Temptalia

Top 10 of 2011: Blushes & Highlighters

Christine — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 11:00:41 +0000

Top 10 of 2011: Blushes & Highlighters

It’s so hard for me to pick favorites, but these are ten products that really caught my eye this year for adding color and/or glow to cheeks. Since these are products for 2011, I did exclude any spring 2012 products that may have been reviewed this year, as they’re technically for next – so these feature products new for 2011 and permanent products I discovered this year!

What was your favorite blush/highlighter that you discovered this year?

5 Spring Blushes (2011 Edition)

Christine — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 16:00:13 +0000

5 Spring Blushes

We can’t forget some of the pretty blushes from spring either!

What was your favorite spring blush this year?

Summery Bronzes with Lancome Bronze Amour

Christine — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:00:46 +0000

Summery Bronzes with Lancome Bronze Amour

Wore this for the Viva Glam Gaga reviews, though I fully intended to change the lip to something more appropriate originally, I didn’t quite end up doing so in time to take photos.

You will need the following…

Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), Lancome Bronze Amour Eyeshadow Palette (pale gold, soft orange-bronze, medium-dark red-toned brown, dark chocolate brown), Burberry Trench Eyeshadow (highlighter), Urban Decay Bourbon 24/7 Liner (brown), Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara (black)
Face: Kiehl’s Tinted Moisturizer (Medium), Burberry Pressed Powder (03)
Cheeks: Guerlain Blush G Serie Noire (pink-coral)
Lips: Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipstick (pale peach nude)
Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 222 (fluffy crease brush), 263 (angled eyeliner brush), 116 (dense blush brush)

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Apply the pale gold eyeshadow to the inner half of the lid and tearduct with the 239. Next, apply the orange-copper eyeshadow to the outer half of the lid with the 239. Using the 222, apply the the medium dark brown eyeshadow to the crease and blend towards the inner crease. Deepen the crease by applying the chocolate brown eyeshadow with the 219, then diffuse with the 222. Highlight the brow bone with Trench eyeshadow with the 239. Apply Bourbon liner on the lower lash line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Inimitable Intense mascara.

For cheeks, apply Blush G blush on the apples of the cheeks and pat towards the temple with fingers.

For lips, apply Viva Glam Gaga 2 lipstick for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

Guerlain Blush G Serie Noire Review, Photos, Swatches

Christine — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 23:05:40 +0000

Guerlain Blush G Serie Noire

Guerlain Spring 2011: Blush G Serie Noire

Guerlain Blush G Serie Noire ($65.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a pink and coral lover’s dream. There are four distinct shades in the palette, though it is expected to use either the two top shades or the two bottom shades together at the very least. It’s not really feasible to use just one of the shades individually, as the size of each strip doesn’t lend itself to that–perhaps the upper most shade which is also the largest stripe.

There is a coral-red strip with subtle gold shimmer, a softened fuchsia pink with gold sheen, a peachy-pink with gold sheen, and finally a soft rose pink with pale gold sheen. When swirled together, I managed to find a shade of medium peach-pink with gold sheen, which I found a bit like NARS Orgasm (and the many dupes for it). However, keep in mind that it easily gets darker, more coral, or lighter, pinker, depending on the concentration of each shade you use.

I swished my brush across the surface (once forward, one back), then tapped against my forearm to remove any excess product, and applied to cheeks (using MAC’s 116 brush). On me, it was a pinked coral with subtle gold sheen. As someone who loves corals, peaches, and variations on them, this moves me. The black lacquered palette is beautiful, and the design of the shades inside is beyond elegant. The texture is smooth, soft, and easy to blend on the skin.

P.S. — On lips, I wore Guerlain Rouge Sensual Rouge G Serie Noire + Chanel Insouciance Extrait de Gloss.

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

Product: 29/30
Value: 7/10
Ease of Use: 4/5
Packaging: 5/5

RECOMMENDATION: This will work for any shade of skin tone (light, medium, or dark), because it can be intensified or softened, depending on the look you’re going for. I do think it will be flattering on both cooler and warmer skin tones, but the golden sheen found in all four shades does make a more compelling case for warmer skin tones.

AVAILABILITY: January 2011

See more photos & swatches!

Guerlain Blush G Serie Noire