Freshface Blush Powder and a Fresh Event

When you think Fresh, do you think fragrance, soaps, and/or skin care? If you don't think about makeup too, you're missing one of the world's great values. Fresh makes super-quality makeup with the same love and care they put into their better-known products.

Freshface Blush Powder ($28) is a sheer, pressed powder that gives cheeks a healthy, natural glow. The micronized, pigmented powder has a velvety texture that creates a smooth and even application for a natural-looking, long-lasting flush. The paraben-free and fragrance-free formula is enriched with moisturizing aloe leaf extract, smoothing vitamin A, and protective vitamin C. What else would you expect from Fresh?

Freshface Blush Powder is packaged in a darling floral-decorated compact that includes a small mirror. It's a Fresh as the look you will create when you run your blush brush over it to "get happy." I'm a flower fan, so I find the compact delightful. It's also easy to spot hanging around with all the fashionable black compacts in my bathroom.

It's available in two colors: Nectar and Petal. Nectar, described as coral, is a coral I can wear. It's summer-like, and when summer arrives, I'm usually in the mood for peaches and corals - shades that can look ghastly on me in mid-winner. The Petal shade is what you would expect a cool-toned blond to wear to look blushingly pretty in pink.

Here's my photo of Nectar, a gift from the local Fresh account executive. Alyson is a hoot. I'll bet she gave me Nectar to shake me out of my pink and rose comfort zone.

I took some quick swatch photos of Nectar yesterday, when the sun finally came out in the afternoon. I was hoping to get a lot of photos for the week, but we had a cloudy, rainy morning. I'm glad I was able to get these. I applied Nectar with a sponge-tipped applicator in order to get a lot of pigment on my skin for the photo. Sunlight (or a flash bulb) will wash out subtle shades. The downside is the shine from reflected sunlight. My photo was taken in front of my house, where the flagstone walk meets the grass.

I applied Nectar fairly heavily in the bottom swatch on my arm. Then, I decided to apply it with a much lighter touch above. In the light application, you can see how much pink there is in Nectar - probably why I like it so much. Nectar will give any skin tone a summer-flushed look. Isn't it pretty?

Check out Freshface Blush Powder the next time you go to Neiman Marcus or Sephora. If you are lucky enough to have a Fresh boutique nearby, I'll bet you've already seen it!

Now, for my DC-area readers, we are having a Fresh party. I'm inviting you. On June 22, we are having a special party/master class at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria after work. Jawn Marques, Creative Director of Fresh, will be flying in to lead the class and give participants individualized beauty tips. The whole Fresh team, including Alyson O'Brien, Account Executive, and Alison Kauffman, Product Specialist at Neiman Marcus, will be with us to make sure you have a great time. Kathy Shoreman, super sales associate and an expert herself, will be there too.

Every time I get together with Jawn, I have a blast. He is so much fun - and beyond talented. He's a makeup and skin-care guru who always attracts a crowd. We'll learn how to use Fresh makeup and skin care to look and feel great and treat our skin, and we'll have a fun exposure to all of Fresh's fragrance products. Alyson, Jawn, and I have been planning this event for months to ensure you have a great time. They are shown in the photo here.

The party starts at 5:30 pm at the Café at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria. That's a soft start for those who want to come and chat - or maybe have a glass of wine and nibble on some food. The hard start will be at 6:00 pm, when the master class starts (of course, the food and wine will continue to flow). Fresh will sponsor a drawing for a gift basket of Fresh products. Everyone who participates will be entered to win.

To make a reservation, call (703) 761-1600 and ask for Kathy Shoreman at extension 3282. You can also reserve a spot by e-mailing Kathy_Shoreman@neimanmarcusstores.com. I hope to see my DC-area friends there! I've been looking forward to the event for months.

Photo at top courtesy of Sephora; all other photos by Best Things in Beauty