Rise and shine, morning glories! Aren’t you glad it’s Friday? I sure am.
What did you do last night? I just chillaxed on the couch watching The Millionaire Matchmaker on Bravo. I secretly want the matchmaker’s job!
Whenever Patty — she’s the matchmaker — holds a casting for new potential dates for her clients, I always check out their makeup. 🙂
Last night it was blush. It can make such a huge difference to your look. Here are some of my favorite blush posts from the past few months.
Benefit Coralista Blush Has Got Me Purring
“Coralista’s soft, shimmery coral-pink looks neutral on my cheeks, and that’s weird because most coral blushes usually look warmer on my skin tone. I’m thinking it has something to do with the cooler pink tones, like they mellow out the warmer corals. Both warm and cool beauties ought to be able to work this blush with equal flava.” 🙂
Blush for Beginners
“Here’s another attempt at a video. This one’s about blush, and I apologize because I let Tabs do the editing. I think he got a little carried away.”
Benefit Dallas Blush Gives Cheeks a Peachy Glow
“Despite wanting a sturdier box, I really like Dallas blush a lot. I’m giving her prime retail space on top of my dresser so she’s available when I need quick color on my cheeks before running out the door.”
Blush Technique: The Bounce
“Rise and shine, morning glories. It’s Friday, yea! Are you ready for the weekend? In this short video I talk about one of my standby blush application techniques, codenamed The Bounce.”
Powder Blush: A Pink Brown Flush for Spring
“As the only blush released with Chanel’s Spring 2009 Bohemian Fantasy Collection, Fandango, a shimmery pink and brown, applies with intense color that really brings out the brown in my skin. To avoid dark, muddy cheeks, I layered it slowly with a MAC 187 skunk brush, trying to use a light touch.”
Blush Technique: The Swirl
“A few days ago I showed one way to apply blush using a technique called The Bounce (bounce, baby!). Here’s a second method. This one’s nicknamed The Swirl.”
Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Top Blusher Brush: A Budget Friendly Beast
“BOW DOWN before the mighty Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Top Blusher Brush. Marvel at its multi-tasking prowess and how it applies blushes and foundations with ease. And don’t be surprised if you find yourself trembling — with glee! — at the cash register. Not only is this brush amazing, but it’s also cheap — $14.99. Holla!”
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Beth says
March 13th, 2009 at 6:07 amOk – I love all this blush info, but I must admit, I don’t wear it much. I have mild rosacea and though I do my best to cover it up with foundation and powder, the redness eventually creeps through at some point. It is on both sides of my nose and goes down towards the corners of my mouth. But honestly, I do think I look weird without blush. I watched one of your videos and started using one of your bronzer techniques to apply blush and I think that is better b/c it is further away from the rosacea red areas.
Do you have any other ideas on how to wear blush when you have rosacea?
Or maybe any really good coverage foundation/blush recommendations? My favorite stuff (Estee Lauder, in a tube, can’t remember the name) covers great but it is almost like stage makeup. There’s no way to look light and fresh wearing it, that’s for sure.
Thanks in advance for any ideas – love your blog!
Karen says
March 13th, 2009 at 8:47 amHi Beth,
I did some quick research and it seems that women with rosacea really like mineral makeup. A few brands that seem to be repeated often on various forum threads include BareMinerals, Jane Iredale and Physician’s Formula. Here’s a list of resources that might be helpful to you:
Also, The National Rosacea Society recommends doing a spot trial first before using new makeup:
Hope this helps! 🙂
Vanessa H says
March 13th, 2009 at 9:11 amI love Revlon’s Love That Pink blush, it’s a light and very slightly shimmery blush that is awesome for very fair skinned ladies. Pink Swoon from MAC is also awesome!
Stephie says
March 13th, 2009 at 9:48 amThis is why we all love your blog Karen [pointing to Beth’s comment and reply above] Thanks for always taking the time to answer little questions, you are the best beauty blog out there! 😉
But anyway, I must admit I’ve watched a few episodes of Matchmaker. Patty seems like a cool chic. I love who she tells the bachelors ‘straight up’ why they’ve been single for so long 😛 Did you see the one w/ the hunky quiet guy with the dog and cockerspaniel (?) and the outgoing cheesy guy who she made get a spray tan right before the mixer and likes taking girls shopping? Ha. Interesting stuff.
tanya says
March 13th, 2009 at 9:52 amI’m loving this coral Benefit blush–it’s so pretty on you…I think it may be a perfect purchase for spring! Happy Friday Karen 🙂
Mary says
March 13th, 2009 at 11:56 amThis is not my fav look on you 🙁 It seems like just a bit too much in every focal point. The blue looks a little chalky, but I suppose that could be the lighting. You’re too pretty and too young to have so much on for just a t-shirt kinda day. I like your blog and reading your reviews, but you never never ever respond to my questions. Also, it’s a little hard to trust someone’s reviews of products if they are getting paid to talk about them. I miss the old blog, sans videos and and all the fluff
Karen says
March 13th, 2009 at 3:14 pmHi Mary,
I’m sorry about missing some of your questions. I do my best to respond to as many as I can. There’ve been more than 15,000 comments since 07 and I haven’t always been able to keep up.
Also, I never let the fact that an advertiser is on the blog alter the way I feel about a product. If I don’t like something, I say it, but I generally only choose to talk about products that I like. If I don’t have anything nice to say about something, I usually won’t say anything at all.
Have a good weekend. 🙂
Karen says
March 13th, 2009 at 1:01 pmHi Vanessa H,
Thanks for those recs! 🙂 I haven’t used Revlon blush — what’s the texture like?
Karen says
March 13th, 2009 at 1:07 pmHi Stephie,
Aww, thanks girl! You just put a spring in my step. 🙂
I think Patty is pretty cool. What’s funny to me is when the guys get all worked up and they insist that they know what works for them, LOL! It’s interesting to see how ageist so many of the men are, especially the ones in their 50’s who insist on only dating women of a younger age bracket.
Oh yes, I saw that ep with the cheeseball dude who got a spray tan right before the mixer. He made my skin crawl! I gotta say, though, that he looked a billion times better after he got tanned.
Karen says
March 13th, 2009 at 1:09 pmHi Tanya,
Coralista is one of my favorite blushes for spring. Do you have any coral lipglosses in your stash? It should complement them nicely. 🙂
Happy Friday!
Bj says
March 13th, 2009 at 1:26 pmBlush is so needed right now, its rainy and gross here today.Not to mention I’m supposed to be going out tonight, ohh stress. Any ideas for rainy weather makeup?
Karen says
March 13th, 2009 at 2:34 pmHi BJ!
When it’s raining cats and dogs I reach for waterproof mascara, for sure. My favorite is Shu Uemura’s. I also like to keep it simple on the eyes with just a creamy eyeshadow and a swipe of some MAC Fluidline (it doesn’t budge for nothing).
I’ll skip the sticky lipgloss because I hate getting my hair hair whips around in the wind and gets stuck in my gloss. Instead, I’ll go for a creamy lipstick, like one of the Cremesheen lippies by MAC.
Whatcha doing tonight? Dinner, movies?
Vanessa H says
March 13th, 2009 at 2:40 pmYou’re so welcome Karen! The texture is smooth, i blend it in with a kabuki brush so it really blends in. Not too powdery or shimmery at all!
MiMi says
March 13th, 2009 at 2:53 pmHola Karen!
Love that show, Patty tells it like it is!!! Well you look very fresh faced in the pic…beautiful. I like coralista a lot too. You know what would look beautiful on you…Lorac cheek stamp. Have you ever tried it? It is sooo kewl, it comes in a round case and when you press it into the powder color transfers to the spring applicator and you stamp it on your cheek. It’s like 22 bucks. Hard to explain you gotta try it to know.
Marisol says
March 13th, 2009 at 6:03 pmLove this post! Awesome recap.
Marisol´s last blog post..Gorgeous day in SF!
tyna says
March 13th, 2009 at 6:09 pmI picked up the Coralista on my last Sephora trip (along with Benefit’s creaseless cream eyeshadow in Skinny Jeans) and I just love it! And just like you mentioned, my friend and I were all “yay – It looks like a softer version of Nars orgasm!†Which I can’t wear during the day – it’s looks garish on me in sunlight. Couldn’t be happier with my Coralista!
tyna´s last blog post..Green Round Up – von Natur, Lulu Organics and Further Soap
Bethany says
March 13th, 2009 at 7:00 pmThanks for the info on rosacea! Aren’t you a doll to do that research for me? WOW! I’m going to read it all in the morning when I’m less tired.
Oh and I love Millionaire Matchmaker. I thought I would hate it from the previews, something about her bothered me, but now that I’ve watched the show I love it! She’s great!
Heather says
March 13th, 2009 at 8:05 pmHi Karen,
Thanks for the great blush tips! Do you have any suggestions for a budget friendly blush, I know you mentioned Neutrogena, any others? I have used the cult classic, Nars Orgasm, for quite sometime, but it is pretty pricey and I would love a cheaper alternative. Possibly a drugstore brand, as we don’t have many of the luxe makeup counters or a Sephora in my area, so I have to usually order online. Also, any tips on how to choose the right blush color for your skin tone? Thanks for all your tips and tricks, your blog is awesome!
Sylvie says
March 14th, 2009 at 4:16 amHey Karen,
So, but I recently got the Select Tint and a cream colour base to use as a cheek highlighter, so I got the 187 to use them with. I’m thinking now if I should change that for a 190 (for the select tint) and a 188 (for the ccb). Somehow I can’t quite wrap my head around this one, cuz one minute I think that the 187 can be used for both, the next I’m wondering if its size’s going to be an issue and if it’s even compatible with select tint and ccb. What do you think is the smarter thing to do here?
Bj says
March 14th, 2009 at 11:08 amthanks for the tips karen! The fluidline stayed put all night! dinner and movies was the thing!
Karen says
March 14th, 2009 at 9:57 pmHi BJ,
You’re welcome! 🙂 What movie did you end up watching?
Ugh, El Hub just made me re-watch Cloverfield on DVD. I’m kinda nauseous now…