Chanel's Narcisse Powder Blush

Ever find a blusher that you keep going back to use, even if it's a couple of years old? That's Chanel's Narcisse Powder Blush ($42) for me. The color is a soft cool-toned pink that adds pretty, natural color with a bit of brightness. Remember "pretty in pink"?

Narcisse was introduced in 2007, and it continues to be a wildly popular shade. No wonder! It's the perfect pink for cool-toned skin, and it makes blue and green eyes pop. I don't think it would be the best blusher for someone with olive or dark skin, but if you have cool-toned skin, you will find it very pretty. Last week, a beauty adviser gushed over the blusher I was wearing. Who doesn't love getting compliments? [I know: someone will say, "Why was it so nice that she thought you looked good because of your blusher?" The answer is that she is a beauty pro, so she knows.]

The little brush that comes with it is useless - at least for blusher. Since most of us are now well-trained "real makeup brush" users, I don't know why Chanel doesn't stop putting those silly brushes into their compacts. I apply mine with a nice fluffy blusher brush, and I can layer it for just the right amount of color because it's sheer. The tiny brush is best saved for dusting your keyboard.

Check out the reviews on MakeupAlley. That tough bunch rated it a 4.4 out of 5. MakeupAlley is a good resource when you are considering a purchase and want to know how others liked it.

Other great colors of Chanel's remarkable powder blush (Joues Contraste) are Orchid Rose and Rose Bronze. As with all Chanel makeup, there's a shade for you, so check out their blushers if you want a treat. Available at Chanel online, Saks, Nordstrom, and other department stores.