Just the Right Glow: CoverGirl TruBlend Blush and Bronzer Swatch and Review

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Have you seen these? I've overlooked them for a looong time at the drugstore. When I shouldn't have. It took CoverGirl sending them to me (for a sponsored post in the fall) for me to really notice them. You can check out that sponsored post here, but they've been quietly sitting here on my vanity, being used frequently, ever since. Because they're kind of amazing.

One of the first things you might notice is that they look a bit... familiar? They remind me a lot of the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish and Mineralize Blush. I don't use a lot of MAC face products, but anything marbleized with shimmery metallic screams "MINERALIZE" to me. There's a reason those MAC products have stuck around for so long, is that they're just so pretty. Super pretty, they make you glowy, they last all day... you get the picture. They're classics for a reason.

These CoverGirl TruBlends do remind me a lot of the Mineralize products, though they are a little less pigmented and they don't last quite as long. Think 10 hours instead of 12-14 hours. But, they are just as pretty. And they cost a fraction of the MAC products.


bronze, light rose, deep mauve
One thing to notice is that the bronzer is pretty golden, and all three do have a subtle shimmer that is just enough to catch the light and look glowy. This means that you'll get a great sunkissed look with this bronzer, but it wouldn't work for contouring. As well, even though I'm pretty fair, I mostly use the deep mauve color. With a slightly larger blush brush, this gives me a very pretty look!


TruBlend Baked Powder Blush at Amazon, ULTA or Target
TruBlend Baked Powder Bronzer at Amazon, ULTA or Target

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Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush Palette Color Wheel Review and Swatches

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One of my all time favorite Tarte products has to be their Amazonian Clay Blushes. The colors have just the right amount of pigmentation, they show up but don't overwhelm your face and are just so pretty! I had some years ago, but hit the pan and never replaced them when I finished them. The life of a beauty blogger... you have so much other stuff that sometimes it is very hard to justify purchasing a favorite product again.

When I was drooling over the new holiday shadow palettes they released, this new blush color wheel palette caught my eye. It's a great way to get a selection of the blushes that I like so much, but I don't need to have the full sized versions!

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NARSissist Cheek Studio Palette Swatch and Reviews

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Have you seen the newest blush and bronzer palette from NARS? It's exclusive to Sephora, and like other NARS blushes, this is all kinds of amazing. These blushes are beautiful and work for almost any skin tone. They apply with just a regular blush brush, but do seem to be extra glowy! They last all day on me.

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Today's Special Value: It Cosmetics 4 Piece Customer Favorites

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In case you haven't noticed, I'm a pretty big fan of all things It Cosmetics (here's a peek at my favorite products from It Cosmetics, though I should update that list to include a few additional items). You can pick up It Cosmetics at ULTA, or from the It Cosmetics website.

But one of my favorite ways to try out their products, usually at a great discount, is over on QVC! It Cosmetics is featured at the Today's Special Value every few months, and the collections are always a steal (and usually they include a new product or two!)

The worldwide launch of the latest set will only be available for 24 hours as a TSV, starting at 12:01 AM EST on Monday, June 8th. So, in a few hours. Get ready to shop! They haven't announced the price in press materials, but it will be under $60, and it is an incredible deal because the products are worth over $150.



The products included in this kit aren't flashy, but they're some of It Cosmetics' best products!

Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer: You can take a peek at my original Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer Review, but this concealer has been featured on the blog so many times that I've lost count. It's also featured in my Favorite Concealers post. This is a very, very pigmented concealer that has been formulated to be crease resistant (though it will crease if you add enough layers. No one should need that many layers). I like to apply a little to the back of my hand to warm it up, then tap it over the area that needs to be concealed.

Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush: This is an amazing brush! I have 2 of them already and I was pretty happy to have a 3rd. I have 1 in my office (yes, I sometimes apply makeup in there for blog pics), 1 in my bathroom and this one will be kept in my travel kit. One end is a smallish domed brush that is perfect for foundation or blending of face products. The other end is small enough to help apply concealer around your nose and under the eyes.

And a few new products (which are slight variations on previous favorites)
Naturally Pretty Face Palette: This palette is perfect for keeping some great face products you need in one place. Included in this palette are Hello Light Creme highlighter, Vitality Matte Bronzer, Bye Bye Pores Pressed Powder and Bye Bye Pores Pressed Blush (new in this palette). It's great for taking with you or just streamlining your makeup application in the morning!

Celebration Foundation SPF50: This foundation is a medium coverage powder, and I've heard about it's amazingness from my friends for years. I do think it is easy to apply, and you can use it as a powder or a foundation. The compact comes with a sponge in the storage area, that will give you a fuller coverage than if you buff on some of the powder with the brush. This formulation is new because it now includes sunscreen, an SPF 50! I wouldn't count on this to be your only sunscreen, chances are you aren't applying enough product to your entire face. However, it's a great "bonus" SPF for the summer!








Note that my set was in Fair, which is a good match for my skin. It is the lightest color available.

To find the set, head over to QVC's site and then click on Today's Special Value at the top. It's available for 24 hours starting at 12:01 AM EST!

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Ten Great Blushes For A Pretty Flush

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When you're as fair as I am, a little blush can go a long way to looking like I'm awake and... healthy. Especially with a newborn! Today for Top 10 Tuesday we're sharing our favorite spring blushes, though obviously they work all year long. I like to use blushes that give me a pretty flush, especially cream blushes.


1. Milani Illuminating Face Powder in Beauty's Touch (my review here, get it from Drugstore.com): This is a very versatile powder. With a small brush it can give a more pigmented look, or a bigger brush and just brush it around my face. It won't show up that way, but it does make my face look more alive and people don't ask me if I feel ok (the struggle is real my friends).

2. Maskcara Cream Blush in Pink Grapefruit (from Maskcara Cosmetics): I've only had it for a few days, and I haven't even uploaded the pics yet from my camera, but the newly reformulated Maskcara blush is just as amazing as the original. You can read my Maskcara IIID Foundation review if you're thinking about ordering!

3. Stila Convertible Color in Lillium (from Stila or Sephora): I really love Stila Convertible Color. I only use it on my cheeks, but the color is nicely pigmented and easy to blend. I usually layer it under and then over some translucent powder to make it last all day.

4. Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush (my Sweethearts Blush review, get it from Too Faced or Sephora): Just enough shimmer to be super pretty! I love that there are a few colors in one little heart, so when you blend them together the result is much prettier and glowy.

5. NARS Multiple in Orgasm (from NARS or Nordstrom): It's a classic for a reason. The perfect pinky-peach. I think the effect from the Multiple is better than the powder blush.

6. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Dollface (get it at Tarte or Sephora): A bit more of a pinky-nude than the other choices, and this one is matte. It's very natural and subtle, the color lasts all day.

7. Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Pink Plum (from Drugstore.com and ULTA): This is one of my go-to cream blushes. The Bouncy Blushes tend to be one of those love them or hate them things, and I love them! I apply only with a small blush brush, with my fingers I have a hard time blending it out.

8. e.l.f. Studio HD Blush in Headliner (from ELF): One of my best products from ELF, this is a very pretty blush that is easy to blend and is a great dupe for a much more expensive MUFE blush.

9. Urban Decay Naked Flushed in Native (my Naked Flushed Blush review, get it from Sephora or Urban Decay): I don't use the bronzer in this blush (it is too dark and too orange for my skin tone), but I do really like this pretty pink. I add in a little of the shimmer when I apply the blush, then apply the highlighter to my inner eye, brow bone and cheekbone.

10. It Cosmetics CC+ Radiance Palette (via It Cosmetics or ULTA): I'm reaching for this palette all. the. time. It is so amazing! Again, I'm not using the bronzer in this one (also too dark for me, just like that UD), but the peach blush is very pretty and I like the light shimmer/bronzer in the illuminator. I usually add the two together as a blush and then use the illuminator all over. I get compliments on my blush when I use this from my friends.

What are you go-to blush products?

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L'Oreal Blur Cream Blushes Review and Swatch: Super Glowy and Pretty!

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I'm a pretty big fan of cream blushes. I don't usually apply them with my fingers, instead I apply with my regular blush brush, it tends to give a very pretty, glowy look. I also love how long cream blushes usually last, I get a pretty flush all day with a cream blush, that doesn't always happen with a powder blush.

So, while I have great love for cream blushes, I admit that I haven't really broken out of the mold and tried many of them. I tend to stick with my favorites, from Maybelline and Stila. And I haven't tried a blush that comes in a tube. So, I was excited to try out the new Blur blushes from L'Oreal. Now my list of favorite cream blushes has grown to 3. That's huge people!


There are currently three shades of this blush:
501: Soft Peach
502: Soft Pink
503: Soft Berry

They come out of the tube looking pretty intense. The texture is a bit like a thick mousse, and not at all sticky. I really recommend applying it out of the tube to the back of your hand, spreading it out a little and dipping a brush in the blush. I then dot the blush on to my cheek and blend out the blush.

The blush is really very pretty and glowy. I apply it directly over my foundation/concealer, then set with my powder. This makes the blush about half the intensity it was before, so either apply too much to begin with or you can add a little more blush over the powder. I've found that the setting with powder step is very important. Without the powder, the blush fades by late afternoon, but if I've set it then my blush is still perfect when I wash my face at night!


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Urban Decay Naked Flushed Review and Swatches: Everything You Need In One Palette

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Urban Decay has slowly been adding more and more products to their Naked line, have you noticed? While I'm a big fan of all the eye shadow palettes (Naked2 is my favorite), the double ended 24/7 Glide On Liners and the foundation, I think this might be my favorite yet! They released their original Naked Flushed palette a while ago, somehow I haven't tried it yet. But three new shades have just been added to the collection, and I'm in love!

Each of these palettes is pretty large. They contain a trio of very finely milled products. Don't let that palette fool you, there's enough of each to fill a regular full sized container. Each trio is meant to work together for your look, and there is a bronzer, a highlighter and a blush. Everything you need to highlight/contour/glow!



Since the original Naked is more of a medium-pink (I don't have it, so no comparison pics, sorry!), the 3 new shades all fill the colors you'd want to see as well. Native is a lighter pink, Streak is more of a peach and Strip is mauve. And yes, Strip makes me look a bit bruised? I do think they would all work with any skin tone, though on such light skin I would use a very light hand with Strip!

I thought for sure that I'd be using Native the most often, I seem to always be drawn to pink blushes. But, the bronzer in Streak is a tad lighter and the golden glow of the highlighter seem to work better for me. So, I'm using Streak a bit more often.

I think these palettes are a steal if you use blush, bronzer and highlighter every day. They're also very compact for travel.

Which trio would you use?

Urban Decay Naked Flushed
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Makeup Wars: My Favorite Blushes

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Today for Makeup Wars we're sharing our favorite blushes! I admit that I'm usually a pink blush girl, but recently Vincent Longo sent me a peach blush (post coming soon!) and have gotten so many compliments when I wear it! I think I need to break out of my pink blush rut and add in some peach. Here are the blushes that I reach for the most when getting ready in the morning.

1. Vincent Longo Dew Drop Blush in Sandalwood: I have pics and a post coming up, but this blush is really inspiring me to go a bit more peach lately! Super pretty.

2. CoverGirl Clean Glow Blush in Roses or Peaches: This is pretty subtle and glowy, I love that you can use just one of the 3 shades or swirl together.

3. Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Fresh Pink: This is one of those formulas that you either love or hate, and I happen to love it. Check out my Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush review.

4. Cargo Blush in Almafi: This is a very pretty, fresh pink that works for pretty much everything.

5. Stila Convertible Color: My favorite shade is Lillium, though I no longer see that shade on the Stila website. I also like Rose and Gerbera. I even included this blush in my list of the 9 Best Products from Stila.

6. Too Faced Sweethearts Blush in Something About Berry: These blushes combine 3 flattering shades that you can use on their own or swirl together, have just a touch of shimmer and I swear they just are glowy! Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush review.

7. Maskcara IIID Cream Blush: I love that Cara put her blush in a lipgloss wand! It is so easy to just dot on your face and blend with a finger. The result is very pretty and glowy. Maskcara IIID Cream Blush review.

8. Tarina Tarantino Doll Face Blush Palette: I just got this palette last week, I ordered it from Gilt after Phyrra raved about it for months. The blushes are nicely pigmented and last all day, I like that there's a nice range of blushes in 1 spot.

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Too Cute: Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush Review and Swatches

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Too Faced recently added 2 new shades to their Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush, and really, these blushes are so incredibly pretty! And yes, I'm definitely a sucker for their heart shapes.

These blushes are baked, so they are very hard pressed powders. Each blush has 3 different colors swatches, and while I'm sure you could use them individually, I do think it is just easier to blend all three together.






I always think that blushes are the hardest to represent on my blog, I've swatched them here on my arm but I can't get the differences to show up really in pictures of me wearing the blushes. The colors are just super pretty with a subtle shimmer. The color is buildable, so if you want more color then just add more. I've found that they last all day easily, which is something that I love.

Now the only problem is deciding if it is a berry or a peach day!


Get the blush at Sephora, Macy's or ULTA
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Too Faced No Makeup Makeup: Many Face Products in 1 Compact

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If you head over to Pinterest and look around for about 2 minutes you'll see that there are a million and one pins about highlighting and contouring your face a'la Kim K. Seriously, it's like 1984 all over again. (And yes, even I am guilty of doing the face contouring post.)

I'm a little over the face contouring (except for the nose contouring, it does help!), I'm kind of excited for summer and the more traditional use of bronzer to give a sunkissed look with a little shimmer highlight here and there. Too Faced recently sent me their No Makeup Makeup palette. This handy palette has everything you need to create a pretty look (outside of the eye makeup and lippie).

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Ask a Beauty Blogger: Cream Blush Picks for Fair Skin

I'm really loving cream blushes lately. They're great for creating a pretty and natural flushed look, but when layered they make your blush last for hours. Seriously, all day. I like to use a cream blush directly over my foundation, set it with powder, and then add a little more cream blush or a powder blush. The layering is key for a long lasting look.

Shannon recently asked for some cream blush picks for fair skin, so I enlisted the help of my friend Pam from Pammy Blogs Beauty. She has fair skin similar to mine, and I knew that she'd have some great picks as well! I haven't tried any of the products she mentioned, so you know I'll be adding them to my shopping list!



New York Color Blushable Creme Stick in Plaza Pink
NYX Stick Blush in Pink Poppy
Revlon Photoready Blush in Pinched



Like Pam, I like 2 forms of cream blushes. The stick form (the NARS Multiple) I usually swipe across my cheek and then blend a little with my fingers. A cream blush that comes from a palette like the Bouncy Blush I will apply with my finger tips or a brush. My favorite blush is a small round brush that I got in a Clinique gift with purchase years and years ago. The closest I've found is the Urban Decay Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush, which is a bit denser but has a the correct shape and is about the same size. The Juice Beauty Buki Brush looks about the same on the ULTA website, though I haven't seen it in person.

When picking blush colors, I tend to go for either a light pinky-rose color or a light peach. The NARS Orgasm shade is a combination of both of those, so it really works for pretty much any situation.


Do you have any other blush picks for Shannon?



Do you have a question you want me to feature? Be sure to ask!

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Korres Cheek Butter Review: Glowy and Lasts All Day

Korres is really known for their lip butters (well, other things too, but those lip butters are to die for...) The cheek butter is the correlate to that product. It comes in a few very pretty colors, but this rosy pink is my favorite.

Korres

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MAC Heavenly Creature Blushes: Solar Ray and Ring of Saturn

I admit that when I first saw these blushes I was a bit disappointed, thinking that they wouldn't work for my cool, pale skin. I was definitely wrong!

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MAC Fleet Fast Blush Swatch

Sooooo pretty!

Kinda love it.


MAC

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Milani Illuminating Powder: Add A Little Glow For Less

As a super pale girl, who yes, has embraced the pale... I'm still slightly fighting the pale. I swear that I have "pale days" and I'm paler on those days and it is really easy to look a bit sickly. Maybe I didn't sleep quite right the night before, maybe I didn't pick quite the right eye shadow... you get the picture. For whatever reason, people will be asking me all day long if I feel ok.

To help combat the super pale days, I like to use a little extra color. Usually I use a MAC Beauty Powder or a Bobbi Brown Shimmer brick with a really big brush. I like powders with just a small amount of shimmer, a little pink or peach, and then I apply it the way I would a bronzer. So, a big brush, make a "3" on your face. So, the temple, outer cheek bone, and then jaw line. Then down the middle of my nose and on my chin. The point isn't to actually see the color, but something so subtle that it just makes me look more awake and, well, not sick.

Finally, there's a powder from a mass market brand that I can do this with! Read on to check out the Milani Illuminating Face Powders.

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MAC Extra Dimension Highlighter Review and Swatches

Sooo pretty in the pan. But, are these super pretty (and pretty pigmented and shimmery metallic) highlighters actually wearable?

Actually, they are wearable. If you want to use them as a highlighter you'll need a light hand, a pretty big brush, and want a bit more of an obvious shimmer in my opinion. It was a bit more "look at me, I have highlighter on" than I typically wear for every day use, though it would be great for going out or a special occasion. Just remember, giant fluffy brush, light application... otherwise I think you risk looking a bit too Jersey Shore.

I actually prefer these for other uses, such as eye shadow. I'm not certain that the pigments are correct for an eye shadow (and yes, pigments are different in eye shadows than in other powder cosmetics), but these are great for that use. They're pigmented enough, they blend well and they last for ages. You can apply them wet for extra intense color as well.

As an alternative, these would be great for Halloween. I'm just throwing it out there.

MAC Cosmetics

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MAC Trés Cheek Blushes: Review and Swatches of Lovecloud, Peony Petal and Modern Mandarin

MAC has just released a new collection of limited edition blushes, and if you're in the market for a new blush I definitely recommend running down to your local counter to check them out.

They're well pigmented, though with varying your blush size and application it is really easy to get a more subtle look if you want. To me they're just... really pretty!


MAC Cosmetics

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Maybelline Bouncy Blush Review: A Different Take on the Cream Blush

Have you seen these new Maybelline blushes at your local store yet? They're being reviewed favorably all over the beauty blogs, and I've been drawn to the display every time I see it. Usually, it is about half sold out, only bright pinks are left. While I can make a bright pink work, I was hoping for a slightly more subdued color, so when I finally found a Pink Plum on the display, I pounced.

Basically, this is a creme blush. It doesn't feel very creamy in the compact, it's a bit harder (more like a NARS Multiple) when you touch it, though it does feel a bit springy. It's really something you need to experience for yourself.

I've found that it is easiest to use your fingers for application, just spread a little on the apples of your cheeks and then lightly blend outward.

It gives a great glow, really very pretty. I've found that the color stays pretty much all day.

I'm really loving the Pink Plum color, it looks like it would work for many skin tones. It has worked really well with my light coloring, a slightly pinker version of Orgasm by NARS.


Maybelline

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5 Years of Favorite Products: NARS Orgasm in Many Forms

Obviously this color is a cult favorite for a reason. Orgasm is an amazing blush color on almost everyone, and I'm certainly no exception. You can see that my blush has been around for a while (that's the worst part of the pretty black NARS packaging, it gets gross easily on the outside), but I've been using this a few times a week for well over 10 years.

I have Orgasm in the blush, the multiple, the highlighter, the nail polish, the lip gloss.... you get the picture. My favorites are the Multiple and the blush. I usually pair them together. I use the Multiple over my foundation, blended just a little. When I apply my translucent powder over this, the buffing of my powder brush completes the blending. Then a small amount of powder Orgasm blush goes over the top.

The end result is glowy and lasts all day!


NARS Cosmetics

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