I’m having one hell of a moment with blush lately! First there was the Laura Geller Vivid Swirl blush in Guava, then there was the Blush Tag, quickly followed by me professing my undying lover for the Smashbox Culver City Coral trio and now… this Urban Decay Afterglow blush in Bittersweet.
In my April haul post, I pointed out that I didn’t really have a purple blush in my collection (not that many people do) and I had been eyeballing the one Natalie had reviewed several months back over on Ivory Avenue. I waited until the recent 15% off sale at Sephora and then snatched it right up.
I’ve heard a few back and forth comments on the packaging for these blushes, but personally I’m a fan. I think it’s quite sleek and I like the gunmetal colour of it. The lid could really do with a mirror in it, but hey, you can’t win ’em all! I think the colour of the blush is supposed to show through the meshing in the lid, but it doesn’t really work in practice since you can’t really see much of the colour coming through. What DOES work though is how each sticker on the bottom is colour coded to match the blush. It may not be easy for large blush collections, but it does help makes the colours stand out a bit more when you’re trying to rifle through your collection.
Bear with me here – I’ve got a few thoughts tumbling around in my brain that I want to get out and it’s kind of amusing that it’s the result of this blush.
I’ve got a lot of products in my collection (makeup collection video here!) – from items I’ve bought myself and from items I’ve been sent as a result of having a blog and having some kind of an influential voice on the internet. As my collection has grown as a result of all of this, I’ve started to become more and more selective of the items I purchase. There’s always something new and exciting out there (and my god do I ever fall prey to the hype as much as anyone else), but often the products that are being put out there are a reformulation of the same shades of pink we’ve been seeing for years. Or shades of coral. Or rosy taupe. And those are all wonderful shades, but like any devout beauty addict, I’ve ended up with an awful lot of near identical colours in my blush collection.
So THAT’s why I wanted this blush because, for once, I own nothing like it and I can actually say that without it being a tongue in cheek comment. (I still want every shade of coral ever created though… just saying.)
The other thought I had after buying this blush was “Am I even a person that WEARS purple blush?”, quickly followed by a fearful one: “Is this the one product that I finally decide that *I* can’t wear???”
But hell no it’s not! I LOVE THIS FREAKING BLUSH! When I first applied it my eyeballs kind of popped out of their sockets because it was just SO MUCH PURPLE on my cheeks. I blended it out with my foundation sponge to decrease the intensity, but I quickly found myself applying more and more. In these shots, it actually ended up looking quite pink on my cheeks in comparison to my eyeshadow, but rest assured – it is PURPLE.
Bittersweet shocked me because there’s some sort of weirdass ethereal quality going on with it. It looks totally otherworldly/corpse-like (I’m sure that’ll turn a LOT of people on… haha) to me in person but maybe that’s just because I’m not used to seeing myself wear purple blush?
Final Thoughts
I suppose there are some of you out there that want a real review out of this post! So here’s the run down: Urban Decay‘s Bittersweet blush is only billed as an 8 hour blush (weird time frame – that barely even covers a day at the office!), but it lasts far closer to 10-12 hours on me. It may last even longer, but I haven’t put it to the test. It is relatively easy to blend although not the easiest. That may possibly be due to the colour being rather incongruous to my skin colour when compared with pink or coral. On me, I find Bittersweet oddly flattering. It doesn’t look natural at all because obviously no one flushes purple, but I think that’s what makes it unique. It’s *oddly* flattering on my skin tone and honestly? It makes me smile. And any makeup product that makes you smile when you’re wearing it is well worth the money.
I’m curious to hear your thoughts on this particular shade of blush. Is this a shade you would wear or want to try? Do you like the idea of it being slightly odd looking? Or is that too much of a turnoff for you? Let me know!
Urban Decay‘s Bittersweet blush (along with other shades!) can be purchased on sephora.ca for $32 CAD or on sephora.com for $26 USD.
I really really really love this on you. I was the same: I saw the purple and knew I had no product like that and I just had to jump on it. I may have to wear mine today…
Natalie Heather recently posted…Mangez: Glowing Lentil Soup, Spiced Black Beans, and Turmeric Rice Bowl
I’ve started to find reasons to wear this blush – like I’ll work my makeup around my blush so it all matches. haha
I actually love this on you! Not sure if it’ll look good on my tan skin though but I am so tempted to pick it up.
Shireen L. Platt recently posted…MONTHLY FAVOURITES: What Have Been Knocking My Boots In April and a GIVEAWAY
Hmmm I wonder… as I tan during the summer, I wonder if this will still look decent on me. That’ll be something interesting to notice for sure!
I’m not sure how your skintone compares but I first saw this on Temptalia and it looked gorgeous on her as well (although less of that ethereal corpse look Chelle talks about). http://www.temptalia.com/product/urban-decay-afterglow-8-hour-powder-blush/bittersweet/?i=193259
Zoë recently posted…Get Ready for Summer with Alba Botanica Sunscreens
this looks gorgeous on you and i love it with the all purple makeup look. i don’t have this one, i have a MAC purple blush that’s a bit pinker, but i still was surprised by how much i loved it. i wish there was no mesh on the packaging so the blush colour could be more obvious BUT i do love those colour-coded stickers (all UD products have them i think, my lipsticks and eyeshadows do at least). i love this formula though and there are definitely a few shades still on my wishlist.
Zoë recently posted…Get Ready for Summer with Alba Botanica Sunscreens
I know, the mesh is kind of a waste, although I do really love the overall aesthetic of it. I was eyeballing the super/red orange one… Fireball or something? I may have that name totally wrong. This is how they hook you though… you find one shade you love and then you want ALL of them!
Fireball is the new duochrome highlighter (also really pretty!) you might be thinking of Bang, I have a review of it actually it’s one of the two I have. Super stunning but you need a light hand/duofiber brush cause holy pigment haha
Zoë recently posted…MAC Vibe Tribe Review + Swatches
Oh whoops! I guess I just liked the name Fireball… YES! BANG! That’s the one! I’ll go find your review now…
I’m a fan of this one! I don’t think I’d be able to try it myself, but it works really well with your skin tone and hair, and can I just say, your eyes looks GORGEOUS!
Monica – Mocha and Moccasins
Monica @ Mocha and Moccasins recently posted…L’Oréal Paris Hair Expertise – Nutri Gloss Luminizer Review (Before and After)
Awww thank you Monica! I do wonder how this blush would look across more of a variety of skintones. I personally wasn’t expecting it to work on me, but I’m so glad I took the leap and tried it!
This blush looks gorgeous on you! That entire makeup look is beautiful – I LOVE IT!
I would totally try it out. I’ve been wanting to try more things lately, go outside my comfort zone and have fun. It’s like my hair requires it, lol!
Chantal recently posted…Joe Fresh ”Petunia” Nail Polish Swatches and Review
<3 Thanks Chantal! Your hair TOTALLY requires you to go completely outside of your comfort zone!
This looks amazing on you! Not many people would go out of their comfort zone to wear a purple blush – so you have some seriousself-confidence! It reminds me vaguely of the lady in the Hunger Games (Effie or something?) I love it though!
Purple really makes blue eyes pop – and as you said there’s so much repeat of exactly the same thing!
Lindsey Elyse recently posted…Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light | Skin Saviour
Awww thank you Lindsey, that’s a really sweet way of putting it!
And you’re totally right on the Effie/Hunger Games comment! I had’t even thought of that, but you’re bang on the money there – it’s something totally unreal like what they wore in the capitol (even moreso had I built it up!).
That’s such a scary looking colour in the pan, and I honestly don’t know if I could have brought myself to try it. It looks really pretty, especially with that eye look. I love how out of the box you always are with your looks.
Katherine || The Green Bows
Katherine recently posted…Sweet Peach Lovin’
Isn’t it relatively terrifying? lol Kind of makes me wonder why the heck anyone would ever buy it since it’s definitely not a remotely natural look for the cheeks.
I came across this in your instagram feed and just had to come and see how it looked.
I would never have guessed how nice it is. Really pretty.
Isn’t it stunning? I was’t expecting that at all! I think a lot of people avoid the really bright or eccentric colours just because they look so strange in the pan. But honestly… they turn out so nice!
Yes, I would never have tried this, ever. Without seeing someone else first. But I think it looks really good.
That really works on you – I’m kind of surprised to be honest, but if anyone can make it work, it’s you! It looks so good with you eyes <3
I know right? It’s such a weird colour to think of as a blush… but man did it ever work out well!
Purple makes your eyes pop tremendously!! This blush really suits you, it’s bold, I won’t lie, but you can pull it off! I am not sure if I would be able to pull the purple blush but it’s really nice and empowering to see others go for bold make up looks 🙂
Thanks Daneya! I was so pleased with how the eye makeup look came out alongside the blush!
Love the blush! I know that this is an older post (just found your blog and I dig it!) , But I had to ask: WHAT is the awesome lip gloss you have on with this look? It’s STUNNING! Thanks in advance!
Hi! I still get alerts for all of my comments so it doesn’t matter how old the post is! I believe that lip gloss is Inglot’s AMC 541. It’s kind of a clear gloss with a purple/blue duochrome to it!