I’ve found that anything really intense–like a deeper hue–coupled with opaque coverage ends up being something I don’t reach for. I like more light and mid-tone colors and prefer medium, buildable coverage. I also don’t like thinner consistencies and prefer something with more slip or substance to it.
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For starters, anything too warm – oranges, peaches and corals are just not for me as they look quite unnatural. I prefer a finish with a bit of sheen – MAC’s Sheertone Shimmer and Extra Dimension blushes are examples of the type of finish I love – but I’m okay with matte shades so long as they’re not patchy and can be blended out to a natural looking flush of colour. I like something that will wear for at least 8 hours and not fade away before my work day and “life” day is finished.
No oranges or deep shades. I don’t like blushes that apply too pigmented because I prefer a light wash of color on my cheeks. Another dealbreaker is a blush that fades away after a few hours. And no glitter.
Anything that is neon bright or dark isn’t for me, and glitter is a no-go. I remember that Tarte True Blood stick blush having such a nice color but it was ruined by gold glitter!
1.) Patchy application where one cannot buff it out and get it to lay properly on the skin.
2.) Neon pink. Just no.
3.) Chunky or obvious glitter particles.
4.) Powdery looking mattes.
Anything very deep, unless I am careful, is usually a no just because I am so fair. I love a lot of things people can hate in blush, like glitter, but very hard, dry, difficult to pick up with a brush powders are always something I tend to weed out of my collection.
Deal breakers for me are: too much shimmer (I prefer a matte or slightly luminous finish), patchy application, and tones that pull unnatural in any shade, but especially orange. I do like a peachy/pink, but a rosy/mauve fresh faced tint is my favourite.
Patchy and/or hard to blend formulas are a no-go for sure.
– I do not enjoy overly pigmented opaque blushes, I prefer something buildable.
– I like both warm and cool blushes, but prefer those clustered around neutral territory. Anything too warm or cool looks weird on me.
– While neutral blushes are my mainstay, I like layering bright colours over bronzer for a slight sunburn look in the summer, so while bright brushes are not highly represented in stash, I do like to have one or two around for that purpose.
– I prefer satin to hybrid blush/highlighter formulas best. I tend to avoid full on mattes.
Glitter, most certainly. I would like to say uber pigmented blushes (I’m a heavy handed gal), because I never wear them. I would, but I can’t. I own enough neon pink and blood red blushes to bake a cake.
No orange at all!
Something with medium, buildable coverage. I can make a very pigmented blush work by swirling off on my wrist but it is easier just to have one that is buildable so that I don’t have to work at getting it just right.
I don’t like to blend too much as it disturbs my base and my hyperpigmentation is on the tops of my cheeks so I have to be careful there. I don’t like glitter but I do like a bit of a glow. If the blush is matte I frequently add a bit of whatever highlighter I am wearing that day and apply in the blush area and then just use the highlighter alone higher on my cheeks. An example of my favorite blush formula is the Ciate Glow to Illuminate blushes. They haven’t added any new shades to the range in forever and it is likely going to be discontinued but I have all the shades I like.
I like sheer blushes (Mac Sheertone and Extra dimension blushes) that i can build up coverage as desired. Peachy-browns are my favorite.
1) Strong scent or other ingredients that irritate my sensitive skin.
2) Bright shades that don’t sheer out well.
3) Emollient or waxy cream blushes that melt off my face.
4) Big chunks of glitter.
5) Patchy or hard to blend.
6) Oxidizes, even over primer and powder.
7) Too yellow. I just cannot pull off yellowish blushes.
In terms of blushes, what’s a deal breaker for me is if the peachy coral shade has an orangey undertone. I don’t like overly shimmery finishes either – I prefer a matte finish.
It has to be of medium pigmentation and apply easily with a blush brush. I want it to last all day too.
I quite like blush mosaics of different tones of peach/coral to add depth.
It can’t have too much pearlescent or glitter to it; also patchy or hard to blend formulas. It with just look straight up like a highlighter. For liquid blushes, they can’t cling to a patch or dry too quickly (as with stains).
I prefer buildable formulas that apply without being patchy or streaky and diffuse nicely along the edges of application. Baked blushes are the best for this so my blush collection mainly consists of Chanel, Bourjois, Milani, & Clinique pop.
biggest dealbreaker: if it doesn’t show up on my skintone (fenty 290/mac c40, so i’m not even that dark!). i bought this kbeauty blush (missha tension blush in peach sorbet) because an article on the cut said it was “universally flattering”. yeah…it didn’t even show up on my skin whatsoever.
No patchiness. As for color, the orangest I can go with my fair, cool skin is either Tarte Unstoppable (long-discontinued) or ColourPop Thnks fr th Mmrs.