Blush: cream versus powder

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Pinks and Nudes

blush

I’d say blush and lipstick are the two makeup products I look at the most. I love trying new colors and formulas.

I tend to wear powder blush on a daily basis but anytime I venture into the cream category I always think to myself “why don’t I wear cream blush more often?” It seems like it’s a little bit harder to overdo, and it looks so natural.

Sticking with similar textures when you are applying makeup will help ensure that your makeup will wear really well, and also blend nicely. So, it’s not a hard and fast rule to follow what I suggest below, but it’s an easy way to ensure your blush will blend nicely and not look like it’s “sitting on top of” the rest of your makeup.

blush34

 

1. Revlon Powder Blush in Oh! Baby Pink, 2. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Blissful (or really any color because they are all gorgeous), 3. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush, 4. Sonia Kashuk Blusher Brush, 5. Real Techniques Stippling Brush, 6. L’Oreal Visible Lift Blush in Rose Gold Lift (a personal favorite), 7. Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Peach Satin, 8. Sonia Kashuk Duo-Fiber Brush, 9. Sonia Kashuk Creme Blush in Rosey

 

creamblush1

Powder blush is best applied with a brush. Oftentimes drugstore blush comes with a tiny little square brush in it. Do yourself a favor and throw that brush away! A proper blush brush is going to give you a prettier, more natural finish instead of painting long strokes of color on your cheeks with the kit brush.

When it comes to cream blush, use your fingers or a stippling brush. Using your fingers is the likely the easiest and quickest way to blend in cream blush, but a stippling brush can be a great alternative for those with oily or sensitive skin. The dirt and oil from your fingertips should be avoided at all cost when your skin is sensitive or acne-prone.creamblush2

lip color: L’Oreal Glossy Balm in Innocent Coral

In the end, it truly is just a preference when it comes to blush choice, but make sure you give each formula a try to see what you are missing!

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Kari says · 09.22.14

#3 looks very pretty, I’ll have to put it on my wishlist. Thanks for sharing!

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DeAnna says · 09.22.14

Your hair is so pretty! The blushes are nice, too!

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Lauren says · 09.22.14

Been wanting to try a cream blush, particularly #6 for a while. It’s up on my list again! I’m currently using Milani in Luminoso that I heard was a dupe for a, ahem, well-known NARS color. I do like it a lot, and I love the packaging – the product itself is rounded, so when you sweep it with a blush brush it concentrates more in the middle and less on the sides, which gives you a very natural application. It’s lasting a LONG time – good color payoff for a drugstore brand!

Thanks, Kate!

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V says · 09.22.14

Everyone raves about the NARS blush. Good suggestion for an alternative, thanks!

V
Life+1

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V says · 09.22.14

Love your tutorials. I use a powder by Benefit and I love it. I’ve used it for years.

I also use their You Rebel tinted moisturizer in lieu of foundation. Every makeup loving girl’s nightmare….they just discontinued it!!! I’ve never used a BB cream before but that’s what they’ve replaced it with. I might just have to make the switch….

V
Life+1

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Rachel says · 09.22.14

I love the Maybelline Dream Bouncy blush- it’s perfect!

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Nichole says · 09.22.14

I used to be a strictly powder blush kind of girl, but I have been loving cream blushes lately! I feel like I never gave them a fair shot until recently and was always worried they would slide off my face since I have very oily skin! But they seem to wear really well for me now and last all day! I’ve particularly been loving the Maybelline Dream Bouncy blushes (so many great colors) and the NYX Rouge Cream Blushes are really nice too! I’m going to have to try the Sonia Kashuk one now too! It looks gorgeous! 🙂

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Megan says · 09.22.14

I have been using the Ulta brand cream blush. It has a powdery finish and goes on really well. Very easy to blend.

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Becky says · 09.22.14

I love the Sonia Kashuk brushes – they are about all that I use! I have always wondered about their cream blush, I don’t wear cream formulas very often. Loved this post!

http://www.madeintheshadeblog.com

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Diana says · 09.22.14

I have tried creams off and on. Love the colors but I don’t seem to have the control to apply it. I end up looking like a clown then move it so much it’s gone. Also seems like my skin picks up a red tone just from applying then I can tell what is me or the blush!

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Adriele {StyleAssisted.com} says · 09.22.14

I have the Tarte Amazonian Clay blush per your suggestion last year. 🙂 They’re great! I now want to jump into the cream blush arena. I have the brush already, I just need to find a cream that I like. I’m so pale that I always worry that colors will look too bright on me. I’ll try some new ones and let you know how that goes.

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Theresa @ AMomInTheMaking says · 09.22.14

You look so beautiful!! I think I’m going to have to give cream blush a try 🙂

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Megan says · 09.22.14

I never thought about applying a cream blush with a stippling brush. I’ll have to try that out.

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Casey says · 09.22.14

Have you ever tried the Josie Maran Cocount Watercolor Cheek Gelee? I bought it on a whim and wow was I surprised at how great it was. It gave a natural dewey look and made me look refreshed. Definitely worth a try. I have the one in Poppy Paradise and I use a beauty blender to apply it.

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Hattie says · 09.22.14

I love cream blush, it looks so pretty and natural! My favourite is the Bourjois in shade 1 it’s such a lovely peachy pink colour xx

http://earlgreyandeyeliner.blogspot.co.uk/

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Christina says · 09.22.14

Thanks for the post! Just bought a new blush brush so this is super helpful!

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Anna says · 09.22.14

I love cream blush, but I tend to go back and forth, as well. I would really like to try the L’Oreal cream blush you showed. 🙂

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Allison says · 09.22.14

Love all this info, but I was wondering how to apply it; like where on my cheeks should it go? I don’t wear make up that often, but I’m trying to look more pulled together. Your tutorials and tips are so helpful and I love what you share about your personal life too! Congrats on the latest bun!

Thanks!
-Allison

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Ariadna says · 09.22.14

Ugh, I almost bought one of the Tarte 12 hour blushes this weekend, but I decided to buy something completely different with my Sephora giftcard!! Now I’m kinda wishing I hadn’t. Anyway, have you seen that Hourglass is coming up with a blush palette like they did for the ambient light powders? I saw it on the Sephora website. I think I might wait to buy that palette, do you like the Tarte blushes better than the Hourglass ones? I’ll have to search your history and look at your reviews. You look really pretty by the way, your lip color really brightens up your face!!

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Ashley says · 09.22.14

Kate, love this post and love that you are listening to your readers comments about linking and reviewing. Thank you!

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Jenny says · 09.22.14

My go-to every morning for work is a cream blush, because it’s SO easy to apply (once you get used to it). I use Flower cosmetics (available at Wal-Mart). I love their cream blush! So sheer and natural looking.

http://www.mishmoshmakeup.com

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Tara says · 09.22.14

I love Tarte blush. By far the best blush I have found.
Love, Bess
https://lovebess.wordpress.com/

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Angela says · 09.22.14

I am a total blush girl. It would be my number one if I had to pick. I love tarte’s blushes and I have been really liking Josie Maran’s cheek gelee in poppy. I love the look of that top blush brush.
http://palsywalsyblog.blogspot.ca/

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Tyana says · 09.22.14

Cream blush just seems sticky to me sometimes and I don’t feel like powder blush stays on all day….

but thanks for the post

Check Me Out.

xx
Tyana
theluxedtion.blogspot.com

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kate says · 09.22.14

Two things. I enjoy you quite a bit. Thanks for sharing your writing style, your cute smile, and your genuine spirit. I trust what you have to say 😉 Second, I’ve wondered how to apply that cream blush. I have a Tarte blush and haven’t been able to do it right. Going to give it another try. It’s like you read my mind this week by sharing this.

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Daisy @ Simplicity Relished says · 09.22.14

Love cream blush! It looks so natural and pretty. I’ll be checking out these cream blushes that you recommended here. Thanks for sharing!

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Emma says · 09.22.14

I have been wanting to try #2

Emma | With A City Dream

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Debi says · 09.22.14

Based on your recommendation I bought the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush – I LOVE it and will probably never want to try anything else for a long, long time!

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Susan Jeffries says · 09.22.14

I have never tried cream blush but I just ordered one from Mary Kay. I am excited to try it. I hear so many great reviews about Sonia Kushak as well. I need to jump on that bandwagon! Susan

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zaira cantara says · 09.22.14

Im really into glowing dewy skin at the moment so Im not using blusher but Illamasqua Hollow pigment as contour which is a creamy product and love it for winter 🙂 I have an Illamasqua Haul & Lipstick & Brushes Collection on my blog at http://www.zairacantara.blogspot.co.uk 🙂

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Rebecca @ Hello Creative Blog says · 09.22.14

I’ve become a HUGE fan of cream blushes recently – mostly because they are so easy to apply and seem to stay put really well. I find that using a brush to apply works best for me, and it’s better for controlling the amount of product that you use!

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Julie says · 09.22.14

I bought the Loreal Visible Lift Cream blush a few months back when you recommended it before and I still use it to this day! I love the creams! They seem to last longer for me and I love the shimmer of the Loreal! It was a great drug store recommendation!!

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Christina says · 09.22.14

Thanks for this post! Was curious to know your review of the Benefit line … ive been using the Coralista one and think its their prettiest one ive tried yet …

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Michaela says · 09.22.14

I’m so scared of cream blush but I might have to try it out! Thanks for the tips!

Michaela || The Monogrammed Midwesterner

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Kaitie says · 09.23.14

If you haven’ tried it already, Stila’s convertible cream blush is awesome. I have fair skin and blue eyes, light hair and used Sweet Pea (http://www.stilacosmetics.com/product/convertible-color.do) and it was a perfect pop of colour on my dull skin. Plus it didn’t dry out, and you have a lot of control over how much you apply (even when the colour looks a little bright) and what shade comes out on your skin.

Love your blog! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

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Jenny says · 09.23.14

I am loving these makeup posts! But I haven’t seen an outfit post from you in a while!! I love your style 🙂

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Kirsty says · 09.23.14

I have never really tried cream blush, i just think i would apply far too much and look a bit clown faced! But if i tried with a stippling brush maybe it would look better?

Kirsty Leigh | Beauty Blog

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Debbie says · 09.23.14

Great info. I word of warning about the Real Techniques stipple brush, it does a great job, I loved it, but on washing – all the bristles fell out! If you read the reviews for this brush this appears to be a common problem. I hope they fix it cos as I said it does a fab job.

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Divya T says · 09.25.14

I love both kinds of blushes!! I mainly use cream in the winter and powder during the summer. x 🙂

heartoffnowhere.blogspot.com

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Lynn says · 09.26.14

What is a stippling brush and how do you use it?

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mitchypoo says · 09.26.14

You look so pretty in that last pic. The colors are perfect on you. I struggle with cream blush, but now that I’m not so oily, I’m going to try again,

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Corie says · 09.29.14

I love the dream blush and the visible lift! I use both and LOVE LOVE LOVE. Let me tell you I was a die hard blush girl until I started wearing cream and it just looks as though you’ve pinched your cheeks but the effect lasts. Once I went cream I never went back!!

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patrice says · 09.29.14

I, too, have no idea how to use a stippling brush…

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