Chanel Pink Explosion Joues Contraste Blush Review, Photos and Swatches!

Chanel Pink Explosion Joues Contraste Blush

Chanel Pink Explosion Joues Contraste Blush ($43) is a medium-toned cool pink with fine shimmer. It's not overly cool, so thankfully it works really well on my warm skin. It provides that dolly pink cheek that pairs well with neutral and cool eyeshadows (purples, taupe, etc).

Mine is the Euro (original 2010) version, which is a baked powder as opposed to the version you'd get from the Chanel counters in the US, which is the standard pressed-powder version. There are slight differences - in general, the baked version isn't as pigmented with one swipe and isn't as soft. I prefer the US version. (You can view a comparison on Cafe Makeup.)

If you know me by now, I find any form of pink color cosmetics hard to resist and I love, love, love Joues Contraste Blushes. Pink Explosion has been on my wishlist for a while now, so when I spotted it in a blog sale, I jumped on it! (Hi Risa!) Anyways, who wouldn't love a product named Pink Explosion?

The pigmentation is good - it's light, but buildable and what you'd want from a blush that's so pink. I'm actually less inclined to use some of my really pigmented blushes (Nars for instance) because I tend to use too heavy of a hand. With my Joues Contraste Blushes, I never go overboard - but if I do, the color blends so well into my skin that it never looks unnatural.

Swatched heavily on the left and lightly on the right.

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer Review & Photos!

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer 

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer ($45) was created to mimic the appearance of healthy, radiant skin. It's a cream foundation and concealer wrapped up in one product. Containing honey and jojoba oil, this foundation is creamy, moisturizing and creates a soft, natural dewy finish.

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer is available in (16) shades: SX01, SX02, SX03, SX04, SX05, SX06, SX07, SX08, SX09, SX10, SX11, SX12, SX13, SX14, SX15 and SX16.

I chose SX08, which is a warm medium shade with strong yellow undertones. It's suitable for the MAC NC35 coloring.

The texture of this cream is a bit different than other cream products I've used. It compares to the creaminess/goopiness of Benefit Erase Paste, but it's more dense and not as tacky. For instance, it's absolutely nothing like MAC Studio Finish Concealer (MAC Full Coverage Foundation) or Cinema Secrets/Graftobian/Ben Nye Foundations which are like the standard cream compact makeup - often dry and dense or with a similar consistency to a concealer stick. It's so much more creamy - luxuriously creamy, but it's also very thick/dense. Because of this, you need a tiny amount (about 1/4 the size of a pea or less) to provide full coverage to the entire face.

Since the formula is so concentrated, it doesn't move around well on dry skin. Whenever wearing this foundation, moisturizing and/or priming the face is an essential step. I usually use a silicone based primer for it to spread better, or apply a generous amount of moisturizer. Then, I like taking a concealer brush and wiping a line of product on each cheek, my chin and forehead. Then, I take a duo-fiber brush and with small circular motions blend it in completely. After it's blended, I like taking a facial mist and spritzing my face and using the duo-fiber brush again buff my face more to make sure everything is perfectly blended.

The result is completely flawless skin that actually looks like skin.

(Wearing Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer SX08)

MAC Pro Products now Available Online!

MAC PRO Products Now Available Online!

Starting today, you can now purchase MAC Pro products online at MAC Cosmetics. So no more having to drive to your nearest MAC Pro store (which many of us don't have access to) or calling the 1-800 number to place an order.

I never really want to go through the hassle of buying over the phone, so I haven't tried too many pro products, but I'm looking forward to it now since I can purchase all of my MAC in one place!

You don't have to be a makeup artist or have a membership to purchase MAC Pro products.

Any Pro products you can recommend?

Physician's Formula Boost Your Beauty Giveaway & Contest!

I partnered up with Physicians Formula to bring the readers of Miss Natty's Beauty Diary a fabulous giveaway in order to spread the word of their amazing Boost Your Beauty Makeup Challenge.

The makers behind the brand would like to know What do you do to boost your beauty using Physicians Formula? If you have any favorite products by Physician's Formula, it shouldn't be hard! Maybe you like using Physicians Formula Shimmer Stripes to boost your radiance, making your skin glisten and glow. Or, perhaps you enjoy using the glamorous compact of Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Blush (the compact has LED lights!) for an ultra long-lasting pink cheek that makes you feel extra feminine and pretty. Entering is easy and only takes a minute or two. Just upload a photo of yourself and enter you answer in the comments box.

The Physicians Formula Makeup Challenge will run till Decemeber 16th. The grand-prize is a pair of heart shaped diamond stud earrings, valued at approx. $4,000! Plus, a variety of Physician's Formula products. In addition, two pairs of diamond stud earrings will be awarded to random participants. (read more..)

As a thank you for reading (and hopefully entering), Physicians Formula is going to reward one of my readers with a few goodies!

The winner will receive:

• One (1) Physicians Formula Glow & Mood Boosting Blush
• One (1) Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Season-to-Season Bronzer
• One (1) Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Felt-Tip Eyeliner + Serum

There are two ways to enter:

• Leave a comment on this post about anything you'd like. What would you like to see more of on Miss Natty's Beauty Diary? (I love helpful feedback!) What's on your makeup wishlist? When it comes to holiday shopping do you buy in advance or last minute? (This will yield (1) entry.) *If for some reason you can't or do not want to comment here, you may email me, post on my facebook or twitter.
• Enter the Physicians Formula Boost Your Beauty Makeup Challenge, and let me know in the comments once you've done so! (This will yield (2) entries.)

(You have an opportunity to have (3) entries in total, which will give you a much better chance to win!)

Terms and Conditions:

• This giveaway will run for two weeks, and the deadline to enter will be on Tuesday, October 30th at 11:59 PM (CST). 
• For fairness, the winner will be chosen at random using random.org.
• Winner will be announced within 48 hours of the deadline. 
• Open to residents of the US only.
• You must permission from a parent or guardian to enter if you are under the age of 18 in most states (with the exception of Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).

*Depending on the outcome of this giveaway, I may pick more than one winner.