NARS JOIE DE VIVRE - Nordstrom Exclusive Cheek Palette

Blush-fiend-must-have!

I know, I fail at swatching products most of the time, but I have fun trying and sharing the swatches on my blog so I still give it a go. I hope these swatches would be useful for someone out there. This palette is limited edition and is probably no longer available at Nordstrom. If you're lucky, you can still find it online. Also, it can be used as a reference for buying individual blush colors.

Thank you to my all time favorite enabler, the ever pretty and sweet, Blair for giving me a go signal and enabling me to purchase this palette! :3

This is an exclusive and Limited edition cheek palette. It contains 6 cheek colors composed of blushers, a highlighter and a bronzer. Each pan contains 3.5g/0.12oz of product.

For those who are curious where I got the palette, I bought it from the carefree shopper at Multiply. Armie, the shop's owner even sent me a mini Super Orgasm blush as a freebie! I will try to post and swatch it next time. :)

No surprise here, NARS' signature black rubbery packaging which I label as a dust magnet. :) The back of the palette contains the names/labels. While I label it a dust-magnet it is sleek, portable and easy to travel with. I also like that it has a large mirror. :D

NARS blushes need no introduction as they are very popular. Known for their great colour payoff and lasting power. (of course everyone complains about their dust magnet packaging too! LOL!) 

Most of the blushes on this palette are shimmery/shiny or have a sheen. Angelika contains chunks of glitter like Super Orgasm. The other colours might look scary in the pan but I found all easy to apply and blend.

I own a few NARS blushes and a full sized Albatross. There seems to be a slight difference between           the texture as the blushes I have are more soft and a bit more pigmented. These blushes however, are not a pain to work with, not as gritty nor rough as some blushers are, and the colour is buildable after a layer or two. 

Swatches.

Albatross- Luminous glow

A pearl highlight with golden shimmers. It can be used on top of blushers, the c-zone, below the arch of the eyebrow and in the inner corner of the eyes. This shade will probably go well with most skin tones. I have a full-size of this product and I quite like it. Be careful and use a light hand when applying though, as you may end up looking like a disco ball.(I will be posting a separate review and more swatches of Albatross.)

Laguna - Diffused brown powder with golden shimmer.

Another cult favorite. I haven't gotten around to trying this as a contour powder but it works wonderfully as a bronzer. Yes, it contains shimmers but the shimmers just give a sheen and are not too overpowering or anything like that. Like Luster, this gives a wonderful glow. I am not sure if this would work for darker skin tones but I would recommend this to those with fair to medium skin tones.

This colour needs a few layers to show up, but that's okay rather than have a scary and overpowering bronzer, I prefer something that is more sheer.

Albatross and Laguna

Luster - Sheer golden apricot

Apricot with a tinge of peach. Looks rather scary in the pan but looks wonderful once applied and blended on the skin. Of all the colours in the palette this was the easiest to work with. The pigmentation and texture is similar to my full sized NARS blushes.

This gives a luminous and pretty finish when applied to the skin - like a highlighter and blush in one. This gives a healthy glow, like you've been just kissed by the sun. Of all the colours in this palette, this is probably the most universal as it would compliment anyone.

Angelika - Cotton candy pink with gold and silver sparkle.

I wouldn't say that this is Cotton candy Pink as it seems a bit dark to be in the cotton candy shade range. It's a hot pink with more Fuchsia and has tons of glitters in it. Yes, glitters! Not sparkles. But the glitters rub off and disappear and go elsewhere when applied on the cheeks. Do note that shimmer/sparkles/glitters might enhance large pores. This blush is perfect for days you want a pop of colour on your cheeks or when you're just feeling like you're extra pale. This will look flattering and won't look like you've just piled on a ton of blush with the right brush. ;) 

I initially thought that this would be similar with Gaeity but it isn't. It is a lot darker and has more glitter than Gaeity. 

Luster and Angelika

Gaeity - Bright candy pink

Now this is a cool cotton candy pink. While it may look scary in the pan, it goes on wonderfully. I have read reviews that said they found this shade a bit chalky but I really like how it applies and think that it really needs that amount of powder because of its color. 

This is very flattering on my skin and somehow looks natural. As much as I love pink blushes, there are those that make me look more yellow. I find that this blush doesn't do that so I truly adore it! 

Orgasm - Peachy pink with golden shimmer

A shade I don't personally own as I am one of the few persons who does not look good with this blush on. I thought I should give it another go and hope that things work out now haha! I don't think the ever so popular Orgasm needs an introduction as everyone is already familiar with it.

Gaeity and Orgasm

I didn't swatch these heavily. I swatched all the products with 1 swipe so you can see the real colour payoff of each:

Albatross, Gaeity, Luster,  Laguna, Orgasm and Angelika

swatched indoors. natural lighting.

outdoors. natural lighting.

I am very satisfied and happy with this purchase. My favourite shades are Luster and Gaeity.
I still have a couple of NARS reviews I will post soon but I suppose I ought to post about other brands too.

What's your current favourite blush? :)

NARS Kabuki Yachiyo Brush

"Inspired by traditional Japanese beauty rituals Kabuki Theather, the Kabuki Artisan Brushes meld heritage with modernity, in both concept and function. The multi-functional design of the Kabuki Yachiyo Brush, with its tapered dome head, makes it excellent for defining cheekbones, highlighting the complexion, and blending and diffusing color on or around the eye area."

I originally wanted to buy the whole 2011 NARS Holiday brush set. Due to my laziness however, I've never gotten around to doing it. I did not think anyone would buy the last set, really.. I always thought that the set would wait for me... I now realize that I am wrong and I regret not purchasing it when I had a chance to. ( I hope NARS releases a new Kabuki brush set this Holiday. Hohoho! :P I will surely purchase when they do.)

The curious shape was what got me interested in this brush. I find that while it is the lightest of all the brushes I have, it applies blushes and highlighters with utmost precision. And it's feather-like weight actually helps in the application of products as it just glides on the surface. The unique handle also allows the brush to be flexible to an extent which would help the used apply products with ease.

I have tried using small circular and sideway motions with this brush to see what works best when I use it. Both methods work well though. The tapered end allows a more precise application for highlight and contour products. 

One thing that is unique with this brush is the handle, which is made from hand-spun wisteria.

Google told me that wisteria is a vine. I have not seen one, but it seems to be very durable. One concern I had was how it would hold out after washing, because I was afraid of ruining the brush. I have had this for months now and I can say, that fall out is minimal. I did not experience any bleeding too. Of course I try not to get the handle wet if I could get away with it.

Bristles are made from Pen Super Goat hairs.

I have no idea what a super goat is, but upon Googling it I found a site that said that is deemed most effective for powder pick up and deposit on the skin.

The bristles soft but are not the softest that I have encountered, it is soft enough not to irritate my skin nor feel scratchy. The brush as I have previously stated pick up the right amount of product every time I use it. This works well especially with pigmented products that are hard to sheer out. Everyone who has this brush will tell you that it picks up the right of product every time and while I was skeptical about it, I was surprised to find out that it is indeed true!

This brush is also effective in applying highlighters to the face as it sheers it out to an almost natural finish with a healthy sheen, effectively eliminating the dreaded disco ball effect. LOL! x)

I haven't tried to use this to blend out eyeshadows as I find the head a bit too big to work around my tiny eye area. I can say thought that this can also be used to apply finishing powder to the t-zone and specific areas of the face.

The only downside to this brush is the price. Yes, it's an investment but I would say that it is definitely worth it. If I had to, I would re-purchase the brush again. I actually wouldn't mind buying a set with another Yachiyo brush in it. If you are looking for a good cheek and highlighter brush and have the money to spend do try this brush out. I highly recommend it. 

Make the Outside Match the Inside: Beauty During Cancer Treatment

Hello everyone! Today, I will be sharing a post written by a guest blogger.

Jackie Clark does outreach for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, a leading web resource for mesothelioma cancer. She emailed me and asked if I would post her article, and I said yes. Like her, I also believe that all women need to feel beautiful, no matter what circumstances they may be facing. Some women who undergo cancer treatment have low self esteems, lose self confidence and sometimes get depressed on account of their external appearance. I hope that women all over will have an idea of what cancer patients go through and that it inspires women from all walks of life.

Women undergoing cancer treatments often suffer from decreased self-esteem.  Cancer therapies like radiation and chemotherapy can cause extensive hair loss and weight fluctuations. Persistent nausea and fatigue may make them feel ugly or undesirable. However, the strategic use of cosmetics and beauty products can help these women feel beautiful and strong in spite of their diagnosis. 

One common complaint from women undergoing cancer treatment is that these treatments make their skin dry and itchy.  It can appear red and irritated, almost as though they are sunburned.  Fortunately, there are many organic moisturizers on the market that can help to sooth and rehydrate problem skin.  Organic moisturizers contain all-natural ingredients, which, unlike synthetic moisturizers, will not irritate the particularly delicate skin of a woman undergoing cancer treatment.

Another great product for women undergoing cancer treatment is BB Cream.  Incredibly popular in Korea and now making its way West, BB Cream is a combination moisturizer, treatment, foundation and concealer.  These creams contain soothing botanicals and have healing properties to calm skin redness, and also provide great coverage without the need for additional foundation.

Cancer treatments sometimes cause women’s eyelashes to fall out.  However, a brown or black eyeliner pencil provides an easy fix!  Simply trace a thin line along the top of where the lash line was, and smudge gently with a cotton bud.  This creates an optical illusion that the eyelashes remain, without the hassle of applying false eyelashes.

Blush is an indispensible tool in any beauty arsenal, and pink or rosy tones are a great way to add life to sallow skin.  Focus the blush on the apples of the cheeks and lightly on the nose to brighten up the whole complexion.

Finally, a pretty lip gloss is a great way for a woman undergoing cancer treatment to spice up her look.  Women can experiment with bolder or richer colors that compliment their personality and make a statement.

For many women, a cancer diagnosis like mesothelioma is not only daunting, but the physical effects of treatment can make them feel unattractive.  However, such a diagnosis has no effect on who they are internally.  A way array of beauty products and cosmetics can help patients to look like their former selves, or to experiment with exciting new possibilities they may not have previously considered.  

By: Jackie Clark

I made this using Polyvore. These are some of the products Jackie mentioned. Of course these are just my suggestions, there are a variety of products to choose from.

Lastly, whether you have cancer or you do not; whoever you are, whatever situation you are in right now, remember to smile, because ---

"A smile is the best makeup a girl can wear."

NARS Pro-Prime Pore Refining Primer

NARS Pro-Prime Pore Refining Primer.

I have been using this product a lot lately as some of you may have noticed. I picked it up on my haul HERE because I was looking for a good primer. Some of you requested a review on this, so I obliged. :)

Pro-Prime™ Pore Refining Primer - Oil-Free  

What it is: An oil-free gel primer.  

What it does: This gel primer instantly refines the look of pores, regulates shine, and creates a matte surface to the skin for smooth and long-wearing makeup application. Mineral Powders manage oil in the T-zone while blurring the look of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles.

The packaging is very "NARS" like in my opinion; nothing fancy, but not tacky either. It does tend to dispense a lot of product at times because it's hard to control the squeeze tube.

This is light weight compared to other primers that I have used and does not feel like it contains silicone. I would say the texture is sort of a mixture of milk and gel. :P It is thicker than milk but is thinner than most gel products that I have used. One thing that I particularly like about it is that it absorbs quickly. However, that also means that it won't give you enough time to apply it to your whole face. 

TIP: I usually do my face in sections when I use this. :D

After rubbing/patting the it will disappear and sink in to the skin.  

PROS:

- Fast absorbing and light weight. 

- No flashback - Photogenic.

- Makes makeup last longer.

- Makes fine lines and wrinkles less visible.

- has skincare benefits.

CONS:

- Expensive.

- Does nothing for my pores.

- Does not make skin smooth nor does it make foundation glide like other primers do.

NEUTRAL:

- Keeps my face matte for a while but after more than 4-6 hours it starts to get oily again.

- Smell is reminiscent of herbs but the scent dissipates after a few minutes. It does not bother me but those with very sensitive olfactory senses may find the scent bothersome.

- I broke out after I used this but I have used a lot of products at that time so I'm not sure which one broke me out.

OVERALL:

✔ means I agree with what NARS said and X means I disagree -
X -87% felt that the surface of their skin was smoothed
X -78% thought the product controlled shine all day long
✔-97% felt that this product left their skin feeling soft
X -94% felt that their skin was soothed and comforted
X - 87% thought the product made powder, blush, and bronzer application easier

I do like it, but I'm not inlove with it. I will just finish the whole tube and move on to another primer like I usually do. I am still searching for my HG primer.

Heads up NARS lovers - Robi of NARS Makati texted me and said that they are going to have a 10% discount on all NARS items for every 5,000Php worth of purchases from August 12- 14. :)

YAY! I'm finally catching up on my backlog. I can start buying makeup again.. LOL! xD
I kid, I kid. :P

Have a great week everyone!

NARS - Deep Throat

Hello! Happy year of the rabbit everyone! (0:3

I saw Melody and Bunny wearing bunny headgears on their blogs. Heck! Even Michelle Phan was wearing a bunny hat. :/ As my bunny headgear is currently gone missing I am going to greet everyone with this picture... (o:3

  hahahaha! >o<"

I wish everyone will good luck, health, prosperity and LOVE! <3

Moving on... Someone requested for a review of NARS blushes before. So while I was at Rustan's I picked up one of their blushes to try out. I have never been a fan of Orgasm. >o<" To me, it was a product that was overrated and I did not like how it blended on my skin although everyone claims that it's a universally flattering color. :/

I do own one NARS blush though which is the LE Cactus Flower. I also love that blush! :3

Well Hello Dust attracting box. This box will be forever be with the blush because I don't like

the rubber packaging of NARS. Even the box is a dirt magnet. What the?!? 

 Casing made in Italy, contents made in USA
Ingredients: Talc, Polyethylene, Zinc Stearate, Silica, Tricaprylin, Caprylic/CapricTriglyceride, Cera Alba (Beeswax), PEG-150 Distearate, Lanolin, Laureth-4, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Ascorbyl Palmitate, May Contain: Mica, CI 77491, 77492, 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 75740 (Carmine), CI 77163 (Bismuth Oxychloride), CI 15850 (Red 6, Red 7 Lake), CI 45410 (Red 28 Lake), CI 17200 (Red 33 Lake), CI 45370 (Orange 5), CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), CI 15985 (Yellow 6 Lake), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake)

Dirt magnet packaging. :/ It has a mirror but doesn't come with an applicator.

Notice how much dust it has on? I only took this out for the purpose of taking

pictures and lo and behold it has attracted dust LOL! xD

 NARS says -

Made with transparent pigments for a soft and sheer look. 

Imparts a natural, healthy glow for any skin tone and may be worn alone or layered together for more depth and intensity.
* Provides a sheer, natural hint of color
* Made with transparent pigments to avoid heaviness

Product Description: Peace with shimmer

Picture FAIL - The colors above are more accurate. This one is too pink. :/

Swatch on bare skin

- On the pan this seems a shade lighter than Orgasm but it is actually very pigmented once applied on the skin. It is smooth, kind of creamy despite being a bit shimmery and easy to blend on the cheeks. :) 

- Unlike Orgasm which has golden shimmer, the shimmer on Deep Throat is rather a bit more subtle and more wearable IMO. 

- True to the description in their website this is a really pretty peach! :3

- The packaging is made of rubber and is a dust magnet and I really wouldn't take it out of the box because I am afraid that it will turn Gray within 1 week. 

- I tried this on my sister, who is morena and it looked good on her too so I'll say that this is a more universally flattering color. :3

- The blush lasts up to 6-8 hours on my oily skin. :) 

- I know someone will ask for the price. I never keep receipts. x) I get a headache when I see OR's ahahaha! But I think the blush costs around 1,350 or so. :3

RATING: From 1-10 (10 being the highest and 1 the lowest) 

Packaging - 4.5 

Color - 9

Ease of use - 9

Pigmentation - 9.5

Price - 8

Lasting Power - 9

Taken with flash photography. Please ignore my wrinkles and ginormous pores. >o<

The problem with a 14 megapix camera is that it will show even the pores all the imperfections.

on soft skin mode. x) 

Do you like NARS? What's your favorite NARS blush?

xxx,

Sugar