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What do you look for in a good blush formula?


What do you look for in a good blush formula? Share!
Enough softness so that I can get good color payoff and be able to blend/sheer out the color as necessary on the skin. I like a satiny finish–glowing but not frosted so it doesn’t emphasize pores but isn’t matte.

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xamyx Avatar

For me, color & finish are the key. I look for a color that looks natural, and it has to blend into my skintone, seamlessly. That means anything bright and/or warm just won’t work for me. If the color is right, it’s not too much of an issue if it’s too pigmented, but if pigmentation is softer, it needs to be buildable without going cakey. As for finish, I don’t care for sparkle/glitter, nor do I like completely matte. Ideally, a nice dewy glow tops my list.

I feel blush is a sort of extension of my foundation, and while I can go to extremes with eyes (and lips to a lesser extent), I like to keep my face natural. It’s as if my face is a canvas, and my eyes are the artwork.

Zainab Avatar

Blendability is the main thing, I’m always wary of having really harsh lines of blush (because when I started wearing it I just used to pack it on and looking back it didn’t look great).

CeeBee Avatar

True to pan colour, good pigmentation, blendable and long lasting!

I prefer satin or ever so slightly shimmery finishes because I think that a little bit of glow always looks flattering on every skin tone but matte is fine too because it’s easy enough to add a highlighter if you so desire.

La Femme blushes are amazing, if anything, they are too pigmented! Incredibly affordable too. I have nearly 2 dozen shades (ordered from overseas) and they are BRILLIANT. I refuse to pay big $ for Tom Ford, MAC and Burberry now, even my NARS gets skipped over for these babies… 😉

Sarah M Avatar

Cream-to-powder or powder, should be soft in texture, highly pigmented and long-lasting, should blend easily and have either a matte or glowing finish; I don’t mind shimmer either, as long as it doesn’t emphasize pores too much.

Desiree Avatar

Pigmented but not streaky or chalky. I bought a beautiful bright pink blush from Sonia Kashuk which was pigmented but blended horribly and faded fast. I also like any finish.

Sorry if it’s off topic, Christine, but do you plan on reviewing/swatching the Viva Glam Rihanna set?

Jan Avatar

1). Even application without the clown effect. No Kidd gloves, no endless layering either.
2). Actually shows up and complements my skin color/tone.
3). Seriously hides pores.
4). Doesn’t itch or smell.
5). Lasts all day/evening

Sylirael Avatar

Well, I have limited experience with blushes (heh), but I adore my Chanel cream blush (Affinite), so based on that, I’d say:

Easily blendable, soft, creamy but not with a dewy finish, and bright enough that I have options for intensity. Can be applied with fingers is a bonus! Definitely no frosty/glittery shimmer (save that for a highlighter!).

Amy Avatar

Two things: pigmentation and ability to blend. I can engineer around the finish, length of wear, etc. but those two things are non-negotiable. Failure results in product going immediately in the trash without any hesitation.

Plurabelle Avatar

I love shimmery blushes that have a golden sheen or glow (like a highlighter), rather than chunky particles of sparkle/glitter in them. It should look intense but natural. My boyfriend always comments when I wear Sleek’s Rose Gold that “your cheeks are glowing!” with a look of astonishment on his face, as if he doesn’t realise it’s makeup! 😛 Some say it’s a dupe for NARS Orgasm, but I’ve swatched it many times and I find it far better than Orgasm – pigmented and ultra-glowy without the chunks of glitter.

They should also be buttery, soft and blendable, and preferably very pigmented, although there are some sheerer blushes which are very good, too. I’ve rarely fallen in love with a baked formula, though they are pretty to look at. I’m not a fan of satin blushes, but I have been getting into matte ones lately – and I’m dying to try out more cream formulas: cream-to-powders as well as those that give a dewy effect.

Larissa Avatar

Pigmentation, blendability, softness, smoothness. I don’t like to see chunky glitter on my cheeks – it looks like fallout – but I like a good sheen. That said, even though I’m fair-skinned, I am always incredibly drawn to COLOR (like Nars Desire or Exhibit A; Clinique Berry or Plum Pop), even if I have to use a light hand to make it look good. Never been afraid of it, never will be, and I always like the option of super intensity. Someday I’ll add something paler to my collection. Maybe.

Ivana Avatar

I like a buttery, non-chalky and pigmented blush. I don´t likeblushes that are sheer because I want to be able to sheer it out myself and not try to put so much of it like a maniac. If I put on blusher on my face I want it to be visible, at least to a certain degree.

Verily Avatar

I’m very pale, and for some reason, blushes always end up in various shades of pink on me, no matter what color they are. So I guess I’d like a blush that’s not a rosy pink for a change? Like coral or raspberry? Ehh . . .

Lauren Avatar

Pigmented enough so that it shows up on my skin, not too pigmented that I have to ruin the foundation underneath to blend it out. I like a soft formula that looks natural on the skin. I prefer satin blushes and, in winter, blushes with a some shimmer to make my skin look healthy and vibrant.

Sophia B. Avatar

Blendability is number one and also moderate pigmentation. When a blush is too sheer and needs to be built up, by the time I am happy with the color payoff i have so much powder on my cheeks that it looks cakey. I also prefer a satin finish because I have dry skin and matte blushes look awful on me and glittery or overly shimmery blushes look unnatural.

Mindy Avatar

I prefer my blushes pigmented and easily blendable. I don’t want to have to did my brush into a product to get color, I want to lightly tap my brush and pick up enough for one cheek. With pigmented blush, blendability is key as we can’t all walk around looking like clowns. I also need the wear time to be at least 12 hours on average, which actually isn’t hard to do for me with a quality blush. I like all types of blush formula, be it gel, cream, powder or liquid.

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