Merit Mood Flush Balm Cream Blush Review & Swatches
Mood
Merit Mood Flush Balm Cream Blush ($28.00 for 0.31 oz.) is a medium-dark plum with subtle, warm undertones and a glossy finish. It never fully dried down and remained fairly emollient to the touch (so by no means transfer-resistant), so that glossy finish was very noticeable!
It had sheer coverage, which was as marketed, and could be built up to semi-sheer to medium coverage if desired. The texture had a lot of slip and felt very emollient to the touch, so it was spreadable and blendable, but I was surprised–and happy!–to see that it did retain its color when applied and didn’t just spread away to nothing. The product worked well over bare skin as well as on top of foundation as it did not lift up base products. It stayed on nicely for six hours before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Glossier Storm (P, $18.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Clinique Black Honey Pop (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, more muted, cooler (90% similar).
- Lisa Eldridge Venetian Red (P, $34.00) is darker, less glossy (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Sublimate (Shade) (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Gucci Beauty Warm Berry (06) (P, $49.00) is more shimmery, warmer, less glossy (90% similar).
- Too Faced Peach Berry (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Psst (P, $7.00) is warmer, less glossy (90% similar).
- LYS Beauty Empower (P, $16.00) is darker, less glossy (90% similar).
- Patrick Ta She's Baked (Crème) (PiP, ) is brighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Tower 28 Power Hour (P, $20.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$28.00/0.31 oz. - $90.32 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to give a "transparent veil of color" with a "light, balmy finish" that is "long-lasting." It's one of the more emollient consistencies I've come across in cream blushes these days! It looks like a solid, dome-shaped balm, but as soon as I touched it, the texture had high slip and felt almost oily as a result. They delivered on the "transparent veil of color" with sheer to semi-sheer coverage that blended out to a more watercolored-effect on skin.
I was surprised--but in a good way--to find that it applied well over foundation and didn't seem prone to lifting up my base products as often, very emollient textures can interact more noticeably when layered over other things in my experience. It worked well over bare skin, too, and didn't "sink" into pores like some cream blushes have for me.
It didn't dry down and remained movable hours later, so the shorter-wear time (six to seven hours) wasn't a surprise. The product didn't feel tacky, just emollient throughout; I have more "normal" skin on my actual cheek area where I tested this formula (I'm drier near my nose and on my nose).
Browse all of our Merit Flush Balm Cream Blush swatches.
Ingredients
Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydrogenated Poly (C6-14 Olefin), Polyethylene, Silica, Diisostearyl Malate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Synthetic Wax, Sorbitan Isostearate, Cera Microcristallina (Microcrystalline Wax, Cire Microcristalline), Tocopherol, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Methicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, BHT, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491/77492/77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 15850 (Red 7 Lake).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
My goodness, but how I love how fresh this looks! But the lack of any dry-down is a bit of a deal killer. I would HATE my hair or cat hair getting stuck to my cheeks, as I can absolutely see that happening with this formula.
Blech, another cream blush with polyethylene microplastics 🙁
Really pretty colour and the glossiness, for me, is both its downfall but also a point in its favour. I mean, I love for my face to look a bit glossy but the somewhat short wear time coupled with the other potential issues (and my own issues with cream blushes not always working for me) has me thinking I’ll be checking around for a powder dupe if I don’t already have one.
I don’t really like that glossy kind of finish and I think the blush emphasises your skin texture too – and nobody wants that.