I have a thing for blush. Maybe it's the history or the glamorous associations I have with it, but it's quickly becoming one of my favorite makeup products. That, in itself, is crazy considering I used to avoid it completely. See, I've struggled with redness and rosacea for most of my life, and the idea of exacerbating a flushed appearance wasn't something I found very appealing. It wasn't until I was in my 20s that I realized the power and potential of blush. When placed correctly, it does not accentuate redness; Instead, it brightens my complexion, eliminates dullness, and makes me look, well, alive.
I've also recently joined TikTok, which means I've been spending a lot of time scrolling through videos, many of which are of the review and get ready with me variety. What I noticed is that most viral makeup products on TikTok are blush. Whether cream, liquid, or oil (more on that last one in a minute), TikTokers can't get enough of them. So, like any good beauty editor would do, I decided to test them all, comparing products to find the best of TikTok's recommended formulas.. Below, see each blush I tested, what they look like in real life and which one was the winner. (Hint: Even I was surprised by the result.)
Monday: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
Rare Beauty
Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
I have a theory that it's impossible to scroll through TikTok without seeing this blush somewhere along the way. It seems like every beauty influencer believes this, so needless to say, I had high expectations. From what I saw on TikTok, I expected the cream formula to be bold in color, blend easily, and look natural on the skin.
My expectations were definitely met. I used the bright pink shade called Lucky, which would normally be out of my comfort zone, but hey, go big or go home, right? I actually loved how the color complemented my skin. I felt like it made my lips look pinker and my eyes bluer.
As for the formula itself, it was certainly highly pigmented, so I used a light hand. I think I only applied two or three dots along each cheekbone before blending with my trusty Beauty Blender (£18). The color stayed on all day and the radiant finish didn't leave me feeling too shiny. In short, I only have good things to say about it.
Buy an affordable alternative:
PIXI
On-The-Glow Blush Stick
Tuesday: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Divine Powder Blush
Pat McGrath Laboratories
Skin Fetish Divine Blush
Pat McGrath's makeup brand is very popular, which only makes sense considering she's probably the most recognized makeup artist in the world. I've seen this blush all over social media, but in real life, I didn't expect it to look as pretty as it does online. I was wrong. When I opened my compact, the rose design was perfect. It was almost too pretty to wear (almost).
I used a heavy hand with this one because I wanted to see how the silky powder would feel on my skin. Not only did the blush look incredibly natural (to me, it looked like I had just run or been out in the sun), but it also blended perfectly with my skin. In fact, I didn't look like I was blushing; it was more like the color came from my own skin, which I loved.
This is why I tend to prefer powder blushes over cream formulas. If they're light and silky, they apply like a dream and blend well. Plus, they don't leave me looking too shiny throughout the day. As someone prone to oiliness, this is important.
Buy an affordable alternative:
wet and wild
color icon blush
Wednesday: Youthforia BYO Blush Color Changing Oil Blush
Youthphoria
BYO Blush Color Changing Blush Oil
This is the one I was most interested in using at the beginning of this week-long experiment. I had seen this all over social media, but never tried it myself. It's a color-shifting oil formula that appears green in the tube, but when applied to the skin, it changes to a flattering pink hue based on its specific pH.
It was certainly fun to use and I liked the pink flush I got, but I felt like the formula was too bright for my skin. As I mentioned before, I tend to get oily throughout the day, so adding an oil-based blush to my cheeks only made it worse. That said, if you have drier skin or prefer a super dewy finish, this blush is for you.
Buy an affordable alternative:
Makeup revolution
Superdewy Liquid Blush
Thursday: Dior backstage Rosy Glow Bush
DIOR
Rosy Glow Blush behind the scenes
Another iconic blush, this is one I've been looking forward to using since it went viral for being one of Kylie Jenner's favorite products. The bubblegum pink color might look a little shocking, but I think it looks kind of chic too. Plus, now that bright pink blushes are trending on TikTok, I felt like there was no better time to try it out for myself.
I'll get straight to the point. I love this blush. I expected it to be brighter and even a little fancy, but I was wrong. It actually looks quite subtle if you use a light hand. My cheekbones looked bright and pronounced, but not in an obvious way.
The powder is fine and silky and applies like a dream. It actually reminded me of Pat McGrath blush because of how well it blended. Like I said, I love this blush.
Buy an affordable alternative:
Sephora Collection
Colored face powder
Friday: Saie Dew Blush
As it is a highly pigmented cream blush, I expected it to be very similar to the Rare Beauty one, but it was a little different. The pigment wasn't as striking as Rare Beauty's, and I actually felt like it blended more easily.
Looking at this photo, I feel like it doesn't even do this blush justice. The day I used this, I ended up meeting my sister for coffee. She took one look at me and said, “Wait, why do you look so good?” The only thing different was this blush. I told her about it and she immediately asked if she could try it. She kept telling me that my skin looked glowing and my eyes looked more intense.
I loved this blush as much as my sister. I thought the color really matched my skin tone and it blended really well (without making my skin look too shiny). It was simply the perfect touch of color with the perfect finish.
Buy an affordable alternative:
Saturday: Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm Beauty Enhancing Wand
Charlotte Tilbury
Beauty Light Wand
Yes, this is technically a highlighter, but scroll through TikTok and you'll see and hear almost everyone use it and call it a blush. This is because it is a highly pigmented formula that leaves a soft petal pink color on the skin. So, in the spirit of testing out all of TikTok's viral blushes, I felt compelled to include this one as well.
After applying it, I could definitely see what a highlighter is like in the first place. It has a smooth, glossy finish that looks very flattering in the light. It also added a beautiful pink petal flush to my cheekbones. However, I noticed that my skin looked a little shiny in the afternoon. Still, it wasn't anything a little translucent powder couldn't fix.
Buy an affordable alternative:
Professional Revolution
Pro Dewy Glaze Serum Highlighter
Buy the winner:
The winner (and my new favorite blush) is the Saie Dew Blush. I honestly don't have a single bad thing to say about it. It's creamy, the colors are right, it blends well and provides a natural-looking, lit-from-within tone to my face. Since my week-long experience, I've been using it almost every day and the compliments keep coming.
This article was previously published and has since been updated.
