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Is there ever a beauty lover that doesn’t love a good blush collection? Yeah, didn’t think so.
Today, I’m taking you through my blush collection and showing you which blushes I can’t live without, and which ones I should probably just get rid of.
As we go through, I’m giving mini reviews of each product. You’ll see what each blush is like, learn what characteristics I enjoy in blushes, and get some insight about my skin type so you can decide if a blush will work for you.
With so many blushes out there, choosing just one can be quite an ordeal. But I’m here to hopefully make the choice a bit easier. After all, the best blush for you may be more obvious than you think!
Now let’s get into it!
Nars Blush in Orgasm and Goulue
When I first started out with makeup, I aspired to own Nars blushes. Something about them seemed just so luxurious and grown-up-y.
But to this day, I have never purchased one. As you can tell, the two I own are samples sizes, and I am perfectly happy with that. They are both very nice shades, but they honestly aren’t so special that I’d be compelled to go out and spend $30.00 USD on one blush.
Pigmentation is good, yet they’re not so pigmented that you have to be afraid to place the brush on your cheek. The powder doesn’t kick up too much dust in the pan, which is nice.
Overall, I do like them, and I’m glad I have them.
Nars Blush in Orgasm & Goulue >> Purchase at Sephora
Urban Decay Afterglow 8 Hour Blush in Rapture
For some reason I really wanted a scary, mauve-y blush, so I purchased Rapture without much prior research on the UD Afterglow blushes.
Pigmentation is excellent, yet the color blends super easily. Even if you accidentally apply too much, a clean buffing brush disperses the excess color beautifully. The shade range isn’t fantastic, but it includes a few that I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on.
Urban Decay Afterglow 8 Hour Blush in Rapture >> Purchase at Sephora
Sephora Collection Blush and Bronzer Palette
I picked up this palette for only $15.oo USD a couple of seasons back, and to this day it is one of my favorite travel companions. The ultra slim palette contains Sephora Collection’s permanent Los Cabos bronzer plus two limited edition blushes.
Not going to lie, the blushes are slightly powdery, but they blend well and I enjoy having the two blush options (one bold and one subtle,) plus a matte bronzer all in one when I’m on the go. If Sephora ever brings this back, I will for sure purchase a few backups.
I recommend looking for a great quality, compact blush and bronzer duo or trio for traveling. It makes packing so much simpler.
Sephora Collection Blush and Bronzer Palette >> [Discontinued]
Sephora Collection Bronzing Powder in Los Cabos >> Purchase at Sephora
Clinique Cheek Pop Blush in Pansy Pop & Peach Pop
Clinique wins the “Best Blush From A High-End Line Award!”
Not enough people talk about these blushes, and that’s a shame because they’re so good! The shade selection is amazing (so many options :), the colors show up on the skin without being ridiculously pigmented, and the powders are NOT dusty in the slightest. Not to mention, the design is adorable, the packaging is pretty to look at, and it’s small and compact which makes it great for tossing in your to-go makeup bag.
I have nothing but great things to say about these, and for $23.00 USD, I’ll probably soon collect the entire collection.
Clinique Cheek Pop Blush in Pansy Pop & Peach Pop >> Purchase at Sephora
Milani Baked Blush Collection
Speaking of the best blush, Milani takes home the award for “Best Blush From the Drugstore!” And it takes it by a landslide.
For some reason, drugstore brands just don’t seem to do blushes very well, not that they put much effort in. Most drugstore blush lines contain a couple of powdery, dull shades of pink, if anything.
Milani Baked Blushes come in a great variety of shades and finishes, so there is something for everybody in this line.
If you are new to blush, I highly recommend checking these out!
Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink, Delizioso Pink, Luminoso, Corallina >> Purchase on Amazon
Wet n Wild Ombre Blush in In A Purple Haze
I previously reviewed Wet n Wild Ombre Blush (click here if you want to see that) and I gave it a pretty decent review. I liked it at the time, but over time I’ve realized that it just isn’t up to par with the rest of my blushes.
It’s very frosty and powdery, yet the pigmentation is very slight so it ends up looking more like a highlighter on the skin than a blush.
I initially concluded that I would use it as a blush topper. But after a while, my love of simplistic makeup routines got the best of me, and I just stopped wanting to go the extra step to apply a blush topper.
If you’re interested in purchasing blush from the drugstore, I say stick with Milani. They’re the best.
Wet n Wild Ombre Blush in In A Purple Haze >> Purchase on Amazon
Model Co. Blush Cheek Powder in Cosmopolitan
There isn’t much to say about this one. It’s decent, but not spectacular.
I received it in an Ipsy bag a while back, and while I obviously like it enough to keep it, it’s not one of my absolute favorites. I’ve used this blush in a couple of makeup tutorials (check those out HERE and HERE) when I want a very subtle, pink look that isn’t too overpowering.
Model Co. Blush Cheek Powder in Cosmopolitan >> Purchase on Amazon
Hikari Blush in Tango
Does anybody remember the distinct smell of “play” makeup? It’s that powdery scent that accompanied pretty much all the makeup that comes in 103 piece sets from Sears at Christmas-time. Yes, this one smells like that.
I use it sometimes, but again, it’s not a favorite.
Hikari Blush in Tango >> Purchase on Amazon
E.l.f. Blush Palette in Dark (Bottom right)
If you love ultra-pigmented blushes, then E.l.f. has you covered with their blush palettes! These are seriously the most pigmented blushes I’ve ever used. They also kick up quite a bit of powder, so it’s easy to go overboard.
I use them more as eyeshadows for when I want to sport the vampy red look, and they work well for that. Proceed with caution.
E.l.f. Blush Palette in Dark >> Purchase at Elfcosmetics.com
E.l.f. Blush in Pink Passion (Far left)
Out of all the blushes I own, this one is the worst, and I actually don’t even know why I still have it. The powder is chalky, and the color isn’t all that nice, but that’s not even the worst part.
See how half of the blush is pink, and the other half is white? No, that’s not the lighting- the blush really looks like that. The compact has a little window over the top half of the pan, so part of the blush is exposed to light, while the other part isn’t. The exposed part faded very badly, so the top half is white and the rest is the original shade of pink.
Plenty of other blushes sport see-through compacts, and none of them have any fading at all. It’s just bizarre. Avoid this one.
E.l.f. Blush in Pink Passion >> Purchase on Amazon
E.l.f. Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in St. Lucia (Top left)
People say that this is a dupe for the Nars Orgasm & Laguna duo, but I don’t think it is. The E.l.f. bronzer has a bit more reddish undertone than Laguna does, and Orgasm blush is much more pink than E.l.f.’s version.
Even though it’s not a dupe, I still like it for what it is. The colors are nicely pigmented and I like having a couple of duos on hand for travel or even just doing my makeup away from my vanity.
E.l.f. Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in St. Lucia >> Purchase at Elfcosmetics.com
E.l.f. Matte Blush Duo in Soft & Subtle (Bottom middle)
These “natural” shades of blush always look so dull in the pan, but they’re so pretty when you put them on your face! Out of all of my E.l.f. blushes, this one in Soft & Subtle is my favorite.
I use it all the time when I’m wearing a bold eye or lip and I don’t want my blush competing for attention. It’s also great for those days when you don’t want to go all out with blush & bronzer- shades like these are good all-in-ones.
I’ll often mix both the peach shade and the rosy-brown shade and sweep it all over my cheeks, and perhaps up onto my temples too when I want a quick, no-fuss look.
E.l.f. Matte Blush Duo in Soft & Subtle >> Purchase at Elfcosmetics.com
E.l.f. Contouring Blush and Bronzing Cream in St. Lucia (Top right)
The bronzer in this duo is actually my only cream bronzer. I don’t hate it, but I often find creams too much of a hassle to work with, so I don’t use them much.
However, I still think this duo is totally worth keeping my my collection, and it might be a great thing to add to yours too. I don’t cream contour often, but I like having the option sometimes. These creams are good quality, they blend easily, and they’re not so expensive that I feel guilty using them only occasionally.
E.l.f. Contouring Blush and Bronzing Cream in St. Lucia >> Purchase on Amazon
NYX Cream Blush in Glow
This one is basically everything you’d expect a cream blush to be. The texture is somewhat waxy, so it can be easy to over apply and difficult to blend if you’re not careful.
I use this when I’m not wearing any foundation or concealer, but I still want a bit of cheek color. I’ll often use a bit on my cheeks when hanging out at the beach so I don’t look so washed out with just my sunscreen all over my face. That way, I can blend until the sun goes home and there’s nothing to ruin.
If I do use it for an actual make look, I recommend lightly tapping a stipple brush on the surface of the product and applying that way. It’s easy to add more if necessary.
NYX Cream Blush in Glow >> Purchase on Amazon
Doll 10 HydraGel Cream Blush in Flirt
This cream blush is creamier and easier to blend than the NYX one, but it’s at the expense of the lasting power. The thinner texture doesn’t hold up well on the skin, at least for me and my oiliness.
Also not one of my favorites.
Doll 10 HydraGel Cream Blush in Flirt >> Purchase on Amazon
L’Oréal Magic Smooth Souffle Blush in Plume
Do they even still make this stuff? I don’t know, but I love it. The reason why I don’t often use cream blushes is because I find them difficult to control and blend. Too many times, they’ll go on too strong, and then I end up blending away my foundation as I try to not look like a clown.
The whipped texture here is very easy to blend so I never risk ruining my makeup by using it. I highly recommend whipped cream blushes for those just dipping their toes into the world of cream blush.
L’Oréal Magic Smooth Souffle Blush in Plume >> Purchase on Amazon
L’Oréal True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator in Rose
Yes, I am aware this is a highlighter, not a blush. Unfortunately, L’Oréal didn’t seem to know that when they created it. It just has so much pink pigment that it looks disgusting as a cheekbone highlight.
However, I do find that it makes a rather nice liquid blush, especially for days when I want to layer products for some extra pizzazz. It is pretty glittery, so be aware of that, but I enjoy using it on occasion.
L’Oréal True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator in Rose >> Purchase on Amazon
That’s all for today!
Like this post? Check out my reviews of a few of the blushes featured here >> Nars Blush in Goulue Review + Wet n Wild Ombre Blush Review
If you find this post interesting, informative, or just plain entertaining, tell me about it in the comments below! And don’t forget, sharing is caring. Share this post!
Till next time. ♥︎
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FTC- Not sponsored by any brands mentioned. I purchase all products myself. All opinions are my own. Some links may be affiliated.
Hilda Gardner says
Nars Orgasm is so over talked about. But it’s so pretty too. I don’t know, I like it, and I own it, but I’m tired of hearing about it, you know? Nice collection 🙂
-Hilda
Kay says
I know what you mean, Hilda. It’s like everybody and their neighbor owns Nars Orgasm, but for good reason! I think everybody already knows how amazing it is, which is why even I wouldn’t have mentioned it if it wasn’t part of this collection. Thanks for reading :)xo
Mimi says
The Clinique blushes are my favorite. So compact so I can throw them in my purse and take them anywhere.
The flower design is adorable too. Great collection love!
|Mimi|
Kay says
They’re some of my favorites too! Thanks for reading, Mimi 🙂 xo
Maxi says
Ooh so many blushes! Blushes are my favorite makeup because they make me feel so girly and feminine. Some good recommendations here that I can try. Thanks a ton =D
|Maxi|
Kay says
I’m glad you enjoy looking at blushes as much as I do, Maxi! Thanks for stopping by 🙂 xo