Throwback Thursday: NARS Taj Mahal Blush

Throwback Thursday!!!

Spotlight on: NARS Powder Blush

Color: Taj Mahal

Price: $29.00

Repurchase Reasons:

This was my first NARS blush and I got it for Christmas from my mother. I love this color. I use this primarily in the summer when I have a fake tan. I have also used this as eye shadow and over lipstick for a velvet like golden orange color. I find that the shimmer blushes from NARS are the best in texture. They have an almost slightly creamy feel to them and they blend like a dream. I enjoy the glitter blushes, but glitter is chunkier than shimmer and can fall all over your face and clothes. Would I buy this again after running out? Most likely yes! However, this blush is very pigmented and looks divine on women with medium to dark skin tones. I get a bit pale in the winter but I can usually still wear this in the fall. If you have a lighter skin tone like mine, use a soft and fluffy blush brush and swirl on your hand to dilute the color.

Application Techniques:

 Since this is a punchy color with a golden shimmer, it looks best if used right smack on the cheekbones in a severe slant. This is achieved by sucking in your cheeks, turning your head to the side and then following the bumpy angle of your cheekbones. Then use a powder brush with no product to blend in an upward motion over the product. For lips, apply a orangey lip color or a neutral with gold/yellow undertones; then tap this powder over. If you want a less intense result, tap a bit and then blend into your starter lip product. For eyes, use as an accompaniment to a golden brown smokey eye look. Apply this as the crease color and slightly underneath your lower lash line. Finish by blending a little dark shimmery brown on base of lid and over upper and bottom lash lines. TA DA! You’ll look so good, some handsome man will want to construct a beautiful place to immortalize you in! ; )

Drool Worthy Pictures:

Quality: ****/5 (Rich pigmentation, striking shimmer throughout.. this is a gorgeous blusher)

Perks: There are no added benefits.

Bang for your buck: ***/5 (A high end blusher… what do you expect?)

Disclaimer: I received this as a gift from my mom: I am not being paid for my opinion.

Do you own crazy colors of blush or are you a “everyday” blusher kind of girl?

Covergirl Lipslicks Smoochies Lip Balm

Covergirl Lipslicks Smoochies Lip Balm in SWEET TWEET

What is it?

A basic lip balm with a supposed tint and subtle fruit fragrance. This lip balm is $5.99 and can be purchased at drugstore type retailers. This lip balm claims to moisturize lips.

The Real Deal:

If you're like me, then you have a million different lip balms stashed around your house and about five in your purse this time of the year. The skin on my face is oily, but I was blessed with the driest lips in the universe. So, I like to buy new lip balms all the time! Let's take a look at this one to see why I'm not impressed. This lip balm comes in a dual color tube with a clear plastic top. It has an unbelievably long name… that is also very juvenile sounding… However, the product itself is a slightly shimmery very sheer in color balm. The product is slightly oversized and glides onto lips very smoothly. I enjoy applying this balm and it seems to last about 2 hours or less when eating/drinking. The color is so sheer that it is practically non-existent. There is also a very faint fruity smell.  

Note: The color is so sheer it did not show on my lips, therefore there is no application picture. 

The product is swatched on the left of my wrist (see the sheen?)

Overall, this is a nice lip balm but certainly not the best lip balm available. I prefer the uncolored version of Maybelline’s Baby Lips to this Covergirl product mainly because the former has SPF in it to protect lips. The Covergirl lip balm really isn’t for one concerned about color or lip protection. Sure it moisturizes, but can’t I have more than just that one thing from a product that costs $5.99? I’m glad that I had a coupon for this!  

Quality: **/5 (I’m giving it a generous grade here because it is moisturizing)

Perks: There’s no added benefit

Bang for your buck: */5 (For this price? Skip it and look for something else)

Disclaimer: I purchased this with my own money and I am not being paid for my opinion.

Do you use basic lip balms? Do your prefer tinted or untinted?

NARS Angelika Powder Blush

NARS Powder Blush in ANGELIKA

What is it?

A high end powder blush promising to give you intense pigmentation and superior blendability. This product sells for $29.00 and you can find it at narscosmetics.com or even at Sephora.com.

The Real Deal:

The packaging for this blush is the iconic soft matte black rubber that you’d expect from NARS. This color is a vibrant matte light dolly pink infused with very small pieces of silver glitter. This blush is highly pigmented and is very powdery compared to the shimmer blushes that NARS offers (like orgasm). NARS matte blushes do run on the more powdery side but they are still phenomenal. The product is very pigmented and therefore you do not need to apply too much. This blends nicely and evenly and wears for 4-5 hours. I find that I get less wear out of a NARS blush in the summer. Since it is winter this dolly pink is a nice bright pick me up for the face. The color gives the look of "been out in the cold for about 40 minutes". 

Overall, this blush is probably my favorite NARS blush so far… I do say that every time I buy a NARS blush so… Anyway, apply this high on the cheek bones and blend a little onto the apple to get that (I’m freezing my you know what off) “cold” look. This is such a nice light pink that skin tones ranging from very light to a mid-medium tan can utilize it. If your skin is darker, you should gravitate towards there dark magenta and red blushes; might I suggest the matte dark fuchsia that is  COUER BATTANT.

Quality: ****/5 (It doesn't last more than 4-5 hours)

Perks: none.

Bang for your buck: ***/5 (Great pigmentation, unique color choices, steep price for blush)

Disclaimer: I purchased this with my own money and I am not being paid for my opinion.

NARS is known for their blushes; have you tried them?