Part 2: Review of My New Face Makeup Collection

I used to wear a full face of makeup when I step out of the house. But now that I’m settled in with powder as my daily base, I find how blushes and bronzers do their magic when you only have 15 minutes to look put together.

Although these makeup aren’t new in the beauty community, it was my first time trying out these products, especially the ones from NARS. Keep on reading if you’re curious about my new bronzer and blushes!


1. NARS Bronzing Powder in Casino

Many makeup lovers swear by the cult favorite NARS Laguna, but morenas out there should be looking for NARS Casino instead. The popular bronzing powder in the shade Casino is described as a “diffused deep brown powder with golden shimmer”.

I like how Casino gives my skin that healthy warmth, without looking too orange-y. It’s like the perfect blend of bronzer and contour, but the brown color is just richer with the tiniest bit of gold in it. I’m very used to matte bronzers and contour products, so this one from NARS changed my bronzing-contouring-game-in-one.

My last bronzing products are highly pigmented and most of them have powder kick-up, which are quite the opposite for NARS bronzers. When using this, I have to use a packed, dense brush to pick up the product from the pan. So if you’re light-handed, you might need to work a little bit to get the product onto your brush.

In terms of packaging, hands-down NARS is a winner. The matte black compact case is thin and sleek and really looks like a staple in a makeup artist’s pro kit. I can’t say if it’s my favorite bronzer because I’m used to applying Benefit Hoola at the moment. However, I think paying for SGD 65 is justifiable, considering you get a big pan of bronzer and a big mirror that goes with it.



2. NARS Blush in Dolce Vita

A lot of makeup addicts and beauty gurus rave about NARS blush in Orgasm. However, I was never drawn towards that color. It doesn’t show up on my light medium skin and I wasn’t a fan of the glittery finish.

Still, I wanted to try their blush for the first time so I got NARS in Dolce Vita. This shade is described as a matte, dusty rose color but it looks more of like a berry shade when swatch. Similar to their bronzer, this one does not have a powder kick-up, but it requires the right kind of brush. Dolce Vita can become patchy when applied with a dense blush brush (i.e. Real Techniques). And if you’re not light-handed, it’s so easy to go overboard with the blush, making it difficult to tone down afterwards.

I use my old Ellana Minerals angled brush to apply Dolce Vita on my cheeks. Because the brush is light and fluffy, the color payoff is evenly distributed. Now I know the reason why NARS blushes are a favorite because they last all day on the cheeks. I think I still like my HG Tarte Amazonian clay blushes a tad bit better because they look more natural on the skin and costs a few bucks cheaper.

NARS blush in Dolce Vita is priced at SGD 52 in Sephora Singapore.

MAC Love Joy, NARS Dolce Vita, and NARS Casino when swatched on light medium skin tone.

3. MAC Mineralize Blush in Love Joy

I went to the MAC Counter in SM Clark in search for their mini size lipsticks, but to no avail. Because the beauty consultants were friendly and asked me to just look around the store, I just happen to reach for their mineralize blushes. I don’t usually go for sheer finishes, but I love how the formula applies to the skin.

At that time, I was interested in finding an everyday blush that’s perfect for light medium to medium skin tones. Lo and behold, there’s MAC Mineralize Blush in Love Joy. This shade is described as a “warm mid tone brown with gold pearl”. Claims in MAC’s website say that this type of blush is lightweight and can be built up layer by layer, without going too heavy on your makeup.

Applying MAC Love Joy truly is a joy because it gives my skin a healthy pinch of color. Even if it has a pearlized sheen, it doesn’t emphasize my pores or textured skin when applied. Because I have combination to oily skin, this product lasts on me for a good 6 hours. It doesn’t completely fade after that, but the amount of blush becomes noticeably less. I believe this is a good value for money at Php 1,850 because you can pair it with any lipstick color. It’s also perfect for days when you want a healthy, “no makeup” makeup look.

And since it's a mineral makeup, this line is non-acnegenic and therefore does not contain oil-clogging ingredients. So far I haven't dealt with breakouts when using this blush.

Glossier Cloud Paints in Haze and Storm. The small size can be deceiving but these pack a punch when it comes to cost per wear and longevity!

4. Glossier Cloud Paint

I wasn’t a fan of cream blushes before because I haven’t found the perfect formula that works on top of powder, and one that doesn’t melt away because of my oily T-zone. Not sure what made me decide to buy Glossier Cloud Paint a year ago (in the shade Haze), but I’m so glad I did! This is my new holy grail blush to give myself the most natural flush which lasts all day long.

On Glossier’s website, Cloud Paint is described as a “pillowy, gel-cream formula designed to be the most user-friendly cheek color in existence.” Applying this is so easy and you can never go wrong. I think the only problem you’ll encounter is the technique of squeezing out product from the tube. The tiny 10ml tube looks deceiving, but you only need the tiniest dot of Cloud Paint on first application before you decide to build up the color.

When I want a fresh, drunk blush look, this is my go-to blush (or when I’m just in a hurry which happens every morning!). Unlike liquid or cream lip and cheek tints, the formula doesn’t stain my fingers that much so I can easily wipe my hands clean with a wet tissue, followed by soap and water.

You may encounter the tube saying you can also use the product up to 6 months after opening, but I find myself using it after that given timeframe. I love the shade Haze (deep berry) that I ended up getting a back-up, plus one of the newest shades Storm (warm rose). I wish I’ve gotten Dawn, too!

I got the Cloud Paint duo for USD 30 when my friends ordered this online in the US. You may find resellers at Shopee (Philippines and Singapore) selling each tube for Php 1,000-1,200 and SGD 25-30. Glossier does not ship to Asia at the moment.

Glosser Cloud Paint: Haze on the left and Storm on the right. Storm looks more terracotta brown when squeezed out from the tube, but turns into a rose color when blended onto the skin.

What’s your go to face makeup this 2019? Watch out for my new eyebrow and eye makeup collection on my next post!