Frostbite in a pan: MAC Her Blooming Cheek blush swatch and review

This blush is not so new: it came out with MAC A Tartan Tale color collection for holiday 2010 (discontinued by now).

A Tartan Tale collection main visual by MAC.

I liked the visuals of this Scottish-inspired collection, but wasn't much into MAC at this time. When I saw it online at discounted price my curiosity began to rise, my strange infatuation with discontinued products rose it's greedy head and I bagged it.

I can say that my MAC collection is growing slowly but steadily and I admit that I have been oh-so-wrong about the brand!

Her Blooming Cheek is a sheer and cool rosy blush, with very-very subtle shimmer in it. While the blush looks bright like something from kids watercolors box, don't let yourself be fooled by it's appearance. It is in fact a gem for somebody who likes subtle no-makeup makeup look.

It gives my NC15/20 skin the most natural “just came inside from the freezing weather and my cheeks are a bit cold-bitten” healthy and rosy look. Of course, with temperatures as low as 30 degrees below Celsius in Estonia now you can get this look for free by just stepping out of the door, but who needs the skin damage that comes with it?

I use Her Blooming Cheek with my stippling brush, just dipping it in very lightly and blending carefully. It's so pigmented it stains the brush!

When I use it with regular natural hair blush brush, it tends to be overdone and loses some of it's gorgeousness. Surely it is easy to build it up, but I like it mostly for it's subtle and natural sheerness. That's why I apply it without any contouring and highlight.

The swatches. Should be blended out a lot more on cheeks.

This blush is definitely an investment. I can see myself easily hitting the pan of Nars's Deep Throat, but never with Her Blooming Cheek.

I ordered it somewhere in autumn, but it is still readily available from Fragrancedirect. It costs 14.99 GBP (around 18 euros) + shipping, but considering that MAC blushes cost around 10 euros more in stores, it's not a bad price. Especially calculating cost per wear :)

Yours Truly,

Tolmu Rull

For my lovely Estonian readers:

MAC'i Her Blooming Cheek on kärtsroosa põsepuna, mis hoolikalt hajutatuna annab põskedele tulin- just-kelgutamast väljanägemise. Ärge laske ennast esialgsest välimusest kohutada, tegelikult on see väga hea põsepuna igapäevaseks mul-pole-mingit meiki peal meigiks. Saadaval veebist.

Siiralt teie,

Tolmu Rull  

Jealousy wakes! Are you a bit jealous? MAC Bloggers Obsession Collection review & swatches

I'm happy to announce that I'm a proud owner of some items from MAC's Blogger's Obsession collection! Yay!

I was obsessed with MAC's Blogger's Obsession collection right when it came out somewhere in spring. I mean, not all of it, but one eyeshadow and two lipglosses caught my eye. The rest of it seemed quite ordinary. If you haven't heard of this collection, you can find out more here.

I fell in love with the Sonoran Rain and Evolution Revolution lipglasses from the moment I saw first pictures of them. I liked the Jealousy Wakes eyeshadow for the name (it's a powerful tool, right?), but was a bit doubtful about the shade. I liked all of these even more when I read how they're were born from Christine's and Karen's blogs and The Shades of U. Well, I had never even heard of Sonoran Desert before and now I'm in love with a lipgloss named after it. Hmm :S

I'd never imagined I'd get hold of them, as the limited edition Blogger's Obsession collection was released in North America only. No Europe, not to mention Tallinna Kaubamaja (the only shop MAC's stuff is being sold in Estonia). Besides, LE-s tend to sell out in seconds in North America. I love Blogger's Obsession, but I have to admire them from the computer screen, I thought.

Nope. Enter my secret friend from the glorious country of US & A. Some e-mails, a little PayPal transaction, a bit of waiting time and a trip to the post office somewhere at the end of September and and here they are!

I tell you, they're exactly as good as you'd expect from MAC or even better. I'm quite a novice to MAC, I don't own a lot of their stuff, as I've always considered it too expensive and not worth the pricetag. I officially admit, I was sooooo wrong. Sorry, dear MAC, I will love you much more in the future, I promise!

Jealousy Wakes eyeshadow – a true emerald green – is really smooth and well pigmented. It has an interesting effect of a peacock feather, showing some yellow and blue besides green. (You can click on the pictures to make them bigger). It is really unique and outstanding eyeshadow, though certainly not an everyday shade.

Sonoran Rain Lipglass lipgloss is still my favourite of the collection. It is a bright sexy warm red with tiny flecks of blue, silver and gold in it. It is very pigmented, easy to apply, stays for a long time and the glitter is not unpleasant or gritty on the lips. The shade suits me really well! HG item! Now I only wish I could pay a trip to the Sonoran Desert...

Evolution Revolution is also quite unique lippgloss. It seems to be a natural transparent peachy light pink, but blue, peach and golden sparkles make it really special. My lips seem more full and it can be worn over many lipstick shades. Evolution Revolution works well with a heavy eye makeup – it's not bland, but it's not overpowering too. It is wearable on it's own too for everyday purposes. Love it!
The swatches:

I secretly wonder, whether I am the only girl in Estonia who has Sonoran Rain & Jealousy Wakes in her stash. Am I? Please tell me!

Sincerely Yours,

Tolmu Rull

For my lovely Estonian ladies: 

Armusin täiesti lootusetult MAC'i Bloggers Obsessioni kollektsiooni kohe, kui kuskil blogis esimesi swatch'e nägin. Täpsemalt paelusid mind huuleläiked Sonoran Rain ja Evolution Revolution ning Jealousy Wakes nimeline lauvärv, ülejäänu tundus tavaline.

Arvasin, et minu näpukesed ei saa kunagi puutuda selle ainult Põhja-Ameerikas välja lastud kollektsiooni vidinaid, aga võta näpust! Salasõber USA-st ajas asja korda ja nüüd olen ma ihaldatud asjade uhke omanik!

Olen ma ainus tüdruk Eestis, kes MAC'i Bloggers Obsession'i asjade vastu huvi tundis ja kel need soetada õnnestus? Rääkige, palun!

Siiralt Teie,

Tolmu Rull