I Swore Off Cream Blushes Until I Tried This One

I write about beauty every day, but my makeup routine is pretty simple. I like to look fresh-faced, glowing, and dewy at all times, and I rely on a few key products to get me there. I know using blush is one of the easiest ways to enhance my makeup, but half of the time, I skip it altogether in favor of my favorite makeup product — bronzer. However, over the last couple of years, I've learned just how much the addition of blush can change my entire makeup look for the better, so I've tried to make it part of my everyday routine.

I've tested quite a few different formulas, and I've found that, at least for me, liquid is too pigmented and cream isn't long-lasting enough, but powder blush seems to do the trick. When I heard that Makeup By Mario was launching a new cream blush, I must admit — I was hesitant. Cream blushes tend to slide right off of my face just a few hours after application, so I didn't have high hopes. However, after trying out the Makeup By Mario Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil ($30) during a night out with my girlfriends, it exceeded my expectations and then some.

Makeup By Mario Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil

From

$30

$30 at Sephora

Keep reading for my full review of the Makeup By Mario Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil, including photos.

I'm a no-makeup-makeup girl through and through, so I love products that easily fit into my "basic" routine. The first time I tried it, I knew it was going to land a permanent spot in my makeup bag. I've tested all of the shades, but my absolute favorite is "Pinch Me Pink," which is a pale pink hue. It's sheer, but buildable, which makes it my blush of choice for occasions when I don't feel like wearing a lot of makeup, which is pretty much all of the time.

One of my biggest issues with cream blush is that it's not as long-lasting as powder blush, but I haven't run into that issue with this product. I've worn it on a night out at the bars with my girlfriends, and even through a round of sweaty dancing, everything stayed in place.

The formula has a serum-like quality that makes it glide onto my skin without pulling, and it plays well with the rest of my makeup and skin-care products. Plus, I have dry, acne-prone skin, and this blush doesn't cling to dry patches and hasn't broken me out even once.

One of my favorite things about this product is that the ways in which you can use it are practically endless. You can use it over your base makeup on the apples of your cheeks, over your setting powder to create a "cloud skin" effect, before your setting powder for a softer look, or layered with powdered blush for something more colorful.

I prefer to use it on my skin without base makeup if I'm going for a no-makeup-makeup look, or over my favorite foundation if I'm going out for the night or have an event to attend. As for placement, the brand recommends placing the product on the apples of your cheeks and then blending it up into the hairline to give your face a lifted appearance — a trick I've tried that really works. They then say to use the excess product left on your brush or fingers and apply it to your nose, chin, and forehead, which are the points where the sun would normally hit your face.

They also recommend placing some of the blush where the cheek meets the undereye area to disguise dark circles. (A hack I originally learned from TikTok and love.)

Something to consider before purchasing this product is that although the formula is buildable, it's notheavily pigmented. If you're looking for a more saturated blush that doesn't look like "natural" makeup, this might not be the product for you.

The Makeup By Mario Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil is available at Sephora, as well as directly on the Makeup By Mario website.

Rating:

★★★★★