I feel bad blogging about a long discontinued blush. Chanel Joues Contraste Rouge is an LE shade that came out many years ago and is obviously very hard to find.
For me, it was the one that got away. It came out when I had little interest in owning a super pigmented red blush, but it was kind of a thing that people still talked about years later that I became want one only to find out it wasn't available.
I finally came across one from a generous friend's blogsale page, and my fingers never typed so fast although they were shaky from anxiety - what if someone else takes it?
Well, that didn't happen. Rouge came to me. Lucky me. ;)
As I have heard and seen so many times, the intense color payoff is formidable. This deeply reddened pink (I feel hesitant to say this, but it's a pink. Excuse me.) is mesmerizing but could easily scare off many.
I've been saying that opaque blush swatch strips on arm often are useless (although looking at them usually exudes rush and happiness for us beauty addicts), and maybe only good for exercising our imaginations. Chanel Joues Contraste Rouge is the very example, I say.
I didn't rub my finger on the blush. I gently "put" my finger on it.
And ta-da, a lipstick swatch.
On my arm it isn't exactly blendable, either.
Once a chunk of the pigment landed on skin, that's it.
You can certainly count on the lasting power.
I think girls with deeper skin tones would find Rouge a lot easier to work with. If you have fair to light skin tone like me, you need to have a right tool and an extremely light hand.
I have a small brush designed for mineral foundation that actually works quite nicely for Rouge. This brush doesn't pick up too much powder, but I still make sure it gently kisses the blush and pre-blend the color on the back of my hand before it touches my cheeks.
The usual blush application technique, swirl-n-tap? You mustn't. Don't even.
If I do everything right, Chanel Joues Contraste Rouge lets me have the most gorgeous naturally flushed cheeks that glows.
(Sorry my face is flashing extra white here. I blame the all mineral sunscreen which is great for everything else but photographing.)
(Please tell me you were distracted by the cheeks and didn't see the hair.)
I never thought I could enjoy this saturated red blush in summer, but apparently I do. Surprisingly it doesn't make me look like I've boiled myself in sauna, either. I just need to strictly abide by this "less is more" rule. I think I could play it a tad bolder when the air cools down, to which I will look forward more than the new season itself.
With Canmake Cream Cheek CL01 (reviewed) and NARS Blush BLKR 413 (although this one is more of a reddish rose), Rouge completes my red blush wardrobe. I don't think my heart would want another red blush any time soon, but anything else I missed?
I mean, just in case.
Ha now come to think of it I really don't own a reddish blush at all! This stayed available here for quite a while, but I borrowed it from a friend and decided it's too intense for me. It's really pretty on you tho!
ReplyDeleteIt took me a really long time to start my small collection, too! The first few I tried didn't look good, either.
DeleteI think cream/gel formulations are easiest to work with when it comes to red blush - just in case you want to try something red, since you like cream blushes a lot! :)
Ah I love it on you Lena. So much better on you than on me :-)
ReplyDeleteI've seen Rouge looking lovely on you, but didn't want to ask you why you're letting it go. LOL.
DeleteThanks again, Lily! <3
Looks perfect on you!! And you're right-it's all about the tools and application with pigmented blushes for fair skins! We can wear them-just takes practice.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tracy!
DeleteI feel a lot more confident after my encounter with Rouge. If I can work Rouge, that means I can be adventurous with many other pigmented blushes, right? ;p
Ah so pretty! That would make two of us who like red blush in the summer. I accidentally reached for my RMS Lip2Cheek in Illusive instead of Demure one day and found that iI actually preferred the deep red shade more than the modest pink. I do have to blend it like crazy though :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rowena! :D
DeleteYes, I was surprised to see how flattering the color looks after well blended. Maybe the clarity of color works better than something with milky undertones. It is all about blending as you said! :)
I've actually been looking for a good red blush. I have a Magenta red one that gives a similar effect but its not a true red. Kind of wishing I'd know about this one, hehe.
ReplyDeleteTarte Natural Beauty would be another good one if you're looking for a powder blush. This one leans more pink but appears red on skin.
DeleteI also love Canmake Cream Cheek in Clear Red Heart. Not the easiest thing that I can put my hands on, but it is worthwhile. :)
WOOHOO, YOU HAVE ROUGE!
ReplyDeleteI had to pull it out today when another blush didn't give me as big of a pop. It looks beautiful on you! <3
Yas, woohoo!!! ;D
DeleteThe color is so intense that I often use the mirror to blend it out (when I don't want to wash my hand again;) or sometimes picking up a leftover powder kick-up is enough. This is a scary thing, yet so beautiful. ;)
Though slightly tricky to use, I love red blushes. I think they give the most natural flush. I have the Canmake shade you mentioned which I adore! Mac Scarlet also looks amazing but is more of a pinky red.
ReplyDeleteThis one looks warmer to me and very scary in the pan, but looks amazing on you! xx
I totally agree with you. And Rouge is known as a color that mimics naturally flushed cheeks.
DeleteI find MAC blush a bit drying in general, but Scarlet sounds like a beautiful color. I will check it out. :)
I don't own any red blushes, it is a bit intimidating to look at but is indeed so natural on you! So hard to tell whether a shade will look natural in the pan, and like you said this all about the technique as well. The fun of beauty :)
ReplyDeleteRouge is probably the most intensely pigmented powder blush I've ever used! The texture is very soft so that makes the application even more challenging. It is so worth the effort, though! :)
DeleteWow that is intense! the shade is so pretty ^^
ReplyDeleteI don't own many reddish blush ( I think only 1 from sleek and 1 can make cream cheek ) mainly because of my natural redness on the cheeks. So I am afraid reddish blush will accentuate and emphasize the redness.. But this one looks nice on you, as you applied it subtly ^^
I am the same way, Pamela! I have quite a few broken capillaries so I need to cover them first to wear anything reddish on my cheeks! Some accentuate more than others, though. ;-/ Surprisingly Rouge doesn't make me look ruddy. I find it interesting! :)
DeleteOh, I love red blushes too but I favor cheek stain over powder. Essence renesmee red is the only powder I have and I feel like it will last me a life time....besame crimson rouge is a really cute vintage-looking flush but I thought it's more of a pink though.
ReplyDeleteHaha, magically now I want at least two more red blushes thanks to you. ;D I just googled up Besame Crimson Rouge and it's beautiful! I have a feeling that I will be collecting more cream/gel blushes this year. :)
DeleteWow, that blush looks like a work of art in the pan! I like how surprisingly delicate the color is on you. I don't own any red blush (the closest I have to red is Face Stockholm Paris, which I almost never wear), but I see that it's not necessarily garish once applied.
ReplyDeleteIt is really something, isn't it? Looking at it makes me happy. I think this blush will keep shape for a very long time since I only need very little. ;)
DeleteI was looking at the Face Stockholm cream blushes last week actually. The colors look quite special to me. Nothing is really straight-up yet each color maintains high clarity. I will probably end up with one soon. ;)
Gorgeous! My 'reddest' blush is probably NARS Exhibit A, though that one is actually more orange than red. I really love the look of this one, it looks beautiful on your skin.
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteExhibit A is another amazing (and intense) shade. These two would be in most pigmented blush top 5 in the world. ;D Joues Contraste has a softer texture than NARS blush in general, so this need an extra light hand!
Ah, I love red blushes! Even on fair skin they can look so natural when applied with a light hand. MAC Frankly Scarlet is one of my faves :) This shade is gorgeous on you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jen!
DeleteThis is the second time Frankly Scarlet was mentioned. My interested is now piqued! :)
Oooo how interesting! I've only ever owned one blush that looks reddish or is a red base and I rarely use it but love it when I do. I really love the reddish burnt earth tone to this on you. I would be scared of something so red to be honest but I would LOVE a chanel blush right now!
ReplyDeleteChanel blush is excellent! I often wondered why their baked eyeshadows (before reformulations) didn't perform as well as their blushes since they both are baked ones!
DeleteThere are so many beautiful shades that I try not to look at them too much myself. ;D
This blush looks fantastic on you :)
ReplyDeleteI have never owned a blush in this color but oh my gosh it is so stunning :O
xx
I am a red blush newbie myself! :)
DeleteHappy now I have Rouge in my hand. Not only the color is beautiful, but also will it last forever since I only need very little to achieve the desired look.
This one looks so beautiful on you. I didn't know if I wanted this particular shade back then since reds on my cheeks doesn't work. The at some point I found a tester offered half the price on evilly and solved the situation that way. I haven't used it ever since but now after your post, I will take it out.Xox
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sara!
DeleteThat's great you got a tester of this. I feel generally same as you when it comes to red blushes. They are so easy to go wrong if you what I mean!
I am sure Rouge looks beautiful on you. :)
Gorgeous! I prefer more terracotta reds on myself, or at least something a touch warmer (like Becca Strawberry), but I like it on you! And lol, that is indeed an intense blush. Sometimes I like having intensely pigmented blushes around, but most of the time I don't want to have to work so hard :P My Shiseido Camellia blush is maybe this color though actually, now that I think about. I'll have to go pull it out again.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Larie!
DeleteI remember the Shiseido Camellia! It is quite gorgeous!
I pulled out my NARS BLKR 413 the other day and concluded it is still more suited for fall and winter and the Rouge is a better option in summer if I feel like an intense blush on me. Which is quite interesting because Rouge is way brighter than the NARS. :)
The color is so natural on you! You apply just the right amount x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Coco!
DeleteYes, it took some practice to apply it with a really light hand. But the effort is worth it! :)
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ReplyDeleteThanks, Angela!
DeleteI also see some pink in this red blush, which is very interesting to me.
BTW, I appreciate your comment and am aware you don't mean to advertise, but please do not include links in the comment. Thanks for understanding! :)