Merit Beverly Hills Flush Balm Cream Blush Review & Swatches
Beverly Hills
Merit Beverly Hills Flush Balm Cream Blush ($28.00 for 0.31 oz.) is a soft, pinky-coral with subtle, warm undertones and a glossy finish. It had a very emollient consistency that was thin (not in a bad way) and had a lot of slip, though it applied quite well to bare skin and layered over foundation. I expected that it would “eat” through my foundation a bit, but it did not lift up or create patchiness despite being emollient and not drying down.
It had sheer coverage that could be built up to semi-sheer to medium coverage if desired, which was as described. The finish was high-sheen, and while it had a good wear down–it didn’t slide noticeably and just seemed to disappear over time–it was shorter-wearing at six hours.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Fenty Beauty Petal Poppin' (P, $20.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Dusty Rose (P, $28.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Pink Sand (P, $22.00) is darker, warmer, less glossy (90% similar).
- ColourPop Interstellar (LE, $12.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Salt New York Peach (P, $16.00) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Picnic Time (LE, $8.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Shell Out (LE, $8.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Chanel Sunkiss Ribbon (LE, $70.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Sephora Free Spirit (P, $14.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Cat's Eye (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$28.00/0.31 oz. - $90.32 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to give a "transparent veil of color" with a "light, balmy finish" that is "long-lasting." It's one of the more emollient consistencies I've come across in cream blushes these days! It looks like a solid, dome-shaped balm, but as soon as I touched it, the texture had high slip and felt almost oily as a result. They delivered on the "transparent veil of color" with sheer to semi-sheer coverage that blended out to a more watercolored-effect on skin.
I was surprised--but in a good way--to find that it applied well over foundation and didn't seem prone to lifting up my base products as often, very emollient textures can interact more noticeably when layered over other things in my experience. It worked well over bare skin, too, and didn't "sink" into pores like some cream blushes have for me.
It didn't dry down and remained movable hours later, so the shorter-wear time (six to seven hours) wasn't a surprise. The product didn't feel tacky, just emollient throughout; I have more "normal" skin on my actual cheek area where I tested this formula (I'm drier near my nose and on my nose).
Browse all of our Merit Flush Balm Cream Blush swatches.
Ingredients
Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydrogenated Poly (C6-14 Olefin), Polyethylene, Silica, Diisostearyl Malate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Synthetic Wax, Sorbitan Isostearate, Cera Microcristallina (Microcrystalline Wax, Cire Microcristalline), Tocopherol, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Methicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, BHT, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77492/77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 15850 (Red 7 Lake), CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Pretty shade, but once the wind blows, I wouldn’t want my hair stuck to my face!