Merit Mood Flush Balm Cream BlushMerit Mood Flush Balm Cream Blush ($ 28.00 for 0.31 oz.) Is a medium black plum with subtle, warm undertones and a glossy finish. It never dried out completely and felt pretty pliable (so by no means transfer-resistant), so a glossy finish was very noticeable!
It had a pure cover that was as marketed and could be built up to a semi-transparent to medium cover if desired. The texture had a lot of slippage and felt very pliable, so it was spreadable and mixable, but I was surprised – and happy! – to see that it kept its color when applied and didn’t just spread to nothing The product worked well on both bare skin and foundation as it didn’t lift the base products. It stayed good for six hours before noticeably fading.
MORE READING: Formula overview for details on general performance and properties (such as fragrance).
- Glossier Storm (P, $ 18.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Psst (P, $ 7.00) is warmer, less shiny (90% similar).
- Clinique Black Honey Pop (P, $ 21.00) is shimmery, more subdued, and cooler (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Sublimate (Shade) (LE,) is shimmery, lighter and cooler (90% similar).
- LYS Beauty Empower (P, $ 16.00) is darker, less shiny (90% similar).
- Too Faced Peach Berry (P, $ 30.00) is shimmery, darker, and warmer (90% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Island Plum (P, $ 36.00) is shimmery, darker, and warmer (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Soleil d’Ambre (Blush) (LE, $ 60.00) is shimmery, darker, and warmer (85% similar).
- Tower 28 Power Hour (P, $ 20.00) is lighter and warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Buddy (mat) (LE, $ 24.00) is lighter and warmer (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), BHT, CI 77891 (titanium dioxide), CI 77491 / 77492/77499 (iron oxides), CI 15850 (Red 7 Lake).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are available from the brand (or distributor) at the time of publication. Please always check the product packaging, if any, on the ingredients list for the product you are purchasing or the brand or retailer’s website for the most up-to-date ingredients list.
