Tag: blush

Breast Cancer Awareness Month – Beauty for a Cause

You know I love beauty with a cause – look good AND feel good. This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I selected some of my favorite products that are donating a portion of proceeds to the fight for a cure and supporting patients.

1. Estée Lauder Evelyn Lauder and Elizabeth Hurley Dream Lip Collection: This set includes Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Candy and Pure Color Gloss in Pink Innocence along with a pink snakeskin-printed clutch. I love Pink Innocence for an easy hydrating gloss and this edition comes in an adorable pot with a patterned lid. For each purchase of the Evelyn Lauder Dream Lip Collection, Estée Lauder will donate 20% of the suggested retail price to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

2. Shiseido Lacquer Rouge in Disco: Shiseido has partnered with Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) to support their philanthropic arm, Cancer and Careers. By donating $5 for every Lacquer Rouge in Disco sold throughout the month of October, Shiseido will give back to the non-profit organization dedicated to supporting working women living with cancer. Lacquer Rouge is a liquid lipstick that has insane shine. Disco is an eye-poping, totally fun bright pink. The color has great staying power and doesn’t leave lips dry.

3. Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Pumped Up Pink: These enormously popular balms are crazy nourishing. The the wash of color is perfect for those who want a more subtle look. The Chubby Stick comes with a pretty pink carrying case with a heart-shaped charm puller with Pink Ribbon. $3.00 from this purchase will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

4. Youngblood Crushed Mineral Blush: A portion of the proceeds of sales from 3 shades of Crushed Mineral Blush (Dusty Pink, Sherbet, and Tulip all pink of course!) are going to be donated to Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation. I’ve been using Dusty Pink (a brownish pink) and Tulip (baby doll pink) – both have a satin finish. The powder blends beautifully and gives a natural flush. It is a very natural look, but can be layered for more pop.

The Best Cream Blushes

While we are in the season of bronzers, I have found the real workhorse can be a rosy blush. They refresh the face with a luminous healthy glow. And I’m having a love affair with the cream variety. They tend to look more natural on me, blending out easily and evenly and having more radiance than their powder counterparts. Here are my picks for cream blush all-stars:

1. Chantecaille Radiant Fresh New Cheek Creme is a more pigmented formula. But because it is so silky, it blends out to a beautiful flush. The formula contains Lily Bulb Extract and Peach Extract which work as antioxidants.

2. Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Coffee Cake is not actually a cream but bear with me. The formula actually applies like a cream but but dries to a long staying powder appearance. They make a wide range of shades, and at drugstore prices, you can afford to pick up a couple. I love Lara’s tip for using this product. Check out her post on The Glossarie right here.

3. Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Luminious Creme Blush is oil free, but applies creamy. I’ve found it has great staying power with a balanced finish, not too dewy or pigmented.  The formula contains Vitamins C and E, Allantoin and Jojoba Esters to hydrate and protect the skin.

4. La Prairie Cellular Radiance Cream Blush is a true luxury product. This is the most nourishing formula. It almost feels like a moisturizer going on. Skin care ingredients actually make the underlying skin healthier. The finish is on the sheer side.

NARS Foreplay Cheek Palette

Just because something is a best-seller, doesn’t necessarily mean it will work on you. Case in point for me is NARS Orgasm. It translates too orangey-pink on me. I’ve tried over and over and it just won’t go. NARS has just released a deconstructed version of the palette that might just be the ticket. It has all the elements that made Orgasm famous in the first place, but you can mix them yourself to create a signature glow. Can’t wait to get my paws on it!

Chantecaille Radiant Fresh New Cheek Creme

I am new to cream blushes and not quite sure why I didn’t get hooked on them sooner. I have dry skin and don’t often use powder. (A cream blush generally works best over liquid or no foundation and doesn’t play too nicely with powder.) My standby, La Prairie Cellular Radiance Cream Blush, is a sheer cheek color with great skin care properties. And always close at hand. But I have another partner in crime now. Chantecaille Radiant Fresh New Cheek Creme is more pigmented and silkier. I truly love them both, equally, for different reasons.

Chantecaille Cheek Cream has a very soft texture that blends beautifully into an even color. It has a velvety, matte finish that dries down very quickly. I can’t detect much of a scent – if anything, there is a hint of rose. The formula contains a unique technology, giving the color more luminosity. White Lily Bulb Extract and Peach Extract act as antioxidants. I love the sleek silver compact which holds a deceptively large amount of product.

Available in three shades:

  • Coy – Light Peach. (my current favorite, pop of color but not too overwhelming)
  • Demure – Medium Peach.
  • Shy – Light Pink.

These are available for $34 at Neiman Marcus. Use code JUNEFS for free shipping.

Le Métier de Beauté ‘Kaleidoscope’ Blush Kit

If you are a blush junkie (or a Le Métier de Beauté fanatic), heads up on their newest Kaleidoscope. Somehow, the LMdB team, pulled together a set of universally flattering and fully satisfying blushes. While the other Kaleidoscopes have encouraged layering all the colors, I think this set works better using one or two shades on their own.

The shades from top to bottom: a matte apricot orange, a matte vibrant rose, a shimmering gold, and a frosty pink. Layers two and three together quickly became my favorite. The gold tempers the vibrant rose and adds a bit of highlight. The gold also makes for a beautiful eyeshadow. The powder is very finely milled so there is no caking or dusky look.

The advantage of the kit is any look you desire is immediately at your fingertips! I tend to get quite a bit of pigment with these shades, but they blend beautifully into a sheer color. This is now part of Le Métier de Beauté permanent collection.

Becca Cosmetics Mineral Blush and Beach Tint

Becca Cosmetics is a company that focuses on natural, flawless skin for every complexion. I love that they offer 34 concealer and 30 foundation shades. They truly offer makeup to ALL women. You don’t hear too much about this line – it definitely flies under the radar. So I wanted to highlight their Beach Tint and Mineral Blush in anticipation of the summer months – both great products to get the sunkissed glow (safely and without sun damage!).

BECCA Beach Tint is a blendable 2-in-1 crème stain for cheeks and lips. The water-resistant formula makes it perfect for the hot summer months – throw it on a bare face before the pool or the beach. Unlike other stains, it doesn’t dry out lips at all. Its dermatologically tested formula makes it safe for acne-prone and sensitive skin. These are ever so slightly scented in a totally pleasant way. You can keep them in a hot car or beach bag without worrying about them melting everywhere.

Becca Beach Tints are available in seven shades: Strawberry (warm orange red), Watermelon (bright pink), Peach (warm orange pink), Raspberry (deep berry pink), Grapefruit (pale coral pink), Fig (tea rose pink) and Guava (bright coral pink). The pigment goes on pretty sheer. Just make sure to exfoliate your lips with a product like Bliss Fabulips Sugar Lip Scrub beforehand.

The Becca Mineral Blush is loaded with skin care benefits (Vitamin A, E and C). The mineral complex and conditioners give the appearance of smooth and even skin. There is something in the powder formula that allows the blush to blend like a cream. It never looks cakey on my dry skin and there is just a hint of highlight and illumination. It is truly a demi-matte finish. And the silver disk in the compact makes it surprisingly easy to find in a huge purse!

Becca Mineral Blush is available in five shades: Damselfy (coral), Flowerchild (peachy pink), Sweet Pea (rosy plum nude), Wild Honey (peachy nude) and Bolero (bronze).

These two products definitely go hand in hand. The Beach Tint can be layered under the Blush for added intensity. They are also free of parabens and preservatives. You can find Becca Cosmetics at Dermstore.com.