Review: e.l.f. Studio Blush in Peachy Keen

e.l.f. Studio Blush in Peachy Keen
(P225 + shipping) from eBay

Truth be told, the main reason I bought this was good old curiosity. I wanted to know what the hype is all about the infamous NARS Orgasm blush, but cannot justify paying its hefty price tag for mere curiosity. So I settled for the next best thing and looked for an inexpensive dupe. And here it is, my humble makeup find from eBay. 😉

Thankfully the one I got is new (although the plastic window has a scratch as could be seen in the picture) and still in its original box:

This is what the blush looks like (opened and unopened) taken out of its box:

The packaging is a simple black case with a clear window on top (a nice touch so you could easily see the color even if the compact is closed) and a mirror inside.

The blush is actually a bit darker in real life and I somehow managed to reproduce it accurately in Lightroom, but I dunno why it came out this light when I exported it. 😐

Anywho. On the pan, Peachy Keen is a medium peach shade with golden shimmers. There is only the barest hint of pink in it, making it suitable for those with warm undertones like me. Swatched, however, there is actually less of the peach color and more of the golden shimmers:

(1) very shimmery when swatched heavily
(2) looks natural when applied lightly
(3) applied lightly, closeup

Uh, could you tell where I put the blush in the second and third swatches?

I have only used it a coupla times so far, but I must say it was already love at first use anyway! 😀 Peachy Keen is sheer and shimmery, and blended properly, it lent my face some natural-looking color and a healthy-looking golden glow. Just as I thought, it looked way more natural against my warm-toned skin than the somewhat cooler-toned Careline Rosy Cheek blush I was using before.

Since it has a bit more shimmer than actual color, it can double its work as a highlighter too when applied very lightly on the bridge of the nose or wherever else the light naturally hits the face. Used as a blush, a coupla swipes are enough to give the face some color (not the pinkish flush kind of color as this is peach after all) and a subtle golden glow. However, for a bit more color without piling on the shimmers, I find it best to apply a thin layer of Rosy Cheek first (for a pinkish flush) and then topping it with this (for that healthy golden glow). I use my Nichido Professional Kabuki Brush for applying both blushes.

What I like best about Peachy Keen (aside from its name which is a favorite expression of Death of the Endless–one of my fave characters ever) is that when applied to the apples of the cheeks, the subtle glow it gives is enhanced whenever I smile. I just love the way the golden shimmer catches and reflects light when I smile, making me in turn glow even more, if that makes any sense. 😉

So anything about it I do not like? Well, it tends to make a bit of a powdery mess on its own case when I carelessly swipe the brush right across the pan. But that’s easily avoidable by just carefully swiping the brush only until halfway across the pan. Aside from that small niggle, it’s all good. 🙂

All in all, I like it so much that I am now wishing I go out more often so I could use it more often too. 😀 Truly worth every peso I paid for it, even including the shipping fee. Haha. Love it! ♥