New: Clinique Black Honey Shimmering Tones Powder

New and exclusive to Sephora, Clinique's limited-edition Black Honey Shimmering Tones Powder ($29.50) was a must-have for me. I love everything Black Honey!

Long a cult favorite, Black Honey shimmers in this beautifully blended powder. It instantly creates a sheer, subtle radiance that will look fabulous on everyone, just like the classic that inspired it.

The checkerboard pressed powder is presented in a fun black honey colored compact, rather than the usual Clinique silver. It will be easy to spot in my makeup pile-up.

The powder itself thrilled me. It offers three colors that, when blended (the only way to use them effectively), provides a gleaming, unique rosy brown mauve shade. The shade is so hard to define I had to string together three color terms. All of you makeup lovers know Black Honey, so I'm fairly confident you'll understand.

You can see the three shades in the compact photos above. One is a fleshy pink, the second is a light plummy mauve, and third is a deeper plummy mauve with a lot of brown in it. I suppose you could use the shades individually with an eye shadow brush if you want to, but that wasn't the purpose of the powder.

I took a few swatch photos in full sun to attempt to show you the shade. I applied the powder very heavily with a dense blush brush at the top of my arm and very lightly below. The powder gleams. It shimmers, but not in a sparkly way. If you swipe your fingers across the colors, you'll see that the shimmer must come from micro-fine powders - so fine that there's no single sparkle within the effect. It gleams like sunlight's reflection on water. Lightly applied, it's perfectly daytime-appropriate.

Black Honey Shimmering Tones Powder is enormously flattering. Black Honey has always been "every woman's color." There's something about the rosy brown that mimics our skin tones, blush tones, lip colors - no matter what our coloring. If you've never tried Black Honey, you have a new opportunity. You can find this beauty online at Sephora.

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

YSL Beauté Blush Variation for Fall 2010

I have worn YSL Beauté's Blush Variation ($45) for years - love it. I own many different shades, and they are all fabulous. Naturally, I selected the new #19, Venetian Rose, featured with YSL's Fall 2010 Collection. The colors looked beautiful - pink and nude.

Blush Variation combines both matte and iridescent textures that blend together to enliven the cheekbones with a veil of color. The exclusive formula, containing self-adapting pigments, catches all the intensity of light and transforms it into a vibrant source of color.

Well, usually.

What I didn't expect was how light Venetian Rose is. Check out my arm photo. Can you see it? Barely, if you squint, right? Venetian Rose is more of a highlighter than a blusher. Don't expect much color from it.

I didn't purchase the new limited edition PÉCHÉ N° 1: L’ÉCLAT Collector Palette ($65), shown below, because when I tested it, it looked just like powder. There was virtually no color, other than my skin tone. I didn't need another powder. As pretty as the compact is, I left it behind at the store.

Now I'm wondering if I should have left #19, Venetian Rose, Blush Variation behind as well. As a rule, the Blush Variations have color - pretty color. This one's a pink-toned highlighter.

There's a lesson here. Always test before leaving the store. I was in a hurry, saw a product that looked perfect for me, and bought it. Oddly, I did take the time to test the eye shadow duo I purchased because I wasn't sure I could wear it. I'll show you that tomorrow.

If you want to see the Fall 2010 collection, it's in department stores now. It's also available at YSL Beauté's Web site, where free shipping is currently available.

Photos courtesy of YSL Beauté

Benefit Sugarbomb

This crazy collecting blogger has some great new blushers, and Benefit's Sugarbomb ($28) is among them. It's the bomb!

Marketed as a "sugar rush flush" facial powder, Sugarbomb has four unique shades of rose, shimmering pink, soft plum, and peach. Blended together, the blush leaves a rosy pink with a touch of peach on my cheeks. The color is buildable, which I appreciate. One swirl for me, and I am wearing enough. Others with darker skin might want to apply a second coat.

Sugarbomb has a slight shimmer, but not so much that I would avoid wearing it to work. I wore it to work a few days this week, and I was very pleased with the results. I liked the color, and I liked the fact that I could see it - unfaded - when I got home from work. We can add "workhorse" to its list of praises.

I love multi-colored blushers. They seem to leave a depth of color on the face that single shades can't match. Of course, this blusher collector possesses and wears single-color blushers (the Armani Beauty ones, such as #10, are incomparable), but I'm smitten with those that blend shades. That's why I was attracted to Sugarbomb, which I ordered online before I had seen it.

Do you purchase blushers because of the brush? Hope not because this one's as useless as most of the brushes that come prepacked in blushers. Please don't misunderstand; it works. It's just not an ideal way to apply Sugarbomb. If you are on the go, however, you may find it useful, tucked into the top of the box and separated from the product by a plastic lift-out divider. Otherwise, you can use this one to keep your keyboard clean.

You can purchase Benefit from the Benefit Cosmetics Web site, Sephora, Macy's, or wherever you find a Benefit Cosmetics counter. Yesterday, Sephora sent me an offer to select a deluxe sample without giving up 100 points. I chose a sample of Benetint, one of Benefit's most-fabulous products. Use code CHOOSEME to see what's available.

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Exotic Bronzing Blush for Summer 2010

Last week, I purchased a few pieces from Estee Lauder's new Bronze Goddess collection. One standout is the limited-edition Exotic Bronzing Blush ($35).

This huge blusher comes in a mirrored compact in just one shade pattern that should work for at least half of us! The vibrant pink mixed with a light-to-medium bronze powder makes this bronzer especially wearable. You can wear it as a shimmering sun-kissed blusher, which I have been doing for the last few days, as a bronzer, or to enhance the tan or bronzer you already have (or one of the bronzers from the new collection). I love the flexibility.

Estee Lauder suggests a few ways to apply it.

• For an exotic glow, apply it to the "apple" of your cheeks and down the center of your face.
• Use it alone as a blush sweeping from the middle of your ear towards tip of nose.

I find that it's also great for a quick contour under the cheekbones, at the temples, and to frame the face.

If you are tired of your winter look, you may want to check out the Bronze Goddess collection. I'm glad I did. I will tell you about the other pieces in the collection over the next few days.

Pieces of Bronze Goddess, including this one, are selling out quickly in stores. The Exotic Bronzing Blush is available at the Estee Lauder Web site and at Estee Lauder counters. Don't count on it to stay at the counters for long. I got the last blusher at the Neiman Marcus at Tysons Corner.

Photo courtesy of Estee Lauder

Sisley Phyto Blush and the Neiman Marcus Beauty Event

This past week, I had a marvelous complimentary facial at Neiman Marcus - one hour of pure bliss, courtesy of Simone Noorestani! I will tell you about it later this week. After my facial, Janette Glynn, did a pretty makeup application, using some special Sisley colors. One that I particularly liked was Phyto Blush ($85) in #4, Rose.

I'm a pushover for multi-shade blushers. I think they give a depth to the cheeks that single-color blushers don't achieve. I like to mix colors on my brush (thank you, Loyd Cassler!), and that's easy when I can swirl the brush across multiple colors in the pan.

Sisley's Phyto Blush, which comes in four shades, has two colors - light and dark shades of the same color family - in the pan. The color, when applied, is transparent, lively, natural, and radiant. The Phyto Blush powder is "ultra-fine," meaning it adds light, sheer color that's buildable. This blush has light-reflecting properties, which minimize surface irregularities and impart a soft-focus look. One of the ingredients, mother of pearl, adds a subtle glow - no shimmer, just a soft glow.

The available colors are Rose, Litchi, Mango, and Peach. Rose is perfect for me. Any of them would last you a long time because the pan is relatively large.

Beauty Week starts on February 25 at Neiman Marcus. With any $100 beauty or fragrance purchase, you will take home an "überchic" denim bag in your choice of colors, filled with goodies. Additionally, there are many gifts with purchase within the beauty department. Sisley's gift is fabulous! See them all at this link. Pre-sale has already started, so visit now if you can, or call your favorite beauty rep and place your order. It's so hectic once the event starts. I like a more leisurely shopping experience.

If you shop at the Neiman Marcus at Tysons Corner and are interested in the Sisley gift, call Loula Ayoub at (703) 761-1600, extension 3230, to line up a purchase.

Photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus

Jouer Cosmetics and Mineral Powder Blush

While I was in New York this weekend, shopping at Henri Bendel, I stopped to check out the Jouer Cosmetics counter. After I had circled a few times, I stopped to chat with Karen, a makeup artist with the company. I got Karen's card, but unfortunately, I just noticed that it doesn't have her last name on it. I can tell you that she pronounces it "Car-in" with the emphasis on the first syllable (for anyone who remembers such lessons from school!). I enjoyed our short time together, while she touched up my face with blusher and powder. More on that below.

Who is Jouer Cosmetics? I'll let them introduce themselves!

Your makeup drawer is your beauty wardrobe. Tucked inside are a few key items you use every day that are effortlessly flattering, yet there are countless other whimsical items hardly ever touched. Imagine a complete cosmetics line designed with only key items – no matter your selection, you discover just the right shades, in just the right formulations, in just the right packaging. Your discovery? Jouer Cosmetics.

Based in Los Angeles, Jouer was founded by International Beauty Stylist Christina Zilber, who provides a fresh, editorial view of makeup to complement individual fashion sense and lifestyle. Defined as "to play" in French, Jouer offers supreme wearability, mix-and-match customization, and state-of-the-art portability for women on the go.

Since its inception in 2004, Jouer has redeveloped and refined the brand, extending into a full collection. Jouer launched as a Henri Bendel New York exclusive in August 2008 and quickly rose to become a cult favorite. The 133-item collection consists of a carefully edited range of face, lip, eye, and cheek cosmetics and continues to develop innovative products that offer solutions to the modern woman's lifestyle needs.

After my train trip up to New York, I knew I looked a bit pale, and I was headed for the hair styling suite sponsored by Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas and hosted by Lianne Farbes of The Makeup Girl at the W Hotel. How could I walk into a room full of glam beauty bloggers looking makeup-less? Karen and I looked over the Mineral Powder Blush and discussed the pros and cons of several shades for me before selecting Rose. She applied it with a nice fluffy blush brush. Voila! I had color again - pretty, natural-looking color!

Mineral Powder Blush ($24) is a lightweight, oil-free mineral blush that refreshes the complexion with a soft veil of color. Light-diffusing minerals create a soft finish, while Japanese green tea powder, and vitamins A, C, and E protect against free radicals. Jouer distinguishes itself by including skin-care ingredients in its color cosmetics, so they work for your skin while making you look good. I came home with Rose. For a brighter, more spring-like shade, I would wear Blossom, the color Karen herself was wearing. Both shades are very pretty. There are six shades available, so there's at least one that will suit you too.

A touch of Mineral Face Powder ($30) finished me off! It comes in three shades, and the perfect one for me was Perle d'Ivoire, a soft pearl for fair complexions. Karen sent me off a little more confident that I looked alive!

I love the Jouer line. Drop by the Web site! You can shop online, of course. I like "Get the Look," an opportunity to play with looks and colors. You select an eye, cheek, or lip color, click on "Get the Look," and you'll see how that color looks on four different women representing the spectrum of our skin and hair colors. It's a "full-service" Web site.

If you get by Henri Bendel, ask for Karen. She's terrific! I told her that Kari at Fabulous Over Forty had sent me, and she remembered styling her makeup last September! Pretty cool!

Photos courtesy of Jouer Cosmetics

Chantecaille Spring 2010 Look - Les Dauphins

This arrived in my inbox last night! I have been enthusiastically checking the Chantecaille counter at Neiman Marcus, waiting for the Spring 2010 Look. Now, I'm waiting for the hours to tick by until I can find out if the colors have actually arrived in the store. I think the look is gorgeous!

What animal (or makeup) lover could resist Les Dauphins ($77)? Each pan in this new quad is embossed with dolphins! The duo shades for the eyes offer warm grays, delicate beiges, and iridescent neutrals. The perfect pink cheek color offers "a universally flattering flush of rosy warmth."

I must have this! How could our impending snow storm deny me? If it's not at the store - or I can't get there - I'll be ordering online at the Chantecaille Web site. Fast! Trust me, friends, this palette is going to sell out!

I'll let you know more as soon as I can get my hands on Les Dauphins (and more) from Chantecaille for Spring 2010.

Photo courtesy of Chantecaille

Shu Uemura Égérie Satin Radiant Sticks for Spring 2010

Égérie..."a rebellious and daring spirit who never loses her sense of elegance and sophistication." Shu Uemura's Spring 2010 collection is inspired by rock 'n roll. Flashy, glimmering shine is complemented with delicate satin-sheen finishes to transport you to the spotlight of the captivating rock stage.

I would have gladly jumped onstage with the Beatles at their first U.S. live appearance at the old Uline Arena in Washington, D.C. I was so starstruck that night! John, Paul, George, and Ringo stole my heart and kept it. Who hasn't imagined themselves onstage with their idols?

Did the rock 'n roll theme attract me to the Shu Uemura makeup? Not really - maybe I'm too old! I'm not much of a rebel, and I'm more interested in cool makeup than rock music! The makeup reeled me in.

When I first saw the new Shu Uemura collection online, I was immediately attracted to the Égérie Satin Radiant Sticks ($40), two stick-style blusher-highlighters with a soft, creamy texture for the cheeks. Shu Uemura promised a delicate satin veil for my face. Sold! Then I read about the tiny particles of pearls that would add a satin-shimmery finish. I ordered them sight unseen - Translucent for highlighting and Blush, a peachy-pink blusher.

When my Shu Uemura order arrived, I tore into the box with glee! There's something about stick products that I can't resist - maybe because I have so many great ones, like Ramy's Multiples! for Eyes, Cheeks, and Lips; NARS The Multiple; or Bobbi Brown's Sheer Color Cheek Tints.

Do I love the new Satin Radiant Sticks too? Yep! Like most stick products, you do have to blend them after application. It's not really swipe and go. You can blend with your fingers or a foundation brush - they both work. I use my fingers with the Satin Radiant Sticks. The Translucent one is truly colorless. It leaves a sheer, subtle shine wherever you use it. This is a really versatile product. I may even throw it in my overburdened makeup bag. Blush is a fabulous peachy-pink color. It's a shade that's going to appeal to a lot of you. Even the containers are attractive, with their silver, pink, and white design.

The ingredients are fascinating! The first ingredient, always the most highly concentrated, is dimethicone, a silicone-based polymer that gives a soft, velvety glide to skin products. Because it stays on the surface of the skin, dimethicone provides a protective barrier. It's an excellent ingredient for someone whose skin barrier is challenged, such as someone with rosacea whose epidermis is thin and needs added protection or someone with dry skin. Dimethicone helps prevent transdermal water loss. Another ingredient is canola oil, which is moisturizing. In short, the sticks have good slip, and they are protective and moisturizing. They rock!

You can see the collection and the rock 'n roll looks created for it at Shu Uemura's Web site or wherever you normally check out the line. Today (literally), you can receive free shipping with the purchase of any Égérie product at Shu Uemura. Registered members always get free shipping and a deluxe sample with a purchase of $50 or more.

Photos courtesy of Shu Uemura

Armani Beauty Blending Blush Duo

Have you tried the Blending Blush Duo ($60) from Giorgio Armani Beauty? It's the ultimate in cream blushers, with two fabulous shades in each compact. Why two? Loyd Cassler at Saks uses the lighter shade to soften the edges, making the blusher look like a second skin.

The Blending Blush Duo is aptly named because it blends and layers so nicely. The Micro-fil cream texture allows the blusher to morph into fluid color on contact with the skin. The result? Soft, flushed, and natural color that subtly highlights and sculpts the face and cheeks.

The blush duo is perfect for women with dry skin because it doesn't sit on the surface of the skin like some blushers. When the Armani Team says it morphs into the skin, they are not exaggerating.

The duo is available in four shades combos. I'll bet there's one that's perfect for you!

• 01 - Pink Rose/Sand
• 02 - Coral/Warm Sand
• 03 - Terra Cotta/Mocha
• 04 - Rosewood/Raspberry

The last time Tim Quinn applied my makeup at Saks, he selected Blending Blush Duo in 01 - Pink Rose/Sand, a compact I already had. When he was done, I had prominent cheekbones and just the right amount of color on my cheeks. Someone who didn't know that one of the best makeup artists on earth had just applied my makeup might have thought I always looked that good. The effect was really natural and pretty.

Quality cream blushers will enhance your appearance if applied correctly, and this one's no exception. Start with a light application and layer as needed, blending well for a seamless look. It's that easy! I use Armani's Blender Brush ($47), but you can use any foundation brush to apply cream blushers.

I especially like the fact that there are two shades in the Blending Blush Duo, allowing me to use only one or blend them together. Depending on the look I'm trying to achieve, I can sculpt and/or add a glow. If I want a bronze look, I can use the brown-toned shade alone - just like a bronzer. If I want to add color to my cheeks, I can use the bright shade alone (Pink Rose most often for me) or modulate the brightness of the color by mixing it with the brown-toned shade. Depending on how you mix, you can achieve a "wardrobe of color" with just one compact.

I have purchased two of the Blending Blush Duos - the colors are versatile, and I love to mix and match. I highly recommend these blushers!

You can purchase them at the Armani Beauty Web site, Saks Fifth Avenue, and wherever there is an Armani Beauty counter.

Photo courtesy of Giorgio Armani Beauty

Laura Geller Face Glow Box

I ordered Laura Geller's Face Glow Box ($39) last week. Am I glad! I have worn it every day since it arrived. It's love - a blusher and highlighter in one neat little package.

Use Laura Geller's Glow Box, and you won't look "made up." The effect is very natural. Nestled side by side are the fabulous baked Ethereal Rose Baked Face Powder, which I own as a "single," and a Baked Highlighter. The highlighter adds subtle strokes of illumination (no glitter!). Included in the Glow Box are a mirror underneath the lid and a half-moon brush tucked inside its own special compartment, in case you want to travel with the Glow Box. I use a professional blusher brush with both shades.

Ethereal Rose is a perfect shade for me (fair skin). It provides a pretty, natural blush that stays on all day. I was happy to find it paired with a highlighter. I'm thinking about taking this box to work for late-day touch-ups (for days when I plan to head off from work to a social event) since I have an Ethereal Rose I can use at home.

Want to try one? You can purchase the Glow Box directly from Laura Geller's Web site. They always throw a sample or two in your box. Also, they give great phone advice (really professional and nice) if you aren't sure about shades that will work for you. Love those gals!

Here's another nice thing. Laura Geller has joined forces with Uniting Against Lung Cancer, and her company has donated almost $300,000 to support lung cancer research.

Laura Geller's products are also available select Macy's, Beauty 360, and QVC, but with the exception of last weekend, I haven't figured out how to get free shipping from QVC. Free shipping is important to me. So, if any of you know how I can save that money, please tell me!

Photo courtesy of Laura Geller

Luna Twilight Mortal Glow Blushing Cream

You think you made a mistake. You ask your favorite Nordstrom beauty advisor about a cream blusher you had seen online, and he tells you he'll take you downstairs to the teenybopper department.

We got down there and found Luna Twilight, prominently displayed at the foot of the escalator. There it was on a large display: Luna Twilight Mortal Glow Blushing Cream ($22) in two shades, Adrenaline and Swoon. We tested, we swooned! Both shades were gorgeous, and the creamy texture was fabulous. I had to buy both of them because I couldn't choose between them.

Luna Twilight was inspired by the Twilight Saga. I understand these movies are all the rage with the teenage set. I must be seriously culturally deprived because I was only vaguely aware of this phenomenon. Capitalizing on the "love," Summit Entertainment introduced two makeup lines: Luna Twilight and Volturi Twilight.

The Luna Twilight Mortal Glow Blushing Cream is a blusher/highlighter hybrid, called a breakthrough blend of mousse and cream blush that glides on effortlessly with a brush or fingertips. Each blush has three distinct, hand-blended colors that create a mélange of color with a pattern unique to each individual blush. The creamy texture is divine, and the colors are shiny and sheer - better, I think, as highlighters than blushers. I applied one with a foundation brush this morning and finished it with some powder blusher. Really nice look!

Adrenaline is a blend of warm and cool pinks. Swoon, advertised as "the ultimate trio of nudes," is really mauve-toned.

Luna Twilight has some interesting products, including First Light Face Glow and Body Glow. I'll check them out on the next trip, now that I've recovered from the shock of shopping in the teen department.

Available at Nordstrom.

Update 11/17: Little did I know how timely this was! Check out this Associated Press account of the premiere of The Twilight Saga: New Moon.

Update 11/21: By today, Nordstrom had moved the Luna Twilight makeup upstairs to the beauty department.

Photo courtesy of Luna Twilight

Best Drugstore Beauty: Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush

Like cream blusher as much as I do? You ought to give Maybelline's Dream Mousse Blush ($7.49) a try. The air-soft formula of this blusher provides luminous, long-lasting cheek color. It glides on smoothly and blends easily for seamless color and a natural, radiant finish. It's available in six colors, two pinks and one of each of the following: mauve, plum, coral, and brown.

Maybelline recommends that you apply it with your fingertips by patting a small amount of blush onto the apples of your cheeks. Use feathery strokes to blend gently from your cheekbones to your temples. To build color intensity, you can simply apply more.

I have several of the colors, but my favorite is #10, Pink Voyage. It is very natural on my fair skin. I keep one in my desk at work for late-day touch-ups.

Dream Mousse Blush is available wherever Maybelline products are sold: drugstores, supermarkets, Target, and many more stores. There are often BOGO offers at the drugstores (Rite Aid has one on Maybelline Cosmetics now), so you can get two for the price of one by timing your purchase well.

Photo courtesy of Maybelline

Philosophy Supernatural Cream Blush Giveaway Contest

Philosophy's new The Supernatural Lit from Within Healthy Cream Blush ($22.50) is a beauty. This super-blendable, creamy, natural mineral blush moisturizes, energizes, and adds sheer, healthy color to cheeks for a very natural-looking blush.

You can read about The Supernatural Collection at this Best Things in Beauty link. The products are full of minerals, plant extracts, fruit extracts, vitamins, and antioxidants. They don't contain parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, talc, sulfates, propylene glycols, pegs, or fragrance.

Philosophy says you need this blusher if:

• you want natural-looking healthy color;
• you want a super-blendable, creamy blush;
• You want a good-for-your-skin formula that brightens and protects your skin; and
• you want sheer color and a soft, radiant glow.
  

Who doesn't?

The Healthy Cream Blush is available in three colors. I have one Lit from Within in Bare Your Soul to give away. It's a pretty pink-peach blend that will work well for many complexions.

To enter, e-mail bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com. Let me know why you should be the one lucky gal to win this blusher. Our deadline will be Friday, October 30, at 5:00 pm Eastern Time. Good Luck!

I do have to tell you one thing about this product: My cat slept on the box while I had it next to my computer to prepare for the giveaway contest. The blusher is fine, but the box is a tiny bit crushed. He sends his apologies.¹

I'll be posting this contest on Free!Grechen, which you really ought to check out for all kinds of fabulous contests.

¹ OK, so he's not really sorry, but he is purring with faux guilt. He believes that I shouldn't leave stuff where he likes to nap.

Photo courtesy of Philosophy

Avon's Smooth Minerals Blush

Recently, Kari reviewed Avon's Smooth Minerals Blush on Fabulous Over Forty. I'd like to second her opinion!

A couple of weeks ago, when I repeat-ordered my True Color Eye Shadow Quads, I decided to try Avon's Smooth Minerals Blush ($10). The price was right, and the colors looked lovely.

Here's an edited version of what Avon has to say about this new minerals product.

New formula with our 100% naturally derived mineral complex. Contains pure mineral pigments…and enriched with vitamins. Free of talc, oil, and fragrance. Great for all skin types, even sensitive skin. Infused with our mineral glow pearls, Avon’s mineral blush illuminates cheeks and helps to bring out the skin’s true vibrance. Featherlight, airbrushed finish for a healthy radiance.

I agree, Avon! These are nice blushers. I purchased two shades: Blushing Mauve and Rose Radiance. Both of these shades worked beautifully on my pale face. What's amazing to me is how little product produces all-day radiance. I started with a tiny amount of product, expecting to layer on more. What a surprise that "tiny" was enough! These may last "forever," or at least until a new mineral blusher grabs my attention. I'll admit that my attention span for makeup can be short - always moving on to the next best thing.

These blushers do have some ingredients I don't like, such as methylparaben, propylparaben, and retinyl palmitate. They seem out of place to me in a minerals product. Fortunately, they are well down the ingredient list, so their quantity is probably limited in each blusher.

If you are in the minerals market, you might want to give one of these a try. Available from Avon's Web site or your local Avon rep.

Photo courtesy of Avon

Clinique Blushwear Cream Stick Blusher

If you like cream blusher, Clinique's Blushwear Cream Stick ($18.50) is a fabulous one. Not only is the price right, it has all the qualities we look for in a cream blusher: blends easily; transparent, natural color; buildable color; transfer- and water-resistant. Not only that, it is billed as "cream to powder," so it dries to a lasting finish.

I love this stuff - so much that I bought one in every color...Rosy Blush, Peachy Blush, Glow Blush, and Shy Blush. That way, I can create any look I want - with fingers, brush, or sponge to blend.

This week only, with any $30 Clinique purchase at clinique.com, you can get a mini Rosy Blush and free shipping by using the offer code GREAT at checkout. Great is exactly how I would describe this blusher!

Photo courtesy of Clinique.

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.