Despite some sort of genetic anomaly that allows me to tan June through August, I’m really pretty darn fair. Pasty, if you will. Because of this lack of pigment I turn to blush to help others tell me apart from the Undead.
I have four different blushes in my makeup bag. Depending on the weather (cold? humid?), the condition of my skin (dry with a dodgy patch? too oily?) and the time I have available (weekend morning rush? weekday morning parenting tag time?)–I choose my poison.
The items in my stock:
Almay Smart Shade Blush in Berry.
Cost? Approximately $8.00
This the only product from the Smart Shade line that I’ve tried and it’s a blush I’m relatively happy with. A dab of color on the finger tip rubbed into the apples of my cheeks and the cheekbone create a natural looking color.
Pros: It blends easily, lasts throughout the day and doesn’t cause break-outs.
Cons: Once it hits the skin–despite the appearance that a little goes a long way, the color isn’t very intense so I end up using a tidgy bit of powder blush over it.
Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Soft Plum.
Cost? approximately $7.00
I’ve kept this one around but just this morning thought about tossing it. I used it for awhile since I was interested in the mousse consistency. It’s interesting. Given that it’s a mousse, it goes on fairly light and airy and kind of whipped; like that Yoplait Whips yogurt.
Pros: I like that the packaging is a nice, glass pot and that applying the mousse blush is fairly dummy proof.
Cons: The color was minimal and I was using the Soft Plum color. It also didn’t seem to hold up throughout the day and by 8:00pm, I looked washed out.
N.Y.C. Cheek Glow Single Pan Blush in Outside Cafe.
Cost? approximately $2.00
I’ve reviewed N.Y.C. lipsticks in the past and the blush is equally fabulous. Since it’s a powder, it’s easy to slap on if I’m in a hurry or need a quick pick me up. I tend to use a powder blush if it’s going to be a particularly humid day since my skin is fairly oily (even the cheeks) and wearing a liquid blush tends to add to the slippery factor.
Pros: Sooo cheap, quite a bit available given the price, stays on throughout the day
Cons: I can tell it’s not as heavily pigmented as another powder blush I have from the department store, but at a 1/5 of the price–I don’t consider this a major beef.
Stila Gel Cheek Color in Cherry Flush.
Cost? approximately $16.00
This is my absolute favorite. The color comes out of the tube like a gel which is a bit different and blends, I feel, the best of all the consistencies. Concentrated in color but wears uber sheer.
Pros: The color is sheer, long-lasting and provides the perfect pinch of pinky redness; the small tube lasts forever
Cons: At just over the $15.00 mark, it’s a bit of a splurge. Plus it’s becoming harder to find, so my assumption is that Stila is no longer making it but instead replaced it with this. Another pen!
So that you can find the blush that’s just right for you, Live Well Spend Well will send one winner a $20.00 electronic gift certificate to be used at Beauty.com.
To enter, leave a comment sharing the last time YOU blushed. Funny, embarrassing, blush-inducing stories are welcome.
If you refer others here and they tell us their story and that you sent them (“Amy sent me!”), both you and the person you referred will receive a BONUS entry.
You can also receive extra entries by following us on Twitter (@livespend) and by mentioning this contest by saying, “What made you blush? Giveaway @livespend (insert link to post) pls RT.” Comment back with a link to your tweet and consider that extra entry yours.
Giveaway will run until Friday, October 16 11:59pm EST. For full information on how giveaways are conducted, please see the Disclosure Policy.
Bridget
I blush once a year for dance recitals. I am fair skinned as well and could never find just the right shade that didn’t make me look like a clown. So I basically gave up on it and use tinted moisturizers for those ghostly feeling days. It would be nice to try blush again for a little extra color.
October 9th, 2009 @ 10:52 am
Sarah
The last time I blushed would have been when we were at a restaurant with my mom and my son Eli, just as the waitress arrived for our order, announced loudly and gleefully, “I FART!” And then he just kept saying it, clearly delighting in our horrified faces and attempts to shush him.
October 9th, 2009 @ 11:19 am
vegas710
I took some photos for boobemancipation.com and while i usually delete them after I send them in, I must have forgotten and my husband found them. I blushed but I think he blushed first!
October 9th, 2009 @ 1:04 pm
Melissa
I don’t blush very easily… hence my need for blush, heh. I can’t even remember the last time I blushed–maybe back in May, when I was playing the board game “Dirt” with Jen (jayesel.net) and Janet (loveisblonde.com). And no, I’m not telling which question it was or what I answered. :P
October 10th, 2009 @ 2:49 pm
Melissa
Also Tweeted! :)
http://twitter.com/melissity/status/4767488301
October 10th, 2009 @ 2:53 pm
NGS
I wore jeans one day to ride my bike to work and once I arrived to work, I leaned down to pick up a marker off the floor, and I heard my jeans rip. I had to teach a 3 hour class with a sweatshirt tied around my waist because my pants were pretty much ripped from the inside seam all the way around the rear. And I had to bike home like that, too. I was pretty red for the first few minutes of class!
October 11th, 2009 @ 9:32 pm
Katie A
Wow, I can’t remember the last time I blushed. I kind of “flush” — it’s much less cute than blushing. More splotchy and widespread :)
October 12th, 2009 @ 7:20 am
kristin c.
I blushed on Saturday…after I feel to the ground in my patients room when my back gave out causing me to crash to the floor and begin to cry. It was super embarrassing.
October 13th, 2009 @ 6:08 pm
Tracy
Last time I blushed? Let me think, the time I fell in front of my 4th hour class, no, no, the time I fell in front of my study hall, no wait, the time I fell in front of my 7th hour class . . . oh well. It was one of those times!!!
October 13th, 2009 @ 7:15 pm
Tracy
aaaaaaaaaaaand, here’s my tweet: http://twitter.com/tracystew/status/4848838657
October 13th, 2009 @ 7:17 pm
Tina
While taking the escalator to work one day, a lady behind me was admiring my skirt. Then, I realized the back zipper was down and you could see my patootie. [Blush]
October 15th, 2009 @ 11:10 am
Aimee W.
I know this is silly. But when you’ve been with one person for over 10 years, you’re not used to getting hit on. Last week in line at the grocery store, this really cute and MUCH younger guy totally hit on me with a really cheesy pick-up line. We both laughed…but I also blushed as red as a fire engine!
October 16th, 2009 @ 2:06 am
Aimee W.
I am following you on Twitter AND I Tweeted about this giveaway: http://twitter.com/Nelsby/status/4910376836
Thanks!
October 16th, 2009 @ 2:08 am
jessica c
The last time I blushed we were outside and I am carrying my fitting toddler over my shoulder he then pulled up my shirt.
October 16th, 2009 @ 2:46 pm