Dayum, it’s so nice out here by the pool today… Nice and hot! — like a bare-chested Ryan Gosling in tight pants.
Here, put on some sunscreen, please. I’m not letting you burn on my watch, missy. And stop hogging that pitcher of iced tea! Go on now, pass it this way. Sharing is caring.
Oh — sorry. That was strange… I got lost in a daydream there for a minute and forgot that Christmas is less than three weeks away.
I don’t know what happened. I was just sitting here with the new NYX Bronzer & Blusher Combos ($9 each), and then everything got all summer, summer, summertime.
Everything about this new line of blush/bronzer duos, from the exotic black-and-white illustration on the compacts to the free-spirited pigments inside, reminds me of summer. I think it’s an unusual release for the holidays, but I don’t mind the timing at all. I’m a ho for blushes, so it’s all good. 🙂
For me, the blush halves are the stars of this show. They’re pigmented, easy to blend, and come in the kinds of colors I see more often from lines like NARS and MAC. In fact, I think a couple of them even look like possible dupes, particularly peachy Sunrise in Bali, which reminds me of NARS Orgasm, and shimmery, plummy gold Phi Phi Island, which resembles a lighter, more sparkly version of Sin.
The bronzer sides, however, despite how dark they appear in the pans, aren’t nearly as pigmented as their blushing halves. Still, I find them pretty easy to build up when I want more color.
01 Sunrise in Bali
02 Ibiza
03 Marbella
04 Phi Phi Island
05 Bora Bora
Swatches, top row from the left: 01 Sunrise in Bali, 02 Ibiza, 03 Marbella and 04 Phi Phi Island; bottom row, 05 Bora Bora
Swearing 04 Phi Phi Island
For a sun-kissed look, I like to swirl my brush in one of the pans to mix the blush/bronzer together, but I like the way they look separately, too.
Although they do seem a little powdery, and sometimes I can see the powders sitting on top of my skin, buffing them down with a kabuki brush results in a pretty natural look.
I get about six hours of wear time with these, so not quite as long as similar products from MAC and NARS, but overall, not bad at all, and a steal of a deal for $9 each.
Good job, NYX! 🙂
PRICE: $9
AVAILABILITY: Available now at drugstores, beauty stores and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Paris B says
December 8th, 2011 at 5:57 pmWe don’t get NYX here but I know I’d want to try these. I’m deathly afraid of bronzer so a sheer colour works for me plus they look good! Reminds me of … is it Stila that came up with these once? I forget 😛 Plus I’m liking the look of your latest photos 😀
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Antonia at Swedish Love Affair says
December 8th, 2011 at 6:00 pmThey are so cute! No. 03 is my favorite<3
Ice Queen says
December 8th, 2011 at 6:02 pmI am liking the look of these. I wonder, is it easy to get your brush in and just pick up bronzer and blush, separately?
I don’t mind a lighter toned bronzer as I am pretty fair, these may be right up my alley. 😀 Thanks for the review and swatches.
Karen says
December 8th, 2011 at 6:08 pmHi Ice Queen,
If you want to wear them separately, you’ll need a blush brush with a smaller brush head. I’ve been using one from Sonia Kashuk’s holiday brush kit (the red and black metal handle ones), and it’s just the right size.
Ice Queen says
December 9th, 2011 at 6:57 amGood to know. Thanks. 🙂
Chris25 says
December 8th, 2011 at 6:07 pmI love Bora Bora! Makes me want to go to Bora Bora, haha!
beautylogicblog says
December 8th, 2011 at 6:21 pmAm I the only person on earth who does not find Ryan Gosling attractive????? You look gorgeous Karen, as usual!
Karen says
December 8th, 2011 at 6:36 pmMilly! That’s blasphemy!
Muslimah Beauty says
December 8th, 2011 at 6:55 pm‘ like a bare-chested Ryan Gosling in tight pants’.. I’m SOLD!
Karen says
December 8th, 2011 at 7:03 pmLOL!! 😀
Marian says
December 8th, 2011 at 7:14 pmThe lighting in that last picture is so perfect!
Nina says
December 9th, 2011 at 6:27 ami love the pictures in this post. they are gorgeous!
Joyce says
December 9th, 2011 at 7:25 amI’m not a fan of powdery blushes. I rather just purchase ones with better quality. =)
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Vonvon says
December 9th, 2011 at 12:04 pmThese look very pretty!
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corallista says
December 9th, 2011 at 12:27 pmI was expecting them to be a little more pigmented in the swatch! Liked 01, 04 and 05.
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Arummmanis says
January 6th, 2012 at 12:51 amI have my eyes for sunrise in bali. So pretty!