Maybelline Master Hi-Light Blush in Mauve Review + Swatches

So I've been hunting around for a rose gold highlighter (something along the lines of Becca's Blushed Copper) but I'm definitely not trying to shell out money for a product at that price. So I did a little research and I found out about this gorgeous blush from Maybelline's Face Studio Master Hi-Light line.

After much deliberation I picked the shade that I thought would be deep enough to give me some colour but still had the rose gold undertones I was looking for. And that was 40 Mauve.

Claims from the packaging: Our multi-tonal blush palette highlights skin and softly contours cheeks for an instantly defined glow.

Claims from the website: Light- diffusing blush and bronzer formulas have an expert balance of shade + shimmer illuminator for natural glow. Skin goes soft-lit with zero glitz.

This blush retails for about $12.96 at Wal-Mart.

The powder lifts up to reveal a mirror and a little brush. This brush is softer then the usual included brushes (The brush from the Fit Me blushes is super scratchy!) but I still wouldn't use it.

This blush is made up of interlocking powder shades. One is a deeper plummy purple, the other is a deep cranberry pink, another is a pale pink toned champagne shimmer and another is a champagne shimmer. All swirled together the blush comes off this gorgeous deep rose gold.

Here's a swatch of all the colours blended together. You can see the sheen and then the soft hint of colour. I wouldn't rely on it for contouring though. I use it mostly as a highlighter on the tops of my cheekbones and I love it for that purpose. I also use it as a blush by focusing a small stippling brush on the cranberry and plum shades and then blending that on the apples of my cheeks. Focused on the blush shades, this product adds a luminous burst of healthy colour. Swirling your brush in all the shades it adds a lovely glow with slight colour to your cheeks.

Here's the blush at another angle where you can see the more of the colour and less of the sheen.

The powder itself has a great formula. It's remarkably soft and silky, it's so finely milled it feels like a cream on the fingers. It's incredibly easy to pick up with a brush. The shimmery shades do kick up a fair bit of powder but it's really not that messy or difficult to deal with and the product doesn't get all over the place.

This blush has great lasting power. It lasts about eight hours before fading slightly.

Also I feel like up close the powder highlights the imperfections in my skin but from a normal standing distance those imperfections aren't noticed. This product is pigmented, you will need a light hand and you will need to blend well!

But overall I love it. I like how it illuminates my skin, my bone structure and how easy it is to apply because of how pigmented and creamy the product is. It's easier to use then a liquid highlighter and I adore that. And the colour is lovely!

Likes:

1. Absolutely beautiful, unique colour
2. Affordable price tag
3. Soft, finely milled texture
4. Sturdy packaging
5. Bonus mirror
6. Long lasting
7. Easy to blend

Dislikes:

1. Scratchy brush
2. Can highlight imperfections
3. A bit of powder kicks up when swirling a brush in it

A-