NARS The Multiple
I have a bit of an obsession with blush. Like many girls, I get many makeup quirks from my mom. She actually beats me in the Blush-Aholic Olympics, since she carries a makeup bag in her purse filled with little more than a blush compact and some blotting papers. I think her reasoning is that as long as you have rosy, shine-free cheeks, you're doing ok.
I tend to like blush because it balances out my skin tone. I've written before about how my skin is kind of a rotten bastard, and one problem I have is redness. I always have some pink splotchy spots, and with blush, I believe I can turn my red spots into more of a healthy glow.
Being that makeup is my crack, I've tried many different blushes. For awhile I was a devotee of Tarte Cheek Stain, but it's a little oily and, combined with my oily complexion, tends to slide right off my face after an hour or two. I love a good powder blush, but they tend to fade after awhile, or disappear altogether. My favorite blush method is to layer a cream blush under a powder blush. this provides a healthy, natural looking glow from the cream, but it's sealed with the powder. My current (and all-time favorite) cream blush is NARS The Multiple in Maui.
The Multiple is a pretty famous beauty product. It's been featured in countless magazines, and makeup artists rave about it. And because you can use it on your eyes, lips, and cheeks (hence "The Multiple") it's always recommended as a travel essential or a great way to streamline your makeup routine. I've never used it on my eyes or lips, but The Multiple is worth it even if you just use it as blush.
I was originally apprehensive about buying The Multiple. It costs $40, and as poor college student (and now as a poor college grad), it seemed like a pretty big splurge. After pining for The Multiple for months, I finally got the guts to buy a stick of my own. Let me tell you, it is worth every penny. It's dry, not oily or too creamy, but it's not so dry that it feels chalky or powdery. Basically, it's creamy enough to be a cream blush, but not so creamy that it makes an oily skinned person like me nervous. There are tons of colors to choose from, so you can find the perfect shade for your skintone. And that stick lasts forever. We're talking years and years. I actually don't remember when I bought mine, it was so long ago, and I probably have about 75% of it left. Maybe 80%. Basically, The Multiple is the best product of it's kind, it lasts until the end of time, and it makes you look smokin' hot.
One note: The Multiple comes in tons of colors and finishes, and even in the most beloved NARS shade, Orgasm. I love the Orgasm powder blush, but in the stick it was just too shimmery for me. What can I say? Cheek glitter ain't my thang (but I got other thangs). So whether you're a glitter feind or into a more subdued look, there's a Multiple for you.
NARS The Multiple: $39