This review is part of a series: the Blush Week at Project Vanity. Read my first three blush posts (if you haven't yet)! ;)

It's a Blushin' Week at Project Vanity: My top five blushes | Artdeco Blusher in 38 First Love | MAC Dollymix Sheertone Shimmer Blush

Yesterday I was in a mild panic over losing my entire image database. I use iPhoto to store all my photos, and apparently, it became corrupted. It contains thousands of pictures but I can actually live without most of them - the crucial ones are the few hundred photos of products I have yet to write about. Sure I can retake these photos but I'd rather not because it would take me hours and the products aren't fresh anymore since I've used them.

Thankfully I was able to repair the whole thing. Whew. That's why I missed my blush post for yesterday. So! Today I'm going to talk about the latest product from one of my fave brands: the Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Cheek Tint in Sheer Cherry (P1,350).

This is part of Bobbi's Pink and Red Collection, which is now available in Rustan's. The collection features nail polishes, lipsticks, and glosses in pink and red - two color combinations that everyone says won't work, but do! It's a pretty interesting concept and I would LOVE to show a look to break that myth. For now though, let's discuss this cheek tint.

It's pretty awesome. Red can be intimidating, but this basic color is the most natural and versatile for all skintones. Ever wonder why most tints in the market are red? It's because a sheer wash of red on the cheeks blends seamlessly with any coloring! You can't go wrong with it, no matter how fair or dark you are. You just need to adjust the intensity to your liking.

This review is part of a series: the Blush Week at Project Vanity. Read my first two blush posts (if you haven't yet)! ;)

It's a Blushin' Week at Project Vanity: My top five blushes

Artdeco Blusher in 38 First Love

The MAC Dollymix Blush (~P1,300) is a hot pink shade with very fine silver and gold shimmer - intimidating in the pan, but utterly lovely on the cheeks.  It's is one of the brand's most famous shades, with a whopping 4.4/5 rating at Makeupalley. I can see why!

It's scary off the bat, but once you apply it you won't see much of that Barbie pink intensity or shimmer on your skin. This blush actually looks like a darling medium pink with a satin finish when worn. I guess I better show you!

I wish brands would stop naming their products in numbers and coded letters. It's harder to remember an impersonal "PK238" compared to something like Berry Cherry Strawberry Conundrum, for instance. Or is it just me? Oh but why am I grousing! Today's featured product as part of Blush Week is the Artdeco Blusher in 38 First Love (P550).

This is a warm, peach-pink blush with fine golden shimmer, similar to the famous NARS Orgasm. The difference is that this is more pigmented and leans more towards pink - but you can still see the similarity. This is a blush that can be worn across all skintones. You just need to adjust the intensity, using a smidgen if you're fair, and more layered if you're dark.

Since I got a lot of positive feedback regarding my first themed week, I thought I'd continue it with a new series about - guess - blushes! Every girl needs a flattering blush to make her complexion look brighter and more alive. This week, I'm going to talk about some of the latest, most exciting blushes I've come across, and hopefully I can help you find your new cheeky best friend. 

To kick the series off, I'm going to start with a list of my five favorite blushes (not including the NARS Super Orgasm because it's such a cop out to do so). These are the blushes I always pick up because their color works perfectly with my skintone and I can rely on them to stay put for a decent amount of time. They're also versatile, delicately nuanced shades, which means that I can easily pair them with most looks I can think of. ;)

Okay enough yapping, here's the list!

The Bobbi Brown Retouching Powder in Rose (P3,550) is a superfine tinted powder than can be used all over for that rosy glow, or layered as a subtle blush. It smoothens pores and adds that elusive freshness without ANY shimmer. I'd say it has a petal-matte finish. 

I prefer to use this as a blush more than a retouch powder because, well, it's in loose form. Staying power is average. It's the super smooth texture and the finish that attempts to justify the luxe price.

"Shimmer" is a word that has a lot of negative baggage in terms of cosmetics. Especially here in the Philippines, girls run the opposite direction when they hear about shimmer in face products! Well, it's hard to blame them when everyone is so oily and sweaty all the time here. Nonetheless I personally like a bit of shimmer on my face. I like how my complexion looks brighter overall, more skin-like and fresh. 

Now I've said this before and I can go to my grave saying it: nobody does shimmer like Bobbi Brown. It's sooo fine, subtle, and twinkly when it needs to be! It's never vulgar or cheap-looking, but more importantly, it doesn't make skin look like a disco ball.

I'm currently loving the limited edition Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Lilac Rose (P2,400). This looks like blush at first glance, but it's really more of a skin illuminator and highlighter than anything else! It's a sheer golden pink shade that makes the skin look flawless and fresh. Seriously. Illuminators like this are the cosmetic world's best obvious secret.

I've had Bobbi's Shimmer Brick in Bronze for about two years now so this is more of the same, except it's considerably less pigmented. It can be a veeeeeery subtle blush if you layer it with a blush brush.

Liquid blushes are usually watery red tints, so it's refereshing to see a creamy one like the Majolica Majorca Cream de Cheek Blush (P495). These come in four colors I believe, and I have two of them to swatch for you today.

These liquid blushes aren't solid and dense like say, lip gloss. It has powder particles suspended in a sliiiiightly oily but fast-drying liquid solution. They're intended for use on the cheeks but they are surprisingly nice on the lips once you get over the initial powdery feel. I found out just like, right now! You should try it too if you're in a pinch and this is the only color you have on hand.

Anyway. Got a bit sidetracked there! Here's a quick rundown of the Cream de Cheek.

What I love about the product

• The shades are just lovely. I have Shell Pink Cream (PK312) and Kiichigo Cream (RD411), and I love how they look on me. They have a matte, natural finish that seems to melt on skin instead of sitting on top looking fussy.
• It says on for a good four to five hours even in extremely humid weather. To extend the wear, you can top it off with a powder blush!

There are many ways to achieve a healthy flush on the cheeks. My favorite product to get that natural glow, however, is cream blush! Cream blushes give a sort of wet finish to the cheeks, and looks like it's coming from the skin instead of sitting on top. They're also quicker to use than powder blushes since they need no more than fingers for a beautiful blended finish.

One of the latest cream blushes to hit the market is Benefit Fine One One (P1,700). This tri-colored blush in stick form gives a wonderful peachy-coral flush on skin with just a couple of swipes. It has Pink Champagne, Sheer Watermelon, and Soft Coral shades in one tube to give the cheeks some "lift, shape, and pop". I quite agree with this. The well-chosen combination of colors and textures does give cheeks a sort of dimensional look, as if they're plumper (not chubby!) and healthier.

I also love how it makes my skin look brighter. Pink Champagne is a pretty good highlighter by itself, reminiscent of my fave Benefit Watt's Up! (read the review for a mini-tutorial on how to apply a cream highlighter). 

Perhaps the best thing about Charm is that Sophie is always working on improving her brushes. She's super OC about making them better than the last batch, which means that you can really see the improvement whenever she comes out with something new! For instance, the Retractable Powder and Blush Brushes are considerably softer than her original synthetic collection; the bristles are somehow thinner and finer.

These new brushes are super dense but still pliable enough not to eat all of the makeup you would rather have on your face. I also like the case mechanism - the retracting cover ensures that the bristles won't get mangled whenever you open or close the cap. It closes tightly so you don't have to worry about it floating in your bag and leaving the precious brush head unprotected. ;) Overall, these brushes have really good case to go with the quality of the bristles.

So wait, how do these brushes work to begin with? Here's a quick guide!

One of the most pigmented - not to mention the prettiest - blushes I've tried is the Shiseido Camellia Compact (P1,998). It's a limited edition blush released by Shiseido to celebrate their 140th anniversary! It has three shades - Rich Rose (reddish), Spring-Petal Pink (light pink), and Icy-Cool Platinum (shimmery white). They can be used individually or swirled together to get a beautiful flush that glows.

Spring-Petal and Icy-Cool Platinum are just moderately pigmented. It's Rich Rose that brings it all together! It's so pigmented you can use it as an eyeshadow and forget about the base, please.

I love how flattering the mixed shade is on me and how I can customize it according to my preferences. Reddish blushes tend to look good on my yellow medium skin, and this blush isn't an exception!

I've read so many positive reviews about Tarte blushes that I just had to get one when Windy asked if I wanted to review anything from her store. I chose the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Blushing Bride (P1,100 from Stuff in Style) because I don't think I have anything like it in my stash! It's a plummy-berry blush that's touted to have a long-wearing formula.

Texture and staying power. Blushing Bride is very pigmented and smooth, with a liberal sprinkle of golden sparkle mixed with the color. The shimmer doesn't look tacky or thick so it shouldn't show on your skin. You'll just get this golden glow which I think is a nice add-on.

The first blush that I ever owned was from Avon, back in my first year in college. It was this peach/coral beauty under their Simply Pretty line and I loved it so much that I used it until I hit pan! It's one of the first few products that made me realize how transformative good makeup can be. :) The right color on your face can really do wonders to brighten up and bring out your features.

Anyway today I shall be writing about another great blush find: the Avon Ideal Luminous Blush in Peach (P299). You know me, I love glowy makeup, and this blush really brings light to the face. The peachy pink powder is nicely but not overly pigmented, so it's easy to get the right amount of color.

What I love about the product

• Gives such a gorgeous, glowy color to the cheeks. Luminous indeed! The peach shade is subtle so it will just blend with your skin to give you this natural flush. It's best for fair to medium tones, IMHO.

The weather finally cleared! Yay! I don't want to sound like a weather reporter here, but I'm sure you know how  rain can disrupt the whole of Manila. Everyone is in a bad mood. Things don't get done. So at least that's finally over.

Oops, I think I spoke too soon. -_- Major rain and wind here again in The Fort! Ugh.

Anyway, today I'm going to review one of the hottest products to hit Manila recently! The Majolica Majorca Puff de Cheek in Cherry Macaron (P795) is one of the two new blushes to join the popular Puff de Cheek family. Like I said in my capsule review earlier, it is much more pigmented and a bit more long-lasting than the earlier blushes from the line. Not complaining since these two features are a must in this schizo weather! 

Color. Cherry Macaron is a red-coral mix with a bit of pink. It has fine silvery sparkles that are undetectable when worn. It imparts a nice glow on the cheeks, as an illuminator would.

A couple of weeks back, Majolica Majorca introduced its first big collection this year: Psychedelicious. The event was quite literally sweet and colorful! Everyone came dressed in bright outfits and entered a venue that may very well be Hansel and Gretel's sugar house. Except there's no witch, just fabulous makeup. 

I received a few products that I will quickly review for you guys. :)

Popping Shower Powder, Brow and Lash Colorist in BR555, Puff de Cheek in RD414

The Majolica Majorca Popping Shower Powder (P695) is a scented, sparkly body powder. It's infused with Majo's signature Majoromantica scent, a sweet, fruity concoction that I think you'll love.

People always ask me, "How do you find the time to blog?" Many of them even make the mistake of thinking that this is what I do full-time. It's simple, really. I make time for it. I wake up at 6:00 AM on a normal day, putter around the condo for tea and maybe a bite to eat, then settle down for the next three hours writing and processing photos. This isn't a precise schedule, of course, since often there are other things that need doing first. But that's how I am able to run this website. 

I'm telling you this because I want you to know that it's possible to be able to do something you love, a side project if you will, even if you think you are too busy working. There's always time if you want it badly. You just need to make it yourself. :)

Anyway, today I want to talk about a blush that I've been trying on lately: the Models Own Powder Blush in Cheeky Pink (P350 from The Makeup Suite). It's a nice affordable blush that's packaged in an expensive-looking case - something new to bring around if you're looking to impress! Now that I think of it, I think makeup artists will love this because it looks so chic and you get a lot of product in one pan. Really useful for multiple clients.

Here's my review!

What I like about the product

• Pigmented. I only need one or two layers to get a good color going.

In a day this gloomy and wet, it's hard to imagine that summer ever happened. But hey, that's not an excuse to come in to work (or wherever you're going) looking like a drowned rat! Or even a rat expecting to be drowned for that matter. Er. Well my point is that it's important to have some life and color on your face whatever the season is, which is where the Benefit Cabana Glama Makeup Kit (P2,000) comes in!

This palette has everything you need to fake that glowy summer tan. In keeping with my past experience with Benefit products, the items inside are well-formulated and designed to flatter. Here I will discuss them one by one!

Rouge is one of the first types of makeup ever. From as far back as ancient Egypt when men, women, and children painted their lips and cheeks red to the roaring 20s when color on the face symbolized women's emancipation, rouge has been a staple in every makeup kit. Fortunately, we live in the 21st century so we don't have to worry about lead and mercury poisoning from our pots/tubes of rouge. :P

That said, one product has found a permanent space in my bag: the Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pale Pink (P1,500)!

I love this because it's extremely easy to use. Fingers and one minute is all you need with this to get perfect lips and cheeks! I have tried other cream blushes before but this one is probably the prettiest and most convenient of them all. Here's why!

What I love about the product

• It's easy to apply - with your clean fingers, dab it on the lips then pat it on the apples of your cheeks. It doesn't dry up too quickly or leave streaks so you have time to blend it properly.
• Doesn't feel greasy or thick on the lips/cheeks. It does settle as a normal stain would. 

Hi folks! It's Independence Day today! I'm sure no one is throwing a party, but I hope that we can all sit down for a moment and think about what this day means to the Philippines (technicalities aside). Freedom is something we take for granted here in our country, I think.

We complain about the corruption and the poverty, but we sometimes forget that here we live in relative freedom - we're free to worship wherever, speak our mind, work the jobs we want, dress the way we want. We can choose our partners (gender notwithstanding) without much hate from society. The Philippines is far from perfect, but freedom is (for me) one of our strongest suits.

Anyway, today I'm going to quickly review the Etude House Dear My Blooming Cheek Blush in Breathless Pink (P548). It's a pretty blush-highlighter hybrid that gives a pinkish sheen on the cheeks. Don't be scared - I know how you guys are averse to shine! But if you use just a small amount of this blush, a pinkish glow is a swipe or two away.

I love makeup - not just products per se but the whole process of painting it on. It's a calming and deeply satisfying activity for me, so I don't mind setting aside some time for it. However, I gotta admit that I have lazy days too. There are days when makeup is the last thing on my mind, so I turn to no-brainer products that take only seconds to put on perfectly.

My latest discovery under this department is the Shu Uemura Creamy Dome Blusher in Fairy Pink. It's a cream to powder blush that has a very soft finish, so you don't need to blend it much or even use any tools. Just swipe and go! It's a godsend for hectic and/or lazy makeup days because it takes only all of 10 seconds to wear this.

Fairy Prink is a peachy pink shade that's not too pigmented - it's just right. I usually swipe across my cheeks twice to get a natural pink flush.

My advice to girls who don't like wearing a lot of makeup but still want to look pretty: just swipe on mascara and some tint! If you already have fairly good skin, a little bit of enhacement here and there is more than enough to bring out your natural beauty. Long and full lashes draw eyes towards them (involuntarily at that!), while a healthy flush makes you look fresh and happy.

That said, there are a couple of new Majolica Majorca releases that got beauty enthusiasts into a tizzy: the Lash King Mascara (P795) and the Blood On Cheek Tint (P495). Both were launched around two weeks ago, to good reviews! 

Let's start with the Lash King Mascara.