Blushers (random)

Continuation of my blushers! These are the random ones sitting around (not in my palette).

Bourjois Peche

- Ranges from $7~11 online (but this was a gift from Catherine) for 2.5 grams.

- Comes with a handy mirror that's just big enough to see your cheek

- Very pretty shimmery orange (or maybe a true peach?) with golden microglitter.

- Texture is a little rough.. I feel like I have to dig in my brush to get enough to show up on my face (or maybe I'm just dark.. haha, I wonder how this would look on fairer skin tones?). The swatch was preeeeetty heavy and definitely layered on.

- Very compact, great for traveling. BUT I feel like the container itself could be a little smaller since it seems like there's lost space between blush and the mirror.

- Very pretty but if I *had* to narrow down my collection, I would definitely think of this one--just based on texture and pigmentation.. and how it shows up on my NC37 skin. And I would be sad that I thought of this one, because it really is a very pretty color IMO.

MAC Dainty

- Bought off a blogsale

- MAC describes it as a "light yellow pink with gold pearl"

- I was planning on depotting it.. then I realized.. MSF's probably aren't too keen on the whole depotting thing, haha. So.. it just sits in my drawer and I don't really get around to using it. Blah! In fact, this is the second time I've swatched it, hahaha. And that's it!

- Swatched, then blended (last pic). Probably over blended. Swatched below with comparisons.

- Texture is great, definitely smoother than the Bourjois but not as smooth as the pan ones.. because it's a mineralized blush.

- Price is at $21.00 (ouch!). Not a MUST HAVE but more of a "nice to have". I should definitely start reaching for this one soon.

Milani Luminous, MAC Peachykeen, MAC Dainty (it looks so pale!)

Swatched on NC37 skin (probably looks a little darker) in reverse. All fairly similar but not similar enough to truly knock one out of my collection. I'll have to actually wear this one for a little while, then report back.

PAUL & JOE 002 Flower (Disney collection)

- Gifted from Angie (who needs to blog more!) at our meet up last year :D

- Super pretty! Swatched the mix (L) then the two pearls separately. Awesome for a soft innocent flush.

- Powder puff that comes with it is super cute and feminine, not to mention VERY soft.

- Unfortunately limited edition and sold out (as far as I can tell).. so I'm not sure about the price either.

- Packaging is beyond adorable but it's hard to travel with, I'm always afraid I'm doing to dent the packaging or something. Fairly sturdy card board.

- In love with this blush.. and definitely need to use it more often.

Sonia Kashuk: Flamingo

- Can be found at Target.. I'm sure other drugstores or markets as well. I assume the price is $10 or less, this one was gifted to me by Katie. She says this is a dupe for MAC PINK SWOON (check out the other gifts/dupes from her in this post).

- Very pretty matte! GASP! I think it's the only matte shade in my entire collection.

- This has been my RECENT "go-to" blush.. perfect flush.. super natural.. hard to over do with my normal application. The picture shows pretty heavy swatching.

- Texture is super smooth.. very pigmented.. reminds me of MAC blushes, honestly.

- Comes with a handy dandy mirror.. and a brush. I haven't used the brush (honestly I haven't even taken it out of the packaging until JUST NOW lol) but it feels very soft and smooth.

- Packaging is very sturdy, very clean, flat, stacks well.

- RECOMMENDED! I want to go check out the other blush shades :D

Let me know if you have any questions ^___^ hope this helps!

Blushers (MAC palette)

Helloooooo! I almost forgot about this blog post.. hahaa. Trying to keep up with the "one post every 3 days" thing. Yesterday was suuuch a tiring day.. woke up at 3AM.. left the house at 4AM.. met up with my intern boss.. drove down to San Clemente (well, I passed the f out, LOL) and.. then.. we had a photoshoot at Lowe's (yah, like Home Depot).. didn't leave until about 6PM.. it was "CRAY CRAYYYY" (haha).

Anywayy.. decided to show you guys my BLUSHERS.. give you a quick idea on pigmentation, rough color descrip (probably just copy paste from MAC or where ever site), etc. Might end up doing an "OVER ALL" ranking post if I'm feeling lazy.. hahaha. We'll see :P

ON TO THE PICS/SWATCHES~

TOP (L-R): MAC dollymix, MAC peachykeen, MAC margin

BOTTOM (L-R): MILANI luminous, blank, MAC harmony (hit pan!)

MILANI Luminous

- It looks weird because it totally was owned when I was depotting it.. sigh!

- Very pretty color, supposedly a dupe for NARS Orgasm but I don't have it to compare (well, I did but never though to compare it.. mostly because.. I hated the glitter in the NARS!)

- Found at drugstores, can't remember how much but I bet it's $10 or less.. plus it's the same size pan (sliiiiiightly smaller, as in the edges don't meet all the way.. but you can hardly tell) as MAC.. definitely cheaper than NARS.. good stuff!

- Good color pay off.. mine is a little weak.. I think it's because of how I re-pressed it. If I suddenly get lots of money (helloooo loan check in Feb!) I think I may repurchase it, because I really do love this color, it was definitely a "go to" shade for me.

- Pigmentation is good, it's hard to over do it (in my opinion, maybe my brush sucked back then) since it has a pretty "duotone" sheen.. peachy pink.

- Recommended!

MAC Dollymix

- Bought off a blogsale (thanks Sher!)

- MAC describes it as a "pure candy pink (sheertone shimmer)".. looks like there are smaaaaaall silver microglitter (I guess microglitter would cover the "small" huh?) but you don't really notice it. Not quite as natural since it's a shimmer, but that's fine with me.

- Swatched (L) once, (R) heavily

- As you can see.. you can only really wear this blush if you're IN THE MOOD FOR BLUSH. Either that, or apply with a light hand. That's why it doesn't really look like I've used this shade very much~ because I really haven't.

- Great for "dolly" looks, sweet innocent flush that's popular with "gyaru" looks.

- MAC prices.. $18.50/per (unless you buy just the pan) which is kind of a bummer.. I'm sure there is a drugstore dupe out there if you're strapped for cash.

- Pigmentation is great (as you can see).

MAC Peachykeen

- Bought the pan off the MAC website.. after a recommendation from Whit

- MAC describes it as "very baby peach (sheertone shimmer)"

- MAC prices.. $18.50/per (unless you buy just the pan) which is kind of a bummer.. I'm sure there is a drugstore dupe out there if you're strapped for cash.

- Definitely my current "go to" blush.. LOVE this color! It's hard to over-do in my opinion, swatched once on the left side, swatched heavily on the right. Pigmentation is on point.

- Downside is that it IS a shimmer.. so it's not as natural as a matte blush. But I don't really care :P harhar.

- RECOMMENDED!

MAC "Margin"

- MAC describes it as "peach with golden shimmer (frost)".. definitely not as natural. I still like the color.. but.. I'm sort of leaning towards finding a similar color but in shimmer or matte.

- Bought at the store while looking for a pretty peachy blush. Definitely warms up your complexion, and can be used as a sort of orangey/peachy bronzer.

- Definitely kind of sits in here in my palette.. I don't want to get rid of it but I don't really tend to use it either. It also chipped during my depotting process but instead of repressing the pieces that fell out, I just dumped it.

- Texture is SUPER smooth (as are the other MAC blushes!). Feels like butter.. or silk.. or something.

- Pigmentation is SUPER. It's easy to overload your blush and go crazy, so be careful.

- MAC prices.. $18.50/per (unless you buy just the pan) which is kind of a bummer.. I'm sure there is a drugstore dupe out there if you're strapped for cash.

SWATCHED

Sonia Kashuk: Flamingo (in a later post)

Milani: Luminous

MAC: Dollymix

MAC: Peachykeen

Swatched on my arm in reverse order.. I'm about NC37. See the pretty sheen that Luminous gives?? And how silky/powdery the MAC blushes are--I guess I swatched a bit too heavily xD

MAC Harmony

- I don't really consider as a blush, since I use it to contour. I bought this when I was looking for MAC Emote (recommendation for contour) but.. of course.. it was d/c'd so the SA and my friend said this was a good dupe, if you don't want to shell out $30+ to get a hard-to-find Emote.

- MAC describes it as a "muted rose-beige brown (matte)".. I don't really see the "rose tone" part of it since it seems more neutral to me. Some people don't like this because they think it looks muddy. As far as contouring goes.. and bronzing.. I've also tried the NYC Bronzer but I feel that it's too orangey to truly contour with.

- Pigmentation is great.. texture is great.. etc.

- MAC prices (again) sort of suck at $18.50 and I hear there are a few other good drugstore dupes.. like NYX "Taupe". You can also use 1-2 shade darker powder for contour.

If anyone's interested, I haven't listed it up on my blogsale.. I'd be willing to sell MARGIN and DOLLYMIX for $10/ea.. or both for $17. They're both depotted (obviously). Let me know :)

Swatches and Comparisons

This is a bunch of swatches.. comparisons.. and basically, how I decide what palette to keep and what to let go :P

Lancome Color Design Sensational Effects EyeShadow

*gifted from Yasumi.. love!*

I'm not exactly sure how to read the colors on the back.. SO.. bear with me.

Filigree (shimmer) - what I imagine in my head of MAC Ricepaper.. yellow-beige

Mannequin (shimmer) - warm toned taupe?

Strut (intense) - blue/green awesomeness

Lezard (matte) - slightly-warm/red brown.. from a distance it looks sort of plum-y.

Bronze Glow (blush) - cool toned peach with gold flecks

The colors are slightly off and are NOT a true representation of their actual color.. the blue has a blue-green duochrome and otherwise I think this entire picture is a tad warm.. or magenta-ish (my current lightbulb in my lamp tends to run a little green).

Here's the gigantic comparison chart! Er, tissue paper..

Filigree & Mannequin -VERSUS- Rimmel 002 Smokey Brun

Top two are Rimmel, bottom two are Lancome

I couldn't decide between the two palettes at this point.. the colors that are similar are really totally different. If I had to choose two colors, I would probably choose the bottom left Lancome and the top right Rimmel.. though the bottom left Lancome does remind me of coffee or hot chocolate :P

Lezard -VERSUS- Rimmel

Lezard (bottom brown) is warmer than the Rimmel, and even at a distance, sort of plummy.. PLUS the Lancome doesn't have silver glitter, which makes it the winner between the two (IMO).

Strut -VERSUS- KATE

These colors are ssoooooo different, I don't even know why I swatched the two. I guess they're the two MOST similar colors in my collection as far as dark greens go. Kate is obviously much more blackish with green glitter while Strut has this awesome blue-green duotone. I would love both as nail polish colors, really.. hahah. As for on my eyes, I think Lancome wins just because it looks so cool :P plus it doesn't have glitter!

KATE -VERSUS- Majolook

These two colors are preeeeetty darn similar.. Kate has silver glitter while MM is just shimmer. MM wins out in texture.. and while Kate does pop a little more, I'm not a fan of fall-out glitter (on the off-hand chance of it). In the picture, Kate also looks a bit warmer though they look aboooout the same when it's sitting next to me on the tissue paper. MM it is.

Bronze Glow -VERSUS- Bourjois Peche blusher

I muuuuuch prefer the texture of Bronze Glow over Peche.. and while Peche looks gorgeous, I feel like I have to dig in my brush to get enough color out, which is bad for my brushes. The two colors are pretty far apart, though I like the brown-tone to Bronze Glow. I just swatched MAC's Margin and all three colors are fairly different. Based on texture, I would blogsale the Bourjois but by color, I'd have to keep them all.

So.. I phased out the Kate green gradation palette :P and failed at getting rid of another blush. And this totally makes me debate between the Rimmel and the Lancome palettes.. though I maaaay let go of the Rimmel, just because the Lancome bluegreen is way more awesome than four neutral shades. I haven't tried out the Lancome so we'll see if I like the warmer shades on my lids :P