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NARS blush swatches – Lovejoy, Amour, Torrid

Resha — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 20:13:28 +0000

To continue with my recent little Sephora F&F haul, here are three NARS blushes that I picked up as well. I absolutely love NARS blushes, they are super high on my favorite blush list. I had ten shades already, but there were about six more that I wanted and now that list is down to three. I picked up Lovejoy, Amour and Torrid. Each NARS blush retails for $26 — and I remember the good ol’ days when NARS blushes were $25 a pop *sigh*…whatever lol, that damn dollar makes a difference!

Here’s what I picked up..

Torrid – beautiful shimmery coral
Amour – peachy pink
Lovejoy – shimmering bronzed rose

NARS blushes – Lovejoy, Amour, Torrid

NARS blushes

NARS blushes – Lovejoy, Amour

NARS blushes – Amour, Torrid

NARS Torrid blush

NARS Amour blush

NARS Lovejoy blush

NARS blush swatches
l-r: Lovejoy, Amour, Torrid

I looove these colors, but then again I don’t really have a NARS blush that I don’t like. Lovejoy is very natural looking on my face, though not easy to photograph when I’m actually wearing it. It’s very close to my skintone when blended out, but give a really nice bronzey-rose tint. It’s a great everyday blush for the NC40-NC45 range. Amour is a pinkier blush than Torrid, but both are really pretty when worn. If you’re into corals, try Torrid.

MAC LOVEJOY vs. NARS LOVEJOY

So both MAC and NARS have blushes called “Lovejoy”, and to be completely honest they are extremely similar. Both blushes run in the same family but there are very subtle color differences.

MAC Lovejoy vs. NARS Lovejoy

MAC Lovejoy vs. NARS Lovejoy swatches

As you can see, they are very similar but just a tad different color-wise — NARS is rosier than MAC, which is more bronze. The MAC blush will run you $21 for 0.11oz of product, and the NARS will run you $26 for 0.16oz of product.

MAC Lovejoy – bronzier, more pigmented, softer, has a bit more shimmer, will show up better on darker skintones versus NARS Lovejoy — yet it works for all skintones.
NARS Lovejoy – rosier, finer in texture, more subtle than MAC Lovejoy, will show up better for lighter to medium-dark skin tones.

WELL DANG, WHICH ONE SHOULD I BUY?

While I can’t answer that for you, because everyone’s tastes are different…I personally like the MAC version of Lovejoy more than the NARS. I have to really get the NARS Lovejoy to show up on me, while the MAC one requires very little effort. If you’re lighter than me, either one will show up on you. If you’re darker than me, I’d say try the MAC version over the NARS.

Hope that helps you lovely little boogers <3

-Stay beautiful

Availability: Sephora, MAC

NYX Winter in Moscow Smokey Palette Review, Swatches & FOTD

Resha — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:04:30 +0000

Smokey eyes are probably the most popular way to pimp your eyelids. There are so many ways to smoke out your eye — and not look like a panda in the process. Insert the NYX Winter in Moscow Smokey Look palette ($19.50); a handbook sized folding palette with a mirror, 2 blushes and 5 lip colors on one side, and 14 eyeshadows and applicators on the other side. I received this item to review from my good friend in lipstick, Linda. She asked that I review it so here we go

This palette has a ton of silver and grey eyeshadows of different depths and shades, enough to give you many smokey combinations. You may also find these colors appropriate for the upcoming freeze-ball months, as most of the shades are frosty/shimmery (but not a hot mess).

1st eyeshadow column, plus blushes from opposite side

lip gloss swatches

2nd eyeshadow column

For the look above I used eyeshadow colors from the second column of the palette (2, 6 and 7) and the second blush to the right. For lip color, I used Rock & Republic lip gloss in Mistress with NYX Cocoa lip liner.

PROS

Affordable
Lots of grey’s and silvers to choose from
Pretty good quality shadows — I’m impressed!
Blendable and easy to work with
Dumb easy to create a smokey look with this palette, even for the makeup novice
Super easy to travel with
Convenient — packs different items for multiple uses

CONS

None of the colors have any names or numbers to associate themselves with. So you have no idea what color you’re really using…so you have to make something up
The magnetic closure could be better, I find this palette can open very easily and possibly create a mess in your purse/makeup bag, etc.
The plastic divider between the eyeshadows and the blushes and lip colors is loose, and it would be better if it were enforced down the middle so that it stays in place. If it slides around, you can find eyeshadow dust in your lip products and that’s no good.
The spongetip applicator…c’mon now…

OVERALL

I really like this palette, and I’m quite impressed with it. The one thing I don’t like, are the super gummy vaseline’y lip glosses. I don’t like the way they feel at all, despite the cute colors they come in. The blushes and the eyeshadows are equally soft in texture, and crumble easier than a higher-end product, but it’s not as bad as E.L.F. lol! NYX made it very easy to create a simple and sexy smokey eye and because of the low price, it’s also easier on your pockets. The shadows range in taupey-greys to mushroom silvers to standard blacks. For the look I did above, I used colors 2, 6 and 7 from the second column — I wish I could tell you their names, but they’re incognito I guess lol. I used my MAC brushes for this, and it came out pretty well and was so easy to do. It’s really nice to see that NYX is stepping up their pigmentation game too I packed these on top of the NYX Eyeshadow Base (white) and I didn’t have any creasing from that product, which is really good. I’ll have to review it for you guys in the future.

RATING

Availability: Rock the Catwalk

Rock & Republic Contrived Pressed Blushes

Resha — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 03:43:51 +0000

(updated 8/21/10 w/ new swatches!) When my parents and I pulled up into their driveway today, my mom said “There’s a package on the doorstep” and I just knew it was mine. I walked up to it, saw the HAUTELOOK tape wrapped around the small brown box and literally hit a Mariah Carey note of excitement. I knew exactly what it was! I grabbed my dog, tossed my box in the passenger seat and sped home to open my little box of joy in the form of Rock & Republic blushes ($40 each). I didn’t order these directly from the Rock & Republic website…instead I got them half price on Hautelook! *poplocks with passion and conviction*

Rock and Republic is a high-end clothing, accessory and cosmetic line headed up by the always fabulous Victoria Beckham (The chick from the Spice Girls who was always pointing…at..nothing ). Her cosmetics are known for their rich color and pigmentation and beautiful packaging. These very large blushes are available in 10 shades (all with sexually-charged names lol), so you’re bound to find one that suits you.

Smooth, silky texture

Available in three finishes: matte, shimmer and translucent

Can be used to highlight or accent

Source: Rock & Republic

Each compact arrives in a round case with the Rock & Republic logo printed inside, cradling each blush safely. Inside is a highly reflective (and fingerprint loving) metal compact with the beautifully intertwined Rock & Republic logo on top. It’s really pretty ya’ll…Every blush weighs in at 9 grams, just one gram short of a MAC Mineralize Skinfinish — and you know how huge those are. When you take the size, national price average for high-end blushes, and the intense pigmentation into account — these blushes are actually a steal.

LET’S DO A LITTLE MATH

For example, a NARS blush will cost you $26 for 4.5 grams of product. The Rock & Republic blushes are 9 grams (almost the same amount of two NARS blushes) and therefore $11 cheaper. I understand your reservations though (if you have any), because dropping that much money on just one product is still in your head and you probably cant appreciate the value at the present moment. Bottom line, these are almost twice the size of a NARS blush and still cheaper than two NARS blushes…so the price really isn’t terrible.

Here’s a couple of pictures of this gorgeously packaged lil mama…

Rock & Republic Contrived Pressed blush in “X-Rated”

Rock & Republic Contrived Pressed blush in “All-Nighter”

Rock & Republic Contrived Pressed blush in “Lust”

Rock & Republic Contrived Pressed blush in “Shameless”

Rock & Republic Contrived Pressed blush in “Shameless” and “Lust”

Rock & Republic Contrived Pressed blush swatches in “Shameless” and “Lust”

Rock & Republic Contrived Pressed blush swatches in “Shameless” and “Immoral”

Rock & Republic Contrived Pressed blush swatches in “Immoral” and “All Nighter”

Rock & Republic Contrived Pressed blush swatches in “Lust” and “X-rated”

Rock & Republic Contrived Pressed blush in “Bedroom”

Rock & Republic Contrived Pressed blush swatch in “Bedroom”

Rock and Republic X-Rated worn on cheek

Rock and Republic All-Nighter worn on cheek

Rock and Republic Immoral worn on cheek

Rock and Republic Shameless worn on cheek

Rock and Republic Lust worn on cheek

Rock and Republic Bedroom worn on cheek

I applied these blushes a tad on the heavy side. You have to use a very light hand with these to avoid looking like that midget wooden Jigsaw doll from those terrible Saw movies — you know the dude with the red clown cheeks. You don’t have to run your brush back and forth thru these blushes, just tap the brush softly on the top of the product — no friction — and I promise you that you’ll have picked up plenty for a natural flush of color.

The colors I own so far are as follows (along with a description of each color, as best described as possible lol):

All Nighter: reddened orange with gold shimmer (think a redder version of NARS Taj Mahal)
Bedroom: warm rosy peach matte (this one looks the most natural on my skin tone — love it)
Immoral: super bright coral matte (this one also looks beautiful on my skin tone)
Lust: warm pink with gold shimmer (an NC44/NW43 version of NARS Orgasm, but far more pigmented)
Shameless: pinkish brown with gold shimmer (an NC50 version of NARS Orgasm)
X-rated: rich raspberry matte (pinker version of MAC Frankly Scarlet blush)

Needless to say, application and technique matter when it comes to how a blush will make you look. Also, just because you hate a color doesn’t always mean it looks bad on you — you may just not be used to it and feel too overwhelmed or scared to even go there. Don’t clown yourself up by applying too much, just softly use that key amount to achieve a beautifully enhanced face. Easy.

I found these blushes to be very smooth and soft to the touch. They didn’t crumble when I swatched or bounced my brush into the product — and for $40 a piece, they better not. I’m very pleased with the luxurious packaging and the value of the product. I think if you’re a blush-freak and want something very special for your money, you’ll be very pleased with Rock and Republic’s line of blushes. Give them a try!

Availability: Rock & Republic, and occasionally on sale at Hautelook

-Stay beautiful

**This post contains affiliate and invite links to Hautelook and NARS. Click here for policy and disclosure information.

NYX Blush Review

Resha — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 20:27:00 +0000

I clearly need to buy more NYX blushes. They are, in a word, fabulous. The fact you can get an extremely smooth and pigmented blush for about $6 a pop is pure love and recession friendly like a mug. As of now, I only have four of these babies but I see myself buying a few more colors in the near future. These blushes remind me of a higher-end brand such as NARS because of their pigmentation. It’s really amazing how little you need with these babies.

NYX blushes in Pinky, Desert Rose, Copper, Cocoa

with flash: Pinky, Desert Rose, Copper, Cocoa

no flash: Pinky, Desert Rose, Copper, Cocoa

me wearing Desert Rose blush heavily. The pigmentation is amazing.

Best applied using a soft fluffy brush like a MAC 168 or 116, but you can use whatever you have. I also like my Sonia Kashuk powder brush with these. You could also use your fingers — they’re that blendable and smooth! I personally find these blushes to last as long as any of my NARS or MAC blushes. The beauty of some colors is that you can use them for blush or contouring, I often contour with my Cocoa blush because it’s like a bronzer and blush in one for me. They come in a pretty large range of colors for every skin-tone, so there’s definitely something for everyone.

PROS

Affordable – around $6 a piece.
Lots of product for your money (.14oz/4g)
Hypoallergenic and cruelty free.
Very pigmented, buttery soft and smooth.
They never look powdery or ashy on the face.
Versatile – you can use some colors for contouring, bronzing or highlighting.

CONS

Because they’re very soft, they can be somewhat powdery in the pan after you swirl your brush into it.
Storage can get bulky, these aren’t easy to depot and put into a palette

OVERALL

I highly recommend these blushes. I may only have four, but that’s more than enough to be able to tell you that they’re the sh*t. As far as the outcome goes, I would compare these to a higher end blush like NARS or even MAC. They may be slightly more powdery when you’re digging your brush into the pan, but that’s something I’d gladly put up with just because the product itself is so fabulous. Make sure you pick up at least two of these. I can’t wait to get my hands on about five more!

RATING

Availability: NYX Cosmetics, Cherry Culture

-Stay beautiful