Blush Part 1: Cream Blush

I am a blush "aficionado" and today I was thinking of sharing everything I've learned about blush and application over the years.This is just my 2 cents on blush application and it is not the end all be all of how to do this. Everyone is different and each person has methods that work best for them, but I hope this helps someone! :D

This will be divided into two parts:
Part 1: Cream blush
Part 2: NARS Multiples
Part 2: Highly pigmented Powder Blush

Lately I am on a huge cream blush kick, so we will start here. In the past I hated them because I wasn't applying it correctly. So I hope that this will help some of you make that cream blush in your stash work for you or what not.

My Cream Blush Hall of Fame-rs:
(In no particular order. Personal color faves below)

* Bobbi Brown pot rouge -Cabo Coral

*NARS cream blush - Penny Lane

*Stila convertible cream - Petunia

First things first, I don't really like using a brush for cream blushers. I like fingers b/c it helps warm and spread the product. I also feel like I get the smoothest finish using my fingers while a brush leaves me a little streaky, uneven and splotchy. Sometimes I do use my NARS yachiyo brush to apply cream blush, but not often.

Another thing is, depending on the formula/texture of the cream blush, especially if it's on the drier side, I find applying on a freshly moisturized face helps with the blending process. (Or a freshly MAC Fix+ misted face). So here goes! Onto the pictorial!

Starting with a naked face...*eep*

Step 1: Swirl middle and ring fingers in product. You should have a decent amount of product, but be sure not to get over zealous and get too much.


Step 2: Rub opposing fingers together.

Step 3: Dab/stipple onto face starting where you want the color intensity to be the highest working your way back. By the end of this, your fingers should have little to no product left.



Step 4: Blend in with fingers. At this point I like to smile to get a more accurate idea of where to blend the blush. I also like to use my index and middle sometimes for more control and precision.

Step 5: (Optional) Set face with translucent powder or your regular light weight powder. From here you can contour or layer on a powder blush/highlighter/etc.

If you find that you applied too much and the color looks scary bright and clown-ish, you can buff on your regular powder to help tone it down. Make sure the powder isn't too heavy though so you won't end up looking cake-y.


***HINT***If I am using a very pigmented/bright cream blush (ie BB calypso coral) I apply first, then foundation on top. For something softer like NARS Penny lane which is really fool proof on me, I apply on top of my foundation.

and Voila! You're done! Piece of cake right??

Serge Lutens

Uh-oh. I seem to have found a very expensive new lemming. I was a little concerned when I had ordered samples of Serge Lutens perfumes from The Perfumed Court, but now I'm in trouble. The samples (Chergui, Bois et musc, and Fleurs d'Orangeur) arrived yesterday and from the two I've given an honest try, I'm in love. So I pre-face this with the fact that I am a perfume newbie and I suck at explaining perfumes but I will do my best. I also wanted to note that I was quite impressed with the size of the TPC vials. I was expecting a small tiny cheapo vial..the type you get at perfume counters..but these are bigger than expected (or maybe it's an optical illusion?) and very nice looking..like mini mini mini beer bottle looking things.

I tried Bois et Musc first. Opening notes are quite nice and un-offensive. Slightly powdery, floral..slightly sweet, soft and very feminine about this perfume. I think I also detect something slightly woodsy in the mix as well. There's something in there that I don't particularly LOVE but don't really hate either, I think it's the powder, but like I said, it's a very un-offensive smell to my nose. I'm not particularly fond of powdery scents, but holy moley the dry down on this is AMAZING!!! Very "your skin" smelling. I can't describe how the dry down smells, but it's very soft and comforting. LOVES! Unfortunately this is one of the non-export perfumes, which means it's only available in Paris in the bell jar as shown in above picture. Fortunately, there are ways around it, but you will be paying a bit more..or less depending on how you look at it. Shipping and handling vs going to Paris yourself.


Next I gave Chergui a go. It is described as having notes of: honey, musk, incense, tobacco leaf, hay sugar, amber, iris, rose and sandalwood. Initially I wasn't liking this one at first blush, very spicy, smokey and woodsy. I do smell green-ness..kinda like a tea leaves kinda smell. Initially there's this very masculine scent about this perfume, but it's tempered by something that makes it quite feminine. I can't seem to put my finger on what note does that though...perhaps the sweetness of honey? There's also something a little powdery to this as well. To my untrained nose, I don't really smell floral in this at all. Once again, the dry down to this is amazing! Very creamy, comforting, sweet and warm. Thankfully this is part of the export line and is thus easier to aquire.

Ok. So the whole export and non-export thing is very confusing and I think it gets even more confusing because within the export lines there's something to do with the lable colors. I am not even going to attempt to explain all this because I am not quite sure myself. If you really care to know, http://sergelutens.blogspot.com/ has a comprehensive list of all all things Serge Lutens. (I'm not affiliated, yadda yadda yadda).

Stressed Rambling

So my girl, Gwen had 2 seizures within 24 hours of each other. So far there wasn't any need to put her on meds, but it seems like we are going that route. Gosh it's horrible watching her go through the seizures. It's incredibly frightening for me and I'm sure it stresses her out as well. Oh my poor baby. Then the heartache continues because it's so sad watching her come out of the seizure all disoriented stumbling and bumping into stuff.

I am so scared that she's going to get yet another seizure within 24 hours. I'm afraid to let her sleep because that's when she seems to get them, at night when she's sleeping. Right now she's curled up next to me and every time I see her twitch in her sleep I cringe. I know it could be something worse than seizures, but it's a hard thing to deal with when they do happen. I really don't want to have to put her on meds, but I think it might end up being the best thing for everyone involved especially if the meds stop the seizures all together or at least spread them out to 6 months to a year apart. I am at a loss of what to think/feel. It's been an emotionally tense month for me this month and this is just the frosting on the cake. :(

Products I'm Loving Right Now

I am happy to say that I am for once happy with what I have and am not looking for the next thing. With that said, I dug through my stash and re-discovered somethings and re-kindled my love for them.

Items are:
* Korres Wild Rose Powder-Great for the days I am lazy and don't feel like using foundation. Gives me just enough coverage to even out my skintone, yet still look natural and fresh.

* Benefit Creaseless Cream in Birthday Suit-Originally I wasn't too keen on this because it was too silvery/cool toned. I gave it another go today and it was a different color on me! Isn't that strange? It was a gorgeous skin toned shimmer on me...absolute *love*.

* MAC Sunny By Nature MSF-I got this and forgot about it a week later. I re-discovered it because I am wanting warm weather and what better way to pretend by using some bronzer! I don't know why I forgot about this, such a gorgeous bronzer!

* MAC Perfect Topping MSF-This is my favorite highlight powder at the moment. I have been using this daily. It's not overly crazy shimmery and it gives me the most gorgeous natural glow. Perfection!

* NARS Taj Mahal- A recent purchase that I'm totally in love with! It definitely is not for the feint of heart as it is incredibly pigmented. It is a scary pumpkin orange in the pan and I need to dab it on my hand first prior to applying or else I end up looking scary.

* Illamasqua Cake Liner in Mislead- (not pictured) This is my first cake liner. I really love using this almost as much as my BB gel liners. It is so easy to use and creates a smooth flawless line.

* NARS Calliope- As you guys may remember, this is one of the items I'm trying to use up. In many ways, I really don't want to use this up because it's such a lovely fantastic everyday polished lip color.

*MAC She loves Candy lip gloss- This poor gloss is nearing the end. I am so sorry to see this go because this is a gorgeous go to gloss for me.

And the products applied.....voila! My perfect gorgeous, glow-y, natural look.

What's in my Hair Care Arsenal

My hair care products that I'm loving right now from left to right: Moroccan oil, TiGi rockaholic shine serum, Phyto 9, Tresseme heat protectant spray, Aura Rosemary Mint conditioner, Aura Cherry bark and Almond conditioner, and Redken Anti-snap.

Aside from the fact that I've been tying to cut back on using heat products on my hair, I've also have been trying to keep from using too many products as well. I have been alternating using the Moroccan oil or the phyto 9 in conjunction with the Redken Anti-snap after showers. These products don't weigh my hair down, but totally amp up the shine and moisture. (Though in excess I'd imagine it would make my hair oily.)

The latest products I got are the Aura products. They can be found at Sally's beauty supply. They are both around $6.00. For the price I am quite impressed! They give my hair softness and moisture without weighing down my medium hair. They both also smell nice as well, though the Cherry bark one kinda smells like the bathroom soap you find at public bathrooms to me, but I'll live.

The TIGI shine serum is quite nice. A little pricy, but nice. It contains lots of good for your hair oils and it smells soooo good! It reminds me of Philosophy falling in love..a sweet kinda cotton candy kinda smell. Smell aside, it gives nice shine without weighing down my hair. I only use this rarely and only on my ends..

Onto the last product in my arsenal, Tresseme heat protectant. It smells nice and has slight hold, and as far as I know it does seem to keep my hair from getting damanged from blow drying. My only gripe is the packaging. It's really difficult to spritz on myself. The handle is at a strange angle or something and trying to spritz it is not easy. I'd think it'd be easier to use on someone else vs. yourself. But it's cheap yet effective so I'm happy.

My Perfume Collection

This is my modest perfume collection in it's sad disorganized closet shelf.

My absolute favorite perfume is Philosophy Amazing Grace, I always come back to this perfume. I have a big bottle, a little purse spray, and a roll on version of this. Can you tell I love this??

My next go to is Burberry Summer. It's a nice clean fresh scent. I usually end up rotating this with the Philosophy one.

Also hiding somewhere in the picture is: Guerlain love is all, Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb deluxe mini, Vera Wang Vera Wang and Fresh Pink Jasmine.

Then there's my latest addition, Etoile de Rem by Reminiscent Paris.
I got this scent un-sniffed off Beautyhabit, my latest favorite haunt. (I am in no way affiliated, I bought everything shown here with my own money...etc.) Initially I didn't like it at all. Something about it was strange. It was definitely way out of my comfort zone. However, as the day wore on, the more and more I grew to love it! Then the next day I gave myself a spritz in the morning and I really loved it! It definitely is a keeper and I am glad I gave it a few more tries before tossing in the towel.

It is described as a solar floral fragrance with notes of citrus, bergamot, marine accord, jasmine, ylang ylang, orange blossom, coconut, vanilla, coumarin and musk. To be honest I don't smell the coconut that much. It's really hard for me to describe perfumes, but I'll try my best. I definitely smell the marine notes and soft florals. It dries down to this lovely warm creamy soft scent. It definitely reminds me of the beach and summer. I can't wait till summer so I can wear this to the beach!

What's in my Purse

My latest daily purse...a gift from my mom from a long while ago. I'm normally not into brown, but I actually like this purse.

Inside: My walette, planner, Korres yogurt body butter, perfume, a bajillion lip products and my mp3 usb cable.