Good afternoon, blushing beauties! 🙂
I’m a big fan of flushed cheeks — they make me feel healthy, happy and bright — but apart from steamy make-out sessions or pinched cheeks, the way I get them is with the help of a good blush.
A good blush? Yep, perhaps like one from MAC’s new Grand Duos Mineralize Blush Duo Collection ($22.50 each). Ohmygosh, say that five times fast!
Remember last summer’s Sonic Chic Mineralize Blush Collection? Well, these new pressed powder blush duos are their cousins, with half of every pan housing a Mineralize Blush and the other half a frosty solid color in a complementary shade.
Earth to Earth
The collection includes seven blushes in various shades of pink, plum, rose and brown.
Like MAC’s other Mineralize Blushes, the new duos have the same baked look and domed shape, with veins of shimmer running through them. MAC added a twist by injecting each pan with a complementary solid shade in a frosty finish. The result? A split personality blush duo — half multi-colored shimmer, half solid frost — meant to be swirled together and worn on the cheeks for a shimmery glow.
Hot Planet
I’m a big fan of MAC’s Mineralize Blushes. I like how they add just the right amount of cheek shimmer without looking too oily or unnatural, but I’m not totally sold on the combo of blush and solid frost in the same pan.
Grand Duo
When I mixed a pan of colors and swatched the combined shade on the back of my hand (haven’t tried ’em on my cheeks yet), the swatches looked very frosty, almost passing for eyeshadows!
Earth to Earth, Grand Duo, Hot Planet, Intenso
I’m open to the idea of using different finishes on my cheeks, but I think the frost here could make my pores look large and in charge, something my pores really, really don’t need, LOL!
Light Over Dark, Love Rock, Moon River
I give it to MAC for pushing the envelope again. As spring and summer near, I wear glowy cheeks more often, and I can see myself using these blushes with vibrant glossy lips in pink, plum or peach.
The Grand Duos…
- Earth to Earth: A purplish bronze marbling with solid yellowish brown
- Grand Duo: A coppery pink marbling with solid plum
- Hot Planet: A coppery yellow marbling with solid plum
- Intenso: A pinkish gold marbling with solid terracotta rose
- Light Over Dark: An orangey yellow marbling with solid deep brown
- Love Rock: A golden violet marbling with solid bright bluish pink
- Moon River: A bluish pink marbling with solid pale yellowish pink
All the Grand Duos
I’m going to take some time to meditate on these colors a bit before committing to a pan. Of the seven shades, Earth to Earth, Grand Duo and Hot Planet looked to be the most wearable for me.
Well, my loves, what do you think? Are you down with the Grand Duos, or does the frost turn you off?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Indian Girl says
March 12th, 2009 at 12:07 pmSanta please get me Hot Planet and Love Rock. Is it too early to be knocking on your door ?
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Karen says
March 12th, 2009 at 1:14 pmHi Indian Girl,
LOL! If you get a hold of Santa please put in my request for the Sugarsweet collection. 🙂
Stef says
March 12th, 2009 at 12:10 pmI’m scared of the frost! Like a big flashlight on my pores. Maybe if you use them VERY sparingly? They sure are pretty in the compact…
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Karen says
March 12th, 2009 at 1:13 pmHi Stef,
I know, right? My pores need 0 percent amplification. I think with a duo fibre brush and a very light touch it could work. Maybe a fan brush…
Kelley says
March 12th, 2009 at 12:43 pmI think I will pass on these. If they are really frosty then they will be too frosty for me – the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks are the most amount of shimmer/frost/glitter that I am comfortable with – and these look like they have more!
I have a question for you, Karen, and this collection is a good example – when groups don’t come out with coordinated eye/lip/cheek shades how do you know what to pair with what? I have a ton of lipglosses/lipglasses/lipsticks/eyeshadows etc and unless I can see it as a face chart or somehow in a look then I’m a bit wary of how to combine products. I don’t want the smoky eye I’m rockin to look crazy with the wrong lip shade, know what I mean? Do you have any rules to share?
Karen says
March 12th, 2009 at 1:12 pmHi Kelley,
That’s a really great question. Let me work on an answer on that for you. 🙂
cloudburst says
March 12th, 2009 at 12:47 pmI can’t wait to check these out in person tonight – I’m a little dissapointed b/c all the reviews I have read comment on the frostiness of them…small shimmer is fine, but big ol’ frosty chunks are not.
Karen says
March 12th, 2009 at 1:11 pmHi Cloudburst,
Yeah, chunky’s good in ice cream, but not so much in blush. Which color are you leaning towards?
Karen B says
March 12th, 2009 at 12:51 pmI think I’ll reserve judgement until I see them in person. Looks very very frosty though for use on the cheeks…
Karen says
March 12th, 2009 at 1:10 pmHi Karen B.,
Yah, I hear ya. I think to make it work it’ll require a light hand and the right brush. I usually like my blush to require no effort, ya know?
Heidi says
March 12th, 2009 at 1:10 pmI like MAC eye products but I don’t like their face makeup because it’s too heavy and makes me break out. 🙁
The blushes look pretty, though.
victoria says
March 12th, 2009 at 1:50 pmi still would like to see them but i have oily combination skin and i can’t handle too much frost or shimmer. i like the sonic chic blushes for that nice sheen.
Vanessa says
March 12th, 2009 at 2:21 pmI’m so past the whole ‘baked mineralize’ trend that I actually forgot this collection came out this week (and I usually keep track of when MAC releases new collections). They’re just not travel friendly and the amount of shimmer in these blushes is off-putting for problem skin like mine.
Anna says
March 12th, 2009 at 2:23 pmThese were out her in London at the same time as Hello Kitty, yep my wallet is still feeling the pinch ! I brough Moon River and Love Rock….I’m in lurrve and think I might buy some back ups too 🙂
Sophielou says
March 12th, 2009 at 3:00 pmI bought Moon River today. It’s gorgeous, although I am yet to try it on my skin…funny as I went into the store fully intending to get Light over Dark but Moon River just caught my eye!
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Michelle says
March 12th, 2009 at 4:01 pmWow too frosty, but I’ll still check them out in person before deciding to pass on them.
Marisol says
March 12th, 2009 at 6:17 pmThose are some gorgeous colors! I am gonna have to get a sugar daddy to get me some of them since I am still sticking to my not buying make up if I don’t need it. Why am I doing this again? 😀
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Stephie says
March 12th, 2009 at 6:37 pmHot planet does look quite pretty. And I like Moon River just because of that episode of SATC when Big plays it on vinyl for Carrie 🙂 I’ve never tried any of the mineralize collection since they look so frosty and shiny. Kinda scares me, I must admit. Going to the mall tomorrow w/ a friend so we may check it out.
wendy says
March 12th, 2009 at 6:46 pmCool! I want Moon River and Intenso!
tanya says
March 12th, 2009 at 9:17 pmHmmm…it does look very frosty. I have the duo in a a medium for the face and I actually use it (very sparingly) as a highlighter (it works great)! They look lovely in the pan though, don’t they? 🙂
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Laura B says
March 13th, 2009 at 4:38 amI have Intenso and it is super lovely. I apply with a 187 and it gives the most amazing finish. It’s really not all that frosty – it’s less so than an MSF for example.
I think it’s the brush application which makes these really wearable. I love!
Amanda says
March 13th, 2009 at 10:13 amthese pans are so pretty to look at, but I think I can pass on actually buying and wearing them.
Jian says
March 13th, 2009 at 10:21 amI agree on the frostiness of them! When I went to check out the HK collection I went to have a fiddle with some of them and I was shocked out of buying them…
The shimmer is a bit too intimidating O_O
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BINNIE says
March 13th, 2009 at 10:30 amHi there,
I got 4 of the duos :
Earth to Earth,Grand Duo,Hot Planet & Love Rock but i really want Light Over Dark as well so may go back next week as these blushes are limited edition in the UK unlike the US boo hoo xox
Tekoa says
March 13th, 2009 at 1:34 pmI have Moon River and I’m a testing it out. So far I love it. The pink is very soft and when everything is blended together its a glow effect and not a glitter bomb. (NC 15)
Danielle says
March 14th, 2009 at 7:27 amLooks like Moon River is popular here! Just bought it yesterday (along with a bunch of other stuff) and can’t wait to try it out. It looked good when the MA put it on me.
Elissa says
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:47 pmY’all are stressing out too much about the pore-emphasis in my mind. There is a term that is coined – I didn’t come up with it – “pore-o-rexic”. NOBODY is going to be staring down your pores like you may as you look and examine “flaws” in the mirror.
Think of the forest, not the trees, ladies! Everyone who looks at you will see the forest, and, I believe, with these DUOS (I’m still trying to decide which ones I’ll buy) will covet your healthy, dewey glow.
Marie says
March 27th, 2009 at 11:54 amI just bought earth to earth yesterday and I love it! It’s just a touch of shimmer. Maybe it’s because I start out with a little bit and add until I get the right shade but my cheeks don’t look that frosty. I love the blush!