Blushing Over It

There are few things prettier than a rosy cheek.   And although it is *always* apart of my daily makeup routine, it's probably the makeup item I put the least amount of thought into.  Which is pretty silly because the color, amount, and location in which rogue is applied can completely transform a face (as the pictures above demonstrate).    My current blush (Lorac, Exposed) is running  low, and I'm beyond eager to try something new.  After reading different beauty articles, I've decided that I want my next blush to be a simple matte, that provides a healthy glow.  This will be an interesting change for me being that almost all of my blushes in the past have had shimmery gold undertones.

1.  Estee Lauder Tender Blush Sheer Stick -  I love this stuff - it provides a healthy glow, and is what I wear when I'm wanting to add a bit of a tan look without piling on the bronzer. Gold undertones make is night time appropriate.  Only complaint is that it rubs off pretty easily.

2.  Lorac Baked Matte Satin Blush -  I purchased this blush because I was wanting Nars Orgasm (see below) and my local beauty retailer was out.   So I gave this a try.  I find that it's a little brighter than Nars' famous "Orgasm", thus making it more daytime appropriate.

3.  Nars Blush in Orgasm -  This cult favorite has become world-known for a reason - it flatters every skin type and almost has a bronze like effect, making one look like they spent a day at the beach.  It is so pretty - only complaint is if one is too tan, it doesn't have the same dazzling effect, and it's hard to tell you're wearing it.

4.  Urban Decay Afterglow Cheek Tint in Crush -  I received a free sample of this and was taken aback by how bright it was.  But when I tried it on, I adored how it made me look like I was blushing.  It's youthful and fun, and I love that it's not ultra natural - you can tell you're wearing a fun colored blush without looking like a clown.

5.  Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush -  I have read too many amazing reviews on this stuff not to try it.  The one thing I've heard time after time about this product is that it's so natural and actually improves skin's balance, which is why it wears for so long.

6.  Benefit Dandelion Blush - This blush has one so many beauty awards and is supposedly key in making one look fresh faced and well rested.   I was wary to try this at first - thinking it'd be too light for my medium skin tone, but was pleasantly surprised to find that it still provided that healthy glow.

Happy blushing!

Getting Lippy

Lipstick.  I've always worn it.  I've actually worn it since I was about 7.  But I always was always when I was showing horses.  So to translate the look away from the show ring has taken a little work.  Wearing lipstick always seemed so fancy, so over the top.  But as of late, I've been working to make the look more everyday appropriate.  I knew my lips were being neglected and they needed to become a party my beauty routine.  My friends used to yell at me, "You look unfinished, you need something on your lips."  Okay, okay.   Maybe they were right.  Something was missing when I had on a full face of makeup - cheeks bronzed?  Always.  Eyes lined?  Of course.  Mascara applied?  Duh.  Lips?  Naked.  So I started small. I bought  Estee Lauder's lip pencil in Fig.  My friend Kristin actually got me hooked on it, and I loved the fact that it made my lips look fuller without looking like I was actually wearing lipstick.

From there, I made it my point to perfect the nude lip.  I blame that obsession on last years most prominent beauty trend- smoky eyes and nude lips anyone?  Finding the right shade of nude lip is difficult.  If the beige doesn't match your skin tone, you can literally look like a corpse.  I found my perfect match in Chanel Rogue Allure's Mythic lipstick.  If I was rocking a tan, it was a little light, but then I would top the lipstick with Chanel Glossimer in Beige Guitar and have a slightly warmer hue that was perfection.

Then of course, it was time to tackle the grand-daddy of them all - Red Lips.  A trend I've always loved,   Something about crimson lips paired with a tan is so beautiful, I was bound and determined to find a red that I could wear.  My problem (which was probably partially in my head) was that I though I looked so much older wearing red.  Or a street walker.   With some playing around I discovered if I wore an orangey red, the look felt far less formal.  Pairing that orangey-red with no more than some bronzer and a dash of mascara, and I had the exact look I was going for.  I've found that Revlon's Orange Flip is the perfect bright hue - young, fresh, and slightly funky.

Now that I've shared my lipstick diaries, here are some inspiring photos that make me want experiment even more.   Up next?  The perfect berry-hue for fall, and a lip stain that doesn't make me look like a four-year-old who just ate a popsicle.