Chanel Joues Contraste--Candy

Candy from Chanel is another baked Euro blush in Chanel's Joues Contraste line, it was a Limited Edition from a few years ago and was pretty popular.  Here is a picture of it in the pan

It's a lovely color--on me it is pretty much straight up peach with just a hint of coral.  There is no visible glitter, it just adds a bit of that JC glow thanks to a tiny amount of pink shimmer.  Here is a swatch of it--it's 2nd from the left.

As you can see it is a lovely, bright, smooth powder.  The baked formula glides on easily without being overly powdery or chunky.  It has the signature Chanel rose scent.

Here are the rest of this batch of Chanel blushes:

 

Tomorrow will be the lovely Caprice.  Thanks for your time! <3

Blog Sale

Just a quick note to let you know I've updated my blog sale with a few new things and lowered the price on some older items.  As always, US shipping is included.  Thanks and have a great day!!

Chanel Joues Contraste Blush--Brume d'Or

Chanel's Joues Contraste line of blushes are lovely.  They have a unique glow that is hard to capture with a camera and hard to find in other blushes.  Today's blush, Brume d'Or is one of the baked blushes, usually part of the European, Canadian, and Asia collections.  The baked versions are harder and usually have less color payoff.  The powder on these is very fine and blends well into the skin.  Here is how Brume d'Or looks in the pan.

Brume d'Or is a peachy terracotta brown with very subtle super-fine silver shimmer. Here are the swatches--Brume is on the far left.  It doesn't really capture the glowiness of it.

If you're sensitive to smells, you need to know that all these Chanel blushes have a rather strong rose smell.  I can smell them when they're in the drawer and especially when I open the compact.  Once it's applied to my face, however, I don't notice it at all.  Here's a pic of my first batch of JC's.

You can get Chanel at pretty much any department store, but many of the ones in my collection are the Euro version or discontinued.  Thanks for reading, tomorrow will be the lovely Candy. <3

Cargo Blush--Tonga

Cargo Tonga is the last of my blushes from Cargo.  It is also one of my favorites.  It is a lovely dusty rosy-pink color.  It is matte and has a lovely creamy texture.  This is the perfect everyday blush for the pale ladies.  It is subtle and just gives a gentle flush.  Here is how it looks in the pan:

I'm not sure if it varies by batches, but this blush has the softest texture.  It really just feels like silk on the skin.  Here's another look at all my Cargo blushes:

If you have a chance to test these, I think you'll be impressed and Cargo has some unique colors and there is something for everyone.  Here are the swatches that I've done.  Tonga is the last one on the far right.

Thanks for reading my blog, I really appreciate it!  Starting tomorrow I'll be working through my Chanel stash alphabetically.  Have a great week! <3

Cargo Blush--The Big Easy

The Big Easy blush from Cargo Cosmetics is one of those perfect go-to blushes.  The color is a soft nude-pink peach that works perfect on my pale complexion. 

I know it doesn't look like much in the pan, but goes on such a pretty color.  It should work for Fair to Medium skin tones, but might be too light to work for the Medium-Dark ladies.  Here is the swatch, it's the second from the right.

If you have a chance to try it out, I think you'll be surprised by it.  Cargo blushes are smooth and The Big Easy has a lovely silky texture.  There are a couple pieces of ultra-fine glitter, but really the blush just adds a lovely glow.

 

Monday is the last day for this round of Cargo--I'll finish up with Tonga.  Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

Cargo Blush--Sunset Beach

Cargo's Sunset Beach blush incorporates four different colors into one blush.  I love using this for an easy natural look.  The colors blend together to make a glowy wearable blush.  Sunset Beach is part of the Beachblush line from Cargo and each has four colors in a striped pattern.  Here's how it looks:

The colors are a peachy-nude, brown, pink, and champagne.  They all combine to become a shimmery nude shade.  There is some fine glitter in this one and for some reason it doesn't feel as smooth and soft as my other Cargo blushes. 

I do like that the color is somewhat "adjustable" in that I can pick up more or less of a color to personalize it for my coloring.  Here is the swatch--Sunset Beach is third from the right.

I hope you've enjoyed the Cargo blushes--I really like them and feel they don't get enough attention.  Tomorrow is one of my favorites--The Big Easy.  TTYL!

Cargo Blush--Miami Beach

Miami Beach from Cargo is one of their striped Beachblushes.  I've used this more as a subtle blush/bronzer than straight up blush.  It has a bit of a shimmer and sheen about it, but not much real glitter.  The colors are in the rose, brown, and beige family.

One thing I like about these striped blushes is that I can pick how much of each color to use.  For example, if I want more of a beige highlighter, I just use the lightest color.  For the swatch below, I just swirled my finger around evenly over the surface of Miami Beach.

When I blend all the colors together, it becomes an almost peach-rose color with a pretty sheen to it.  This should work on everyone.  Cooler toned gals may want to skip the top color as it might warm it up a bit too much. 

Obviously how it looks will vary by how much of each of the four colors you get onto the brush.  Miami Beach has a lovely texture, just like the rest of the Cargo blushes I have.  Thanks for reading and tomorrow, will be another beachblush--Sunset Beach. TTYL

Cargo Blush--Mendocino

Cargo Mendocino blush seems a little dark and scary in the pan.  But on closer inspection it is a lovely wearable plummy rose with slight silver shimmer.  The glitter is ultra fine and not overwhelming, but if you prefer matte blushes, you might decide to skip Mendocino.  Beyond the shimmer, it has a glowy sheen.  Here's a pic:

I'm not sure how this new blog template is working, so if you can't see all three photos, you need to click on the article to see/read more.  Below are the rest of my Cargo blushes:

Mendocino has a fabulous soft and smooth texture.  The powder is very finely milled and glides on like a dream.  There is no scent and the tin is huge!  Here is a picture of all the swatches:

Mendocino is a lovely color and should work for all skin tones.  Cargo blushes can be purchased at Cargo's website.  Thanks for your time, tomorrow is another stripey blush--Miami Beach.

Cargo Blush--Key Largo

Today's offering from Cargo is Key Largo.  It is a lovely, bu unique color and rather hard to describe.  I'd say it's a coral-rose red.  Here's how it looks in the pan:

I really love the bright color!  It's even brighter IRL than it is on my monitor.  Hopefully you get a clue to the real beauty of this blush.  On my skin, I'd call it a bright pink-coral and I think it would work for almost anyone.  However us pale girls will want to apply it with a very light hand so we don't look slapped/sunburned.  Here are the swatches--Key Largo is the darkest/brightest one in the middle:

The texture is heavenly, just like the rest of the Cargo blushes.  I see no shimmer in this one--it looks totally matte.  I love this blush for the brightness and uniqueness of it.  It really is a beauty.  Here's the group shot:

I'll be back tomorrow with Mendocino.  Thanks for reading! TTYL

Cargo Blush--Gotham

If you were looking at Cargo Gotham in the pan, you would probably just pass it by.  However, the brush applies so much better than the coolish rose it appears to be.  Even the swatch seems fairly unimpressive, but when the color is buffed into the skin, there is a lovely silvery-blue sheen that appears over the rosy pink base color.  It is a lovely effect and unique.  Here it is:

Sadly, Gotham has been discontinued and is rather hard to find.  It does show up now and then on ebay or on blog sales.  Here's how it compares to the rest of my Cargo:

And the swatch is below, it's the 5th from the left.

The texture is wonderful--I know I keep saying it, but Cargo really makes lovely blush.  Let me know what your favorite color is.  Thanks! 

Cargo Blush--Gold Coast

On the Cargo website, Gold Coast is described as a blend of "sheer coral, sunny bronze, and rosewood."  Although no longer available in stores, Gold Coast is still available occasionally on ebay and blog sales.  This is what Cargo called a Suede blush, which is a blend of colors meant to impart a natural flush.  Here is Gold Coast:

Gold Coast is probably a little warm for me, but swatches a pale corally-peach.  There is some shimmer in this one, so it gives a nice glow.  The swatch is the 4th from the left in the picture below:

It should show up well on light-medium skin, but probably not on the darkest skin tones.  There is virtually no scent and the texture is lovely, just like the rest of the Cargo blushes.

Thanks for reading--tomorrow is Gotham.  Have a great day! <3

Cargo Blush--Echo Beach

Echo Beach is a part of Cargo's Beach Blush collection.  These are named after different beaches and have a striped design.  I use the ones I have as a type of bronzer/blush combo.  I believe these are discontinued, but can still be found at some retailers (I saw it online at Apothica.com).  The retail price is $28.  Here is what Echo Beach looks like:

It's a rosy bronze color, so it works well as a blush or bronzer for medium skin without being orange.  Here are the swatches--Echo Beach is the third from the left.

To get the swatches, I just swirled all the colors together.  If you want more or less of one color, you can just add or avoid that stripe.  It doesn't seem to be as pigmented as the regular blushes and I think that helps it work better as a bronzer.  Here are the rest of my Cargo Blushes:

I don't see much shimmer in this and the texture is just as nice and smooth as the others from Cargo.  Thanks for your time--Gold Coast is up tomorrow! =)

Cargo Blush--Catalina

If you're looking for the perfect baby pink blush (and aren't we all?), then you need to take a look at Cargo Catalina.  It's a neutral pink, never overly bright or overpowering.  The texture is amazingly fine.  It glides on like a dream and blends beautifully.

The Cargo blushes are often overlooked because the packaging (a round tin) isn't luxe or glamorous, but they really are some of the best blushes in my collection.  Here's a picture of the ones that I own:

Here are the swatches--Catalina is second from the left:

It is matte and has excellent pigmentation.  Catalina would work to brighten up almost all complexions, except for perhaps the very darkest skin tones.  Check this out in a store if you have a chance, I don't think you'll be disappointed.  Have a great weekend and I'll be back on Monday with Echo Beach, one of the striped beach blushes from Cargo.

Cargo Blush--Amalfi

Let me start by saying that Cargo blushes are some of my favorites.  I know I say that all the time, but I really love the smooth texture, fine powder, huge size, and reasonable price of the Cargo blushes. 

Amalfi is one of the newer additions to my collection and I really love it.  Here is how it looks in the pan (it's not quite as cool in person):

It's a gorgeous pale/bright coolish pink.  In the same family as Chanel Turbulent, but lacks some blue and the neon quality that Turbulent has.  Amalfi has some superfine silver shimmer, which doesn't come across glittery, but just a little glowy.  Here are the rest of the beauties:

There is virtually no scent with these blushes and the powder is super fine.  Cargo quality is top notch and they have a lovely range of unique colors.   Here are the swatches--Amalfi is on the far left of the picture.

As you can see, it's a little cooler and brighter than Catalina, another one of my faves.  That will be the subject of tomorrow's post.  Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Cargo Blu_Ray Blush / Highlighter

Cargo blushes are among the faves of my collection.  I love the regular ones in the tins as well as these blu_ray ones.  These come in two colors, peach and pink.  They're fairly light and there isn't a whole lot of difference between the two.  Here they are in the pans:

The peach is a definite peach color and the pink is a peachy-pink.  There is virtually no scent and they have a small amount of superfine shimmer.  It is not overpowering at all, in my opinion.  The powder is very fine and can be sheered out easily for paler skin tones.  For darker ladies, they're probably more of a highlight color.  These are the swatches:

As you can see, they are fairly similar to each other.  They are lovely basic blushes.  Easy to apply and wear for everyday looks.  Next up for me are the Cargo blushes in tins.  Thanks! 

Burberry Natural Blush-08-Misty

The last of the Burberry Natural Blushes is Misty (08).  It is one of my favorites, along with the similar Peony.  I'm such a sucker for pale pinks and this one doesn't disappoint.  The texture is amazing and the color is gorgeous and pigmented.  Here is the pan pic:

It's a lovely cool pink with a hint of lavender in it.  Misty is perfect for cool, pale skin like mine.  The color melts in and makes me look naturally flushed and youthful.  I love it.  Here are the swatches, Misty is the one on the far right:

It's really just a lovely color.  Here is the group shot:

I've gushed all week about these wonderful blushes.  I hope you have a chance to test them out yourself at a Nordstrom counter.  

One note:  Last week, I changed the way comments are handled and some got deleted.  I'm so sorry about that.  I'll do my best to reply to any comments left from now on.  I know it isn't my strong suit, but I do appreciate anyone who reads through my ramblings and comments. 

My next brand is Cargo, a quality brand that is often overlooked. TTYL.

A few new additions to the Blog Sale

Happy Friday!!  Just a quick post to let you know I've added a few new things to the blog sale.  They're mostly blushes (yay!). Don't forget to check out my most wanted page as well, which is a little list of blushes and other makeup I'm looking to buy.  Thanks for your time and have a great weekend!

Burberry Natural Blush-07-Earthy

Earthy blush is the 2nd of Burberry's spring additions (along with Tangerine and Misty).  It is a neutral brown, great for the nude blush look or contouring (which I don't do).  The picture below is slightly warmer than how it appears IRL.  

 It seems like a unique color to me--I can't think of any other browns that are really just brown.  There isn't any pink, orange, or plum in it at all.  Here are the swatches, it's 2nd from the right.

It's a soft cocoa brown color, it might even work as a bronzer.  It has the same divine texture that I've mentioned for the last week.  Try these if you get the chance!

I'll finish these up on Monday with another of my favorites, Misty.  Thanks and have a great weekend!

Burberry Natural Blush-06-Tangerine

Today's blush is Tangerine, one of the new releases from Burberry in the Spring of 2011.  Tangerine is a brownish-peach.  When I rub it in there seems to be a hint of a rose undertone.  It's especially lovely on neutral and warmer skin tones.  In my opinion, it's pigmented enough to show on almost everyone.  Here is how it looks in the pan.

It's a gorgeous everyday color (as are most of these Burberry blushes).  The soft powder blends in nicely and gives a natural looking color to the cheeks.  Here are the swatches.  Tangerine is the 3rd from the right.

It has the same luxurious consistency as the rest of the powder blushes.  The powder is ultra fine and silky smooth with a faint violet (I think?) scent. 

These can be purchased online at Nordstrom.com and Saks.com or in select Nordstrom stores.  Thanks for reading and I'll be back tomorrow to describe Earthy.