5 Must-Have Shimmery Blushes

This was a tough one, because I wanted to have diversity in color, and preferably, diversity in brand, too.  ’Cause let me tell you, there were 239847234 corals I’d love to have included, too.

1. Le Metier de Beaute Echo — coral-orange with a golden shimmer-sheen; lovely texture and wear
2. NARS Taj Mahal — golden shimmered orange; lots of great warmth, plenty of pigment
3. Benefit Bella Bamba — medium-dark pink with a subtle shimmer-sheen; very wearable, buildable
4. theBalm Cabana Boy — shimmered plum; simple, wearable, beautiful on
5. Tom Ford Wicked — subtly blue-based medium-dark pink with a shimmer-sheen; long-wearing and super soft

What’s your favorite shimmery blush?

Video Makeup Tutorial: 5 Minute Subtle Sunset

Quick & dirty tutorial for this gold and berry look from last week!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), MAC Goldmine Eyeshadow (gold), MAC Bronze Eyeshadow (bronze), MAC Cranberry Eyeshadow (cranberry), MAC Grain Eyeshadow (highlighter), Make Up For Ever #10L Aqua Eyes (bronze), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: Le Metier de Beaute Echo Radiance Rouge (pinky-coral)
• Lips: Cle de Peau #101 Lipstick (coral), MAC Nymphette Lipglass (peachy-pink)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)

Video Makeup Tutorial: Stream of Consciousness

This is a tutorial, but it’s also more about me going through the process of using just two eyeshadows, not loving the result, and trying to work it into something I did like.  Not everything always turns out according to what we envision, and sometimes, it may not even be perfect at the end, but each time we do something, it’s just part of the learning process!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), MAC Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow (green-toned gold), MAC Winkle Eyeshadow (periwinkle blue), MAC Atlantic Blue Eyeshadow (matte dark blue), MAC Shimmermoss Eyeshadow (teal), MAC Orb Eyeshadow (highlighter), Urban Decay Flipside 24/7 Liner (teal), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: Le Metier de Beaute Echo Blush (peachy-coral), Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmers (bronze shimmer)
• Lips: MAC Crosswires Lipstick (coral-pink), MAC Nymphette Lipglass (peachy-pink)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)

5-Minute Makeup:  Subtle Sunset

I wonder if you can sense a theme from last week… looks with a quickness!  I think this look may have run a little over five minutes, but it was pretty quick.  I think I missed a small patch on my lid, but luckily I noticed that after taking photos and fixed it, LOL!

How’s your Monday treating you so far? Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), MAC Goldmine Eyeshadow (gold), MAC Bronze Eyeshadow (bronze), MAC Cranberry Eyeshadow (cranberry), MAC Grain Eyeshadow (highlighter), Make Up For Ever #10L Aqua Eyes (bronze), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: Le Metier de Beaute Echo Radiance Rouge (pinky-coral)
• Lips: Cle de Peau #101 Lipstick (coral), MAC Nymphette Lipglass (peachy-pink)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Goldmine eyeshadow on the inner half of the lid. Apply Bronze eyeshadow on the outer half of the lid, then lightly blend Cranberry eyeshadow in the outer crease and very outer edge of the lid with the 226. Blend Grain eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone . Bring everything together by applying #10L liner on the lower lash line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Echo blush on the apples of the cheeks and smooth with fingertips.

For lips, apply #101 lipstick first, and then layer Nymphette lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

A Tale of Two Eyeshadows… Stream of Consciousness

I was really, truly determined to just two eyeshadows in this look (not including the highlighter, pfft!), but of course, I couldn’t leave well enough alone.  I have a tutorial for this look, and it’s more like a stream of consciousness than a tutorial, because you’ll see me going through the whole process of wanting to keep it at just two but not being happy with it the way it turned out.  I originally planned just Gorgeous Gold and Shimmermoss, but I wanted more oomph in the crease, so I then tried Winkle, which was a bit light, so I went to Atlantic Blue, which was lovely, but blending on top of frostier finishes (like Shimmermoss) can be difficult.

This is all to say that this is more like a “work in progress” kind of look.  If I were to do it all over again, I would start with Atlantic Blue in the crease, skip Winkle altogether, and may even skip Shimmermoss–but definitely layer the matte shade on prior to the frostier shade.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), MAC Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow (green-toned gold), MAC Winkle Eyeshadow (periwinkle blue), MAC Atlantic Blue Eyeshadow (matte dark blue), MAC Shimmermoss Eyeshadow (teal), MAC Orb Eyeshadow (highlighter), Urban Decay Flipside 24/7 Liner (teal), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: Le Metier de Beaute Echo Blush (peachy-coral), Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmers (bronze shimmer)
• Lips: MAC Crosswires Lipstick (coral-pink), MAC Nymphette Lipglass (peachy-pink)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow all over the lower lid. Lightly blend Shimmermoss eyeshadow in the outer crease and third of the lid with the 226.  Next, apply Winkle eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending onto the outer lid. Define the crease with Atlantic Blue eyeshadow and the 226. Blend Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow with the crease shade and then highlight the brow bone with Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow. Bring everything together by applying Flipside liner on the lower lash line, then smudge with Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Echo blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116, then lightly pat Amber Diamond on the cheekbones.

For lips, apply Crosswires lipstick first, and then layer Nymphette lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

]]> http://www.temptalia.com/a-tale-of-two-eyeshadows-stream-of-consciousness/feed 59 http://www.temptalia.com/le-metier-de-beaute-traviata-blushing-bronzed-duet-review-photos-swatches-echo-sun-kissed http://www.temptalia.com/le-metier-de-beaute-traviata-blushing-bronzed-duet-review-photos-swatches-echo-sun-kissed#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:00:05 +0000 Christine http://www.temptalia.com/?p=23475

My New Favorite Summer Blush:  Le Metier de Beaute Echo

Le Metier de Beaute Traviata Blushing Bronzed Duet ($65.00 for 0.49 oz.) is a blush-bronzer duo that includes Echo Radiance Rouge Blush (delicate coral-pink) and Sun Kissed Bronzer (sheer, light bronze powder). Normally, the blush retails for $30 and the bronzer retails for $55. I don’t own either (and couldn’t find it via googling), so I’m not sure of the size of each individually. All I know is that 0.49 oz. of product is a good deal of product no matter how you slice it. (The average blush is around 0.15 oz.!)

Traviata is part of Le Metier de Beaute’s Endless Summer Collection for the summer season. They also have Romeo & Juliet (which I will review soon as well!). The collection includes Bella Bronze Liquid Illuminator ($85); Canvas, Spicy, Jade, Sequoia True Color Eyeshadows ($30 each); Tamarack Dualistic Eye Pencil ($36); San TropezManhattan Color Core Moisture Stain Lipstick ($32); Lip Creme Lip Gloss ($36).

Echo is pure gorgeousness swatched and applied. Warm-toned beauties will love this shade in particular–it has the depth and dimension and sophistication that every blush should have. It’s smooth, soft, and wickedly pigmented but easy to use. It’s buildable, but it’s a richly pigmented product if you want it to be. It has a lovely soft, subtle shimmer-sheen of gold over a coral-pink base. I wore it lightly in this look. This is definitely a very “me” color, so I’m obviously a bit biased/partial to it! I love that it gives my cheeks a warmed-over glow but doesn’t emphasize pores with frostiness.

Sun Kissed is nice, but I was a little gaga for Echo that Sun Kissed didn’t leave much of an impression on me! It has the same soft, smooth texture of Echo, but it’s not quite as pigmented. It’s a nice subtle bronzer that doesn’t turn orange nor pull too red, which makes it a nice, universally appealing shade. There is a slight golden sheen but very little shimmer.

Even though the duo may give you more product for your money, Echo is really the star in this product for me. If you’re as sold on it as me, luckily you can buy it on its own for $30 rather than $65. I like that, to be honest, just because you aren’t roped into buying one product you’re so-so on and one you’re dying for simultaneously! (Hello, most palettes, I’m talking to you!)

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

• Product: 29/30
• Value: 9/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: Echo is to-die-for if you’re a coral blush fiend like myself. Truly a gorgeous, stunning shade that looks every bit as beautiful on as it does in the pan. Sun Kissed is a nice bronzer, and if you’re a regular bronzer wearer, the duo is certainly something worth looking into.

WHERE TO BUY: Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus

See more photos & swatches!

]]>