The other day my friend asked me for a blush recommendation, and I honestly couldn’t figure out which one from my stash I liked the best. I definitely have a few that I reach for the most, but out of those, trying to figure out which one is my HG is just not going to happen. However, with the weather in Portland finally getting nice and my skin getting a bit more sun – I’m able to pack on the blush a bit more & thought I’d share my top picks for the summer.
At first glance my most reached for blushes all look pretty similar in the pan. What really sets them apart are their respective formulas and finishes. As you can tell from the swatches below. Bonus inclusion of my Real Techniques Blush Brush. Even after picking up my new set of Zoeva Brushes, I just don’t have one that takes the place of this tapered titan. It’s so great for applying a little at a time. Which means you can build up to the right amount of color without looking like you’ve gotten sunburnt or perma-embarrassed.
Being situated on the West Coast, you’d think that I’d have tried more Australian brands than I have. Not the case. And let me tell you, ModelCo has really set the bar high for any other brands from the Golden Coast that I might try. Specifically their Blush Cheek Powder in Peach Bellini. It’s the perfect combination of sheen, blendability, and longevity. It blends just enough so that you can get rid of harsh edges, but has pretty great lasting power. Love this for nights out.
Oh boy. Cargo Swimmables Water Resistant Blush in Los Cabos. This has to be hands down the best thing I’ve ever gotten from my Birchbox sub. My only complaint about this is that since it’s a sample, the tin is just tiny enough that it is ridiculously frustrating to get the lid off. I kid you not I’ve broken a nail trying to open this – but I keep using it, so there’s that. I’m seriously considering getting a depot thing just so it’s easier to use. No idea how the full size tin is on opening, but I imagine it’s much easier as you can get a better grip and leverage. Other than that, it is such a gorgeous color and does not budge on me during humid weather. Like you can smugde away and it’ll still be there. This also means you’ll want to apply it lightly, because trust assured it will stick with you throughout your day.
I’ve recently talked about the Sleek blush in Rose Gold in my haul post here, so I’ll just touch upon it a bit. Out of the bunch this is the only drugstore blush I’ve included. It is also the least pigmented out of the lot, but also the most blendable. And as you can tell from the swatch above, you can definitely build up the color as needed. I don’t use this as much when I’m attempting to contour, but love using it with more dewy bases – like when I’m doing a simple look with the Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue.
I’m going to apologize now for including this in my list as it has been discontinued. I myself was only able to pick it up post-disappointing-knowledge. Last Black Friday, Ulta had the Benefit Bella Bamba Blush as one of their doorbusters. While I didn’t bust the door down, I promptly bought as many as the little salesgirl would let me buy. I will say that the formula feels very very similar to the Sleek blush, and even though the Rose Gold is a bit more goldy than Bella Bamba, the undertones are almost dupe worthy enough. If you can get a hold of this coveted blush though – do it, you won’t regret it. Its just all kinds of wonderful. Benefit, if you see this, please please please bring this back!
Shop this post: The ModelCo Blush Cheek Powder here, Cargo Swimmables Water Resistant Blush, Sleek Makeup Blush, Real Techniques Blush Brush, the elusive Benefit Bella Bamba blush can usually be found on ebay for ~ $30 just make sure to pay attention to the seller’s stats and feedback like with any other purchase.
What are your favorite blushes?
♡Em
