You've probably figured it all out by now: I live for peach shades on cheeks and lips. Not that I don't like a fresh pink on the cheek, or a vampy red lip - but peaches, you can never go wrong. Summer, winter, day wear, evening wear; when in doubt, go for the peach. So please excuse me while I revel in the cuteness of the newest peach in my stash,
The Face Shop Lovely ME:EX Pastel Cushion Blusher in 02 Coral Cushion (~$6 for 0.17 oz/5g).
How adorable is this packaging?! Yes, a mini fluffy powder puff instantly makes a product that much more exciting. As you can see, the blush comes in a cardboard box with a puff resting on a little plastic film insert, which I removed to avoid the glare in photos. As adorable as the puff might be, I don't actually use it to apply the blush - I prefer the precision of a cheek brush, and disliked the idea of getting the puff dirty, but it's definitely an option when you're on the go.
Now, as for the 'cushion' part: The Face Shop Pastel Cushion Blusher is just a standard, pressed powder blush, nothing like the currently popular BB Cushion compacts - which, if you've never heard of them, are liquid foundations in a compact equipped with a saturated sponge that you press down with an applicator sponge to dispense the product. So the name of The Face Shop blush is definitely quite misleading; it seems that the brand is simply trying to take advantage of the 'cushion' trend to sell more.
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| Clockwise, starting with The Face Shop Coral Cushion Blusher: NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Plaza Pink, Laura Mercier Lotus Pink, NYX Powder Blush in Peach, Laura Mercier Lush Nectarine |
In terms of the Pastel Cushion formula, the blush feels smooth and silky in the pan and it's quite tightly packed/ doesn't kick up any powder. There's a slight fragrance to it in the packaging, but it doesn't linger on the skin. It blends evenly on the cheeks, doesn't emphasize any texture, and lasts quite well on me - although mind you, most powders as well as creams wear fine on my cheeks.
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| L-R: The Face Shop Coral Cushion, NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Plaza Pink, Laura Mercier Lotus Pink, NYX Powder Blush in Peach, Laura Mercier Lush Nectarine |
My gripe with The Face Shop Cushion Blusher is the level of pigmentation; the Coral Cushion is very, very sheer, and what appears to be a medium depth pinky peach shade in the pan swatches as a very light peach on the skin - the above swatch was about five layers of the product. It barely shows up even on my fair skin, and requires a lot of building up on the cheeks, although the final result is in fact a subtle, luminous flush that instantly brightens up the face. In the pan, Coral Cushion has some fine pearl running through the powder, but on the skin it has a glowy satin finish.
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| Base: Bobbi Brown Natural Finish Long-Wearing Foundation in Porcelain (discontinued) set with MUFE HD Powder, Eyes: Clinique Chubby Stick in Ample Amber on the lid with Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sugar Frost on the inner corners and lower lashline, Benefit BadGal mascara, Lips: Essence Stay With Me Lip Gloss in Candy Bar |
All in all, I wouldn't exactly recommend you run out and buy The Face Shop Pastel Cushion Blushers - from reading other reviews online, it seems that all shades are very light and sheer. I quite enjoy using the Coral Cushion when I have some time to faff around with multiple layers, but I think for darker skintones, it could merely serve as a very subtle highlight.
Have you tried any make-up from The Face Shop? What are your thoughts on the whole 'cushion' trend?
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