The texture was very pliable, thin, and slippery, but it was applied better than expected – I had no trouble making it sit evenly and stay on my cheeks, whether over bare skin or on top of the foundation. It never dried out so it was posable if I wanted to fade out later (even an hour later!) Which may not work for all routines. The product was applied evenly and faded out well. Coupled with the transparent paint, it was difficult to overpay or make a mistake. It was six hours before it visibly faded.
MORE READING: Formula overview for details on general performance and properties (such as fragrance).
- MAC Here You Go (LE,) is shimmery, darker and warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Under My Plum (LE, $ 31.00) is shimmery and warmer (90% similar).
- Merit Cheeky (P, $ 28.00) is lighter and warmer (90% similar).
- LYS Beauty Passion (P, $ 16.00) is lighter, warmer, and less shiny (90% similar).
- NARS Ferocious (LE, $ 30.00) is shimmery and cooler (90% similar).
- ILIA A Fine Romance (P, $ 34.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Bordeaux Brat (P, $ 25.00) is shimmery and warmer (85% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Cool Berry (P, $ 20.00) is shimmery, darker, and cooler (85% similar).
- MAC Wrapped Candy (P, $ 31.00) is more shimmery and darker (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous (P, $ 60.00) is cooler, less shiny (85% similar).
Formula overview
$ 28.00 / 0.31 oz. – – $ 90.32 per ounce
The formula is said to result in a “transparent veil of color” with a “light, mild finish” that is “long-lasting”. It’s one of the most emollient textures I’ve come across in shades of cream these days! It looks like a solid, dome-shaped balm, but as soon as I touched it the texture had a high slip, making it feel almost oily. They provided the “transparent color veil” with a transparent to semi-transparent cover, which led to a more watercolor effect on the skin.
I was surprised – but in a good way – that it applied well over the foundation and didn’t tend to raise my base products as often. Very smooth textures, in my experience, can interact more clearly when placed on top of other things. It also worked well over bare skin and didn’t “sink into” pores like some cream blushes did for me.
It didn’t dry out and remained mobile hours later, so the shorter wearing time (six to seven hours) was no surprise. The product was not sticky to the touch, but consistently pliable. I have more “normal” skin on my actual cheek area where I tested this formula (I’m drier near and on my nose).
Browse all of our Merit Flush Balm Cream Blush swatches.
ingredients
Octyldodecanol, hydrogenated polyisobutene, hydrogenated poly (C6-14-olefin), polyethylene, silicon dioxide, diisostearyl malate, synthetic fluorophlogopite, synthetic wax, sorbitan isostearate, Cera Microcristallina (microcrystalline wax, Cire microcrystalline) 89, BHTlylsioxide, triethoxycapry1,77 , CI 77492/77499 (iron oxides), CI 15850 (Red 7 Lake), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are available from the brand (or distributor) at the time of publication. Please always check the product packaging, if any, for the list of ingredients that applies to the product you purchased or the brand or retailer website for the most up-to-date list of ingredients.
