One of the star items of Jill Stuart‘s launch lineup in 2005 was Blush Powder. It was a loose powder blusher in a very pretty container. I was tempted to get it, but then I got the 2005 Christmas Collection set, which included a highlighting powder in the same container (left in the photo). Then, in fall 2010, Blush Blossom was released. It was Jill Stuart’s new loose powder blusher, which, in a way, replaced Blush Powder. I decided to try 01 Romantic Sweet Pea.
Unlike Blush Powder, each Blush Blossom variation (¥4500, with brush) includes two shades and comes in a compact. The compact has an inner lid, and a plastic film separates the inner lid and the screen. Both the inner lid and the plastic film protect the powder from spilling out of the screen.
The inside of the inner lid has a spongy/foamy surface. The instructions on Jill Stuart’s official website suggest adjusting the amount of powder on the brush on the surface. I recommend keeping the plastic film and putting it back after each use so that the powder doesn’t get to the inside of the inner lid.
01 Romantic Sweet Pea was among the five variations released in fall 2010. It features a fairly well-pigmented strawberry pink and a lightly-pigmented light pink. The strawberry pink has a softly glowy finish while the light pink has a softly pearly finish with subtle (predominantly silver-toned) shimmer (which doesn’t look over-the-top when worn).
The strawberry pink is a vibrant color and it is also quite pigmented. The brush can fairly easily picks up too much powder through the screen, so do adjust the amount of powder on the brush carefully and layer the color on the cheeks little by little.
According to the instructions on Jill Stuart’s official website, the main blusher shade on the right (Blush Glow Powder) is applied first and then the lighter shade on the left (Shimmer Tint Powder) is layered on top of the main shade to “adjust blend, coloring, shimmer and softness” (from Jill Stuart’s official English website). The idea is to use a lighter, sheerer and more shimmery shade on top of the main shade to create translucency and luminosity.
Personally, I prefer applying the lighter shade first as a base before applying the main shade. The reason is that, with 01 Romantic Sweet Pea, the strawberry pink is a strong (and pigmented) color that requires a relatively precise application, and applying another shade on top of it can slightly alter its exact placement and gradation. (I have noticed that, as I apply the light pink, the brush picks up the strawberry pink on the cheeks and redistributes it.)
When the two colors are layered (regardless of how you layer them), the strawberry pink is slightly blended with the light pink and looks very slightly lighter and cooler. The overall look has a doll-like girlie feel.
The product is packaged in a very pretty round case. The clasp side and the hinge side have different designs. (The photo at the top of this post shows the bow design on the hinge side.)
The product comes with a retractable brush. The brush itself is similar to the ones which Mix Blush Compact and Layer Blush Compact come with. Even though the hair is nicely dense and the bristle-heads are soft, the hair is still a little too stiff for my liking.
With Mix Blush Compact and Layer Blush Compact, the brush can be attached to the compact. With Blush Blossom, a bow charm is attached to the chain. (The chain can be detached from the lid of the brush.)
Those who think Mix Blush Compact and Layer Blush Compact are not pigmented enough will probably be more satisfied with Blush Blossom. (I haven’t tried Mix Blush Compact N.) It should also appeal to those who like Blush Powder but want something more portable. As for me, I do like the very pretty shades from 01 Romantic Sweet Pea, but I slightly prefer the less pigmented shades from Mix Blush Compact and Layer Blush Compact.
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