Essence Blooming The Blush Review & Swatches
Blooming
Essence Blooming The Blush ($2.99 for 0.17 oz.) is a light peach with moderate, warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had opaque color coverage in a single layer, but its lightness in color (period) is to the point where it just barely showed up on my skin tone, which make it a little harder to see the impact of on my cheeks (but it was there!).
The texture was soft, a smidgen powdery but not dry, and it had a touch of satin micro-shimmer in it as it seemed to read more semi-matte than full-on, flat matte when applied and buffed out on my skin. It wore well for seven and a half hours on me before fading visibly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Jouer Love Me (PiP, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- bareMinerals The Summer Fling (LE, $22.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Benefit Georgia (DC, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Kat Von D Nancy (Light) (DC, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Surratt Beauty Duchesse (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Kat Von D Mallory (Light) (DC, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Zoeva Yet to Come (PiP, ) is brighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever B110 (P, $23.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Jouer Hold Me (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS 413 BLKR (Highlighter) (P, $30.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$2.99/0.17 oz. - $17.59 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "buildable" coverage with a "silky-smooth texture." They were more semi-opaque to opaque in pigmentation, though the texture was soft and yielding, so it was easy to use a lighter hand to pick up less product for sheerer coverage if preferred. It's just not a formula I'd inherently call buildable. The consistency was soft, a little powdery but not dry, and was blendable on my skin. They wore eight hours on me before fading noticeably.
Browse all of our Essence The Blush swatches.
Ingredients
Talc, Mica, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Magnesium Stearate, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Octyldodecyl Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, CI 15850 (Red 6 Lake, Red 7 Lake), CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide).
This wouldn’t even show up on me as a blush, LOL! However, I do see it as being a beautiful option for very light or fair folks who want a peachy cheek.
This looks like a lovely cheap option for very fair skintones! I know that those tones often struggle with finding appropriately light blush colors/figuring out sheer application, so this one will probably be quite forgiving for beginners as well due to the lightness. I always love seeing you review cheaper brands like this!
I really appreciate reviews of inexpensive products like this one. 🙂
I am glad that you are reviewing Essence and Catrice, so far per your reviews the products have all been surprisingly great! Would be nice if you could review more of their products like eyeshadows 🙂
I looked everywhere, but is there a breakdown of what is on your face or a link to the eye look?
Love it so much 🙂
I’m glad you’re reviewing these! I was curious. This is a beautiful peach for us fair-skinned people.
Agree….I’m fair too and Essence blushes are nice quality.
This looks PERFECT for me! I’ll be picking this up next time I go to Ulta. It’s pretty similar to my holy grail elf blush that got discontinued.
In my mind this looks similar to NARS sex appeal but NARS is pinkier.
Benefit has Georgia, Dallas, and Sugarbomb back in their Reunion Tour palette (Ulta.). Georgia, at least, seems to be different…darker, perhaps. They are advertised as FS, which is fortunate, as their minis are microscopic. Ladies and gents, don’t forget to check Muse for DS and Asian. Her reviews are not a deep dive, like Christine’s, or daily, but she covers more budget friendly options.
What a lovely, light, inexpensive but well rated product this one is!
I’m so getting this next time I’m at the drug store. It’s hard to find inexpensive easily accessible drug store face products when you’re pale/fair.
I bought this today. A nice subtle blush for my NC 20 skin.
Thanks for continuing to review the more affordable brands too. I noticed on ULTA that several brands have come out with new additions that seem to be permanent. E.L.F. has some new quad eyeshadows that I had to try….$3.
I actually bought this one and did not like it! I have a few blushes from Essence and Catrice, and I love them, but this one didn’t show up on me at all in spite of the fact that I am a very light NC10 skin tone. I will try the other shades from the line though, because this was my first (and only) disappointment with these kinds of blushes so far.
that’s so maddening. For me, it’s SG Always and Forever and MUG ?Secret Admirer. I’m a bit darker and cooler than you. I firmly believe there’s an Emperor’s New Blush for everyone.
This wouldn’t even show up on me as a blush, LOL! However, I do see it as being a beautiful option for very light or fair folks who want a peachy cheek.