Shiseido Camellia Compact
One of the most pigmented - not to mention the prettiest - blushes I've tried is the Shiseido Camellia Compact (P1,998). It's a limited edition blush released by Shiseido to celebrate their 140th anniversary! It has three shades - Rich Rose (reddish), Spring-Petal Pink (light pink), and Icy-Cool Platinum (shimmery white). They can be used individually or swirled together to get a beautiful flush that glows.
Spring-Petal and Icy-Cool Platinum are just moderately pigmented. It's Rich Rose that brings it all together! It's so pigmented you can use it as an eyeshadow and forget about the base, please.
I love how flattering the mixed shade is on me and how I can customize it according to my preferences. Reddish blushes tend to look good on my yellow medium skin, and this blush isn't an exception! I mix all three with my blush brush on the compact (just a tiny amount is enough) proceeding to take off most of the powder on the back of my hand. Then, I apply on the apples of my cheeks moving up to my hairline.
If I just want a light fresh pink, I forego the Rich Rose. I use a contour brush from Real Techniques so I can easily pick out the colors I want. Same when I just need the white for highlighting - I just apply with a big eyeshadow brush.
Used the pink and white here
And here's a reddish flush matched with a lipstick in a similar shade
Incidentally, this compact comes with a wonderful brush. It doesn't fit in the compact, which is fine by me. I don't want the brush to mess the surface of the powder! The brush comes with its own case so you can chuck it in your bag without worrying about the bristles. It's soft and dense enough that you can use it to retouch your oily areas with face powder.
Oh and I just have to rave about how long this stays on! The lasting power of the Shiseido Camellia Rose is phenomenal. It will last all day with minimal fading, even in humid weather. It also looks better, more like flushed skin, as it mixes with the natural oils on the face. It's something I will recommend to oily-skinned girls since this doesn't melt off easily, if at all.
Verdict? Great stuff. It's quite expensive, and frankly for less that price you can get a MAC, NARS, or Benefit blush and call it a day. But if you're a fan of Shiseido, a collector of beautiful limited edition makeup, or just simply want a blush you can customize, you should definitely give the Shiseido Camellia Compact a spin. :)
Thoughts?
