5 Fantastic Matte Blushes to Try

I’ve had several requests to share some more matte finishes in the 5 Ways posts, so I thought blushes might be a nice way to go!

1. Tarte Blissful — vibrant coral
2. NARS Exhibit A — rich orange
3. MAC Mocha — dirty plum pink
4. Tarte Exposed — neutral beige with pink undertones
5. Burberry Tangerine — neutral brown-tangerine

What’s your favorite matte blush?

5 Pretty in Peach Blushes

Peach can be a really wearable color that can look natural on any skin tone.  Cooler complexions will find that peach-hued blushes can help mitigate any natural redness on the cheeks without emphasizing it like a pink blush might.  Warmer complexions are easily freshened up with a pop of peach on the cheeks.  Reader Sirinthorn wanted to see what my five picks would be for peach blushes, and here they are:

1. Chanel Espiegle– peach-orange with a satiny sheen
2. MAC Peaches — classic peach with subtle brown undertones
3. Make Up For Ever #14 — soft peach
4. NARS Sex Appeal – pale peach
5. MAC Melba — dirty peach-brown with a matte finish

What’s your favorite peach blush?

MAC Tartan Tale: A Triumphant Blush Face Kit

The A Triumphant Blush Face Kit ($38.00) includes two blushes and a beauty powder: Melba (soft coral peach), Peachtwist (golden peach), and Smooth Harmony (neutral mid-tan; beauty powder). Both Melba and Peachtwist are permanent shades. Smooth Harmony was last released in 2008 with Heatherette.

• Melba is a matte medium-dark, browned peach. This is a permanent shade with a matte finish. It’s a great shade for warmer and cooler skin tones, because it’s a peach without a lot of yellow. Very smooth and pigmented, not at all chalky.
• Peachtwist is a bronzy peach with champagne sheen. It’s permanent shade with a sheertone finish, so it has a frostier finish. It’s also less buildable, though it’s not really that sheer when worn.
• Smooth Harmony is an orange-tan with a soft sheen. It always looks orange when I wear it on my cheeks. I recommend using a stippling brush like the 187 to get a softer, more natural glow for light to medium skin tones.

Each blush is 0.13 oz. (full-size is 0.21 oz.), while the beauty powder is 0.20 oz. (full size is 0.35 oz.). Ultimately, you’re getting approximately $23 worth of blush and $14 worth of beauty powder–total value around $37 with a price tag of $38. It’s not a value palette based on quantity of products, but you do get three products for $38 instead of buying two blushes ($18.50 each) and a beauty powder ($25.00) separately.

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

• Product: 28/30
• Value: 7/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: I really like the face kits, because sometimes MAC blushes can be too expensive to purchase on their own, so this palette lets you try more for less–and you won’t get through a pan any time soon.  I think this palette is more suitable to warmer skin tones, though.

AVAILABILITY: MAC Counters/Stores on October 28th

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Tartan Tale: A Triumphant Blush Face Kit

MAC Tartan Tale: A Triumphant Blush Face Kit

A Triumphant Blush Face Kit: Melba (left), Peachtwist (right)

A Triumphant Blush Face Kit: Melba (left), Peachtwist (right)

A Triumphant Blush Face Kit: Melba (bottom), Peachtwist (top)

A Triumphant Blush Face Kit: Smooth Harmony (left), Melba (middle), Peachtwist (right)

A Triumphant Blush Face Kit: Smooth Harmony (bottom)

MAC Melba Blush

MAC Melba Blush

MAC Peachtwist Blush

MAC Peachtwist Blush

MAC Smooth Harmony Beauty Powder

MAC Smooth Harmony Beauty Powder