Natural Collection Blushed Cheeks

RRP: £1.99
# of shades available: 6

--What does the promo say?--
"Natural Collection Blushed Cheeks are fine, soft powders that give a natural hint of colour to your cheeks."

--Packaging--
As with other products in the range, the minimal daisy design is pretty and clearly gives the products a sense of brand identity. It also leaves space on the see-through lid for you to see the product clearly and always be aware of how much you have left.

--Application--
Using a blusher brush, gently sweep over the cheeks (apples or cheekbones, depending on the kind of contouring you are looking for). Feel free to add an extra layer of face powder afterwards to give more of an impression of glowing from within!

--Appearance--
I was sent the Dusky Pink for free by Natural Collection's PR, which worked well for my pale complexion. It's not too dark or bright, and - dare I say it - looks very natural once on.

--Texture and consistency--
Powdery, but not unmanageably so, and easy to blend.

--Longevity--
Perhaps requires touching up a little during the day - but for £1.99, what do you expect?

--Value for money--
Gives a natural, attractive appearance at an affordable price. Would recommend.

perfect partners
Natural Collection Pressed Powder, £1.99
Natural Collection Shine-Away Foundation, £1.99
Natural Collection Cover-Up Cream, £1.99

Ellis Faas Blush

RRP: €28 for 2.8ml
# of shades available: 4

--What does the promo say?--
"Made with essential oils,rose water and vitamins C and E, ELLIS FAAS blush gives cheeks a touch of colour while cooling and toning the skin for an instant fresh look. Apply a dot of colour directly to the middle of the cheek with the signature ELLIS FAAS pen and fade out with your fingertips or with the sponge that comes with the powder. ELLIS FAAS blush ensures a dewy finish and long-lasting glow."

--Packaging--
The signature Ellis Faas pen is eyecatching and unusual, though the click-wheel on this can be a little annoying and time-consuming to operate. However, it is easy to control, so you shouldn't end up wasting any product.

--Application--
After applying your usual base (if any), dot three dots of the blush onto each cheek and blend in. Add further layers, if desired, for extra impact and intensity; set with powder if liked.

--Scent--
None.

--Texture/consistency--
Smooth yet rich and luxurious; easy to blend.

--Appearance--
The beauty of this is that it's difficult to get wrong; no clownalikes here. It's one of the most natural-looking blushers I've tried, giving just the right amount of colour. Of the four shades, I own S302 (the second palest) and it's perfect for English roses like us. The fact that it's easily buildable to achieve different effects means that nobody should be disappointed by the fact that there are only four shades available.

--Longevity--
Falls somewhere between the lip products (which fare worse in this regard) and the eye products (which fare better) from this brand: you may need to reapply once a day. However, the professional quality of this product is obvious.

--Value for money--
As with all Ellis Faas products, while it is expensive you do get what you pay for. A professional matte finish is provided, which is easily adjustable to take you from subtle day to more intense nighttime looks. Easy to see why this is popular on the catwalk, the makeup is durable not only in practical terms but also in terms of the look it provides. This will never date.

perfect partners
Foundation Skin Veil S101
Concealer S201
Compact Powder S401
Mascara E401
Milky Lips L207
Creamy Eyes E108

Elemental Beauty Mineral Blusher

RRP: £6.99 for 5-6g; £3.99 for 1.5-2.5g
# of shades available: 10

--About the brand--
"At Elemental Beauty we are passionate about mineral makeup and its beneficial properties to your skin. Our goal is to bring more affordable mineral makeup to women in the UK and Europe, but, we do ship worldwide. We want to offer a healthy alternative to the conventional high street brands of makeup through our hand crafted range of mineral cosmetics. As our makeup is designed with the best health of your skin in mind, we do not use Talc, Bismuth Oxychloride or fillers in any of our makeup. We are a manufacturer so all our products truly are hand crafted and we can offer a bespoke service creating tailor made colours exclusively for you. If you are finding it difficult to get the shade you want please contact us and we will be delighted to make something especially for you. We want to preserve our planet, so our choice of packaging is easily recyclable and pretty and practical enough for you to hopefully re-use rather than throw away. So, please continue the good work. Our gorgeous jute gift bags are stylish and practical - they can even be re-used as a cute handbag! Our love for animals means that we could never test our products on them.... All our products are tested on humans (consenting of course!) and made from natural ingredients approved for cosmetic use."

--What does the promo say?--
"Mineral makeup is so much more than mineral foundation on its own. Our Mineral blushers, mineral bronzers and mineral highlighters can be used however you like to add colour and definition to your face. They can also be used as eyeshadows or mixed with your mineral foundation or finishing powders to give endless different looks.

Ingredients: Sericite Mica, Zinc Oxide, Iron Oxides, Mica, may contain Ultramarine."

--Packaging--
Even the sample products (which I was kindly sent for free by Elemental Beauty) are beautifully packaged (lab samples are often sent out in very plain packaging which is nothing like the finished product) - my tiny foundation samples were held together in a cute chiffony bag and the blusher, concealer and eyeshadow were all housed in separate screw-top white plastic pots, with lids bearing a see-through window and the Elemental Beauty logo, all presented in a white box with pink ribbon. The flower logo is a really nice idea to sum up the notion of natural beauty and it's always good to be able to see the product through the lid. The only two (minor!) criticisms I'd make are that the tray that comes inside the pot is engraved with dents, which means that the minerals collect inside them and serve no practical purpose there, as it's quite messy to try and get them out (a smooth tray would be better for use as a palette). I also don't especially like the font used on the lids of the products for the company logo; I much prefer the font used on the website. Nevertheless, neither of these issues cause any real problems.

--Application--
Elemental Beauty gives some application tips on its website, but you can just tip some of the blusher into the lid of its pot, work some of the mineral powder into a blusher brush, and sweep over cheeks, gradually building up the layers.

--Appearance--
The shade I was sent - Candy Floss - is undoubtedly the most natural-looking blusher shade I have ever used, and the easiest to make look 'balanced' on the skin. No clown moments with this one. Doesn't look too heavy or obviously powdery; looks seamlessly blended with skin tone rather than sitting on top.

--Texture and consistency--
Powdery and light; not cloying or irritating.

--Longevity--
Not fantastic; will not last five hours. Expect to reapply once or twice during the day.

--Value for money--
I don't think anyone can complain much at a maximum of £6.99 a jar. While you can get cheaper blushers (by Bourjois, Max Factor, Rimmel and Maybelline to name just a few), many are more expensive, and they may not all produce such a flattering colour and such kindness to your skin as this does. An excellent buy.

Stila All Over Color Push-Up

RRP: $14-$20/£15 - down to $9.80/£6.49 in sales
no. of shades available: 8

--What does the promo say?--
"Give cheeks that wind-blown, barely-there flush, anytime of year, with this sheer gel stick. The formula is gel-based and oil-free so it hydrates skin while acting as a protective barrier to the elements. Uncomplicated and easy to apply and blend."

--Packaging--
Small and perfectly formed. It's a plastic see-through squarish canister with the Stila logo and product information printed on in black, with a silvery lid and base. The silvery base has a click wheel that you use to push the blush up and down, and it's always nice to be able to see the product through the packaging.

--Application--
As promised, all very uncomplicated. Pull off the lid, twist the click wheel to push up the blusher, and apply straight to the cheeks (or, for a unified look, feel free to apply carefully to the eyes and lips too). Blend as necessary and voila.

--Texture--
Smooth, and slightly glossy without being sticky.

--Appearance--
Looks very natural and there's a shade there for every skin tone. Gives you dewiness without shine.

--Longevity--
As with most gel or cream-based formulas, it's never going to last all day, but you need to use so little each time that I'm more than OK with this.

--Value for money--
Pretty good, especially if you can get it in the sale. A stylish, fashionable brand that's affordable and of a high quality, with products for everyone.

perfect partners
Stila Natural Finish Oil Free Makeup, $36/£14
Stila Cover Up Stick, $18/£8.50

Clinique Touch Blush

RRP: £14.50 for 5.3ml
no. of shades available: 6

--What does the promo say?--
" Unique, airy mousse/cream blush with blendable colour and a velvety finish. The look is smooth, soft and modern and the wear is long-term and comfortable.
• Imparts a smooth, soft glow of colour
• Blendable, long wearing, comfortable formula
• Unique texture – for fingertip application"

--Packaging--
A very small, lip-gloss sized clear pot, with a silver screw-top lid and the Clinique logo decorating the front in silver. It's easy to open and close, and it doesn't leak, but getting the protective white screen off the top each time can be a bit tricky.

--Application--
There's often some creme left on the protective screen, so you can wipe it directly onto your face if you want, or you can use your fingers. However, it's way too easy to put too much of this stuff on.

--Texture--
Smooth and creamy and very lovely.

--Appearance--
If you get it wrong, you look like Krusty the Clown. If you get it right, however, the result is a wonderfully dewy glow.

--Longevity--
Unfortunately this needs to be reapplied a few times a day, and I'd say that the Bourjois powder blushers do better in this regard.

--Value for money--
While it seems a shade on the expensive side, you need so little each time that I reckon it balances out.

perfect partners
Clinique Touch Tint For Eyes : Pearl Formula, £12.00 for 7ml
Clinique Moisture Sheer Lipstick : SPF15, £12.00 for 1.6g

Wet 'N' Wild Rouge Powder

RRP: £1.99
no. of shades available: 3 in the UK, 6 in the US

--About the brand--
Wet'N'Wild is a budget beauty brand which can be bought in the US and the UK, and it is readily available to purchase online.

--What does the promo say?--
"There’s nothing like fabulous, just-flushed colour to warm your look and contour your face. Silky powder formula strikes the perfect balance between soft-colour coverage and sheer transparency for a natural, radiant glow. Luxurious formula goes on as smooth as silk. Accentuates cheeks and face with natural highlights."

--Packaging--
A silver plastic flip-top box approx 3 inches by 2, with the brand logo clinging to the bottom right-hand corner vertically in silver writing. There's also a window so so you can see the blusher, with the brand logo embossed into the powder itself. Easy to open, doesn't come open unless you want it to, and comes with its own mirror and (very soft) brush. It doesn't give any illusions about its price tag, but it's more than adequate (though I wouldn't recommend it if you're particularly snobby about packaging).

--Application--
Use the brush provided to dab the powder before applying to the apples of your cheeks. I say 'dab' because stroking the brush over the powder picks up far too much blush, which you'll then have to rectify. Best to just dab - you can always add more but it's more difficult to take away if you've done too much. What's that they say about less being more...

--Texture--
Smooth and fine - impressive in the face of its cheapness!

--Appearance--
The colour is far stronger than it appears in the box - hence the dabbing recommendation! However, if you do overdo it, it's easy to rectify, and it can produce a lovely rosy effect when applied correctly.

--Longevity--
This blusher didn't last as long as I had liked, perhaps due to the fact that today was hot and any sweat/excess sebum production may have made it slide off, and perhaps due to the fact that I applied very little blusher in the first place and didn't make an effort to reapply it during the day either. I also forgot to apply my usual finishing powder to set the makeup. On another day the results may have been better.

--Value for money--
While the range of colours available could be better, this is an excellent low-cost find once you've worked out how to best apply it for your skin tone and the needs of your skin.

Body Shop Brilliance Powder

RRP: £14.00/4.5g (or €23, or USD$18.50)
No. of shades: 4 - lustrous rose, shimmer bronze, matte bronze and shimmer gold

--What does the promo say?--
"Just push the button and the Brilliance Powder is in the brush. A lightweight sparkle powder with shimmering pearls that provides a natural-looking sun-kissed finish for the face and body. Available in a shimmer or matte finish. Dermatologically tested. Contains marula oil (a very effective moisturiser that also helps to condition the skin over time. Also provides essential fatty acids that help to repair the skin's moisture barrier, thus helping to restore moisture, smoothness and suppleness.), vitamin E (an antioxidant that helps to soften, condition and protect the skin), and light diffusing particles (instantly brighten the skin and help reduce the appearance of lines)."

--Packaging--
The packaging looks just like a blusher brush, the handle of which is mostly transparent so that you can see the powder inside. The brush is quite cheap and very synthetic-looking (I don't mind it being synthetic but this really does look plasticated), and is a sort of reddish-brown colour. The button is a sort of gold colour, as is most of the non-transparent packaging, and the Body Shop logo etc is written in small writing on the transparent bit. It's quite a sophisticated looking thing and is a nice size too. It also comes with a lid to put over the brush's bristles when you're done, which is nice in theory, but once you've used the brush on your face, even for the first time and even if you're careful, the bristles fan out and it's a challenge to stuff them back into the lid.

--Application--
Sounds so simple in the promo, doesn't it? "Just push the button." I wish. I stood there for 10 minutes pushing the silly little button until my thumb hurt with the appearance of no powder whatsoever when suddenly - whoosh! A load of powder deposits itself onto my hand as if to say "There." Luckily I was able to brush most of this onto my skin, but dearie me, it is a silly way of getting there. Happily this only happened the first time - once it got going it was very easy to use.

--Appearance--
Through the tube the powder looks lovely and iridescent without being over the top, and on the face there's no disappointment either. The glitter is not as subtle as some products I've used, but the product is versatile - you can layer the powder so that it's suitable for everyday wear or for a night out.

--Texture--
Very light. When the powder was on, you couldn't even tell it was there. No heaviness or caked-on feelings with this.

--Longevity--
Excellent - I wore this for a dinner out. We left at 8 and when we came back at midnight it hadn't budged.

--Does it do what it says it will?--
On the whole, yes, though saying it will reduce the appearance of lines seems to be going a bit far.

--Value for money--
You need so little of this powder that you'll get a lot of mileage out of one brush. However, looking at the prices, our American friends are undoubtedly better off, with the Europeans faring worst in terms of price (God damn, I knew I should have waited until I got home to buy this).

--Other comments--
The versatility of this product is amazing. Buy the white one (shimmer gold) and it's a highlighter. Buy the pink one (lustrous rose) and it's a blusher. Buy either of the bronze ones and it's a bronzer! Genius!

perfect partners
Body Shop Shimmer Cubes Eye Shadow, $17.50/£14.00/€22 for 4 colours
Body Shop Bronzing Powder, $14.00/£11.50/€16 for 11.5g

Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush

RRP: £6.25

# of shades available: 12

--Packaging--

Very cute, pretty, girly, compact, convenient and great for travelling. The packaging colour matches the blusher shade you've chosen and has the Bourjois logo and shade name/number on the lid in silver or gold font. You just click the button on the front of the compact and pull the lid upwards to open. It comes with its own compact mirror and brush, and while the brush is never going to be of the highest standards, it is nice to have and certainly beats some of the other brushes that come with certain products *cough*L'Oréal*cough* The brush is also curved to work with the shape of the compact.

The only major gripe that I have with the packaging is that it's quite flimsy and the joint on the lid is not very strong at all. I can guarantee that no matter how careful you are with it (and I've had several of the Little Round Pot blushers and eyeshadows), it WILL break miles before you're finished with it. Happily, as the powder is compacted rather than loose, it won't go all over your makeup bag even then (though you might occasionally find little pink blotches on other makeup bottles and things).

The really clever thing that Bourjois does to make up for this, though, which I really do appreciate, is that the powder is domed rather than flat. This not only means they fit even more into the compact, but it also means the powder runs out evenly, rather than running out in the middle first, leaving you to scrape at the edges for the last traces of powder.

--What does the promo say?--

"Softer and more velvety thanks to a new pearl effect and a skilful blend of pigments. The baked texture is transformed on the skin into a light ultra-fine pressed powder, that is easy to apply and blends impeccably. One stroke of the brush reveals the irresistable aroma of rose scented powder. "


--Application--


Use the brush provided (or your own, it doesn't matter) to sweep small amounts of the blusher over your cheeks until you have achieved the desired effect.


--Texture--


Nice and smooth.



--Appearance--


It's really easy to go overboard with this, so watch it. You don't want to look like Krusty the Clown. Remember, just a little at a time - you can always add more but it's more difficult to take it back when you've done too much. Done right, though, the effect is very subtle and English-rose-esque.

--Longevity--


Excellent.



--Removal--


Easy to remove (I'm thinking this section is getting a little boring! My answer always seems to be the same. Maybe I just have a very good makeup remover...).



--Value for money--


Despite the feebleness of the packaging, I'd say excellent. I've had mine for over a year and it's still going strong.