My Most Worn Blushes of 2012

Unlike most other categories of make-up, blush is something I stick to and wear the same shade of every single day for a long period of time until I get bored. During that time, I often can't bring myself to wear anything else - I just feel like I look wrong if I do! So blush is a bit of a funny thing for me, and I treat it very differently to other categories of make up.

Obviously, as a bit of a blush fiend, I did dabble around for a week or two inbetween them, perhaps most notably in NARS Sin, MUA Cream Blush in Blossom and currently, NARS Douceur. But there were four which I wore for the majority of the year.. and they may be quite predictable with my Blush Crush posts, but nonetheless, here is a round up of my most worn blushes of 2012 :) (Swatches at the end!)


MAC Blush in Style
(The Fall blush)


Although the oldest blush in my collection (circa 2009 - eep!) Style stayed completely untouched for a very long time as I began blogging and trying lots of other things. My biggest issue with it was that I felt like the golden frost overpowered the not-so-pigmented peach. Cue me starting to use the MAC 109 for blusher (which picks up and lays down a lot more colour), and after a few months it clicked, and Style made a massive comeback around fall of 2012 when I couldn't wear anything else. It brightens, warms up and livens up your skin. The frost is perfect for the fall when everything's starting to look a bit dull! I'm not a massive fan of MAC blush formulas in general, but this is the only one that blends and lasts to my satisfaction! As you can see, it has gone back to being very very loved after a very long time!

Clarins Illuminating Cheek Colour in Miami Pink 03
(The Winter blush)


I went through a huge Clarins phase at the end of 2011 and this blusher was one of my first purchases of 2012 and the main blusher I wore around this time last year. I didn't really have a pink blusher at the time, and this warm pink looked perfect. It comes with two shades - something slightly lighter with tiny shimmers, and a completely matte and darker pink. You can use these separately, but I tend to swirl them together for a youthful warm pink which doesn't look powdery at all despite the matte finish - and perfect for the "just got in from the cold!" blush. Having warm-toned skin, a pink blusher can pull blue and look unnatural (edgy and cool, but not natural) but this seems to be the right shade! I find the blush well pigmented and soft to blend - I've had my eyes on another shade from this range for a while, it shows I love the formula as much as the colour :)

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Blissful
(The Spring blush)


I literally could not get enough of this during the spring! For me, Blissful is the perfect cocktail with the right amount of pink with a shot of peach added in for good measure. Although it's a matte texture, it doesn't look powdery and it's just the right brightness to light up your face but not look OTT. It lifts your face and adds crazy glow and dimension, and it looks great with very neutral and understated eyeshadow. Although I don't think it lasts as long as the name claims (24hrs I think?!), it lasts a working day and it definitely doesn't wear away patchy. It also blends easily onto your cheeks and you can't beat value for money - mine looks untouched!

NARS Blush in Torrid
(The Summer blush)


Another shade that sat unloved for about a year before I fell head over heels for it! This shade is a red/orange based coral that again - brightens up your cheeks and adds a glow to your face. I wore this quite a lot in the summer as it has that coral tinge that works well with the warmth (I use "warmth" in a very relative and liberal sense here - I am in London after all!), but it's not SO bright that it looks clown-like. The summer that I first got it, I had such a tan that my skin was quite pink-toned and that's when I didn't like it so I would recommend this more for the warm-toned ladies out there. As for formula - in my opinion, you can't go wrong with a NARS blush. I absolutely love them - they're blendable, long-lasting, just the right amount of pigmentation (crazy pigmentation drives me mad as I find it so hard to use!) and I think I've acquired about 6 now.. oops. 

Swatches..
L to R: MAC Style, Clarins Miami Pink, Tarte Blissful, NARS Torrid

Now that I look back on them, you probably wont believe I used them so much as they all look practically new (except Style, haha)! They are on the expensive side of blushers but as you can see, you get bang for your buck.

I did hop from one to another over the year obviously, and I think that's probably because I was adjusting my blush with how my skintone changed from warmer to cooler, from lighter to darker. For me, these all lifted my complexion, added a healthy colour to my cheeks and added a glow to my face that I couldn't get enough of! There's no doubt at all that these were the four most lovingly used blushers for me in 2012! :)

What were your most worn blushers last year?

<3yu

Comments

  1. Oh crap! I really shouldn't had read this post, already owning 30 odd (ah!) including Style, i NEED Torid in my life! Have you ever checked out Gilda? x

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    1. Hahaha I'm along the same lines! I haven't actually, as I have MAC Melba! Is that your fave?

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  2. I heard so many good things about the tarte blush! I want to try it so bad!

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  3. Ooooh, so many gorgeous blushes! I honestly couldn't name a year long favourite or even one that lasted longer than a month in my love list. I think fake tanning an awful lot this year then not fake tanning at all really messed around with the colours that were flattering on me! So confusing... xo

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    1. Ahh yeah fake tanning makes things quite complicated haha!

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  4. I need blissful in my life!!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. You do! It would work so well with your complexion :)

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  5. My all time favorite has been this limited addition and now DC blush by revlon called Golden affair. When I first purchased it I thought it was too wine colored for my NC35 skintone, but if applied lightly it's so gorgeous. Hands down my favorite blush and it looks good year round. Torrid looks like a beautiful color too

    Xo

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    1. Oh no what a shame it's discontinued! Have you found a dupe?

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  6. The Clarins blusher is really beautiful! I loved your picks and I'm not surprised because they are all gorgeous :D

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    1. They really are, and yes the Clarins blush is definitely a highly recommended product ;)

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  7. I love Clarins blusher - I think they are totally underrated! Great swatches!

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    1. I agree! I want their Sunset Peach or something I think it's called, it's also gorgeous!

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  8. I've been wanting to try the tarte blushes for such a long time! They look beautiful and I've read so many good reviews on them.

    I just started a new blog and was wondering if you could check it out. I would really like some feedback!

    www.sonandstar.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. They seem to be a blogger fave! :) Lovely, will do :)

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  9. So much makeup lust because of this post, nothing better than a blush post for sure. Gorgeous choices!

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  10. I'm the same with blushes, I got through stages of wearing only one and then a few months later I'll switch it up! I've been dying to try the Tarte blushes for a while now, think I might have to take the plunge as yours is gorgey! xx

    Abby | Beauty and a Blogger

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  11. Blissful is one of my all time favorite blushes but that Clarin's shade looks beautiful!

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    1. If you like Blissful I reckon you'll love Miami Pink too! :)

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  12. The NARS one looks incredible, I'm not a massive blush wearer but these look great

    http://alittlebitunique.blogspot.co.uk/

    x

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    1. Torrid is gorgeous, it's a nice shade to have even for everyday so great even for people who's not massive on blush! :)

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  13. I love the look of the Clarin's blush swatched! I loved tarte's tipsey this year, have you tried it? xx

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    1. Nooo I actually chose between that and Blissful but everyone adores it! I wish we had Tarte in the UK so I could give it a swatch :)

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  14. Clarins miami pink is gorgeous!!! I had never heard of it before. x

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    1. Clarins blushes aren't spoken about much but they're fab :)

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  15. Torrid and Blissful are gorgeous blushers xx

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  16. I love the look of these, and I'm not a blush person!
    I have no idea what happened but it appears I wasn't following your blog :S!!
    I'm so confused yours was one of the first I read!
    Charli @ Charli-dot-dot-dot.blogspot.com
    x

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    1. Hahaha no worries Charli, thanks for following! :D

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  17. Miami pink looks so perfect! I really need to have a look at some more Clarins products, they always have such amazing reviews! <3

    Jennie xo | sailorjennie.com

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    1. It'd look great on you Jennie :) Yes Clarins has some gems, it seems to be a very underrated brand though!

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  18. Oh man, Blissful looks so nice, I'm definitely going to have to pick that up when I go back to America this summer!

    beautybasicsxx.blogspot.com

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  19. That Tarte Amazonian Clay bush is absolutely beautiful! xx

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