Favorite Blushes

My very favorite blushes

Over the past couple of months, I’ve become a total blush fiend.

Being so fair, blush has always been a necessity for me since I look pasty and washed out without it, but it ranked near the bottom of wishlist items when I headed to Sephora.  I mean, if I had a gift card, chances were good I was walking out with a foundation or a couple of eye shadows or lipsticks, not a blush.

Lately, though, I’m buying nothing but blush.  It’s kind of crazy.

I blame the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes for it really – they’re so long-wearing and highly pigmented that they’ve really made me appreciate what a good blush can do.

I’ve bought quite a few blushes that I’m loving in the past few  months, but when I sat down to figure out what my favorites would be, I decided that I wouldn’t include any that I haven’t owned for at least 3 months. You know how it can sometimes go when you get a new product – you’re head over heels in love with it for the first month or so, but then it finds its way to the back of your drawer when you get something else new. 

Or maybe that’s just me.

I wanted to include those products that have stood the test of time in my makeup collection, so here are my favorite blushes – I tried to limit it to three, but five was the best I could do.

MAC Well Dressed Blush

MAC Well Dressed swatch

MAC Well Dressed – This is one of my favorite everyday blushes. It’s a pretty light pink with a satin finish, so it looks really natural on the cheeks. However, because it’s light, I’m not sure how well it would work on darker skin. If you’ve got fair to medium skin, though, this is definitely worth checking out. 

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed swatch

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed –I have quite a few of these blushes – and I love pretty much all of them – but I think that Exposed is the most versatile of the bunch. It’s a rosy nude shade that looks pretty lackluster in the pan, but somehow transforms on the cheeks to the most beautiful natural flush. Exposed is also matte, so it’s an ideal option if you don’t like shimmery blushes.  And while it doesn’t last the 12 hours that Tarte boasts on my cheeks, it wears longer than other blushes in my collection for sure.

Nars Blush in Orgasm

Nars Blush in Orgasm swatch

Nars Orgasm – I couldn’t leave this off my list since peachy-pink makeup is an obsession of mine.  And this was the first Nars product that I ever bought…  ah, memories. (Am I the only one who gets sentimental about certain makeup items?  I think I may have to touch on this in another post.) Orgasm is a cult classic for a reason – it’s a beautiful peachy pink that goes with so many looks. It is fairly shimmery, though, so if you’re not a fan of shimmer in your blush, it may not be the best option for you. 

Milani Baked Blush in Fantastico Mauve

Milani Baked Blush in Fantastico Mauve swatch

Milani Baked Blush in Fantastico Mauve  - I’d been on the hunt for the perfect berry blush for quite a while, and despite the shade’s name, this turned out to be such a lovely shade of berry.  These Milani Baked Blushes not only have that cool swirled effect with several shades running through them in the pan, but they’re ridiculously pigmented – a little of Fantastico Mauve goes a long, long way.  It’s another shimmery blush, too.  (Can you tell I’m kind of a fan of shimmer?) 

Benefit Coralista Blush

Benefit Coralista swatch

Benefit Coralista – Coralista is a gorgeous warm, coral-peach blush.  It definitely adds a glow to the cheeks, but it’s not overly shimmery. While it works year round, I especially like wearing this one in the summer. It also smells great and comes in Benefit’s famous, adorable boxed packgaging. (This is another item that I’m sentimental about - I bought it on a trip to Vegas and anything that reminds me of Vegas just tugs at my heartstrings … )

What are your favorite blushes?  Is there a particular color that you like to wear?  Are you a fan of matte or shimmery blushes?