Candy Doll "Strawberry Pink" Blush Review + I'm blonde now! + Upcoming Giveaway

Hello, lovelies! So it's been a week since I've last updated and I do apologize if I seemed to have dropped off the radar for a bit. To those of you who have blogs, I still check my Bloglovin' twice a week to catch up with your awesome entries. And I've been meaning to make it a habit to update twice a week instead of once. I guess I need better time management or something ><

Well, before I get into my review for the Candy Doll blush, I have something that I wanted to go over. First things first, for those of you who aren't familiar with me on Instagram or Twitter , I've gone blonde! Let's see if I have more fun. 

Now I know some of you were excited to hear about the Candy Doll blush in "Strawberry Pink" after I posted up my Korean and Japanese Beauty Haul. Candy Doll is endorsed by popular gyaru model, Tsubasa Masukawa. The blushes come in a variety of colors, ranging from Strawberry Pink, Peach Pink, Carrot Orange, Cream Beige and Marshmallow Violet. Just typing out these cute and interesting names makes me want to try them all! For this particular blush, I purchased it at Takashima but you can find it at Sasa as well. 

The Candy Doll blush in "Strawberry Pink" is a bright, true pink that can either look gyaru-friendly or a bit intimidating. I've always been a fan of peachy pink and coral blushes but since I've been getting more into Japanese makeup lately, I really wanted a bright pink blush for the summer. Plus, the color would look great on both blonde and brunettes. 

Err...I can't really read Japanese so I'm not quite sure what the back says. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but perhaps the directions are suggesting to pair this with the No. 1 Dolly Sweet false lashes from Dolly Wink? Someone who can read Japanese help me on this D: 

While the box has pretty cute packaging, I would have expected more from the actual blush container itself. It's actually a lot smaller than this picture looks and can fit snug in the palm of my hand. For $17.95, I suppose that's not too expensive, compared to NARS and Tarte blushes, but I wouldn't exactly call it a steal either. The container is made out of plastic and snaps to open or close. Nothing really special here. 

However, since this product seriously packs a punch in terms of pigmentation, you would probably be able to keep this for quite a long time before running out. You definitely need to apply this with a light hand, because it goes on as bright as it looks. Else wise, you'll end up looking more like a clown or guidette than gyaru. 

The color has a nice matte finish, littered with tiny micro-shimmers and although it's very bright, if applied correctly, will give you that sweet, dolly glow. This is definitely a great product if you want that gyaru look found in gyaru tutorials in magazines or just something fun and bright.

Here it is swatched on my skin. You don't really have to swirl your blush brush in this, as just one swipe should deliver enough color. You can gradually build the color up if you want more on your cheeks but again, it's already very vibrant. As for texture, it's not chalky at all and goes on very smoothly. Maybe not quite as buttery as NARS blushes, but still soft and blendable. 

As you can see, the blush adds a lovely, dolly, pink glow to my cheeks. I'm seriously in love with this color and I really like how it complements my light hair. It shows up nicely in pictures and doesn't look overly bright or obnoxious. Also, since it's nicely pigmented, girls with both pale skin and tan skin can wear it! 

Because today was so gloomy, I tried really hard to get good pictures but the lighting was so off in most of my pictures that I ended up with just this one. My hair looks a bit ashier in real life, not quite as warm. If anyone is curious, I'm wearing the Dolly Wink No. 1 in Dolly Sweet for my upper lashes and the No. 5 in Real Nude for my lower lashes. Since I was using Candy Doll, I thought it matched nicely enough to break out my Dolly Winks. Not sure if the packaging says to pair them together, but it would be a nice coincidence if it did haha =p 

So what did I like about this product? Everything...well mostly. 

Pros

• Great pigmentation
• Smooth, texture--not chalky at all 
• Shows up wonderfully in pictures 
• Long lasting, it's been around 5 hours and the blush hasn't faded that much 
• Mostly matte finish but with just a tiny bit of micro-shimmer, it won't really be noticeable
• Lovely, bright bubblegum pink color that is guaranteed to give you sweet, dolly cheeks 
• Small and portable enough to fit into your purse when you're on the go

Cons

• Not really a fan of the plastic packaging 
• Hard to find in the US, you may have to order it online 
• Can be considered a bit pricey for its size

Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

However, despite its few cons, I really can't think of anything else wrong with the product. Like I said, it's nicely pigmented, long-lasting, smooth and best of all, it's just a super fun and cute color that can look good on anyone. I would definitely repurchase this again when I run out, but that won't be anytime soon. 

Lastly, before I conclude this entry, I wanted to ask you guys something. I'm close to hitting 50 followers on Google Friend Connect and to celebrate, I want to host a giveaway. I'm already starting to put together a giveaway prize but I wanted to know--would you guys prefer Dolly Wink or Diamond Lashes for false lashes? Of course, since I'm a fan of both, I really don't know which ones you guys would rather receive. While I like Diamond Lash for their quantity (five pairs for the win!) and their durability, I know Dolly Winks will always be a fan favorite. Both brands are easily accessible to me so I can get either. I will choose according to majority rules. 

So let me know in the comments below! And also, what did you think of the Candy Doll blush? Have you tried it before or do you want to? What are your favorite blushes to wear? Do you prefer bright blushes or more natural colors? Lastly, any of you ladies planning to go blonde for the summer or have already gone blonde?

With Love, Tiffany