I prefer wearing more natural makeup, and for my lips and cheeks I tend to wear pinks, mauves and nudes, and therefore I have decided to feature a combination of such shades that I am really in love with lately!
BareMinerals Gen Nude Powder Blush ($24.00 for 0.21 oz. from BareMinerals, Nordstrom, Sephora, Ulta, Macy's and Look Fantastic): I am thrilled by the formula of these blushes because they feature an utterly sublime ultra-finely milled texture that is unbelievably creamy, soft and silky-smooth to the touch. These blushes blend to perfection, and can easily be mixed to create custom colors– which I have been doing with great success and results. Each of the three shades that I have glide across the skin effortlessly, deposit color evenly and give the skin a gorgeous subtle glow with an optical blurring effect.
According to BareMinerals,
Instant natural flush. Buildable color. Blurring effect. Mineral-rich formula. Meet Gen Nude® Powder Blush, the ultimate mineral makeup that defines your cheekbones and warms and brightens your complexion. This weightless blush comes in 12 amped up nude shades that mimic a natural flush. The good-for-skin, ultra-creamy formula is long lasting, blendable, and features our new Blurring Mineral Complex for a brightening, soft-focus effect. We used our complexion expertise to develop next generation nudes that compliment all skin tones-just blend and layer for a million ways to go nude.
"The collection features mauves, pinks, peaches and beiges. The three levels of intensity within each color family make it easy for people of all skin tones to find a variety of shades."
Available Colors Divided into 4 Shade Categories (Colors in bold are swatched below):
Mauves: Call My Blush, On the Mauve, You Had Me at Merlot
Pinks: Pretty in Pink, Pink Me Up, Strike a Rose
Peaches: That Peach Tho, Bellini Brunch, Peachy Keen
Beiges: Beige for Days, Let's Go Nude, But First Coffee
Ingredients: Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Diisostearyl Malate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Lauroyl Lysine, Triethylhexanoin, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Tocopherol, Barium Sulfate, Silica, Alumina, Tin Oxide, Chlorphenesin. May Contain (+/-): Mica, Carmine (Ci 75470), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850). Made without: Parabens, Sulfates and Phthalates.
Left to Right: Pink Me Up, On the Mauve, You Had Me at Merlot and YBF Lipstick in Brilliant
YBF (Your Best Friend) Colour Intensity Lipstick in Brilliant ($13.00 for 0.12 oz. from HSN): Initially I was going to review and swatch this lipstick on its own, but the minute that I opened it up I thought that the color was perfect to wear with the BareMinerals Gen Nude Blushes that I have, and as you can see from the swatches, they work together perfectly for a tone-on-tone natural monochromatic look.
This lipstick formula is creamy and hydrating, as a result of the Vitamin E and Jojoba Seed Oil, and it glides across the lips effortlessly, deposits color evenly and it neither migrates and feathers, nor pools. It is ultra-pigmented, and offers full opaque coverage in a single pass. It is long-wearing, comfortable on the lips and boasts a beautiful light sheen. Brilliant, which is described as a nude brown, has a mauve undertone that makes it especially lovely.
According to YBF Beauty,
This new collection of lipsticks are ultra-intense, rich colours that leaves the lips moisturize and soft with a luminous finish!
The new formula wears evenly throughout the day and includes Vitamin E and Jojoba seed oil, leaving lips conditioned throughout the day. The collection includes four gorgeous colours that go from day to night in one swipe!
Directions: Apply lightly beginning at the center of your upper lip, blend out carefully toward the edge, and repeat for bottom lip.
Overall Assessment: I am so thrilled by these luxuriously textured blushes, and am so happy to have accidentally found a lipstick that works perfectly with them.
Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own (Affiliate Links).
Makeup Revolution USA Golden Sugar 2 Rose Gold Ultra Professional Blush Palette ($10.00 for 0.45 oz. from Ulta): This face palette is so breathtakingly beautiful that I nearly gasped when I opened it. All of the powders are ultra-finely milled, and nearly creamy in consistency. The colors range from pinks to rose golds, and warm golden peaches to coppers. The palette offers considerable versatility in that you can customize the shades and finishes by blending them to your heart's delight.
All of the shades glide across the skin effortlessly and deposit color evenly, and they neither settle into pores, nor do they emphasize fine lines. As you can see from the swatches, several of the shades have high shimmer content, but can be used with a light touch as highlighters, or can be blended with the other shades. Additionally a couple of the shades can be used as bronzers, or for light contouring.
According to Makeup Revolution USA,
Blush your cheeks with tones of golden sugar with Makeup Revolution USA’s amazing Golden Sugar 2 Rose Gold Ultra Professional Blush Palette. The palette consists of rose gold tones that are ideal for all skin types giving you the ultimate glow for both day and evening looks.
Get some more golden sugar with Makeup Revolution's amazing collection of blushers in Golden Sugar 2 Rose Gold Ultra Professional Blush Palette!
ULTA exclusives!
Swatches left to right correspond to the palette left to right and top to bottom
Note the intense luminosity
Ingredients:
Baked Powder: Mica, Dimethicone, Nylon 12, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Silica, Methylparaben, Propylparaben. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), FD & C Red No. 40 (CI 16035), FD & C Yellow No. 6 (CI 15985), Carmine (CI 75470).
Pressed Powder: Mica, Talc, Magnesium Stearate, Mineral Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polybutene, Dimethicone, Methylparaben, Propylparaben. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499).
MAKEUP REVOLUTION Rose Gold Lipstick in Chauffeur ($5.00 from Ulta): Chauffeur is a very pretty rosy nude shade that offers buildable coverage, but can also be sheered out for a very light wash of color. The formula is lightweight, very comfortable on the lips, and provides several hours of wear. This is just the type of rosy nude that I love to wear all of the time, and can see myself wearing it all summer long.
According to Makeup Revolution USA, Be Bold. Be Iconic. Be Revolutionary. Rose Gold Lipsticks are here! Makeup Revolution brings you an outstanding collection of the most desired lipstick shades.
Benefits:
Super-intensive coverage and comfortable to wear
Contemporary packaging is now lacquered to give you the ammunition you need all the time
Shades: Chauffeur, Red Carpet, Private Members Club, Diamond Life & Girls Best Friend
Ingredients: Chauffeur: Mineral Oil, Polybutene, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Microcrystalline Wax, Mica, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Propylparaben, BHT, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), D & C Red No. 7 (CI 15850).
Upper swatches are a simple wash of color from a single pass, and the bottom swatches are several passes for increased intensity. All three sets of swatches are MAKEUP REVOLUTION Rose Gold Lipstick in Chauffeur, but shown in varied lighting.
Overall Assessment: If you seek high quality, and affordable, makeup– then Makeup Revolution USA is well worth your consideration. On your next trip to Ulta, you should take a peek at their offerings!
HOURGLASS Ambient Lighting Edit is described as, "a limited edition wardrobe of powders, blushes, bronzer and the debut of the new Ambient® Strobe Lighting Powder – an illuminating powder to create the perfect highlight. This curated collection of Ambient® Lighting products is designed to give you a flawless, finished complexion with multidimensional color."
Of the 6 powder products in the palette there are three Ambient Lighting Powders, two Ambient Lighting Blushes and one Ambient Lighting Bronzer.
It contains:
Ambient® Lighting Powder in Dim Light: A neutral peach beige powder that blurs imperfections and highlights the complexion.
Ambient® Strobe Lighting Powder in Iridescent Strobe Light (NEW): A rose pearl powder that gives a refined glow to the complexion.
Ambient® Lighting Powder in Diffused Light: A soft, warm, pale yellow powder that conceals redness and gives skin clarity.
Ambient® Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure: A soft plum blush fused with Mood Light to brighten the complexion.
Ambient® Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush: A champagne rose blush fused with Luminous Light to evoke a candlelit glimmer.
Ambient® Lighting Bronzer in Luminous Bronze Light: a medium tan shade fused with Luminous Light for a softer, candlelit warmth.
Aptly described as the "ultimate portable luxury"palette, this limited edition holiday kit features a gorgeous array of iconic HOURGLASS Ambient Lighting Powders to highlight, bronze and blush the skin with ease. Each of the powders is ultra-finely milled with a nearly creamy texture. All six shades glide across the skin effortlessly and deposit color evenly. This exceptional formula neither emphasizes pore size, nor does it settle into, or accentuate, fine lines. I am able to get a full day of wear out of all six powders without fading, but my combination skin isn't oily enough to impact wear-time.
Each of the powders is smaller than those found in the Ambient Lighting Paletteand the Ambient Lighting Blush Palette, but it only takes a moment to navigate the more compact space with a brush. You may feel the need to use a more compact blush brush when using the blushes, but I have had success using regular size brushes. I often tend to blend the colors in this palette and in the Ambient Lighting Blush Palette– therefore I like to drag my brush across the entire bottom row of the Ambient Lighting Edit and across the entirely of the Ambient Lighting Blush Palette to create custom colors.
According to HOURGLASS:
Designed to give you everything you need to finish, brighten, contour and highlight your skin in a single compact. Features the new Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder in Iridescent Strobe Light, a sheer illuminating highlighter, designed to emulate the way in which strobe lights capture and reflect light on the face. Can be used wet for a more intense light. All products in the palette are universally flattering and deliver a multidimensional luminescence to every skintone, making it appear softer and lit-from-within. Unlike traditional powder, blush and bronzer, which tend to be flat, all Ambient Lighting products use Photoluminescent Technology to filter out harsh light and refine the appearance of the complexion.
Suggested use:
1. Apply Ambient® Lighting Powder in Dim Light or Diffused Light all over face as a finishing powder.
2. Apply Ambient® Strobe Lighting Powder in Iridescent Strobe Light to the high points of the face – tops of cheeks, bridge of nose, brow bone and cupid’s bow. Can be used wet for a more intense highlight.
3. Contour hollows of cheeks and forehead with Ambient® Lighting Bronzer in Luminous Bronze Light.
4. Apply Ambient® Lighting Blush in either Luminous Flush or Mood Exposure to apples of cheeks.
Features:
• Designed to give you everything you need to finish, brighten, contour and highlight your skin in a single compact.
• Features the new Ambient® Strobe Lighting Powder in Iridescent Strobe Light, an illuminating strobing powder designed to emulate the way in which strobe lights capture and reflect light on the face. Can be used wet for a more intense highlight.
• All products in the palette are universally flattering and deliver a multidimensional luminescence to every skintone, making it appear softer and lit-from-within.
• Unlike traditional powder, blush and bronzer, which tend to be flat, all Ambient® Lighting products use Photoluminescent Technology to filter out harsh light and refine the appearance of the complexion.
• Enhances skin in any type of light, including flash photography.
• Compact design and large mirror ideal for travel.
Compact design and large mirror are ideal for travel.
Photoluminescent Technology: "The optically transparent particles alter the appearance of the skin by manipulating and refracting favourable light. The result is skin that looks smooth, even, and enhanced—not masked. The soft-focus technology helps to minimize the look of wrinkles and imperfections, neutralize discolouration, and emulate the appearance of young, healthy skin."
Size of each of the individual powders illustrated when juxtaposed to makeup brushes
LUMINOUS BRONZE LIGHT
Ingredients: Mica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Boron Nitride, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Octyldodecanol, Benzoic Acid, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Diamond Powder, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-7, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Potassium Sorbate, Silica, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Tin Oxide, Trimethylsiloxysilicate. May Contain (+/-): Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI77163), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).
Overall Assessment: Such a gorgeous luxury palette! All of the powders are ultra-finely milled and spread across the skin effortlessly. While it isn't inexpensive, it is so convenient to have highlighters, blushes and a bronzer of this quality in a single, travel-friendly palette. I love this palette!
I have been receiving an unprecedented number of emails from lovely readers who have been expressing a serious interest in adding healthy skincare and makeup products into their daily beauty routines. I have been asked by many to keep on featuring these products with an eye on luxury products that don't sacrifice quality. Gone are the days that natural meant crude textures, unspectacular colors and heavy all-too-earthy scents. Indeed, a luxury natural skincare and makeup revolution has emerged, and there is no shortage of lovely products that challenge their department store chemical-laden counterparts. Among my favorite natural lines is Vapour Organic Beauty, and trust me when I tell you that you sacrifice nothing with this luxurious and fabulous line.
Vapour Organic Beauty Aura Multi-Use Blush Classic gives you a gorgeous natural flush of color on your cheeks, lips and eyes. The two newest colors, Charm and Cheeky, are both too gorgeous not to have! Cheeky is a stunning, and easy-to-wear, cool pink that will flatter many skin tones. Charm is a warm peachy shade that will take your breath away.
While you can certainly use a brush to apply this Multi-Use Blush to your cheeks, lips or eyes, I prefer using my fingers. I tend to apply it to the back of my hand and then dab and blend onto my face using my fingertips. It spreads effortlessly and deposits color evenly, and it does not emphasize pores or fine lines. The end result is a gorgeous and buildable wash of color, and it imparts a stunning ethereal glow. While the texture is quite creamy, it is not so soft as to fall apart under the slightest pressure. I also find that it lasts most of the day without fading on my cheeks, though my cheeks are not oily– so your wear-time may vary if you have oily cheeks. It has a faint fruity-floral scent, but it is subtle enough that you will barely notice it, and it is imperceptible once applied to the face. Vapour Organic Beauty Aura Multi-Use Blushes pair beautifully with their lovely Elixir Plumping Lip Glosses (reviewed here).
According to Vapour Organic Beauty,
Aura Multi-Use Blush is a beautifully versatile multi-tasking blush stick. It adds a stunning glow to cheeks as it defines and contours, and can also be used to add a hint of color to the lips and eyes. The new carmine-free shade extensions include Aura Multi Use Blush in Cheeky, a cool pink shade for a flirty flush of color on fair to medium skin and Aura Multi Use Blush in Charm, a warm peaches & crème shade ideal for skin with neutral or olive/yellow undertones. Aura Multi-Use Blush—Classic gives a natural flush of color. These universally-flattering core colors work on all skin tones and all ages. Give the Vapour glow to cheeks, lips and eyes with one convenient stick. Aura blends like a dream for a polished look in seconds. No wonder Aura is the darling of top beauty editors everywhere. Aura Multi-Use Blush is made with 70% organic ingredients and 30% mineral pigments. Aura nourishes with Vapour’s face-specific infusion of soothing Frankincense, antioxidant Tulsi, and calming Lotus. All the performance with none of the chemicals!
Features:
Multi-tasker for cheeks, lips and eyes
All-day high-impact color
Fun and versatile beauty “must-have”
Gives a clear blush of color
Makes cheeks, lips and eyes pop
Quick and easy stick application
No tools needed; blend into the skin with fingertips
Travels easily, especially in airports
Universally flattering and fashionable
Professional performance with none of the chemicals.
...Cheeky, a cool pink shade for a flirty flush of color on fair to medium skin and Aura Multi Use Blush in Charm, a warm peaches & crème shade ideal for skin with neutral or olive/yellow undertones.
Left to Right: Charm and Cheeky
Tips for Use: For the smoothest application, begin by warming Aura in a circular motion on the back of your hand. The product is activated by the warmth of your skin. Apply to clean skin directly from stick applicator. Blend with fingertips or brush.
Eric's Professional Application Tips:
Try Aura on eyelids to give a bright and refreshed look
Another trick is to use Aura to subtly highlight the temples, forehead, and chin
Try Aura Multi-Use on lips for a pulled-together look
On lips layer with Vapour Elixir lip gloss for added body and shine
Contains 70% Certified Organic Ingredients & 30% Minerals and Vitamins.
About Vapour Beauty,
Vapour Organic Beauty, a leading beauty company committed to creating high-performance cosmetics that are natural, pure and beautiful, is proud to reveal their first carmine-free cosmetic collection launching in spring. The award-winning beauty brand makes yet another major move forward in the beauty space with this collection to create a range of naturally gorgeous looks without the use of carmine. Vapour’s complete carmine-free collection features skin-perfecting primers, foundations and concealers, beautiful blushes, bronzers and highlighters, and vibrant lipsticks and lip glosses, eyeshadows and eyeliners, making it must-have makeup for those seeking the finest in pure, natural and cruelty-free beauty.
Overall Assessment: Healthy, gorgeous and a must-have if you want love blush and want to green-up your beauty routine! A+
