#although during the day I was wearing more brown mauve nude lipstick

[that-cheer-up-anon]

Yesterday was really fun (despite having to wake up early)! Went to the city w my partner to hang out w my big sister at a Japanese market.

There were quite a few stalls w stickers, charms, ceramics, and even a build-your-own terrarium! Had hojicha gelato and honestly I can see why my big sis likes hojicha more than matcha (I think I do too).

There was an area where you could write your wishes on paper and tape it to bamboo for Tanabata. There was one where someone drew a tall among us, and another where someone just wrote "Live, Laugh, Love" which I don't think is a wish, but whatever.

Bought a lot of stickers, an enamel pin and a couple of scrunchies from local artists which was really nice! I was so caught up w the stalls I forgot there was a second level and grocery, so I guess we'll have to go another time to see what's up there.

After the market we got some ramen and it was soooo good! It was my second time going there but the first time for my big sis. We all got black garlic ramen. She said it was really good and worth the money (she lived in Japan for years so I know she knows her stuff), so I'm glad we know at least ONE good authentic ramen place.

We split ways w my big sis and went to a billiard hall and played pool for an hour before heading home. Never been to a billiard hall before which was cool. We got there as soon as it opened so it was mostly empty. I had a lot of fun (even though I lost both rounds lol).

[pebbeul]

Presenting to you my powder blush collection! These are currently the blushes I use the most whenever I have a little more time to doll myself up. You will notice that my blush shades are all relatively similar - I do have brighter/darker blushes, but I don’t find myself reaching for them as often. As mentioned, I am a true neutral girl at heart and therefore I don’t really stray too much from the usual nude colours.

These blushes are at the top of the list of my many blushes (not pictured) mainly because of their formula and lasting power. I absolutely love it when my blushes give me that seamless glow-from-within look, and I have to say that these blushes are neither cakey nor patchy on the skin. There are, of course, some nuances between the various blushes, and I’ve compiled my thoughts on these differences to recommend which blushes are an absolute yes, and which you can pass on.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Mood Exposure: I would say that Hourglass’s blushes are the most interesting out of the lot. I love how the pan has a marbled swirl of blush and finishing powder to create this satin blush that lifts your cheeks. I got Mood Exposure because I wanted something rosier and an easier colour to wear everyday. It might look slightly more mauve in the pan, but on my face it takes on a warmer tone. For a period of time I wore Mood Exposure everyday and it just blended so well into my skin, and you can still see a faint tint of colour even after 6-8 hours, which is relatively impressive considering Singapore’s humidity. However, I find that the colours in this collection are particularly hard to wear; the colours are quite bright/light for my skin tone. Mood Exposure was probably the only colour I felt could be worn for all occasions.

NARS Orgasm: Orgasm is a cult classic - its pinky shade is bright, vibrant, and yet still easy to wear. I have two of these: the original sized one, and the Orgasm blush/highlighter duo. I prefer the latter because its 2 in 1 function makes it more flexible to carry around. Plus, the duo is much cheaper than if I were to buy the blush in its original size. I never finish blushes anyway, so the duo makes a lot more sense for its versatility and its price. I would recommend that if you’re interested in getting NARS’ Orgasm blush, you should get it in a duo (they sell these over the holidays as cute gifts) - it’s the most worth it out of all the blushes listed here.

MAC Sheertone Shimmer Blush Springsheen: Springsheen is actually very close to Orgasm, just that it’s peachier. However, it still retains that warm golden shimmer that Orgasm has, creating a similar golden-glow effect, which is something I love in both blushes. On Asian skintones, I would recommend Springsheen because its undertone is warmer compared to Orgasm, which makes the former look a little more natural on our skin than the latter. Plus, Springsheen is also slightly more pigmented than Orgasm. If you like blushes that are more intense, this would definitely be your cup of tea. However, if you like a more subtle flush, you can always apply it with a lighter hand.

MAC Mineralise Blush Sweet Enough: This neutral, warm-toned pink blush is very pretty and goes particularly well for feminine looks in the daytime. It differs from the above Springsheen blush, in that it has a matte pearlized finish and contains zero shimmer. I do find that this shade is a little too pink for me, considering I prefer browner-toned blushes, but regardless it still works perfectly well for me when I want to make myself look a little more awake during the day. I love to pair this with a strong highlighter, because its matte finish balances out the shimmer from the highlighter (unlike my other blushes that have shimmery particles in their formula).

& other stories Cendal Pink: This was one of the blushes I bought and never used (until recently, and I regret the time wasted already!). On first application I thought that this blusher went on a little patchy, but after trying it a few more times I take back my statement. My mom has also tried this out and she gave it glowing reviews because of how well it suits Asian skin tones. Considering that & other stories is a European brand, I’d say they nailed down this blush pretty well. Cendal Pink, unlike its namesake, is more peachy-coral thank actually pink. It’s however, not too warm that it looks orangey, but warm enough to give just that nice radiant flush on your cheeks. 

Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Pillow Talk: The last blush I’m reviewing today, and my favourite amongst them all! I feel like Charlotte Tilbury as a beauty brand really hits the all right notes for me: her products all have this beautiful blend of a glowy finish and natural colour that makes you look radiant but not overly done up. Pillow Talk is a relatively new blush to Charlotte Tilbury’s Cheek to Chic collection. It’s shade is actually adapted from her bestselling lipstick, Pillow Talk. Although I think the lipstick is a little too pink on my lips, the pink in Pillow Talk’s blush is just nice for me. I would say it has browner undertones than MAC’s Sweet Enough, but it’s not too brown that it looks muddy. Plus, the shimmery centre in the middle of the blush can be blended with the blush to give your cheeks that extra pop! it needs. I find that I can’t seem to express my love for this blush enough - so I’m linking you over to The Beauty Look Book’s review here where they do a wonderful job showing the various swatches of this blush.

Overall, I find that the most value-for-money blush of the lot would be the two MAC blushes. They are often priced reasonably at $30 - 40 SGD, with a generous amount of blush for the price, and the variety of shades in stores are also great. Although they are not my most favourite of the bunch, they would be the most cost efficient to purchase. 

Of course, what sort blushes to purchase ultimately depends on what sort of makeup user you are. If you value price over quality, then & other stories and MAC are better options for you. However, if you value the branding, packaging, and quality of blushes, then NARS, Hourglass, Charlotte Tilbury would win out. 

With all these luxury brands, I find that these formulas will not differ that much for a casual beauty buff. You are indeed getting quality blushes across the board, but just paying a different price for the various brands. 

With that being said, I would still want to recommend Charlotte Tilbury’s Cheek to Chic collection at the end of it because you’re really getting an amazing product for a slightly steeper price. I love my Charlotte Tilbury most and I do not regret a single thing about this blush, even though it is the most expensive at around $60 SGD. However, there’s something about Pillow Talk that just makes me so comfortable and confident using it, and that’s something that other blushes cannot replicate.