The long-running Unsung Heroes series here on Makeup and Beauty Blog features some of our all-time favorite permanent collection products.
Blush was the last, most recent category of makeup I got into, because I’m really fair, and while I’d say that my skin tone is generally more neutral, I do still get rosy. Since I thought that the point of foundation was to even out your skin tone, and getting rosy plays into that, I guess I just figured that blush was sort of a contradiction and would work against my efforts.
So I rocked a pale face for a long time. Then, well, I found Luminoso.
I’m pretty sure it was the first blush I ever tried, too, and what a good choice it was. It’s not just pink, and it’s not just peach. I feel like it’s the color that was meant to be there, like its found a home on my face.
Milani’s baked blushes are wonderful, and they’re not just good for the price (around 7 bucks). They’re good across the board.
I feel like Luminoso, especially, is kind of a one-stop shop. It isn’t matte, and it isn’t overly sparkly. It’s just a healthy peachy glow with a slight and very fine white/gold glow.
I think it looks phenomenal with, like, a really flawless base down, a strong brow, loads of mascara, and a classic red lip. Luminoso just like brings it all together.
Bolder lipstick shades wash you out pretty instantly, and Luminoso brings the life back into my cheeks.
It’s also incredibly versatile. It’s like the blush equivalent of the perfect leather jacket. If you’re near my skin tone, it goes with any and every look. I feel like on my skin, it’s the peak color.
With that said, if you have a solid base (foundation through to sculpting and/or blush) down, it gives you so much room to futz around and build intensity in other areas like your eyes and lips, or to do some intense strobing.
A good completed base serves as the backbone of a look. When I’m a little unsure about my makeup because it’s something I’ve never done before, with Luminoso, I can rest assured knowing that if all else fails, at least my base makeup looks dope.
Thank you, Luminoso! You my boo.
Katie says
May 9th, 2016 at 4:00 pmThis is one of my favorite blushes ever! Great for fair, warm skin.
Nicole Fraser-Herron says
May 11th, 2016 at 9:39 pmAgreed!
hanna says
May 9th, 2016 at 5:28 pmThis is such a pretty color.
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LindaLibraLoca says
May 9th, 2016 at 7:54 pmBlush was the first makeup thing I got into because I was so pale. I didn’t get rosy, so I desperately needed the color in my cheeks.
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Nicole Fraser-Herron says
May 11th, 2016 at 9:53 pmYeah now I look kinda dead without it. But sometimes that’s what I’m going for!
Becky says
May 9th, 2016 at 9:00 pmI’ve been trying to avoid the Luminoso hype (mainly as Milani is really difficult to get hold of in the UK!) but you’ve sold it for me. It is a really go-with-everything colour! It looks beautiful on you 🙂
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Nicole Fraser-Herron says
May 11th, 2016 at 9:41 pmYay! If your skin tone is near mine, it’s definitely worth checking out. You can always return it if it just doesn’t work for you. But Milani’s baked blushes are so rad, there’s something there for everyone!
jonirae says
May 9th, 2016 at 9:55 pmhmmmm this is like the fifth stellar review I have seen of this shade just this week!! I don’t know why the sudden uptick in excitement surrounding this blusher, but this just further cements my intrigue! 🙂
Nicole Fraser-Herron says
May 11th, 2016 at 9:42 pmCheck her out! Game-changer. Unless it isn’t in which case hopefully it brings you closer to the one that does.
vanilla says
May 9th, 2016 at 10:38 pmthere are many reviews already on the web but yours makes it the perfect blush to own
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Nicole Fraser-Herron says
May 11th, 2016 at 9:42 pmThank you! I definitely recommend it to everyone I know.
Nivedita says
May 10th, 2016 at 2:16 amUnsung? I thought it has already become a cult favorite. You look lovely. I started early with blushes, but, well, it wasn;t a staple as much as it is now.
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Kiss & Make-up says
May 10th, 2016 at 2:42 amHaha, I love how you compared it to the perfect leather jacket. Sounds like a real keeper!
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Nicole Fraser-Herron says
May 11th, 2016 at 9:46 pmIt really is, at least for me. Leather jackets are quintessential wardrobe pieces! They turn an outfit up instantly. When I’m feeling crummy in some sweats and a shirt, a leather jacket makes it look intentional & chic. Once I got a fitted (faux or not) leather jacket, my laziness became undetectable and now people just think I’m stylish. Lazy-chic, that’s me.
Lancy says
May 10th, 2016 at 5:21 amIt indeed is a versatility blush! Looks beautiful on you, Nichole!
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Nicole Fraser-Herron says
May 11th, 2016 at 9:46 pmThank you!
TravelingBlush says
May 10th, 2016 at 6:49 amluminoso really is at least a must try; the other colors are also lovely. i personally like corallina a bit more – not as versatile but very pretty. bella rosa, a matte fuchsia, is also pretty.
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Rachel R. says
May 10th, 2016 at 1:45 pmI like Corallina better, too.
Nicole Fraser-Herron says
May 11th, 2016 at 9:47 pmThey’re all so nice. I really like Berry Amore too.
Tatiana says
May 10th, 2016 at 9:47 amI’m very fair and since I’m trying to even my skin tone and eliminate redness, I usually skip blush. I also don’t have very good cheek bones, so no matter how I apply blush it looks like my cheeks are sliding down my face. But this really is a pretty color. I need to look for it, as Milani doesn’t seem to be stocked in any of the drugstores nearby.
Nicole Fraser-Herron says
May 11th, 2016 at 10:03 pmAh, that happens to me sometimes too. I think it was because I was using too big & too dense of a brush, and also just applying too much. I usually restrict it to the outter apples of my cheeks so it isn’t too close to my nose, but also not too spread out over my cheeks. Have you tried that kind of a placement? Or maybe going back over with your foundation brush to clean things up?
Rachel R. says
May 10th, 2016 at 1:44 pmIt seems everyone loves this blush except me. It looks gorgeous on other people, but I don’t feel like it does a lot for my fair skin. Maybe because I’m porcelain and have neutral undertones? I have to layer Luminoso over stomething darker and brighter for it to look good.
Nicole Fraser-Herron says
May 11th, 2016 at 9:49 pmI hate it when that happens. Everyone was over the moon about the lightest shade of L’Oreal True Match, and when I put it on my face… I don’t think my foundation has ever looked so wretched. Shade was great but formula? Good god no way. What if you go back over it with your foundation brush to soften it up a bit?
Rachel R. says
May 16th, 2016 at 1:51 pmIt doesn’t really need softening, it’s not too dark. It just doesn’t really do anything for me, either. Thanks for the input, though, I appreciate it.
Erin says
May 10th, 2016 at 2:27 pmIt’s quite lovely!
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Susan S says
May 10th, 2016 at 3:20 pmRachel, you’re not the only one! It does nothing for me at all either–I even threw mine away, then almost bought it again when the hype started up–I figured I was nuts for being the only one who didn’t love it! Then luckily I read some other comments from others that don’t like it either, so I now know I’m not the only one! It looks so pretty in the pan, but on my skin…..nope!
Rachel R. says
May 16th, 2016 at 1:53 pmIt’s good to know I’m not the only one! 🙂
anusha says
May 10th, 2016 at 7:25 pmWhat beautiful picture! Love your pose and the background. .
Nicole Fraser-Herron says
May 11th, 2016 at 9:50 pmThank you!
Ashley Walker says
May 11th, 2016 at 5:01 amLooks gorgeous! What foundation or base are you wearing? It seems to pair really well with the Luminoso.
Nicole Fraser-Herron says
May 11th, 2016 at 9:53 pmI’m wearing MUFE Ultra HD in shade Y205. I’m not wearing any bronzer or anything, just blush for the full effect. Let’s be honest, I just really wanted to look like the bougainvillea in the background.
Kiran says
May 12th, 2016 at 8:38 amI am surprised you consider this an unsung hero, I thought it was massively popular. It is such a gorgeous blush, great post x
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Silvia says
August 30th, 2016 at 12:49 amI love these Milani baked blushes! With my skin being very pale I started with Luminoso for all the hype although it is a gorgeous color especially for Summer to me Rosa D’Oro is best to bring some happy color to my cheeks then I blend with my WetnWild stipple/slanted brush since is soft and not so heavy/full as my other brushes it goes on perfect. Also to apply a highliter above, with a light hand, these brushes turned out awesome. So I went back and collected 6 of them blushes! Awww so pretty! I got Bella Rosa, Corallina, Berry Amore, Deliciozo Pink and Luminoso. Loving all shades! I think Vino and the Bronser one would be way too dark for me.