5 Playful Plum Blushes

Plum blush can be used in a variety ways, from subtle to bold, so it can really bring drama to the face and create a look that really emphasizes the cheeks if one desires.  If you have a cooler complexion, you may look for a plum with a subtle pink or berry tone, while warmer complexions may look for a plum with a subtle brown undertone.  Or throw away the rules and go for the one that strikes your fancy

1. Bobbi Brown Plum — rich pink plum
2. Burberry Cameo — softened brown-plum
3. theBalm Cabana Boy — shimmered plum-berry
4. NARS Oasis — dirty plum with gold shimmer
5. MAC Plum Foolery — dirty plum with a shimmer-sheen

What’s your favorite plum blush?

MAC Tartan Tale: Hark the Heraldry Face Kit

The Hark the Heraldry Face Kit ($38.00) includes two blushes and a beauty powder: Dame (sophisticated blue-pink), Plum Foolery (faint dusty plum), and Oh So Fair (pale pink; beauty powder). Both Dame and Plum Foolery are permanent shades. Oh So Fair was recently released with Venomous Villains.

• Dame is a subtly blue-toned medium pink that can go on sheer or be built up. On darker skin tones, this may not show up very well, though. It has a satin finish, so it has a softer sheen, less frostiness in its finish. This is a nice shade for everyday, and it’s particularly flattering on cooler, paler skin tones.
• Plum Foolery is a semi-sheer, rosy plum with a frosted sheen. This shade does work well on a variety of skin tones, and despite it being sheer, it does pack a punch on cheeks if you’re not careful.
• Oh So Fair is a soft, petal pink with subtle shimmer-sheen. It’s sheer and looks very, very subtle on my medium skin tone. I wouldn’t recommend this shade for darker skin tones, because I think it would have a tendency to turn ashy.

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.

AVAILABILITY: MAC Counters/Stores on October 28th

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MAC Tartan Tale: Hark the Heraldry Face Kit

MAC Tartan Tale: Hark the Heraldry Face Kit

MAC Tartan Tale: Hark the Heraldry Face Kit

MAC Tartan Tale: Hark the Heraldry Face Kit

MAC Tartan Tale: Hark the Heraldry Face Kit

Hark the Heraldry Face Kit: Dame on left, Plum Foolery on right

Hark the Heraldry Face Kit: Dame on left, Plum Foolery on right

Hark the Heraldry Face Kit: Dame on bottom, Plum Foolery on top

Hark the Heraldry Face Kit: Oh So Fair (bottom), Dame (middle), Plum Foolery (right)

Hark the Heraldry Face Kit: Oh So Fair

MAC Dame Blush

MAC Dame Blush

MAC Plum Foolery Blush

MAC Plum Foolery Blush

MAC Oh So Fair Beauty Powder

MAC Oh So Fair Beauty Powder

MAC Fabulous Felines Look: Palace Pedigreed

This is a quick look I did on Friday using several products from the Palace Pedigreed portion of the Fabulous Felines collection.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), MAC Quite Spoiled Eyeshadow (pinky purple), MAC Courtly Eyeshadow (soft gray-mauve), MAC Palace Pedigreed Eyeshadow (dark burgundy), Burberry Trench Eyeshadow (highlighter), Urban Decay Rockstar 24/7 Liner (burgundy), Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: MAC Plum Foolery Blush (plum)
• Lips: MAC Aristo-cat Lipstick (pinky plum with gold sheen), MAC Docile Lipglass (icy pink)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Quite Spoiled = Shale (not a great dupe), Courtly = Pink Venus (not a great dupe), Palace Pedigreed = Nocturnelle; Aristo-cat = Sophisto; Docile = Cultured
  

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249.  Using the 239, apply Courtly eyeshadow on the middle of the lower lid. Lightly blend Quite Spoiled eyeshadow on the inner third of the lid with 239 and bring above the inner crease. Blend Palace Pedigreed eyeshadow on outer third of the lid and into the crease. Highlight the brow bone with Trench eyeshadow with the 239. Bring everything together by applying Rockstar liner on the lower lash line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Inimitable Intense mascara.

For cheeks, apply Plum Foolery blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Aristo-cat lipstick as a base color, then layer Docile lipglass on top for a complementing lip.

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Here’s a quick look for fall that I put together to go out to dinner with my parents and boyfriend (for my birthday). It’s pretty simple, and surprisingly, I used all permanent products (without trying–that’s an accomplishment!). Hope your Wednesday is off to a fantastic start! Halfway through the week — yay!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Melon pigment (peachy-pink), Gleam eyeshadow (peachy-pink), Cranberry eyeshadow (berry-wine), Fig. 1 eyeshadow (eggplant), Graphology eyeshadow (deep purple-black), Ricepaper eyeshadow (highlighter), Smolder eye kohl (black), Urban Decay El Dorado 24/7 Liner (gold), Zoom Fast Lash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Plum Foolery blush (berry)
• Lips: Guerlain Gracia Lipstick (muted berry), Chanel Spark glossimer (coppery berry)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: N/A

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid as the base with the 249. With the 239, apply Melon pigment with water-based mixing medium on the lower lid. On the inner lid, pack Gleam eyeshadow on using the 239. Apply Cranberry eyeshadow to the outer portions of the lid. Darken crease with Fig. 1 eyeshadow using the 226, then deepen with Graphology eyeshadow with the 219. Sweep Ricepaper eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Urban Decay El Dorado Liner on lower lash line, and Smolder eye kohl on the lower waterline using the 209. Apply Zoom Fast Lash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Plum Foolery blush using the 129. Apply Guerlain Gracia lipstick to lips, and then top with Chanel Spark glossimer for color and shine.

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Sorry about the lips! I don’t know what’s going on

MAC Style Black Look: Dark Smoky Eyes

Just a quick Style Black I through together this morning before I took a shower. I’m not sold on mineralize eyeshadows whatsoever! I applied these mineralize eyeshadows wet using water-based mixing medium (for better adhesion and to minimize fall out). Admittedly, it’s all over a significantly dark base, so maybe that’s why they just don’t pop much. I did two different lips — the first is the lip I’d actually pair with it (based on my style and preferences); the second is with black lips as requested.

Two notes:  I’m wearing Korres’ Wild Rouse Foundation in this look.  (I think the shade may be a lil’ orange on me–not sure if going a shade lighter will help or not yet.)  One eye has a stronger distinction between crease and highlight (which, to be honest, looked fine in real life) that I would recommend blending out more in practice.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Dark Soul pigment (dark black-gray), Gilt By Association mineralize eyeshadow (black-bronze), Young Punk mineralize eyeshadow (black-purple), Blue Flame eyeshadow (dark blue), Femme-fi eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), Black Greasepaint Stick (black with purple shimmer), Stila Purple Pumps Smudge Pot (purple shimmer), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Plum Foolery blush (pinky-purple)
• Lips: Brave New Bronze lipstick (pinky nude), Bling Black glimmerglass (dirty antique gold)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Gilt By Association = Tempting; Young Punk = Contrast; Blue Flame = Deep Truth; Femme-fi = Shroom; Black Greasepaint = Smolder; Brave New Bronze = Velvet Teddy; Bling Black = Reflects Antique Gold + Black Lip Mix + Clear gloss

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid as the base with the 249. With the 239, apply Dark Soul pigment with water-based mixing medium on the lower lid. On the inner lid, pack Gilt by Association eyeshadow on using the 239. Apply Young Punk eyeshadow to the middle and outer portions of the lid. Darken crease with Blue Flame eyeshadow using the 226. Sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Black Greasepaint stick on lower lash line, and Stila Purple Pumps smudge pot on lower lash line with 209. Apply Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Plum Foolery blush using the 129. Apply Brave New Bronze lipstick to lips, and then top with Bling Black glimmerglass for color and shine.

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With Black Knight lipstick + Blackware Glimmerglass

Tried to do something quick and easy, this was the result! Hope your week is off to a great start! Tutorial to follow shortly!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Un-Basic White eyeshadow (frosty white), Ego eyeshadow (medium pink), Fashion Groupie eyeshadow (purple), Ricepaper eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), Rave pearlglide liner (purple), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Plum Foolery blush (plummy pink); Dior Rose Diamond Skin Shimmer (pink highlighter)
• Lips: Chignon lipstick (sheer dark berry), Fast Friends lipglass (sheer purple)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Un-Basic White = White Frost; Ego = Pink Venus; Fashion Groupie = Satellite Dreams; Rave = Ransom (Urban Decay); Chignon = Desire; Fast Friends = Cultured

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid as the base with the 249. On the inner lid, pack Un-Basic White eyeshadow on using the 239. Apply Ego eyeshadow to the middle portion of the lid. Darken crease with Satellite Dreams eyeshadow using the 226. Sweep Ricepaper eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Rave Pearlglide Liner on lower lash line. Apply Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Plum Foolery blush using the 129, then highlight with Dior Rose Diamond Skin Shimmer with the 188. Apply Chignon lipstick to lips, and then top with Fast Friends lipglass for color and shine.

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