Current Favorite Blushes

My favorite blushes right now happen to be all from tarte. I have no idea what order they are in but they are"
Overjoyed, Holidaze 2015
Rejoiced,Holidaze 2015
Glisten, Poppy Picnic spring 2015
Fame, Showstopper
Unleashed, Rainforest After Dark
The photo on the left is in yellow incandescent and the shot on the left is in full spectrum lighting  #tarteholidaze #tartecosmetics

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Blush Collection, Expanded and Swatched.

So I got this crazy idea after sorting through my brush drawers for the umpteenth billionth time, that I ought to swatch or some how mark my blushes so I could know the finish, the color without having to open them all and taking up precious time. I get pretty tired sorting my makeup and sitting in the chair, so I decided to just sort them once and for all.

I sorted by color, first. Light/Brightest to darkest. I then grouped similar colors together. I swatched them on watercolor I managed to scavenge from my youngest daughter. The paper worked wonderfully, I was able to use my fingers to basically smudge the blush onto the paper and have it 'grab' the pigment and shimmer and/or glitter.

I discovered that I have far more coral blushes than anything else, and being a neutral/warm leaning person, that works out well for me. I discovered a few shades that I am particularly fond of and I discovered a few finishes I really enjoy and a couple that I wasn't a fan of.

Here's what the drawer looks like now. All of them are marked with a light pencil or eraseable frixxon pen so it's not overly evident from a distance. I lost count at 120 blushes. I think I might just be a bit of a blush hoarder...

Blush drawer of doom

I just realized that I haven't swatched my 'complete palette' blush like my Tarte Showstopper and I think I have a few more that I will get to later. I am seriously contemplating organizing my eyeshadows in a similar fashion, but I may go mad doing it! (grins)

What do you think about swatching blushes? Is it completely anal? Overly OCD?

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Updated E.L.F Studio Blush! Twinkle Pink

I went to Hy-vee a few weeks ago and found one of the missing blushes from my E.L.F Studio Blush Collection. It's the Twinkle Pink version and it's beautiful! It's a warm pink with definite golden shimmer. I prefer to tap out the excess glitter for a daytime version and save the super shimmer (no tapping) for night time use.

Original post with update! 

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Mock Goth Spring Look

I was attempting light spring look, using golds and light purples... but you know... you can take the Mock out of the goth clothes, but you can't take the goth out of the Mock...

Lips: I layered the fig gloss from Juice Beauty over a purple brown lip color I depotted and forgot to label.

Base: I used Skin79 BB cream mixed with some Primer from Rimmel and a bit of Bourjois Healthy mix foundation and applied it with my hands, buffing afterwards with a blending sponge.

Eyes :I used the Neutral 28 color kit from ebay, and a bronze that I hand pressed from pigments I hand mixed.

Liner: I used a mixing medium for the eyeliner (from a black eyeshadow in the neutrals palette). I used a bit of primer for my lashes mixed with black eyeshadow because my mascara is missing! (que horror!)

Blush: 10 color blush kit in 4th over (orange corally satin finish). I applied it using a flat top bronzer brush and then I used a bit of Peach Girl BB cream to add shimmer and soften the edges a bit. I used a shimmer shadow from the NYX Nude palette as a highlighter on my cheeks.

Powder is a combination of the Mirabella Perfecting Powder on my cheeks, and on my T zone- ELF HD Powder and NYX Loose powder mixed together to create a shade close to my skin tone.

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FOTD: Fab Orange Crush

I was trying to come up with a summery look, and orange has been on my mind lately. I found a Claire's palette filled with orange golds and fiery reds. I used Red on the outer corner, bright yellow on the inner, a basic orange on the lid and in the crease and a dark bronze on my lash line.

Brushes I used were
Sigma E35
Sigma E45
Real Technique Crease Brush (Eye Kit)
E.L.F essentials Flat Definer
Real Techniques Multitasking Blush brush
Sigma Large Powder Brush
Real Techniques Shader Brush (Eye)
Real Techniques Buffing Brush


Makeup Used
Rimmel Primer 002
Etude House Baby Choux in Mint
Holika Holika Miracle Real Skin Finish
Skin79 Vital Orange BB Cream
20 Color Concealer Camouflage Professional Makeup Cosmetic Palette
Coty Airspun Loose Powder in Nearly Neutral
L'Oreal Colour Riche Caresse Lipstick, Fiery Veil

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss, SPF 15, Foiled 140Maybelline-Color Sensational Vivids in Electric Orange
Claire's Palette (Discontinued, but can be duped by any of the 88 palettes)
E.L.F Studio 3-in-1 mascara
Milani Coralina Baked Blush
E.L.F Studio Bronzer in Warm Golden

I am not quite ready to do tutorials, but I did a mini vlog about the shoot! 

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Face of the Day- Shine like the sun

On Face
E.L.F Studio HD powder and NYC Loose Powder in Translucent mixed together equally

Skin79 BB cream in Hot Pink

Love & Beauty Eyes & Face Palette natural peach golden shimmer highlighter

Love & Beauty Bronze & Blush Pearls

On Eyes: 

Love & Beauty Smoky Eyeshadow Palette Brown/Natural

E.L.F Studio 3-in-1 Mascara

On lips

Revlon Lipgloss in Foiled

Brushes used

Sigma E15 - Flat Definer
Sigma E45 - Small Tapered Blending
Sigma E20 - Short Shader
Sigma E25 - Blending
Sigma F15 - Duo Fibre Powder/Blush
Sigma F10 - Powder/Blush
Real Techniques- Large Powder Brush

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Forever 21 Haul. Love & Beauty makeup

Forever21 Love & Beauty Haul

I got most of them snapped. I am keeping half of them (and the one that got shattered and I had to repress the pigment). I will be doing swatches and looks of the day with them but I wanted to share. I managed to not get the creme blush I bought in there. *facepalm*

The eyeshadows are more fragile than I expected, but they are pretty smooth application wise.I used 91% alcohol to repair the few that got shattered during transit.  I do suggest tossing out the applicators that are included and use your own brushes. I have heard okay things about the Love & Beauty Brushes, but I can't say for certain.

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Face of the Day- Mock Winging It

Makeup Used:

Face:

Half Rimmer Fix and Pro Perfect Primer 002 and Half Monistat Anti Chafing Gel (experiment)
Holika Holika Peach Girl BB Cream
Milani Baked Blush in Rose D' Oro
E.L.F Studio HD powder and NYC Loose Powder in Translucent mixed together equally

Eyes:
E.L.F Studio 3-in-1 Mascara
theBalm What's your type Body Builder Mascara
Etude House Proof 10 Primer
Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Zero

Mica Beauty Cream Eyeliner
Wet n' Wild Color Icon Palette Silent Treatment
Wet n' Wild Color Icon Single in Creme Brulee
L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows in Iced Latte

Lips:
Revlon Lip Butter in Creme Brulee

Chanel LÈVRES-SCINTILLANTES Glossimer in Seashell
E.L.F Studio Lip liner and Lip brush in Natural




Tools Used:

Real Techniques Multi Tasking Brush (medium pink)
Sigma E45 Small Tapered Crease Brush
Sigma E25 Blending Brush
Sigma Travel Eyeliner brush
Velour Powder Pouf

Gourd Style Blending Sponge
Large Real Techniques Powder Brush (to brush away excess powder)
Crimp style lash curler (I use one from an old Color workshop palette)

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Face of the Day: Cerise Snow

Makeup Used:

Face:

Etude House Baby Choux Cream in Mint

Skin79 Vital Orange BB Cream

Mirabella Perfecting Powder

E.L.F Studio Blush in Fuchsia Fusion (with the microglitter knocked off)

Eyes:

E.L.F Studio 3-in-1  Mascara

theBalm What's your type Body Builder Mascara

Etude House Proof 10 Primer

Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Zero

Wet n' Wild Color Icon Palette in Comfort (Colors 4 and 5)

Wet n' Wild Color Icon Single in Creme Brulee

L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows in Amber Rush and Eternal Sunshine

Lips:

Maybelline ColorSensational in Vivid Rose and On Fire Red (mixed)

E.L.F Studio Lip liner and Lip brush in Natural

Tools Used:

Real Techniques Blush Brush (large)

E.L.F Essentials Push Brush

Sigma E45 Small Tapered Crease Brush

Sigma E25 Blending Brush

Velour Powder Pouf
Large Real Techniques Powder Brush (to brush away excess powder)

Crimp style lash curler (I use one from an old Color workshop palette)

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Blush Crazy Series- E.L.F Studio Blushes (Updated)

Doing a quick inventory of my blushes, looking for my elusive Small tapered brush that has gone missing. I took a picture of it, for the blog...at a very late hour... and have misplaced it. Bummer. I found it. And I bought a second one, right before it turned up. Because that's how I roll.

So I have a thing for E.L.F Studio Blushes. I know they are dupes for high end blushes, All of the Studio line have a high end counterpart. Part of the fun is finding out which high end cosmetic they are duping! I've gleaned these dupes from the internet, and I don't have any real comparison, I am posting it for informational purposes. I have compared image swatches but I am no where near a Sephora or Ulta, so I cannot compare them myself.

My current blushes are:

*NARS Dolce Vita

*NARS Deep Throat

*NARS Orgasm

*NARS Orgasm/Laguna Duo 

*NARS Angelika

*Tarte Exposed

*NARS Desire

*NARS Luster

+ Just added *NARS Super Orgasm

I am missing:

• Berry Merry (NARS - Sin)
• Gotta Glow (NARS- Albatross)
• Giddy Gold (NARS -Taj Mahal)
• Twinkle Pink (NARS - Deep Throat)
• Contouring Blush and Bronzer in Antiqua, and Turks & Caicos

I could have sworn I've bought the Twinkle Pink but it's probably lost in the same abyss that my brush is, and most of my left socks are.Edit- Got it! Found it at Hy-vee over an hour away a few days ago! Searching for Studio items I don't have IRL is kind of a hobby, now. 

These are ones I reach for a bit less frequently than my Milani Blushes but I do reach for them. I really like the versatility, though a few of them i need to get the microglitter off the brush/blush before I use it. I find I have to do that with Milani blushes at first too, so it's not just an E.L.F thing. And for $3 dollars a piece, they are a great deal! I have found them at Target and Hy-Vee (grocery). They are also on Amazon, eBay and the E.L.F website.

Updated to add pictures and update the amount of blushes I have.

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