Blushes (Over $15) | 2018 Editor's Favorites
Thankfully, 2018 wasn’t totally devoid of cheek color, even if budget-friendly picks were slim from what I’ve tried this year! Dior revamped their blush formula with the new Rouge Blushes, which I enjoyed on the whole; Hologlam might be one of the all-time great blushes ever made because of how dynamic the color and finish are on cheeks. I finally tried Glossier’s Cloud Paints, and it’s a nice formula for those who like more stain-like finishes/colors. I’m always game for new, high quality plum-brown kind of colors like Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillowtalk, Dior’s Charnelle, and Flesh’s Glaze.
What high-end blushes did you reach for this year?
P.S. — You can view swatches of my favorites here.
Best of 2018
Blushes (Over $15)
P.P.S. — If you enjoy reading/viewing my favorites, make sure you check out my all-time favorites here, products I’m thankful for (2018 series), and all of my editor’s recommended products here.
Top Blushes (Over $15) of 2018
Glossier Haze Cloud Paint ($18.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a rich berry with cool, blue undertones and a natural finish. Don't let the vibrancy and depth of...
Glossier Haze Cloud Paint ($18.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a rich berry with cool, blue undertones and a natural finish. Don't let the vibrancy and depth of...
Dior 999 Rouge Blush ($44.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a rich coral-red with warm undertones and cooler, pink pearl that gives it a luminous sheen when applied...
Dior 999 Rouge Blush ($44.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a rich coral-red with warm undertones and cooler, pink pearl that gives it a luminous sheen when applied...
Flesh Beauty Glaze Tender Flesh Blush ($26.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a medium copper with warm, rusty red undertones and a luminous sheen. It was intensely...
Flesh Beauty Glaze Tender Flesh Blush ($26.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a medium copper with warm, rusty red undertones and a luminous sheen. It was intensely...
Shiseido Alpen Glow (06) InnerGlow Cheek Powder ($29.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a medium coral with strong, orange undertones and a satin finish. It was...
Shiseido Alpen Glow (06) InnerGlow Cheek Powder ($29.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a medium coral with strong, orange undertones and a satin finish. It was...
Dior Stand Out (649) Rouge Blush ($44.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a bright, medium tangerine orange with strong, warm yellow undertones and a golden pearl...
Dior Stand Out (649) Rouge Blush ($44.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a bright, medium tangerine orange with strong, warm yellow undertones and a golden pearl...
Glossier Puff Cloud Paint ($18.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a soft, light-medium pink with subtle, warm undertones and a natural finish. It had sheer,...
Glossier Puff Cloud Paint ($18.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a soft, light-medium pink with subtle, warm undertones and a natural finish. It had sheer,...
MAC Like Me, Love Me Mineralize Blush ($29.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a soft, medium coral with warm undertones and a matte finish. It was balanced between...
MAC Like Me, Love Me Mineralize Blush ($29.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a soft, medium coral with warm undertones and a matte finish. It was balanced between...
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Cheek to Chic Blusher ($40.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a soft, peachy brown with soft, warm undertones and a luminous sheen. ...
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Cheek to Chic Blusher ($40.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a soft, peachy brown with soft, warm undertones and a luminous sheen. ...
Hibiscus is a rich, deep pink-coral with warm undertones and flecks of gold sparkle. It had rich pigmentation in a single layer, when applied...
Hibiscus is a rich, deep pink-coral with warm undertones and flecks of gold sparkle. It had rich pigmentation in a single layer, when applied...
Dior Charnelle (459) Rouge Blush ($44.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark brown with warm, rosy undertones and a satin finish. It had nearly...
Dior Charnelle (459) Rouge Blush ($44.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark brown with warm, rosy undertones and a satin finish. It had nearly...
Dior Hologlam (601) Rouge Blush ($44.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a light-medium, pink-coral base (almost matte in finish) paired with iridescent blue and...
Dior Hologlam (601) Rouge Blush ($44.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a light-medium, pink-coral base (almost matte in finish) paired with iridescent blue and...
Beach Bum is a medium, reddish-coral with warm undertones and a fine, golden pearl sheen. It had opaque pigmentation when applied directly to my arm...
Beach Bum is a medium, reddish-coral with warm undertones and a fine, golden pearl sheen. It had opaque pigmentation when applied directly to my arm...
I mostly sit around gazing lovingly at my Hot Tryst. I do really enjoy wearing it but I’m not sure any blush could live up to the promise of that packaging and design pressed onto the product.
And I’m really glad to see that the new Dior Hologlam blush is permanent. I had assumed it was a LE holiday release and I just couldn’t justify purchasing it at this time.
I have been loving the Dior blushes! The shimmer, glow and finish as well as the staying power is fantastic! There is something bout each one that makes it unique!
I really like the MAC Mineralize Like Me, Love Me shade the best. I think the Mineralize range was a good one from MAC.
Thank you for this overview, if you are going to spend money on blushes it’s good to know which ones are worthy of your coin.
Hologlam is my first Dior blush, and it is stunning. That’s the only one I have off this list. Pillow Talk is on my wish list, though.
My other favorite new high-end blushes this year are Kevyn Aucoin The Neo-Blush Trio in Sunset, NARS Free Soul, and Tarte Fairy Flush.
I actually bought more cheek palettes than singles this year, with my favorites being NARS Hot Tryst, NARS Wanted Cheek Palette Vol. I, and Too Faced Natural Face It Just Comes Naturally Face Palette.
For me, the ultimate high end blush (as in “if I had to live the rest of my life with ONLY one blush”) would be Dior’s Rosy Glow Awakening Blush. Honestly, I could live quite happily with ONLY that blush. I do also reach for MAC Sweet Sentiment (LE from years back) about as often as I reach for the Dior. The two are my favourite blushes among about half a dozen real favourites.
Isn’t just hilarious that I have 6 of these puppies on my WL going into a lean, self-imposed low-buy year?!? ?
I’ll allow myself ONE. Probably Dior Hologlam, provided it shows up decently on my cheeks.
My favorite is Charlotte Tilbury’s PillowTalk which I alternate with her Ectasy.
Wow, I got none of these. Think that’s a first, and a step in the right direction! They are quite lovely, though, and I suspect there’s at least one matchstick in my future.
I bought Dior Hologlam and it’s absolutely gorgeous, but I’m having trouble getting it on my cheeks. I tried different brushes, but they didn’t work well, so I wound up using my fingers (which seems like an odd way to put on powder blush). A few hours later, it had faded substantially, even though I used UD setting spray. Any advice would be appreciated!
I’ve used a slew of brushes no problem 🙁 I didn’t experience any issue with a brush not working/not getting product to apply. In general, if you have trouble picking up product I’d recommend a denser brush!
Christine is right. (Of course.) I almost returned the Nars summer DI palette, bec the brushes I used were too soft. The SAs @S churned it up. Now, it has become one of my all time favorites, and usable with any brush. Some just tend to be harder, and need to be ‘started.’ The plus to that is that fallout is seldom, virtually no waste, no powder to blow away. You will love the Dior, once you get it going.
I had so much appreciation for blushes this year. For powder, I loved my NARS Wanted II palette, but I overwhelmingly reached for cream options. Cloud Paint is an actual HG, it’s everything I ever hoped a cream blush would be. Puff is my favorite because I think it has an almost highlighting effect in terms of bringing the cheek forward even though it’s matte and the color is a gorgeous fresh pink. Becca Beach Tint is amazing too, and for a bronzey blush Armani Fluid 11 is always a pleasure to wear. 🙂
I bought Pillow Talk during her restock and I feel like maybe I expected too much? It’s just not what I thought it would be. My favorite this year was the NARS x Erdem Loves Me Not blush and the blush in the BECCA Be A Light palette.