A Touch of Blusher — Makeup, Skincare, Fragrance and a Bit of Fashion

Sass, Style & Substance

by PJ on Sunday, September 6, 2009

(This list was supposed to be posted on August 16th but my blog was down from August 14th.)

Eat Smart Age Smart
10 reasons to eat berries more often!

Beauty Match
Olay is launching 8 new anti-aging skincare products.

Raging Rouge
Don’t forget to enter the Benefit Cosmetics Fall 2009 Color Giveaway!

STYLEnosh
Get your magazine fix online!

Splendicity Accessories
Warm up your palette of colors for Fall 2009 with these shoe picks inspired by Pantone’s color forecast.

image: Stock.xchg

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Weekend Beauty Read

by PJ on Sunday, September 6, 2009

in Weekend Beauty Read

(This list was supposed to be posted on August 16th but my blog was down from August 14th.)

Beauty Anonymous reviews La Mer The Treatment Powder Foundation SPF15.

Fresco Phyrra shares her thoughts with you on a new Coconut Bodywash.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic checks out Elizabeth Arden’s Intervene Line in her attempt to postpone getting older!

Beauty Junkie in SF discovers Sonia Kashuk has a blush for everyone, as long as you can get to Target!

Face Candy interviews purse designer Katherine Kwei about her beauty routine. Plus, WIN A $920 Katherine Kwei purse!

Beauty and Fashion Tech reviews and swatches the Bobbi Brown Nude Eye Palette.

Girl Gloss looks at Three SPF 15 or Higher Lip Balms for Sunny Days.

Elke starts her 5 Minute Summer Makeup How To Series, in 6 easy steps.

Toya from The Life of A Ladybug wants to know if you’ll do just about anything for the beauty and strength of your hair, like … put bull semen on it!

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Blog Back Up

by PJ on Thursday, September 3, 2009

in announcement

I would like to apologize to all my readers for disappearing for the past 20 days. On August 13th, I discovered that there were malware issues with the BlogLinker blogroll widget that I was using. Despite the fact that I removed the widget (which I am no longer using) as soon as I discovered the issues, Blogger still took down my blog the next day. My blog was finally back up earlier today after I sought help from Blogger.

I would like to thank all the readers who e-mailed me to express their concerns and support. I am very grateful. Also, I would like to thank Betsy at Autumn Masquerade for posting my message and Nutty at Nutsaboutmakeup for linking to it. I am also thankful for the friendly support from BA at Beauty Anonymous, Kia at Yummy411 (I hope her blog goes back up soon) and The Muse at Musings of a Muse.

Since there was no way to communicate with all my readers during the downtime, I decided to sign up for Twitter just in case something similar happens again. (You can follow my tweets here .) I won’t be twitting very regularly but I will still try to make my (beauty-related) tweets worth following. (One thing I might do is to mention upcoming posts in my tweets.)

Also, I am considering moving to another webhost. (I really don’t want to have a downtime like this again.) I will keep you all posted.

My next post will be up in the next couple of days.

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Makeup Review: RMK Ingenious Powder Cheeks

by PJ on Tuesday, August 11, 2009

in -RMK, 2009 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - blusher

In May, RMK revamped its eyeshadow and blusher singles. Today, I am reviewing two shades from the new Ingenious Powder Cheeks. (Next week, I will be reviewing three of the new Ingenious Powder Eyes.)

One feature of the new eyeshadows and blushers is that the shade name indicates the finish. With Ingenious Powder Cheeks, MT stands for “matte” while P stands for “pearlescent”. Also, according to RMK’s website, within the blusher’s P shades, there are Shiny types and Holographic types.

MT-02 Light Pink and P-07 Holographic Pink look quite similar in the cases, but they have considerably different finishes when worn.

(RMK Ingenious Powder Cheeks
in MT-02 Light Pink)

(RMK Ingenious Powder Cheeks
in P-07 Holographic Pink)

MT-02 Light Pink is the second lightest shade among the eight MT(matte) shades. It is a light medium-to-cool pink with a softly matte finish. P-07 Holographic Pink is slightly darker and warmer, but the main difference is that it has a pronounced (but not over-the-top) gold-toned iridescence. Both shades are moderately pigmented, and the powder is very fine and goes on smoothly. Both blend very easily and have a decent staying power.

I personally prefer Light Pink to Holographic Pink. I tend to prefer matte and semi-matte blushers that are slightly on the cool side, and Light Pink has the finish and color that appeal to me. The look it creates is soft and sweet without being too girlie.

Color-wise, compared with two of my favorite blushers, it is cooler than Chanel’s Irréelle Blush in Tea Rose and lighter than Lavshuca’s Cheek Color in PK-01. I think this should be a relatively natural, easy-to-wear and mistake-proof shade for most people with fair, light and light-to-medium complexions.

In comparison, Holographic goes on quite glowy on me and suits my oily skin less. But when I swatched it on my arm (which is obviously a lot less oily), I do think the finish is quite flattering and will suit those with dry skin who want a luminous finish on the cheeks.

Overall, the Ingenious Powder Cheeks range is worth looking into if you like the delicate and natural finish that Japanese blushers tend to create. If you think the two shades I have reviewed here are too light or too cool for you, there are quite a few darker and warmer shades available.

The new blusher lineup also includes Ingenious Jelly Cheeks, which features six shades with a soft cream-to-powder texture.

A Touch of Blusher Talks…blushers!

Jill Stuart Mix Blush Compact in 01 Baby Blush

Albion Eprise Water Face Color in 100

Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Mauve

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Weekend Beauty Read for August 9, 2009

by PJ on Sunday, August 9, 2009

in Weekend Beauty Read

Fabulous Giveaway!! Enter for a chance to win Tight Curves- Perfect Protein for Women Only worth $59 and naat hair care products worth $22.97 at Beauty and Personal Grooming.

Decorative Diva has been busy this week! See what she’s been up to!

A Touch of Blusher reviews Elemis Pro-Collagen Body Serum.

Felicia from ThisThatBeauty was recently interviewed by the Brown Bombshell Beauty! Check out Felicia’s makeup bag and skincare favs!

Face Candy LOVES Sonia Kashuk’s Spring 2009 Collection.

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Sass, Style & Substance for August 9, 2009

by PJ on Sunday, August 9, 2009

in Weekend Sass Style and Substance

Eat Smart Age Smart
Is meat good or bad for you?

Beauty Match
Review: Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Airbrush Finish.

STYLEnosh
When you shop A LOT, you tend to notice random things. Here are my latest observations in shopping.

Splendicity Accessories
Cage and gladiator sandals can be a fun summer look, but are there options for plus-size women? Oh yes!

image: Stock.xchg

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Coffret D’Or Color Mixing Eyes in Lavender Purple Mix

by PJ on Friday, August 7, 2009

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, 2009 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow, stash focus

The Color Mixing Eyes series is part of Kanebo Coffret D’Or‘s summer 2009 collection. Today I am sharing my thoughts on 04 Lavender Purple Mix.

The four colors in this palette are:

Bottom left: sheer off-white with soft shimmer
Top left: moderately pigmented light cool lavender with a mildly sparkly finish
Top right: moderately pigmented light-to-medium purple with soft shimmer
Bottom right: pigmented dark plum-purple

All shades have multi-colored shimmer. They go on easily and have a decent staying power.

The interesting thing about Color Mixing Eyes is that the top two shades are designed to be mixed together for the eyelids, and the two shades in this palette do work well together. With two slightly different finishes (the cool lavender on the left is more sparkly), the two shades together are able to create a dimensional look and the overall color is a soft cool purple.

(According to the eye chart on the back of the outer packaging, the cool lavender is also used along the inner 1/3 of the lower lashline.)

Compared with the previous series of Coffret D’Or’s eyeshadow palettes, Color Mixing Eyes is sheerer than Trance Deep Eyes (fall 2008) and 3D Lighting Eyes (spring 2008, marginally the most pigmented among the four series) and is more or less as sheer as Shine Accent Eyes (spring 2009). Among the four, Trance Deep Eyes is still the most shimmery/sparkly.

The look that this palette creates is fresh, cool, and summery, mainly due to the cool-toned lavender. For me, the color from mixing the two purples is a little too cool for my liking. I have tried using the purple on the right on its own on my lids, and I think this look suits my slightly warm-toned complexion better.

Overall, this is a satisfying palette and I should be going back to it quite often. If you would like a light and cool look for the eyes for summer (instead of the warm bronze look), this palette will be a very good choice. Also, if the purples you usually go for are medium-to-cool ones, then this palette would also be quite ideal.

Coffret D’Or Fall 2009 Point Makeup Collection

Coffret D’Or Fall 2009 Base Makeup Collection

Coffret D’Or Makeup Powder

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Anna Sui Fall 2009 Website Update

by PJ on Friday, August 7, 2009

in -Anna Sui, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(images from www.annasui-cosmetics.com)

Anna Sui has updated its official website to feature the fall 2009 point and base makeup collection. Have a look at the site to see larger photos of the new items than those I posted earlier.

The ad campaign features British model Agyness Deyn.

The update also includes limited-edition wall paper, screen saver and blog parts.

Agyness Deyn for Shiseido Maquillage

Anna Sui Makeup Color Collection D

My Latest Anna Sui Foundation Case

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Bodycare Review: Elemis Pro-Collagen Body Serum

by PJ on Monday, August 3, 2009

in -Elemis, bodycare

(image from www.elemis.com)

Launched in February this year, the Pro-Collagen Body Serum is one of the latest products in Elemis‘ Pro-Collagen range. It is claimed to restore the firmness and elasticity of areas such as abdomen, backs of arms, backs of hands, bust and décolleté.

It has a pleasant light and non-sticky gel-serum consistency. It absorbs very easily and doesn’t leave any greasy/filmy residue. According to the directions on the packaging, it is supposed to be used both morning and evening and it can be paired with Pro-Collagen Radiantly Smooth Body Cream for enhanced results.

Some of its moisturizing ingredients are glycerin, caprylic/capric triglyceride and jojoba seed oil. (According to Paula Begoun, caprylic/capric triglyceride is derived from coconut and is considered to be a good emollient and thikening agent in cosmetics.)

I think it can be used alone in warmer weather as it leaves the skin gently moisturized. For drier/colder weather and for drier skin, it can be used under your usual body moisturizer as an extra boost of moisture. (It alone will not be sufficient.)

This product is free of alcohol, silicones, and parabens.

I have mentioned a couple of times on my blog that I generally don’t believe in the skin-firming benefits that many skincare/bodycare products are claimed to have. I review “anti-aging” moisturizers simply as moisturizers, and, in this case, as a light body moisturizer for summer, the Elemis Pro-Collagen Body Serum is a competent one.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream & Oxygenating Night Cream

Can’t Live Without: Dove Body Silk

Anna Sui Summer 2009 Hair & Bodycare Collection

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