Cream Colour Base Trio through the plastic window. In 2011 I started layering my powder blushes over cream blushes for added oomph, and the MAC Cream Colour Bases in Virgin Isle, Madly Magenta and Tickle Me Pink were some of my favourites. I also liked the drier matte finish Illamasqua Cream Pigments in Depravity and Emerge, and particularly enjoyed layering Emerge under NARS Orgasm. When applied heavily Depravity is a bright magenta purple, but on cheeks it blends out to a hot berry pink. Unfortunately these haven't been touched since the weather heated up here and creams started sliding off my face, but I can't wait to get back into the habit once we hit Autumn.
I originally wanted to pick up Benefit's Powda Wowza during the Sephora Friends & Family sale, but unfortunately it sold out before the lovely Wendy could CP it for me. I didn't give up though, stalking it down on Ebay and not resting until I had it in my glitter-covered hands. I'd been wanting to try Bella Bamba and Coralista for ages, and having Hoola thrown in there too seemed like such an awesome deal. These blushes are sheer but buildable, soft and glowy. I love Bella Bamba as an everyday pink, and I find that Coralista can even be worn for a subtle peachy coral cheek with a smokey eye and nude lip.
I'm not sure if the individual boxed powders differ, but the texture of these is very odd. They're incredibly soft and creamy, and rather than kicking up powder when I smush a finger or brush in the pan, they almost seem to ball up. It hasn't hindered application at all - these blend so easily - but I found it very curious...
Everyone always touts NARS Orgasm as a universally flattering peachy pink that works on everyone and works with everything, but I personally think NARS Deep Throat fits the bill better. Sometimes NARS Orgasm reads as a pure pink with gold shimmer on me, and I think Deep Throat is more of a peachy pink. I can wear Deep Throat with a colourful or smokey eye and nude lip, and it works just as well with a neutral eye and a bold lip, or a natural eye and natural lip.
Now everything's a bit out of order here compared to the product shots, but enjoy the swatches! :D Everything is swatched heavily on bare skin using my gigantic fingers.
My camera went a little bit crazy and amped up Madly Magenta and Depravity. They're not terribly colour inaccurate, just a bit brighter and more neon than they are in real life.
And I know this post is already picture heavy and a million miles long, but here are some honourable mentions (aka I forgot to include these in the main photo and swatch session but bloody hell I loved these shades) :
I picked up the Kit Cosmetics Duo Cheek & Lip Creme in Pretty Cheeky on a trip to Melbourne this year, and it was the only thing I was able to purchase during a rushed trip into Mecca Maxima in Melbourne Central. While these colours look insanely bright in the pan, they have more of a juicy jelly finish than my MAC Cream Colour Bases. Where my Cream Colour Bases look like ice cream, these look like sorbet. They apply more sheerly on the cheek and though they do work nicely under powder, I prefer to use them alone.
MAC Mineralize Blush in Hang Loose was limited edition with the In The Groove collection from 2010, and I don't think this blush got half the attention it deserved. The pan is split into a satin baby pink and a lilac shimmer, which work nicely on their own or mixed together. Sometimes I wear the pink on my cheek with the lilac to highlight, and sometimes I wear them swirled together for a blush and highlight in one. If this is ever re-released, I'm going to snap it up in a heartbeat <3
All throughout my teenage years I never wore blush, because I could never find a colour that suited me or a way to apply it that didn't make me look like an 80's hooker. In my first couple of years of university, I stumbled across Michelle Phan and the online beauty community whilst looking for a winged liner tutorial, and the rest is history. I purchased a 28 Blush Palette from Ebay, and found that the blushes and brushes I'd used in the past must have been rubbish, because I could suddenly apply blush without looking like I'd developed a rash on both cheeks.
I slowly accumulated blushes over the next couple of years, but it wasn't until 2011 that my love affair with blush really began. I reached a point where I became sick of eyeshadow, where I realised I had enough eyeshadow to sink a boat and that it was all starting to look the same to me. Then I started having issues with my eye makeup creasing, so even wearing eyeshadow went out the window. I swore off purchasing eyeshadow for the rest of the year, so naturally my attention (and wallet) turned to other areas. Here are some of the blushes that really got a workout in 2011.
(Apologies for no collective blush photo, they all turned out ugly D:)
It's no secret that I love Sportsgirl makeup, and it was no secret that in 2011 I loved the Sportsgirl Get Cheeky Cheek & Eye Shimmers in Peach and Rose. They're semi-sheer but easily buildable, glowy without being overtly shimmery, easy to blend, and highlight as well as adding colour to the face. The sections aren't big enough to use individually unless you're using an eyeshadow brush, but you can swirl two of the three shades together to customise your colour. They're also lovely dusted over a coordinating cream blush to amp up the vibrancy. The Peach I have here features the old (ugly) design, from what I've seen in stores it appears to have been redesigned in the same pattern as Rose.
I originally picked up MAC Dollymix on my trip to Malaysia in July 2010, and left it sitting in a drawer because I felt it was too bright for me. Then I won MAC Her Blooming Cheek from The Shades of U and finally grew a pair, because Dollymix looks positively baby pink next to that retina-burning fuchsia. Although it looks blue-toned in my product shot, on my skin Dollymix is a beautiful and buildable warm candy pink with silver shimmer.
Everyone talked about the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Tipsy this year, but I really liked Exposed. I mentioned in my Bronzer Favourites that I've been on the hunt for a nice pinky-brown nude blush, and that's because my skintone pulls the red out of MAC Blushbaby and makes me look like I have rosacea. I've also tried NARS Douceur, and my skintone still pulls the red tones out of that, albeit to a lesser extent. Exposed was the closest I found to that HG pink-brown-nude, and I loved how the matte texture somehow added a glow to the skin too.
I've never seen anyone talk about the Physicians Formula Wet/Dry Baked Blush in Baked Berry, but this is honestly one of the most beautiful blushes I own. It's like the cool-toned berry-tinged sister of MAC Dollymix, and if I could only wear 2 blushes for the rest of my life this would be one of them. My friend and I were lemming this blush for the longest time, and I remember the day when Physicians Formula had a Buy One Get One Free offer at Priceline and we just about died of happiness. It's another blush that adds glow and colour without obvious shimmer. <3
She's looking a little worse for wear after a few months of use, but the Holika Holika Hello Holika Blush & Highlight in #1 Breeze Kitten is the coolest blush ever. IT'S A CAT! ^___^ You can focus your brush on the cat for a peachy coral cheek, or focus more on the outer sections for a lighter pastel shade. In my swatch I just mushed my finger into each section equally and hoped for the best. The only thing I don't like about this blush is that it's got a heavy baby powder perfumey scent, which might offend some noses. But when it comes down to it, OMGWTFIT'SACATBLUSH!
I'll spare you from having to stare at a bigger photo, because I know I'm already grossed out by looking at my DIY Cream Colour Base Trio through the plastic window. In 2011 I started layering my powder blushes over cream blushes for added oomph, and the MAC Cream Colour Bases in Virgin Isle, Madly Magenta and Tickle Me Pink were some of my favourites. I also liked the drier matte finish Illamasqua Cream Pigments in Depravity and Emerge, and particularly enjoyed layering Emerge under NARS Orgasm. When applied heavily Depravity is a bright magenta purple, but on cheeks it blends out to a hot berry pink. Unfortunately these haven't been touched since the weather heated up here and creams started sliding off my face, but I can't wait to get back into the habit once we hit Autumn.
I originally wanted to pick up Benefit's Powda Wowza during the Sephora Friends & Family sale, but unfortunately it sold out before the lovely Wendy could CP it for me. I didn't give up though, stalking it down on Ebay and not resting until I had it in my glitter-covered hands. I'd been wanting to try Bella Bamba and Coralista for ages, and having Hoola thrown in there too seemed like such an awesome deal. These blushes are sheer but buildable, soft and glowy. I love Bella Bamba as an everyday pink, and I find that Coralista can even be worn for a subtle peachy coral cheek with a smokey eye and nude lip.
I'm not sure if the individual boxed powders differ, but the texture of these is very odd. They're incredibly soft and creamy, and rather than kicking up powder when I smush a finger or brush in the pan, they almost seem to ball up. It hasn't hindered application at all - these blend so easily - but I found it very curious...
Everyone always touts NARS Orgasm as a universally flattering peachy pink that works on everyone and works with everything, but I personally think NARS Deep Throat fits the bill better. Sometimes NARS Orgasm reads as a pure pink with gold shimmer on me, and I think Deep Throat is more of a peachy pink. I can wear Deep Throat with a colourful or smokey eye and nude lip, and it works just as well with a neutral eye and a bold lip, or a natural eye and natural lip.
Now everything's a bit out of order here compared to the product shots, but enjoy the swatches! :D Everything is swatched heavily on bare skin using my gigantic fingers.
 |
| L - R: Sportsgirl Get Cheeky Cheek & Eye Shimmers in Peach and Rose, Holika Holika Hello Holika Cat Blush in 01, NARS Deep Throat, MAC Dollymix, Physicians Formula Baked Berry, and Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed |
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| L - R: Sportsgirl Peach & Rose, Holika Holika, and NARS Deep Throat |
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| L - R: MAC Dollymix, Physicians Formula Baked Berry, Tarte Exposed |
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| L - R: Benefit Coralista and Bella Bamba, MAC Cream Colour Bases in Tickle Me Pink, Madly Magenta & Virgin Isle, Illamasqua Cream Pigments in Depravity and Emerge. (With flash) |
 |
| Erm yes, that's hair >__> couldn't pick it out without messing up the swatch |
And I know this post is already picture heavy and a million miles long, but here are some honourable mentions (aka I forgot to include these in the main photo and swatch session but bloody hell I loved these shades) :
 |
| Kit Cosmetics Duo Cheek & Lip Creme in Pretty Cheek & MAC Mineralize Blush in Hang Loose |
I picked up the Kit Cosmetics Duo Cheek & Lip Creme in Pretty Cheeky on a trip to Melbourne this year, and it was the only thing I was able to purchase during a rushed trip into Mecca Maxima in Melbourne Central. While these colours look insanely bright in the pan, they have more of a juicy jelly finish than my MAC Cream Colour Bases. Where my Cream Colour Bases look like ice cream, these look like sorbet. They apply more sheerly on the cheek and though they do work nicely under powder, I prefer to use them alone.
MAC Mineralize Blush in Hang Loose was limited edition with the In The Groove collection from 2010, and I don't think this blush got half the attention it deserved. The pan is split into a satin baby pink and a lilac shimmer, which work nicely on their own or mixed together. Sometimes I wear the pink on my cheek with the lilac to highlight, and sometimes I wear them swirled together for a blush and highlight in one. If this is ever re-released, I'm going to snap it up in a heartbeat <3
 |
| Hang Loose: pink side, lilac side, mixed together. Pretty Cheeky: pink side, orange side. |
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Hoooooly crap that was a lot of blush! The smart thing to do would've been to split cream and powder blushes into separate posts, but I didn't think of that when I was swatching. Tomorrow I'll be posting my favourite lipglosses and lipsticks, but I think I can restrain myself and produce a post that's only half a mile long. ;]
Now please feed my addiction and share your favourite blushes!
