After seeing swatches of MAC’s upcoming A Rose Romance collection, a few of you gals asked to see a face of the day using Just A Pinch Gel Blush.
Of the A Rose Romance products I’ve tested so far, this one’s my favorite. Just A Pinch applies with full pigmentation, blends easily and doesn’t streak at all.
The sheer, reddish rose shade looks similar to Benefit’s Benetint liquid blush, and the thin, moist gel formula feels similar in consistency to Tarte’s Cheek Stains, making it the hybrid love child of two of my favorite blush products.
MAC, if you’re listening, I love this stuff! Please release it in more shades.
Today, I complemented the blush look with a few other A Rose Romance items. On my eyelids I added Circa Plum Pigment, and I applied Of Summer Eyeshadow on the brow bone. Then, to warm up the purple colors, I added two eyeshadow shades from MAC’s permanent collection into the crease — Soft Brown and Sable.
I think the eyes look soft, so I tried a slightly bolder lip, layering Tender Tryst See Thru Lip Color beneath a mix of Steal My Heart and Virgin Kiss Lipglasses (all from A Rose Romance).
What do you think?
I ain’t afraid of no ghost!
With my coffee this morning I looked through the pics I took last night on the SF Ghost Hunt tour… The tour started at the historic Queen Anne Hotel, the site of a former girl’s school around the turn of the last century. Legend has it that the friendly ghost of a woman named Mary Lake, the head mistress of the old school, still haunts the joint.
While ghost busting on the second and fourth floors, I snapped a ton of pictures with my trusty Canon Powershot. In some of the pics, odd glowing spots can be seen…
Hmm…
Our ghost hunting guide described how the glowing orbs are frequently caught on film in the hotel, and some believe the orbs are manifestations of ghostly energy. Others believe they’re just camera issues or tricks of light.
I couldn’t say, but I know my Canon camera like the back of my hand. I’ve probably taken 10,000 pictures with this thing, and I don’t recall ever seeing this many spots in so many different photos taken in one place.
Back at home, I took a bunch of pics around the apartment, trying to duplicate the glowing spots … but not even one more occurred.
SPOOKY!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Rae says
April 19th, 2009 at 1:47 pmHey girl!
I can’t decide what I love more – the eye, the lips, or that gorgeous blush. They all look so stunning on you! Definitely the perfect FOTD for ghost hunting. You’re practically coordinated with that fabulous wall colour 😛
Rae´s last blog post..Beauty Books: Sephora
Karen says
April 19th, 2009 at 7:22 pmHi Rae,
LOL! Have you decided what’s going to be in your haul? 🙂
Luv J says
April 19th, 2009 at 1:54 pmOOh I like spooky places! I always watch Ghost Hunters on the Travel Channel!!
Karen says
April 19th, 2009 at 7:22 pmHi Luv J,
Me too! Do you ever watch Paranormal State?
Jessica says
April 19th, 2009 at 2:24 pmIf I could only get one thing from this collection- it would be this gel blush! I’m soooo excited to get my grabby paws on it! Does it work as a lipstain too?
Jessica´s last blog post..MAC and Lush Haul!
Karen says
April 19th, 2009 at 7:22 pmHi Jessica,
Hmm, I dunno! I’ll try it and let you know. 🙂
Beth says
April 19th, 2009 at 2:51 pmThats a gorgeous look on you, pretty in pink if ever I saw it!
Why is it that the best lip colours never come in a single tube? I think its a scam to get us all to buy more! 🙂
Beth´s last blog post..To Do List Item – Reduce Swearing?
Karen says
April 19th, 2009 at 7:23 pmHi Beth,
So true. There’s always something to throw up in the mix, isn’t there? I kinda miss the days when all I needed was my one tube of Clinique Raspberry Glace.
Stacie says
April 19th, 2009 at 3:10 pmLove the look, Karen! And spooky pics! I once got two orbs in one photo, in the Casablanca exhibit at the wax museum. That was kinda creepy–and none of the other photos had any orbs.
Karen says
April 19th, 2009 at 7:24 pmHi Stacie,
SPOOKY! Were they big orbs?
Sanayhs says
April 19th, 2009 at 3:17 pmLove the cheek and lip colour especially there! Ghost hunting sounds great. 😀
Sanayhs´s last blog post..Moxy Smurfette!
Karen says
April 19th, 2009 at 7:24 pmHi Sanayhs,
It was a lot of fun. If you go be sure to dress warmly! I was freezing by the end of the tour. 🙂
Hafsa says
April 19th, 2009 at 3:54 pmThank you for the look Karen! Now i’m even more in love with this blush.
OOOH and about the “orb” you’re seeing, i’ve heard that it’s nothing more than dust particles, perhaps the place is very dusty where you visited? And if you like ghost hunting, you should watch Ghost Hunters!
Karen says
April 19th, 2009 at 7:26 pmHi Hafsa,
Hmm, it was a pretty clean hotel. It could be dust… or a spooky ghost, LOL!
I will have to Tivo Ghost Hunters. I’m all about Paranormal State. Have you ever watched it?
Merylynmagic says
April 19th, 2009 at 4:23 pmHey Karen!
Love this look on you, very pretty! 🙂 especially like the lips, since you don’t usually go for something this dark..
And I think warming up the pinks/purple with a little brown is a great idea, ‘cos sometimes too much pink can be a little cloying, no?
Cheers
Karen says
April 19th, 2009 at 7:26 pmHi Merylynmagic,
Thanks! 🙂 You gotta try throwing some warm browns up in your pink and purple mix. It’s a lot of fun to experiment with different combos!
alicia says
April 19th, 2009 at 4:48 pmVery, very pretty on you, but would be too much on me.
Karen says
April 19th, 2009 at 7:28 pmHi Alicia,
You could always tone it down — one way you could do it is just wear Circa Plum by itself on your lid, Just a Pinch on your cheeks and then one of the Lipglasses on your lips.
Faye says
April 19th, 2009 at 5:33 pmYour lips are to die for! I wonder if that combo would work on my paleface :).
The tour looks cool! I love visiting San Francisco for stuff like that — you guys always seem to have the coolest, slightly off-beat things to do for fun.
Karen says
April 19th, 2009 at 7:29 pmHi Faye,
Oh, you gotta try it! It will probably look very vampy and dramatic on you…
The ghost tour was really interesting because I learned a lot about the history of SF. I hope to do more tours like it when I visit other places in the future. But yah, when you come here next you totally have to do it!
Shivotra says
April 19th, 2009 at 6:10 pmKaren, you look GORGEOUS. love the lip color on you!!! I am getting excited for April 23 🙂
Karen says
April 19th, 2009 at 7:30 pmHi Shivotra,
Thanks! The more I play with this collection the more I like it. I am counting down the days ’till the 23rd. I can’t wait to peep the rest of it!
Happy Sunday. 🙂
Paris B says
April 19th, 2009 at 6:22 pmI love your blouse Karen! And that camera thing was really spooky. I have no guts so ghost tours are out for me!
Paris B´s last blog post..Review: I Nuovi Cosmetics Gelbase liquid foundation
Karen says
April 19th, 2009 at 7:31 pmHi Paris B.,
The only really spooky part was the hotel. The walking tour was cool, but not as spooky! You could’ve totally handled it. 🙂
Glosslizard says
April 19th, 2009 at 6:38 pmOh yes… Tender Tryst will be mine! You love it. I love it. The ghosts love it. ‘Nuff said! 😉
Karen says
April 19th, 2009 at 7:31 pmHi Glosslizard,
LOL! You gotta treat yourself to some birthday goodies… 😉
Amanda says
April 19th, 2009 at 7:02 pmi love, love, love the lips (!!!!) and cheeks. you look great! i’m glad you have fun on the tour.
Just saw your response to my earlier comment-and a big fat YES-we got our sephora!!! it’s been open exactly a month. 🙂 I’m going tomorrow to meet a friend and use my beauty insider coupon. Thanks for asking-that’s why you are my favorite blogger. 🙂
Karen says
April 19th, 2009 at 7:32 pmHi Amanda,
Awww… 🙂
That’s so awesome that it finally opened! I busted out my 15% coupon yesterday to get some staples: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, some LM concealer and a few pencils from Urban Decay. Lemme know what you end up getting in your haul!
Heidi says
April 19th, 2009 at 7:37 pmI’m really feeling the Rose collection by MAC because the colors are actually wearable. I find that too many of their products are dramatic and over-the-top; not good for everyday. But you bet I’m going to buy that gel blush because it looks so cheeky and pretty. You look fantastic!
Nadrah says
April 19th, 2009 at 7:38 pmLove this look on you Karen! I especially love the eyes 🙂
Stephie says
April 19th, 2009 at 9:04 pmYikes! That does sounds spooky. Knowing myself I woulda tricked my ownself into getting totally spooked out there. You are definitely a brave one 😛
I’m so excited Rose Romance comes out this week. I can’t wait to try out that gel blush.
Marisol says
April 19th, 2009 at 9:19 pmoh wow… i may have to go on this tour sometime around halloween.
Marisol´s last blog post..Dalai Lama’s 18 rules for living
Jeanne says
April 19th, 2009 at 10:05 pmHi Karen!
Oh, the SF Ghost Hunt!! I was planning on doing that when I had an out-of-town guest back in March, but didn’t manage to do it. Then, after drinks at the Tonga Room a couple of weeks ago, we walked by the Vampire Tour getting started! Some day, I’ll go…
I’m very, very tempted by that gel blush — I absolutely love cheek tints, and if you say it’s a lovechild of Benetint and Tarte, then I need to get my hands on it…!
Jeanne´s last blog post..Presenting Swan Lake
Wenvers says
April 20th, 2009 at 12:04 amHi Karen, you look absolutely lovely with your Rose Romance look!Amazing collection huh!
I have a friend whos a medium. She made some pictures in my house and there were orbs allover, so its kind of crowded in our home 🙂 Well, as long as they are quiet 🙂
Yarisse says
April 20th, 2009 at 12:12 amSo beautiful!
The gel blush is now definately a must-have for me, unfortunatelly my nearest MAC store is quite far and away.
Catherine says
April 20th, 2009 at 12:17 amLovely FOTD & wow… that’s creepy!
Catherine´s last blog post..PSA: 20% off at Crabtree & Evelyn (& small haul)
Stacie says
April 20th, 2009 at 5:40 amIn response to your question–one orb was pretty big. What got me was how bright and obvious they were, you know? Most people see it and assume it’s a reflection off the glass. Then I tell them that there isn’t a glass window there, and they freak!
Marta says
April 20th, 2009 at 7:55 amI love the look .
cloudburst says
April 20th, 2009 at 9:09 amI would love to go on a ghost tour – when I was a kid my friend & I used to conduct seances in her basement.
I’m looking forward to Rose Romance, I love the purple colour the model wears on her eyes in the promo pic, my guess is its Circa Plum pigemnt- I only wish they had made a vibrant matte shade of shadow in that colour.
Nicole15 says
April 20th, 2009 at 9:15 amThis whole look is absolutely beautiful on you. You gave a tan girl hope for pulling off a collection that is mostly cool-toned. You go girl! 🙂 I had decided to not get anything from A Rose Romance after going bananas at MAC this weekend & because I want to save up for Style Warriors (Whoot!), but now you have me thinking otherwise. The lips are definitely my favorite part of this look.
SephoraMAC says
April 20th, 2009 at 11:29 amVery pretty.
This looks so great on you. Love the colors.
Kelley says
April 20th, 2009 at 12:30 pmThis blush looks great, it makes me want to try it! Are you going to be trying any of the new Bobbi Brown blushes or sheer lip glosses? I know they are at Nordstrom right now and I have been looking at them – I’d love to hear your take!
Michelle says
April 20th, 2009 at 12:44 pmI love that lip color on you!
Kriz says
April 20th, 2009 at 1:56 pmHi Karen, absolutely love the look! What brush did you use to apply the gel blush?
Kristine says
April 20th, 2009 at 11:42 pmI love your green jacket, where’s it from? 🙂
Hafsa says
April 22nd, 2009 at 4:17 pmYes, I’ve seen Paranormal State, and while that show is good, I personally like Ghost Hunters better. Honestly, it seems so authentic! The two main guys, Jason and Grant, have been doing this for YEARS and their whole deal is to debunk the stories rather than jump to say, oh it’s paranormal. If you want to watch it, I think it’s on tonight!
🙂
Karen says
April 22nd, 2009 at 6:38 pmHi Hafsa,
Okay, I’m going to see if I can Tivo it. While I like to watching ghosts on TV, I really hope they never visit me at home. *crosses fingers*
Ashley says
September 20th, 2009 at 7:51 amFrom the looks of it, they were just specks of dust.