Like A Diamond Trio

The Mai Couture Like a Diamond Trio is highlighter and blush on thin paper slips together in one packet, designed for quick easy use “on the go.” In theory (or, “on paper” if you will – ha!) it sounds like such a neat idea. Unfortunately in practice it’s anything but.The first thing I noticed was that the dust goes everywhere. This is not something I’d want to carry around in one of my nice handbags, because I can imagine the product staining the lining.My second issue was that I found the papers to be hard to handle. It’s actually a bigger problem with the highlighter sheets, since when applying blush you’re generally trying to get the color in a larger area. I had a hard time getting the highlighter where I wanted it. I had to fold and bend the sheets in an attempt to get the look I was going for, and wound up with more product on my fingers than on my face. With both the highlighter and the blush, I still had to blend the product with a brush anyway because of the harsh lines I ended up with – which I thought defeated the point of the papers…?I did like the highlighter color very much. I’m very fair and it looked quite nice on my skin. The rosier blush was lovely, as well. I don’t wear blush on a daily basis, but it also looked nice with my coloring. The other blush was a bit too orangey for my taste.This is not a product I would get again, especially for $24.00 for a packet. That’s a bit more than I want to pay for a product when more is going to end up on my fingers, dressing table, and floor than on my face.

This has its uses, but it's not something that I would ever replace my normal make-up regime with. First, the colors (blush and highlighter) aren't going to work for everyone. I have porcelain skin and, for me, the colors were just okay. Like they would do in a pinch, but a real pinch...and only as a touch up (in addition to my base make-up...after a long flight for example, or a day at the beach before dinner, or going right from work to dinner out). In that kind of capacity it can actually be very useful and helpful (reminds me a bit of the old oil blotter tissue paper packets). Which brings me to point #2...you remember what happened to those packets of blotter tissues??? Well, mine always ended up destroyed, dirty, and unusable at the bottom of my purse. Maybe it's just me. This is structured in the same way. Unless you keep it somewhere safe in your purse...it's going to get rumpled or possibly destroyed. Like the blotter tissue packets, this isn't constructed out of materials that will hold up in the banging around of our bags (although it is slightly bigger than the blotter tissue packs...about the size of a credit card). The tissues on the inside...they are perforated, you tear what you want out, and rub it on your face (they areas you need to touch up or paint). The make-up does have a bit of sparkly to it...which I love...but most people..not so much (so be aware of that). The rubbing the tissue on the face is not so awesome...the consistency of the paper is somewhere between parchment paper and the tissue paper you shove into gift bags to pretty them up. I'd prefer to apply it using a brush...which I tried...and it worked...but that kind of defeats the "ease" of the instrument (if you have to haul around a brush with your make-up tissues). In the end...I'd maybe nab one if I were going to be traveling and was really concerned about showing up all fresh and clean or staying pretty throughout the trip. But to have and use on a regular basis...not so much. It *is* convenient, but it's not going to be better than actually using your make-up AND it's likely to get damaged if your toting it around for any length of time. And for those reasons...it's expensive. You might use a quarter of the papers for touch-ups before it gets gross in your bag. Wouldn't be worth the money in that case.

Mai Couture Trio, Like A Diamond has been a handy addition to my beauty routine. This set covers my highlighting and blush needs with ease at home or on the go. The highlighter is Crystal Cove followed by blushes Sunset BLVD and Studio City. There are 20 sheets of each shade.I have an olive skin tone and found all shades to show up without being faint, over bearing, or too shiny. After having applied the blush and highlighter, my husband took notice right away and said my make up looked really nice. This is something I rarely hear from him. So, it's noticeably improved my look! I feel these shades are a great boost and refresher when when my other layers of make up seem to be fading later in the day.The booklet is small so it can easily be tucked away into my purse cosmetic bag with ease. I've not had the inner sheets make a mess or come out of place. As for application, I found the delicate paper sheets easy to use. I had feared that it would be difficult o apply but it was super simple. I typically use just half a sheet per application.In the back of the book, there's are written step-by-step instruction as well as two illustrations that demonstrate how to apply both the blush and highlighter. I really like there's no need for me to carry around make up application brushes and that this set is free from parabens and talc!I would recommend this product and believe if you feel it's for you to invest in the Mai Couture Papier Wallet. The wallet can give this book extra protection and free the mind of make up getting anywhere you'd prefer it not to.