Blushes Over $15 | 2020 Editor's Favorites
With just over 80 blushes that fit the criteria (over $15), there were lots of lovely shades and formulas to choose from, but I narrowed my list of favorites from my reviews this year to 15, which did include a few re-reviews that were rereleased this past year.
It’s no surprise that several Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Cream Blushes earned spots on the list as it was one of the best formulas to release this year. Chanel continued to release stunning, limited edition cheek products like Les Chaines de Chanel, and the re-releases Alezane and Rose Bronze were lovely. I hope Natasha Denona releases a dedicated blush range someday as this year’s Bloom was right up my alley.
If you’re unfamiliar with how I like to do my year-end favorites, here’s the low down: I pull from the products I reviewed in 2020, regardless of whether they were new, limited edition, or an established range I’ve only just gotten around to reviewing. These are personal favorites, so they may or may not be the highest rated products reviewed during the year (though they will tend to be better rated, naturally!). (You can check out best of 2019 if you missed last year’s.)
Temptalia’s Favorite Blushes Over $15 | 2020
Chanel Rose Bronze (02) Joues Contraste Blush ($45.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a medium pink with subtle, cooler pink pearl that gave it a satin finish when...
Chanel Rose Bronze (02) Joues Contraste Blush ($45.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a medium pink with subtle, cooler pink pearl that gave it a satin finish when...
Chanel Les Chaines de Chanel Illuminating Blush Powder ($70.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark, reddish-copper with warm undertones and a...
Chanel Les Chaines de Chanel Illuminating Blush Powder ($70.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark, reddish-copper with warm undertones and a...
Chanel Alezane (260) Joues Contraste Blush ($45.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a soft, medium-dark coral with moderate, warm undertones and fine, golden...
Chanel Alezane (260) Joues Contraste Blush ($45.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a soft, medium-dark coral with moderate, warm undertones and fine, golden...
NARS Orgasm X Powder Blush ($30.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a brighter, medium-dark pink-coral base with fine, golden shimmer throughout that gave it a more...
NARS Orgasm X Powder Blush ($30.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a brighter, medium-dark pink-coral base with fine, golden shimmer throughout that gave it a more...
NARS Savage (2020) Powder Blush ($30.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a medium, reddish-brown with warmer undertones and a luminous sheen. The texture was smooth...
NARS Savage (2020) Powder Blush ($30.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a medium, reddish-brown with warmer undertones and a luminous sheen. The texture was smooth...
Fenty Beauty Crush on Cupid Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush ($20.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark pink with subtle, warm undertones and a...
Fenty Beauty Crush on Cupid Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush ($20.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark pink with subtle, warm undertones and a...
Fenty Beauty Strawberry Drip Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush ($20.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a brighter, medium-dark pink-coral with moderate, warm...
Fenty Beauty Strawberry Drip Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush ($20.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a brighter, medium-dark pink-coral with moderate, warm...
($40.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark reddish-copper with warm undertones and a fine, golden pearl woven throughout that gave it a luminous...
($40.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark reddish-copper with warm undertones and a fine, golden pearl woven throughout that gave it a luminous...
Fenty Beauty Petal Poppin' Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush ($20.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a medium pink with moderate, warm undertones and fine, golden...
Fenty Beauty Petal Poppin' Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush ($20.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a medium pink with moderate, warm undertones and fine, golden...
Fenty Beauty Rose Latte Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush ($20.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a softened, medium-darkbrown with warm, coppery tones--not quite red...
Fenty Beauty Rose Latte Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush ($20.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a softened, medium-darkbrown with warm, coppery tones--not quite red...
Persona Georgia Super Blush ($22.00 for 0.18 oz.) is a brighter pop of medium coral-orange with strong, warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. It...
Persona Georgia Super Blush ($22.00 for 0.18 oz.) is a brighter pop of medium coral-orange with strong, warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. It...
Fenty Beauty Summertime Wine Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush ($20.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a brighter, medium-dark plum with subtle, warm undertones and...
Fenty Beauty Summertime Wine Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush ($20.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a brighter, medium-dark plum with subtle, warm undertones and...
Persona Carmel Super Blush ($22.00 for 0.18 oz.) is a medium-dark pink with strong, warm undertones and a satin finish. It seemed to have nearly...
Persona Carmel Super Blush ($22.00 for 0.18 oz.) is a medium-dark pink with strong, warm undertones and a satin finish. It seemed to have nearly...
NARS Dominate Powder Blush ($30.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a medium-dark red with moderate, warm copper undertones and a metallic sheen. It was intensely...
NARS Dominate Powder Blush ($30.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a medium-dark red with moderate, warm copper undertones and a metallic sheen. It was intensely...
Natasha Denona Bloom Highlighter Blush (Mini) ($19.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark pink-coral with soft, warm undertones and a stronger,...
Natasha Denona Bloom Highlighter Blush (Mini) ($19.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark pink-coral with soft, warm undertones and a stronger,...
Glossover Averages
Your Year in Review: Blush Edition
I thought it would be interesting to read through how readers used products throughout the year, what favorites emerged, what products fell by the wayside… so, if you want to join in, copy and paste the questions below and add your answers via a comment!
- What color of blush did you reach for the most this year?
- What type of finish did you gravitate toward the most?
- Do you think you’ll wear more, less, or the same amount of blush in 2021?
What color of blush did you reach for the most this year? Mostly plums, rosy browns and a few corals thrown in.
What type of finish did you gravitate toward the most? Satins, soft shimmers and skin-like finish mattes.
Do you think you’ll wear more, less, or the same amount of blush in 2021? I’m assuming roughly the same as last year, but anything is possible!
What color of blush did you reach for the most this year? I always use a coral blush. My favourite is Clinque’s Melon Pop
What type of finish did you gravitate toward the most? Semi matte to matte finish
Do you think you’ll wear more, less, or the same amount of blush in 2021? The same amount. I use blush every single day to add colour to my cheeks after applying foundation.
What color of blush did you reach for the most this year?: Cool pinks, lilacs, and bright pinks with peach undertones came to the party too.
What type of finish did you gravitate toward the most?: Satin! The “meltier” the finish, the better.
Do you think you’ll wear more, less, or the same amount of blush in 2021?: same, probably. I love blush. It’s the thing that makes me look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
What color of blush did you reach for the most this year? Mauve
What type of finish did you gravitate toward the most? Definitely shimmer
Do you think you’ll wear more, less, or the same amount of blush in 2021? Probably the same, or more…depending on the mask situation.
What color of blush did you reach for the most this year? A mixture – plums (UD Rapture, Fenty Cool Berry, Mac Plum foolery) are my favourite, I used more coral than usual in summertime (ND bloom and NARS fetishised), and I’ve been using a bright red (Mac frankly scarlet) this December for that wintry rosy cheek.
What type of finish did you gravitate toward the most? Luminous, radiant, dewy (hence, all of the above choices) – cream blushes (fenty and tower 28) were heavily used!
Do you think you’ll wear more, less, or the same amount of blush in 2021? Likely the same – Blush is the one makeup item I won’t leave the house without. Instant pick-me-up, for my face and my mood.
What color of blush did you reach for the most this year? Corals, mauves, and rosy browns.
What type of finish did you gravitate toward the most? One finish doesn’t stand out. I think I used matte, satin, and shimmers all about the same.
Do you think you’ll wear more, less, or the same amount of blush in 2021? Hopefully more, as I wore makeup in general less and less as 2020 wore on. I bought many beautiful blushes in the first part of the year, and really want to wear them.
What color of blush did you reach for the most this year? deep rose
What type of finish did you gravitate toward the most? matte
Do you think you’ll wear more, less, or the same amount of blush in 2021? the same
Colors: Coral, warm pink and tawny blushes are my favorites, but I love variety and wear anything warm-toned.
Finish: I need some luminosity, so look for satin and soft shimmer finishes, or add a bit of highlighter.
Wear: I expect to keep up my daily use. Wondering if I should apply more for Zoom calls….? It seems like Zoom tamps down how visible makeup is…but I’m not sure. Don’t want to be an accidental clown. I’m curious about what you all are doing re: Zoom makeup application?
I know my mom started to wear makeup for all the video/zoom stuff, definitely felt the same – felt she looked “corpse-like” unless the lighting was 150% amazing, lol!
What color of blush did you reach for the most this year? Hourglass Mood Exposure.
What type of finish did you gravitate toward the most? Satin and glowy blush.
Do you think you’ll wear more, less, or the same amount of blush in 2021? The same, I love blush so much!
What color of blush did you reach for the most this year? I’m all over the place when it comes to blush colors in my collection, but I’ve been going for softer, more subtle colors this year
What type of finish did you gravitate toward the most? Surprisingly mattes have been my go-to finish this year. I’ve always been a shimmery blush person but this year is really the year of opposites
Do you think you’ll wear more, less, or the same amount of blush in 2021? Hopefully more! Right now I only wear makeup to film videos, but once my family is able to get vaccinated I can start thinking about wearing makeup outside and applying for non-remote jobs.