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.

Burberry Natural Blush-05-Blossom

The last four days, I've talked about how lovely these Burberry blushes are.  And this one is no different.  It has the same creamy smooth texture as the others.  Blossom, which is the last of the original five blushes, is gorgeous and very pigmented.  It's a peachy pink color, almost a pastel coral color.  Here is it in the pan:

Isn't it nice?  And here is a swatch--it's the 4th from the right:

The color goes on strong and buffs out to a warmish pink color.  I think this is pigmented enough to show on any skin, but check it out a counter to be sure.  It might be a tad warm for the cooler toned ladies, but should suit most.  Here's the group shot again:

It is available at some Nordstrom stores and Nordstrom.com.  Burberry Beauty has just become available at Saks.com this week.   Tomorrow's blush is Tangerine.  Thanks for reading!

Burberry Natural Blush-04-Peony

Burberry Peony was the last of these blushes that I purchased.  The swatch on Nordstrom.com was so bad, I was scared of what I'd get.  I literally shrieked when I opened the box and saw this beauty.  It is the softest, most beautiful pink I've seen.  Here is how it looked:

It's lovely, right?  It is quite similar to Chanel Narcisse.  But, I  love it even more.  Seriously, the texture is gorgeous and the color is perfect for my fair skin.  This is a pretty neutral pink, there is a tiny hint of peach in there too. Here's a swatch--it's 4th from the left.

I haven't really talked about the packaging yet, have I.  I like it--it seems substantial and not cheap.  It's either metal or a metalicized plastic case with a large mirror inside.  The gunmetal outside has an embossed Burberry plaid design that matches the surface of the blush.  Peony is in the upper right of this group shot:

If you get a chance to try these in person, give them a shot.  The texture is pure luxury.  Thanks for reading--next up is Blossom. <3

Burberry Natural Blush-03-Rose

Today's Burberry blush is the 3rd from their original launch--it is  03-Rose and is the brightest blush of these eight.  It is a clear pinky-red rose, not murky like some other rose blushes.  The texture is divine--creamy and smooth and it is very well pigmented.  Here is how it looks in the pan:

When applied and sheered out, it gives my skin a very natural flush.  I think this color would work for a wide variety of skin-tones.  Here are the swatches--Rose is 3rd from the left.

There is a slight floral-violet scent, but it doesn't linger and I don't find it the least offensive.  There is no shimmer at all, just a nice flush.

These are available at some Nordstrom stores or on line. Thanks for reading--I'll be back tomorrow with one of my faves--Peony.

Burberry Natural Blush--02-Cameo

Today's lovely blush is #02 from Burberry--Cameo.  It has the same silky smooth texture as the other Burberry blushes.  The only way I can describe it is the powder is so finely milled that it feels creamy and almost melts onto the skin.  It's my favorite texture!  The color of Cameo is a coolish nude-rose.  Here is how it looks in the pan:

This color is really lovely and natural looking on my fair cool skin.  It is a perfect blush for everyday.  Here is a swatch--it's second from the left:

The swatch is quite heavy--the powder sheers out nicely.  Here are the rest of the colors in the collection:

Cameo has the same scent as the others--a subtle violet smell, but it fades quickly when worn.  There's no visible shimmer in any of these, but they're not totally matte on.  They have a sweet glow about them.  Tomorrow is the vibrant Rose color!  Thanks for reading!

Burberry Natural Blush-01-Russet

Sorry that it's been so long since my last post--I've been keeping busy stockpiling some new favorite blushes.  These are from Burberry, which is available in some Nordstrom stores and online at Nordstrom.com.  

These Burberry blushes come in 8 colors.  The first 5 were part of the original release and the next 3 were added in Spring.  My favorite thing about these lovelies is the texture.  The powder is lovely and finely milled.  It feels so silky and creamy and has excellent pigmentation.  

Here are all of them in one picture:

The first one, Russet (01) is probably the one that I'm least drawn to personally, as it isn't a color that really suits my cool, fair skin.  It is an orange-y tan color that would look best on warm toned gals. This is what it looks like in the pan:

Here are the swatches for the Burberry blushes--Russet is on the left.

It doesn't have any visible shimmer, but these do give a lovely glow.  The smell is subtle and is a lot like the Guerlain powdery violet scent.  Even though I came late to the Burberry party, I really love these blushes--they're definitely among my favorite brands.  Thanks for reading--next will be Cameo!