Spring Staple: Pink Cheeks

It seems like everyone this week, myself included, is in the hacking throes of a spring flu. I look like death, warmed slightly. So it seemed a perfect time to pull out that most reviving and brightening of of spring looks - the candy-floss flush.

My favorite incarnation of this bright cheeked look was on last year's runways, when Michael Kors sent out models with delicately pinned, flyaway hair, translucent skin and a cool, natural flush.  They looked like English roses caught in a chilly spring breeze, with a disheveled, 1930's, Love in a Cold Climate-vibe that was makeup perfection.

Let's be honest - these sorts of colors look absolutely terrifying in the pan, so cool-toned and bright, and I'm the first to veer away from them on the makeup counter. But be brave and play around with them - you'll be surprised how natural, sheer and soft they look, a much sweeter, clearer flush than the usual warmer tones impart. Hands down favorites here at the Blossom Shed are Dior's Rosy Glow Awakening Blush, for its impossibly fine and miraculously adjusting powder finish, and YSL's Creme de Blush in Babydoll, for its sheer, featherweight texture and gorgeous glow. Both blend beautifully with skin, seeming to impart a flush from within, and are perfection paired with long, glossy lashes and artfully disheveled hair.

How do you feel about a pale, candy-floss flush? Does it make you feel like the heroine in a fairytale too? How are you shaking up your makeup bag this spring? Share below...

Beauty Thieving - Louis Vuitton S/S 12

I'm sure I wasn't the only one to be completely captivated by the makeup for the carousel-themed Louis Vuitton S/S 12 show - not just divinely pretty, but infinitely wearable, and easily adjustable to suit any skintone. Since October I've been searching high and wide for some sort of tutorial on the look, but I can't find a thing - so I had to take matters into my own hands and make one myself. I don't see why it shouldn't be possible to do a similar, slightly easier version of the look with the above products. Apparently makeup artist Pat McGrath used 10 sets of false lashes on each eye for the show to give the incredible feathery length. This is not for me, who can manage to get just one strip caught under my eyelid or up my nose when attempting to apply. So I think a good lengthening mascara combined with some individual falsies should suffice for a toned-down version. Here's my picks for an easy, quick version that's still shimmery and sheer:

Face Concealer by Yves Saint Laurent
Face Blush by NARS

FACE Stockholm Lash Lift - I just reviewed this new mascara and praised its "doll-like" effect. Perfect for the doe eyes here.

Benefit Lash Lovelies - apply these single falsies wherever you need a little extra thickness or length, particularly the outer corners, but only after you've already put on several coats of mascara. Good luck, you'll need it.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Wash eye shadow - a shimmery, natural-looking champage hue on the lids.

YSL Touche Eclat - to brighten and conceal while keeping things sheer.

Benefit High Beam - I love this subtle highlighter, and like to mix it with a bit of moisturizer. Dab on cheekbones, browbones, down the bridge of the nose and above the cupids bow.

Smashbox Eye Beam Brightening Pencil - to rim the inner eye and lashline with a cool glow.

Nars lipstick in Pago Pago - this soft, peachy pink is pearly but still warm, perfect for this look.

Nars Duo in Orgasm/Albatross - Orgasm is the perfect peachy neutral for just a hint of color on the cheeks - swipe in the hollows, with Albatross along the cheekbones for contour and definition. Hello bone structure!

Redken Wool Shake Volumizer - this was used backstage to add the matte texture to model's hair - tease a bit, and pull it into messy french twist or bun and then add a thin hair band or ribbon - I love this crystalline version from Anthropologie.

Sephora Sale

I love Sephora. I love their sharp color scheme, and their broad selection of products, their easy website, and their samples policy which I am so easily able to exploit through subterfuge and lies.

So I'm very happy to report that their storewide 20% off sale is rumored to start on Oct 20th - not a minute too soon because my makeup bag is starting to look pretty forlorn, and the 3/4 empty vials and tubes are getting that crusty, worn look that makes me want to just die.

There are things I absolutely must have, and some that I hope to pick up if I happen to be extra-flush that week. Which is highly unlikely, but a girl can dream. So my wishlist is as follows.....

YSL Touche Eclat in #2 - I've somehow managed to squeak by without this for 6 mos - thank god for a tan is all I can say. Come November when that lovely consumptive look sets in for the winter, this is what will save me from despair - it's the only concealer/cover up I ever use - creamy, sheer and bright.

Benefit Velvet Eye Shadow in Where There's Smoke - maybe one day I'll branch out and wear some other color on my eyes besides irridescent grey. Maybe one day I won't be as lazy, and will learn how to use a makeup brush. Until then, this will be my new go-to eyewear, to try and pry me away from my Laura Mercier Sable. A soft grey. Baby steps.

Guerlain L'Heure Bleue EDT - I'm not going to go into my adoration of this gorgeous, timeless, heartbreakingly beautiful scent. I'll save that for another gushing post where I have unlimited time to wax lyrical. All I'll say now is that I vascillate between preferring the EDT and EDP, the latter is more rich and true and at the moment by #1, but I can always use a bottle of the EDT kicking about - it's first whiff is a little more acid and sharp, but the drydown is sublime. Mmmm. And it’s cheaper, so that’s the clincher.

Benefit They’re Real! Mascara – I don’t think it should be THAT hard to create a mascara that makes my lashes look long, separated and glossy. Not dry or flaky or clumping. Just saying NON-CLUMPING is apparently not enough, as it seems the more they tout this, the worse they glue my lashes together. The only one I have ever been happy with was Clinique Long Pretty Lashes, which was perfect for daily wear, but the packaging reminded me of middle school, and would sort of mess up the whole sartorial feng shui of my vanity table. I have high hopes for this one from the reviews – it seems to tick all of my boxes, but we shall see. I intend to splash out on it and then dish.

Nars Lipstick in Heat Wave - this is so far the only red lipstick my complexion can even begin to cope with. I’m pale but with yellow undertones – anything with any pink or blue tones look beyond gruesome on me. This is very orange based, a matte, tomato red, that with a careful hand I really like on myself. I’m not sure I will ever wear it with my lifestyle lately, which is very chapstick and ball cap, but I have to set myself goals. Watch out grocery store, I’m going to pair this with a high pony tail and a white tee shirt and jeans.

Super by Perricone Sun Kissed SPF 25 – as I may have mentioned before, I HATE the feel of any kind of cover on my skin – Touche Eclat is the heaviest I can stand. I love the idea of tinted moisturizer’s sheer glow, but have never found one I don’t loathe - I think the quality of the moisturizer itself is never up to par, regardless of the tint. So I am extremely happy to report that this is a gem – it made my (summer) skin even and , and feels light and smooth. You only need a very small amount, and I like to think that this over my Caudalie SPF 15 day cream is a good amount of sun protection. Judging by my charming freckle moustache, the SPF 15 on its own is not.

SO – what’s your wishlist for the sale - any stocking up to me done, or a product that you’re just dying to try? Spill below.