All purchased by me
After reading my post entitled, "Tom Ford Beauty Cheek Color in Frantic Pink & Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush No. 2 Pink Side by Side- Swatches," Naomi asked me to expand the field a touch and include a few other blushes for comparison. She specifically wanted to see how Armani No. 2 compared to Burberry Misty, Burberry Peony, and Rouge Bunny Rouge Gracilis. Then Gummy wondered how the Armani & Ford blushes compared to her most coveted Burberry blushes. Therefore, I decided to oblige my two friends and engage in a veritable swatchfest for them. I decided to include Tom Ford Frantic Pink and a budget friendly drugstore blush by choosing Milani Beauty's Choice. Be aware that I limited the scope considerably since I have far more pink blushes than what you see here.
1) Tom Ford Frantic Pink
2) Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush No. 2 Pink
3) Burberry Misty
4) Burberry Peony
5) Rouge Bunny Rouge Gracilis
6) Milani Beauty's Touch
1) Tom Ford Frantic Pink
2) Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush No. 2 Pink
3) Burberry Misty
4) Burberry Peony
5) Rouge Bunny Rouge Gracilis
6) Milani Beauty's Touch
While Burberry Misty, Burberry Peony, Rouge Bunny Rouge Gracilis, and Milani Beauty's Touch are decidedly blue-based cool leaning pinks- the same can hardly be said for Tom Ford Frantic Pink and Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush No. 2 Pink. Instead, they appear to be warmer- at least comparatively speaking. While Armani No. 2 is quite light it remains more neutral than Frantic Pink-which is warmer and richer in hue. If you have a penchant for cool blue-based pinks, neither Frantic Pink nor Armani No. 2 will really comport to your taste, while the remaining 4 shades most assuredly will.
I would say that the smooth buttery soft and finely milled texture of the Armani blush is consistent with that of the coveted Burberry formula. In fact, all of the blushes are soft and silky- but I would characterize the Armani and Burberry blushes as more so than the others. Milani Beauty's Touch is surprisingly finely milled and silky smooth for a drugstore brand, and quite frankly does an astounding job keeping up with these luxury blushes.
I am a blush fiend, and I am dazzled by all six of these beauties. I do wish that Tom Ford and Giorgio Armani would expand their color selections as the former has far too many warm toned shades for my cool skin-tone (notwithstanding Wicked- which beckons me) , and the latter has too many muted muddy colors that really don't do a thing for my complexion. That said, the Armani blush is a real treat to use, and you can rest assured that any blue-based pinks that make it into their upcoming collections (permanent or limited edition) will make it into my coveted stash!
Awww! Look at them all together, all pretty and pink!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat job Lola, I love comparison posts. They rekindle my appreciation for some items in my stash, as well as create some new cravings...(I'm looking at YOU, Beauty's Choice)
Suprisingly (um, not really, LOL) the swatches that immediately caught my eye were those of my beloved Peony and Misty. Also, from what I can see Gracilis looks somewhat similar to Armani's Blush in number 6. I don't know if you have ever tried that one, since it is/may appear as a muted muddy color, but I find that it works well for winter (but I do enjoy a mauve-rose blush for winter, so maybe I'm biased).
Have a great weekend!
Hi Mel,
DeleteI'm so glad that you enjoyed this post! I'm glad that it gave you a newfound appreciation for much of your stash!! That is always preferable, whenever possible! Beauty's Choice is such a reasonably priced craving-- especially when the drugstores run their never-ending sales! This is the only drugstore blush that I have purchased, and truth-be-told, if it was in a luxury compact and sold at a luxury retailer I wouldn't have thought twice to paying a good deal more. It is silky smooth and just generally a beautiful product! I love mine!
I'm not at all surprised that you were immediately drawn to your beloved Peony and Misty! I feel the same! It is the same experience that I have when I walk up to a makeup counter and oooh and ahhhh over a lipstick or gloss, only to realize that I already have it!!
I will definitely go back to the Armani counter and have a look at No. 6-- if it is anything like Gracilis on my face- then I will really have a hard time leaving without it. I want to have a second look at Numbers 5 and 10 as well. I am smitten with everything that I have from Armani!!
Have a lovely Easter weekend! <3
Oh God, I forgot it's Easter for you guys! I'm Greek and we are orthodox, so our Easter doesn't coincide with yours (this year it's in May).
DeleteSo, Happy Easter!!!
As for Armani blushes, I'm a big fan of their formula too. I only own two (6 and 10) but that's only because they are so pricey. 10 is hyped to be a unique shade, in that it looks differently on everybody and is universally flattering. I love it on me -it turns a pink coral with a subtle glow- but it oxidizes in summer (or on any hot day for that matter).
Again, have a great time! xxx
Wishing you a Happy Easter on May 5th! <3 I used to love both Russian and Greek Orthodox Easter as a kid!
DeleteI agree, Armani blushes are amazing. 5, 6 and 10 are on my list to look at again. I was trying decide between 2 and 10, and came home with 2. I only swatched them on my arm, and 2 was the only one that I tried on my face at the counter. I agree- they definitely are pricey, but the quality is so amazing. Interesting that 10 oxidizes on you in the summer!
xoxox
Whoa awesome comparison post!!! Thank you so much!!! After NARS Penny Lane, Burberry Misty is my second favorite blush color!! It's great to see how it stacks up against all those other colors. Think my next Burberry blush color purchase will be Cameo and of course, Blossom when it finally comes back :-) But this makes me want to try Armani blush even more!!! THANK YOU!!! xo
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, sweetie! As soon as I read your comment and Naomi's I ran outside and started taking pictures and swatching! It's so much fun doing these sorts of posts! I have to check out Penny Lane! Cameo is gorgeous-- from what I can from online swatches of Penny Lane- Cameo might be the result of Misty and Penny Lane having a baby! I don't reach for Cameo nearly enough-- but it is a gorgeous blush and I really love it! In fact, I think that I will wear it today. Blossom is so gorgeous, but I fear that it is just too warm and coral for my complexion. I do want Earthy!! I also really want a few more Armani blushes because they are so amazing!! The more that i try from Armani- the more that I fall head over heels in love! <3 xoxox
DeleteI love the look of the Burberry shades but once you said that they are fragranced I stopped considering them. I'm totally surprised at the look of the Milani since it's so pretty. You could have swatched it without giving a name and no one would know it was drugstore.
ReplyDeleteHi Marcia,
DeleteThe fragrance content in their blushes would definitely make you an unhappy camper-- the fact that you had to place your Chanel JC in Narcisse in another room to try and fade the scent would mean that you would have to store the Burberry blushes in another zip code for a while. I really wish that everybody would stop filling their makeup with fragrance! This is the only product that I have from Milani, and the quality and appearance definitely exceeds drugstore expectations. Seriously, if they changed the compact one that is luxurious I would have easily paid much more for it! :D
Hi Helen :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for posting these swatch comparisons! These will definitely help out others who are fond of pink blushes. Of course it's a little late for me being the sucker I am! Lol- the same day you posted the No.2 swatch, my sister wanted to go to our local Nordstroms & of course I couldn't resist going to the Armani counter! No.2 came home with me along with GA 'Eyes to Kill' set (seen so many rave reviews of their mascara) & also received a cute little GWP from GA. Wore the blush today & love it! Funny I was tempted too by No.5 & 10, but told myself to wait for when they have another GWP- perhaps in July when Nordstrom has their Anniversary event? Or better yet, I think the GA website sometimes has a 20% off discount code ;)
Thanks again Helen
xoxox Naomi
You are so welcome, Naomi-- it was truly my pleasure (and it was fun to do)!! I'm so glad that you love No. 2. You have to let me know what you think of the ETK mascara. I know just what you mean, I want to go back and look at Numbers 5, 6 and 10. It's nice that you were able to get a GWP!! I can't wait to see the new lip glosses that they are coming out with as well! So many ways to spend too much at the Armani counter! Oh, yes- either Trend Event or Anniversary would be the perfect time to pick up some more Armani goodies!!! Of course 20% off from Armani directly might be worth far more depending on how much one is spending!
Deletexoxox, Helen
Don't knock warm pinks, they are not easy to find, as indicated by the two out of six in your overview. Redheads with fair skin look particularly well in this color. The Armani one is identical to a discontinued favorite of mine, but looks similar to Clinque's "Aglow". Clinique's may not be as silly, but it's a lot less expensive, and more readily available.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely not knocking warm pinks, Ellen :-) They are utterly gorgeous! They are quite hard to find- at least those that remain pink instead of say peach or coral with a touch of pink. Cool blue-based pinks definitely work better with my cool-toned skin,but I can get away with some warm pinks if they don't contain much in the way of coral. I agree that warm pinks can be so stunning on redheads with fair skin. Something like the Armani No. 2 would definitely be GORGEOUS on that complexion-- I also suspect that the Armani No. 10 would be as well. Such a shame that Clinique discontinued Aglow since the price opint is so much more wallet friendly! :D
DeleteThank you for doing this. So many pinks look "muddy" or "dirty" on me and it's because they have a warm undertone. On me, it show us instantly as dirty or orange; GA is one line I have a VERY hard time with and the MA's think I'm crazy. But when you put it next to a true cool pink, it's obvious. Clinique and Bobbi Brown are 2 other lines that look cool but on me, POW, pull warm.
ReplyDeleteTom Ford is a line that I LOVE but can't wear because his colors all pull warm (as do Edward Bess) or ....white. How bizarre is that? Funny thing is, that Milani blush is one I use and have. Love that something so pretty is a Walmart staple; looks like it should be at a HE counter, lol.
You are so welcome! I know just what you mean- a touch of warmth generally screams out on cool skin. TF Frantic Pink is almost too warm for me to pull off, but I do mix it with other colors a good deal of the time. The GA No. 02 is the only shade that I can wear, and again while I can pull it off objectively it isn't an ideal color because it is a touch warmer than I should probably wear. I am just so smitten with the GA formula, and really with that they would expand the selection and add some true blue-based cool pinks to their collection. The SA & MA shouldn't have thought you crazy for pointing this out-- they should have been able to identify the warmth inherent in their blushes!
DeleteTF Wicked is actually a much better choice for me that Frantic Pink, but when I mix them the color is just so pretty that I can't resist it. Interesting that everything from BB and Clinique pull too warm on you. Believe it or not, I don't own a single EB product- I have thought about it- but never found anything that I couldn't live without. I have had pretty good luck with some of the Chanel Joues Contrast blushes, but haven't seen anything in a while that I had to have. I agree with you completely-- that Milani blush is amazing. If it were in a pricey compact it could easily sell for 5x the amount!
xoxo