Cheeks and MAC Harmony Blush go together like lemonade and chocolate chip cookies…
Okay, wait — that might not have come out right.
Seriously, though, have you ever had lemonade and chocolate chip cookies before? I mean together? 🙂 I know it sounds like a weird combination, but I swear it’s better than it probably sounds.
The two make harmonious music together, forming an unlikely alliance of sweet and sour that could almost be a metaphor for my life.
Case in point: last Saturday morning I crawled out of bed feeling anxious and overwhelmed. I had a bunch of chores to do around the house (and when the house is a mess, it makes everything worse), but I didn’t want to do any of it. I wanted to unwind more than anything else, and I knew that I wasn’t going to get anything productive done until I improved my outlook.
Two words: window shopping. I threw on some clothes and minimal makeup and decided to hit the mall.
I drove down to The Village at Corte Madera, which is about 20 minutes away, because they have a Nordstrom there with a great MAC counter, an Anthropologie store, Apple store, Bare Escentuals, Blue Mercury, Kate Spade and some other good stuff. Out of nowhere, I got a weird craving for a chocolate chip cookie and a glass of lemonade, so I walked over to this place called Boudin’s, a café/bakery chain here in the Bay Area (they make a mean loaf of sourdough). As usual, of course, the universe had other plans…
Gal at the register (who was clearly not having her best customer service day): Hi.
Me: Hi! Everything always smells so good in here; it’s hard to decide. Okay, I think I’d like a chocolate chip cookie…but can you tell me first if they’re chewy or crunchy?
Gal at the register: They’re chewy and crunchy. If you buy one you can find out.
Me: Uh-huh… The thing is, I don’t really like cookies that are too crunchy, sooo I only want to buy one if it’s more chewy than crunchy. [SIGH] Okay, um, do you have lemonade?
Gal at the register: We have water and sliced lemons. But no lemonade. You can squeeze the lemons into your water and make your own lemonade.
Me: (My left eyelid started twitching) Hmm… On second thought, ya know, I think I’m gonna pass. Thank you anyway.
Then, wouldn’t you know it, as I left the restaurant empty handed and rounded the corner outside, I saw a soda machine in front of me with what? — lemonade! And me without a cookie.
Mom always says not to sweat the small stuff, but when I’m cranky and craving sweets, that’s easier said than done…
Still, I tried. I went back to walking around the mall and tried to ignore my rumbling tummy. I came upon a woman with her little girl, who looked to be about three years old, playing in the middle of the mall’s courtyard.
The girl was smiling and holding a green balloon. Suddenly, it slipped out of her hands!
Instead of screaming or bursting into tears (something I might have done had it happened to me at that moment), the girl chased after the balloon, laughing and jumping as she watched it float higher and higher into the sky.
As I watched the girl, who never stopped smiling, I felt something inside of me click. It was my reset button, turning me away from my crazy place and bringing me back to inner peace and harmony.
Which reminds me about a blush… 🙂
How do I love thee, MAC Harmony Blush? Let me count the ways…
- This muted rosy beige could almost pass for a brown.
- Considering its versatility, $20 is a bargain for this blush. You can use it as a contouring face bronzer, a warming blush or an eye crease color to give depth to different looks.
- If you’ve ever had trouble with bronzers having orange undertones before, take a look at Harmony. It adds warmth without the orange undertones. Fantastic for skin tones from pale to medium!
- I wear it when I want a natural-looking cheek color with a little warmth that won’t interfere with the rest of my makeup, like when I wear a strong eye and lip combo.
- On my NC42 skin, I usually wear 2-3 layers to reach a level of color I like.
- I wear Harmony a lot when I’m in a hurry. I’ll do a couple quick layers on the apples of my cheeks, and give some definition to my eyes with a small amount swiped into my creases with a 217.
- Sometimes, when I want more color than I get from Harmony alone, I’ll add a brighter pink like Dollymix on top.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
The MAC Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Harmony Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Careblends Pressed Powder
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Fulfilled Plushglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bamboom Paint
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sublime Nature Paint
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Prunella Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The 239 Eye Shader Brush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Tarnish Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Kohl Power Pencil Liner in Feline
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Silver Dusk
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Golden Bronze
- MAC Unsung Heroes: C-Thru Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Loud & Lovely Cremesheen Glass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Breezy Sheertone Shimmer Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Care Blends Essential Oils, Grapefruit + Chamomile
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Modesty Cremesheen Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Double Dare Cremesheen Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sandy B Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Club Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Uniform Technakohl Liner
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Red Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Tempting Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Phloof Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Crème in Your Coffee Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Paramount Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Mocha Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Oh Baby Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Mulch Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Cremestick Liners
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sable Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Ochre Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ricepaper Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: This Cremesheen Glass Is a Veritable Deelight
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lipglass in Spite
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Impassioned Lipstick (and Watermelon)
- MAC Unsung Heroes: This Lip Pencil Is In Synch
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soba Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bombshell Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sunbasque Sheertone Shimmer Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Clear Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Humid Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Naked Lunch Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Russian Red Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Syrup Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Blushbaby Blush
- MAC Unsung Hero: Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Patina Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Face and Body Foundation
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Greensmoke Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ample Pink Plushglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Indianwood Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bare Study Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Rubenesque Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Big Baby Plushglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ambering Rose Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Pink Poodle Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Fresh Flare Pro Longwear Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam VI Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Right Image Cremesheen Glass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bamboo Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Speak Louder Cremesheen Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sweet Satisfaction Pro Longwear Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lady Danger Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ruby Woo Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Retrospeck Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Twig Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Party Line Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Melon Pigment
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sumptuous Olive Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Vex Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Costa Chic Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Fast Response Eye Cream
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Strobe Cream
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Blot Powder/Pressed
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Subculture Lip Pencil
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Brown Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Woodwinked Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Powersurge Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: All That Glitters Eyeshadow Is Not Just Another Gold
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Technakohl Liners
- MAC Unsung Hero: Groundwork Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Hero: Nymphette Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V
- MAC Unsung Hero: Blacktrack Fluidline
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lychee Luxe Lipglass
Tiffany says
Happy Monday, Karen! Harmony looks really soft and pretty… it kinda reminds me of Tarte’s Exposed blush.
Karen says
Hi Tiffany,
Happy Monday to you too! Yeah, it does kinda look like a slightly warmer version of Exposed. Have you ever tried Harmony before? It really is a lovely color.
Mary Catherine Allen says
What lipstick are you wearing in these pics? It is fabulous and I must go buy it immediately. 😀
Karen says
It’s Hourglass Muse: https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/lips-are-in-for-a-rouge-awakening-the-magically-moisturizing-hourglass-opaque-rouge-liquid-lipsticks-feel-like-feathers-and-last-all-day-long/
Mary Catherine Allen says
Thanks!!!
Karen says
No worries! There are a lot of cool colors from that particular lipstick line from Hourglass. I hope you check ’em out!
Mary Catherine Allen says
What lipstick are you wearing in these pics? It is fabulous and I must buy it immediately. 😀
Mary Catherine Allen says
Somehow this posted twice. My bad!
Emi at Project Swatch says
I’m originally from Marin – it’s so fun for me to read your posts that mention places I’ve been to lots of time. I miss Bay Area sourdough!
Karen says
Oh, that’s cool! Are you from Northern or Southern Marin County?
Emi at Project Swatch says
San Rafael! So, sort of in the middle?
Janet says
Ohhhh, my favorite MAC blush is Fleur Power but I must check this out. Thanks ganda!!!
Karen says
You’re welcome. You’re so cute with your tagalog! XO
crystal says
hi karen! i don’t know how i’ve missed this whole time that you’re in the bay area!?!? i’m your makeup junkie neighbor from the south bay. i want to check out corte madera soon, any must-sees??!
Karen says
Hi Crystal,
Yup, I’m a Bay Area girl. I grew up in the East Bay, then I lived in the city for a bit, and now I’m in the North Bay. How long have you lived here?
crystal says
i’ve been in the south bay for like 10 years now… i cant believe it! i go to the east bay a lot, occasionally sf, there’s so much good food and not enough time to eat everything!
Tracy@Beauty Reflections says
Lovely on you! I keep meaning to try this one out. It’s such a classic MAC blush.
Karen says
Hope you give it a go soon! I bet it would look really pretty with your skin tone.
Becca @ The Beauty Sample says
So pretty (as always)!! I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect pinky-brown blush for a while now and I can’t seem to make up my mind. I had narrowed it down to Tarte Exposed (of course), Nars Douceur, and Tarina Tarantino Neopolitan Lane–but then I remembered how much I used to love MAC’s Tenderling (not sure it will show up too well on my currently tanned skin though…), which triggered memories of countless rave reviews of Blushbaby and Prism. Now I’m at a total loss because I REALLY want Harmony now, too!!! I think I have some serious research to do…
Karen says
Try this one! Or Blushbaby. Both are great.
Chelsea says
Doesn’t this belong to Tabs? LOL
Karen says
It does! Don’t tell him I borrowed it, LOL!
Chelsea says
Your secret is safe with me!
Lulle says
There’s at least one Boudin store here in San Diego! Their bread uh… doesn’t meet my expectations though, I guess I’m particularly demanding having grown up with real good bread all over the place.
I hate it when cashiers or sales associates show so little interest, I wanna tell them “look, I’m nicer than you are, and I’m not even paid for that!!”.
Rae // theNotice says
Yep, I think I need to go check out those new Hourglass liquid lipsticks. Harmony, on the other hand — I already have that one! 😛
I love seeing how the same shade can wear differently on a range of skintones, and this is the perfect example of it. On me, Harmony’s a very warm, dark contour shade, but I think I might prefer it as a blush on you, tbh 😛
Sunny @ Mostly Sunny says
I have this too, and I mostly contour with it!
Love the story with that little girl. Some kids are either born right or educated right 🙂
Jennifer says
I am not sure about this! I like Nars Laguna for a bronzer… but still need something peachy and pinky to brighten it up. My skin tone is much different than yours though. This looks fabulous on you though!
Nina says
Your story made me smile. 🙂 What I would give to be that little girl.
Lenita says
that’s a pretty awesome story karen. sorta how my day started today, and then i just …. let go.
echoing everybody else, that is a great lipstick color on you. hourglass is a brand i’ve been meaning to check out but my poor wallet is not gonna likey…
OrangeLipstickBlog says
This is an absolutely amazing look on you! Your skin looks so fresh! Love it. <3