cream blush

The most awesome beauty toy has finally made it's way into Canadian Sephora locations.  If you've been anywhere near a Sephora lately you can't have missed the huge displays everywhere for the TEMPTU AIRbrush Makeup System and if you're anything like me, you have been wondering how complicated it is to use and whether a total spazcase (such as myself) could master such a complicated looking device.  You see, I still remember the airbrush machine that they introduced at Holt Renfrew a few years back.  I can't remember what the name of it was but I knew a makeup artist that had it and she was forever having problems with it - if an expert has issues, what hope is there for someone like me?  The answer is lots, because TEMPTU is totally different from the airbrushers of years gone by!


TEMPTU AIRbrush makeup System - $265 - what is different about this system then previous ones I have seen is that the foundation comes in a little pod - no longer do you have the hassle of having to fill a reservoir with foundation and then clean it out when you want to change colours - these pods just snap in and out, no cleaning required!  Not only that, you can switch between foundation, blush and highlighter with absolutely no hassle!  It's very easy to use, just snap in the colour pod, adjust the air pressure for desired coverage (dial up for more coverage, down for less) and off you go!  The AIRbrush is light so it's easy to maneuver and it kind of feels like cool air blowing on your face, be careful if you're ticklish!  You control how narrow or wide the area you cover is by how far you hold the AIRbrush from your face which makes it easy to cover specific areas or hide blemishes. What I really like about airbrushing is how buildable the coverage really is because of all the different ways there are to control the about of foundation that goes on your face.  This is totally different from the way regular foundation is buildable since obviously when you are applying a second layer with a brush or sponge you can't help but wipe a bit of the first layer off when you apply the second - with airbrushing you never actually touch your skin so layer 1 stays put!  I found that there was almost no learning curve, within 3 uses I had the application down pat and you don't need to worry about learning how to do it, the system comes with a user guide and a how-to DVD, they are also very happy to demonstrate the system for you in person at Sephora if you buy it in-store.


The AIR pods themselves come separately:

AIR pod Foundation - $65 for 2 pods - available in 12 colours:  001 porcelain, 002 ivory, 003 warm ivory, 004 sand, 005 beige, 006 warm beige, 007 natural, 008 honey, 009 golden, 010 almond, 011 chestnut and 012 espresso

I quite like the feel of the foundation itself.  It's light and hydrating and with a primer, it has great lasting power on me and a soft looking finish.  I am still on my first pod, to be fair, I don't use it everyday - not that it couldn't be for everyday use but it does take longer to do then slapping some foundation on my face with a brush and my mornings usually are pretty rushed so I have been using it more for weekends and nights out.  I understand that a pod should last about 2 months with regular use - but I expect that would also depend on what coverage setting you use it at too.

AIR pod Blush - $36 for 1 pod - available in 4 colours: 401 pale pink, 402 soft peach, 403 washed rose and 404 sheer berry

I totally love the way airbrushed blush looks!  Having fallen in love with cream blush this summer I am really appreciating this look and again you can really dictate how light or strong the colour is!  If you are a pale face like me, check out the sheer berry, it looks gorgeous on light skin!

AIR pod Highlighter - $42 for 1 pod - available in 4 colours - 301 champagne, 302 gold, 303 bronze and 304 copper

I tried the lightest one, champagne and it was a nice highlighter, I will need to try one of the darker colours and see how it works as a bronzer, I expect it would be a nice effect!  This would also be good for contouring if that's your thing!

If you are still deciding or can't shell out the bucks for the airbrusher, TEMPTU also has a RETOUCH line with airbush quality formulas and high-definition results.  They have a water-enriched silicone formula which allows for a flawless application while moisturizing and conditioning the skin.  The system contains Ceramide 3 and an olive oil vehicle, which nourishes and protects the skin, while Vitamins C & E provide anti-oxidant protection.

RETOUCH Foundation - $56 - with a built in brush applicator it perfects, corrects and minimizes imperfections creating a flawless and radiant complexion.  Available in 12 colours: 001 porcelain, 002 ivory, 003 warm ivory, 004 sand, 005 beige, 006 warm beige, 007 natural, 008 honey, 009 golden, 010 almond, 011 chestnut and 012 espresso

RETOUCH Blush - $42 - with a built in brush applicator it provides a dose of ultra-natural and dewy colour to cheeks with a smooth and lightweight liquid formula.  Available in 4 colours: 401 pale pink, 402 soft peach, 403 washed rose and 404 sheer berry

RETOUCH Highlighter - $48 - with a built in brush applicator it adds an instant and luxurious glow to both face and body.  Available in 4 colours:  301 champagne, 302 gold, 303 bronze and 304 copper

RETOUCH Powder - $51 - with a built in brush applicator it's a lightweight, mineral-based formula that rids you of shine and provides natural looking, satin soft skin.  Available in 6 colours:  200 translucent, 201 soft beige, 202 warm natural, 203 golden honey, 204 deep tan and 205 rich brown

and if that's not enough you can even tattoo yourself with ADORN - $30 - each kit contains: 9 tattoo design sheets, 20 ADORN Tattoo Application Pads, 1 ADORN Tattoo Setting Powder, 1 ADORN Reusable Clear Bag and 1 ADORN Application Instructions & Care Card.

I haven't tried any of the products from the RETOUCH line, I would love to hear opinions about it if anyone has!  And if anyone else has thoughts about the airbrush system, I'd love to hear them too!

TEMPTU also recently launched a website - check out www.lookbookbeauty.com - a behind the scenes look at Fashion Week - where you can see how flawless runway styles are created and how you can do it yourself!  They also have Lookbook Beauty events at Sephora where you can choose your look from TEMPTU's previous fashion shows, have your VIP picture taken and have it automatically posted to Sephora's windows and lookbookbeauty.com.  You can check out their Facebook page to find upcoming Lookbook Beauty events near you.

If you can't make it to an event you can still submit your own "freestyle" look at home to participate which you can share with friends and have a chance to win a VIP ticket to attend Fashion Week Fall 2011!

For the last in my series on cream blushes I decided to veer away from the pink and try some peach - GOSH Natural Touch Cream Blusher in 003 Fluffy Peach and Hello Kitty Apple Cheeks in Blushing.
GOSH is on the left, Hello Kitty is on the right and as you can see, they are very subtle - my poor husband went crazy trying to get them to show up on the camera at all!
GOSH 003 Fluffy Peach - is super subtle on me - so much so that it barely shows on film and I had about 3 layers of it on!  On the bright side, it would be a hard one to screw up or wear too much of!  Just make sure you keep the pot closed, I noticed the testers at Shoppers didn't have lids on them and they were drying up!
Hello Kitty in Blushing from the Hello Kitty collection at Sephora - I love the stick applicator it makes it easy to put the blush exactly where you want it and then blend it and it doesn't seem any less sanitary to be sticking something on your face then dipping your fingers in a pot but I suppose if this is of concern to you, it would be easy enough to wipe it off with an alcohol wipe after each use.

GOSH is available at Shoppers Drug Mart and you can find the Hello Kitty line at Sephora.

I love the pretty, natural glow that both of these products gave me. If you are fair to light skinned and like a subtle look these are both great colours but I have no idea how or if they would show on darker skin! And be sure to check out my other cream blush swatches they are all great spring colours:

Givenchy Blush Gelee
Yves Saint Laurent Creme de Blush No 2 Powdery Rose
The Body Shop Tailored Cheek Tint Hot Pink
Stila Lip & Cheek Stain Coconut Crush

With so many pretty blushes coming out this spring, my cheeks have been hard at work swatching them all!  I am especially loving all of the cream and liquid options! Something I've learned - blush is hard to pick up in photographs unless you are very heavy handed with it - so I was a bit and I didn't blend it in as much as I normally would so the colour would show up better - that being said, please don't anyone be worried that I am actually walking around on the streets like this!
Keep in mind that the products in the picture are actually the reverse of what you see on my face - Givenchy is on the right and YSL is on the left.
Givenchy Blush Gelée - Jelly Blush - the star of the Givenchy Naivement Couture Spring-Summer 2011 collection - sadly it's limited edition but I am hoping they will re-release it in additional colours in upcoming collections.  The colour looks almost hot pink on the sponge but once applied to the skin leaves just a faint flush behind - I had to really pile it on to make it show up at all for this picture!  I like the sponge applicator which makes sense for this product as it is quite liquid and I like how smooth and cool the blush feels going on.  It blends easily and looks incredibly natural.
Yves Saint Laurent Creme de Blush - Cream Blush - a new regular product that was introduced in the YSL Spring 2011 Bohemian Chic collection this colour is No 2 - Powdery Rose.  The texture is really wonderful - very creamy going on which then turns to a powder and a tiny bit goes a long way which means this pot of blush will last me forever! And please excuse the eyelash that I just realized is in the picture or blow on it for good luck!

More blush swatches coming up next week so stay tuned! And if you think there are any I must try, let me know!

We can always count of YSL to bring some colour to spring and I am loving the flushed cheeks and pink lips that they are doing this year! I'm not sure what makes it bohemian, but I'm willing to go with it!
Palette Pink Celebration - $99 - Limited Edition - pearly finish face highlighter that imparts a new radiance to the face for flawless skin. Of course I am a sucker for packaging and this one is calling my name!
Creme de Blush - $52 - in 5 colours: No 1 - Velvety Peach, No 2 - Powdery Rose, No 3 - Silky Praline, No 5 - Temptation Fuchsia, No 6 - Passion Red - on contact with the skin, the creamy texture turns into a light powdery film with an exceptionally smooth texture that blends perfectly.
Rouge Pur Couture - $37 - in 7 new shades: No 23 - Corail Poétique, No 24 - Blond Ingénu, No 25 - Taupe Raphael, No 26 - Rose Libertin, No 27 - Fuchsia Innocent, No 28 - Rose Boheme, No 29 - Rose Vénus - with a silky moisturizing texture that leaves the lips supple, smooth and dazzling with intense and vibrant colour and SPF 15.
Golden Gloss - $34 - in 4 new shades: No 40 - Golden Impertinence, No 41 - Golden Insolence, No 42 Golden Obsession, No 43 - Golden Irreverence
Ombre Solo - $32 - in 2 new shades: No 15 - Gold Leaf, No 16 - Topaz Blue
Mascara Singulier - $36 - No 6 - Deep Plum

Available at Holt Renfrew and selected Bay and Murale stores.

I love cream blushes once the weather gets warmer so I am excited to see these guys in person!  I probably won't be using it on my forehead though...
Cremeblend Blush - $23.50 -in three aspects, two shades for each: one match to skin, one for a brighter glow and one darker for cream contouring.  Contains no silicone to prevent ashiness on darker complexions.

So Sweet, So Easy - bright yellow pink
Something Special - light coral
Posey - warm peach
Ladyblush - warm neutral coral
Brit Wit - dusty rosey mauve
Tea Petal - mid-tone reddish brown

Available on counters and online www.maccosmetics.com on March 3rd.  With all these collections coming out, I will be at my counter come lunchtime tomorrow!

In Bloom Eye Shadow Palette & Brush - $55 - contains 10 shadows: ballet pink, lavender grey, golden pink, warm taupe, bone, soft violet, marine blue, shimmering copper, moss and nude - in both shimmers and mattes and what looks like a good sized brush.
Cream Cheek Duo in Blushing/Peony - $30 - in two shades of pink (soft and bright) to add a sheer natural flush to cheeks and lips.  I fell in love with the cream blush duo from their Naked Beauty collection last summer so I am expecting this one will be just as good!
Soft Focus Powder Eye Liner - $25 - in matte heather grey and matte dark brown - these look like fun and might be just the thing to do an easy smoky look!
Artificial Light Luminizing Powder - $23 - in shimmering soft nude - inspired by Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion, this soft shimmering powder highlights and brightens for a radiant glow.  Apply to inner corners of eyes, down the bridge of nose, above brows and to the tops of cheekbones withe the targeted applicator.  It can also be mixed with body lotion and applied to the body for a subtle shimmer.

Limitless Long Wear Lip Gloss with SPF 15 - $24 - Infinite - nude pink

On counters tomorrow!  I'm looking to get my hands on that blush, what about you?