BLUSHER - POWDER
Our view is that we should all have cream AND powder blushers in our arsenal. Powder blushers are best for when you’re doing a ‘full’ make-up before a night out, say, or a long day – as a rule, they stay put for longer on the skin (especially if you have oil issues), but should always be applied over foundation. Applied with a big brush (testers used their own), the best powders sweep on seamlessly, with no ‘edges’, offering a veil of natural-looking, complexion-perkifying flush. In general, we recommend a peachy-pink shade for almost everyone – which was what our testers were mostly assigned. NB Check out the winners in the Cream Blusher category here.
One extra thing: readers interested in ingredients will see that the two Gold Award winners both contain talc – magnesium silicate. For anyone with concerns about talc, the brands reassure that cosmetic grade talc is at the top of the purity scale; only talc that meets very high levels of quality and purity is permitted for use in cosmetics.
GOLD (JOINT) AWARD Suqqu Melting Powder Blush (02 Haruoto)
This new launch from a super elegant Japanese brand uses a new technology called – wait for it! – Melting Powder Formulation technology to create a powder blush with a relatively high oil content. This means it spreads evenly, ‘adheres softly to the skin because of its new moist sensation and gives a highly translucent finish’, they say. So yes, it’s a powder blush but without powderiness… Ten shades to choose from and testers just loved the product.
£39 - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘10/10. I have a normal skin type and my skin tone is fair/ medium, no freckles. This blush comes in a mirrored compact with a small brush and is really easy to apply. You only need a very small amount. It felt very soft and hydrating despite being a powder. Went on smoothly and blended really well – very comfortable on my skin. Although it appeared quite heavily pigmented and alarmingly pink in the compact, it gave me a really healthy glow and didn't make me look like a clown! Both the colour and finish lasted all day while my make-up was on. I absolutely would buy’ • ‘I have dry skin and fair colouring. This very finely milled blusher went on so easily and blended really well to a fantastic natural colour that made my skin glow. It lasted all day and looked very professional. You could tell it was a high-quality product. It was perfect for me and gave me confidence!’ • ‘Gorgeous colour, so lovely to use, and would make anyone feel good’ • ‘The blusher is very soft and velvety, goes on very smoothly and blends in easily to give a gorgeous, natural flush of colour’ • ‘This is a really beautiful blusher. It comes in a neat, black cardboard box and the actual product is in a sleek black and gold slim case. The case flips open and inside is housed the blusher, a small flat brush and a mirror in the lid. It was a pleasure to use this product and it feels very luxurious. The design of the product is a work of art - aesthetically beautiful and a gorgeous piece of kit to add to a make-up bag or handbag, which you'll want to show it off! It has made me want to explore more of the Suqqu cosmetic range’ • ‘The blusher is a velvety powder but it seems to 'melt' into the skin and has fantastic staying power. I really loved using this blush. It suited my fair colouring and looked natural without looking washed out. Already have ordered two more’ • ‘Left a lovely wash of colour and people thought I looked healthy!’ • ‘A great product that really feels innovative, easy to apply with great results. A great alternative to liquids that have less lasting power. Unlike other powder-based blushes, this melts into the skin for a more natural radiant look.’
£39 - click to buy
GOLD (JOINT) AWARD delilah Colour Blush Compact Pro (Clementine)
The micronized formula means this is lightweight and silky to encourage ‘the illusion of an airbrushed finish’, the brand explains. They call the texture ‘buttery’ – not an adjective you might think of when it comes to blusher – but apparently that buttery-ness helps to blur imperfections and create a soft focus effect, all without disturbing make-up underneath. The mirrored compact was very popular with testers
£30 - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘10/10. I have never really been wowed by blush products before, always been a case of take or leave them, never really stuck to one brand, change regularly…until I tried this blush, I can see this being my go to, I am extremely pale and some blush products look really harsh on my skin tone and I can end up looking like aunt Sally! Or they are too sparkly or just not quite right, I have enjoyed using this product and have since gone on to try more products from the range and really liked them too! On Teams calls my colleagues mentioned my skin was looking really well and this was the only difference to my make-up. Then when I was away with work I was asked what blush I use. I can see this lasting a long time but when I do run out I will buy this without a doubt’ • ‘Blended really well, after my first use I knew how much product was needed, looked very natural. Yes…gave a really healthy natural glow, this blusher is perfect for my fair skin tone! It lasted all day; I tested against a different brand and this blush lasted the day where the other brand didn’t’ • ‘Couple of comments on how well I looked! It did give a lovely sun kissed look, which boosted my spirits on gloomier days. I love the finish and the quality of the blush powder. The size, shape and feel of the compact is pleasing too - these things matter! I'd recommend for the quality of the product and the ease of application. I’d also recommend for its ethical qualities, being vegan and made in the EU - again these are qualities that matter to me’ • ‘I loved the packaging at first sight, very good design, excellent size and pleasing weight of compact. I was wary of the colour as looked rather orange, I usually choose a pink, cool rather than warm colour, however when applied I enjoyed the look it gave, less conventional and more youthful. I loved the packaging at first sight, very good design, excellent size and pleasing weight of compact. I was wary of the colour as looked rather orange, I usually choose a pink, cool rather than warm colour, however when applied I enjoyed the look it gave, less conventional. I think the size plus the pouch make it a good choice for travel. I think the size plus the pouch make it a good choice for travel. Very easy to blend with a good blusher brush’ • ‘Quality powder blusher, highly pigmented in beautiful and practical packaging’ • ‘feels like a second skin, soft and lovely; doesn’t lie in wrinkles so that’s anti-ageing! Love the packaging in the velvet pouch; expensive looking treat’ • ‘Really easy to apply. It didn’t create additional loose powder, which was definitely a benefit, as excess didn’t need to be tapped away before application. People have said I look fresh faced’ • ‘My favourite thing was the packaging. It was very classy, solid, heavy and looked expensive. I loved the magnetic effect when it closed. The colour was a lovely healthy peach colour. I did think that it worked best when it went over a little bit of bronzer to give you that healthy California glow!!! I found that the best way to apply it was to take a smaller brush and place it on the apple of my cheeks. I then got a larger blush and blended it out. If ever there was a product where a little went a long way- it was this one!! Treat with caution or you'll be tangoed!!!’
£30 - click to buy
SILVER AWARD and BEST NATURAL Tropic Blush Crush (Rosy Glow)
This natural blush comes in either Cream or Pressed Powder which we trialled in Rosy Glow. Seven shades all with what the brand calls ‘a sprinkling of sparkle’. A two-time Beauty Bible Award winner already, this has now gained accolades from a new panel of independent testers. As well as pigments, this contains nourishing ingredients including rosemary extract, vitamin E and cotton seed oil to care for your skin as it makes it glow. You can use a finger to apply, the brand says, which is unusual with blush, so you don’t need a blush brush – although most testers preferred that method of application. What put them off a bit is that this blush, like all Tropic make-up products, is designed to slot into a bespoke Tropic Colour Palette, alongside your other favourites from the range. The brand says the cardboard packaging is durable enough to keep in your make-up bag, but testers were just not sure about that.
£20 - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘I have had several compliments on the effect of this on my freckly skin. The colour is highly pigmented so quite strong but very easy to apply, feels very nice and looks good. I’m a Tropic fan so was happy to find this in my package. However, you do have to have or buy a palette from the brand to slot it into (with your other chosen products), as it comes in paper packaging which doesn’t last’ • ‘The product was described as a shimmering blusher which made me nervous. However, the light, silky texture goes on beautifully and blends easily. Gives a health glow to the skin. It has a strong pigmentation so you only need a small amount of product. Felt lovely on the skin - really comfortable. Certainly made me rethink my opinion of powder blushers. I had thought that only a cream blusher was suitable for my dry mature skin. Happy to be proved wrong!’ • ‘As instructed on the box I used a clean finger. Went on smoothly and was easy to blend. Thankfully the shimmer in the palette did not translate to the face! A number commented that I had a healthy glow about me’ • ‘This satiny-smooth blusher perked up my complexion considerably given its sprinkling of sparkle (which is just right; not at all overbearing). A really lovely product and a pleasure to use’ • ‘very smooth application with a blusher brush, easy to blend in and the quality of the product was evident in the seamless application. The colour was a natural flush look with a long lasting effect, which a lot of other blushers fail in. I didn’t need to reapply at all through a working day’ • ‘Went on smoothly, it was very powdery but this helped with the application and it was very easy to blend. colour good not too strong and was long lasting; colour good not too strong and was long lasting; lovely glow’ • ‘This is a great product for a very natural finish with a nice glow but without too much colour or being overly shiny. I have a tendency to redness so I generally avoid blusher but using this made me re-think this approach as it did give me a health glow and more shape to my face.’
£20 - click to buy
BRONZE AWARD The English Mineral Makeup Company Blusher (Rose)
This pure mineral blush, a second time Beauty Bible Award winner, is vegan, organic and cruelty-free. The brand warns that it’s ‘intensely pigmented’ so use it sparingly. But you can build up easily without caking, as testers found. There’s a sponge applicator included and Beauty Bible also trialled this with the brand’s Kabuki brush, designed to apply powder blush (also bronzer, powder etc). Ten shades, some in matte and others a soft satin finish like Rose, which we trialled. It’s a loose powder which rather divided testers. Some loved it (possibly those more used to mineral make-up) while a couple of others just found it a bit messy and marked it down because of that. Most were completely wowed by the packaging and presentation, saying it would make a lovely gift.
£29 - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
’10/10. Outstanding quality product, super-pigmented, amazing pick up and one swipe with the superb quality brush lasts all day easily’ • ‘I love mineral blush and this is a beautiful colour, went on very smoothly, satin finish. The powder is very finely milled and feels silky, colour is highly pigmented so only need a little - I found the colour lasted for my day of work which can sometimes be challenging as I often put my hands on my face but this did stay’ • ‘The first thing that hits you is the packaging. It is so lush it’s worth posting on Instagram. I was amazed on that such a small product as a blush can have such attention to detail and such love. The blush itself is packed as a loose powder and comes with brush and a flat sponge applicator. I found the brush more convenient and it also allows me to blend the product better. I was surprised on how pigmented this product is and how little you need to achieve the natural blush and glow. I used to choose the mainstream expensive products for my make-up as I didn't know much about the boutiques type of brands like this but now I am definitely much more inclined to try and by these unique brand creations’ • ‘My skin liked this, and it did flatter me - the shade is great for my fair, dry skin. It’s quite buildable as it’s a wash of colour and it doesn’t create a weird texture as you add more.’
£29 - click to buy