I was quite the Flowerchild back in my Becca Halcyon Days. Yup, they called me Damselfly…
When Flowerchild and Damselfly, two of Becca’s flawless Mineral Blushes from last spring’s Becca Halcyon Days collection, worked their way into my heart and my everyday makeup routine, it was just like the first time I tasted bubble tea. I wanted, needed, craved them 24/7 for weeks.
Mmmm, tapioca pearls…
With the Balearic Love collection, the compact Becca Mineral Blush clan grows by one member. Bolero ($32), a bronze with faint reddish tones and the sole blush in the release, is just as pigmented, easy to apply, long-lasting and resistant to fading as the other Mineral Blushes I’ve tried, but those pluses aren’t even my favorite things about it.
What makes Bolero really stand out to me is how it just seems to look better and better over the course of the day.
I’ve been trying to unravel its secret, and I keep coming back to one thing: the finish. Becca loves combining shimmers and mattes (like Cabrera liner, also from Balearic Love), and with Bolero and its semi/demi-matte finish, they’ve done it again.
Bolero rides into town on a mostly matte finish with a super subtle sheen, but as the day wears on and oil builds up on my skin, Bolero turns up the radiant shine (picture a gal holding her surfboard on the cover of Shape). I’ve been wearing it as both a blush and a bronzer for sun-kissed, sculpted looks.
I also love how Bolero caters to my lazy side looks when it’s worn with minimal makeup. Over the past couple weeks, I’ve tried it on top of bare skin, tinted moisturizer and full-coverage liquid foundation, and it seems like the less makeup I wear with it, the better Bolero looks.
Not that I don’t also like the way it looks with a full face (primer, foundation, powder, etc.). I just think I like it more when I’m hardly wearing anything at all (maybe a little concealer on my trouble spots, or perhaps a tinted moisturizer and little else).
If you’re a makeup minimalist who rarely wears a full-coverage face, Bolero could be a great summer blush for sculpting your cheeks and/or bringing out the bronze tones in your tan.
PRICE: $32
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Becca counters and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A (pricey, but almost perfect)
Breakfast noms from San Francisco’s Samovar Tea Lounge
I had a blast at breakfast this morning with my friends Marisol and Heather, and of course I had to bring my camera. We ended up at the Samovar Tea Lounge in the Yerba Buena Gardens, right across from the big Marriott hotel downtown (the one that looks like a giant jukebox).
If you’re ever in the area, the lounge is centrally located, just a few blocks from Union Square, and has a pretty eclectic Asian-inspired menu. Here are a few of the noms…
Heather’s drink; I think it was a green tea
I had a chai
The Smoked Salmon Quiche
Braised Tofu Jook
Paleolithic Tea Service with Braised Tofu
Cherry Oat Scone with Devonshire Cream and Jam
Platter of Tea Sweets
The folks at Samovar take their tea very seriously. They carry a wide variety of flavors, and they’ll even suggest teas to bring out the flavors in your meal.
Good food, a cozy atmosphere and a wonderful view of the Yerba Buena Gardens. Oh, and it’s just a hop, skip and a jump away from the Bliss Spa at the W Hotel.
I’m just sayin’. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Mmm the blush looks lovely on you… and look at that food! Yummy!
That blush is simply gorgeous on you! I love Becca’s cream blushes, but have never tried their powder ones. I think this one is one I must try soon!
The blush look great on you!
I love the sound of this blush! It looks lovely (of course), but what really gets me is the way you describe it – it’s hard to find a product that looks just as good on bare skin as it does on a made-up face, so the fact that bare skin is where Bolero excels is definitely intriguing!
Okay. So I’m going to have to hunt for a Becca counter near me. Also, I dashed to MAC counter for Reel Sexy collection and Tres cheek because of your reviews.
I ended up with reel sexy paired with cherry lip liner. Wanted to love Watch Me Simmer, but way too bright. I did snag Lovecloud. Love indeed :).
Gorgeous pics!! xx
Gah, I really want this blush… mainly because of the collection name, Balearic Love. My boyfriend is from the Balearic Islands, ha! Well, it’s a very pretty color too. 😛
Smoked salmon quiche sounds amazing!
Wow. Great review, I can’t believe that I haven’t tried BECCA powder blushes yet.
And The Smoked Salmon Quiche looks SO good, as well as everything else.
I only have 3 Becca items: Flowerchild, Damselfly and Bolero! 🙂 Thanks for the review.
That looks like the quintessential everyday blush! I NEED that, now!!! It’s my birthday next week so perhaps I could squeeze in one last purchase (I went a little crazy for the Sephora VIB sale!). 😀
PS: those pictures have inspired me to look for a tea lounge in my area. Everything looks so delicious!!
The blush is pretty, but I was majorly distracted by all the goodies on your breakfast table! So yum!
Hi Sunny,
Yes, it was delicious! Love me a good breakfast with the girls.
Becca’s has been on my makeup wishlist for a while now, but I haven’t made a purchase because I thought they were not sold in US stores. I’ve never seen their cosmetics at Macy’s, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus or any of the other department stores, but they are actually sold in boutiques in the US.
Hi Joyce,
They are actually sold in the US, at Henri Bendel department stores. 🙂 I’ve also seen them at Neiman Marcus.
And years ago they were sold at Sephora stores throughout the us; they stopped carrying them in 2007/2008.
Henri Bendel is close to where I live IF I drive, but I hate driving in the city. TOO much traffic and it’s too far from where I live if I take the train cuz I would need to make multiple transfers. =(
I don’t see Becca cosmetics’ sold online at Neiman Marcus, but I will call my nearest Neiman Marcus store to check! Thanx! =)
This just might be my first Becca purchase!
Oh yay! I hope so. 🙂
The Jook looks sooooo yummy! 🙂 And so does the blush, btw! So understated but sooooo pretty!
Hi Nina,
I’ve never had jook before, but I think I’ll have to give it a try next time I visit. 🙂
Happy Tuesday, btw. How are things out your way?
Things are OK. Im all caught up on sleep, and the hubs is all caught up on GOT (thank you HBO On Demand) LOL! Feels great to not hold my tongue and spill out a spoiler LOL!
Jook/Congee is one of my comfort foods. The plainer, the better. My favorite just has some thousand year old eggs and scallion in it. 🙂
The blush is very pretty, but I love the Samovar Tea Lounge even more! I’ve spent some lovely summer afternoons there.
Hi Lisa,
I can’t wait to go back. I love the vibe and the food. What do you usually order when you visit?
Hi Karen,
I’ve been lurking on your site for a few months now and just wanted to say I love your blog! Reading your updated posts are how I love to start my day (especially in case I want to take a side shopping trip) lol. I’m loving these becca products, but wanted to know what lipstick your wearing? It’s such a pretty color! Thanks again for the beauty entertainment!
Hi Joyce,
Thanks so much for this. It’s always great to get positive support here in the comments. 🙂 I really appreciate it!
As for the lipstick, it’s by MAC — Watch Me Simmer, from the Reel Sexy collection.
this is one contouring shade I would love. That smidgen of rosiness to the blush makes a perfect blush!
I so hope Becca was easily available in India
Okay, those food shots make me drool hardcore. Also, is it weird that I’ve never had bubble tea?
That’s such a pretty shade and it’s great how you can use it with minimal effort.
I love bubble tea too!
What a great blush for summer! I too am a pushover for the blushes from the Halycon collection, so I’d better grab this one too!
P.S.–everything looks yummy!!
Platter of Tea Sweets looks really so sweet =))
It was my first time having Jook and it was really good. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I liked it. But I loved the coconut rice pudding.
So fun spending time with you & Heather.
This blush is going on my want list. I don’t think I have one similar in color.
I start really excited when I begin reading your posts and by the end all I remember is the scrumptious food! I have pull myself away from those thoughts to focus back on the makeup, the blush shade is lovely. I think it would really go with my skin tone, will look out for it!