Melt Cosmetics Sandy Cheeks Cream BlushlightMelt Cosmetics Sandy Cheeks Creme Rouge ($ 22.00 for 0.14 oz.) Is a medium brown with strong, warm orange tones and a natural finish. It was heavily pigmented where a little went a long way, although the formula was mixable and spreadable so it was pretty easy to correct or fade out if you put too much on. I would recommend using less than you think you need and building up – as it worked out well – if you don’t need or want full coverage to begin with.
The consistency was smooth, creamy, and moderately pliable without being overly slippery. Hence, it worked well with fingertips and brushes over bare skin and over foundation as it did not stain or lift base products. The formula dried out to a more transfer-resistant finish that retained some shine but didn’t look damp. The paint was applied evenly and faded out without much effort. It took a good eight and a half hours before it visibly faded.
MORE READING: Formula overview for details on general performance and properties (such as fragrance).
- ColourPop Outta Sight (LE, $ 8.00) is more shimmery and darker (90% similar).
- Merit Terracotta (P, $ 28.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Good Luck Charm (LE, $ 8.00) is darker (90% similar).
- The MAC Pleasure Model (LE, $ 31.00) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Hooked (P, $ 8.00) is more shimmery and darker (90% similar).
- MAC Perfect Bronze (right) (LE, $ 29.00) is darker and cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Angel Pride II (LE, USD 30.00) shimmers more (90% similar).
- Too Faced Sugared Peach (PiP) is shimmery and lighter (90% similar).
- NARS Me First (LE, $ 30.00) is more shimmery and brighter (90% similar).
- Becca Songbird (P, $ 32.00) is more shimmery and darker (90% similar).
Formula overview
$ 22.00 / 0.14 oz. – – $ 157.14 per ounce
The product is primarily marketed as a cream blush, but the brand also stated that it can be applied to the lips as well, with some colors acting as cream eyeshadow for a monochrome look. There was nothing about the coverage that I could find, even though the brand’s swatches – both live and in promotional imagery – were opaque.
The formula was light, moderately pliable, and slightly gelatinous, which made it spread better on bare skin and base products. Most paints did not tend to lift base products and worked with both fingertips and brushes to apply.
Since the formula was more pigmented with most shades from semi-opaque to fully opaque, I found brushes were especially good for a sharper, more diffuse application, especially around the edges. If you want a sharper effect I would recommend using less product and building more, as these are more pigmented than most cream-based blushes.
They dried off to a more transfer-resistant finish so they didn’t soften, which helped them last longer on my skin. They could still be faded out after drying, and if I rubbed a fingertip the product would carry over, but the color didn’t lift off when I had to brush stray eyelashes or hair off my face (as examples). They still had a natural sheen on my skin, less than damp but definitely not dull either!
On average, they lasted eight hours with me, with a few shades lasting a touch longer. I found that the shimmerless shades lasted a little longer than the shimmery shades, which were also smoother in the pan.
Browse all of our Melt Cosmetics Cream Blushlight swatches.
ingredients
Isoamyl laurate, isononyl isononanoate, polyglyceryl 2-triisostearate, polyethylene, talc, octyldodecanol, SILICA, behenyl dimethicone, tribehenin, dimethicone / vinyl dimethicone cross polymer, disteardimonium hectorite, PARFUM / FRAGRANCE, tocopheryl acetate, benzoate. MAY CONTAIN: TITANIUM DIOXIDE CI 77891, IRON OXIDE CI 77491, IRON OXIDE CI 77492, IRON OXIDE CI 77499.
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 list of ingredients.
