If you’re locked into the beauty sphere the way I am, you might have noticed that there are so many new blushes. Every brand seemingly has the same idea and I’m not mad about it—I love blush.
In the last three months, I’ve tested 11 of these new products. It’s hard for a blush to stand out in this landscape because, honestly, most are pretty good. But three products were so impressive they cut through the noise—they made a lasting impression on me and carved out space on my beauty shelf. (An accomplishment in and of itself since that means banishing three other products.) The most impressive of the bunch are Rhode’s Pocket Blush, Anastasia Beverly Hills’s Blurring Serum Blush, and Haus Labs’s Color Fuse Glassy Lip and Cheek Blush Balm Stick.
Rhode Pocket Blush
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Being Hailey Bieber’s inaugural makeup product, a lot was riding on the launch of Pocket Blush. And despite my proclivity for contrarianism and exceptional scrutiny of viral products, these creamy blush sticks are really worth the hype.
There is no wrong method of applying Pocket Blush, which is not an easy formulaic feat. I either swipe it across or dot it across my cheeks and blend with whatever brush I have handy. The pigment is perfectly dispersed; it makes it a great starter, foolproof product because you don’t have to worry about controlling the intensity. Pocket Blush comes in six shades, and my go-to has been the baby pink Piggy. But in the fall and winter, I imagine I’ll transition to the mauve pink Sleepy Girl.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Blurring Serum Blush
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Anastasia Beverly Hills’s last few launches have been spectacular and not getting the attention they deserve; this blush included. It’s an impressive formula that looks like natural skin, makes pores invisible, and is the perfect level of dewy yet matte.
The texture is a gel cream that is really malleable and easy to work with. This is a great option if you want something buildable and customizable. You can start really sheer and build up to ‘80s-like boldness. It comes in five shades and I’ve been partial to the baby pink and hibiscus pink-coral.
Haus Labs Color Fuse Glassy Lip and Cheek Blush Balm Stick
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A lot of blushes (and skin care products for that matter) claim to give you glass skin, yet very few deliver on that promise. Haus Labs’s Color Fuse Blush is one of the exceptions. It has the lasting glossiness and sheen of something you’d expect from a lip but not complexion product.
Although it can be applied with a brush, I find it so easy to use that I prefer my fingers. I rub my fingertips over the stick to pick up pigment and dab all over my cheeks, eyelids, and lips, which makes for a great all-in-one product for a monochromatic look. Of the eight shades, my favorite is the peach-pink Glassy Pomelo with the deep pink Glassy Rosette as runner-up.
