Blushes Under $15 | 2020 Editor's Favorites
If there’s one type of product that I have more “room” to review… it would be cheek products. Brands release plenty of them, but compared to eyeshadow palettes and lip products, I can make a decent dent into the new releases (whereas with lip products, it feels like an avalanche). In 2020, there were just over 60 blushes under $15 eligible for consideration, so this year’s list is shorter than prior years.
Last year’s favorites were dominated by ColourPop’s Blush Stix, which seems mostly discontinued at this point (sigh!). While ColourPop wasn’t able to crank out the releases like usual in the first half of this year, they started to make up ground this past fall and holiday… they just seemed to release the same type of blush–lighter pink and coral–over and over again, which just didn’t hit the high notes for me. That being said, a late release was Brut Flute in their Super Shock Cheek formula, which was superb.
Lethal Cosmetics’ also debuted powder blushes with a more natural-matte to satin-like finish, which is the finish right in my wheelhouse. I liked the variety of shades they offered–a diverse range for a myriad of undertones and skintones–in particular. I made my way through Sydney Grace’s permanent Powder Blushes earlier this year, too, and found some shades to fall in love with (but mind you, they are very pigmented).
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 Under $15 | 2020
ColourPop Brut Flute Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a medium, pink-plum base with moderate, warm undertones and a fine, darker gold pearl...
ColourPop Brut Flute Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a medium, pink-plum base with moderate, warm undertones and a fine, darker gold pearl...
Sydney Grace Secret Pressed Blush ($9.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a brighter, medium-dark pink with warmer undertones and a smooth, metallic sheen. It was...
Sydney Grace Secret Pressed Blush ($9.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a brighter, medium-dark pink with warmer undertones and a smooth, metallic sheen. It was...
Lethal Cosmetics Hybrid Magnetic Face Powder (Blush) ($14.00 for 0.18 oz.) is a darker lavender with subtle, cool undertones and a semi-matte finish. ...
Lethal Cosmetics Hybrid Magnetic Face Powder (Blush) ($14.00 for 0.18 oz.) is a darker lavender with subtle, cool undertones and a semi-matte finish. ...
Lethal Cosmetics Echinopsis Magnetic Face Powder (Blush) ($14.00 for 0.18 oz.) is a brighter, rosy plum with subtle, warm undertones and a semi-matte...
Lethal Cosmetics Echinopsis Magnetic Face Powder (Blush) ($14.00 for 0.18 oz.) is a brighter, rosy plum with subtle, warm undertones and a semi-matte...
Lethal Cosmetics Nectar Magnetic Face Powder (Blush) ($14.00 for 0.18 oz.) is a light-medium, pink-leaning coral with a satin finish. It had buildable...
Lethal Cosmetics Nectar Magnetic Face Powder (Blush) ($14.00 for 0.18 oz.) is a light-medium, pink-leaning coral with a satin finish. It had buildable...
Sydney Grace Pure Love Pressed Blush ($9.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a deep, rosy copper with warm undertones and a metallic finish. It was intensely...
Sydney Grace Pure Love Pressed Blush ($9.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a deep, rosy copper with warm undertones and a metallic finish. It was intensely...
Lethal Cosmetics Calyx Magnetic Face Powder (Blush) ($14.00 for 0.18 oz.) is a vibrant, medium-dark coral-orange with strong, warm undertones with a...
Lethal Cosmetics Calyx Magnetic Face Powder (Blush) ($14.00 for 0.18 oz.) is a vibrant, medium-dark coral-orange with strong, warm undertones with a...
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 blushes did you use the most this year?
- Did you finish any blushes this year?
- Do you expect to expand your blush collection in 2021?
What blushes did you use the most this year? I tended to skip blush this year because my cheeks were pretty well hidden under masks. In the Before Times I frequently used Becca’s Wild Honey, Juvia’s Place Serafina, and MJ Air Blush in Lines & Last Night.
Did you finish any blushes this year? Not even close.
Do you expect to expand your blush collection in 2021? Not likely. I am tempted by CP Brut Flute because I love the SS formula but it will need to wait until I am ready to place an Ulta order. By then it likely will be sold out.
What blushes did you use the most this year? Everything in Hourglass Ghost Quad, MAC Cheek Pollen and Oh My Passion, UD NOHO and Rapture, Essence Satin Love and Satin Coral.
Did you finish any blushes this year? Nope! But the top fell off of my pan of Essence Satin Love, though.
Do you expect to expand your blush collection in 2021? Not in an intentional way, but…I need a few of those Lethal blush singles and Sydney Grace’s, too.
this post is dangerous for my wallet, lmao. I use blush more than any other category of makeup so I guess I can justify a few more, but I certainly don’t NEED any…
What blushes did you use the most this year? EA’s Sweet Peach and Models Prefer Coral blush. Both are matte/semi matte shades. I started using Clinique’s Melon Pop and The Balm’s Hot Mama as a blush.
Did you finish any blushes this year? I finished up two blushes this year – EA’s Sweet Peach and Models Prefer Coral blush.
Do you expect to expand your blush collection in 2021? No – I have enough blushes to use for this year. It takes me about a year or so to finish a blush and I don’t really like using too many at once. Two is enough for me.
I got SG’s Paris Skies blush when I ordered my mom’s stocking stuffers and it’s just beyootiful. Gosh, I crush on that color. Now I have that, Always & Forever, and the blush from the light gray mystery bag. They’re all favorites! Whoever out there is the first to pan a SG blush should win a prize.
What blushes did you use the most this year?: for blushes less than $15: SG’s Always & Forever, Etude House Cherry Blossom Picnic blush in PK002 (Blossom Breeze), Etude House Lovely Cookie Blusher in Strawberry Choux.
Did you finish any blushes this year?: I’m close to finishing the Blossom Breeze shade! I think I finished a Strawberry Choux at the beginning of the year and I’m working on the next.
Do you expect to expand your blush collection in 2021?: not really—I think I’ll just stick with what I have, unless something really unique comes along.
Oops! Didn’t realize the blush questions were different for the different $$ categories. I also used the Clinique Cool Down blush palette from last year quite a lot, plus Glossier Cloud Paint in Puff and the Nars Sex Fantasy blush I got off Ebay. I show all my blushes love, though—it’s my favorite category!
What blushes did you use the most this year? Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blushes; The Saem Saemmul Single Blushers; Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes; Sydney Grace Paris Skies; ColourPop x Mulan Blush in Matchmaker; Natasha Denona Bloom Highlighter Blush Mini. Also, SugarPill Retrograde from the C2 Capsule Collection.
Did you finish any blushes this year? Of course not LOL
Do you expect to expand your blush collection in 2021? Yes, but much less than in 2020. I feel like 2020 was the Year of Blush, and I started getting really into different blushes. I expanded my collection quite a bit.
Just ordered Flute per your recommendation! 🙂
What blushes did you use the most this year? the two blushes in my HG Unlocked Palette
Did you finish any blushes this year? No
Do you expect to expand your blush collection in 2021? I’m good
What blushes did you use the most this year? Peach C Blushers
Did you finish any blushes this year? No, but I hope to at least hit pan on one next year.
Do you expect to expand your blush collection in 2021? Maybe. I’ve fallen in love with buildable blushes so if I find more, I’ll probably grab more!
This has been the year of the blush for me! At the beginning of the year I owned 5 blushes. During the 2020 I’ve bought 7 4pan blush palette, 1 palette of highlighter 1 duo of blushes 😅 too many really! I’ve bought most of them during the first lockdown and immediately after… When my mood was quite sad. Most of these blushes are low cost too (2019 was a disappointment for me in terms of high end blushes), except for a duo of blush bought from Nars (and this was a disappointment too). In particular, this year I discovered bh cosmetic’s blushes and I’ve fallen in love! think they are very good, every colour of the range, no matter of how dark or fair, show up on me! Love them. 2021 will be a non buy for blushes, because currently I have too many of them
When I actually used blush this year, my most used ones were Milk Makeup Werk and Tarte Paaarty.
Nope, I did not finish any blushes. I use a pretty light hand, so they last an extremely long time.
I have no plans to buy more blush in 2021 unless elf miraculously decides to bring back my favorite blush! Tickled Pink was my holy grail blush.
What blushes did you use the most this year? Hourglass Mood Exposure, Glossier Cloud Paint in Beam, Pixi Sheer Cheek Gel in Flushed, Nabla Skin Glazing in Independence
Did you finish any blushes this year? I didn’t!
Do you expect to expand your blush collection in 2021? I don’t think so, unless I purchase a new Glossier Cloud Paint; I’m very close to finishing Beam!
What blushes did you use the most this year? Colourpop Super Shock Cheek in “Simply Sweet”, Colourpop Pressed Powder Blush in “Good Luck Charm”, and Tarte Amazonian Clay in “paaarty”
Did you finish any blushes this year? I’ve never finished a blush in my life, but I’d love to someday!
Do you expect to expand your blush collection in 2021? I think my blush goal for 2021 is to try more cream blushes, specifically the Fenty Beauty ones. Other than that I have no intention of expanding my blush collection