Lipstick Masala

Once upon a time, long before any of us were born, products such as blush and lipstick were only used by women of ill-repute i.e. tarts, trollops, concubines, what have you. “Ladies” did not indulge in such lewd behavior. If you had been born a “proper lady,” you would simply pinch your cheeks and hope that was enough to bring on a natural looking flush/glow. Thankfully, you and I don’t live in such a godforsaken century. Seriously, not being allowed to use blush? How did these people survive?!

Today, we can use any product we desire to enhance our natural looks without being labeled a harlot – well, most of the time anyway. I mean, we’ve all witnessed the Aunties who are a little too color happy (think Moulin Rouge – on crack). But, the point is, today we have options. We don’t have to get our blood flowing to our face by jumping up and down in place or slapping ourselves silly. Blush is now a staple part of a woman’s beauty routine – and the one item I could never do without.

Now that summer is over, and I begrudgingly greet the wintry air, I’ve shelved my “warm weather” blush shades and unpacked my favorite go-to pinks for the cold season. While peaches and corrals are still acceptable if paired with the right colors, now is the time to use the products that will further heighten that “just came in from the cold” cheek look and will also look fabulous with a winter smokey eye and nude lip. A few of you wrote in asking for my favorite pink blush shades, which for me, is akin to asking Angelina Jolie to pick the best of her umpteen children. But, for the sake of sparing your time and in order to suggest some universal colors, here are my two most-used products: .

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For those who like a natural, understated look:

MAC Blushbaby: A beige-pink in Sheertone formulation.

Color: At first glance, Blushbaby looks quite dull in the pan – when the MA tried to use it on me I rolled my eyes at her – until she applied it to my cheeks and I was hooked. Yes, MAC has plenty of gorgeous pinks available. But, Blushbaby has a beige base which works great with almost all desi skin tones – it is a “your flush but better” color.

Consistency: Because this blush is a Sheertone, it takes a few swipes to get the look you want to achieve. The good thing about this is that the color is buildable – i.e. you won’t end up with clown cheeks. The Sheertone consistency also allows the product to almost melt into the skin for a natural looking effect with no shine or shimmer.

Price: $18.50 maccosmetics.com

Bottom Line: Blushbaby is great for the day and for the workplace/school. The natural flush it creates helps perk up and brighten even the most tired-looking faces. Like most MAC blushes, the amount of product is very generous – I went almost a year of daily use before I hit the pan.

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For those who love a more vibrant look:

NARS Outlaw: A Rose with the right amount of shimmer

Color: Like most NARS cosmetics, Outlaw is highly pigmented so it is very important to use a light hand at first and build up to the color you want. This is a darker shade of pink than Blushbaby, and with the shimmer it’s perfect for a nighttime look (I also use it in the day because I love the color). It is great for both fair to dark skin tones – it seems the natural rosiness combined with the golden shimmer almost mold with individual skin tones. Darker skin tones can carry off a deeper application while fair tones should go for a sheerer application.

Consistency: The shimmer is subtle and not piecey like most glitter found in makeup. The blush itself is light and finely milled. Again, the product is very pigmented so be sure to use a light hand or a skunk brush to assist you in sheerer application.

Price: $25 narscosmetics.com

Bottom Line: Because Outlaw is so pigmented, you only need a trace amount to get the look you want, which means this product will last you FOREVER (I’ve had mine for almost two years and I have not yet seen the bottom of the pan). Although the price seems steep, the fact that it lasts forever along with the color payoff, this product is a must-have.

I realize both the products listed are department store brands. However, I have not yet found a pink drugstore blush I love as much as these two. If I do, you’ll be the first to know! For now, I find the pigmentation and consistency of these products are well worth the $$$. Plus, these two shades look spectacular with a smokey eye!

*We’d like to know:* Do you have a pink blush that you absolutely love, either drugstore or department store brand? Share your favorites in the comments section. Our readers would love to hear what you use!!!

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Photo Credits:
http://www.glamour.com/beauty/2008/12/blush-new-tips-for-doing-it-right
http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/mac-blush-powder-blushbaby
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yutongzhou/2861871329/
http://www.zoomtv.in/wm/zen-cms-images/photo/650×700/m/mughda_godase-10-650×700-2009-01-08.jpg