Currently Coveting: Dior Crazy Tie-Dye Blush

It's been a couple years since I've done a Currently Coveting, but I'm bringing it back for an encore for this most beautiful of beauties:

via

That's the Dior Diorskin Nude Tan Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder Tye Dye Edition 001 Pink Sunrise. (Also, Dior, WHAT THE FUCK WITH THE NAMES.) The 002 Coral Sunset is equally stunning, but I would get much more wear out of this pink. It was released a few weeks ago, but not at Sephora, so I didn't pick it up during the sale, but now I see that it's on the Sephora website (I buy stuff from there when I can because if I'm gonna spend the money, it might as well go towards my points [not that there's often anything I actually want to use my points on, but you know, just in case there ever is]) and you guys, I NEED IT. (I also need to learn how to have sentences that don't consist of 8 separate clauses, but one thing at a time, folks.) I come from Eugene, for God's sake. I grew up surrounded by tie-dye, though my mother is no fan of the look, so the only tie-dye I ever owned was stuff I made at friends' birthday parties. I feel like it's ridiculous to even consider spending $57 on a blush––the hippies that actually wear tie-dye would be appalled at the price (and likely, the entire concept of cosmetics)––but YOU GUYS. IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL. I won't buy it, because I do not have that kind of money right now, but ... maybe someone will give it to me for my birthday. Or someones, since $57 for a gift is a lot. Of course, it might not still be available by the end of July. Have I mentioned it's $57? I'm hoping the madness will pass if I remind myself of that enough. But then I look at it, and...le sigh. DAMNIT, DIOR.

The crazy tie-dye blush beauties are available from Sephora, Nordstrom, Macy's, Saks, and Dior at $57.00 ($57!!) for 0.35 oz. Give me strength, my friends.

What have you been lusting after lately?

Clinique Cheek Pop Berry Pop Review and Swatches

I really didn't intend to be absent for so long, but...well, time flies when you're having fun (and by "having fun", I mean "working frantically", which fortunately are not mutually exclusive). My union is on the verge of a strike, scheduled for December 2––you can read about it here, here, and here, and if you'd like to support us, you can sign the petition here––which adds further excitement to an already-full schedule. Basically, I love my union, my university has disappointed me (gee, I feel like this has happened before...), and I have no time. But here, some blush!

pristine and beautifully untouched Clinique Berry Pop*

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Radiant Magenta Review and Swatches

I am not a blush person. I mean, I wear it every day, because otherwise I look like a sickly ghost, but it doesn't excite me like lippies do. Still, every once in awhile, something comes along to catch my eye. The Hourglass Ambient Lights Blush line was one such thing. Upon swatching, I liked Diffused Heat and Radiant Magenta, but decided that the latter was more unique in my stash and picked it up during the Sephora spring sale (since $35 for a blush is, like, a lot).

It is pretty, though.

Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour in Wild Bouquet Review and Swatches

Keeping on my "hey self, let's remember that you're a beauty blogger and should maybe, like, blog about beauty or something" kick, here's a lovely nude blush! Liz had suggested it, and I bow to her in all things blushy. She did not lead me astray!

untouched pan porn! It's very wee, and the compact is correspondingly small,
which makes it excellent for travel. You can also pop it out and stick it into a palette
(LM makes some, but I'm sure a Z palette or something similar would work, too).

Catrice Defining Blush 040 Think Pink Review and Swatches

I have two more products that I bought when I was in Germany last summer (which, yes, if you're keeping track, was nearly 10 months ago) and have gotten tired of having them in the back of my mind as "need to be reviewed". So I'm gonna do something about it! Write this review, namely. First up: Catrice Think Pink.

Think pink! Pink! PINK! *ahem*

Le Métier de Beauté Radiance Powder Rouge in Echo Review and Swatches

Larie gifted this to me, queen of generosity that she is! I was thrilled, since I love LMdB and had no peachy-pink-gold blush, having given away the palette containing theBalm Hot Mama.

I want to eat it.

NYX Cream Blush in Hot Pink Quick Review and Swatches

The boy and I stopped off at the Ulta in Salem to pick up a few presents (and because I can't drive near an Ulta and not stop––the nearest one is more than an hour away, and if I happen to be there, you better believe I'm going in) and I decided I could use a cream blush, based on my positive experience with the Beach Tints. I wanted something different from my other blushes, so I decided on NYX Hot Pink, which is the most unoriginally named blush in the history of ever. At least it's accurate, though!

NYX Hot Pink, after a few uses

Becca Beach Tints in Watermelon and Fig Review and Swatches

During Sephora's sale (I'm a little behind the times, shush), I picked up the Beach Tint Duo mini tubes in Watermelon and Fig after reading Liz's review; while she found Fig to be too light to be worthwhile, I figured it might be a nice neutral blush on my pale skin, and Watermelon is just the prettiest, happiest pink. I don't tend to gravitate towards cream blushes because I dislike getting my fingers blushy, and the process of rubbing it into my cheeks turns my skin red and therefore makes it very difficult to see how much I have applied, so I also picked up the Real Techniques Stippling Brush to use with them.

They're adorable, you guys.

MAC Fever Blush Review and Swatches

A while back, I posted a bunch of bright blushes that had caught my eye. In the comments, Toya recommended MAC Fever as another option, and after seeing Rae's review, I was sold. Imagine my delight when it appeared on Beyond the Rack, where I had a $10 credit (I have no idea how that happened, but awesome) which covered shipping, so I ended up snagging it for 20% off. Hooray!

funky white balance is funky, but the blush color is correct

Pink Blush

Both blushes featured in this post were gifts, MAC Subtle Breeze from the lovely Larie and Annabelle Rosewood from the ravishing Reductionista. They both came to me last term when I was having a rough time, and I love them dearly for that. Also, because they're awesome blushes. (Seriously, ladies, thank you!)

Left to right: theBalm Cabana Boy, Annabelle Rosewood, MAC Subtle Breeze, CARGO Tonga, theBalm Down Boy

MAC Subtle Breeze

My first MAC blush! And first Mineralize product! I don't know if they're all as nice as this, but wowzers, this is a keeper. Subtle Breeze is a sheeny pink that gives the nicest natural flush. It applies sheer but builds up easily, never looking powdery or cakey, just breezy and beautiful and, yes, subtle. It's become my go-to shade when I'm lazy and don't want to think about things, because it's impossible to overdo, goes with just about everything, and lasts all day. Love. (See FOTDs featuring this blush here.)

Annabelle Rosewood

Annabelle is one of those Canadian brands that should be in the US already (hint, hint). This blush is great, a slightly warm barely red pink satin, intensely pigmented and smooth like bunny fur. I find it to be a warmer, non-shimmery counterpart to theBalm Cabana Boy, albeit less berry (okay, so really they're not all that similar, but it's the closest thing in my stash!); it's also the closest blush I have to my own natural blush. Because it's so pigmented, it requires a bit more care to apply, but the Real Techniques blush brush makes that pretty effortless, and it blends out really well. Also: lasts all day, and then some––I've worn it for 12 straight hours with no fading. Now I want everything from Annabelle, ever. (FOTD featuring Rosewood coming soon!)

Do you have a favorite pink blush?

Blush!

This is a filler post, because I've been sick with a terrible, no good, very bad stomach virus/food poisoning/hell experience the past couple days. Not great to get sick the first day of teaching class, y'all. Already behind...not to mention, being sick? Is just the worst. I spent most of yesterday alternately kneeling over the toilet, on the toilet, or laying on the ground in front of the toilet, which may be tmi, but since when have I ever let that stop me?! I was actually able to eat something besides ginger ale today, though my digestive system is still pretty angry with me...

But anyways. To make myself feel better, I've been looking into deep, rich blushes, inspired by posts from Larie and Liz (and another from Liz!). I don't really need more blush, but who cares?! I don't have a true red, nor any cream blushes, which clearly needs to be remedied, stat. Here are some ideas––if you've tried any of them, let me know what you thought! And if you have any other suggestions, I'm all ears...

Blushes Like Whoa by beyondjustbeauty

Top row, l to r: Tarte Flush Natural Cheek Stain, NARS Montenegro Cream Blush, Becca Raspberry Beach Tint, Illamasqua Crush Cream Blusher

Middle row: Illamasqua Crave Cream Blusher, Kevyn Aucoin Patrice Creamy Moist Glow Blush, Giorgio Armani Sienna Blushing Fabric, Illamasqua Panic Powder Blusher, Tarte Natural Beauty Cheek Stain

Bottom row: Becca Papaya Beach Tint, NARS Exhibit A Powder Blush, Giorgio Armani Shimmering Peach Blushing Fabric (and how mis-named is that?!), NARS Cactus Flower Cream Blush

NYX Bronzer and Blusher in Marbella Review and Swatches

I'm going on 2 weeks of this goddamned stupid horrible plague (finally started antibiotics, though, so fingers crossed I feel a bajillion times better by class on Tuesday) and I do not feel like being smart or witty or coherent. But I do want to share swatches with you, so here's a super lazy and incompetent post. Enjoy?

Quick(ish) Reviews of Two (~)Discontinued Products and a FOTD

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

NYX Blush in Taupe Review and Swatches

I wrote awhile back about how I was wanting to enter the world of contouring, and Makeup Morsels suggested NYX Taupe as a good choice for pale complected folk like myself. As a bonus, it was a mere $6.25 on eBay, including shipping, so even if it hadn't worked out, it wouldn't have been too much of a problem. Fortunately, it works great!

NYX Taupe

Illamasqua Matte Blush in Tweak Review and Swatches

I managed to acquire 3 new blushes last month, and this was the first. I'd been wanting to try an Illamasqua blush after swatching them in Sephora in New York and being bowled over by how soft and pigmented they are, and after seeing Tweak on Beauty Obsessed, a lemming was born. The approach of summer and perceived need for a loud, punchy blush led to the purchase of this bright red-pink blush.

Illamasqua Tweak, in sunlight (left) and under my magnifying lamp (right); the latter is a much more accurate representation of the hue and depth

30 Days Makeup Challenge: Day 8: Blush

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

More Product Mini Reviews

Hey hey, it's time for another post of mini-reviews! I got to try a lot of products during my New York visit, thanks to L's impressive collection, and will remark on them in a succincter-than-usual fashion. I've decided to post this rather than a monthly favorites/empties (or Skincare Saturday, for that matter, though there are several skincare products here), mostly because I'm sick and don't have the energy to write a new post. Here they are, in no particular order:

Philosophy The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash

$25 for 8 oz, available from Sephora

This is a very nice, gentle exfoliator. I only used it the one time, since I spent 4 out of 6 of my nights at Z's, but I found it to do its job without unnecessary irritation. I'm not sure I'd want to spend that much myself, especially since I have my Clarisonic which takes care of my physical exfoliation needs, but if you don't have a Clarisonic and want something mild to exfoliate, Microdelivery is definitely worth checking out!

Giveaways!

Well, dearest readers, I am currently en route to New York for an awesome visit (with some of you reading this, in fact!). I've got some posts scheduled, and I'll have lots of posts (both beauty-related and personal) once I get back, but while I'm gone I'll probably be pretty absent. In recompense, though, I offer you: 2 giveaways!

Many bloggers hold their first giveaway when they hit 100 followers. I, however, have no such patience (not least because GFC has been giving so many bloggers so much angst since being pulled from non-Blogger blogs, and I suspect that it will soon disappear from Blogger, too)! And, because I want to spread the love around as much as possible, I'm going to do two smaller giveaways. I really want this to be a present to my actual readers, not a way to get more followers, so I'm not asking you to tweet or blog about it, and as long as this isn't the first BJB post you've read, you're welcome to enter!

CARGO Blush in Tonga Review and Swatches

I'd heard good things about CARGO blush, especially from Delicate Hummingbird, but the price ($26) was high enough that I knew I would only buy it with a discount. There's not a whole lot of swatches of the blushes online, but I managed to decide on what color to get through judicious use of Google and MUA. I knew I wanted a color that I didn't already have in my collection, and ultimately decided that Tonga, a pale nude pink, would be the most different and versatile choice.

CARGO Tonga

Milani Baked Blush in Red Vino Review and Swatches

I'm kind of a blush fiend. It's not the item I have the most of (that would be lipsticks/balms/stains), or even the second-most (that would be eyeshadow), but it is the item I feel I have the most versatility in. Unlike eyeshadow, where I pretty much just stick to nudes, or lipstick, where I'm really arbitrarily picky (berry-plum-rose-red, but it has to be the right kind of berry-plum-rose-red), I feel comfortable wearing a lot of different colors of blush. And, since I'm so pale, especially in the winter, I find blush to be the most important part of making me look not sickly. I have many of the staples covered, but I was lacking one true classic: red. Then, along came Milani's 50% off sale, and I decided to pick up the Baked Blush in Red Vino, an intensely saturated red with gold shimmer.

Milani Baked Blush in Red Vino