What a pretty blush! Estée Lauder's new Bronze Goddess Sea Star Bronzing Blush ($34) has a design that attracts and a summer color that's perfect for fair-skin types. Introduced with the Bronze Goddess Soleil Summer Color 2011 Collection - Estée Lauder always offers a nice summer collection - this piece stands out.Called a blush of endless summer, the Sea Star Bronzing Blush provides what Estée Lauder calls a shimmering, sun-kissed color to enhance your tan. The description should have been broader. Some of us don't tan, but we like to look healthy and pretty.
One nice features of this compact is that you can use it as a blusher or light bronzer. I have tried using it both ways and love it. You can even wear it over your regular, matte bronzer for a light glow. For a more dramatic glow, apply to the apple of your cheeks, on your temples, and down the center of your face.
It's hard to pick up just the starfish shade, although it can be done - just not with a blush or bronzer brush. I actually love the starfish shade and am willing to use a smaller applicator just to use it alone. Note to Estée Lauder: This shade would be a great blush introduction!
It's easy to blend the colors across the compact. When you do, you'll get color with less pink. You can see in my swatch photo, taken in outdoor sunlight, that the overall, blended color at the bottom has a warmer, golden peach tone, while the warm pink from the starfish at the top is beyond pretty. I applied these shades with a sponge-tipped applicator to get enough color to show you in a photo. Had I used a brush, the color would have been a subtle, shaded, golden glow on my arm.
The starfish is raised. I won't know how deep those pigments are until I use the product down to the base, golden peach shade. Others have found it super-shimmery; I didn't. I think it shimmers lightly. They may have had darker skin than I do, which is why I think this is a lovely summer accessory for fair-skinned types.
I purchased mine at Neiman Marcus. The Bronze Goddess Sea Star Bronzing Blush should be available at all Estée Lauder counters, and it is available at the Web site. Bloomingdale's starts a gift with purchase event today. If you are interested, don't waste any time. Most years, items from the summer collections sell out quickly. I expect this year to be the same, given the conservative way the stores have been ordering stock.
Photo at top courtesy of Estée Lauder