Hard Candy Blush

 Today i will be reviewing the Hard Candy brand blushes that i bought awhile ago.  I've tried this product for a long time and it has become my everyday blush.  I love the color and the way it comes out.  Further research into the product found that Hard Candy was a "high-end" makeup brand that use to be sold in Sephora.  However, the competition of other "high-end" makeup brands became too much for the company i guess because it has not been repackaged into a drug-store product and exclusively sold at Wal-marts.  This doesn't make the product any less impressive and when you think about it, your paying a drug-store price for a "high-end" makeup formula.  That, for me, is reason enough to give this brand a try.  My first impression of the product was the packaging and the cuteness of it.  A lot of people might think of this as "kiddy" makeup packaging.  I for one do not think this because it was the packaging that brought me to notice the makeup in the first place.  It actually reflects the product itself very well.  First of all the product does come off as a bit shiny; not in a glittery way, but more of a glowy-metallic way (if that makes sense).  I bought two shades because at first i just got the 127 mooncake shade (pink) and i used that as a highligher and let me just tell you it does wonders if you are looking for a natural glow.  I love the way it comes out and it makes my skin look very healthy.  I went back to buy the brown shade, 128 bombshell.  It has some pinkish streaks on the blush itself but it comes off a very natural bronzy color.  It is like a blush, highlighter, and contour all in one.  It is quite amazing and looks very natural.  I usually use both colors together as a blush and highlighter.  One of the interesting things about this blush is that you can use it dry or wet.  If you wet the blush, the colors comes brighter and more visible.  I prefer using it dry for a more natural look.  I would recommend this product to my friends for sure as i just love the colors.  For my skin tone, i actually prefer brown blushes as it makes my skin a little healthier; nothing too dark though. 

The packaging refers to the product as "blush crush baked blush", which i guess makes it seem more "natural" but there are parabens in the product list at the back.  I don't necessarily feel like that is a huge issue for me because many products do indeed have parabens in their product.  It makes them last longer, and as long as the amount does not exceed the limits of a safe amount, it should be fine for human skin.  One of the main things advertised on this blush is that they do not test on animals, which is always a plus as i love animals and i prefer them not to test on animals.  Many makeup companies do use alternative testing methods now so there really doesn't seem to be a need to test on animals at all.  This blush comes with 8grams of product or 0.28oz which is actually a lot and lasts a long time.  So at $7 for one at Wal-Mart Canada, isn't pricey at all for a good product.