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

But, before you excitedly reach for your favorite makeup brush, stop for a minute and inspect the consistency of your blush. What most ladies tend to forget is that just as with products like foundation and eyeliner, it is important to find the right formula for your cheeks before settling on a color. The wrong consistency can exacerbate red, bumpy skin while the right one can give off the impression of “just coming in from the cold” winter cheeks.

We are given a myriad of options when it comes to blush: cream, liquid, creamy liquid, cream sticks, stains, tints, powder, the list is endless. So, which one to choose? The answer is a mixture of preference, weather and most important, skin type.

Here are the three main categories:

Liquid:

This category includes tints and stains and gels. Some artists claim this is the most natural looking product as it “sinks” into the skin. Make sure to start out slow and apply a little product, then build it up as you go along, as it is hard to remove.

Pros: Stays put in high heat, does not slide off your face by the end of the day (long lasting power), natural looking flush, can also be used as a lip tint.

Cons: Have to work fast to apply as it is difficult to blend, will stain your fingers along with your cheeks, if you have bad skin will emphasize your spots.

Great for: Oily-skinned gals
Avoid: Dry-Skinned ladies (will emphasize any flakiness, is not moisturizing in the least)

We recommend: “Cheek Stain” by Tarte and “BeneTint” by Benefit, both available at sephora.com

Cream:

Includes sticks, pots and tubes. The best choice for a “dewy” look, great all year round, but especially youthful and fresh looking for the spring/summer.

Pros: Easy to apply and blend, if too much is applied is easy to remove, moisturizing, most have good lasting power

Cons: Can look caked on if not applied or blended correctly, can make skin look oily in humid climates

Great for: Dry-skinned and mature skin types
Avoid: Oily-skinned gals (the moisturizing properties will make you look shinier than a disco ball)

We recommend: “Cream Blush” by Revlon and “Crème Blush” by MAC, revlon.com and maccosmetics.com, respectively.

Powder:

The most commonly used blush available mostly in pressed and loose powder forms as well as minerals. Extremely wide variety of pigments and ranges from fine to regularly milled consistency.

Pros: Matte finish, easy to apply and blend, can be built up and blotted off if too much excess, great for both warm and cold climates

Cons: Lasting power can vary greatly from product to product, but generally not as long lasting as cream and liquid, more “made up” look than cream and liquid, can appear cakey or clownish if too much applied

Great for: Both Oily-Skinned (will help reduce shine) and Dry-Skinned (do not exacerbate flakiness) ladies

We Recommend: NARS for the deep pigments and Milani for the price, narscometics.com and milanicosmetics.com, respectively.

Lipstick Masala Suggests: Because summer is here and light, fresh looks are all the rage, set aside your normal powder and try out the liquid and cream blushes. Once you have determined the consistency that is right for you, choose a shade that reflects the colors of the season we’ve shared with you, i.e. girly pinks and corals, and leave the darker colors for when the cool air sets in. Happy hunting!

Photo Credit: www.beautysource.com

Winner of multiple beauty awards, NARS Orgasm blush is hailed as one of the best on the market. For those of you that either use the product or know friends who do, you will agree when I say girls everywhere gush about the gentle flush and natural glow brought on by Orgasm. At a recent wedding event for a friend I was not surprised to find that more than half the Desi females there have used or wish to try out this supposed wonder product, my mother included!

So is Orgasm blush really worth all the hype? Or, is it just another overrated product that continues to sell because of genius marketing?

Photo Credit: www.hqhair.com

The NARS Cosmetics website describes the color as “a peachy pink with gold shimmer.” It comes in both powder form as well as a “multi-purpose stick for eyes, cheeks, lips and body,” great for those who prefer creamier blushes. As you can see from the picture above, the color in the pan is not that impressive. However, don’t be fooled by the way it looks in its packaging – always remember that many blushes appear to be a lot lighter (or darker) than they are when actually applied on your face. You have to try them on to be sure of how they will look. One of my favorite blushes actually looks pale and translucent in the pan but gives me the most amazing rosy cheeks ever.

My fairer-skinned girlfriends have had amazing experiences with Orgasm blush. So much so, that every time I see them I contemplate re-buying the blush. On lighter skin tones it comes off as more coral than peach (i.e. slightly more pinky), and appears as a natural flush with a Gisele Bundchen-esque glow. Some find the shimmer overpowering so if you prefer matter formulations, I would stay away from Orgasm blush.

A quick rundown of my own experience: I am a medium-toned Desi, with yellow undertones. When my sister bought me the blush I excitedly put in on immediately and wore it every day for the next week. I really wanted to love it, but unfortunately, despite what they say, Orgasm blush doesn’t look good on everyone. It made me look washed out, whereas pinker blushes give me a healthier, rosier look. A lot of friends with the same skin tone as me, and those a little darker felt the same, or felt like it barely showed up at all.

At first I assumed I should just stay away from peachy tones. However, upon some research I found a very similar color made

Photo Credit: soloverly.blogspot.com

by MAC called Springsheen that many use as a replacement for Orgasm blush. The MAC color is not only a great dupe for the NARS but is also lower priced for those who are looking to save a few $$$ (7 dollars saved may not sound like a lot – but in this economy every penny counts!). The MAC version is also less chunky glittery and a little more consistent gold. It is slightly more pigmented than the NARS as well, which makes a great difference for those of us who aren’t so fair. I still find Springsheen somewhat light for my taste so I actually prefer to layer it over another blush, as I feel the color is slightly translucent and does better as a highlighter (same goes for Orgasm).

So, ladies, if you’re a fair-skinned Desi and like a lot of shimmer, go and check out the famed Orgasm blush. There is a newer version called Super Orgasm that is described as the same as the original, but with glitter instead of shimmer – sounds like it’s for the really brave, maybe I’ll use my mother as a guinea pig – she can never get enough shimmer/glitter!

For the rest of us medium to dark skin tones – I suggest we leave the Orgasm blush to the fair-skinned ladies and go for the Springsheen.

Photo Credit: www.mundorecetas.com

Springsheen (left) vs. Orgasm (top right)

If you’re darker-skinned and have had good results with Orgasm, let us know, we’d love to hear about your experience!