Can we please bond over blush? Because I have a new appreciation for its power.
It’s REALLY powerful!
This occurred to me last week while conducting the “just one thing” experiment. I realized that applying blush on a bare face was one of the things that made the biggest impact.
Every beauty article ever written on blush basically says the same thing — that blush makes you look healthy and vibrant — but like, really, when you don’t have other stuff going on with your makeup and your face is otherwise bare, you can REALLY see just how powerful blush is.
Yeah, I’ve been loving on my blush a little extra lately. 😊
I have a couple new favorites, and they’re from a brand called Flesh, which is the line by Allure magazine founder Linda Wells (launched last summer and available at Ultar), and the powder blushes are bomb! I’ve been going back and forth between Caress, which is a matte tan/warm brown (almost looks like a bronzer), and Glaze, which is a deep reddish coral with subtle gold shimmer. I’ve had extremely dry skin for a couple weeks because of winter, and because I’ve been using a retinol at night, but when I wear these powder blushes, which are ridiculously smooth, I can’t even see the dry patches.
They practically float on top of my skin above the flakes. It’s super cool. Both colors, by the way, are somewhat intense, so if you tend to be heavy-handed with your blush (which I do sometimes because I’m so used to doing makeup for flash photography), just so ya know, grab a makeup sponge or a buffing brush — basically whatever you use to buff down your foundation or concealer — and stipple the leftover base makeup on top of the blush. That should tone down the brightness and lift away any excess product. Or, just, you know…go in with a light touch. That’ll work too! LOL!
Don’t ask me why I only just figured this out right now, but I bought this empty six-pan MAC blush palette years ago, and it didn’t occur to me until last week (!) that you can actually remove the frame that holds the pans and stick your blushes directly into the palette.
DUH, KAREN!
I may try to depot my Flesh blushes and stick them in with the other MAC ones I use all the time (Melba, Cantaloupe and Style, in case you were wondering).
One last thing: My first blush love was when I was 14, and I wore Clinique New Clover practically every single day. I can still picture the green marbled packaging and tiny little brush sitting in the pocket in my freshman year backpack, where I kept all of my makeup, aww!
I have a soft spot for Clinique blush because of that sweet memory. 😊 Anyway, you probably already know about Clinique’s cult fave Cheek Pops, but have you tried their Blushing Blush Powder Blushes lately? They’re super pretty on top of bare skin or tinted moisturizer because they’re semi-transparent, so you always look like you’re wearing just enough color on your cheeks. Never too much. I really love Cupid (a soft pink) and Sunset Glow (a golden coral). The packaging is clear on the bottom, too, so it’s easy to see what color each blush is right off the bat, which is helpful.
Have you been lovin’ on any particular blush lately? Do tell.
And if you never wear blush, GIRL! — allow me to change your mind…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Carol b says
March 13th, 2019 at 8:28 amI love love my blush too as I look horrible without a bit of colour on my cheeks. Since I turned 51 in Jan I’ve been trying different things for woman my age and having fun with it all but my fav is physician formula and elf and nude by nature I need the ones that r gluten and soy free these work great for me.
Karen says
March 13th, 2019 at 8:35 amHi Carol,
Physicians Formula has some good blushes. Don’t know if you’re a bronzer person but their bronzers are fab, too!
Carol b says
March 14th, 2019 at 8:17 amI absolutely love love their bronzer and I like their eye shadow pencils too the wider ones and the eyeliner ones.
Karen says
March 14th, 2019 at 10:47 amYES! So many good things. I love that their stuff works and is so affordable.
Carol b says
March 14th, 2019 at 12:27 pmMe too since becoming celiac and soy and dairy allergies I’m glad there r some cheaper choices than the more expensive brands. I feel that some cheaper items work just as well as the other brands. I found I love nature by nude too it’s all natural and reasonable too.
Karen says
March 14th, 2019 at 12:42 pmMy husband is celiac! It’s made cooking a fun challenge. 🙂
Carol b says
March 14th, 2019 at 5:19 pmI have a soy allergy and dairy intolerant as well as five autoimmune diseases just diagnosed with Addison’s disease not a great one but dealing with them all the way I have from my first one 24 yrs ago. Humour and being positive if I wasn’t that not sure how stable I would be. Lol.
Amy says
March 13th, 2019 at 10:43 amI’m still in love with Kjaer Weiss sun touched and desired glow!
Karen says
March 13th, 2019 at 12:17 pmHi Amy,
Love, love, LOVE Sun Touched. I have to get a new one though because mine started smelling funky so I had to toss it!
Denise S. says
March 13th, 2019 at 11:08 amI love Hourglass blushes. They are slightly shimmery but not shiny. Also Marc Jacob blushes are bomb and last all day!
Karen says
March 13th, 2019 at 12:16 pmOh, Denise, ME TOO! I could easily wear the Brilliant Nude shade every day! Which one is your fave?
Max says
March 13th, 2019 at 11:09 amOMG Karen! I love blush. Every single type, I need them all.
For me, blush is the difference between people asking if I’m sick or not. Blush just makes me look brighter and lively. I’m going to buy myself one of these Flesh blushes now that I’ve read your review.
Thank you!
Karen says
March 13th, 2019 at 12:15 pmHi Max,
The Flesh blushes are great! I’m testing a few things from the line at the moment. They also have some lovely your-lips-but-better lipsticks (in case you need something to wear with your new blush).
Ditte K. says
March 13th, 2019 at 11:14 amI am almost done with my wet n wild blush in the color mellow wine, and then I will move on to a Clinique blush I got in my advent calendar last year 🙂 so proud to have used a blush all up.
Karen says
March 13th, 2019 at 12:08 pmOh nice! It’s such a satisfying feeling finishing up a product. What color blush did you get in the advent calendar? Good thing powders last a long time, right?
Ditte K. says
March 13th, 2019 at 8:56 pmIt’s called precious posy 🙂 I hope it shows up on my skin. I’m Caucasian white mixed with Greenlandic/Inuit, and Benefits coralista didn’t show up on my skin at all.
Karen says
March 14th, 2019 at 6:50 amI *think* I might have tried that shade a while back. It’s one of the Blushing Blushes, if I can recall? Anyway, I remember that color appearing *very* natural and subtle on my skin and liking it.
Suzanne C says
March 13th, 2019 at 11:26 amApparently I’m “extra with the blush”, per my girls. 😄 I do a light layer of Tarte powder blush in a soft color, then just a little Clinique Chubby Stick or Nars Dolce Vita on the apples of my cheeks to give them some extra brightness.
Karen says
March 13th, 2019 at 12:08 pmHaha! You’re not extra until you walk out of the house wearing what looks like two little circles on your cheeks. I’m guilty of this… It happened when I was in a hurry and not thinking straight. I looked in the mirror once I was in the car and I literally looked like one of those dolls with blush circles, LOL!
Which Clinique Chubby Stick do you use/love?
Suzanne C says
March 13th, 2019 at 1:00 pmMind you, the ‘extra’ comment was coming from one girl who seldom wears makeup and another who has never worn makeup. Using two products to do one job blows their minds, lol.
I use the Cheek Colour Balm in Roly Poly Rosy. It has been great while my skin has been drier during the winter. It would be a job to blend it all over the cheek area, but just on the apples, it’s a snap.
Karen says
March 13th, 2019 at 1:26 pmLOL! My friend Cindy is the same way. She never wears any makeup (for her, liner is daring!), and the last time I saw her I was wearing a bright hot pink matte lipstick and she was like, “It’s so bright.” I was all, “That’s kind of the point.” HA HA !
I gotta back on the cream blush train and the Cheek Colour Balms look perfect for that. 🙂 Thanks for the color recommendation.
Jennifer says
March 13th, 2019 at 11:53 amOMG!!!!!!!! FLASHBACKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I, too, wore Clinique New Clover and I’d forgotten all about it. Thanks for the memory. I think I wore it with, Oh, I can’t remember now, there was a lip pencil and a lipstick I paired together.
I need blush because I think I look dead without it. I’m wearing a new to me IT foundation that has a physical sunscreen–zinc and something else–so it’s just the tiniest bit masky-if you know what I mean. So blush is crucial.
Bobbi Brown in Pale Pink is my forever stand by but today I’m wearing a Japanese blush by CanMake in some sort of peach. I like it because it goes on the lip too. All about multi task products.
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Karen says
March 13th, 2019 at 12:06 pmIt was my color back in the day. Then in college I stopped wearing blush entirely (WHAT), and then didn’t start again until my mid-20s. Now I can’t live without it! How are you liking the IT foundation? I’m about to give it a go!
Ruchita says
March 13th, 2019 at 12:11 pmI’ve been loving peachy-tones blushes lately. In the summer when my skin is a bit darker, I can go with more pigmented colors. This reminded of when I first started wearing makeup and I loved the Maybelline Cheekers blushes.
Karen says
March 13th, 2019 at 12:23 pmI remember the Cheekers blushes! I think I had a matte peachy brown one when I was a junior in high school.
I also remember having a Maybelline Kissing Koolers gloss and being obsessed with it.
Jennifer says
March 13th, 2019 at 12:13 pmOn a scale of 1 to 10, it’s a 5 to 6 for me. I would like it better if it was easier to blend. Having said that, as a skin cancer survivor, I’m willing to compromise to have an spf of 50 built it into my foundation. I’m wearing the light I think.
The container is good. It’s a tube but it has a pump, so I was very excited. I like to have a pump so I’m not in charge of deciding how much to put on.
This summer I may go back to Nars when I’m showering in SPF before I leave the house.
Also, I’m dying to try some of the products from Flesh but whenever I go to Ulta, they’re out. I may just have to order some online. There’s a product Linda Wells has made to put a bit of glisten on the eyelids that I think I need. Can’t remember the name.
Karen says
March 13th, 2019 at 12:24 pmThe NARS Tinted Moisturizer in the tube? I love that one!
I think Flesh gloss is the one in the pot. I want it too, but it’s never in stock!
Jennifer Osborn says
March 13th, 2019 at 6:16 pmYeah, the Nars tube. I think I buy Fiji, although I would have to double check with the mothership. Thank goodness they track my purchases. That Nars tube formulation is really great. So easy to work with and blendable.
If I get my paws on that Flesh gloss in the pot I’ll send half to you. I hear a little bit goes a long way.
Karen says
March 14th, 2019 at 6:52 amYeah, I like it. The finish is gorgeous, and it photographs beautifully too!
Sherry says
March 13th, 2019 at 1:51 pmFor a natural look, I love this lightly pigmented blush from MAC, called Ray Beam. It’s kind of a pinky peach color. It just looks so natural when I put it on. Love it!!
Karen says
March 14th, 2019 at 7:02 amHi Sherry,
I know Ray Beam! If you like that shade you might want to try MAC Warm Soul sometime. It’s also a Mineralize Skinfinish Blush and has a most beautiful coral flush.
Erica says
March 13th, 2019 at 2:54 pmOh my gosh, you’re speaking to my soul in this post. I. LOVE. BLUSH. Like really, really love it. I totally agree, it completely changes your face. It makes you look brighter and more awake, and one of my favorite things to do is wear really pared-back makeup everywhere else and then a crap ton of blush!
I’m a big lover of cream blushes, although I’m starting to really like powder blushes these days too. I love the Clinique Chubby Stick for Cheeks, the RMS Beauty lip2cheek’s, the Stila Convertible Colors, and the Glossier Cloud Paints the best. For powders, it’s CoverGirl Instant Cheekbones & MAC Harmony.
The Clinique Pop Blushes are so good! I used to have Melon Pop. But I’ve never tried the Blushing Blushes before! Might have to change that soon. I absolutely love Clinique products!
Karen says
March 14th, 2019 at 6:59 amHi Erica,
You know, I love Clinique too. I feel like a lot of people see them more as a skin care brand but they have beautiful makeup for people who want more of a natural look. If you haven’t yet already, try their liquid liner pen. It’s surprisingly really user friendly!
Erica says
March 14th, 2019 at 5:29 pmI completely agree. Most people think immediately of their skincare (which I love too!), but their makeup is absolutely lovely. I’ve heard their liquid liner pen is very good. I’m not one for liquid liner myself, but my mom loves it. I’ll pass along the recommendation!
Lorraine says
March 13th, 2019 at 4:17 pmYEs! to the Clinique New Clover. uh-huh. that was me, too. Blush is a daily necessity on my paper pale skin. I look ill without it. I have been a Chanel patterned blush devotee of late. Those are my absolute favorites. Sunkiss Ribbon, Coco Code, Camelia flowers, SOHO, Blush Horizon are just so easy to wear and have fun with. Second favorite are my NARS blushes. I swear, Sin was my only blush for several years. Well, I thought I had another one but dang if it wasn’t the bronzer in the palette. hahaha well, it was the ’90s and we could get away with the brown blush. Special mention to the Milani Rose blushes and Cream blushes by Laura Mercier.
Karen says
March 14th, 2019 at 6:57 amHi Lorraine,
Yes! I remember the brown blush in the ’90s. I still have a soft spot for a monochromatic matte brown look (must be all those ’90s supermodels that I stared at in all the magazines). 🙂
Tatiana says
March 13th, 2019 at 4:37 pmLately, I’ve been wearing Marc Jacobs Air Blush Duo in Kinks & Kisses and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush. Oh, also the Estee Lauder Violette Sculpting Face Trio. I like this one so much I’m tempted to break my “no back ups” rule.
I wish Clinique had better color swatches on their site. I’m tempted by some of their blushes, but from the cheek pops, I know that what’s on my computer screen is not what I’d get in person. So I’ll wait til I can cruise a Clinique counter before buying anymore Clinique blushes.
Karen says
March 14th, 2019 at 6:56 amHonestly Estee Lauder has been rocking my world lately! You have the Swirling Passions Trio, right? I’ve had that in my check out cart for a minute!
Tatiana says
March 14th, 2019 at 10:16 amYes, Swirling Passions Trio! Is it still available somewhere?
I also wore Clinique New Clover when I was young. Must be a universal shade.
Karen says
March 14th, 2019 at 10:51 amYes! I saw it on the Estee Lauder website. It’s kinda hidden deep in there but it’s there!
Erica says
March 13th, 2019 at 7:25 pmBlush is one item I cannot do without. It provides structure and livens up my face. My favorites are Clinique Nude Pop and Heather Pop. MAC Sur, Margin and Cosmic Force. Lancome Miel Glace. NARS Orgasm and Madly. Too Faced Papa Don’t Peach. I really have too many to name. Blush is my favorite makeup category!
Karen says
March 14th, 2019 at 6:51 amAhh, NARS Madly is one of my favorites too, Erica! Love it.
Rachel Runyan says
March 13th, 2019 at 10:32 pmAs someone with pale skin, I really appreciate blush. I’m still carrying on my love affairs with the NARS Hot Tryst Palette and Physician’s Formula Butter Blush in Plum Rose. MAC Pink Cult and NARS Blissful have also been getting workouts this winter.
I just got the NARS Exposed Cheek Palette, and I’m hoping I love it as much as I do Hot Tryst.
Karen says
March 14th, 2019 at 6:47 amI think NARS makes some of the best blushes. Have fun with your cheek palette! It’s a beauty.
Maricar says
March 14th, 2019 at 7:43 pmHi Karen,
Do you have a favorite retinol?
Lily Kelley says
March 15th, 2019 at 7:36 amMac Gingerly, Mac Sincere and Nars Madly are y favorites. I am an NC30 and blush is something i can not do without.
Chelsea says
March 15th, 2019 at 6:14 pmI’m just catching up because of how my week has been going, but I’m a huge proponent of blush! So underrated! My go-to is Chantecaille Cheek Gelée in Lively, which is a super pretty, sheer peach. I actually rarely wear powder blushes, even though I have a few. I also have one of the Clinique Chubby Stick blushes in I think it’s called Plump Peony? It’s a pretty plummy color.