Miss M and I are both known for our love of blush.  Nothing brightens up a persons face like a bright pink cheek color.  But, alas, as the years go by, I find that I am less able to pull off the shell pink blush of my youth without looking like I’m trying too hard.  

So it is with great sadness that I put my Bobbi Brown Nectar blush into the “weekend makeup” drawer and move on to something age-appropriate.

I found the solution to my troubles at Blue Mercury, which is quickly overtaking Sephora as my favorite beauty retailer.  The Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc ($38) gives my cheeks a dewy blush with a hint of bronzer.  And unlike so many other shimmer products I have tried, this one doesn’t make you look like you got into a brawl with Tinkerbell.

The trick with the shimmer bloc is to use it sparingly.  I apply a light dustin to my cheekbones, the tip of my nose, my temples and my chin using a large powder brush.  I then apply my eye makeup while I wait for the blush to settle.  If I think I need a little more on the cheeks, I use a smaller brush to apply only the pink shade to the apples of my cheeks.  

The overall effect of this product is much softer and more subtle than a solid blush.  I also like that it seems to brighten up my face making the fact that I was at work til 10pm last night a little less obvious.  And if it’s possible, I think using less blush actually makes me look younger than wearing gobs of bright pink blush.

Certainly the lesson here is that as we age, less is more.  Even if that “age” is only 28.

Beauty Product Guinea Pig is a makeup and skincare review column that appears on CHS every time Belle or Miss M buys a product that they want to talk about.  Sometimes the results are stupendous (Hello, Clarisonic!), and sometimes they are atrocious (I’m looking at you L’Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara!).  If you would like the girls to review your product, please contact Belle at capitolhillstyle (at) gmail (dot (com).