Ilia Multi-Stick in In the Mood ($34), Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Hope ($20), and Merit Flush Balm in Beverly Hills ($28)
The battle of the cream blushes is here! My favorite blush of all time is Dior’s Rosy Glow powder blush, but usually I prefer cream formulations over powder. The recent Sephora Sale gave me the perfect opportunity to put the internet’s favorite cream blushes up against one another. Because this review includes three products, my commentary will be a bit shorter, but they are laid out in least to favorite order.
Ilia Multi-Stick: Ilia is very hit or miss for me and even when I love a product, I find that after a few months of use the love affair fades (ex: Skin Tint). Their multi-sticks have great reviews, but I found the product to not be very pigmented and blended away to almost nothing. The In the Mood shade looked way more coral than peach in the tube and on the skin. The price was also a bit shocking for how small the product is. Overall, it was a pass.
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch: This is an Allure Best of Beauty winner so I had very high expectations. Pigmentation is certainly not a problem with this product. It makes me think they should have called this Hard Pinch 😂 This isn’t a bad thing, but for someone like me who doesn’t wear full coverage makeup ever, it was too much. It was a return for me, but I would recommend for those who love a full coverage makeup look or shopping for bridal makeup. The price is also much easier to swallow!
Merit Flush Balm: Another Best of Beauty winner and a favorite among my friends! It’s easy to build, easy to apply, and easy to blend. What more could you want from a cream blush? I particularly liked that it wasn’t too oily (like the Ilia), but not too matte either. It leaves a natural skin finish perfect for everyday no-makeup looks or full face days. My only gripe is the size and price. This thing is tiny and while that is beneficial when travelling, for $28 I would expect more or at least a less plastic-y feel to the bullet.
Not included in this review, but a product that would have won is the Westman Atelier cream blush. Still my go-to for cream formulas even if it’s 💰
Original Review: November 21, 2022