Milani Tea Rose (08) Rose Powder Blush ($7.99 for 0.60 oz.) is described as a “light rose.” It’s a muted, almost dusty, medium pink with subtle cool undertones and an ultra matte finish. NARS Laos (P, $39.00) is darker, warmer. Too Faced Melt Into Spring (LE) is lighter, warmer. Guerlain Madame Rougit (LE, $67.00) is lighter. MAC Mocha (P, $21.00) is darker. See comparison swatches.

This was the best-performing shade of the new-for-spring set of four, but it was still disappointing and frustrating to use due to the dry, powdery texture. It’s a powder that seems soft but almost turns into a loose powder with the lightest touch. This shade didn’t feel as chalky as the other three, even though it still has a lot of powdery excess and had trouble adhering to bare skin. It needs some sort of emollient base (moisturizer, oilier skin, liquid/cream foundation, etc.) to help it stick to the skin. Otherwise, bare skin is an uphill battle, as the blush goes on unevenly, looks splotchy, and is very sheer (because so little of it stays on the skin). Over foundation, I was able to get the color to stay, and with some work, blended and even enough that it was presentable. What managed to stay on bare skin almost seven hours, and wear was definitely improved over foundation–more like eight to nine hours. I’m so used to blushes that have no problem applying to the skin, whether bare, powdered, or fully made-up with primer and foundation, including some by Milani.

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Milani Tea Rose (08) Rose Powder Blush

Milani Tea Rose (08) Rose Powder Blush

Milani Tea Rose (08) Rose Powder Blush

Milani Tea Rose (08) Rose Powder Blush

Milani Tea Rose (08) Rose Powder Blush

Milani Tea Rose (08) Rose Powder Blush