Summer Blusher Review - Tanned/Olive Skintones

Although the heading suggests these blushers are aimed towards 'golden' skintones, most of these would actually be suitable for all skintones, including those that are paler and much deeper than my complexion. I've just labelled it for the more olive tone girls, because I think these blushers in the sun bring the best out of our skintone! :D

MAC Blush: Trace Gold (sheertone shimmer) - £17.50

elf Natural radiance blush: Glow - £1.50

NARS Blush: Taj Majhal - £21.00

Sleek Blush: Aruba - £4.30

Bourjois Blush: 03 Brun Cuivre - £7.49

From Left to Right: Sleek Aruba, NARS Taj Mahal, Bourjois Brun Cuivre, MAC Trace Gold, elf Glow

From the swatches you can see SLEEK'S ARUBA is a very strong fiery pure orange colour. It is a matte finish and has a very good quality, texture and finish for a drugstore brand. It's price is very reasonable and sleeks packaging is far by my favourite. I'm sure you'll guess that you only need a light hand with this.

When blended out it looks like a natural warmth wash of colour - that's why I think it looks best on olive/deeper skintones. Not only in the summer but I think all skintones should try this one out with a heavy smokey eye = LUSHHHHH!!! 

Next is NARS'S TAJ MAHAL, and just as it's name it is beautiful on indian skintones and deeper complexions. It is very similar to Aruba but has gold shimmers to it - because of this you need to be very light handed with this or else you'll look a mess!! The gold shimmers in it make it perfect for the summer time, not only does it give warmth to the face but a lovely glow (which bronzer gives to paler skintones). Although NARS blushers are pricey, it's worth it, as the product is so pigmented and a little goes a long way and the finish is so smooth and beautiful (best blushers on the market!)

We then have a more toned-down colour. BOURJOIS BRUN CUIVRE looks more rosey-toned when swatched (although it has been swatched heavily) but I'd say it has a browny-peachy, subtle hint of rose to it. It is quite sheer, but is build-able. On the skin it gives such a beautiful nudish peachy glow and smells sensational (like all bourjois products). On my skin it gives a natural glowy look, which is perfect all year round and esp in the summer! To myself, it has the texture of a mineralized blush and this little pot of goodness has lasted me years, and still has a long way to go till it finishes.

The palest blush of the bunch is MAC'S TRACE GOLD. It doesn't have the appearance of a cheapy shimmery, metallic bronzer. Although it isn't super-pigmented, I gotta say I love it because of that. This gives more of a glow than colour. Again it's a natural, nudish colour and works on all skintones (on deeper skintones as a highlighter). It's a sheertone shimmer, so although it has that sheen, it's not too strong and tacky and gives a beautiful sun-kissed natural glow to your cheeks and also makes them look more round and gives your skin such a healthy natural look. I love it!

Finally we have ELF'S GLOW. This blush is a must-have at £1.50!!! I know elf can be a bit of a hit and miss, but this blusher is AMAZING! It's got a fair amount of pigmentation to it and is build-able and surprisingly not too chalky either. It's a beautiful peachy-corally colour with loads of gold shimmers running through it - beautiful for spring and summer!! Think NARS's infamous Orgasm Blush but instead of the corally-pink shade it's more peach toned. It has a bit more gold shimmer to it than Orgasm Blush and therefore I think it's perfect for the summer as the gold doesn't look too overdone. On tanned/olive skintones I think peachy tones of blush work better than pinky ones and this just gives a lovely flush of colour and shimmer.