Chantecaille Cheek Shade - Emotion and Laughter

When I was in New York recently, I stopped by the Chantecaille counter at Bergdorf Goodman and asked the Chantecaille representative, Casey Hastings (a makeup artist), to freshen up my concealer and blush before I headed off for a party at MiN New York. It had already been a long day for me, and my makeup was fading. Casey did a gorgeous job - without knowing me or my preferences. She was amazing.

She looked me over for about 15 seconds and selected Cheek Shade ($30), a powder blush, in Laughter for my cheeks. This is a shade I had never considered (or purchased). I don't know why. The tiny color swatch online looks gorgeous. In my photo above, Laughter is shown on the right, and Emotion, a color I own and have almost depleted, is shown on the left. I bought a new one. I wanted to picture them together to show anyone who doesn't know them a color comparison.

To swatch them, I applied each heavily with a sponge-tipped applicator. Emotion is shown at the top of my arm, and Laughter is shown below. My photos were taken in full sun.

As you can see, Emotion is a warm pink. It's really pretty on the cheeks, and I love it. Laughter is much more pink and cooler in tone - without being blue. Both work nicely for me. I'd have a hard time selecting only one.

Chantecaille's Cheek Shades are made with micro-particles that contribute to their exquisite colors and featherweight texture. Processed with a new technology that produces a light, ultra-fine coated powder, Cheek Shades adhere beautifully to the skin, yet blend so well they leave no perceptible surface. This subtly convincing blush of color is enriched with anti-aging vitamins A, C, and E. It's cruelty-free and has no animal, lanolin, or mineral derivatives. What's not to love?

There are nine shades available. I'd really like to have all of them. Six of the nine are paraben-free, an extra-added benefit.

Could you select only one of the gorgeous blushes? I'll admit I'm weak, but that choice is too hard. I let my mood and my clothing direct my choice. Want to try one of these or another Chantecaille Cheek Shade? They are easy to find at Chantecaille counters; various boutiques, including Beautyhabit; and Chantecaille's Web site. If you go online, make sure to check for special offers.

Remember my photo in New York? There I am modeling Laughter. Some of my cheek color is Laughter, and some was due, I'm sure, to that day's heat and humidity.

New York photo courtesy of a friend; other photos by Best Things in Beauty