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Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush Review, Photos, Swatches

Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush
Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush

Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush ($42.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a bright, medium peony pink with subtle, cool undertones and a satiny sheen. The lighter color is warmer and a little more shimmery, appearing as a soft petal pink, while the deeper shade is more of a slightly muted fuchsia pink with blue undertones and a true satin finish. Too Faced Justify My Love (P, $26.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Tarte Dollface (P, $29.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). ColourPop At Frost Sight (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Make Up For Ever B212 (P, $23.00) is warmer (90% similar). ColourPop GOAT (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). theBalm Down Boy (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). KIKO 110 Bright Pink (P, $12.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). MAC Pure Femininity (LE, $24.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). ColourPop Olive (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). MAC I'm a Lover (P, $23.50) is lighter (90% similar). Makeup Geek Head Over Heels (DC, $9.99) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Clinique Plum Pop (04) (P, $21.00) is darker (85% similar). Givenchy It-Girl Purple (P, $44.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar). MAC Well Dressed (P, $24.00) is lighter (85% similar). MAC Young at Heart (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, darker, glossier (90% similar). Maybelline Pink Fever (20) (P, $8.99) is cooler (85% similar). MAC Dollymix (P, $24.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). MAC Flowerescent (LE, $30.00) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar). Fenty Beauty Sangria Sunset (PiP, $36.00) is more shimmery, cooler (85% similar). ColourPop U Got Mail (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

According to the brand, Air Blush is supposed to offer buildable coverage with a “luminous finish” that wears for “24-hours.” Each shade consists of a lighter and deeper shade, designed to be used together (each section of product is quite narrow, so it’s not feasible to use a blush or highlighting brush to get a single color). In general, I found the lighter color to have more shimmer/luminosity and acted as the “highlighting” shade within the palette, even though some variations are such that both shades are more blush-like in color and depth.

The texture was dense but soft, and the powder itself was finely-milled and sat well on the skin with a luminous sheen that didn’t read shimmery nor shiny. Of the five blushes, this was the only shade that could have blended more easily on the skin. It had medium, buildable coverage that can be easily sheered out or applied more lightly or layered for richer payoff. I thought the denser, firmer texture might not work well with very soft brushes, but I had no issues using some of my softest brushes with it.

I was extremely surprised at the wear of the product, as it still looked good on my normal-to-dry skin after 16 hours of wear with barely noticeable fading starting around 18 hours of wear. It’s pretty hard to test a cheek product for 24-hours, since inevitably, most of it will end up on my sheets if I go to sleep, and I can’t tell you if or when I’ve ever pulled an all-nighter on purpose. To that end, I am rating based on how it looked and what (if any) break down of product occurred between 14 and 18 hours of wear to extrapolate for the remaining time, which seemed to indicate solid 20-hour wear. This shade, at the very least, was extremely long-wearing and was one of the longer-wearing powder blushes I’ve tested.

Worth noting, during July, 25% of sales of Air Blush will be donated to amfAR when purchased through Marc Jacobs Beauty. (I wouldn’t use it as an excuse to purchase something you’re not interested in but would consider purchasing directly vs. through another retailer if you were planning to buy. I have ordered direct from MJB a few times, and they have always packed well and shipped efficiently–no complaints!)

Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush
Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush

Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush
Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush

Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush
Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush

Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush
Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush

Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush
Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush

Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush
Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush

Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush
Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush

Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush
Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido (500) Air Blush

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Foundation
  • Guerlain Les Voilettes Loose Setting Powder
On eyes:
  • Laura Mercier Eye Art Caviar Palette
  • NARS Last Frontier Velvet Liner
On lips:
  • Dose of Colors Playdate Lipstick

40 Comments

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Comments on this post are closed.
Michele @Binxcat4ever Avatar

Will do. I’m planning on wearing it Saturday for my girls weekend to Annapolis. It’s supposed to be in the upper 90s with high humidity so it will definitely get a real test! I did just swatch it and on my skin tone, it looks very different (but really pretty!) I’ll most likely post my swatches tomorrow morning to my Instagram/Twitter/Facebook.

Mary Avatar

This have a lot more pigment than I thought it would, the color is really pretty but I’d have to be sure to sheer it out a lot or it might look clownish on my pale skin. Still it’s a really pretty color, I think I will try these out, at least one shade to start and see how I like it. Thanks for the quick reviews!

Christine Avatar

I think you can definitely wear them, even if you are fair, including this shade – they are pretty buildable and you can use a little more of the left side for most of the color, maybe use the right side for more of a contoured blush look 🙂

kjh Avatar

And the others are better to apply? …Wow, this is a great release for MJ. Also proves they can do blush, with originality to boot. Very nice.

Katherine T. Avatar

Wow, the wear time is impressive! I have dupes for this one, but since my cheeks eat blush, I will be eyeing a couple of the other colors in this collection. Nice to know that 25% goes to Amfar is I buy direct from MJ.

Michele @Binxcat4ever Avatar

Katherine, I get 3 distinct shades out of this palette (and probably all of them but I don’t have them..yet – I’m waiting for Christine’s swatches/reviews). I found it very easy to use my brush to pick up just the light shade, just the dark shade, and a mix of the two. I swirled the brush over the entire compact several times to create the mixed shade. I was very surprised that it mixed on the brush but didn’t mix the shades in the palette!

Katherine T. Avatar

Oh, that’s great to know! I have a petite face, so I’m always collecting small brushes, so I bet I can do the same. For $42, I want to get as many colors as possible out of 1 kit, will be my justification to get it ! 3- blushes- in- 1 and 25% goes to charity

Kel_McD Avatar

While my skin isn’t “oily” per se, I use some more moisturizing products for my skincare. So, near the end of the day, I’m slightly slick. I ordered the Flesh&Fantasy color from the collection and so far, so good! It is holding up well

P Jill Avatar

I am really starting to like the MJB line, but need to ask myself if I really need another blush. It is not the most natural looking hue, but would look so pretty on my dresser. I do love your eye look! Have you, or will you review the LM Caviar eye palette soon?

Christine Avatar

Everything is listed under “The Makeup Look,” which appears twice on the page 🙂

MAKE-UP LOOK

ON FACE:

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Foundation
Guerlain Les Voilettes Loose Setting Powder

ON EYES:

Laura Mercier Eye Art Caviar Palette
NARS Last Frontier Velvet Liner

ON LIPS:

Dose of Colors Playdate Lipstick

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