MAC Make You Mine Pro Longwear Blush ($26.00 for 0.21 oz.) is described as a “dirty salmon.” It’s a muted, medium copper-plum with a very fine gold shimmer-sheen–it’s more like a soft, satin finish. Gucci Beauty Cherry Nectar (P, $49.00) is darker. Tom Ford Beauty Contour (Softcore) (LE, $55.00) is pinker. MAC Sea Me, Hear Me (LE, $25.00) is lighter. MAC Scene to Be Seen (Inner) (LE, $32.00) is more shimmery. Benefit Rockateur (P, $28.00) is lighter. Bobbi Brown Nude Beach Blush (LE, $26.00) is slightly darker. MAC Ambering Rose (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, warmer. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

The texture of this blush is brilliant–soft, silky, smooth–and done so well that it almost feels like a cream product rather than a powder. MAC really nailed the formula here, as it is delivers the promised buildable color, blends easily, and wears for eight hours (exactly as claimed). The finish has a very subtle sheen to it that translates more as your-skin-but-better, so there’s no emphasis of pores, and it’s not really shimmery. That slight sheen keeps it from looking too dull or matte against the skin. And good news, it is permanent! You can purchase it in pan format through MAC and pop it into your empty palette of choice, which will save you $7 (which almost pays for the empty palette!).

MAC Make You Mine Pro Longwear Blush

MAC Make You Mine Pro Longwear Blush

MAC Make You Mine Pro Longwear Blush

MAC Make You Mine Pro Longwear Blush

MAC Make You Mine Pro Longwear Blush

MAC Make You Mine Pro Longwear Blush